Environmental Audio Extensions
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The Environmental Audio Extensions (or EAX) are a number of digital signal processing presets for audio, present in Creative Technology Sound Blaster sound cards starting with the Sound Blaster Live and the Creative NOMAD/Creative ZEN product lines. Due to the release of Windows Vista in 2007, which deprecated the DirectSound3D API that EAX was based on, Creative discouraged EAX implementation in favour of its OpenAL-based EFX equivalent – though at that point relatively few games used the API.
Contents
• EAX 1.0
• EAX 2.0
• EAX 3.0
• EAX 4.0
• EAX 5.0
• See also
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Technology
EAX is a library of extensions to Microsoft's DirectSound3D, itself an extension to DirectSound introduced with DirectX 3 in 1996 with the intention to standardize 3D audio for Microsoft Windows, adding environmental audio presets to DS3D's audio positioning. Ergo, the aim of EAX has nothing to do with 3D audio positioning, this is usually done by a sound library like DirectSound3D or OpenAL. Rather, EAX can be seen as a library of sound effects written and compiled to be executed on a DSP instead of the CPU, often called "hardware-accelerated".
The aim of EAX was to create more ambiance within video games by more accurately simulating a real-world audio environment. Up to EAX 2.0, the technology was based around the effects engine aboard the E-mu 10K1 on Creative Technology's and the Maestro2 on ESS1968 chipset driven sound cards. The hardware accelerated effects engine is an E-mu FX8010 DSP integrated into the Creative Technology's audio chip and was historically used to enhance MIDI output by adding effects (such as reverb and chorus) to the sampled instruments on 'wavetable' sample-based synthesis cards (which is often confused with the "wavetable synthesis" developed by Wolfgang Palm of PPG and Michael Mcnabb in the late-1970s, however not related). A similar effects DSP was also present on Creative's cards back to the AWE 32. However, the EMU10K1's DSP was faster and more flexible and was able to produce not only MIDI output but also other outputs, including the digital sound section.
Developers taking advantage of EAX choose an environment for their game's setting and the sound card uses the mathematical DSP digital filter presets for that environment. The original EAX was quite primitive, only offering 26 presets and 3 parameters for more accurate adjustment of the listener parameters and 1 parameter for the sources. Each revision of the technology increased the available effects. EAX Advanced HD (also known as EAX 3) and up provide support for new environmental transitions, new effects, and multiple active effects. Further additions include smooth changes between EAX environment presets and audio occlusion effects (simulating a wall between player and sound source).
EAX was used in many popular titles of the time, including Half-Life, Unreal Tournament, Splinter Cell, Rogue Spear, Doom 3, F.E.A.R., Counter-Strike, and Prey. These games support EAX 4.0 if audio hardware with an OpenAL-supporting driver is present. Because hardware acceleration for DirectSound and DirectSound3D was dropped in Windows Vista,cite-ref-1[1] OpenAL runtime software is required to enable EAX in many games, it still functions in Windows 10, although OpenAL was also discontinued by Creative. OpenAL Soft, an open source version of OpenAL, is still actively maintained, and can be used by game developers, and to enable EAX sound in older games.
Most releases of EAX versions coincided with increases in the number of simultaneous voices processable in hardware by the audio processor: the original EAX 1.0 supports 8 voices, while EAX 5.0 allows 128 voices (and up to 4 effects applied to each). Creative cards are generally backwards compatible with older EAX versions, although hardware accelerated DSP processing of these effects only happens on cards with EMU chips. Most audio solutions from Creative released after the X-Fi Titanium HD (except for the Audigy Rx) and other companies offer EAX software emulation of varying degrees instead.
