Blizt sounds terrible!!

[Doc_SoCal]

Sounds great through my set up.

[Meat-Popsicle]

I just switched to two-channel analog sound, to reduce latency with Rocksmith. So ALL my games sound a bit less rich to me, now that the sound is only coming from 2 speakers, instead of 5 + subwoofer. Since I've only been playing RS + RB3 + RBB, I figure I might as well keep this setup for now, rather than switching back and forth.

Whoops, I guess I need to recalibrate RB3 now. I didn't notice any difference in lag, but I've only played 3 songs in the game since I changed my settings, all on vocals (which always seems to be the least troublesome instrument with lag).

[LordRavenBaja]

I'm using a Sony DA500ES, 7.1 channel, using fiber for audio and HDMI for video. This is a true certified THX system and the best model Sony offered at the time. With my sub, I'm just at 2000 watts.

There is definitely a problem with the sound coming from the game. It is only coming through 3/2.1 channel, which is a Dolby feed (but ancient!). My system gives me the ability to check the feed coming through. If I unplug the fiber and run with RCA's, I get the same sound and feed. I unplugged the RCA's just for kicks, and still a 3/2.1 (which is basically a 2 channel with sub) through the fiber.

RB3 gives me a 5.1 Dolby feed, again, my system confirms this. All of the Blitz songs on RB3 sound great and come across in 5.1, but Blitz is terrible on my system. I've had to use audio enhancements just to make it sound good, which means I have to change my settings when I go between Blitz and RB3.

Just curious why HMX did not put 5.1 support into Blitz.

[atalkingfish]

I'm using a Sony DA500ES, 7.1 channel, using fiber for audio and HDMI for video. This is a true certified THX system and the best model Sony offered at the time. With my sub, I'm just at 2000 watts.

There is definitely a problem with the sound coming from the game. It is only coming through 3/2.1 channel, which is a Dolby feed (but ancient!). My system gives me the ability to check the feed coming through. If I unplug the fiber and run with RCA's, I get the same sound and feed. I unplugged the RCA's just for kicks, and still a 3/2.1 (which is basically a 2 channel with sub) through the fiber.

RB3 gives me a 5.1 Dolby feed, again, my system confirms this. All of the Blitz songs on RB3 sound great and come across in 5.1, but Blitz is terrible on my system. I've had to use audio enhancements just to make it sound good, which means I have to change my settings when I go between Blitz and RB3.

Just curious why HMX did not put 5.1 support into Blitz.

Hm... this seems very comprehensive....

HMX... what do you have to say for yourself....?

[ThatAuthoringGroup]

It is a 'cheap ass' arcade title. Do you really expect the same bells and whistles on a $15 arcade title that you get from a full $60 retail title?

Yes I realize sound is important in a music game, but you're not going to get the dolby digital surround sound of an Imax theater in the local $2 matinee theater

I have to imagine that licensing and paying for dolby encoding and support on a $15 arcade title might have been cost prohibitive, but I don't know that for sure.

[SheSaidSheSaid]

It is a 'cheap ass' arcade title. Do you really expect the same bells and whistles on a $15 arcade title that you get from a full $60 retail title?

A lot of people on this forum sure seem to (not necessarily about this).

[atalkingfish]

It is a 'cheap ass' arcade title. Do you really expect the same bells and whistles on a $15 arcade title that you get from a full $60 retail title?

Yes I realize sound is important in a music game, but you're not going to get the dolby digital surround sound of an Imax theater in the local $2 matinee theater

I have to imagine that licensing and paying for dolby encoding and support on a $15 arcade title might have been cost prohibitive, but I don't know that for sure.

I would like more information on this. Frankly, I know nothing about the cost of dolby 5.1, but I would come to expect that there would be at least a LITTLE priority for that kind of thing in a MUSIC video game.

I would believe it, but I don't know enough about it. Sorry, TAG, but I don't think you do either. It's a very possible (and maybe even "likely") explanation, but far from anything comprehensive or conclusive.

But I would argue with a totally non-informed conjecture that 5.1 is more of a 'standard' and less of a 'bell' or 'whistle'.

[LordRavenBaja]

I would like more information on this. Frankly, I know nothing about the cost of dolby 5.1, but I would come to expect that there would be at least a LITTLE priority for that kind of thing in a MUSIC video game.

I would believe it, but I don't know enough about it. Sorry, TAG, but I don't think you do either. It's a very possible (and maybe even "likely") explanation, but far from anything comprehensive or conclusive.

But I would argue with a totally non-informed conjecture that 5.1 is more of a 'standard' and less of a 'bell' or 'whistle'.

I have to agree with this. It is a music game, so I would expect similar audio to that of other music titles by the same mfg. If buying these types of games is a quality issue, then I just learned a lesson.

It's not a deal killer. Since my system is so nice, I can change the settings to get pretty good sound, but it's a fix. The game is super fun, even though I seem to suck at it, hehehe. And through headphones it sounds the same as any other title with headphones, so that's good.

With the new standard of audio actually being 7.1, and even higher end systems are offering 7.2HD, I would think that 5.1 wouldn't be an issue.

[RobbySuave]

The music in the gameplay isn't mixed to 5.1 in Rock Band 3. The sound effects and ambiance might be. But songs, like on a CD, aren't mixed and they can't technically be played in true surround sound (in most cases); they're 2 channel. Thus, stereo sound is fine for Rock Band Blitz.

Besides, there's no crowd noise or basically anything other than the music that you're "playing" in Blitz, so what exactly would you want to be shoved to the rear speakers? The powerup sounds?

[LordRavenBaja]

The music in the gameplay isn't mixed to 5.1 in Rock Band 3. The sound effects and ambiance might be. But songs, like on a CD, aren't mixed and they can't technically be played in true surround sound (in most cases); they're 2 channel. Thus, stereo sound is fine for Rock Band Blitz.

Besides, there's no crowd noise or basically anything other than the music that you're "playing" in Blitz, so what exactly would you want to be shoved to the rear speakers? The powerup sounds?

It sounds like it's playing out of 1 speaker, totally mono. And yes, when I play RB, I use my entire 7.1 system to immerse myself into the music. No different then putting on headphones, you get total sound. I love my music loud, like a concert, but I have the crowd noise turned way down.

Yes, music is not recorded in 5.1 Dolby, generally. So to be more precise: RB plays out of all 7 of my speakers on Dolby Pro Logic II - music. You can definitely hear a guitar, drum, bass, and vocal (or keys) coming from different areas within my room. Blitz sounds like it is only coming out of my center channel, unless I use the Cinema mode on my system, which simulates 5.1 Dolby.