The Week in Review: September 16-22, 2002

Last week's features at 3DsoundSurge

Last week's sound news

Drivers and bugs

New games, demos, patches and bugs

• UT2003 Gold
  A post to the Infogrames, Inc. Forums by Epic's Mark Rein delivers the news at Unreal Tournament 2003 has gone gold as of 5:00 AM EDT this morning, and the game is expected in stores by the end of the month.

• Battlefield 1942 Supports 3D Audio
  Gamer's Hell has posted a review of Battlefield 1942 that illustrates that the title takes advantage of 3D audio. Here's a snip:

  With support for surround sound, the aural experience is enhanced even more. It’s truly amazing when you’re driving across an open field and you hear rockets fly by, planes dropping bombs, and infantry firing their rifles. Nearly everything you interact with in the game has its own distinct sound, making the game not only a visual treat, but also aurally as well.

• UT2003 Demo Patch
  A patch was released yesterday for the UT2003 with a number of non-audio related fixed. That patch should be available via the auto-update feature and can also be downloaded directly (check the UT2003 site for links).

  On the audio side, I have done some testing with a variety of cards, mostly with the unpatched version but also some with the new patch. With both the Hardware 3D audio and Hardware 3D Audio with EAX (which delivers EAX Advanced HD support) there has been good 3D audio support from Creative Lab's Audigy, Analog Devices SoundMAX and ForteMedia's FM801 (with the latest WDM drivers) all EAX 2 capable cards.
  With a CMedia CM8738 based card (also with the latest EAX 2 capable WDM drivers) I am for an unknown reason not getting 3D audio with any setting in UT2003, where as that card does give good 3D audio other games including the EAX Advanced HD supporting Jedi Knight II.

  While the Audigy (which supports EAX Advanced HD) delivers clear quality reverb effects, there is no reverb in the exact same places when testing with the other cards. This result is typical of the other EAX Advanced HD titles tested to date (Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Soldier of Fortune II) but it's not what we have been expecting from UT2003. The reason is the EAX Advanced HD files are supposed to be able to deliver backwards compatibility for owners of EAX 2.0 capable cards (the Live, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, several of Hercules, Philips Edge Series, plus the ones I have tested above and others) and we had been told that UT 2003 would utilize this to take full advantage of EAX 2.0 HW. That is some of the features only present in EAX Advanced HD would only be available for Audigy users but users with EAX 2.0 HW will still be able to hear reverb effects and other features of EAX 2.0. It's worth noting that at this time I have only focused on listening out for reverb, so it's possible there are some occlusion or obstruction effects being delivered on the EAX 2 capable cards (as well as on the Audigy) that would not be present if the Hardware 3D + EAX option was not selected (or on an older EAX 1 only card). It's also possible the final game will improve on the backwards compatibility with EAX 2 cards. We will be checking with Epic Games for more information this week.

Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3 players.

• Logitech Z-680 Preview
  IGN.com has posted a short, very positive preview of Logitech's upcoming Z-680 speakers. It's short because despite leaks from online stores in Australia, the speakers still have not been officially announced by Logitech, so only limited information can be officially released. The official public release of speakers is not slated until late October/November. Anyway, do check out this preview for a number of pictures of the system and some brief impressions. As you will see the 5.1 unit will sport DTS, Dolby Digital, Pro Logic and Pro Logic II decoding. Inputs will be optical and COAX digital as well as 6 channel analog. While we were unable to attend the press event due to other commitments we will be taking a hands on look at the system this fall. Thanks to GTAudiophile for the pointer.

• AOpen AX4B-533 Tube Motherboard Video Review
  3DGameMan has posted a video review of AOpen's AX4B-533 motherboard. From an audio perspective what's interesting about this product is its use of a tube based preamplifier stage for the line level output. I have not had a chance to watch this video review yet so I do know just how it gets framed in the review. If you use our news search function you can find two text reviews of the board for further context.

• Noise Reduction
  Three reviews out in the line of reducing PC ambient noise levels. First up is a by HWGuru at QuietPC's SilentDrive harddrive enclosure. They found it to be very effective at noise reduction but at the expense of a notable increase in drive temperature.

  Next up is what is described as a Sound Dampening Material Shootout by Monster Hardware. Specifically they look at three different sound dampening pads as well some spray on sound dampening material. One comment on debunking noise claims of fan manufacturers (which is only an aside in the review). Unless the manufacturer states the parameters of their measurements (primarily distance) it's not really possible to state that their claims are accurate or not. In terms of the review they found all of the products to be effective and worthy of your consideration.

