Virtual Surround with SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3 Software?

Hi notebookreview,



I just got my Sager NP8671 and it came with SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3 software and a built-in Realtek ALC892 sound chip. I was wondering how to setup virtual surround sound for game and movies for my headphones or any stereo output. The type of surround I'm talking about is down mixing from 5.1 or 7.1 to headphones or stereo or 2.1, like what Dolby Headphones does. I searched around on the net about how to set it up with the SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3 software, but can't seem to fully understand what's going on. I'm testing with a multi channel test file and can hear sounds from all channel (except subwoofer) when the Surround slider in SoundBlaster is off (which means no down mixing right?, so I shouldn't here anything from surround channels). To wrap up, this is what I think I need to do:

1- Setup sound configuration in game to 5.1

2- Windows sound configuration is stereo

3- In SoundBlaster software, set output to headphones and enable SBX Pro Studio with Surround slider on

4- Profit?



Please confirm and fix what I got wrong in the steps above. If possible please also provide a guide on how to setup.



Thank you guys.

 

Do you have CMSS-3D?

I haven't messed with Creative software in years (thank god, their drivers are so bloated) but the old way of doing it was you would set Windows to 5.1/7.1, set to headphones and enable CMSS-3D in Creative, and set your game to 5.1/7.1.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that, contrary to popular belief, Sound Blaster X-Fi MB actually reduces sound quality compared to regular Realtek. So IMO you should just use the regular Realtek driver and software suite, install the free Razer Surround (which does a better job than Dolby Headphone and CMSS-3D anyway), and use Creative ALchemy Universal to restore EAX effects and surround sound in old DirectSound3D games.

Realtek + ALchemy + Razer Surround is the sound setup I currently have on my Y500 and it's what I'll be using on my P650SG as well once I get it, even if it comes with X-Fi MB as yours did.

 

Thanks a lot
I'm working on Battlefield 3.
So in game I chose Home Cinema sound setting (which I suppose it's 5.1)
In windows and realtek and x-fi I chose headphones and stereo?
I don't know why but the sound config in x-fi always follow windows setting. so for example if i pick 5.1 for windows then the config in x-fi will also be 5.1 . If I change setting in X-fi to be headphone then the setting in windows reverts back to stereo.
Can you help me out?

 

Look around in Creative. There should be an option to disable synchronization with Windows.

Yeah Home Cinema and make sure Enhanced Stereo Mode is off.

 

I found it. X-Fi was set default output to windows, now I can change to Realtek Speaker. I'll make more test to verify

 

Yeah, Realtek and Windows should match, both set to 5.1/7.1. In Creative set headphones and enable SBX and adjust surround level. In games set to 5.1/7.1.

Make sure you use ALchemy as well for old DirectSound3D games.

 

I'm still curious about how a driver software can effect noise level. Isn't it depend on how well-built the hardware is?
Also does the original Realtek ALC892 have the down mixing ability just like the X-fi or Dolby or others? Since the quality of the Realtek is better, shouldn't it be better to use the original down mix of the Realtek?

 

You can try it. I've always found Realtek virtual surround to be crap, if the option is even there at all. Most notebooks I've seen don't have it, it seems to be on desktop mobos mainly. You might have to uninstall X-Fi MB3 before it shows up in Realtek. I don't think it does anything besides stereo widening. In games it's clearly still just left and right stereo panning, no positional cues at all from front/back and above/below.

My suggestion was to use Razer Surround (which actually works) alongside the normal Realtek driver and software, and ALchemy to wrap DS3D to OpenAL. Because Razer Surround only works well with headphones on surround sources and creates its own separate virtual audio device in Windows, you need to switch back to Realtek when you're using the internal or external speakers, when connecting to a home theater system over S/PDIF, and when listening to stereo sources such as music.

Just curious, what headphones are you using?