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The Week in
Review: November 25 - December 1, 2002
Last week's features at
3DsoundSurge
Last week's sound news
Drivers and bugs
- Creative MediaSource Updates
Creative has released a couple updates for the MediaSource player that's bundled
with the Audigy 2. The first update fixes Double-byte Character Set related issues while
the second fix "resolves the Applications Fail-to-Launch issue".
New
games, demos, patches and bugs
Battlefield 1942 Patch
A new (v1.2) patch
for Battlefield has been released.
- Interview with Music Composer Ron Jones
The Gamers Press has posted an interview with Game/TV Composer Ron Jones. A couple
interesting Q&As
GP: You're known for writing music for both TV shows (such as "Star Trek: The Next
Generation"), and games like "Star Fleet Academy". Is there a different
process for writing music for a game compared to a TV show?
RJ: Clearly, both have picture and sound. Both have a basic story,
but games take off in a different direction in that the player determines what shifts the
story takes. Stories for film are linear, they start here and end there. Games are
designed with many possible scenarios. In films the audience learns something by viewing
the characters living through some experiences. In games, the player learns something by
being in the game. So when you work on a game you not only have to score themes and cues
that support the story, you have to compose an extended amount of score to cover the wide
number of possibilities generated by the games interactivity with the player.
- Video Game Concert Q&A
HomeLan Fed has conducted an interview with Tommy Tallarico about the upcoming (May 2003) Video Game
Concert. Here's a snip:
HomeLAN - In your opinion, how important is music in the
development of games?
Tommy Tallarico - Audio in a video game is 33% of the gaming
experience!! 33% is the visuals (art, animation), 33% is the programming (design,
character control). Steven Spielberg says that in movies audio is 50% of the experience.
In games we have one more element which is play control and interactivity (programming).
HomeLAN - How did the idea for creating a games-only musical event
come about?
Tommy Tallarico - Video game music needs to be finally legitimized
and taken seriously. The music that video game composers are doing is just as good as any
movie, television or music industry tunes out there. The movie industry went through 2
major changes over 40 years ago to legitimize their music. The 1st thing was to form a
professional organization and the 2nd was to have a live concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Earlier this year we started the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G. - www.audiogang.org)
and on May 16, 2003 we will fulfill our destiny as well on the same stage.
- Updated Phat Pro DX Plug-In from delaydots.com
delaydots.com has released an
updated version of their Phat Pro DX plug-in. The Phat Pro DX is a subharmonic low
frequency synthesizer / bass enhancer designed to provide more flexible controls on low
frequency content. It's an enhanced version of Phat plug-in (part of Sound Designer's
bundle). The plug-in two algorithms for bass extraction (one based on FFT based frequency
synthesizer), high quality low pass filter, fully controllable hard limiter for low
frequency band and waveshaper effect. Now features:
Now uses hard limiter instead a compressor.
Features 6th order elliptic low pass filter with steepest slope for best band splitting.
Post waveshaper effect for fat and intense sound.
A demo version is available for download. The Phat Pro DX standalone
plug-in is offered at a price of $24.99 online ordering only or as bonus for Sound
Designer's bundle buyers.
Reviews
of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3 players.
- Creative Labs Audigy 2
Gaming in 3D has posted
its review of the Audigy 2 where they mostly compare it to the Fortissimo II. The
review is critical when it comes to the drivers, especially the lack of stability in
games, but otherwise very positive. A complaint I haven't seen in others reviews. Hardware Fusion has also posted a short
review of the Audigy 2. It's so positive that if they hadn't mentioned slowdown in
some games you could mistake it for a press release.
- Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III
Update: We got replies from two readers saying they did not experience any issues in
NOLF2 using an Audigy 1/2 card
A new review
of Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo III Sound Card has appeared on Guru3D. The review
found the feature set and sound quality (both measured and subjective) to be quite good,
especially considering the price. In case of gaming the review complains of performance
issues in UT2003 and no support for EAX AdvancedHD. The review is mostly comparing the
card to the original Audigy. When it comes to the comments
about "I can safely say that all this environmental sound crap don’t work
all that well. And it’s not the FF3’s fault: it’s the technology in
general. " it may be true for NOLF2, at least on the FFIII, but I don't think
it's true for all games on all soundcards just like it's not true for all movies. They
never tried the game on the Audigy so unclear if it's an issue with the FFIII driver or
just the game.
- Altec Lansing AVS300W Speakers
A new review of Altec Lansing inexpensive ($50) AVS300W Speakers system has been
posted on Viper Lair. The review is very positive saying it's the best $50 system you
can find and rivals some $100 system they've heard (never mentions what $100 systems
though).
- Logitech Z-340 Speaker System
Avault has posted a positive review
of Logitech's $50 Z-340 2.1 Speaker System. One thing worth noting is the 85 dB rating
for the Z-340 is the signal to noise rating. This means the difference between a reference
output and the device output with no signal applied (i.e. it's inherant noise level) is 85
dB. It does not represent the system's audible sound level capability as noted in this
review.
