EAX - Revision history

Joseph Joestar: Additional references for X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone

2026-04-14T13:18:28Z

Additional references for X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone

Joseph Joestar: Added more info for X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual. Minor tweaks.

2026-04-11T20:12:56Z

Added more info for X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual. Minor tweaks.

Joseph Joestar: Even more info on X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

2026-04-11T19:08:58Z

Even more info on X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

Joseph Joestar: Added a bit more info on X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

2026-04-11T18:57:47Z

Added a bit more info on X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

Joseph Joestar: Added info and reference for X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

2026-04-11T18:48:25Z

Added info and reference for X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround

Joseph Joestar: Additional references and minor tweaks.

2026-03-04T20:07:20Z

Additional references and minor tweaks.

Joseph Joestar: Added more info and references to the ExtendedFX section.

2026-03-04T19:45:25Z

Added more info and references to the ExtendedFX section.

Joseph Joestar: Added reference for CMSS-3D Virtual. Minor tweaks.

2026-02-25T20:55:39Z

Added reference for CMSS-3D Virtual. Minor tweaks.

Joseph Joestar: Added more references to the CMSS section. Minor tweaks.

2026-02-25T18:50:57Z

Added more references to the CMSS section. Minor tweaks.

Show changes

Joseph Joestar: Added more info to the EAX 5.0 section and updated references

2026-02-25T16:46:03Z

Added more info to the EAX 5.0 section and updated references

@@ Line 180: / Line 180: @@
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 (screenshot)].</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 (screenshot)].</ref><ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416702#p1416702 (screenshot)]</ref>
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual and X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref> Additionally, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual can expand stereo sound to multichannel surround sound.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual and X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref> Additionally, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual can expand stereo sound to multichannel surround sound.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>

@@ Line 175: / Line 175: @@
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. CMSS-3D Interactive is a 3D positional audio engine that allows you to hear up to 128 simultaneous sound sources moving around you in 3D space. When combined with CMSS-3D Headphone or CMSS-3D Virtual, this allows you to hear your enemies coming at you from behind, above or below, regardless of the number and location of your speakers. This means that whether you are using headphones or any type of speakers from 2.1 to 7.1, X-Fi Technology will simultaneously deliver audio from to up to 128 virtual positions anywhere around you.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1336767#p1336767 (screenshot)].</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive is a 3D positional audio engine that allows you to hear up to 128 simultaneous sound sources moving around you in 3D space. When combined with X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone or X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual, this allows you to hear your enemies coming at you from behind, above or below, regardless of the number and location of your speakers. This means that whether you are using headphones or any type of speakers from 2.1 to 7.1, X-Fi Technology will simultaneously deliver audio from to up to 128 virtual positions anywhere around you.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1336767#p1336767 (screenshot)].</ref>
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 (screenshot)].</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 (screenshot)].</ref>
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of CMSS-3D Virtual and CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual and X-Fi CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref> Additionally, X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual can expand stereo sound to multichannel surround sound.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:08, 11 April 2026
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	=== X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround ===		=== X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround ===

−	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of surround speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround can upmix stereo sources up to 7.1 channels. It plays back stereo sound from each speaker pair, and redirects center-panned sounds into the Front Center and Rear Center speakers. The multichannel upmix depends on your speaker hardware and your speaker settings. The Stereo Xpand and Stereo Surround effects are available only in multichannel speaker configurations.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>	+	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of surround speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround can upmix stereo sources into surround sound of up to 7.1 channels. It plays back stereo sound from each speaker pair, and redirects center-panned sounds into the Front Center and Rear Center speakers. The multichannel upmix depends on your speaker hardware and your speaker settings. The Stereo Xpand and Stereo Surround effects are available only in multichannel speaker configurations.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 11 April 2026
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	=== X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround ===		=== X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround ===

