The Week in Review: December 16-22, 2002

Last week's features at 3DsoundSurge

Last week's sound news

Drivers and bugs

• New Audigy 2 Drivers
  New drivers for the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 are available via the card's auto update feature as well as on Creative's support page. The update information indicates the following broad changes:

  1. Creative MediaSource version 1.00.54
  2. Audigy 2 Driver Pack
  3. Creative DVD-Audio Player version 1.00.55
  4. Creative EAX Console version 1.00.54
  5. Creative SoundFont Bank Manager version 1.00.14
  6. Creative Speaker Settings version 1.00.54

  The list of changes is too large to list here. A couple interesting bits are improved multi-channel audio playback in Doom 3 and the addition of ASIO 2.0 support - direct monitoring and Multi-channel "What You Hear" recording.

• DirectX 9.0 Released
  There's not a whole lot of info on the Microsoft downloads site where you can grab the new version. What they do say is "DirectX 9.0 includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs." Despite that broad message, my understanding is that there is nothing significant on the audio front in this update. Note that the DirectX 9.0 runtime cannot be uninstalled. Microsoft recommends that Windows Millennium and XP users create a “System Restore” point before installing.

   

New games, demos, patches and bugs

• Splinter Cell Demo
  An EAX Advanced HD supporting demo (101 MB download) for Splinter Cell, the upcoming Tom Clancy game, is now available for download from a number of sites including 3D Gamers, AusGamers, FilePlanet (registration required) and FileShack (registration required).

• Hitman 2 Demo 2
  A second demo for EAX AdvancedHD supporting Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is now available. You can grab it from 3D Gamers, FilePlanet, FileShack, Gamer's Hell, Worthplaying.

• UT2003 Patch
  A new (version 2166) patch for Unreal Tournament 2003 is now available. A list of official download locations and a full list of changes is available from the UT2003 website. Here's the list of fairly significant audio updates:

  • fixed occlusion if EAX 3.0 is enabled
  • play own footstep sounds with weaponbob false unless set [UnrealGame.UnrealPawn] bPlayOwnFootSteps=false in user.ini
  • more sound prioritization improvements

• New Doomsday Engine Released
  A new version (1.7.6) of the Doomsday engine has been released for jDoom/jHeretic/jHexen. The main changes listed on the official site are addition of a sound compatibility option and on the graphics front, particles can now have a flag that causes them to be rendered flat against a surface if they're close enough to it.
  For more details and to download the update you can visit Doomsday HQ.

• Arx Fatalis patch
  Arkane Studios has released a new patch (v1.15) for Arx Fatalis. You can grab it from 3D Gamers.

• Star Trek Music Interview
  Music composer Ron Jones has been interviewed by Homelan Fed. He is mostly famous for his work on various Star Trek related projects (both games and the TV series).

• News from Bill Brown Composer
  Composer Bill Brown's website have been updated with a new music clip from Bill's Command & Conquer: Generals, a long-lost music track from Trespasser: The Lost World and more.

• Music in Games Part 3
  InGaming's has posted part 3 of their music in games series of articles. They have in previous editions looked at music in games in general and the future of game sound. For this article, they explore music in games as a separate medium and chat with Aaron Marks - game composer, sound designer and creator of soundscapes. Marks is also a vocal advocate of game audio prosperity as the author of "The Complete Guide to Game Audio", advisor for the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) and speaker at events such as the recent Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention where he chaired the Game Audio Workshop. Here's a snip:

  InGaming: How do you see sound in games progressing? Are we likely to see new methods of delivering music and sound?

  Aaron Marks: As games become more complex and dynamic, the obvious move is for sound to continue its trend of being more interactive and adaptive. Because it brings so much to the overall gaming experience to have music and soundscapes change as the player becomes more involved, it’s a very positive development which I hope will be enthusiastically continued.

  Surround sound and 3D audio positioning will also eventually dominate how game audio is presented to the player. For console systems like the Xbox, PS2 and GameCube, these are already taking advantage of the home theater systems which are so prevalent and use surround in most games. PC gamers are also upgrading their systems to include multiple channels and speaker arrangements – they aren’t ones to be left out either. Eventually we will move from 5.1 setups to 6.1 and 7.1 – can you imagine that experience?>

  Of course we are in some cases already at full 6.1 gaming support on the PC (Audigy 2). I would also argue that PC audio rather than consoles has been leading the way when it comes to 3d audio.

Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3 players.

• Audigy 2 Review
  The Guru of 3D has posted a very detailed and overall very positive review of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2. A couple of comments on their DVD-Audio section. First and foremost, PowerDVD does not currently support DVD-Audio playback. What they were getting was fall-back to standard Dolby Digital 5.1 which is built into most DVD-Audio disks in order to deliver backwards compatibility with existing DVD-Video players. That in itself will in my opinion give DVD-Audio an early leg up on SACDs which can only be played in generally much more expensive SACD players. I also would not hold my breath waiting for the DVD-Audio encryption to be cracked given the importance that the recording industry has put on making sure it does not happen. Finally, you can read more about the different surround sound formats in our article on the subject.

• Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III 7.1 Review
  I am not a Geek has posted an overall very positive review of the Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III 7.1.

• Philips Sonic Edge 5.1 Review
  Inside Project has posted a very positive review of Philips new Sonic Edge 5.1 sound card.

• Altec Lansing 641 Speakers Review
  KEPTech has posted a review of Altec Lansing top of the line 4.1 system, the 641. Overall a positive review but they were not that impressed with the bass performance which they considered significantly below the Klipsch ProMedia 4.1.

• Creative Inspire 5.1 5500 Digital Speaker System Review
  The DDR Zone has posted a very positive review of Creative's Inspire 5.1 5500 Digital Speaker System. The review lacks comparisons to other speaker systems.

• Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500 Review
  Epigamer has posted a very positive review of the Creative Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500.

• FrontX Front Panel Review
  Hardware Fusion has posted an overall negative review of the FrontX Front Panel system.

• Samsung SM-348B 48/24/48/16 CD-RW/DVD-ROM Review
  CDRLabs has posted an overall very positive review of the Samsung SM-348B 48/24/48/16 CD-RW/DVD-ROM.

Other sound news

• Philips New Sound Technology Locates Sweet Spot
  Royal Philips Electronics has announced a new technology that they say dramatically improves the sound quality of personal computers and other consumer electronics products. They note that the technology is particularly effective in restoring sound quality to files using compression methods such as MP3, the most common online digital file format.
  
  Called Sound Agent 2, the new Philips technology uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze sound along two dimensions, the source of the sound and where the sound is going to be played, resulting in high quality total sound optimization. Consumers set listening preferences via an intuitive graphical software interface that allows easy control of a wide range of sophisticated sound variables.

  For details you can check out the full press release.

• M-Audio Launches Industry’s First High-Definition 7.1 Surround Sound Card
  Relating to the announcement from VIA in the post immediately below this one, M-Audio has announced Revolution 7.1, the first high-definition 7.1 surround sound card providing up eight channels of professional 24/192kHz audio with consumer-oriented features. In addition to up to eight simultaneous channels of high-definition 24-bit/192kHz audio the Revolution 7.1 offers pro features like Bass Management, Speaker Optimization and Input Metering, built-in SRS Labs’ Circle Surround II™ technology and 3D audio and EAX 2 support via Sensaura.

  Revolution 7.1 is scheduling to ship in January 2003, and will be distributed in major retail stores throughout North America. It will be released soon after that in Japan and Europe. Estimated street price for Revolution 7.1 is $99.99. For additional details you can check out the full press release as well as the story and linked press release below.

• VIA Announces Major Soundcard Design Wins for the Envy24HT Audio Controller
  VIA Technologies, Inc. today announced two high profile design wins for the VIA Envy24HT Audio Controller, with leading audio companies M-Audio and Terratec, integrating VIA's high end audio solution into the next generation of consumer soundcard solutions.

  As the role of the PC expands for home entertainment applications, audio is taking on an increasingly important role for consumers. Enabling the next wave of audio content, the VIA Envy24HT sets a new level of audio performance for the PC, supporting the highest resolution 24-bit 192kHz audio formats. The VIA Envy24HT also enables up to 8 outputs to support the latest DVD-Videos with Dolby Digital EX® and DTS ES® audio tracks.

