X-Fi Fatal1ty and Xbox 360 crackling and popping noises

barslan · Oct 24, 2009, 03:32 AM

Hi all,

I currently have my XBOX 360 connected via optical/TosLink to my Fatal1ty X-Fi (PCI). I'm also using a special driver (Youp-pax ... etc ...) that allows the onboard hardware to decode dolby digital, otherwise I wouldn't be able to run 5.1 surround sound with my XBOX 360.

I'm experiencing crackling and popping noises when I have the XBOX 360 set to Dolby Digital 5.1 and I haven't got the slightest clue as to what is causing it. Some games sound fine but certain frequencies cause it crackle severely. For example, in Mass Effect, during the cut-scene of the ship transporting to another sector, that loud noise causes crackling and popping. In Dead Space, I hear NO crackling in the front end, but in-game, I get crackling from the fire sounds in the background, when I stomp on the ground, fire weapons,... pretty much anything that is loud or goes through a range of frequencies. What's very odd is that if I set the console to Dolby Stereo, there is no crackling or popping whatsoever.
I've tried different drivers (with the special DTS/Dolby unlocker), I've tried different modes (Audio creation mode with bitmatching, etc.
As a note, this has happened on XP, and Vista.
As a second note, I don't experience any sort of distortion, crackling, popping or otherwise during normal gaming, music, DVD's, HD movies on my PC. DVD's and HD Movies play through the onboard Dolby decoder and it sounds fantastic. For some reason it just seems like the XBOX 360 is not happy with the optical/toslink connection.

Does anyone have any clues as to what I can try to resolve this issue?

Thank you.

BlueMak · Oct 24, 2009, 12:59 PM

It's not a Xbox 360 problem (for once). Unfortunately Creative nowdays build shit soundcards.
I used to have this issue, some times muting certain inputs/outputs would help, most often not. Mind you I did not use the toslink at all.
The only thing that would help was reboot of the PC. Some times the problem would go away for the session.
As a fellow (ex) owner of the card I have an advice for you, stay away from Creative sound cards.

BTW, am I right to assume that not using 5.1 you get perfect sound every time? If yes, consider yourself lucky.
Have you tried to set the soundcard to 5.1 audio while leaving the Xbox on stereo and see how it goes?

Oct 24, 2009, 03:32 AM	#1
barslan DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	X-Fi Fatal1ty and Xbox 360 crackling and popping noises Hi all, I currently have my XBOX 360 connected via optical/TosLink to my Fatal1ty X-Fi (PCI). I'm also using a special driver (Youp-pax ... etc ...) that allows the onboard hardware to decode dolby digital, otherwise I wouldn't be able to run 5.1 surround sound with my XBOX 360. I'm experiencing crackling and popping noises when I have the XBOX 360 set to Dolby Digital 5.1 and I haven't got the slightest clue as to what is causing it. Some games sound fine but certain frequencies cause it crackle severely. For example, in Mass Effect, during the cut-scene of the ship transporting to another sector, that loud noise causes crackling and popping. In Dead Space, I hear NO crackling in the front end, but in-game, I get crackling from the fire sounds in the background, when I stomp on the ground, fire weapons,... pretty much anything that is loud or goes through a range of frequencies. What's very odd is that if I set the console to Dolby Stereo, there is no crackling or popping whatsoever. I've tried different drivers (with the special DTS/Dolby unlocker), I've tried different modes (Audio creation mode with bitmatching, etc. As a note, this has happened on XP, and Vista. As a second note, I don't experience any sort of distortion, crackling, popping or otherwise during normal gaming, music, DVD's, HD movies on my PC. DVD's and HD Movies play through the onboard Dolby decoder and it sounds fantastic. For some reason it just seems like the XBOX 360 is not happy with the optical/toslink connection. Does anyone have any clues as to what I can try to resolve this issue? Thank you.

Oct 24, 2009, 12:59 PM	#2
BlueMak DH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 8,238 Rep Power: 117 System Specs	Re: X-Fi Fatal1ty and Xbox 360 crackling and popping noises It's not a Xbox 360 problem (for once). Unfortunately Creative nowdays build shit soundcards. I used to have this issue, some times muting certain inputs/outputs would help, most often not. Mind you I did not use the toslink at all. The only thing that would help was reboot of the PC. Some times the problem would go away for the session. As a fellow (ex) owner of the card I have an advice for you, stay away from Creative sound cards. BTW, am I right to assume that not using 5.1 you get perfect sound every time? If yes, consider yourself lucky. Have you tried to set the soundcard to 5.1 audio while leaving the Xbox on stereo and see how it goes? __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*