The Nameless Guide To PC Gaming Audio (with binaural headphone surround sound)

[obobskivich]

So that's three. I think Bioshock (the first one at least) uses EAX 4, but I could be wrong (I get the "Enable EAX" option with both the Audigy 2 ZS and X-Fi, so I assume it's EAX 4; it may well have some backwards compatibility support though - 4 seems a lot more common than 5 having said that). 
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(Like I said before) F.E.A.R. also uses EAX 5.  

 

 

[NamelessPFG]

 
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(Like I said before) F.E.A.R. also uses EAX 5.  

*jogs memory* You're probably right. I don't own F.E.A.R. (only played the demo), so it didn't immediately jump out at me as an example.
 
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So that's three. I think Bioshock (the first one at least) uses EAX 4, but I could be wrong (I get the "Enable EAX" option with both the Audigy 2 ZS and X-Fi, so I assume it's EAX 4; it may well have some backwards compatibility support though - 4 seems a lot more common than 5 having said that). 

I certainly can't rule out that possibility...as I've said before, I don't have any experience with the Audigy 1/2/4 line, having skipped straight from Live! to X-Fi.
 
You'd think that developers would at least make it a bit more obvious as to what level of EAX they're allowing you to use...for instance, those games that actually let you toggle between EAX 1/2/3 or plain DirectSound.

 

[Phos]

Some random Google searching is giving me the idea that Fear's EAX effects are only helped so much by ALchemy, I'm seeing a lot of what looks like reports that it isn't restored very well in 7. 
 
Also I'm seeing some claims that it's using EAX 4, but I recall it going up high enough that it needed an X-fi. 

 

[obobskivich]

http://www.creative.com/soundblaster/technology/welcome_flash.asp?j1=eax Here's the list from Creative - click EAX Games List. It only lists EAX and EAX Advanced HD as categories; Advanced HD began with 4.0 if I'm not mistaken (with the Audigy series). 
 
Here's a less-flashy but more detailed list:
http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx

 

[googleli]

Tried playing Skyrim last night on my GTX580 SLi using a 60" 3DTV and Smyth Realizer -> SR009 headphone setup. Quite something I'd say. Now I need my BHSE to arrive soon to complete the picture.

 

[NamelessPFG]

 
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http://www.creative.com/soundblaster/technology/welcome_flash.asp?j1=eax Here's the list from Creative - click EAX Games List. It only lists EAX and EAX Advanced HD as categories; Advanced HD began with 4.0 if I'm not mistaken (with the Audigy series). 
 
Here's a less-flashy but more detailed list:
http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/Lists/Games/AllItems.aspx

Those lists will help quite a bit, though at some point, I want to make my own site that provides a similar list, but goes into further detail as to what extensions are supported.
 
Not just EAX, but A3D too, even if nothing from the past decade supports it thanks to Creative eating up Aureal.
 
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Tried playing Skyrim last night on my GTX580 SLi using a 60" 3DTV and Smyth Realizer -> SR009 headphone setup. Quite something I'd say. Now I need my BHSE to arrive soon to complete the picture.

You make my wallet seem so inadequate...
 
When you get the BHSE, may I ask where the SRM-727 will go?

 

[obobskivich]

I thought basic A3D support was kind of a de facto standard, just like basic EAX. At least for modern-ish hardware (Aureal hardware was still sold as Turtle Beach until a year or so ago, I believe VIA and C-Media hardware still supports A3D) - I could be entirely wrong though, I can't actually think of a single game that needs A3D over EAX or something else. A3D is like GLiDE, it's neat to read about but ultimately worthless in modern times.
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Those lists will help quite a bit, though at some point, I want to make my own site that provides a similar list, but goes into further detail as to what extensions are supported.
 
Not just EAX, but A3D too, even if nothing from the past decade supports it thanks to Creative eating up Aureal.

 

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

You need GTX580 sli to play skyirm at 1080p at 60hz? I play it in 3d with lesser hardware and a ton of texture mods. 
 
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Tried playing Skyrim last night on my GTX580 SLi using a 60" 3DTV and Smyth Realizer -> SR009 headphone setup. Quite something I'd say. Now I need my BHSE to arrive soon to complete the picture.