−	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of surround speakers, CMSS-3D Surround can upmix stereo sources up to 7.1 channels. The multichannel upmix depends on your speaker hardware and your speaker settings. The Stereo Xpand and Stereo Surround effects are available only in multichannel speaker configurations.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>	+	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of surround speakers, X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround can upmix stereo sources up to 7.1 channels. It plays back stereo sound from each speaker pair, and redirects center-panned sounds into the Front Center and Rear Center speakers. The multichannel upmix depends on your speaker hardware and your speaker settings. The Stereo Xpand and Stereo Surround effects are available only in multichannel speaker configurations.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 11 April 2026
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	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of CMSS-3D Virtual and CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref>		Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of CMSS-3D Virtual and CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref>
		+
		+
		+	=== X-Fi CMSS-3D Surround ===
		+
		+	Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of surround speakers, CMSS-3D Surround can upmix stereo sources up to 7.1 channels. The multichannel upmix depends on your speaker hardware and your speaker settings. The Stereo Xpand and Stereo Surround effects are available only in multichannel speaker configurations.<ref>Source: X-Fi Creative Console Launcher help file [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1416304#p1416304 (screenshot)]</ref>

@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 === ExtendedFX ===
-First introduced in EAX 4.0. Extended effects (also known as Studio Effects) which were formerly only used in music creation can now be used for real-time manipulation of audio streams. This allows developers to create new and unique audio effects, such as alien voices or robotic sounds, in real-time.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070522015358/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax4ahd/extendedfx/ EAX ExtendedFX - Jaw-Dropping Audio Effects! (archived)]</ref> These effects are:
+First introduced in EAX 4.0. Extended effects (also known as Studio Effects) which were formerly only used in music creation can now be used for real-time manipulation of audio streams. These effects are:
 *'''EAX Autowah''' - Low pass filter, cut-off modulated by input level, with adjustable resonance.
-*'''EAX Chorus''' - LFO controlled chorus, with adjustable phase and wave shape.
+*'''EAX Chorus''' - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-frequency_oscillation LFO] controlled chorus, with adjustable phase and wave shape.
 *'''EAX Distortion''' - Guitar distortion pedal simulator, with adjustable gain, edge, and EQ.
 *'''EAX Echo''' - Two-tap delay with adjustable delay time, damping and stereo spread.
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 *'''EAX Vocal Morpher''' - Vocal morpher with a pair of 4-band formant filters to impose vocal tract effects.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Introduction%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Introduction, Page 26].</ref>
-Each of the studio effects can be controlled with its own unique set of parameters, the equivalent of the environmental reverb’s low-level controls. For instance, the EAX 4.0 Chorus effect allows the developer to select a waveform, and set the effect’s phase, rate, depth, feedback, and delay.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Introduction%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Introduction, Page 16].</ref>
+Each of the studio effects can be controlled with its own unique set of parameters, the equivalent of the environmental reverb’s low-level controls. For instance, the EAX 4.0 Chorus effect allows the developer to select a waveform, and set the effect’s phase, rate, depth, feedback, and delay.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Introduction%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Introduction, Page 16].</ref>  Among other things, this allows developers to create new and unique audio effects, such as alien voices or robotic sounds, in real-time.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070522015358/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax4ahd/extendedfx/ EAX ExtendedFX - Jaw-Dropping Audio Effects! (archived)]</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 4 March 2026
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	=== ExtendedFX ===		=== ExtendedFX ===