EAX 1.0
• 8 simultaneous voices processable in hardware
• 32 individual 3D voices
• Environmental Effect Presets
• Per-channel individual environmental presets
• Hardware DSP renderingcite-ref-2[2]
• Specification released in 1998
EAX 2.0
EAX 2.0 is supported by Sound Blaster Live! sound cards
• 32 simultaneous voices processable in hardware
• Occlusion Effects
• Material-specific reverb parameterscite-ref-3[3]
• Specification released in 1999
EAX 3.0
EAX 3.0 is supported by E-mu 10K-based products such as the Sound Blaster Audigy
• 64 simultaneous voices processable in hardware
• 'Smoothing' between 3D audio environments
• Direct access to all reverb parameters
• Environmental Panning
• New reverb engine
• Beginning of the AdvancedHD Designation from new reverb engine
EAX 4.0
EAX 4.0 is supported by Audigy series sound cards.
• Real-time hardware effects
• Multiple simultaneous environments
• Flanger
• Echo
• Specification released in 2003
EAX 5.0
EAX 5.0 is supported by E-mu 20K-based products such as the Sound Blaster X-Fi.
• 128 simultaneous voices processable in hardware and up to 4 effects on each
• EAX Voice (processing of microphone input signal)
• EAX PurePath (EAX Sound effects can originate from one speaker only)
• Environment FlexiFX (four available effects slots per channel)
• EAX MacroFX (realistic positional effects at close range)
• Environment Occlusion (sound from adjacent environments can pass through walls)
• Specification released in 2005
Future development
In Creative's OpenAL 1.1 specification, an alternative software system for 3D sound which Creative made, EAX should be considered deprecated as a developer interface. New development should use OpenAL's EFX interface, which emulates all previous EAX functionality and is more tightly coupled with the overall OpenAL framework.cite-ref-7[7]
Creative stopped updating OpenAL also, although an open source version, OpenAL Soft is still actively maintained.
EAX emulation
When Windows Vista discontinued DirectSound3D, Creative made a software package called OpenAL which allows many Windows EAX-carrying games to play software and hardware (soundcard driven) mode EAX with varying success. OpenAL builds on the EAX extensions with EFX extensions. OpenAL still installs and functions on Windows 10, although is no longer actively maintained and released. An open source version called OpenAL Soft is available which is actively maintained, although it has less support for all versions of EAX.
Realtek released the "Realtek 3D Soundback Beta 0.1" software package to allow Realtek cards to play EAX and DirectSound3D on Windows Vista and newer operating systems. It may work with your Realtek soundcard in Windows 10. It requires Windows Vista compatibility mode to install.
nForce soundcards feature native support for EAX. The games that use EAX with nForce may need files changed to run properly.
Rapture3D supports EAX, it is a commercial wrapper for OpenAL used in games such as Dirt 3.
In addition to physical soundcard devices, Creative released EAX emulation software (Creative ALchemy) for a range of computers and motherboards that had Creative-made onboard audio. Creative ALchemy will not function unless it detects a Creative Labs device.
Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB
• The Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB includes Creative Audio Center, Creative MediaSource 5 Player/Organizer, Creative WaveStudio 7, Creative ALchemy;
Also known as Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB, it is similar to Audigy 2 SE, but the software supports EAX 3.0, which supports 64-channel software wavetable (sample-based synthesis) with DirectSound acceleration, but without hardware accelerated 'wavetable' sample-based synthesis. DAC is rated 95 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio.
Later versions of the driver support EAX 5.0.
Sound Blaster X-Fi MB
• The Sound Blaster X-Fi MB includes Entertainment Console, Creative Karaoke Player, Creative MediaSource 5 Player/Organizer, Creative WaveStudio 7, Creative Audio Console, Creative ALchemy.
It features:
• EAX 5.0 and OpenAL support
• Crystallizer
• CMSS-3D
• SVM
• Graphic Equalizer
• Creative ALchemy (Windows Vista and Windows 7 only, is used for providing EAX in Vista)
• Console Launcher (Entertainment Mode)
• Audio Console
• Karaoke Player
• Creative WaveStudio
• Creative MediaSource
Unlike its predecessor, Audigy Advanced MB, X-Fi MB does not include a software-based SoundFont synthesizer. Another difference is that it has the option to run in 30-day trial mode.
Audio player versions
EAX-like technology is also present in several digital audio players by Creative Technologies, such as the NOMAD and ZEN lines. In these devices, the following effects and features are implemented:
• Different reverb-like environments
• Speed-shifting (slower or faster)
• Environment adaptation (train, plane, public place etc.)
