[Openal] Lag playing sounds over the "Generic Software" device

[Sergio Rodriguez]

Hi,
I've been using OpenAL for a while in and I've found a different behaviour
between accelerated HW devices and the Generic Software implementation (on
top of DirectSound, I suppose).

The problem is that when using with an X-Fi, the sound plays without no lag:
when you call AL_PLAY over a source the sound starts playing inmediately.
But in the same machine, initializing the OpenAL library in software mode
(opening the "Generic Software" device enumerated by the library) the sounds
starts playing with a noticeable lag (I can't measure it, but I think that
about 1/4 second or so).

I have no EAX effect active and the only difference between the two
executions of the program is the opened device: "Default device" -over an
X-Fi- and Generic Software -over the same card-). Is this normal? Could it
be fixed with some code?

BTW, I'm asking myself... for the AAA games that use OpenAL, do you think
they use the library for every soundcard, or these games implement two audio
paths: one over OpenAL for HW accelerated devices (like Audigy and X-Fi) and
other path for SW devices implemented directly over DirectSound or other
audio software library? For example, in Doom3 and Quake IV (if I remember
correctly) the checkbox for activating the OpenAL renderer is disabled if
you don't have an Audigy or X-Fi.

Any help is welcome.
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