  Last in the list is a look at the Zalman 300W ZM300A-APF Quiet Power Supply by Frosty-Tech. They come to positive conclusions noting that the ZM300A measured around 36db from about 16" off the rear in their tests.

Other sound news

• Dolby Headphone News from Lake Technology
  Lake Technology, developers of the Dolby Headphone process made several announcements over the past few days.

  First up is their announcement that one of its key strategic customers, Sharp Corporation, has released two of its highly featured models. The players both feature Dolby Headphone Implementation using Lake Technology’s VZ chip design. As we mentioned in a separate news story, the MD-DS8 “Auvi” model is the world’s first MiniDisc device with a 1-bit amplifier. It features Dolby Headphone and a unique polar separated headphone adapter to completely separate the left and right signals for better sound. The 1-bit amplifier significantly improves treble response and reduces power consumption, giving up to 180 hours playback time. For some additional details you can check out the full press release.

  Next up is the news that Dolby Laboratories announced that its new reference decoder, the DP564 Multichannel Audio Decoder, is now shipping. This new tool is able to decode every Dolby® consumer format, making it the perfect solution for monitoring in DVD, Digital TV broadcast, and postproduction applications. The unit also features a Dolby Headphone processor for monitoring surround sound with regular headphones. Dolby Headphone processing allows for more accurate monitoring - and lower listener fatigue - in environments where headphone listening is necessary. More details can be found in the full press release.

  Last up is the news that beginning this month, business class passengers on Austrian Airlines will be able to enjoy full surround sound with in flight movies via the Lake-developed Dolby Headphone process. The process, already in-flight with some of the world’s leading airlines, pre-encodes the program content with a Dolby Headphone soundtrack, allowing the effect to be experienced with standard headsets. For additional details you can again check out the full press release.

• Multichannel Audio Hardware Guide
  Firing Squad has posted a Multichannel Audio Hardware Guide that give a historical overview of multichannel audio and then starts into the different speaker options. They plan to do a follow-up article that looks at software 3D audio formats in the future. Thanks to GTAudiophile for the pointer.

• Cambridge SoundWorks Announces MegaTheater Systems
  No these are not new multimedia speakers but rather a new line of high performance home-theater-in-a-box systems.

  The MegaTheater systems range in price from $699.99 to $1,299.99 and are powered using B.A.S.H.(TM) digital hybrid amplification delivering 450 Watts RMS in total. Each MegaTheater system uses the same sleek, platinum-tone DVD/tuner console with AM/FM tuner, DVD/CD/CDROM-MP3 player and multiple inputs as well a the same high-performance 8" long-throw subwoofer with 150-watt amplifier, capable of accurate bass response down to 35Hz.

  The four systems vary in that they use different grades of main, center and surround speakers. Multimedia audio fans will be familiar with the satellites used on the MegaTheater 505 which starts out the line ($699.99) as it uses the same 5 Newton Series MC50 satellites that are found on the MegaWorks510D.

  For lots more details you can check out the full press release.

• The Beauties & the Beast: S4 MidiLand POWERSTIXX
  MidiLand has announced its newest 2.1 speaker system, the S4 MidiLand POWERSTIXX, that they describe as delivering unparalleled design beauty and incredible sound performance. Nick-named "Beauties & the Beast", the S4 MidiLand POWERSTIXX delivers 60 watts of total power output -- 30 watts for subwoofer and 15 watts for each satellite. The satellites are housed in a thin, compact aluminum tube enclosure that contains four 1-inch neodymium Full-range drivers, a removable metal grill in the front, and a detachable metal stand that holds the satellite in an ergodynamic 15 degree listening angle when placing on a desk. The subwoofer consists of a 6.5-inch driver housed in a wooden cabinet. The S4 MidiLand POWERSTIXX also features a aluminum wired remote control box, allowing convenient adjustment of system volume and power on/off control with a LED blue light indicator. For more details you can check out the full press release.

• Hypersonic speakers?
  That's just what's around the corner according to an article on the Popular Science website. According to the story the hypersonic speakers focus sound in a tight beam, much like a laser focuses light. The ultrasonic speakers create sound at more than 20,000 cycles per second, a rate high enough to keep in a focused beam and beyond the range of human hearing. Step into the beam and you hear the sound as if it were being generated inside your head. Reflect it off a surface and it sounds like it originated there. The story reports that at 30,000 cycles, the sound can travel 150 yards without any distortion or loss of volume. For more information check out the full article.

