Enhance Existing Applications
First, to debunk some
myths. You CAN enhance older games, audio CDs and other stuff you
play on your PC using Environmental Audio. There are lots of presets for
enhancing any audio that goes through your PC.
Games
There are many presets
for many popular games like World Cup 98, Final Fantasy VII, and many
other games, of course, not forgetting Quake 2. Many developers have already
signed up to support EAX and more are being added to the list each day.
Unreal is the
first game to support EAX, and the results are pretty spectacular. Hear
to believe! You'll find yourself playing on and on just to get immersed
in the environemnt that the sound provides.
Don't forget EAX 2.0
and 3.0, which promises even more realistic gaming!
"I AM a Gamer!"
You are? Good! If
you are the type who appreciates good sound, has a fairly costly pair
of speakers connected to your sound card, a 3D sound card is what you
need.
If you have the latest
whiz-bang 3D accelerator card, and you're savouring every moment of it,
then you should definitely go for 3D sound.
"The
SBLive! does for sound what
Voodoo has done for 3D Graphics."
Everybody has been
mouthing this quote to describe the SBLive!, and its nothing more than
the truth! The difference is phenomenal and is way ahead of what you get
with the Sound Blaster 16, 32, AWE and even the PCI line of products.
Sound is Abstract
Although when you
hear about Environmental Audio and all that, it might sound like
something pretty far fetched. Unlike graphics, where you see a screenshot,
and you can immediately say: "This looks great.", you
have to hear sound cards like the SBLive! for yourself.
Because, sound is
a pretty abstract thing, and it is very difficult to quantify. Even audiophiles
have endless squabbles on so many issues! If you play games all the time
and you have your neighbours complaining that you are too noisy (they
hate that shotgun sound don't they?), then you owe it to yourself to give
this card a try, and see if it enhances your gameplay.
To most people, it
does make a difference.
"But I Would Like to Make MUSIC!"
You can. Although
the SBLive! seems like it isn't an entirely music-oriented card, just
imagine what you can do with this card. It comes bundled with the ever-popular
CakeWalk MIDI Sequencer and a scaled down version of arguably the
best wave audio editor on the PC - SoundForge XP.
With these 2 software
alone, you can create new sounds and stick them into your MIDI sequences
like you have never done before. You can pipe in your guitar, add distortion,
add some echo, place it in a concert hall, then play it together with
your MIDI accompaniment. You can sing into the microphone and process
it with the Environmental Audio effects or SoundForge, then sync it with
your MIDI music too.
Dedicated Mini-DIN
ports are provided on the Digital I/O card. A converter is provided
in the box, where you can plug it into the Mini DIN, and at the other
end, viola, an industry standard MIDI jack for you to plug in any standard
MIDI equipment. No more messing around with the joystick port, and costly
joystick-to-MIDI cables. (Note: The SBLive! Value does not have this feature.)
And don't forget SoundFonts!
Record ANY sound as a wave file and import it into Vienna, where you can
make the sound become an instrument in your library of MIDI instruments.
With the 8-point interpolation, pitch shifting up and down wouldn't
have as many digital artifacts as cheaper wavetable engines which only
do 4-point interpolation, or less.
With the S/PDIF digital
I/O ports provided, record them to MD, DAT or even ADAT - digitally! Then,
of course, write them to CD or even record to MiniDisc. :)
"I've Had Enough!"
To sum it all up.
If you wanna dabble in some music making, this might be a good
place to start. If you play games, then all the more you should
try the SBLive!
Enough about my rantings.
Just go down, listen to it, and decide for yourself.
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