• Sound image (broad, narrow etc.)
• A simple graphical equalizer
Games with EAX Support
| Game | EAX 1 | EAX 2 | EAX HD 3 | EAX HD 4 | EAX HD 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 to Life | | | | | |
| Abomination: The Nemesis Project | X | | | | |
| Age of Empires III | | | | | |
| Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures | | | | | |
| Alias | | | | | |
| Aliens versus Predator | X | | | | |
| Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare | | | | | |
| Alpha Centauri | X | | | | |
| Alpha Prime | | | | X | |
| America's Army | | | X | | |
| American McGee's Alice | | X | | | |
| Anachronox | X | | | | |
| Aquanox | X | | | | |
| Aquanox 2 | | | | | |
| ArmA: Armed Assault | | | | | |
| Arx Fatalis | | | | | |
| Assassin's Creed | | | | X | |
| Baldur's Gate | X | | | | |
| Baldur's Gate 2 | X | | | | |
| Battle Isle: The Andosia War | | | | | |
| Battle for Middle-earth | | | X | | |
| Battle for Middle Earth 2 | | | X | | |
| Battlezone | X | | | | |
| Battlezone II: Combat Commander | X | | | | |
| Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of… | | | | | |
| Battlefield 2 | X | X | X | X | X |
| Battlefield 2142 | X | X | X | X | X |
| Battlefield Vietnam | | X | X | | |
| Battlezone II | X | | | | |
| Beyond Good & Evil | | | | | |
| BioShock | | | | | X |
| Black & White | | | | | |
| Blade of Darkness | X | | | | |
| The Blair Witch Project Volume I-III | X | | | | |
| Blood II: The Chosen & The Nightmare Le… | X | | | | |
| BloodRayne | | | X | | |
| Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 | | | | | |
| Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood | | | | | |
| Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 | | | X | | |
| Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway | | | | | |
| Call of Duty | X | X | X | | |
| Call of Duty 2 | X | X | X | | |
| Call of Juarez | | | | | |
| Carmageddon: The Death Race 2000 | | X | | | |
| Carnivores: Cityscape | X | | | | |
| Carnivores: Ice Age | | X | | | |
| Carnivores 2 | | X | | | |
| Catwoman | | | | | |
| Cellfactor: Revolution | | | | | |
| Chaser | | | | | |
| Chrome | | | | | |
| Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butc… | | | | | |
| Civilization IV | | X | X | X | |
| Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword | | X | X | X | |
| Civilization IV: Warlords | | X | X | X | |
| Civilization IV: Colonization | | X | X | X | |
| City of Heroes | | | | | |
| City of Villains | | | | | |
| Clive Barker's Undying | | | | | |
| Cold War | | | X | | |
| Colin McRae Rally 3 | | | | | |
| Colin McRae Rally 04 | | | | X | |
| Colin McRae Rally 2005 | | | | X | |
| Colin McRae: Dirt | | | | | X |
| Combat: Task Force 121 | | | | | |
| Command & Conquer: Generals | | | | | |
| Command & Conquer: Renegade | | X | | | |
| Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars | | | | | |
| Commandos Strike Force | | | | | |
| Condemned: Criminal Origins | | | | X | |
| Conflict: Global Storm | | | | | |
| Conflict: Vietnam | | | | | |
| Counter-Strike | | X | | | |
| Crime Cities | X | | | | |
| Croc 2 | X | | | | |
| Crusaders of Might and Magic | X | | | | |
| Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason | | | | | |
| Crysis | | | | | |
| Crysis Warhead | | | | | |
| Daikatana | | | | | |
| Dark and Light | | | | | |
| Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath No… | | | | | |
| Dark Vengeance | X | | | | |
| Day of Defeat | | X | | | |
| Demolition Racer | X | | | | |
| Descent 3 | | X | | | |
| Descent 4 | | X | | | |
| Descent Freespace | X | | | | |
| Deus Ex | X | | | | |
| Diablo II | X | X | | | |
| Die Hard Trilogy 2: Viva Las Vegas | X | | | | |
| Divine Divinity | | | | | |
| Dogs of War: Battle on Primus IV | X | | | | |
| Doom 3 | | | | X | |
| Doom 3: BFG Edition | | | | | |
| Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair | X | | | | |
| Drakan | X | | | | |
| Dreamfall: The Longest Journey | | | X | X | |
| Driver | X | | | | |
| Driver 3 | | | X | | |
| Driver: Parallel Lines | | | X | | |
| Drome Racers | | | | | |
| Dronez | X | | | | |
| Dungeon Keeper II | X | | | | |
| Dungeon Lords | | | | | |
| Dungeon Siege | X | | | | |