 

 

[obobskivich]

No, I think he was just explaining what he had. 
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You need GTX580 sli to play skyirm at 1080p at 60hz? I play it in 3d with lesser hardware and a ton of texture mods. 
 


 

 

 

[googleli]

Skyrim is just DX9, it obviously doesn't need all of my GTX580 SLI's power.

 
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You need GTX580 sli to play skyirm at 1080p at 60hz? I play it in 3d with lesser hardware and a ton of texture mods. 
 


 

 

 

[googleli]

The SRM-727II will be put up for sale.
 
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You make my wallet seem so inadequate...
 
When you get the BHSE, may I ask where the SRM-727 will go?

 

 

[NamelessPFG]

 
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I thought basic A3D support was kind of a de facto standard, just like basic EAX. At least for modern-ish hardware (Aureal hardware was still sold as Turtle Beach until a year or so ago, I believe VIA and C-Media hardware still supports A3D) - I could be entirely wrong though, I can't actually think of a single game that needs A3D over EAX or something else. A3D is like GLiDE, it's neat to read about but ultimately worthless in modern times.

A3D 1.0 is as prevalent as DirectSound3D. A3D 2.0 and 3.0, on the other hand...not so much. It doesn't help that only cards with the Vortex2 chipset can properly accelerate those.
 
In particular, A3D 2.0 added a wavetracing feature. It literally calculated how sounds reflected in the game environment, as opposed to having general environmental presets ala EAX. However, this did take a heavy toll on the CPUs of the time, which were already taxed enough with other aspects of the game engine. Aureal planned to release a DSP daughterboard for their SQ2500 card to alleviate that issue and call the combo the SQ3500 Turbo, but then they got bankrupted by their legal battles with Creative, and the rest is history.
 
While I can't think of any games where A3D sounds distinctly better than EAX, some die-hard Half-Life/Counter-Strike fans insist on A3D. Some claim that it allows people to hear sounds that are farther away compared to plain DirectSound3D or EAX. However, other statements raving about A3D in those games talk about how people with headphones could pinpoint sound sources while blindfolded...I get the impression that Aureal's main draw there wasn't the wavetracing, but that they were the first to implement binaural surround for headphones (and to a lesser extent, stereo speakers) long before anyone else thought of it for gaming. I'm even sure that CMSS-3D Headphone draws as much from Aureal tech as it does Sensaura tech.
 
To further add to the confusion, Aureal used A3D as a sort of brand...in addition to the API and DirectSound3D extensions, A3D 3.0 in particular also referred to middleware not much unlike the Miles Sound System or FMOD.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

What does the graphics api have to do with the amount of horsepower that the game requires? Some of the most gpu intensive games that I've played are DX9 based, the witcher 2 is a recent example.
 

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Skyrim is just DX9, it obviously doesn't need all of my GTX580 SLI's power.

 


 
 
 

 
Not sure why, you could max out skyrim at 1080p with a 5770. 
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No, I think he was just explaining what he had. 


 

 

 

[facetman]

OK - have read this entire thread , and looked at the other thread- and I am overwhelmed to say the least. I just want to be able to tell where the Helicopter or tank or other guy that is shooting at me is in a FPS.
 
PC specs:
 
CPU: i5 2500K
GPU: MSi 560ti ( 448 core)
MOBO:  Asrock Z68 = http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extreme3%20Gen3 - specs say it has 7.1 on it.
 
HD receiver gets both audio and video signal from HDMI out on the GPU and played sounds to speakers and send video to the plasma TV. BUT obviously I need a headset to play FPS. 
 
Looking for a gaming headset (prefer under $150 ) that is comfortable , has good sound ( not ultra) , and can direct where sound is coming from. I would prefer not to have to buy anything else- sound card, or AMP. 
 
Is that possible?
 
 
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[bigsushi]

I'm planning on getting a pair of K701s for use with my PC for gaming and movie and TV viewing but I'm worried about properly driving them. If I could get a sound card with a built-in amp that can drive them well that's my preferred route but I'd also consider getting a pretty good desktop amp like the E9 or something similar if that's what these headphones really need.
 
So my question; is there a sound card that supports Dolby headphone or CMSS (I have not had the best of luck with Creative cards though) that can properly drive the K701s or is my best bet to get something like the Xonar DG and a desktop amp?
 
Thanks for any and all help.