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The Week in
Review: February 25 - March 3, 2002
Last week's features at
3DsoundSurge
Last week's sound news
Drivers and bugs
- New drivers from Hercules
Hercules has released
new drivers for its Game Theater XP, Gamesurround Muse XL, Gamesurround Fortissimo II
and Gamesurround Muse LT. The GameSurround Muse XL and LT are currently not available from
the US website but they are available from the European website.
You can also download all the drivers directly from the FTP server. I'm not sure
but possible the Muse XL which is of a later version (6.33 vs 6.32) will work on the Muse
LT (which I don't think has been released yet btw). Here's a
list of what's new
Gamesurround Fortissimo II: driver version 1.50
- Improved 3D sound rendering
- New Sensaura librairies
- Analog inputs now sent to the S/PDIF output port in "Main
outputs" mode
- Enhanced S/PDIF input port recording
- Improved DLS MIDI synthesizer
- Fixed miscellaneous game issues
Game Theater XP: driver version 4.10:
- Improved 3D sound rendering
- New Sensaura librairies
- Analog inputs now sent to the S/PDIF output port in "Main
outputs" mode
- Enhanced S/PDIF input port recording
- Improved DLS MIDI synthesizer
- Fixed miscellaneous game issues
Gamesurround Muse LT 6.32
- No info available
Gamesurround Muse XL 6.33
- No info available
Thanks to Erik Post for the pointer.
When it comes to the new Fortissimo II driver it can be worth
remembering the following post in Hercules forum (some of this may also apply to the
GameTheater XP drivers)
Hello,
The following issues, some of which have been mentioned on the forum, have been resolved
and will be released with the next driver update (scheduled for early February, 2002):
Some VxD issues resolved are:
-Fixed MS Flight Sim 2002 pagefault issue.
-Headphone detection/support handled correctly after APM resume.
-The center and LFE playback mixer controls are initialized to their proper, scaled values
on bootup.
-New mp3 filter resolves hardware mp3 volume initialization problem.
Some WDM issues resolved are:
-Fixed Far Gate BSOD issue.
-Fixed IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD which occurred in certain games.
-Fixed Thief 2 BSOD issue.
-New mp3 filter resolves hardware mp3 volume initialization problem.
-S/PDIF output eq/small-spkr issue resolved.
Additional enhancements to the drivers:
- Sensaura library updated to version 2203.
- All analog inputs are fully virtualized and sent to the S/PDIF output port when the
"main out" option is selected.
- Digital In recording performance enhanced.
The Audio Dev Team.
It's of course possible some changes has happened since then.
- Vortex Control Panel v2.00 released
A new (v2.00) version of the Vortex Control Panel for Windows XP has been released.
It currently only supports Vortex 2 but will soon also support Vortex 1 and Vortex
Advantage based soundcards just like the previous versions did (v1.90).
New games, demos, patches and bugs
- Arx Fatalis Demo
Arkane Studios and Fishtank Interactive has released
a demo for the upcoming Arx Fatalis Arx Fatalis is a
first-person RPG, which plunges the player into an amazingly complex fantasy world. Arx
Fatalis combines intelligent storyline with impressive medieval surroundings. The
user-friendly interface allows the highest interactivity possible. Arx Fatalis creates a
state of intense immersion that allows the player to feel that all his actions have a
direct consequence in the Arx game world. The demo feature support for 3D audio and
recommends an A3D 2.0 or EAX 2.0 compatible soundcard which should indicate it also
features support for EAX 2.0 and A3D 2.0 in addition to DS3D.
- Operation Flashpoint Patch 1.45
A new patch
(v1.45) for Operation Flashpoint has been released
- Miles Sound System DieselPower plugin beta-test
The Danish audio company, AM:3D, has started a public beta-test program of their binaural
3D audio technology for games utilizing the Miles Sound System. They created a Miles M3D
compatible plugin that features the DieselPower Level One engine for binaural 3D
positional audio. The plugin works with games like Medal Of Honor - Allied Assault, Tribes
2, Vampire The Masquerade Redemption and Severance: Blade Of Darkness. Common for those
games is that they use the Miles Sound System M3D API. All you need to do is to visit
AM:3D's homepage at www.am3d.com, sign
up as a beta-tester by filling out a form to download the M3D plugin and use it in M3D
enabled games. The plugin works on all DirectX compatible soundcards.