- Samsung yepp YP-700H
The TechZone has posted a review of Samsung yepp YP-700H MP3 Player. This flashbased
MP3 player feature 128MB of memory, Memory expansion slot, , support for both MP3 and WMA,
Customizable equalizer, Voice recording, Remote controller with FM tuner and a weight of
only 2.6 oz. (without battery). Techzone had several complaints but overall gave it a
score of 8 out of 10.
- irock!300W Wireless Music Adapter
Geekshelter has posted a positive review of the irock!300W Wireless Music Adapter. The unit connects to
any audio device output via a 1/8" mini-jack and transmits the output using a radio
signal that can be tuned in on virtually any radio system, making it ideal for in vehicle
use of portable MP3 players.
- First Look at Philips JackRabbit32 external
DVD/CD-RW Drive
Designtechnica has posted a first look at Philips' new JackRabitt32 external 32X DVD/CD-RW
drive. On top of PC or Mac connectivity this unit also be used as a portable MP3/CD player
or hooked up to a TV as a DVD player. For all the
details head over to Designtechnica.
Other sound news
- Creative Introduces New Speaker System
Creative has introduced a new PC speaker system with eye-catching industrial design.
"The Creative I-Trigue speakers will get people’s attention because they are so
slender and stylish, but what’s really impressive is their stunning sound
quality," said Sim Wong Hoo, founder and CEO of Creative. "We designed these
speakers to enrich the look of the desktop and complement flat screen monitors, notebook
or tablet PCs; yet they sound better than speakers that are much larger and more
expensive." The new Creative I-Trigue™ 2.1 3300 is
slated for immediate shipment at an ESP of US$99.99. You can find more details in the Asian
press release. The system is also listed on Creative Labs Americas site but not the European sites.
In related news it can be interesting to note that the new MegaWorks
THX certified system is now listed on both the UK and Americas sites. We mentioned the European press release about a month
ago, not sure when Creative put the the product pages online. Interesting to note that the
US SRP for the THX 5.1 550 is $350.
Thanks to Michael Michailidis for the news.
- Lake Technology Limited Announces Contour
Lake Technology has announced the launch of a new Digital Speaker Controller - the Lake
Contour. Named because of its unique capability to enable users to literally reshape
sound, the Contour has already achieved significant success in the trial installations in
which it has been deployed. The new Contour features a wealth
of new features, including a new method of equalization. Unlike other DSP-based
loudspeaker controllers, the Contour synthesizes filters, providing the most precise and
flexible equalization ever developed for optimizing loudspeaker systems. The synthesis
technology supports a virtually unlimited number of EQ curves in comparison to
conventional processors that have a finite number of parametric EQ sections or graphic EQ
bands.
Lake Contour promises to revolutionize the way live audio is
experienced in every installation in which it is deployed. Production quantities of
Contour will be available starting January 2003. Distribution arrangements are currently
being put in place.
For additional details and links you can check out the full
press release.
- Level 9 Introduces the Monsoon PlanarMedia 14
Multimedia System
Level 9 Sound Designs Inc. has announced the introduction of the new Monsoon PlanarMedia
14 Multimedia Audio System. The PlanarMedia 14 delivers what Level 9 describes as "an
industry-leading price/performance package" and features the company's highly
successful combination of true, flat panel design and exclusive Planar Focus Technology
(PFT). The $149 PlanarMedia 14 occupies the current high-end 2.1 product segment of the
Level 9 line. Level 9's PFT100 Series Planar Ribbon
Transducers provide exceptional sound clarity and detail and make possible the company's
signature, high-end looking flat panel design. The PlanarMedia 14's 200 watts peak power
and 100 watts RMS turns out 103dB peak SPL in a typical desktop environment. The new
8" powered subwoofer, the largest of any in its $150 price class, produces what is
described as tight, deep Bass down to 35Hz.
For additional details you can check out the full
press release.
- SONICblue's Introduce Rio HT2030 Home Theater
System
SONICblue has unveiled the first Rio® home theater in a box, the Rio HT2030. Expanding
Rio's presence in the home, the Rio HT2030 leverages technology from SONICblue's
Go-Video® product line to create an all-in-one audio video system. The Rio HT2030's all-in-one design gives consumers a compact, affordable unit
that is easy to set up and use. The unit combines a VCR, a progressive scan DVD/CD player,
an AM/FM stereo digital tuner with 30 presets, Cable Ready Television Tuner, and a 350
watt 5.1 channel amplifier into one efficient device. The unit delivers this power
smoothly to 5 included two-way satellite speakers and a passive subwoofer, and controls
all of this with one simple remote control. You can find more details in the
press release.
- Oscar Winning Sounds Available Online
The music and sound effects company Audio Network Plc announced today that it has made the
prestigious SoundStorm sound effects catalogue available online on its web site at www.audiolicense.net. Nineteen years of recording authentic sound for films has resulted in a
legendary sound resource, which is unparalleled in its depth and quality. The effects have
been used in many of Hollywood’s most famous films including Tomb Raider, Batman, The
Fast and the Furious, Star Trek and Clint Eastwood’s movies. The Oscar winning team
at SoundStorm were founding partners of Audio Network assigning to Audio Network the
exclusive global exploitation rights to the vast in-house sound catalogue.
For additional details you can check out the full
press release.
For more news from last week check out our news archive.
Upcoming features at 3DsoundSurgeReviews 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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