Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!caen!uwm.edu!psuvax1!ukma!s.ms.uky.edu!jayh From: jayh@ms.uky.edu (Jay Hofacker) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Sound cards-sound blaster, adlib, roland.. Message-ID: Date: 4 May 91 17:30:15 GMT References: <1991May3.151549.4466@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> Distribution: comp Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences Lines: 30 u9hx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes: >Recently, I've seen some discussion about sound boards, specifically the sound >blaster, adlib, and roland. I'm interested in getting one for general purpose >use, especially games. Can someone explain to me the main differences in >features? Is the sound blaster worth the extra money than the adlib? >I've heard an adlib before, and all the music sounds the same. Are the >soundblaster and roland better? The Adlib provides 11 FM synthesized voices, either 6 melody/5 percussion, or 8 (9?) melody. All new games that I've seen that support sound cards include support for the Adlib. The SoundBlaster is 100% Adlib compatible. In addition, it has a DAC channel for 8 bit digital sound sampling and playback. Few games currently use this feature, but software is available that lets you play back sound files from MACs, Amigas, Suns and Nexts. Other software uses the the DAC channel as a voice synthesizer. The SoundBlaster has a built in Amp suitable for directly driving speakers, but it can also be routed through your stereo system's amp. For about $20, you can add two chips to the SoundBlaster which provides 12 voice stereo GameBlaster/CMS compatible sound. The Roland LAPC is the best sound card I've heard for the PC. It has eight synthesizers plus a percusion synthesizer. The sound quality is astounding. All new Sierra games support the LAPC. Of course, at $300-400, you get what you pay for. -- Jay Hofacker, sysop of the Audio/Visual Exchange, (606)254-1751 3/12/24 MNP 5 Mail: jayh@ms.uky.edu / uk02779@ukpr.uky.edu -- Yes, my signature is only 2 lin