−	First introduced in EAX 4.0. Extended effects, which were formerly only used in music creation ~~(Flanger, Echo, Distortion and Ring Modulation)~~ can now be used for real-time manipulation of audio streams. This allows developers to create new and unique audio effects, such as alien voices or robotic sounds, in real-time.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070522015358/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax4ahd/extendedfx/ EAX ExtendedFX - Jaw-Dropping Audio Effects! (archived)]</ref>	+	First introduced in EAX 4.0. Extended effects (also known as Studio Effects) which were formerly only used in music creation can now be used for real-time manipulation of audio streams. This allows developers to create new and unique audio effects, such as alien voices or robotic sounds, in real-time.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070522015358/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax4ahd/extendedfx/ EAX ExtendedFX - Jaw-Dropping Audio Effects! (archived)]</ref> These effects are:
		+	*'''EAX Autowah''' - Low pass filter, cut-off modulated by input level, with adjustable resonance.
		+	*'''EAX Chorus''' - LFO controlled chorus, with adjustable phase and wave shape.
		+	*'''EAX Distortion''' - Guitar distortion pedal simulator, with adjustable gain, edge, and EQ.
		+	*'''EAX Echo''' - Two-tap delay with adjustable delay time, damping and stereo spread.
		+	*'''EAX EQ''' - Four band parametric EQ; two middle bands have adjustable frequency.
		+	*'''EAX Flanger''' - LFO controlled flanger, with adjustable phase and wave shape
		+	*'''EAX Frequency Shifter''' - Split stereo frequency shift.
		+	*'''EAX Automatic Gain Control Compressor''' - Automatically evens out volume changes in an audio source.
		+	*'''EAX Pitch Shifter''' - Pitch shifting with coarse and fine tune.
		+	*'''EAX Ring Modulator''' - Ring modulation with adjustable modulator waveform and high pass filter.
		+	*'''EAX Vocal Morpher''' - Vocal morpher with a pair of 4-band formant filters to impose vocal tract effects.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Introduction%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Introduction, Page 26].</ref>
		+
		+	Each of the studio effects can be controlled with its own unique set of parameters, the equivalent of the environmental reverb’s low-level controls. For instance, the EAX 4.0 Chorus effect allows the developer to select a waveform, and set the effect’s phase, rate, depth, feedback, and delay.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Introduction%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Introduction, Page 16].</ref>

@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 == EAX Unified ==
-The EAX Unified interface is an automatic translation mechanism, which helps developers to enable higher tier EAX effects to be rendered on systems with less capable audio hardware. At run-time, EAX Unified intelligently adapts EAX parameters to create ‘best fit’ versions of your effects on legacy systems. EAX Unified is available for DirectSound and OpenAL, and provides a graceful fallback from one version of EAX to a lesser version.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Programmer's%20Guide%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Programmer's Guide, Page 49]</ref><ref>Source: [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1407160#p1407160 The EAX Unified Interface]</ref>  Certain games require EAX Unified to be installed, in order to provide any EAX functionality. A standalone version of EAX Unified can be downloaded [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=2226&menustate=0 here].
+The EAX Unified interface is an automatic translation mechanism, which helps developers to enable higher tier EAX effects to be rendered on systems with less capable audio hardware. At run-time, EAX Unified intelligently adapts EAX parameters to create "best fit" versions of your effects on legacy systems. EAX Unified is available for DirectSound and OpenAL, and provides a graceful fallback from one version of EAX to a lesser version.<ref>Source: [https://github.com/kxproject/kX-Audio-driver-Documentation/blob/master/3rd%20Party%20Docs/EAX/EAX%204.0%20Programmer's%20Guide%20(2003).pdf EAX 4.0 Programmer's Guide, Page 49]</ref><ref>Source: [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1407160#p1407160 The EAX Unified Interface]</ref>  Certain games require EAX Unified to be installed, in order to provide any EAX functionality. A standalone version of EAX Unified can be downloaded [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=2226&menustate=0 here].
@@ Line 167: / Line 167: @@
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1336767#p1336767 (screenshot)].</ref>
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at headphone users, CMSS-3D Headphone reproduces the sound of a multi-speaker audio implementation using advanced 3D audio algorithms. Combined with CMSS-3D Interactive, it provides seamless reproduction of all audio positions in 3D space. Essentially, headphone users can enjoy the equivalent of a virtual multi-channel speaker experience.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1335596#p1335596 (screenshot)].</ref>
 === X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual ===
-Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of CMSS-3D Virtual and CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.
+Exclusive to Sound Blaster X-Fi cards. Aimed at users of desktop stereo speakers, CMSS-3D Virtual turns your two-channel speaker system into a virtual surround-sound system. It uses advanced algorithms to achieve a highly convincing surround-sound effect. CMSS-3D Interactive extends this surround-sound experience to achieve seamless full-sphere 3D audio. The combination of CMSS-3D Virtual and CMSS-3D Interactive can provide a vivid illusion of sounds above, below or near the head.<ref>Source: [https://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1688&menustate=0 Sound Blaster X-Fi Demo Disc]. Relevant [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1408321#p1408321 (screenshot)].</ref>