| Dungeon Siege 2 | | | | | |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard | | | | | |
| East Front | | | | | |
| E-racer | | | | | |
| El Matador | | | | | X |
| Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | | | | | |
| Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | | X | | | |
| Elite Warriors: Vietnam | X | X | X | | |
| Enter the Matrix | | | | | X |
| Eurofighter Typhoon | | X | | | |
| Euro League Football | X | | | | |
| EverQuest | X | | | | |
| EverQuest 2 | | | | | |
| Evil Dead: Hail to the King | X | | | | |
| Evolva | X | | | | |
| Expendable | X | | | | |
| F.E.A.R. | | X | X | X | |
| F.E.A.R. Extraction Point | | X | X | X | |
| F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate | | X | X | X | |
| F1 Grand Prix 4 | X | | | | |
| Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | | X | | | |
| Fallout 3 | | | | | |
| Far Cry | | X | | | |
| Far Cry 2 | | | X | | |
| FIFA 99 | X | | | | |
| Final Fantasy VIII | | X | | | |
| Final Fantasy XI | | | | | |
| Flying Heros | | | | | |
| Ford Racing | X | | | | |
| Freedom Force | X | X | | | |
| Freedom: The Battle for Liberty Island… | | | | | |
| Freelancer | | | | | |
| Freespace 2 | X | | | | |
| From Dusk Till Dawn | X | | | | |
| Full Spectrum Warrior | | | | | |
| Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers | | | | | |
| Fur Fighters | X | | | | |
| Future Beat 3D | | | | | |
| Gears of War | | | | | |
| Ghost Master | | | | | |
| Giants: Citizen Kabuto | X | | | | |
| Global Operations | | | | | |
| The Godfather | | | | | |
| Gothic | X | X | | | |
| Gothic 2 | X | X | | | |
| Gothic 3 | | | | | |
| GP 500 | X | | | | |
| Grand Theft Auto II | X | | | | |
| Grand Theft Auto III | X | | X | | |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | X | | X | | |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | X | X | X | X | |
| Spec Ops II: Green Berets | X | | | | |
| Race Driver: Grid | | | | | |
| Guild Wars | | | | | |
| Gulf War: Operation Desert Hammer | X | | | | |
| GUN | | | | | |
| Half-Life | X | | | | |
| Half-Life: Blue Shift | X | | | | |
| Half-Life: Opposing Force | X | | | | |
| Halo: Combat Evolved | | X | | | |
| Hardware | X | | | | |
| Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.² | | X | | | |
| Heli Heroes | X | | | | |
| Hellgate: London | | | | | |
| Heretic II | X | | | | |
| Heroes of Might and Magic V | | | | | |
| Hidden & Dangerous 2 | | | X | | |
| High Heat Baseball 2000 | X | | | | |
| High Heat Baseball 2002 | X | | | | |
| Hitman 2: Silent Assassin | | | X | | |
| Hitman: Blood Money | | | | X | |
| Hitman: Codename 47 | | X | | | |
| Hitman: Contracts | | | | X | |
| Hostile Waters | X | | | | |
| Icewind Dale | X | | | | |
| Icewind Dale 2 | X | | | | |
| IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 | X | X | X | | |
| Incoming Forces | | X | | | |
| Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine | | | | | |
| Infernal | | | | | |
| Isabelle | X | | | | |
| James Bond 007: Nightfire | | | | | |
| JHexen | | X | | | |
| Juiced | | | | | |
| Jurassic Park: Trespasser | | | | | |
| Kane & Lynch: Dead Men | | | | | |
| Killing Floor | | | X | | |
| Killing Floor 2 | | | | | X |
| Klingon Honor Guard | | | | | |
| Lander | X | | | | |
| Legends of Might and Magic | | X | | | |
| Lego Racers 2 | | | | | |
| Lineage II | | | | | |
| Line of Sight: Vietnam | X | X | X | | |
| The Lord of the Rings Online | | | | | |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of th… | | | | | |
| Lost Pain: TakeDown | | | | | |
| Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter | | | | | |
| Madden NFL 2000 | X | | | | |
| Madden NFL 99 | X | | | | |
| Mafia | | | X | | |
| Mage Knight: Apocalypse | | | | | |
| Manhunt | | | X | | |
| Martian Gothic: Unification | X | | | | |
| Mass Effect | | | X | X | X |
| The Matrix Online | | | | | |
| The Matrix: Path of Neo | | | | | |
| Max Payne | | | | | |
| Max Payne 2 | | X | | | |
| MDK2 | X | | | | |
| MechWarrior 4 | X | | | | |
| Medal of Honor Allied Assault | X | X | | | |
| Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault | | | | | |
| Medieval II: Total War | | | | X | |
| Men of War: Assault Squad | | | | | |
