5.2 Sound Clips, testing Audigy and DTT2500

PC_Stoker · Dec 31, 2005, 04:09 AM

For a while now i have been looking for sound clips to test my pc setup, you know, the usual front left, centre, front .. you get the drift, and i have come up virtualy empty handed. Anyone know of such a beast that i can dl?
I would also really appreciate any tips, hints, ideas from people with the same/similar setups on how to ensure the full capabilities of the setup. I had a forced upgrade to the Audigy card from the Live! card thus losing spdif passthru capabilities (and we all know what that means...). Also, games (Vietcong comes to mind), never (i think) have i come across a game that "supports" 5.1 that actualy works (this i can accept, but vietcong would not work in 4 channel mode either???).
So, Soundclips? even dolby demos recomended (some of them are nifty)?

I need to convince myself that nothing more can be done, please give generously.

p.s anyone know of a thingy that will be like a VU thingy, but not stereo indicators only, ie if a sound source is more than 2 channels then show all of the channel levels (sorry for all the technical jargon</GRIN>)?

PC_Stoker · Dec 31, 2005, 04:17 AM

5.1
umm, yeh, it's early,or late, not sure

sarelc · Jan 2, 2006, 10:22 PM

Well, there's this page: http://www.sr.se/multikanal/english/e_index.stm
Other than that your best bet would be to ask around for some home theatre test dvds.

(some time later)
That's a good site. Most of the clips are in DTS or DTS-ES, and sound great. Most of them are also pretty cheesy... The Dolby files are in .ac3 format so you won't have any problems playing them with windvd or something, but it wouldn't recognize the dts files as they're encoded as .wav's... The procedure on the site didn't make sense to me, but it works and I can't be assed to figure out why.

Open up nero express or comparable, choose image recorder as your output, choose to create an audio cd, add the .wav files and create the image. Then mount the image in daemontools/alcohol and then open the virtual drive in windvd.

(some time later, again)
I tried listening to the Firebird recordings from the archive page, and I couldn't say why but the passthrough would not work for either files - switching over to analogue and setting windvd to decode internally fixed it, but that really frustrates me.

PC_Stoker · Jan 3, 2006, 11:59 AM

Ta for the reply.

I'm busy following the site recomendations at the moment, so, touch wood.

One of these days i am going to have to spring for a new soundcard and speakers... but not right now

I do know about the dvd test disks running around, but have never been able to get my greedy little mits on one.

cheers

sarelc · Jan 4, 2006, 02:00 AM

Yeah, the dvds are ridiculously expensive. You should be able to find some online though. The page I recommended has a link to another site which has some stuff, that was supposed to be in DTS (encoded in .wav) as well - when I put them on an image and tried to play them the dvd player erroneously identifies it as PCM audio... I had the most luck with "The Run". The encoding method they're using seems to be very hit&miss, or maybe it's just me.

PC_Stoker · Jan 4, 2006, 10:22 AM

Tell me about it.
One of the last places i looked was the dolby site, there are a couple of flash (?) vids with sound samples, not terribly impressive, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

anyway, the quest continues.

p.s. do you have GSpot to determine file (audio) formats? so far i have found it quite useful...

PC_Stoker · Jan 4, 2006, 10:57 AM

hi again, just found these.

http://www.sound-ideas.com/mp3/dimensionsfx.mp3
http://rapidshare.de/files/10362206/...honic.mp3.html

use headphones

sarelc · Jan 5, 2006, 01:08 AM

Never thought of using Gspot for it, since in this case all I've got to play it on are dvd programs. I considered actually burning them to see if it would play on a hardware player, but I've only got a cheap one that doesn't support DTS. That link you posted about holophonics reminds me of the old brainwave synchronizer function in CoolEdit Pro (now Adobe Audition):

Quote:

Cool Edit Pro’s Brainwave Synchronizer can produce files that, when listened to with stereo headphones, will put the listener into any desired state of awareness. For example, by listening to “brainwaved” files, you can achieve states such as deep sleep, theta meditation, or alpha relaxation. Because of the nature of this function, it only works on stereo waveform data, and to be effective, it must be listened to with stereo headphones.

The Brainwave Synchronizer function spatially locates the audio left and right, in a circular pattern over time. In order to spatially encode the signal, either the left or right channel is delayed so that the sounds will appear at each ear at different times, tricking the brain into thinking they are coming from either side. When this is done at frequencies of 3Hz and above, the brain will start synchronizing at the same frequency, increasing its output of Delta, Theta, Alpha, or Beta frequencies.

Major brainwave pattern frequencies and possible uses for brainwave synchronization:
Delta 1-3 hz Deep sleep, lucid dreaming, increased immune functions.
Theta 4-7 hz Deep relaxation, meditation, increased memory and focus.
Alpha 8-12 hz Light relaxation, "superlearning", positive thinking.
Beta 13-25 hz Normal state of alertness, stress and anxiety.
Gamma 30 hz on up Hyper-awareness???
High Gamma 200+ hz Not sure exactly what these do...

Not that this really has much to do with surround sound, but.

