[X3] A tool to fix your directshow codecs (sound problems and performance)

[Night_Viper]

Ok got a question or two then a statement for the curious and those attempting to fix bugs with little Computer skills. Like me (its not hard)
1st question: I ran everything as you stated in your sticky and even the tools file checker. On Tools file checker I have about 37 files out of date on my XP SP2. Most of these though have to do with my onboard graphics card which is disabled. There are another 3 errors on my DX 9c. the DX 9c errors are...
1. microsoft directinput mapper framework
2. microsoft directinput mapper
3. Game Controllers default sheets
Will these effect my game at all and if so how do I go about fixing them?


As for what this corrected for me so far. After reinstalling and making sure all my drivers were updated I still had a sound issue and a jumpy screen when I played and especially when I was in a fight. Fixed it! The reinstalls seemed to fix my freezing problem and sound loop problem I was having. Now there seems to be no known issues as I play and if some arise I will post for updates.

And thanks for this tool very awsome.

[MadBoris]

the DX 9c errors are...
1. microsoft directinput mapper framework
2. microsoft directinput mapper
3. Game Controllers default sheets
Will these effect my game at all and if so how do I go about fixing them?

37 files is quite alot, if you also have media Player 10 installed(I didn't notice you confirm that requirement).
Normally there should be those three files you mentioned, along with a netscape DRM component and winhlp32.exe. There are 5 total that are outdated on a base system because the installers don't install them or don't install them properly.

I am not sure why those joystick and controller components do not get installed with that directx version. They are in the dx9c XP installer but for some reason they don't get installed. You would be fine to leave those three alone. I manually installed them myself, but it made no beneficial or noticeable impact for me. So I would suggest those 3 get left alone until something conclusive is learned. Maybe addressed in future directx installers. The other 30+ files is disconcerting.

If most address your onboard sound, the fact is SP2 has newer drivers it should have installed. Seems you may have rolled back to an older driver somehow since the SP2 install. If it's disabled in BIOS then no biggie on those souncard related files.

Glad you got your issues worked out.

[MadBoris]

Hmmm... the only thing that shows up when I use the application is APPHELP.DLL which is apparently something to do with the Application Compatibility Client.

I wouldn't worry too much about apphelp.dll since it's not a codec.

[g04tn4d0]

I wouldn't worry too much about apphelp.dll since it's not a codec.

Yeah, but I'm wondering if it's something that shows up for everyone running XP Pro SP2 or if mine is unneccesarily loading it. Thanks, MB!!

[MadBoris]

Doesn't come up for me.
Make sure compatibility mode is not enabled in the shortcut properties, nothing should be checked.

[Waylander2]

Hey guys looked through the first 5 pages and could not find anything about the codec i have in red which is "MPEG-1 Stream Splitter" and i don't have "MPEG-I Stream Splitter" anywhere on my computer so cant just change the merit of em can this be downloaded from some where?

Thanks

[Waylander2]

Dont worry about it just reset them all back to there defaults so will see how that goes.

Laters

[Shurhaian]

My speech continues to give me problems - doesn't start playing a speech sample until several seconds in, which means that small ones are prone to being missed entirely.

In the DShow viewer, under Speech, where the cheat sheet just shows Default DirectSound Device and a big box for WMSpeech Decoder DMO, I have those two, but WMSpeech Decoder DMO is a one-line box; then a one-line box for "ASF ACM Handler" (dxmasf.dll) and a two-line box for "Windows Media Source Filter" (no file listed). Both of these are marked as non-preferred.

I have Windows Media Player 10 installed.

If I try to turn down the merit for those two non-preferred files, they still show up. If I turn them all the way down to the "Do Not Use" region, then, on trying to load the graph in DShow, it gives me an error telling me to undo my last change, and the Speech section is missing entirely.

Help?

EDIT: This was with version 1.3.1. Either 1.3.2 or the Windows Media-related install that came with it has fixed the speech playback problem. DShow chart also matches the cheat-sheet. Anyone else having the same problem, well... learn by this example, I guess? 1.3.2 fixes SOMETHING.