- 4Front technologies OSS/3D v5.5.1 Plugin Released
4Front Technologies, a leading developer of digital and analog audio solutions for the
Linux and UNIX Operating System platforms has released the OSS/3D v5.5.1 plugin for X
Multimedia System (XMMS) on Linux and Winamp. OSS/3D comprises of a set of proprietary 3D
audio algorithms that provide audio spatialization, depth perception, bass boost, fidelity
enhancement and speaker/headphone correction. OSS/3D works with standard 2-speaker based
soundcards. The new features include loading and storing presets of all the controls for
OSS/3D. There is now a new "brainwave relaxer" module. The brainwave relaxer is
based on psycho-acoustical models of how the brain perceives and interacts with sound.
It's aim is to provide relaxation and meditation. For more details on this plugin you can check out the official website.
- OpenAL++ Released
Developed as an in-house tool for spatial audio at VRlab, OpenAL++ is now released to the
public. As the name suggests, the API is object oriented and built on the portable audio
library OpenAL, which is an open-source, cross-platform 3D-Audio library. The libraries
CommonC++ and PortAudio are also used. OpenAL++ is released under the LGPL. Features of
OpenAL++ include: Object oriented interface, easy thread handling, automatic
initialization/shutdown and more. For more information, visit the official OpenAL++
site. For some more on OpenAL you can also check out the official OpenAL site as well as a March 2000 press
release from Loki Entertainment Software.
Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3
players.
- Logitech Z-540 4.1 Speakers
Gaming in 3D has posted
its review of Logitech's Z-540 4.1 Speakers. It's the $80 (according to the review
available on line for $60) 4.1 system complementing Logitech's more famous and expensive
($200) Z-560 system. Gaming in 3D found that it just like its bigger brother offer amazing
quality and great performance for the price.
- Creative CD-MP3 Player
T-Break has posted
a review of a CD-MP3 Player from Creative Labs. It features, anti shock protection
(120s for MP3s), wired remote control, LCD Display and bass boost. The review is rather
negative complaining about lacking features (no equalizer, upgradeable firmware, support
for other formats than MP3, AC3 adapter etc), good but not excellent sound quality and
when it comes to design they sum it up with the following bit Thinking positively not
many people would try stealing it because of its looks. The SRP is a bit above $100,
not sure if Creative will release it in US and/or Europe though.
- Hercules 3D Prophet All-in-Wonder 8500DV
T-Break has posted a review of Hercules 3D Prophet All-in-Wonder 8500DV. It's identical to
what ATI sells with the same name including the manuals, the only difference is the box.
That is ATI's latest high-end TV/DVD/video editing focused video card. In case of using it
for DVD playback it doesn't offer a multi-channel output, only a SPDIF output so you need
an external decoder if you want more than stereo playback. Oddly enough the All-In-Wonder
only support AC3 output, not DTS output.
Other sound news
- Creative Europe announce Extigy and
Audigy/Inspire 5300 bundle
Creative Labs Europe has announced the Sound Blaster Audigy Surround 5.1. It features the
Audigy soundcard and the Inspire 5300 speaker system. You can find some details in the press release
but being a general European press release no mention of price and not even mentioned what
games it will feature except it features a great game package. Checking the official
product page makes it clear (at least if you live in UK) this great game package means
it will include Giants. In related news Creative Labs Europe
has now also announced the
Extigy soundcard. Again the press release is lacking details.