PC_Stoker · Jan 5, 2006, 01:41 PM

wow, i remember seing that in cooledit and thinking wow, but as usual the hype is better than the product. Anyway, way of the subject there was a repeat of the South Park episode about "brown noise' and a mythbusters on the subject just after...also even further of the subject, there is a suggestion of mounting speakers on the side of subs that would be used to detonate incoming warheads (torps mostly i think). funny old world init?

sarelc · Jan 5, 2006, 06:48 PM

I used to listen to a mix tape encoded with an uplifting freq. on the way to school, and it definately does do something. Unfortunately it doesn't fix only having slept for 2 hours at all. ;p The lower frequency ones tend to put me to sleep, which isn't a terrible thing..

Dec 31, 2005, 04:09 AM	#1
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	5.2 Sound Clips, testing Audigy and DTT2500 For a while now i have been looking for sound clips to test my pc setup, you know, the usual front left, centre, front .. you get the drift, and i have come up virtualy empty handed. Anyone know of such a beast that i can dl? I would also really appreciate any tips, hints, ideas from people with the same/similar setups on how to ensure the full capabilities of the setup. I had a forced upgrade to the Audigy card from the Live! card thus losing spdif passthru capabilities (and we all know what that means...). Also, games (Vietcong comes to mind), never (i think) have i come across a game that "supports" 5.1 that actualy works (this i can accept, but vietcong would not work in 4 channel mode either???). So, Soundclips? even dolby demos recomended (some of them are nifty)? I need to convince myself that nothing more can be done, please give generously. p.s anyone know of a thingy that will be like a VU thingy, but not stereo indicators only, ie if a sound source is more than 2 channels then show all of the channel levels (sorry for all the technical jargon</GRIN>)?

Jan 2, 2006, 10:22 PM	#3
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Well, there's this page: http://www.sr.se/multikanal/english/e_index.stm Other than that your best bet would be to ask around for some home theatre test dvds. (some time later) That's a good site. Most of the clips are in DTS or DTS-ES, and sound great. Most of them are also pretty cheesy... The Dolby files are in .ac3 format so you won't have any problems playing them with windvd or something, but it wouldn't recognize the dts files as they're encoded as .wav's... The procedure on the site didn't make sense to me, but it works and I can't be assed to figure out why. Open up nero express or comparable, choose image recorder as your output, choose to create an audio cd, add the .wav files and create the image. Then mount the image in daemontools/alcohol and then open the virtual drive in windvd. (some time later, again) I tried listening to the Firebird recordings from the archive page, and I couldn't say why but the passthrough would not work for either files - switching over to analogue and setting windvd to decode internally fixed it, but that really frustrates me. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244) Last edited by sarelc; Jan 3, 2006 at 12:29 AM.

Jan 4, 2006, 02:00 AM	#5
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, the dvds are ridiculously expensive. You should be able to find some online though. The page I recommended has a link to another site which has some stuff, that was supposed to be in DTS (encoded in .wav) as well - when I put them on an image and tried to play them the dvd player erroneously identifies it as PCM audio... I had the most luck with "The Run". The encoding method they're using seems to be very hit&miss, or maybe it's just me. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Jan 5, 2006, 06:48 PM	#10
sarelc HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: recent past Posts: 36 Rep Power: 0	I used to listen to a mix tape encoded with an uplifting freq. on the way to school, and it definately does do something. Unfortunately it doesn't fix only having slept for 2 hours at all. ;p The lower frequency ones tend to put me to sleep, which isn't a terrible thing.. __________________ on a distant shoreline.. soyo kt400 dragon/amd xp2700+/1gb ocz cl2 pc2700/leadtek nv6600gt agp/audigy2 (SB0244)

Dec 31, 2005, 04:17 AM	Thread Starter #2
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	5.1 umm, yeh, it's early,or late, not sure

Jan 3, 2006, 11:59 AM	Thread Starter #4
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Ta for the reply. I'm busy following the site recomendations at the moment, so, touch wood. One of these days i am going to have to spring for a new soundcard and speakers... but not right now I do know about the dvd test disks running around, but have never been able to get my greedy little mits on one. cheers

Jan 4, 2006, 10:22 AM	Thread Starter #6
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Tell me about it. One of the last places i looked was the dolby site, there are a couple of flash (?) vids with sound samples, not terribly impressive, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. anyway, the quest continues. p.s. do you have GSpot to determine file (audio) formats? so far i have found it quite useful...

Jan 4, 2006, 10:57 AM	Thread Starter #7
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	hi again, just found these. http://www.sound-ideas.com/mp3/dimensionsfx.mp3 http://rapidshare.de/files/10362206/...honic.mp3.html use headphones

Jan 5, 2006, 01:41 PM	Thread Starter #9
PC_Stoker DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	wow, i remember seing that in cooledit and thinking wow, but as usual the hype is better than the product. Anyway, way of the subject there was a repeat of the South Park episode about "brown noise' and a mythbusters on the subject just after...also even further of the subject, there is a suggestion of mounting speakers on the side of subs that would be used to detonate incoming warheads (torps mostly i think). funny old world init?