[MadBoris]

EDIT: This was with version 1.3.1. Either 1.3.2 or the Windows Media-related install that came with it has fixed the speech playback problem. DShow chart also matches the cheat-sheet. Anyone else having the same problem, well... learn by this example, I guess? 1.3.2 fixes SOMETHING.

In your case, it's the media player 10 reinstall that fixed the ASF ACM Handler(dxmasf.dll).
The file that should have been handling that and now is on your machine, as the ASF ACM Handler, is wmpasf.dll.

[spaceproby]

Check my previos many problems for the details. I followed MADBORIS' excellent tutorial on managing audio codecs and the like, it was complicated but madboris gave such a good description I managed to deal with the erroneous way x3 picks up all manner of unecessary files and then crashes. I had to buy an AUDIGY2 ZS for EAX but the game runs well on version 1.3 (no 1.3beta). If anyone want the details on my humble success story then please ask. Many cheers for madboris.

[MadBoris]

Check my previos many problems for the details. I followed MADBORIS' excellent tutorial on managing audio codecs and the like, it was complicated but madboris gave such a good description I managed to deal with the erroneous way x3 picks up all manner of unecessary files and then crashes. I had to buy an AUDIGY2 ZS for EAX but the game runs well on version 1.3 (no 1.3beta). If anyone want the details on my humble success story then please ask. Many cheers for madboris.

Like most things in life the path of least resistance, which is at times the quickest path, isn't the best. I'm glad to hear you took the time out and reaped the benefits. I'm sure you are much more codec saavy now too as result

[Mark C]

Following the tips here and sorting my codecs solved my CTD yaaaay!!!
Just wanted to show my appreciation and tell you what i found.

Turns out it was some SONY codecs that were messing my game up (always said sony were evil) I rearranged the codecs around so there was no "red" ones being used but i still got a CTD, that debug window thing tells me that there was unexpected use of some windows system files, which i ignored cos i dont wanna mess about with them, and some Sony codecs, so even though they werent red on the codec program i still moved the merit levels down and no more CTD!!!!

Well happy right now, thank you so much MadBoris!

[cosmicnut]

I'm using 1.3 on an XP SP2 system. OK, now the long list.

I've:
Updated graphics card driver (6800 ultra)
updated sound card driver (audigy1)
RE-installed DirectX and WMP10
Tried the tips here.

I've still got 2 red codecs ASF ACM Handler (dxmasf.dll) and Windows Media Source Filter but I get errors if I remove them

The problem I'm having is that all the speech i game is starting a few seconds late, making it impossible to follow the story line or missions.

Anyone got a clue

It's a shame, part of me is thinking about binning the game.

I am getting problems when I attach the DShow viewer, about 10 red files but these are nothing to do with audio

[CBJ]

Try the 1.3.2 BETA patch in the other sticky thread.

[cosmicnut]

Brill, that got it!
I've actually comleted the dirst mission!

All I have to do now is sort out my joystick, but thats a hardware issue!

[Mark C]

Hey, i thought using this and sorting stuff out had fixed my CTD, but i still get them every now and then (although not as often as before)

I cleared most of the errors but i still get the following come up on screen

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3584/xerror4dj.jpg

As they are windows system stuff i though i'd best leave them alone
Anyone any ideas if these might be causing CTD and what i should do??

Cheers

[MadBoris]

Mark C,

There are huge list of things that may cause CTD's. Some say file fragmentation caused CTD's for them, also certain saves can cause CTD's, some say universal traders, mods, drivers, codecs, etc.
I cannot confirm or deny those files are affecting you, only one way to find out, normally they should not affect a game delitiriously.
Sometimes random CTD's can be something that figuratively adds weight to the camels back until it breaks it's back, difficult to say why that is, or what adds weight beyond the threshold of what the engine will not bear.

Maybe you should try the beta patch and see if it is something that get's fixed in the new code.

If the beta patch fixes it, you know it's a code issue and not your machine specifically.

If the beta patch doesn't fix it then you can roll it back and you can then give the due focus to your machine.