  If you find  the concept to be interesting then there is a more detailed article on the technology on MSNBC (originally a Newsweek article) that is well worth checking out. You can also visit the website of American Technology Inc. the company behind the technology. On that site there are several press releases including a recent (August 2002) letter to shareholders that outlines what the company sees as their current commercial position for the technology. We also came across a link to a 1997 paper by Elwood (Woody) Norris, the man behind the technology that is a more in-depth look at the concept.

• Turtle Beach To Show AudioTron Digital Music Player At CEDIA
  Turtle Beach has announced that it will showcase its AudioTron(tm) digital music player at the CEDIA Expo, held September 27 to 29, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Designed to organize and play up to 30,000 digital audio files stored on a networked personal computer -- as well as Internet audio streams through TurtleRadio(tm) - the AudioTron transmits and receives data through an Ethernet 10BaseT or 10/100BaseT network. A recent firmware release has added Windows Media Format streaming, a robust Web browser interface, and a user-configurable front panel display. With the included AudioStation® software, the PC becomes a whole-house music jukebox, delivering audio to any room where the AudioTron is located. The AudioTron supports playback of MP3 and WMA files, as well as uncompressed WAV files. For more details you can check out the full press release.

  In a separate press release Turtle Beach announced that its AudioTron digital music player has won the PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award for digital jukeboxes in the October 1, 2002 issue.

• SONICblue to Launch Rio S10 and S30S
  SONICblue has unveiled the first players in Rio's new line of portable digital music players, the Rio® S10 and S30S sport player.

  The S10 is the next generation of Rio's portable music player line. It offers 64 MB of memory and is upgradeable to 192 MB of storage. Features includes a large backlit screen, a clock and stopwatch, a useful carrying case and an impressive battery life of up to 35 hours.

  Targeted toward the sports enthusiast, the S30S is lightweight and durable and built to withstand the rigors of an extreme workout. The player also offers 64 MB of memory, upgradeable to 192 MB of storage, a large back lit screen, a clock and stopwatch. In addition, the S30S also offers an integrated FM tuner, and an adjustable armband. You can find more details in the press release.

• InterVideo Launches WinDVD Creator
  InterVideo, Inc. has announced the immediate availability of WinDVD Creator, it's easy-to-use DVD and VCD creation software which allows consumers to easily create and burn their own VCD and DVD movies that can play in consumer DVD players. WinDVD Creator utilizes a storyboard format, which offers pictures and thumbnails of all the different components (camera, clips, transitions, etc.) of the movie-making process so even a novice user can quickly and intuitively identify the different functions that go into a making a movie and can manipulate them with drag-and-drop ease. For lots more detail you can check out the full press release.

• Recordable DVD Technology Compatibility Confusion
  Pioneer Electronics has released research results on DVD format compatibility conducted by Intellikey Labs in July 2002 that directly contradicts other data released by Intellikey earlier last week. According to Andy Parsons, senior vice president for the Business Solutions Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. the nature of recordable DVD technology makes it difficult to draw a clear conclusion about compatibility. He went on to state that the variation between the two Intellikey test results clearly illustrates this, concluding that it is not in the consumer's best interest to present one set of results as conclusive evidence. For more details you can check out the full press release.

• Pioneer Warns of DVD Recorder Woes
  An AP story on Yahoo! News reports that Pioneer Electronics Inc. is warning consumers who use its popular DVD recorders to download and apply an important software repair to prevent permanent damage that could occur when recording video using new high-speed discs. The problem can occur when the drives use newer, blank four-speed DVD-R discs and two-speed DVD-RW discs. The affected models are: DVR-7000; PRV-9000; DVR-A03; DVR-103; DVR-A04 and DVR-104. From a PC perspective Pioneer also warned that some computer makers include Pioneer drives labeled as a "Superdrive" with their systems, including Compaq Computer Corp., Apple Computer Co. and Sony Electronics Inc. For more details check out the full story on Yahoo.

• MySoundStudio 6
  Bytesector has posted an overall very positive review of MySoundStudio 6, a sound editing and recording tool for the average computer user that allows upto 6 tracks of recording.

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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