| Not
really... though there are clearly some
benefits to be gained by installing the latest update. For full
details, check out the Liveware
Readme file.
My impressions are:
I was not happy that the installation routine did not allow me to
choose which components to update. I do not use the Creative
Launcher as I see it as a waste of
resources, especially when I can (and do) do the same thing using
Toolbars in Win98 which is much tidier and without all the Creative
advertising all over it. Liveware 2.0 installs the toolbar by default,
even if you didn't
have it prior to the update. Control Panel does however allow
you to remove both the Launcher and the Playcenter if you want to
I found the new Surround
Mixer confusing at first, but there are
some worthwhile confusing at first, but there are
some worthwhile improvements.
It is no longer customizable and has a larger footprint than the old
one, but I'm not worried about that as the controls are smoother and
nicer to use. The mute buttons appear to affect a short fade-in
when you turn a sound on..... it does work and can make errors of judgment
in levels a bit less painful on the ears and your speakers.
Note: The previous mixer allowed
you to select another device if you still had an Older Awe or SB card
installed. This ability seems to be missing from the new
mixer. Looks like I may have to install the old Awe software if
I want to regain control over it :(
The recording
section is now only accessible through
one re-assignable slider. This has the disadvantage that
you can no longer judge your setup at a single glance.
One of the best things in the new
mixer are the Super-Environment Presets.
These improve greatly on the previous Environments in that you can now
save not just the effects settings, but also the speaker and mixer layouts
as well. With a bit of effort, this system will make
working with a variety of setups much easier..... shouldn't have to
keep opening the mixer and FX panel so often.
I've decided to use the Playcenter
for a while longer as it seems to run well. I normally only use
the MS Media player for all local and
streaming content as it has proven to be the most reliable player so
far.... if a bit ugly. Strangely, after the update, a Media player
icon appeared on my desktop.... it is possible that the Playcenter is,
at least partially, just a GUI on top of Media player.
Media player for all local and
streaming content as it has proven to be the most reliable player so
far.... if a bit ugly. Strangely, after the update, a Media player
icon appeared on my desktop.... it is possible that the Playcenter is,
at least partially, just a GUI on top of Media player.
The preset environments now include a
wider variety of scenarios. Of interest are the ones aimed at
guitarists... is anyone really using their Live in place of a Marshall
or a Twin? Should be handy to get new users started all the
same. There is also a small applet called AutoEA
that can run in the background and associates Environments with
applications. This means that when you launch your sequencer, it
will automatically alter the Super-Environment to suit. The
applet has a sensitivity control which presumably has reliability and
resource-consumption at opposite ends of the slider.
The CMSS
(Surround Sound) system sounds as terrible as ever and is best left
off.
The Mixer has a strange menu-item
labeled "Dissociate Mixer Settings".
(I'm available for editorial assistance in future if anyone from
Creative is reading this ;)
Liveware
2.0 is a cumulative update
and includes all previous fixes and add-ons
Creative have boldly raised the stakes
in the marketing war by increasing the total number of PCI-Synth
voices to 1024.... this has to be the biggest yawn yet.
Apart from that last item, there are
no, nil, zero, zilch updates or added features for Desktop
Musicians. Creative have certainly lived up to one of their less
flattering reputations with this update. There will be some very
disappointed people on the Usenet.... should be fun to watch the
flaming for a while :)
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