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 == EAX 5.0 ==
-Introduced in 2005 alongside the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster_X-Fi Sound Blaster X-Fi] sound card. EAX 5.0 increased the hardware voice count to 128, added a dedicated bass feed for each of the 128 voices and introduced several new features which allowed game developers to create an even more realistic soundstage.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070708162747/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/ EAX Advanced HD 5.0 (archived)]</ref> Notable game titles supporting EAX 5.0 included Quake 4, Prey, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2142 and Colin McRae: DiRT. EAX 5.0 introduced the following features:
+Introduced in 2005 alongside the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster_X-Fi Sound Blaster X-Fi] sound card. EAX 5.0 increased the hardware voice count to 128, added a dedicated bass feed for each of the 128 voices and introduced several new features which allowed game developers to create an even more realistic soundstage. Among other things, developers could more easily add interactive music to their games, use any of four simultaneous effects with any of the 128 voices, and more accurately represent sounds passing very close to the player.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20051221075249/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5.asp EAX Advanced HD 5.0 (archived)]</ref> Notable game titles supporting EAX 5.0 included Quake 4, Prey, Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2142 and Colin McRae: DiRT. EAX 5.0 introduced the following features:
 * [https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/EAX#128_Hardware_Voices 128 simultaneous hardware voices]
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 === 128 Hardware Voices ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. The initial version of EAX supported 8 simultaneous voices (sounds). If more were required then the 'oldest' voice (the one that had been playing longest) was shut-off. With the introduction of the Sound Blaster X-Fi, the number of simultaneous hardware voices was increased to 128. This allows developers to add even more sound detail into their games. Actions such as firing a machine gun in a cave environment, where reverb and obstruction effects are added into the mix, will sound richer due to the increased number of hardware voices. Multiplayer games with a large number of combatants firing their weapons at the same time can also benefit from this feature. Notable examples include Battlefield 2 and Unreal Tournament 2004.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070716113529/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_1.asp 128 Voices More Audio Detail Than Ever Before! (archived)]</ref> <ref>Source: [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1403013#p1403013 Battlefield 2142 using over 100 simultaneous hardware voices (screenshot)]</ref>
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. The initial version of EAX supported 8 simultaneous voices (sounds). If more were required then the 'oldest' voice (the one that had been playing longest) was shut-off. With the introduction of the Sound Blaster X-Fi, the number of simultaneous hardware voices was increased to 128. This allows developers to add even more sound detail into their games. Actions such as firing a machine gun in a cave environment, where reverb and obstruction effects are added into the mix, will sound richer due to the increased number of hardware voices. Multiplayer games with a large number of combatants firing their weapons at the same time can also benefit from this feature. Notable examples include Battlefield 2 and Unreal Tournament 2004.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060324183311/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/x-fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_1.asp 128 Voices More Audio Detail Than Ever Before! (archived)]</ref> <ref>Source: [https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1403013#p1403013 Battlefield 2142 using over 100 simultaneous hardware voices (screenshot)]</ref>
 === EAX Voice ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. Using a microphone connected to an EAX 5.0 compliant audio device in any game title, you can speak and hear your voice with the same effects as the environment your character is in. Furthermore if the game title supports 3D Voice Over IP then other players in the game will be able to hear your voice as you do and coming from the correct direction. EAX Voice works by feeding the microphone input into the EAX hardware effects engine and at that point becomes another gaming sound element which you can hear. It is then transmitted along with the environment properties over the LAN and when it reaches another players PC system their EAX 5.0 compliant card translates the environment properties and adds them to your voice in real-time. In order for this feature to work the game must support the 3D voice transmission and EAX 4.0 or above.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070712131521/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_2.asp EAX Voice Get Inside The Game! (archived)]</ref> This [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fTc5t5QNU video] showcases the use of EAX Voice in-game.
