Memo about ALchemy Audigy Edition

As you may have already heard, Creative Labs recently released a product known as 'ALchemy Audigy Edition'. ALchemy is a wrapper that converts DirectSound3D streams into OpenAL under Vista, in-order to restore their card’s functionality. They ask for payment for this software, whereas the original X-Fi version is freely available. Alchemy X-Fi is exactly the same as the Audigy Edition, and the only differences are three settings inside an '.INI' file. ALchemy X-Fi works fine on the Audigy/Live! Series - without any problems.

Creative appear to be making false claims and mislead their own Audigy users by saying that the ALchemy project supports X-Fi only, and if you wish to restore functionality on Audigy, you must buy the 'ALchemy Audigy Edition'. By doing this, they are effectively selling a Hotfix that offers features the users already paid for. The truth is, Audigy owners can download the original ALchemy (X-Fi) and use it successfully. Creative is misleading the public and trying to make money out of this ALchemy scam. These users already have paid a lot of money (in some countries as much as $300-600) for Creative’s Audigy cards, so why should they pay them again!? We’re all aware about Creative’s poor software and customer support, but this time they really crossed the line.

More info at NGO HQ.