Windows 7 - Music sounds poor after install...

Liam · 27 Feb 2010 at 16:51

Installed Windows 7 the other night and I have to say that audio sounds really bad. I know that it installs all the drivers for you.

Anyone else had this problem?

VaderDSL · 27 Feb 2010 at 16:52

What soundcard?

Liam · 27 Feb 2010 at 16:53

Its only an Audigy 2 ZS

marc2003 · 27 Feb 2010 at 17:01

you should use the drivers direct from creative. bundled drivers from MS/windows update are always gash.

i have an audigy2 myself and it sounds fine in windows 7.

Liam · 27 Feb 2010 at 17:02

marc2003 said:
you should use the drivers direct from creative. bundled drivers from MS/windows update are always gash.

i have an audigy2 myself and it sounds fine in windows 7.

Does this go for every other device I have then?

alex24 · 27 Feb 2010 at 17:04

More or less. It's a good idea to get the latest drivers for all your main hardware from the manufacturers site. Especially graphics, sound, chipset and any peripherals like TV cards etc.

Liam · 27 Feb 2010 at 17:05

Thanks guys. I'll install them later

jamjar · 27 Feb 2010 at 17:52

alexhull24 said:
More or less. It's a good idea to get the latest drivers for all your main hardware from the manufacturers site. Especially graphics, sound, chipset and any peripherals like TV cards etc.

+1 this is very good advice always use the manufacturers drivers Windows are pretty poor

CaptainCrash · 27 Feb 2010 at 19:13

Bummer said:
Its only an Audigy 2 ZS

You might find it's just a case of the bass and treble levels being attenuated - I noticed this after Windows Update had installed the WDM drivers for my Audigy 2 ZS. Go into Sound > Playback > Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS) > Properties > Tone tab, and make sure both sliders to 0.00 dB.

Other than that, I've had no problems with the default Windows drivers, although admittedly I only use the card for simple stereo output with no extra effects.

Memphis · 27 Feb 2010 at 19:37

marc2003 said:
bundled drivers from MS/windows update are always gash.

By stating "always", you made your statement a load of gash

.

mrk · 27 Feb 2010 at 20:55

Network/Wireless drivers etc are always fine, they're usually never really needed to be updated.

The only drivers that someone should manually install all the time from the maker's site is Sound, GFX and Motherboard chipset.

Mr.Nick · 27 Feb 2010 at 21:07

What about changing the Sample Rate and Bit Depth in Windows?

It's supposed to be different from Win Xp so if you've just come from that that may be why.

Mattus · 27 Feb 2010 at 21:32

Yeah, definitely try the manufacturer drivers. Failing that - what do you mean by "bad"? Does it sound crackly, or just muffled?

Liam · 27 Feb 2010 at 21:34

Mattus said:
Yeah, definitely try the manufacturer drivers. Failing that - what do you mean by "bad"? Does it sound crackly, or just muffled?

Lacks feeling and depth

Liam · 28 Feb 2010 at 15:11

Drivers have been updated but I think ive changed some of the settings. Can someone let me know what their settings are?

CaptainCrash · 28 Feb 2010 at 17:19

Bummer said:
Drivers have been updated but I think ive changed some of the settings. Can someone let me know what their settings are?

As I said above, the bass and treble are attenuated, so just move them to your liking (0.0 db in my case).

It's not that complicated, surely...? :confused:

MikeHunt79 · 28 Feb 2010 at 17:47

set it to 0db

Liam · 28 Feb 2010 at 18:06

Assumption would be that 0db is the middle of the slider?

Mattus · 28 Feb 2010 at 18:33

Yup. Set it to the middle of the slider to stop Windows messing with the output.

Liam · 28 Feb 2010 at 18:38

Sorted. Sounds much better now. Thanks guys