Which version best sound quality ? PLZ help

[henriette]

Hello,
I have been using v2.81 (TagBugFixVersion) for months now. Experiencing terrible sound probs BOTH IN WA AND WMP9! It might NOT be caused by WA! Was right from the start when uninst win98 and inst W2K by eng. same soundcard, same speakers then!

W2K Pro, I updated my BIOS, installed 4in1 4.48, DirectX 9.0a (see my specs).
So here my quests:

1. Which version has the best sound quality ? 2.91 or 2.95 compared to 2.81 improved ? What would you recommend me - should I wait till 2.95 final ? (have been waiting for 8 months now for fix for sound-prob - bought Turtle Beach SantaCruz - no way... distortion and crackling with latest WDM driver! Support gave in. That is why I hope that a new WA will help...
Have the plugins in 2.81:
wa2 update.exe (is said to be for 2.81 ONLY!)
in_mp3_dll (MPEGAudioDecoder 2.81b),
in_wave.dll (Nulls. waveform Dec. v 2.06)
in_midi.dll (wa2 MIDI plugin v 2.64)
out_ds.dll (v 2.26)
out_wave.dll --> delete??? (v 2.02a)

NOTE: I ONLY use WA for offline listening to MP3s + write tags, + use shuffle, let WA pick all wave sounds ( system also) --> NO ripping, streaming, videos, ogg vorbis skins (take default)etc.!

2. Want to keep Version for good.
3. NO BETA please.
4. Since my Onboard soundcard and my Santa cruz both support DirectSound, WHICH plugins exactly would I need for your recommended WA ? IN and OUT!
5. How to do a clean uninstall of 2.81 (full)both from PC and registry ?
6. What do I have to install exactly and what to "check" when installing (please for beginners - maybe I made a mistake when inst WA ... all possible)? ( full, std (meaning?), lite, full noaod) ?
7. Where do I get the dl for WA and plugins (sorry, read sooo much in here, cannot find it again)

Just to let you know:
I always have the sliders of WA EQ on top, to get some treble at least AND volume! Volume slider within WA = full
Have tried my best for month to play around with whatever.....!

I would be ever so thankful if you would help me - had no probs at all with win98. And last not least--- cannot live without !

Thank you...(sorry for being soooooo long)

henriette

[DJ Egg]

Disable the onboard sound chip in the BIOS
Then physically reinstall the Santa Cruz card
and install the latest drivers.

As long as your system, soundcard and speakers are all in working order,
the sound quality of Winamp 2.81 and 2.9x should be pretty much the same (ie. excellent).
Reinstall DX9.0a after installing the SantaCruz & drivers.


Winamp related:

Remove any 3rd-party plugins (if any installed).

All old versions @ www.winampheaven.net
2.81 update patch @ http://www.public.asu.edu/~abarber2/.../wa2update.exe

However, we recommend using 2.91 instead.
We don't support older versions, especially if bugs are fixed in newer versions.
If all you want is mp3 and wav support, uncheck all other components/features in the installer setup (eg. library, video, cddb, etc).

DirectSound Output config settings:
(Prefs -> Plugins -> Output -> out_ds.dll -> config)

Device tab:
Make sure Santa Cruz is selected as Output Device
Checkmark "allow hardware acceleration"
("create primary buffer" setting is only for older soundcards).

Buffering tab:
Checkmark "enable cpu usage control"


Volume settings:
If using EQ, don't move the Preamp slider up much more than half way (0dB).
The higher you go from here, the more the sound is likely to distort.
I certainly don't recommend going much higher than 4 to 5dB, not unless your system can handle it (note: most can't).

EQ levels do not want to be all at maximum either.
Leave the middle ones fairly level, the bass and treble ends can go higher if you wish, but too much bass can cause distortion, and too much treble can cause hissing.
Try some of the EQ presets.

Main winamp window volume slider seems ok at around 90% or less.

Increase volume sliders (main and wave) in Windows Volume Control mixer for more loudness. Adjust to taste.


