Daniel_K, Who Fixed Creative's Broken Vista Drivers, Speaks Out

[Brock]

Taken from Wired Blog Network at http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/04/daniel_k-who-fi.html

 

Daniel_K, Who Fixed Creative's Broken Vista Drivers, Speaks Out By Rob Beschizza April 01, 2008 | 11:13:33 AMCategories: Audio

 

Daniel_K, the Creative Labs fan who fixed the company's broken Vista sound card drivers only to be threatened by the corporate brass, just e-mailed with his side of the story.

"My name is Daniel Kawakami and I'm Brazilian," he writes. "I'm NOT a cracker, a hacker, just an enthusiast modder with basic assembly knowledge and very persistent."

Kawakami's expertise allowed him to enable advanced features in sound cards that Creative advertised as Vista-compatible, but which did not perform as well under that operating system as they do under Windows XP. After tolerating the distribution of his unofficial drivers for a time, Creative's vice president of corporate communications, Phil O'Shaughnessy, ultimately asked him to stop, and accused him of "stealing their goods." O'Shaughnessy also wrote that whether or not it cripples its Vista drivers is a "business decision that only we have the right to make."

The rest of Kawakami's e-mail follows, verbatim, after the jump.

ALchemy

 

It all started when Creative released the first beta of ALchemy for X-Fi cards, saying it used X-Fi's advanced capabilities (EAX5).

 

After some investigation, I've found an EAX5.0 check and patched it... and it worked!

 

Sometime later, they released the final version of ALchemy X-Fi and the paid version of ALchemy Audigy.

 

I was realy mad at them, they didn't release a new Audigy driver and were charging Audigy owners for a software that runs on top of bugged drivers? What is the point of that?

 

Then I modified the X-Fi "free" version of ALchemy, not the paid version.

 

I did the same with the later versions, but when they released the 1.00.11, I couldn't patch it anymore.

 

So I bought it, just for the sake of it.

 

Well, I did manage to patch the latest version of ALchemy X-Fi to run on any card, without even removing Safecast, but I'm done with that.

 

 

 

 

 

The Audigy drivers

 

They took several days, countless Vista reinstalls.

 

Creative purposedly modified the Audigy drivers to disable some features when Vista is detected and also purposedly introduced some bugs to prevent some XP utilities from running.

 

I did a complete analysis of the driver to determine where all the checks and bugs were introduced and started modding.

 

Features that I've successfully enabled:

 

- Dolby/DTS decoding (originally discovered by another Creative forum member, but I've explained how to use it)

 

- CMSS, CMSS2 and Stereo Surround (originally only "CMSS" was available, this setting also affects ALchemy/OpenAL, so it is really useful)

 

- Advanced EQ and Special FX presets

 

- DVD Audio

 

- Hardware MIDI synthetizer (I wrote a small utility that automatically detects and changes the default Vista MIDI Synth during driver install or can change it later using its GUI. Some media players lets you choose the MIDI synthesizer)

 

- Equalizer (with preset saving, very hard to accomplish, had to deal with bugs in Creative software and use my creativity to find a workaround).

 

- WaveRT (a Microsoft replacement for ASIO, however I don't know if it really works or not)

 

 

 

 

 

The Live!/Live! 5.1 drivers

 

Creative have always released UDA (Unified Driver Architeture) drivers.

 

They purposedly ruined the Live! support in Vista: 2.1 speakers setting resulted in distorted sound.

 

After some investigation, I discovered the culprit module and replaced it with one from the last XP version and the problem was fixed.

 

In the later releases, Bass Management, Equalizer and EAX effects using software processing and Hardware MIDI support were added.

 

There was also an ALchemy for Live! cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The X-Fi drivers

 

I've added the following improvements: Hardware MIDI and WaveRT.

 

I didn't have a X-Fi to test, so modding was then limited to these features.

 

 

 

The Audigy LS/SE/Value/Live! 24-bit drivers

 

Officially, they lack Bass Management, Equalizer and EAx effects, once available in XP drivers.

 

I've found that the Audio Center utility (originally from the Vista Audigy Advanced MB drivers) worked just fine with these cards, so I made it available.

 

Also fixed an annoying bug present in the official drivers that cause the speaker type changing to Full Range speakers on reboot (disabling Bass Management).

 

 

 

The X-Fi Xtreme Audio drivers

 

Have the same speaker type bug. I fixed it.

