rec.autos.simulators

I've been making due with headphones while I get my new system set up, but
it's time to get some speakers. I'm going to leave my Altec 495s with my old
computer and give that to the kids.

I put a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz in my new machine and was wondering what
various configurations (i.e., number of speakers) and brands/models some of
you guys with this card are using.  The manual and the software control
panel only have configurations for 2-speaker, 4-speaker, and 6-speaker
setups.  Oddly enough, there is no setting for the traditional 3-speaker
*** system (left, right and sub-woofer).  And the only setup with a
sub-woofer is the 6-speaker one.

I'm reluctant to go with a setup that has rears (four or six speakers), just
because of the rats' nest of wires.  What are you guys using with this card?
Are any of you using only 3 speakers?  If yes, how do you set it up (Control
Panel Speaker Mode and VersaJack settings, etc.)?

For those of you going with the 4 or 6 speaker setup, what sims support
surround sound?  I mainly play GPL, F1 2002, will probably get Nascar 2003
eventually, as well as air combat sims (IL-2, Mig Alley), and various sports
games.

Thanks,

Dave Ewing

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David A. Ewing
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Three piece speaker setups act like a 2 Speaker setup. There is no extra
channel only carrying the sub-signal like its the case in Dolby Digital.
Direct Sound or Direct Sound 3D used in Windows games doesnt provide a
discrete sub-channel. So set the soundcard to 2 speakers and everything will
be fine. Seperating the high from the low tones is done by the speakers.

Most of the new games released today come with surround sound support in
form of Direct Sound 3D or the extension of that called EAX introduced by
Creative in 1998. For EAX you soundcard has to support it, I dont know if
its the case with yours.
GPL has no surround sound if I remember right. I have not played F1-2K2 or
NASCAR 2003 so I cant tell you if its in surround.

TB Santa Cruz supports EAX 2.0 (only the SB Audigy cards support EAX
3.0), and NR2003 supports 3D sounds. Dunno about F1 2002 though.

BTW, if you have WinXP, then you'll probably have to set sound
hardware acceleration to "basic" (in Windows) to get shift and skid
sounds audible in GPL. Just remember to set it back to "full" for
other games, or you won't get any 3D sounds...
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- JKo -

I'm pretty sure that is you put it into 2 speaker mode the sub is still
active, it's just not a filtered "LFE" output like it is for those modes
with a discreet .1 channel (i.e. 5.1).

Larry

Thanks, Larry.

Dave Ewing

Thanks, Jussi.

Dave Ewing