rec.autos.simulators

Well I got an AudioPCI. It is the Creative Audio PCI, and it will
work with 2 or 4 speakers for 3D. I spent the whole
afternoon messing with the card. All in all it does sound
much clearer and briter than my old Ensoniq Soundscape.
But I had some pretty bad problems in W95 games.
The worst was Formula 1 Racing Simulation (F1RS).
If I used the drivers off of the Ensoniq PCI CD the sound
was fine except for no 3D. If I used the latest driver from
Ensoniq the sound was really crap. 3D was enabled but
trying to run the 3D version of F1RS caused allot of stuttering.
The best solution was the Creative SB64PCI drivers. Everything
worked fine, except the car would jitter and the Jstick would
spike. I use a TM-ACM gamecard and this was some how
having a problem with the AudioPCI. Then I used the Jstick
port on the AudioPCI and the spiking went away. However every
time I pressed the brake, there was quite a bit of static popping.
But the 3D effects of F1RS is quite good! I avoided many
wrecks just by hearing that there was another car right
next to me. I mean just off my shoulder not just in one
speaker. The 3D positioning was pretty darn neat. All in
all this card just wouldn't work 100% in F1RS. So I went back
to the old Soundscape and TM-ACM game port. I'll
probably try another 3D soundcard. Also, the second set of
(rear) speakers connects to the Line-In jack, which is activated
via the driver.

Also does anyone know how to tell if your system really
is setup for DirectSound3D? The DXSETUP (directX setup)
did not show anything about DirectSound3D. And the only
drivers for this card which were close to working properly were
the Creative SB64PCI drivers. The drivers which I got with my card,
and the latest ones from Ensoniq were crap. IMHO :-)

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So, I returned the PCI64 card and put the AWE64 back in.  Spiking
problems are now gone.

I agree that the 3D sound effects in F1RS were very good, but not
worth the problems with controller-spiking IMO.

I now have the Turtle Beach Montego PCI 3D soundcard on order from
Chips&Bits ($119 U.S.) .  It got a very positive review here:
http://www.combatsim.com/montego.htm

You can also see their review of several PCI 3D soundcards at:
http://www.combatsim.com/pcisound.htm

They mentioned in their review that they did not see any of the
digital gameport spiking problems with the TB Montego that apparently
many Monster M80 3D soundcard users have reported.

The TB card should be arriving this week.  I'll post any results here,
and at:
http://www.paradise-web.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=f1racingsim

if that site is still up (hopefully it will be).

Cheers,

Dave
============================
Dave Mack

(remove "nospamfor_" for correspondence)

Greg, some of that stuttering sounds like what I told you about when I had
my M80 plugged into a 200mmx.  Haven't had any of that with it plugged into
a 400.  You may just need to cut back on some of the bells and whistles a
little. I guess you did install the 3D audio patch for F1RS?  And folks, I
have an M80 Monster 3d and HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY GAMEPORT SPIKING!  I
have to conclude from my experiences with the M80 that those reports of the
gameport not being any good (i.e., "spiking") were based either on early,
early models of the card that indeed may have had this problem, overloading
the card and port on "slower" machines, or joysticks and other controllers
that had problems that may have been "masked" by other ports.

At any rate F1RS, F-22 ADF, Longbow 2, and F-15 all work just fine plugged
into the M80.  FWIW, though, if I were buying a 3D sound card tonight, I
think I'd have to try the Turtle Beach Card.

Jerry Morelock

Cancel that order, I had the exact same problems you described with my TB
Montego, now it is sitting here collecting dust... In addition, the Nascar 2
(most likely any dos game) sounded horrible. Same as you, I went back to SB
64 ISA.

Oh boy... It is sounding like the AudioPCI may not be that horrible
after all :-) I guess the only game I am really looking for a good
3D soundcard for is F1RS. At least the sound was not ***with
the SB64CPI drivers. The only problem was some static while
pressing on the brake, when the T2 was connected to the Audio
PCI game port. Otherwise the 3D effect in F1RS is quite awesome.
Thanks much for the info I guess the Montego is off my list.

I thought the Montego was SB Pro compatable in DOS? Do you
need to load a TSR or something??? How do you need to set it
up for DOS games?

Thanks

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I still might try it via CompUSA, if their return policy is "no
stocking charge" (which I think it might be).  Or, might try the
Monster M80, based on this post:

I'll post results here if I do try either or both of these cards.  If
anyone else has had success with *any* 3D PCI card and F1RS, please
reply.

It'd also be helpful if David Greene (don't know if you're reading
this) of "The Unofficial F1RS FAQ" fame was able to collect more
results of 3D soundcard testing and add that to the FAQ...wherever
that may wind up, if Rick's great f1racingsim.com site does close
down.
============================
Dave Mack

(remove "nospamfor_" for correspondence)

I'm using a Multiwave PCI card that uses the Vortex chip as well. The
lastest Ubi 3D sound didn't do it for me either, but where can I get the
original 3D sound patch. Would it be too much trouble for you to mail it
to me?

Thanks,

Stanley Chan

Well the 3D sound works great on an Ensoniq Audio PCI with the
Creative SBPCI64 drivers. Totally awesome :-)

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btw has anyone got a turtle beach soundcard working with F1RS?

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Actually, all the vortex-based PCI sound cards (montego included) will
work with the first Direct3D Sound patch from Ubi, not the current one,
Can be had from the Sim ***World F1RS site.

Stanley

I have the Turtle Beach Montego and it doesn't work very well with it
either, the engine sounds cut in and out and just doesn't sound very good in
general. Hope someone  can fix it.

Same here... I called a UBI tech and he told me to come here for answers. I
hope that someone here is smarter than them. And if we are all waiting for a
savior pach to help us... forget it. The tech told me that there will be no
new patch to fix this. He claimed that they dont have TBS equipment to test
a patch and that I could maybe askk all of you for a way to make it work.

Sounds like a load of ***to me... anyone here got a clue?