| Messiah | | X | | | |
| Midnight GT | | X | | | |
| Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor | X | X | | | |
| Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destro… | X | | | | |
| Might and Magic IX | | X | | | |
| Monster Madness | | | | | |
| Mortyr 2093 - 1944 | X | | | | |
| Most Wanted | | | | | |
| Moto Racer 2 | X | | | | |
| Motocross Madness 2 | | | | | |
| Motorhead | X | | | | |
| Mutant Chronicles: Warzone Online | X | | | | |
| Myst Online: Uru Live | | | | | |
| Myst V: End of Ages | | | | | |
| Myth II: Soulblighter | X | | | | |
| Myth III | X | | | | |
| NASCAR Revolution | X | | | | |
| Need for Speed: Carbon | | | | | |
| Need For Speed: High Stakes | X | | | | |
| Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit | X | | | | |
| Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 | | | | | |
| Need for Speed: Most Wanted | | | | | |
| Need for Speed: Underground 2 | | | | | |
| Nerf Arena Blast | X | | | | |
| Neverwinter Nights | X | X | X | | |
| Neverwinter Nights 2 | X | X | X | | |
| New York Race | | | | | |
| NHL 2000 | | | | | |
| No One Lives Forever | | | | | |
| No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.… | | X | | | |
| Nocturne | X | | | | |
| Off Road | X | | | | |
| Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis | | | | | |
| Operation Flashpoint: Resistance | | | | | |
| Operation Flashpoint 2 | | | | | |
| Outcast | X | | | | |
| Pacman 3D | | | | | |
| Painkiller | | | X | | |
| Panzer Elite | X | | | | |
| Pariah | | | | | |
| Paris Dakar Rally | | | X | | |
| Peter Jackson's King Kong | | | | | |
| Planescape: Torment | X | | | | |
| PlanetSide | | | | | |
| Play Online | | | | | |
| Populous: The Beginning | X | | | | |
| Powerslide | X | | | | |
| Prey (2006 video game) | | | | | |
| Prince of Persia 2008 | | | | | |
| Prince of Persia: 3D | X | | | | |
| Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones | | | | X | |
| Prince of Persia: Warrior Within | X | X | X | | |
| Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | | | X | | |
| Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 | | | | | |
| Project Eden | X | | | | |
| Project I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike | | | | | |
| Psychonauts | | | | | |
| Quake 4 | | | | | X |
| Rage Rally | | X | | | |
| Rail Simulator | | | | | |
| Railroad Tycoon 3 | X | X | X | | |
| Rally Championship 2000 | X | | | | |
| Re-Volt | | X | | | |
| Red Faction | X | | | | |
| Red Faction 2 | | | | | |
| Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 | | | | | |
| Redline Racer | X | | | | |
| The Regiment | | | | | |
| Rent A Hero (1999) | X | | | | |
| Requiem: Avenging Angel | X | | | | |
| Resident Evil 2 | X | | | | |
| Revenant | X | | | | |
| Revolution | | | | | |
| Rent a Hero | | | | | |
| Richard Burns Rally | | | | | |
| Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 | | | | | |
| Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends | | | | | |
| Road Wars | X | | | | |
| Rollcage | X | | | | |
| Rollcage Stage II | X | | | | |
| Rome: Total War | | X | X | | |
| Rune: The Halls of Valhalla | | X | | | |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl | | X | | | |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky | | X | | | |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat | | X | | | |
| Sacred | | | | | |
| Sacrifice | X | | | | |
| Sammy Sosa: Softball Slam | X | | | | |
| Sanity: Aiken's Artifact | X | | | | |
| Scarface: The World Is Yours | | | | | |
| Screamer 4x4 | | | | | |
| Secret Service: In Harm’s Way | | | X | | |
| Sega Rally Championship | X | | | | |
| Serious Sam | X | | | | |
| Serious Sam 2 | | X | X | | |
| Serious Sam: The First Encounter | | X | | | |
| Serious Sam: The Second Encounter | | X | | | |
| Shade: Wrath of Angels | | | X | | |
| Shadow Ops: Red Mercury | | | | | |
| Shadow Force: Razor Unit | | | X | | |
| Shogo: Mobile Armor Division | X | | | | |
| Sid Meier's Pirates! | | | | | |
| Sid Meier's Railroads! | | | X | | |
| Silent Hunter 3 | | | | | |
| Silkroad Online | | | | | |
| The Sims 2 Seasons | | | | | |
| SimCity 3000 | X | | | | |
| SimTheme Park | X | | | | |
| SiN | X | | | | |
