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From: smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: SoundBlaster vs AdLib
Message-ID: <1991Mar6.174743.17033@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 6 Mar 91 17:47:43 GMT
References: <8037@chorus.fr> <91063.003136UD157912@NDSUVM1.BITNET> <91064.235828UD157912@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
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UD157912@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Felix Wong) writes:
>I just heard that there will be a new SB that will have a standard MIDI
>interface. Also, there will be a new sound board called the Audioware Board
>coming SOON that is SB compatible and cost $199 (retail) only. Does anyone
>know WHEN will they be on the market? I am asking this is because I am
>planning to buy the SB next week. Should I wait for the new boards or it 
>really doesn't matter? I want to buy the SB mostly is becasue I want better 
>sound for my games. 

To find out all the info you want about this new soundboard, call
Leading Technologies at 1-800-999-5323.  I called them a month ago
and asked them all about it.  The new board will be packaged with
two small speakers and will retail for about $270 (can't remember
the exact price).  The street (mailorder) price would then be
around $160 (???)--in other words about the same price as the
SB.

I asked Leading Tech. what the new board will do, and he said it
will do anything the Soundblaster will do, including the digitized
voice stuff, and it also comes with the Voxkit.  I don't think it
does anything MORE than what the soundblaster does, and I don't
know whether it comes with CMS chips.

Anyway, after speaking the Leading Tech's rep, I came to the
conclusion that it is basically just a soundblaster, and that
Leading Tech just wants to get part of the lucrative market that
SB has gotten.

If it means anything to you, I just mailordered a soundblaster
a couple days ago for $149--that was my decision.  There are
several places in Computer Shopper that have it for $149.

>How important the MIDI interface to me as a game player? 

As for as I know, NO game uses the MIDI interface.  You need to
buy MIDI software (as well as the MIDI adapter if you have a
SB) in order to use the MIDI.  Don't worry about MIDI as far as
games go.  Just worry about which sound card is the MOST SUPPORTED
by the games.  (The SB is the most supported since it is totally
Adlib compatible AND does more.)

BTW, the soundblaster is NOT compatible with much of the MIDI stuff
out there.  I would NOT buy the SB if you're planning on getting
into MIDI in any serious way--it's a waste of money.  Buy the SB
for your games and for the digitizing features. 

>Felix Wong
>UD157912@VM1.NoDak.Edu
>UD157912@NDSUVM1.BITNET

Stephen M. Smith  \  +  /
<smsmith@hpuxa.   \+++++/    " #*&<-[89s]*(k#$@-_=//a2$]'+=.(2_&*%>,,@
 ircc.ohio-state. \  +  /      {7%*@,..":27g)-=,#*:.#,/6&1*.4-,l@#9:-)  "
 edu>             \  +  / 
 BTW, WYSInaWYG   \  +  /                              --witty.saying.ARC