  For some additional details including statements from M-Audio and Terratec you can check out the full press release.

• Monsoon PlanarMedia 9 and 14 Win 2003 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award
  Level 9 Sound Designs has announced that two of its new products have been recognized with the Innovations 2003 Design and Engineering Award, Audio category, from the Consumer Electronics Society. "We are extremely proud of this accomplishment," said Jack Fatum, President, Level 9 Sound Designs, Inc. He added, "This award is recognition of the dedication that our engineering and marketing teams have to developing products that provide customers with a real alternative to traditional cone loudspeakers. The PlanarMedia 9 and PlanarMedia 14, with our Planar Ribbon technology, represent the kind of next generation thinking that will continue to be evident throughout the entire Level 9 product range."

  For additional details on the award, the PlanarMedia technology and, where to find Level 9 Sound Designs/Monsoon at the 2003 International CES (January 9-12, 2003), you can check out the full press release.

• Final Sound Introduces New Line of Flat Wall-Mount Speakers
  Final Sound Corporation, a pioneer in the development of advanced electrostatic audio speakers, has introduced the first true flat-panel line of high-definition electrostatic speakers designed for mounting on wall or ceiling with flat-screen TVs and home theater systems. They claim that the announcement marks the first major breakthrough in electrostatic speaker technology in a generation. The Dutch audio firm will demonstrate the new speakers on January 9 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The special event will occur during the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, January 9-12, 2003 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

  For lots of additional detail on this line that ranges from $1,500 to $20,000 you can check out the full press release.

• Klipsch Claims New GMX D-5.1 Speaker System Will Further Reinvent Category
  Klipsch Audio Technologies has announced a distinctive new addition to its acclaimed ProMedia® line of multimedia loudspeakers — the Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1. The GMX D-5.1 is a stylish 5.1 surround sound speaker system with a built-in 100-watt FTC-rated amplifier. The included system control module is saucer-shaped and comes equipped with Dolby® Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders. The GMX-D.5.1 system includes five identical two-way satellite speakers that are magnetically shielded and use ported enclosures, matched with a high-output, low distortion bass-reflex subwoofer using 6.5-inch front-firing woofer. The 100-watt linear A/B amplifier is housed inside the subwoofer and the bass unit also features an SWS™ Link connection for daisy-chaining multiple subwoofers. Reasonably priced ($299 U.S. MSRP), the Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1 will be available for purchase from the Klipsch web store (www.klipsch.com) or from Best Buy, Circuit City and CompUSA stores nationwide. For lots of additional detail you can check out the full press release as well as the product page at the Klipsch website.

• SONICblue Introduces First of its Kind Networked DVD Player
  SONICblue Incorporated has introduced the world's first Networked DVD player, the Go-Video® D2730. Besides top quality, standard DVD playback, the Go-Video D2730 is the first player of its kind to have the capability to stream MPEG2 video files through a wireless network from a computer to a consumer electronics component.

  The D2730 works with either a PCMCIA Ethernet Adapter (included) or an optional PCMCIA 802.11b Wireless Network Card and can stream MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files that are compressed at bitrates up to 3 Mbps. The Networked DVD Player can also stream audio files in both WMA and MP3 format and JPEG image files. The image files can be displayed by predetermined photo albums that the user can easily set up. The MP3 audio files can also be displayed by the Title, Artist, and Genre, using ID3 tag support.

  For additional details you can check out the full press release.

Upcoming features at 3DsoundSurge

• Reviews that we are currently working on:
  Updated Santa Cruz/Sonic Fury and GameTheaterXP reviews
  Hercules Fortissimo II
  Terratec DMX Xfire 1024
  CMedia CM8738 Reference Review
  Full Audigy Review
  Full Philips MMS305 Review
  
• There are several other hardware reviews in the pipeline including, but not limited to the following:
  Guillemot Maxi Sound MUSE
  Terratec m3po
  DigMedia MusicStore
  Philips Seismic Edge
  Lots of other stuff on the go in including several guides and major site revisions that we will soon be releasing more details on.
  

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