| SiN: Wages of Sin | | | | | |
| Slave Zero | | X | | | |
| Sniper: Art of Victory | | | X | | |
| Soldier of Fortune | | X | | | |
| Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix | | | X | | |
| Soldier of Fortune: Payback | | | | | |
| Soldner: Secret Wars | | | | | |
| Space Force: Rogue Universe | | | | | |
| Spec Ops 2: Green Berets | X | | | | |
| SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars | | | | | |
| Spirit of Speed | X | | | | |
| Starcraft | | | | | |
| Star Trek: Bridge Commander | | | | | |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen | X | | | | |
| Star Trek: Elite Force II | | | X | | |
| Star Trek: Next Generation Klingon Hono… | X | | | | |
| Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force | | X | | | |
| Star Wars: Battlefront | | | | X | |
| Star Wars Battlefront 2 | | | | | |
| Star Wars Empire at War | | | | | |
| Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corr… | | | | | |
| Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | X | | | | |
| Star Wars Galaxies | | X | | | |
| Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast | | | X | | |
| Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy | | | | X | |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | | | X | | |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 | | | X | | |
| Star Wars Republic Commando | | | X | | |
| STOLEN | | | | | |
| Street Racing Syndicate | | | | | |
| Stronghold | X | | | | |
| Stubbs the Zombie | | | | | |
| Stunt GP | | | | | |
| The Suffering | | | | | |
| The Suffering: Ties That Bind | | | | | |
| Sum of All Fears | | | | | |
| Summoner | X | | | | |
| Superbike 2001 | X | | | | |
| Supreme Commander | | | | | |
| SWAT 4 | | | | | |
| Swedish Touring Car Championship | X | | | | |
| Swedish Touring Car Championship 2 | X | | | | |
| System Shock 2 | X | | | | |
| The Temple of Elemental Evil | | | | | |
| Terminus | X | | | | |
| Test Drive | | | | | |
| Test Drive 6 | X | | | | |
| Test Drive Rally | | X | | | |
| Test Drive Unlimited | | | | | |
| The Devil Inside | X | | | | |
| The Wheel Of Time | X | | | | |
| Theme Park World | | | | | |
| Thief: Deadly Shadows | | | X | X | |
| Thief II: The Metal Age | | X | | | |
| Thief: The Dark Project | X | | | | |
| The Dark Mod - unofficial spin-off to t… | | | | | |
| Thievery UT | | | | | |
| TimeShift | | | | | |
| Titan Quest | | | | | |
| Titan Quest: Immortal Throne | | | | | |
| TMNT | | | | | |
| TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter | X | | | | |
| TOCA Race Driver | | | X | | |
| TOCA Race Driver 2 | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon | | X | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warf… | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Desert Siege | | X | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear &… | | X | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 | | | | | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield | | | X | | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | | | X | | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | | | X | | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent | | | X | | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tom… | | | X | | |
| Tom Clancy's The Sum Of All Fears | | X | | | |
| Tomb Raider: Anniversary | | | | | |
| Tomb Raider: Legend | | | | | |
| Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness | | | X | | |
| TrackMania Nations Forever | | | | | |
| Trackmania Original | | | | | |
| Trespasser: Jurassic Park | X | | | | |
| Tribes 2 | X | | | | |
| Triple Play 2000 | X | | | | |
| TRON 2.0 | | | X | | |
| Tzar | | | | | |
| UFO Afterlight | | | | | |
| UFO Aftermath | | | | | |
| UFO Aftershock | | | | | |
| Ultim@te Race Rally | X | | | | |
| Ultim@te Race Pro | X | | | | |
| Ultima: Ascension | X | | | | |
| Undying | X | | | | |
| Universe at War: Earth Assault | | | | | |
| Unreal | X | | | | |
| Unreal Tournament | | X | | | |
| Unreal Tournament 2003 | | | X | | |
| Unreal Tournament 2004 | | | X | | X |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | | | | | |
| Unreal II: The Awakening | | | X | | |
| Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy | X | | | | |
| Urban Chaos | X | | | | |
| Uru: Ages Beyond Myst | | | | | |
| Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines | | X | | | |
| Vanguard: Saga of Heroes | | | | | |
| VBS1 | | | | | |
| VBS2 | | | | | |
| Vietcong | X | | X | | |
| Vietcong 2 | | | X | | |
| Vivisector: Beast Inside | | | | | |
| Warcraft III | | X | | | |
| Wargasm | | | | | |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm | | | X | | |
| Warhammer: Mark of Chaos | | | | | |
| Warlords Battlecry | | X | | | |
| Warmonger | | | | | |
| Way Point Zeta | X | | | | |
| The Wheel of Time | | | | | |
| Wild Metal Country | X | | | | |
| Wild Wild West: The Steel Assassin | X | | | | |
| The Witcher | | | | | |
| Wizardry 8 | | X | | | |
| World of Warcraft | | | | | |
| WWII Tank Commander | | | | | |
| X3 Reunion | | | | | |
| Xpand Rally | | | | | |
| Ys: The Oath in Felghana | | X | | | |
| Ys: Origin | | X | | | |
| Game | Notes |
|---|---|
| Age of Empires III | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Assassin's Creed | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Baldur's Gate 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Battle for Middle Earth 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Battlefield 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Battlefield 2142 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Battlefield Vietnam | * Supported by ALchemy |
| BioShock | EAX 5 (via OpenAL) * Supported by ALche… |
| Brian Lara International Cricket 2007 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Call of Duty | Patch 1.3 * Supported by ALchemy |
| Call of Duty 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butc… | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Civilization IV | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Cold War | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Colin McRae: Dirt | EAX 5 (via OpenAL) * Supported by ALche… |
| Command & Conquer: Generals | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Crysis | * Supported by ALchemy; not all the sou… |
| Diablo II | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Doom 3 | Patch 1.3 * Supported by ALchemy |
| Doom 3: BFG Edition | EAX support removed. |
| Driver 3 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Dungeon Siege | * Supported by ALchemy |
| El Matador | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Use Side's EAX Control mod. * Supported… |
| Enter the Matrix | * Supported by ALchemy |
| EverQuest 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| F.E.A.R. | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Fallout 3 | May require DirectSound3D restoration s… |
| Far Cry | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Far Cry 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Full Spectrum Warrior | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Gears of War | * Supported by ALchemy // Stereo only /… |
| Grand Theft Auto II | Also supports A3D 2.0. |
| Grand Theft Auto III | Also supports A3D 2.0. * Supported by A… |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Also supports A3D 2.0. // via manual ed… |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Race Driver: Grid | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Guild Wars | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Half-Life | Steam version does not support it anymo… |
| Half-Life: Blue Shift | Steam version does not support it anymo… |
| Half-Life: Opposing Force | Steam version does not support it anymo… |
| Halo: Combat Evolved | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Hitman 2: Silent Assassin | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Hitman: Blood Money | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Hitman: Codename 47 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Hitman: Contracts | * Supported by ALchemy |
| IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Lineage II | OpenAL |
| Mafia | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Mage Knight: Apocalypse | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Manhunt | * Supported by ALchemy |
| The Matrix: Path of Neo | EAX option in INI. Use ALchemy |
