smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith) (02/02/91)
A couple months ago someone posted a note about a new sound board
that is supposed to do everything a Soundblaster and Adlib can do,
only better. They said it was being manufactured by Leading
Technologies (1-800-999-5323).
After calling Leading Technologies 3-4 times they finally returned
my call and confirmed that they have the board and will be shipping it
at the end of February.
Here's some info on it. (Please note that I don't know anything
about the Soundblaster and Adlib, and "midi" to me is a mystery,
so I'm just trying to mimic what the gentleman was saying...
if you have further questions call the toll free number above.)
Name: "Audioware"
Packaging: will be bundled with board, software, *and* stereo speakers
(no, not big ones :) ).
Sound: stereo with built-in 4 watt amplifier. Can be hooked up to
your stereo for bigger, better sound.
Soundblaster compatible: will do everything the SB can do including
the digitized voice stuff and the talking parrot.
It will have the midi interface like the SB, but you need a midi
box like SB too. I asked him specifically if it was Roland
compatible and he didn't know. (!!)
Will have a VOX kit with it. (I'm not familiar with this.)
I forgot to ask about CMS chips.
Adlib compatible: will work for all games designed to utilize the
Adlib card.
Externals: joystick port, volume control (on external port of card)
PRICE: $299 retail, approximately $150 wholesale.
My comments: From what I've heard about the Soundblaster and the
Adlib, the new Audioware doesn't *seem* to do anything more.
I asked him what advantage it had over the Soundblaster, and he
said "it can do anything the Soundblaster can." Since it will
cost about the same as the SB, what's the advantage (except
the added speakers)? Is Leading Technologies offering something
which can do more, or are they just wanting to get a piece of
SB's lucrative market?
The gentleman said they have already been selling the board bundled
in their systems, so if any of you have one already maybe you can
give us some more info.
S. "Stevie" Smith \ + /
<smsmith@hpuxa. \+++++/ " #*&<-[89s]*(k#$@-_=//a2$]'+=.(2_&*%>,,@
ircc.ohio-state. \ + / {7%*@,..":27g)-=,#*:.#,/6&1*.4-,l@#9:-) "
edu> \ + /
BTW, WYSInaWYG \ + / --witty.saying.ARC cad@ptvxs1.claremont.edu (Cad DeVaughn) (02/02/91)
Yo Netters! Just when you thought the choioce between sound boards would become easier, Walt Disney Computer Software is throwing a new punch at you. According to the Feb issue of PC Mag, the Sound Source is an 8-bit digital voice module that connects to the parallel port on your computer. It retails for about (get this) $30. The first software to support this will be Disney's educational games, but John Dvorak is convinced that the Sound Source will become the new pc sound standard and will be supported by all games. So, what do you think? Cad DeVaughn |'And my spinning head is slowly slowing down. Computer Lab Manager |At least my lonely bed is in my favorite Pitzer College |town.' cad@pitzer.claremont.edu |HotHouse Flowers - Home
nan@math.ksu.edu (Nan Zou) (02/02/91)
smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith) writes: AudioWave specs [...] >My comments: From what I've heard about the Soundblaster and the > Adlib, the new Audioware doesn't *seem* to do anything more. > I asked him what advantage it had over the Soundblaster, and he > said "it can do anything the Soundblaster can." Since it will > cost about the same as the SB, what's the advantage (except > the added speakers)? Is Leading Technologies offering something > which can do more, or are they just wanting to get a piece of > SB's lucrative market? Besides being compatible with existing sound boards, what's new here? Notice the list price is higher than a Sound Blaster, about the same street price. I don't see any special advantage choosing this board over the SB. My guess is that people will stick with the established standard unless some thing groud-breaking comes along. About the Sound Source from Walt Disney, I saw an ad selling it for $20. I'm skeptical at anything this cheap. If anyone has tried this please post your opinions. -- Nan Zou | Bitnet : nan@ksuvm Kansas State University | Internet: nan@math.ksu.edu #include <std_disclaimer.h> | nan@phobos.cis.ksu.edu
rr@mips.COM (Robert "Bob" Rodriguez) (02/04/91)
I have the Disney Sound Source and it really works. It is not stereo but as far as getting all the sounds necessary for playing games and hearing people (or mice) talk it really works. It seems fast and simple and it is cheap. -- Robert Rodriguez rr@mips.com Workstations forever!
ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) (02/05/91)
From article <ROSEN.91Feb4121856@tristar.samsung.com>, by rosen@tristar.samsung.com (MFHorn): > think they will spend $20 on a sound card? Most likely yes. Do you > think they will spend $100 - $150+ for on a sound card? Maybe. Hhhmm, let see, $30 to $50 each game, that could come to $200 to $400 a year, with the conservative number of 5 to 10 games per year (I spend about $1,000 a year on games, so does many in netland as I was told). With that kind of money on games, would you stick with an inferior sound card? I mean, that's like buying a 486 machine with a CGA card/monitor! Before you go on, let examine the facts. Everybody is talking as if the Sound Source is as hardware-competant as say the DMA-driven voice channel in the Sound Blaster. It's no where near. I don't have the card myself but I have spoken to hardware engineers who had taken the new sound card apart. What can you expect from a card that takes (by my estimation) $5 to make? Remember, the $5 includes labor, packing, and bulk-shipping cost. On the other hand, do you think Disney, a big corporation, is going to mess with a $20 card? (that is $5 to make it, $5 for the dealer, $5 for the distributor, $5 profit?). I predict the price will go up. With the Sound Blaster coming down below $99 in a few months (my own prediction), I doubt there is a question which is the sound standard now, and in the future.