[Openal] Effects Objects

[Jason Daly]

Since the Creative guys are probably gone for the day, I'll take a stab 
at answering this.  Feel free to correct me later, guys :-)


Bailey, Kyle wrote:

>Depending on the device that I open (using an Audigy2ZS) I get different
>results with the effects code.  When I open "Generic Hardware" or
>"Generic Software" the function alcIsExtensionPresent(SoundDevice,
>(ALCchar*)"ALC_EXT_EFX") returns true.  If I open the device with NULL
>specified then that function returns false.  I was under the idea that
>specifying NULL would make openAL choose the "best" implementation
>available.  In this case however the best implementation is not being
>chosen and I cannot get effects unless I specify the device.  
>  
>

The NULL device will use whatever device you have selected as your  
primary device in the Sounds control panel.  OpenAL doesn't really have 
any clue how to pick the "best" device.   The "Generic" devices are 
special in that they're just wrappers for DirectSound3D and 
DirectSound/MMSYSTEM respectively.  This is why they're never picked 
first, and only chosen if the primary device fails.

The reason you're not seeing the EFX extension with your Audigy 2ZS is 
because the native OpenAL driver doesn't support EFX yet.  According to 
Creative, there will be new drivers "real soon now"  :-)

>The next problem is that when I specify "Generic Software" I can only
>get one effect - AL_EFFECT_REVERB, whereas with Generic Hardware I can
>get all effect types, but then I cannot create any Auxiliary Effect
>Slots using alGenAuxiliaryEffectSlots( 1, &ID ); (I just get an
>AL_OUT_OF_MEMORY error).
>  
>

These effects are emulated using various techniques, which is why 
they're already working.  The native EFX support will come with the new 
Audigy drivers.

>Anyway, has anyone seen any of this, does anyone know how to fix it, or
>do you have any tips to getting this working?
>  
>

Wait for the new drivers  :-) 

(probably not what you wanted to hear, sorry...)

-- 

--"J"

"I'm a castaway stranded in a desolate land,
 I can see the footprints in the virtual sand."
	--Neil Peart