Best UT2004 audio setting for headphones.

[randyannie]

Which of these settings below are the best to hear pickups - through headphones, like someone grabbing the 100 shield ingame? I have a Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS sound card, and it will operate well under all these settings, but the EAX setting seemed to add a lot of effects that I thought might hinder me from hearing important weapon and shield pickups. Any thoughts?

[Safe Mode] - This option is only provided for those having sound problems with other sound modes. If your sound problems are resolved by switching to Safe Mode, then chances are you need to update or reinstall your sound card driver, or address another general system issue.

[3D Audio] - This is the most basic audio in UT2004, and uses your CPU to process the sound. It's actually quite acceptable, and does provide good 3D audio. If you have a sound card or decent onboard audio, you can use that instead to provide better quality audio. However software audio will provide the best framerate performance.

[H/W 3D Audio] - If you have a sound card, this option will make use of your sound card's hardware capabilities to extend the audio experience. It sounds better than Software 3D, but may reduce your FPS slightly due to extra processing.

[H/W 3D Audio + EAX] – If you have a sound card capable of running Creative Lab's EAX 3.0 (Environmental Audio), such as the SoundBlaster Audigy series, then you can enable this option. EAX adds special effects to the sound and gives you advantages such as being able to determine with greater accuracy where people are (true positional), and being underwater or behind walls will sound more realistic (occlusion culling). However with this option enabled, you may notice a drop in FPS. Note that you may also have to update your sound card's drivers to get correct 3D audio with EAX on UT2004.


Thanks, Prozac (btw I'm not getting instant email notifications anymore does
anyone know how I can fix this)

 

[nuttella]

[H/W 3D Audio] - If you have a sound card, this option will make use of your sound card's hardware capabilities to extend the audio experience. It sounds better than Software 3D, but may reduce your FPS slightly due to extra processing.

This is a lie. Well, I suppose it depends on your sound card, but Software 3D sounds a lot better through mine, using headphones. Plus, it doesn't make any sense: If using the sound card takes load off the CPU, it should improve FPS, shouldn't it?

 

[Capt.Toilet]

I have no thoughts since i use onboard sound. I would think since you have an audigy x2 majingy bob, then go for hardware 3d audio. Choose the option that makes good use of what your card is capable of doing.

 

[Dark Pulse]

I used software 3D sound until I got my Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro, and I now use H/W with EAX. To tell the truth, it does some pretty nifty stuff for, say, when you're underwater, or when things rush by you real quick - like some of Worf's stray tank shells.

I think the Performance hit thing they mention affects mostly lower spec machines. If you can play the game on high details, you probably won't take much of a hit, if at all.

 

[Sahkolihaa]

Audigy 2 ZS - Set sound settings on any game you have to maximum, you've got one decent card there (same as me ).

EAX actually helps your game due to the extra effects. It makes it easier to tell if the weapon fire you here from the enemy is behind a wall or right near you. It also makes it easier to tell how far away enemy fire is.

Also, it makes the "Unreal" title come more to life

 

[JohnDoe641]

In 1v1, eax + headphones = win.

You can't beat the positional audio cues you get with it enabled and you have headphones on. If you've got enough experience playing the game and know how to use the sound well enough, you're going to have the upper hand unless the guy you're facing has the same set up.

 

[porkmanii]

This is a lie. Well, I suppose it depends on your sound card, but Software 3D sounds a lot better through mine, using headphones.

It definitely depends on the sound card. My old on-board sound sounded quite strange with Hardware 3D sound enabled, yet my new mo'bo (with 5.1 surround-sound) sounds fine whatever mode is enabled. Now if only my speakers were surround sound...

Plus, it doesn't make any sense: If using the sound card takes load off the CPU, it should improve FPS, shouldn't it?

Maybe it requires extra translation to play software sounds through hardware 3D?

 

[Crowze]

Then maybe you can explain the difference between a hardware sound and a software sound.

No, the main issue is with a lot of on-board sound solutions, which basically leech off main CPU power and are effectively slower than having the sounds processed directly on the CPU.

 

[Xaero_UT]

ok im gonna rez this thread

i have a zalman 5.1 headset with soundblaster 2 audigy card, is eax the best to go for then..

also i need to know, i turn off own steps, but also the trivial sounds (dont remember proper description) like lightning noise in rankin, does this affect the sound of characters climbing up boards with the creak?

 

[Sahkolihaa]

i have a zalman 5.1 headset with soundblaster 2 audigy card, is eax the best to go for then..

Yes, use EAX on any game you can possible.

 

[Slainchild]

also i need to know, i turn off own steps, but also the trivial sounds (dont remember proper description) like lightning noise in rankin, does this affect the sound of characters climbing up boards with the creak?

No, it only affects ambient sounds such as the lightning. Scripted trigger sounds like the wooden boards creaking still play.

 

[Xaero_UT]

Yes, use EAX on any game you can possible.

No, it only affects ambient sounds such as the lightning. Scripted trigger sounds like the wooden boards creaking still play.

thanks =]

 

[Jerm]

IRT #1

about hearing pickups, half of your setup would be your headphones/sound card - i have icemat headphones (white siberia) and an icemat soundcard - but before i had these i tuned the ingame sounds.. you probably already know this but ill say it anyway

To reduce ambient sounds (which reduces mini gun, link, shield gun sounds) and lightning and all that other annoying crap go to ur system folder then into the user.ini. go edit>find next> then type in "volume" and as you click it comes up with various volumes. If my memory serves me correctly there is an ambientvolume which you can adjust to your hearts extent: although in doing so you reduce mini gun , link gun and shield gun sounds, but once you reduce these sounds you should be able to hear sounds MUCH clearer including footsteps and creaks so therefore you should normally hear them trying to shoot you if you cant hear the guns fire. Also there is a volume setting in the user.ini (or ut2004.ini i can't remember- one of the two) which you can adjust to max out the sound if it isnt loud enough for your headphones-in my case when i had crap headphones. i think i reduced ambient sounds to about 0.1 and it helped alot, except there was a tiny disadvantage when someone flew through the air with a shield loaded as i couldnt hear the fizzing sound it makes as clear. hope this helps someone . I'm going to do a write up on my experiences in ut2004 with pictures on all the adjustments ive made and some demos to prove my worthiness, i just need a host :X

PS: if you can't find ambientvolume in the user.ini its definitely in the ut2004.ini =)

 

[T2A`]

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In my experiences, EAX actually made sounds not as loud, which isn't good for more competitively-styled play. If you're going for quality, then it works, but otherwise I'd stick to hardware mode without EAX.

 

[dc]

I just use safe mode :X

 

[Plumb_Drumb]

you poor fellow
________
Volcano Vaporizers

 

[dc]

meh i can hear just fine

 

[Plumb_Drumb]

meh i can hear just fine

Is 3-D software not working for you for some reason?
________
Pattaya realty

 

[Sahkolihaa]

In my experiences, EAX actually made sounds not as loud, which isn't good for more competitively-styled play. If you're going for quality, then it works, but otherwise I'd stick to hardware mode without EAX.

Well in this guide I am writing based on sound settings for UT2004 I'm hoping to get around to people that EAX is actually your friend when it comes to competitive players.

 

[T2A`]

I don't see how, so hurry up and write it so you can enlighten us. The game is already screwed up to the point that players aren't rendered at all times when certain things are true like they're some odd zones apart. Thus sometimes they don't actually make any noise and when you do see them around the corner they just sorta appear out of thin air and start making sounds again. I thought EAX was that stuff that made environmental effects and had basically no other uses... Like when you run through a pipe it makes the sounds echo-y. That sounds about as useful as the thunder on Rankin.