 

 

 

 

 

Gameport support pack for Vista

 

Allows a limited number of gameport controllers to work on the x86 version of Windows Vista.

 

 

 

 

 

What Creative didn't like

 

I've learned how Creative enables or disables a feature for a specific model.

 

Alchemy:

 

My last ALchemy release (1.00.08) was complately unlocked and could be used with any sound device from any vendor.

 

Audigy cards:

 

Successfully enabled the software-based X-Fi Crystalizer for use with Audigy cards.

 

X-Fi:

 

Got Dolby Digital Live enabled on any X-Fi card. To clarify, I still didn't manage to enable DDL on Audigy cards.

 

A friend of mine bought a X-Fi, so I could test it, it really works.

 

The only current X-Fi based card that supports DDL is the Auzentech Prelude.

 

The P17 to Xtreme Audio mod

 

P17 is the codiname for a simple PCI audio controller that powers the Audigy LS/SE/Value, Live! 24-bit and X-Fi Xtreme Audio host-based soundcards.

 

Completely modded the P17 drivers to transform any Audigy LS/SE/Value and Live! 24-bit into a X-Fi Xtreme Audio (enabling Crystalizer).

 

 

 

 

 

Modding is OK

 

I don't think there was something wrong with mods themselves.

 

Modding is a common practice among enthusiasts and I don't recall some company threatning a modder, unless you allow an exclusive feature to be used with competitor products (ie: SLI on non-NVIDIA chipsers or ALchemy on competitor products, as I've said before).

 

Remember the Promise Ultra to Fasttrak mod? It was even published on a well known review site.

 

There was also the GeForce to Quadro mod, the NVIDIA nForce 4 to SLI mod, also published on review sites.

 

 

 

What I did wrong

 

I've asked for donations.

 

Do I really need the money? No, thank God I don't.

 

I thought it would be ok to ask for donations so I could buy new hardware to support.

 

I did buy some hardware: an used Live! 5.1 for ~$15 and a new Audigy SE for $60.

 

Computer hardware is really expensive here in Brazil.

 

An X-Fi Xtreme Gamer costs about $240 here, with taxes and shipping, The same card can be bought for ~$80 in the US.

 

I just can't spend my money buying new hardware that I won't even use.

 

Even the features I've enabled, I don't use.

 

Later I tried to encourage donations to release the DDL feature for X-Fi and Crystalizer for Audigy.

 

I said something like "the more people donate, the faster I'll release".

 

This was even worse, but I was so eager to modding that I didn't think straight. I was hoping to get a X-Fi asap.

 

While I did ask for donations, once released, the downloads would be public.

 

I do recognize that I deserve some criticism for that.

 

To date, I've got $146, with amounts ranging from $1 to $50 (this value is still uncleared).

 

Reversing ALchemy was also wrong, I know. But I reiterate, what is the point of improving ALchemy and changing for it, when it requires an improved driver? It was my protest against Creative.

 

 

 

 

 

What Creative did wrong

 

- They publicly threatened me, just to show their arrogance.

 

If they had contacted me by e-mail or private message I would do the same thing (remove everything) and no one would know about their insatisfaction.

 

- Removed everything I posted in the forums, even if unrelated to the "forbidden" stuff.

 

If they can't provide better drivers, let people make their own choice.

 

- They did not recognize my hard work.

 

I've been supporting about every Creative PCI soundcard, would even support USB devices if I had one of them.

 

To date, the Audigy Vista Support Pack was downloaded about 20,000 times.

 

 

 

 

 

The current situation

 

DDL encoder and Crystalizer were not publicly released.

 

I've deleted the P17 to Xtreme Audio mod and ALchemy from FileFront (where I store the files).

 

I've been told they will allow me to continue with my mods, except the "forbidden" ones.

 

I'm also allowed to receive donations.

 

Download of my mods

http://hosted.filefront.com/braziliantech/

[/

 

I doubt I'll ever support another Creative product again.

 

[Yr1985]

Sack the Creative developer for creating fark up sound card driver and take this Amingo into the company instead. But i tell ya, this company cmi if they react like that, no wonder going downhill.

[Blackyv]

fyi, it seems like they are "purposely" creating fark up driver to "push" people go for newer card and upgrade..... marketing sh*t ??....wonder why user have to "pay" for a broken driver?? can someone sue them for "selling snake oil"??..