- SoundMax will feature PureAudio Noise Reduction
Technology
Andrea Electronics Corporation has announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement
with Analog Devices, Inc. for the license of Andrea Electronics' PureAudio® digital noise
canceling algorithm for use with Analog Devices' SoundMAX® integrated audio PC product
offerings. SoundMax is as you may know the software solutions included with many Intel
motherboards which features support for 3D sound using Sensaura's 3D sound and reverb
engine. Andrea's PureAudio software algorithm is an effective
tool to eliminate consistent background noises commonly encountered in most home and
office environments such as fans and electrical interference caused by a computer's
internal circuitry. In addition to this base level solution, SoundMAX Cadenza offers
Andrea's most advanced digital array technologies at price points 75% less than leading
USB headsets. This solution enables the use of voice applications in even harsh noise
environments, while eliminating the need to wear a headset. More details are available in the
press release
- NVIDIA nForce Platform Processing Architecture
Garners Industry Acclaim
NVIDIA® has announced that its nForce(TM) Platform Processing Architecture is quickly
becoming the PC platform of choice for many of the industry's leading motherboard
manufacturers, PC OEMs and system builders worldwide. To date, the nForce platform has
been adopted by more than 100 leading motherboard manufacturers, PC OEMs and system
builders including: Micro-Star International (MSI(TM)), ASUSTek Computer Inc., ABIT
Computer Corporation, MicronPC.com, Fijitsu-Siemens, Falcon Northwest, Atlas Micro®, and
Alienware®, with more major PC OEM announcements forthcoming shortly. You can find more details in the full
press release
- NVIDIA Unveils Software DVD Player (NVDVD)
NVIDIA® has introduced NVDVD(TM), a new software-based DVD player/decoder architected
specifically for NVIDIA's family of graphics and multimedia processors. NVIDIA NVDVD, to
be demonstrated this week at the Intel® Developer Forum, is designed to power DVD
playback for a new generation of NVIDIA-based mobile and desktop PCs. A complete software DVD solution, developed entirely by NVIDIA, NVDVD
utilizes an enhanced, state-of-the-art video decoding engine to deliver users a sharper,
more true to life video image. NVDVD's integrated Dolby(TM) Digital® support delivers the
benefits of Dolby Surround® technology for users with multi-channel sound cards. For
consumers who want to utilize external audio processors such as a home theater receiver,
NVDVD can output direct digital audio via an S/PDIF connector for external processing of
Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG audio, or LPCM formats. More details are available in the full press
release
- EMI/Capitol Records to Release 2nd Wave of
DVD-Audio Titles
EMI/Capitol Records takes the second step in its ongoing campaign to offer classic
recordings in advanced resolution surround sound, remixed to optimize playback on high-end
surround systems as well as home theater systems. The new titles include videos, bios,
discography, photo galleries plus more.
Each DVD-Audio release is re-mixed at the Capitol Studios from the original multi-track
master tape in Advanced Resolution 96 kHz/24 bit PCM surround sound. To get the most out
of the new format, audiences need a DVD-Audio player, which can play back the advanced
resolution surround and stereo tracks. While listening to the high-resolution audio, the
listener can browse the artists' bio, photo gallery and track credits without playback
interruption. Also included on the disc are 5.1 surround mixes in DTS and Dolby Digital
formats, so the 31 million owners of DVD-Video players can also enjoy the surround
remixes. More details are available in the full press release
- Silverline and Sanctuary to Release 140 DVD-Audio
Titles
Silverline Records has entered into a long-term licensing deal with Sanctuary Records to
release DVD-Audio titles, it has been announced by John Trickett, Chairman of the 5.1
Entertainment Group and Merck Mercuriadis, CEO of The Sanctuary Group Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Silverline Records has obtained exclusive
license rights for all six-channel formats for 140 unique albums of Sanctuary repertoire
including past and future releases. Beginning in April 2002, Silverline Records will
release multiple DVD-Audio titles per month by artists such as Bob Marley, Styx, The
Kinks, Joey Ramone, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Widespread Panic, Sex Pistols and Megadeth to name a
few. More details are available in the full press release
- SigmaTel demo 24-bit, 192 kHz, 6-channel codecs
for PCs
SigmaTel, the leading provider of AC'97 audio codecs, moves the market toward the next
generation of audio quality with a DVD-Audio demonstration of the SigmaTel® C-Major(tm)
STAC9460 consumer audio codec. The demonstration is engineered to illustrate the demanding
24-bit, 192 kHz, 6-channel environment required by DVD-Audio or SACD (Super Audio Compact
Disk) standards. This type of codec implementation illustrates how PC audio quality is
evolving based on current consumer audio technology. You can find more details in the press release
- Verbatim Corporation Announces 4.7GB DVD+R
Write-Once Discs
Widely recognized for its technical expertise in advancing the optical storage industry,
Verbatim® Corporation announced today its new DataLifePlus® 4.7GB DVD+R media -- a
companion product to DVD+RW which was introduced in October 2001. With the announcement,
Verbatim becomes the first to offer DVD+RW technology in both the ReWriteable and
Write-once formats. Like Verbatim's DVD+RW media, the new DVD+R discs are certified for
2.4x recording speed (equivalent to 3.32MB/sec or 22x CD-R performance), the fastest
recording speed of any current DVD format. Verbatim will begin shipping DataLifePlus DVD+R
media in March. For a lot more detail you can check out the full
press release.
For more news from last week check out our news archive.
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.
As always if you have any ideas for products we should review or
features we should do, please let us know.
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