sNeaksieGarrett on 6/2/2007 at 16:35
I did try to do a search on this, and it appears to me that its never been discussed... if it has, please let me know, and direct me to the right thread...
Anyway, on to my point. Whenever I turn on "hardware acceleration" and/or EAX, the game sounds muffled and too echoey. I want eax, but at the same time, i dont want the horrible muffleness and echo in everyone room of the building. (im referring to Lord Bafford's Manor.) I typically just go back and shut off hardware acceleration, because it sounds better with it off. BUT, then i dont get any EAX. Does anyone know a way to fix this issue, or a way around it so that it doesnt sound muffled and echoey?
Abysmal on 6/2/2007 at 17:08
Welcome to EAX, that's how it's intended to sound. It all comes down to taste; I personally find it to sound absurdly comical and unrealistic (see burrick tunnels in Bonehoard for a prime example). I get the best sound and spatialization by having everything, including hardware acceleration, turned off.
To me EAX is entirely un-Thief-like and turning it off gives the game a more quiet and personal tone that lends to the immersion of the game. Your footfalls sound deft and soft instead of reverberating insanely throughout the whole bloody building. Things that require an echoey vibe like the Quintus Horn and Raoul's performance (which you can actually hear without EAX) still have them as they are recorded into the wav.
I'm relieved that Vista mostly killed off DirectSound EAX and is leveling the playing field for sound cards. This stuff should be built into the game engine anyways, not tied to monopolistic proprietary vendors.
sNeaksieGarrett on 6/2/2007 at 18:45
Ok, so it sounds to me that its a Thief problem. Well, for other games, it doesnt sound so muffled to me. Let me double check on this... Either that, or i just never had EAX enabled for other games. However, I think I do have it enabled for the Half-Life Engine mods. I think when we talk about thief, (just thief) the EAX is flawed. It must be because EAX was first being introduced into games. Ok, i dont know that.... im no expert.:nono:
David on 6/2/2007 at 21:37
I've always found he Thief 1&2 implementation of EAX to be dreadful and far too echo-y. I have never played another EAX game that was anything like it!
imperialreign on 6/2/2007 at 23:02
I personally think it also comes down to the audio software that is provided for the card. Not sure how the Audigy cards (or any other's for that matter) handle EAX, or if there is an adjustment for it; but I can say that with the X-Fi's, using the audio console, you can adjust the level of EAX. IMO, having it set at 0.0db is too high (try playing Doom3 on that setting!! :cheeky: ), for ever application I've ever tried. I have it set down to about -4.6db, and with everything else tuned right, the Thief games sound spectacular. You don't worry about drawing your blackjack for fear that it'll make too much noise :thumb:
Everyone will have their own audio preference, though; as everyone's audiable spectrum is different. You'll have to experiment to find what sounds best for you.
sNeaksieGarrett on 6/2/2007 at 23:54
I have a sound blaster live! but i dont think i can change the EAX level or w/e... I have CMSS 3D, or EAX effects, like auditorium sound......
" I've always found he Thief 1&2 implementation of EAX to be dreadful and far too echo-y. I have never played another EAX game that was anything like it!" <-- David
great, im not the only one!:cheeky: thanks guys.