Basic Uninstall -> Reinstall procedure:
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=50818

How to thoroughly uninstall Winamp:
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=49641
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?threadid=51699

[henriette]

DJ Egg

Thank you for your detailed posting + all the links.

Anyway, I have to tell you more about my probs:

Quest: Do you want me to dl/install the FULL version of 2.91 ?
Or do you want me to "live" with v2.81 after you read the following:
1.

Device tab: Checkmark "allow hardware acceleration"

whenever I check "hardware acceleration" the volume is too low!
[both for onboardcard and ext. soundcard].
The windows-sounds are 4 times louder than it used to be with win98, so I cannot move the slider of "wave" higher than 20% with ext.soundcard (but higher with onboardcard). "main"(volume) slider only about 10%, otherwise HIGHEST (horrible)distortion of windows-sounds with external soundcard.
NOTE: used to be the same with creative SB at beginning, taken over from win98 to W2K + same speakers then, too!
After trying for months I have the "best" sound with onboard card. Still lacking very much in treble + some technical based noise etc. = board, although updated BIOS!
Not tried Santa Cruz with updated BIOS + 4in1 4.48 yet!! - But as long as I am having big sound probs with onboard soundcard still, there must be abother reason for it.
Anyway, no final solution - want Santa Cruz back in.
But much much worse sound with Santa Cruz! (crackling even when del tmps or so + internet! AND highest distortion - here I have to tell you that my speakers also have separated treble, bass and volume + the fact that the Santa Cruz has a 20MB software which also includes an own control panel with EQ!!!).

JUST dawned on me: at this point I have WA shut down!!!! --> AYA! So WA cannot be the reason for bad sound quality - what is your recommendation I should/could do about it ?
W2K has been installed by an "PC-expert", who did not install 4in1 right, and dared not updating BIOS!
I am uncapable to install W2K(howwwwlll!)- "living on" images ...

In order to get enough volume I GOTTA uncheck "hardware acceleration" (is not active when using onboardsoundcard)in Winamp + have to turn on EQ (about preamp little less than 0dB to avoid distortion), also have to always move EQ treble sliders (up from 1kHz) to the very top + have to move volume slider to 100% !!!!

2. I have checked (2.81): "enable cpu usage control" in buffering tab.

ooohhh, if I only knew what's wrong with my PC!
Quest: HOW to get DX9.0a for install once uninstalled - you said "reinstall", how? (I read about un uninstaller that they say it would NOT work)... please help! + how to get the wind-update for it again ?

Adjust to taste.

How I wish I could

Maybe you get a "brainflash" ?

Hoping for your reply AND THANK YOU SO FAR, please forgive me for being so terribly long
henriette

[DJ Egg]

Motherboard updates

http://www.dfi.com/product/productlist.asp

Note: If IE says you need to install "Korean language pack" click "cancel".
(Page still displays ok without installing Korean language pack)

Scroll down for the "Socket A" section
Then click "AK74-EC" link
On the new page, click "Driver" link
Download the VIA Service Pack & Audio Drivers (2 separate zip files)
Install new drivers.


Re: Winamp 2.91
Download the "Standard" version
Uncheck whatever components/features you don't require in the installer setup.

DirectX 9.0a
www.microsoft.com/directx/

[henriette]

Hiya DJ Egg

I am just going to start updating my motherboard (will see if I did that already... can tell when I see the #). Please see bottom of this posting.

1 quest to DX9.0a:
You were so kind to give me the link for installing.
Don't I have to uninstall it first ? (Or do you mean just overwrite?)
And if, HOW?

There also was an update for it - how to get that after installing - I don't think I will get it from MS as "windows update" again.

Thank you ever so much

henriette

P.S.: I am not going to install the dfi AudioDriver, cause I have already installed the ComboAudio v3.50c from VIA
http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=69
Hope I am right by doing so - Combo is dated 2003!

P.P.S.: Neither shall I install the dfi VIA ServicePack, since it's 4in1 v4.28!
I already installed 4in1 v 4.48. (latest one from VIA, dated 2003)

I will patiently wait for your reply.
Thank you