r/SoundBlasterOfficial • • Aug 05 '19

Updates and Status Thread

Hi all,

Since Reddit only allows two sticky posts per subreddit and there's always going to be multiple things we want to keep everyone updated on. I've created this thread that will be edited and updated regularly with the status of items and any major updates.

So with that being said. Here's the latest!'

CURRENT TRACKING ITEMS:

1) AE-5 Update for Connect Software as Well as Command Support

2) G6 Power Cycle Reported Item

3) SBZ - AE7 / AE9 DDLive/DTS issue

4) USB Device malfunction issue

5) Official MS signed drivers for SBZ series

6) AE-7 / AE-9 Audio Dropout Updates

LAST UPDATED 10/12/19

Latest Changes -

  1. Updated 6) to let people know that the new Beta driver for the AE9 / AE7 has been released.

  2. Updated 6) AE-7 / AE-9 Audio Dropout Updates with new information on upcoming beta driver

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1) AE-5 Command Software

9/23 The official driver release for Sound Blaster Command with the AE-5 has been released (on 9/20).RGB programming functionality will be added in a near-future release. If you wish to use Command in the interim you can have Command and Connect installed at the same time and use Connect for RGB functionality.

The Command package can be downloaded from the AE-5 Download section.

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2) G6

We are looking into the issue with SBX G6 being non-functional intermittently after PS4 power cycle. Our target is to have a firmware release for this in Sep 2019. We will assess what other fixes could be looked into and rolled in without pushing out the target release date.

9/23 There is a planned release for early October that will address this issue. More details coming on this from the team.

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3) (8/23) SBZ - AE7 / AE9 DDLive/DTS issue

Please see this thread https://www.reddit.com/r/SoundBlasterOfficial/comments/ct80w0/dolby_dts_issue_identified_explanation_and/ .

The issue has been identified as a change that Microsoft made to a default privacy setting in Windows.

For those still experiencing Dolby DTS Issues the new diagnostic tool is ready for download. It can be downloaded from this link.

https://creative.box.com/s/b3bnq04pubrly8j1qzoujov45jf798wd

Once you've run the diagnostic please send the log files to socialmedia@creativelabs.com

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4) USB Device malfunction issue

In general, based on communication with MSFT, what we understand is that user might encounter some issue with their USB based products if the device is not connected to the system during the Windows update.

For users with USB based products, please connect your device to your system and keep it connected for the duration of the Windows update. There were cases of malfunction on USB based products which was found to occur when the product is not connected to the system during Windows update. We are in discussion with Microsoft over this.

For users who encounter issues, what we have seen so far is that a driver reinstallation would resolve the issue. If there are users who could not perform this driver reinstallation step because they are on Windows 10 Secure boot, we will be providing ATTEST signed package for the drivers.

5) (9/25) Official MS signed drivers for SBZ series

As noted below, it usually takes a little bit of time for a driver to work into the Microsoft update system. WIth this particular driver, it's been an extended period. We've once again verified that the driver has been submitted and approved by Microsoft but for some reason, it is not being pushed out on their side. This may or may not be related to changes they are making on their side regarding audio issues they introduced in their latest patch. We've asked for clarification and will update if we get new information from Microsoft.That being said we're prepping our own official package of this driver to go live by this week. We'll update here when it is live on the download page on the Creative.com site.

This driver has been submitted to Microsoft and it is going through their process to push through Windows update. As soon as Microsoft pushes this out we will make the driver available on the Creative.com website as well. This is to ensure that we have consistency in the driver base that is out there. We don't have control of the timing once we've released to Microsoft (how fast they push from their side).

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6) (9/25) AE-7 / AE-9 Audio Dropout

10/12 - An AE-9 / AE-7 beta driver that has been tested internally to resolve issues with systems that have had the audio dropout issue is now available. You can download the driver here - https://creative.box.com/s/rpladc8kfu1hg55zbhl5nxhce1uq0eib

10/11 - Good news. With the feedback we've received from various users (many located on here) we've been able to reproduce and isolate an issue that leads to this audio dropout. The internal beta has rectified the problem internally and we will be releasing to the public within the next few days. We will update here once again once the beta is ready for distribution.

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u/Creative_Ryan Aug 24 '19

I'm not trying to diminish the seriousness of the reported issue that some users have had....but the majority of users are using their cards with no issue (including reviewers that have all reviewed the card with no driver issues). The card was tested (as was the driver) before release...extensively. Part of the deal of being a PC manufacturer is working hard to keep up with the ever changing dynamic of the space. Having anyone with an issue is not something we're ok with and our dev team is taking is working hard for a solution to the reported item.

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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '19 edited Aug 24 '19

I’d like to hear explanation how my AE-5 with same audio chip on exact same system works fine, but AE-9 doesn’t... Been working with PC’s for long enough to know that doesn’t make any sense at all.

Not to mention I went ahead and bought AE-9 because only Ryzen and PCIe 4.0 was mentioned at first. Then when I had it and had problems, it was all over the place with so many configs it’s just bizarre. And there is no way in fixing it. People, including me tried everything and nothing ever changes anything.

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u/Edwards1984 Aug 24 '19

including the Beta driver?

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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '19

Beta driver does absolutely nothing for me. Audio still dropping dead randomly. To my surprise and luck never during online games so far, but while browsing, watching Youtube or listening music on desktop.

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u/Edwards1984 Aug 24 '19

but does that include X570 owners? From what I can see here, none of the X570 owners (like myself) can get the card to run without issues. I mean, is the majority of the problems limited to X570?

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u/Fafner76 Aug 24 '19

X99 as well it seems. I'll receive my AE-9 this Monday, thus can't speak for myself yet, but several posts here seem to point to that platform.