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. Using a microphone connected to an EAX 5.0 compliant audio device in any game title, you can speak and hear your voice with the same effects as the environment your character is in. Furthermore if the game title supports 3D Voice Over IP then other players in the game will be able to hear your voice as you do and coming from the correct direction. EAX Voice works by feeding the microphone input into the EAX hardware effects engine and at that point becomes another gaming sound element which you can hear. It is then transmitted along with the environment properties over the LAN and when it reaches another players PC system their EAX 5.0 compliant card translates the environment properties and adds them to your voice in real-time. In order for this feature to work the game must support the 3D voice transmission and EAX 4.0 or above.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20051220153819/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_2.asp EAX Voice Get Inside The Game! (archived)]</ref> This [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fTc5t5QNU video] showcases the use of EAX Voice in-game.
 === EAX PurePath ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. EAX PurePath delivers the same level of precision surround as you would experience in a DTS or Dolby Digital encoded movie. This technology has been used for many years in movie sound, but is relatively new to gaming audio. In previous versions of EAX, developers could specify where, in a 360 degree space a particular sound should come from. The sound card would then map the sound to the correct position within the current speaker array. However, there was no way to specify a specific speaker, or combination of speakers that a sound should come from other than by using 3D positional coordinates. With EAX PurePath, developers now have total control over exactly which speaker (or speakers) the sound should be played through. This is particularly useful, for instance, for controlling bass reproduction through the subwoofer for Low Frequency Enhancement. With control of the LFE channel, game developers can now feed as many or as few of the 128 available voices to the subwoofer. This means a far more powerful bass for those sounds that need it, and beautifully precise highs for those sounds that don't. Among other things, this can add more realism to in-game explosions.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618160343/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_3.asp EAX PurePath - Truly Cinematic Gaming Audio (archived)]</ref>
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. EAX PurePath delivers the same level of precision surround as you would experience in a DTS or Dolby Digital encoded movie. This technology has been used for many years in movie sound, but is relatively new to gaming audio. In previous versions of EAX, developers could specify where, in a 360 degree space a particular sound should come from. The sound card would then map the sound to the correct position within the current speaker array. However, there was no way to specify a specific speaker, or combination of speakers that a sound should come from other than by using 3D positional coordinates. With EAX PurePath, developers now have total control over exactly which speaker (or speakers) the sound should be played through. This is particularly useful, for instance, for controlling bass reproduction through the subwoofer for Low Frequency Enhancement. With control of the LFE channel, game developers can now feed as many or as few of the 128 available voices to the subwoofer. This means a far more powerful bass for those sounds that need it, and beautifully precise highs for those sounds that don't. Among other things, this can add more realism to in-game explosions.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060216051835/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_3.asp EAX PurePath - Truly Cinematic Gaming Audio (archived)]</ref>
 === EAX MacroFX ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. With EAX MacroFX, close-up audio can be very accurately recreated. Previous versions of EAX were very good at recreating medium-range and long-distance sounds. However they couldn't properly handle effects that were extremely close to the player's position. Someone whispering in your ear, a sword slashing just past your head, and so on. EAX MacroFX changes that, and allows for accurate representation of close up sounds. For example, bullets and laser blasts can now sound as if they were only centimeters away from the player's head.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618162217/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_5.asp EAX MacroFX - Getting You Closer To Your Gaming Audio! (archived)]</ref>
