Ok guys I have question pertaining to OpenAL. There is this nice tutorial entitled "Programming 3D Sound with OpenAL in Windows" located here on GD. I have read it and the accompanying forum. What I do not understand is what the point of the code segment is:

ALCcontext *Context;
ALCdevice *Device;

Device = alcOpenDevice((ALubyte*)"DirectSound3D");
if (Device == NULL)
{
  exit(-1);
}

//Create context(s)
Context=alcCreateContext(Device,NULL);

//Set active context
alcMakeContextCurrent(Context);

// Clear Error Code
alGetError();

The only place it is used is in the cleanup code!

//Get active context
Context=alcGetCurrentContext();

//Get device for active context
Device=alcGetContextsDevice(Context);

//Disable context
alcMakeContextCurrent(NULL);

//Release context(s)
alcDestroyContext(Context);

//Close device
alcCloseDevice(Device);

I know he says -

Quote:

For my application I am going to use the basic method of setting it up for DirectSound3D but it is also possible to make use of EAX by checking for its availability.

But I had never done this in the AL audio wrapper I had made and it worked fine. Can someone please enlighten me? I have also looked at the provided source code for the tutorial and have not found anything different other than those segments. I have even found a different tutorial that used:

Context = alcCreateContext(Device, NULL);

Instead - so why the DirectSound3D if you choose to use OpenAL as your audio library? I actually added in that code and my audio class no longer works; that is why I am asking about it. There is also a beginning tutorial on OpenAL here which also makes no refrence to the alcCreateContext and company. One last thing is that I even consulted the OpenAL documentations on this topic, but ehh.... I'm still lost. Thank you for your time[attention] - Drew [Edited by - Drew_Benton on May 25, 2005 9:48:39 PM]

Ok, maybe im slightly retarted (possible :-p) but you used too many pronouns in your question... i dont know what "this" is when you said "But I had never done this in the AL audio wrapper I had made and it worked fine. Can someone please enlighten me? I have also looked at the provided source code for the tutorial and have not found anything different other than those segments. I have even found a different tutorial that used:" id be happy to answer the question but unfortunately... i dont understand the question!!! wooo!!!


but as an answer to your other question, you use direct sound because openAL is simply a wrapper for direct sound on win32 (unless you use special creative drivers iirc)


hope that helps
-Dan

Hehehe yea, I kind of noticed a lot of I's, but was like aww forget it - its late [smile]. As for the "this" I was refering to the previous quote - using DirectSound3D as well as using the alc_ functions. My question was basically why use the alc_ functions - in one tutorial they do and one tutorial they don't - but both seem to get the same end result.

Quote:

but as an answer to your other question, you use direct sound because openAL is simply a wrapper for direct sound on win32

This is news to me! So let me get this straigt - OpenAL was made on top of DirectSound...and that's it? I always thought it was its own API + functions. If that is the case - is the only way not to use DirectSound by using FMOD or BASS? Argh! I have no problem with DirectSound - but I might as well make my own wrapper with a more complete functionality.

Thanks for the response - I will await further comments and ponder wheter or not I should use OpenAL.

[Edited by - Drew_Benton on May 25, 2005 9:04:47 PM]

Well it depends on your drivers, creative drivers dont rely on direct sound as far as i know, but yes, on a windows platform, other than the creative drivers, it is a direct sound wrapper.

and yes, definitely still use openAL, i <3 openAL :-D, remember its portable, it works, its 100% free to use (unlike FMOD) and its an elegant API

hope that helps
-Dan

Ok cool. Thanks! I think I have a better idea about this topic now. I guess when it all comes down to it - most libraries use some form of Direct something [lol].

[Edited by - Drew_Benton on May 25, 2005 9:16:54 PM]