[Chisiang]

what a PR disaster! this is the classic PR failure case study that I studied. Now I think it will be included in every PR textbook from now onwards

 

This is quite typical of Singapore's pattern. The exact happened to the Singapore Virtual airline as well http://www.flyingtigersgroup.org/Singapore/History.htm

 

Other Airlines embraces fans worldwide and even help them build their site. But somehow, I think Singapore companies only likes milking money out of their consumers but not embracing their fans.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Chisiang

[Nutty]

It is likely to be their Product Management guys and not developers.

[Yr1985]

cos the founder is a Singaporean maybe?

[Sabian]

he ish a m'sian lah...

[Sabian]

not just the cards lor...

 

my colleague just got a creative mp3 player and it cannot be recharged other than a creative USB charger or adapter.

 

somehow the mp3 player can detect a compatible adapter (but not creative) and refuse to charge up.

 

All I say is: fark creative (so creative with "pissing off customer" stunts, spend more time coming up with apple worthy mp3 lah)

[Jamesgetz]

vista OS is a piece of crap and many hardware manufacturers are in cahoots with them.. i had to upgrade my printer after i switched to vista becos it doesn't support my old HP printer which was only 2 yrs old and perfectly fine. went to the HP printer web support and they blalantly state that they will not provide drivers for the printer... so that people are forced to buy new printers... pui!

[Slowmo]

err.... so you don't blame the HP people who stop the driver/update support for your HP printer but you blame vista instead? wow.

 

I wonder how you would have managed to move from DOS to windows if you ever started way back.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Slowmo

[Slowmo]

IMHO,

1) Asking for donations was wrong, no matter how you cut it. He screwed himself over on this. If he didn't ask for $, probably every non-creative affliate will stand behind him.

 

2) Creative sucks at PR, period. This is one example, the other one was trying to release their zen series with autograph by the CEO, in response to apple's N'sync (boy band) autographed ipod

 

I've stopped supporting creative products since the late 90s, purely I think that they don't have people writing decent drivers for their cards anymore. This article further confirms my resolution *not* to go near creative products in the near future.

 

I applaud this company's pioneer enterprenuer spirit, but I feel that they lost their way after the sound blaster pro series.

[Blackyv]

u r lucky.. at least it works..

 

my friend bought mp3, to cut short...he went down to service ctr 5 times!! and the last time, he throw the darm thing into their service ctr dustbin. period. another being sworn not to touch anything related to them.

[Sabian]

i still cannot understand how creative even think that the CEO's used lexus or his siggy on the mp3 player can even cut it as decent PR effort.

[Lexxmexx]

Really dog bite 呂洞賓. The Creative idiot must be worried that Daniel_K will steal his rice bowl.

[Kwchan]

Creative should hire him as chief SW Engineer before other sound card makers grabbed him

[Guyver]

fyi, it seems like they are "purposely" creating fark up driver to "push" people go for newer card and upgrade..... marketing sh*t ??....wonder why user have to "pay" for a broken driver?? can someone sue them for "selling snake oil"??..

 

Don't we always saw movies whereby the one that has the cure ... is the one that releases the virus?

[Slowmo]

fyi, it seems like they are "purposely" creating fark up driver to "push" people go for newer card and upgrade..... marketing sh*t ??....wonder why user have to "pay" for a broken driver?? can someone sue them for "selling snake oil"??..

 

you see.... thats the beauty (or ugliness) of I.P. the owner of the I.P. can do whatever they want to the product. The buyers can't do much about it, except file class action suits. They can't modify it for re-distribution, there is no current form of licensing (minus GPL) that empowers you that.

 

Basically creative is going : "lim peh chicken, lim peh want sell $1 or $100 is lim peh dai ji. Don't buy my chicken then pluck away all feathers then tell people lim peh chicken taste better without feathers."

 

It's just like the recent DRM rootkit that was installed by SONY if you play one of their original DVDs.

 

The problem here is users/buyers didn't know any better about the 'hiding' until this case become so dua zhong.... who to blame? makers or consumers?

 

 

Interestingly, recently apple got sued by someone for selling 'inferior' LCD monitors.

 

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/17442/1151/

[Normal_aspirated]

 

vista OS is a piece of crap and many hardware manufacturers are in cahoots with them.. i had to upgrade my printer after i switched to vista becos it doesn't support my old HP printer which was only 2 yrs old and perfectly fine. went to the HP printer web support and they blalantly state that they will not provide drivers for the printer... so that people are forced to buy new printers... pui!

..........sounds familiar lika "Wintel Conspiracy".