| Max Payne 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| MDK2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Medal of Honor Allied Assault | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Medieval II: Total War | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Neverwinter Nights | Supports A3D 1.0, A3D 2.0. * Supported… |
| Neverwinter Nights 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.… | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Prey (2006 video game) | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Prince of Persia: Warrior Within | EAX Unified. Compatible with EAX 1, 2,… |
| Project I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike | Not wrapped by alchemy |
| Quake 4 | EAX 5 (via OpenAL) * Supported by ALche… |
| Railroad Tycoon 3 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| The Regiment | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Rome: Total War | * Supported by ALchemy |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl | EAX works through OpenAL. Do not use AL… |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky | EAX works through OpenAL. Do not use AL… |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat | EAX works through OpenAL. Do not use AL… |
| Sacred | * Supported by ALchemy; replace SOUNDQU… |
| Serious Sam 2 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Serious Sam: The First Encounter | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Serious Sam: The Second Encounter | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Sid Meier's Railroads! | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Sniper: Art of Victory | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Starcraft | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars Empire at War | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars Galaxies | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast | Patch 1.03 * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 | EAX Support removed in latest Steam ver… |
| Star Wars Republic Commando | * Supported by ALchemy |
| System Shock 2 | For further info, refer |
| Thief: Deadly Shadows | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Thief II: The Metal Age | A3D 2.0. See EAX support |
| Thief: The Dark Project | Also supports A3D 1.0. |
| Titan Quest | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Titan Quest: Immortal Throne | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warf… | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Rogue Spear &… | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tom… | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness | * Supported by ALchemy |
| TRON 2.0 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| UFO Afterlight | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Unreal | First game to implement EAX 1.0 feature… |
| Unreal Tournament | A3D 2.0 |
| Unreal Tournament 2003 | EAX 3 (via OpenAL). Supports EAX Unifie… |
| Unreal Tournament 2004 | EAX 5 support was added with patch (thr… |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Vanguard: Saga of Heroes | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Warcraft III | * Supported by ALchemy once, removed wi… |
| The Witcher | * Supported by ALchemy |
| World of Warcraft | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Ys: The Oath in Felghana | * Supported by ALchemy |
| Ys: Origin | * Supported by ALchemy |
See also
References
cite-note-11. ↑ "OpenAL and Windows Vista". Archived from the original on 2008-10-13., Creative Labs
cite-note-77. ↑ 'OpenAL, EAX and EFX' section explains 'EAX' vs 'EFX'
cite-note-88. ↑ Wine Staging - Release 1.7.40
cite-note-91. Creative ALchemy Project FAQ
cite-note-102. Creative support Games Archived 2013-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
cite-note-eaxsitenov2007-113. Nov 2007 Archive of the Official Creative Soundblaster EAX website
External links
• Creative ALchemy FAQ
• Creative ALchemy v1.45.19 Download from Creative Support Website
• Official website
• Developer site
• I3DL2 and Creative EAX
• Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB
• Sound Blaster X-Fi MB
• Games that use EAX