[Chardok]

Well, I have to say this thread has been extremely helpful with resolving most of my issues, so thanks all for the great Q and A's. I have one slight problem to add to the list, however. according to the viewer, I should have an MPEG-III layer thingamabob...and it's not in my list of Codecs at all. What IS in my list is something called ACM wrapper (See page one, someone had the same problem...but I did not see a solution) so, If I set this ACM wrapper to "Do not use" then *boink* no graph. so...why am I missing this (seemingly) standard codec, and where can I get a replacement? (Just did a freshy-feash install of WMP10 upon advisement fromk this thread)

Also, my viewer looks like the christmas tree, and I do not like it. I thought I was running a clean system, dammit. I've been running on the same XP install since 2002, with no problemos, and I'm not about to reinstall now! BANZAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!

[MadBoris]

I should have an MPEG-III layer thingamabob...and it's not in my list of Codecs at all. What IS in my list is something called ACM wrapper (See page one, someone had the same problem...but I did not see a solution) so, If I set this ACM wrapper to "Do not use" then *boink* no graph. so...why am I missing this (seemingly) standard codec, and where can I get a replacement? (Just did a freshy-feash install of WMP10 upon advisement fromk this thread)

Well the ASF ACM wrapper, which can affect speech, is usually fixed by a WMP 10 reinstall.
Is yours ASF ACM wrapper dxmasf.dll or wmpasf.dll?

Well sometimes on older systems with alot of applications over time, you may see the 'christmas tree lights' (it was christmas wkd when I came up with the term, it's starting to lose appeal) of files attaching to X3. I would focus on any codecs in that list primarily, disregarding the rest unless you are having serious issues.

Let me know which file yours is for future reference.
If the WMP10 reinstall has no effect, try this:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

Also, if the problem persists you may want to try the latest beta, they seem to install MP 10 codecs in a different way, either using the above pkg, or a another windows codec pack that may fix this ASF ACM issue that the normal WMP10 does not. I think they would like your feedback if this issue is resolved with the beta, even though it's not best to play the game with.

If the Dshow Viewer graph is repaired by the beta install (media files are fixed), then you can roll back the beta and the ASF ACM wrapper issue should not resurface. I would then use the attach to X3 function to verify no extra codecs are used, and you should be good to go.

[Chardok]

Well the ASF ACM wrapper, which can affect speech, is usually fixed by a WMP 10 reinstall.
Is yours ASF ACM wrapper dxmasf.dll or wmpasf.dll?

Ahh... Mumbo-jumbo. I am well versed in it's usage, but you...use a dialect I've not encountered before. I shall attempt to communicate my message using pictograms.

El-Screenshot von der bad codec-o.

Oh, Christmas tree, O christmas tree how lovely are thy Registry entrieeeeeeeeeees?

Well sometimes on older systems with alot of applications over time, you may see the 'christmas tree lights' (it was christmas wkd when I came up with the term, it's starting to lose appeal) of files attaching to X3. I would focus on any codecs in that list primarily, disregarding the rest unless you are having serious issues.

Well, I was having that "Speech starting ten seconds late" bug thing going on, but your very helpful guide took care of that; and to be honest with you, the music and such play just fine with the ACM wrapper codec thingy in the spot that it's in...It just pisses me off that that damn thing is red and I can't do anything about it. Also, I'm afraid later on, the game will introduce something that stumps it's primitive brain and it will turn my computer into an expensive paperweight (Okay, I'm not really worried about the paperweight thing, but I definately don't want to be in the middle of a battle with the Kh'aak and have the music go from a rousing and adventurous action theme to "The Overture of the BSOD""

Let me know which file yours is for future reference.
If the WMP10 reinstall has no effect, try this:<link snippified>

Codec downloaded and installed to no avail. (The screenshots above are post codec for WMP9 installation)

Also, if the problem persists you may want to try the latest beta, they seem to install MP 10 codecs in a different way, either using the above pkg, or a another windows codec pack that may fix this ASF ACM issue that the normal WMP10 does not. I think they would like your feedback if this issue is resolved with the beta, even though it's not best to play the game with.

Screenshots above are 1.3.2BETA, unfortunately. Man, I'm just loaded with good news today, eh?

If the Dshow Viewer graph is repaired by the beta install (media files are fixed), then you can roll back the beta and the ASF ACM wrapper issue should not resurface. I would then use the attach to X3 function to verify no extra codecs are used, and you should be good to go.

Alas....