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. With EAX MacroFX, close-up audio can be very accurately recreated. Previous versions of EAX were very good at recreating medium-range and long-distance sounds. However they couldn't properly handle effects that were extremely close to the player's position. Someone whispering in your ear, a sword slashing just past your head, and so on. EAX MacroFX changes that, and allows for accurate representation of close up sounds. For example, bullets and laser blasts can now sound as if they were only centimeters away from the player's head.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060216051854/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_5.asp EAX MacroFX - Getting You Closer To Your Gaming Audio! (archived)]</ref>
 === Environment FlexiFX ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. Environment FlexiFX gives developers total access to the hardware effects engine of the X-Fi Processor, which allows them to deliver the ultimate audio experience. With previous versions of EAX ADVANCED HD, developers had to live with some restrictions. For example, there were limits on the number of hardware effects they could use to create the game's audio environment. They had four effects slots available, but two of those had to be used for Environment Reverb and Chorus. This meant that they only had two slots left to use for additional effects. EAX 5.0 has completely re-designed how the effects engine operates and therefore provides developers with 4 fully flexible slots to use. This means that if they want to create audio for a level that has no reverbs (for example, if you are outside in an open area) but they want to add other sound effects to the weapons or monsters, then they can. This feature supersedes EAX ExtendedFX, Environment Reverb and Multi-Environments.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618162217/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_4.asp Environment FlexiFX - Xtreme Gaming Audio! (archived)]</ref>
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. Environment FlexiFX gives developers total access to the hardware effects engine of the X-Fi Processor, which allows them to deliver the ultimate audio experience. With previous versions of EAX ADVANCED HD, developers had to live with some restrictions. For example, there were limits on the number of hardware effects they could use to create the game's audio environment. They had four effects slots available, but two of those had to be used for Environment Reverb and Chorus. This meant that they only had two slots left to use for additional effects. EAX 5.0 has completely re-designed how the effects engine operates and therefore provides developers with 4 fully flexible slots to use. This means that if they want to create audio for a level that has no reverbs (for example, if you are outside in an open area) but they want to add other sound effects to the weapons or monsters, then they can. This feature supersedes EAX ExtendedFX, Environment Reverb and Multi-Environments.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060216051816/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_4.asp Environment FlexiFX - Xtreme Gaming Audio! (archived)]</ref>
 === Environment Occlusion ===
-First introduced in EAX 5.0. This feature makes gaming audio more realistic by recreating the effect of sound from adjacent environments passing through solid objects. It can even recreate how different materials affect sound, such as wood vs. brick vs. stone and has been enhanced to be even more realistic than past versions. Previous iterations of EAX supported a feature called occlusion. This feature recreated the effect of sound passing through a solid object. However the basic Occlusion effect only occluded the direct sound, but not the environmental reverb associated with that sound. This reduced the effectiveness and impact of the overall effect. Environment Occlusion improves the realism by allowing the reverb effect itself as well as the direct sound to be muffled due to occluding objects.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618162217/http://www.soundblaster.com/eax/abouteax/eax5ahd/eax5_6.asp Environment Occlusion - OK, The Bad Guys Are Outside! (archived)]</ref>
+First introduced in EAX 5.0. This feature makes gaming audio more realistic by recreating the effect of sound from adjacent environments passing through solid objects. It can even recreate how different materials affect sound, such as wood vs. brick vs. stone and has been enhanced to be even more realistic than past versions. Previous iterations of EAX supported a feature called occlusion. This feature recreated the effect of sound passing through a solid object. However the basic Occlusion effect only occluded the direct sound, but not the environmental reverb associated with that sound. This reduced the effectiveness and impact of the overall effect. Environment Occlusion improves the realism by allowing the reverb effect itself as well as the direct sound to be muffled due to occluding objects.<ref>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060216051826/http://www.soundblaster.com/products/X-Fi/technology/lastinfo/eax5_6.asp Environment Occlusion - OK, The Bad Guys Are Outside! (archived)]</ref>