I have both a Creative X-FI sound card and a MSI 970A-G46 motherboard with Realtek onboard audio capability. Since it seems that trying to use Open Broadcaster Software (streaming) with Vanguard was causing BSoD STOP errors I tried disabling the XFI and enabling the Realtek audio. The first attempt at previewing the stream did not cause the expected 100% chance of BSoD. I was happy. I then went into the Audio tab of Vanguard to only see Generic Software option available.
This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but to improve audio: Try Visceral's VgAudio Inject.
I can confirm that Vanguard does not seem to detect onboard audio hardware. I have two systems, one with a discrete X-Fi card which Vanguard is happy to identify and I assume use, the other system has Realtek onboard audio and only the Generic Software option. I think Visceral's injector is just a software workaround for the lack of hardware support, but I'm very happy to be proven wrong.
Install Open Al, VG has worked with every sound card I have ever used, only issue I have ever had is to make sure you use generic sound with full X/Fi cards. Also in windows disable any sound/speaker for HDMI/DP monitors, that causes me issue. IF they get re-enabled by magic, then with out fail they will stop VG from using my sound, or often even loading. All three of my monitors are using DP, which is detected as speakers, so they have to be disabled in windows audio panel (win 7 anyway), showing up as AMD sound. I also recommend latest drivers, then reinstall Dx9c, then OpenAL.
hello. I also have a Creative Soundcards that hate Vanguard. I tried going to that OpenAL audio inject link but the download site in the ReadMe doesnt exist anymore.. I googled it... and OpenAl is very confusing for me.. you gotta download something else to make something else work but there is no installer for the first thing to make the second thing work....compilers?!... readme's show sites that dont even exist anymore = frustration. please, my friends and i just tried Vanguard and we are really excited.. but every time we get excited, Vanguard slaps us in the balls with some technical issue. Is there a simple way to to install this Injector? we arent computer illiterate but i dont know how to use "compilers" and such. we are all running windows7 64 bit, and downloaded through Steam. thanks for any help. UPDATE: Found this http://www.gog.com/forum/system_shock_2/newer_openal_version_available_here/page3 which has OpenAL autoinstaller... so everything seems ok and OpenAL is a listed option inside Vanguard settings. Im doing the method where i run Vanguardinject.bat before entering game.. so i should definitely have OpenAL selected and not my Creative X-FI correct?
Installing that fix is not very hard, first extract it into your Vanguard’s folder. Once it has been extracted you have to open that file and edit the vanguardinject.bat (right buttonà Edit) and then you have to update the paths in that file with your own path (probably something like C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Vanguard Once that’s done you have to open the game and wait until it has finished patching and execute vanguardinject.bat. This will replace your dlls with a newer version. You will have to do it every time you want to play: open the launcher, wait until it has finished patching, execute vanguardinject.bat and then press Play.