Issue 4
www.kwikpit.com
The Pit Newsletter
Welcome to the Bi-monthly newsletter.
In this issue we take a look at improving sound from your system for gaming. If you're lucky you may have a modern PC with a custom sound system,. for those of us who don't, enjoy the article.
The newsletter will give you insight into the different types of flight simulation, technical articles, tips and reviews.
We will also look at the products, accessories, hardware, software and just about anything that makes the world of flight simulation more realistic and enjoyable.
The newsletter will also keep members abreast of what other enthusiast are doing in the community.
Your newsletter .... We invite you to participate and email any stories, interesting tips, events, announcements or any contributions you feel may be of interest to the flight simulation community. Please email any contributions to: newsletter@kwikpit.com
A Plug .........
The KwikPit Company was created and is
ran by a flight simulation enthusiast. Our goal is to introduce
products that add to the enhancement and fun of flight simulation
without the complexity or high costs.
We hope you enjoy our unique line of cockpit products. We have strived to keep prices low as compared to anything else on the market.
Check out our products at www.kwikpit.com thank you for your patronage.
Regards,
The KwikPit Team
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Getting Great Sound For Gaming Good sound is a key part of the PC-gaming experience, this applies to all types of games today from Flight Simulations to Racing or First Person Shooters. Great music, suspenseful soundtracks and demanding special effects make for the realism that is vital to the overall gaming experience. With the addition of human voices such as co-pilots, control towers, squad leaders, and more, games can reach a level of realism that is otherwise impossible even with the best graphics. To attain this level of realism, your system needs both a good and compatible sound source, and the amplification and speaker system to reproduce those sounds. The advent of 24-bit samples and 5.1 Surround Sound to the PC world has ushered in a new era. Surround Sound means bullets whiz past you, grenades explode right behind you, aircraft or racing car sounds approach from all directions. Gaming sounds are now much closer to those emanating from massive home theaters. Many motherboards now include significant on-board sound that is supported by robust integrated hardware like the AC '97. While this is fine for multimedia applications, not all games may work well with it.
You will also need to evaluate your speakers. The tiny speakers packaged with most PCs can't reproduce the full range of sound packed into most games or the surround sound audio encoded in DVDs. To get the most out of your PC, consider upgrading to a powered speaker system.
PC WORLD has great
How To article on upgrading your PC sound system, to view it
click on this link
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,44143,pg,1,00.asp# |
Today,
the SoundBlaster line of soundcards remains the standard for
a good explosion, breaking glass or car crash, and music sounds
great as well. Even if there is sound integrated into the
motherboard, you may want to add an affordable SoundBlaster
card. For example, Creative Technology's Sound Blaster
Audigy 2 ZS is currently the hot gaming card. It includes a
Firewire port and THX-certified 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1
sound. The card sells for under $150. There are less expensive
Sound Blaster cards to choose from and the sound is fine and can
be quite impressive. Good sound systems can add dramatically to
the overall gaming experience.
If
you want a great basic upgrade to make your games and
media sound better, a 2.1-channel system may be your best
choice. You'll get two speakers that sit on your desk and a
subwoofer to rest on the floor. Everything will sound clearer
and crisper and the subwoofer will help you hear those low notes
that you didn't even know you were missing. A good
2.1-channel system starts around $30. Some even feature
flat-panel speakers that can be mounted on your walls. These
systems are compatible with most PC sound cards; all you have to
do is hook it with up when you're ready to rock.
If
you're a gamer, look into a surround sound speaker system. Many
companies are making 5.1-channel systems specifically for
PCs—some even make 7.1-channel systems. The added channels will
make you feel just like you're in the middle of action, which is
great for first-person shooting games. The subwoofer will really
make you feel those big explosions. |
Quietly Surrounded Yup, listen to the roar of the engine,
a burst from your gun and the enemy goes down in flames and a
loud explosion, the louder the better, hear the bullets whizzing
past as you toss a grenade into an enemy foxhole and watch the
flash and hear the loud explosion, yes the louder the explosions
and shouts of agony the better. Whether it's Call Of Duty,
Combat Simulator 3 or Half Life 2, surround sound is
a must-have accessory for any self-respecting gamer.
Do they really work? In truth, some work better than others, yes, you definitely get more of a sense of front/rear than you do with normal stereo headphones, but one tester noted in his article the drivers simply sit too close to your ear canal to really give you a good surround experience. The audio is still very much "in your head," and there were clearly times when we couldn't tell if a sound was behind us.
As technology advances, better reproduction of surround sound in headphones bestows itself upon us. Before purchasing any of these headphones, good research and heads on listening is a must. So enjoy those explosions, it's all in your head.
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For more information or to purchase got
to:
This newsletter was produced by:
The KwikPit Company
Phone: 303-265-9974
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The
only problem is, other's may not share your enthusiasm for
virtual calamity during the serenity of the evening or the wee
hours of the morning. How do you listen to your favorite sounds
in glorious 5.1 without incurring the wrath of your neighbors
and housemates? The answer lies within the
virtual world of the 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones.
These
units usually have satellite speakers and a subwoofer
ingeniously shoehorned into each ear pad, thus enabling
reproduction of the full sound spectrum. They come with some
sort of controller and audio connection cables and software, you can adjust
the sound to suit your individual preferences. Separate controls
for rear, front and centre allow you to precisely balance the
volume. In the example of the Medusa headphones an amplifier box
allows connection to any 5.1 sound source with integrated
decoder and also controls the master volume. Medusas even boast
an adapter for 3.5mm jack plugs, so you can enjoy the full 5.1
treatment from portable players too.
Experience
the latest in virtual reality with 3D images that float inside
and outside of your monitor! Become immersed in unbelievably
real 3D gaming.
nothing
internal. Just install our patented software one time, plug in
our adapter to any standard PC, and we guarantee you'll
experience the best gaming graphics EVER. 
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