Audio

[Yellonet]

Which EAX generation is supported by HL2?
I'm thinking about buying a new sound card... I've got an old SB 1024 Player and it's starting to show it's age


- Yellonet

 

[Chris D]

As far as I know, HL2 will be supporting all of the latest audio software and hardware including 7.1 surround.

 

[Yellonet]

EAX 4 then.
Ok, that's a $110 sound card... *sigh*


- Yellonet

 

[Chris D]

It may be worth checking with Valve anyway though.

Rick Ellis might know: [email protected]

 

[Yellonet]

Thanks!


- Yellonet

 

[Chris D]

No problem

I'll leave this open in case anyone else has any confirmed information about the sound capabilities of HL2.

 

[Yellonet]

Anybody know?


- Yellonet

 

[ZEROarmy]

Valve has created their own proprietary 5.1 sound format for HL2, just like id made for Doom, because Valve and id know Creative's EAX is crap.

Since all of the sound calculation is done on the CPU, the game will sound exactly the same on all systems (posisition-wise), and the only differences will depend on the quality of the DACs on your soundcard.

 

[Yellonet]

Valve has created their own proprietary 5.1 sound format for HL2, just like id made for Doom, because Valve and id know Creative's EAX is crap.

Since all of the sound calculation is done on the CPU, the game will sound exactly the same on all systems (posisition-wise), and the only differences will depend on the quality of the DACs on your soundcard.

Good to know... but that also means that the sound calculations will steal cpu time from other stuff... well.. not too bad I guess


- Yellonet

 

[Annihilator_91]

As far as I know, HL2 will be supporting all of the latest audio software and hardware including 7.1 surround.

MUAHAHA! Yessss! Me got 7.1 sound! It will oh so kick-ass!

 

[Burning Fish]

Good to know... but that also means that the sound calculations will steal cpu time from other stuff... well.. not too bad I guess


- Yellonet

It always does. For example: lowering the sound channels in Unreal Tournament 2004 and Postal 2 gave me a huge performance hit. I hope Half-Life 2 will sound kickass on my Audigy 2 ZS

 

[Dr0ndeh]

ive got some medusa 5.1 headphones, they'll do me fine

 

[KagePrototype]

ive got some medusa 5.1 headphones, they'll do me fine

I have the same ones, they do wonders. Especially in CS:Source.

 

[Dead-Inside]

I have the same ones, they do wonders. Especially in CS:Source.

I have two speakers infront of me.

You know what though? I still own everyone I meet while playing HL mods (Except maybe HL itself, those guys are crazy).

 

[jamil]

<sarcasm>
Are you serious?!

So surround sound DOESN'T make me a better player?
</sarcasm>

 

[KagePrototype]

I have two speakers infront of me.

You know what though? I still own everyone I meet while playing HL mods (Except maybe HL itself, those guys are crazy).

What's your point? :| I'm just saying it sounds brilliant in CS:Source.

/me is confuzuled as to why he was quoted

 

[Stryyder]

ive got some medusa 5.1 headphones, they'll do me fine

Where did you get those I can't find them anywhere in the USA?

Got the Gainwards but the Medusa supposed to be a lot stronger bass.

 

[iamaelephant]

Surround sound may not make me a better player, but it sure as hell makes games more fun. I remember the first day I bought my 5.1 speakers, I started up Battlefield 1942 in a fll server on Battle of Britain, jumped onto an AA gun and the sound of the planes flying past was mind blowing. Awesome stuff, I love my 5.1 speakers.

 

[oldagerocker]

i need some cheap 5.1 speakers, if i dont go Creative, what are the best cheaper brands? I need good sound quality and well built speakers.

 

[iamaelephant]

Why not Creative?

 

[oldagerocker]

I have to watch my bank balance closely. I'd go for creative if i could afford to.

 

[iamaelephant]

Check out these ones:
http://www.ascent.co.nz/mn-product-spec.asp?pid=112763

That's New Zealand dollars, but they are cheap. I own them and I'm very happy with them.

 

[ytinupmi]

Check out these ones:
http://www.ascent.co.nz/mn-product-spec.asp?pid=112763

That's New Zealand dollars, but they are cheap. I own them and I'm very happy with them.

those = crap quality.

 

[iamaelephant]

Well I own them and I really like them. I'm no audio-phile but they suit my needs - plenty of bass, great directional sound for games. I don't need top of the line speakers, and for $123 you can't go wrong.

 

[poseyjmac]

no 8.1 sound support? man what a ripoff, that will totally ruin it for me

 

[merc]

i have always just used my nvidia onboard sound and it works great... i only use headphones though so i dont know if that makes a difference...

-merc