Hi Ken, Actually, this has nothing to do with Microsoft specifically. All the 3d libraries out there be it OpenAL, FMOD Ex, Bass, etc use mono sound samples for virtual 3d audio. There are technical reasons why they use mono instead of stereo for virtual 3d audio, but I don't recall off hand what they were specifically. However, what it comes down to is it takes up less memory and CPU power to position mono sounds than stereo sounds, and you don't need a stereo sound if you are not going to play it back in stereo anyway.
For instance, when you play a stereo sound you have two channels left and right. This is fine if you intend to play both channels at the same time. However, if you are positioning a sound in 3d only the left or right channel can be heard at a time negating the need for both channels. You are just wasting CPU power and ram on an extra channel and a much larger file that isn't being used to begin with. Make sense? Cheers! On 4/27/13, Ken The PionEar <[email protected]> wrote: > I find myself wondering what wise guy at Microsoft thought that you > shouldn't be able to play stereo files in a 3d buffer. While it's true that > > if the sound is off to the left or right, the stereo effect isn't > noticeable, when you're in front of the object it certainly is. That's why > there are two bands in my soundscape explorer. OK, back to coding... > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
