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::Thursday, March 11, 2010::
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:: 5 ::
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::38.107.191.88::
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 RiscX NAVIGATION |
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 Share and view other Mac Mods - visit MacMod.com |
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| • AppleFritter.com • MacMod.com |
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Product Review: M-Audio Revolution 7.1 audio PCI card |
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Let the Ears have it!
Impressive sound card satisfies audio aficionados cravings.
I have been some what satisfied with my computers built-in sound capabilities for several years now. I only upgrade my speaker set-up when noticeably better desktop sound systems become available and are affordable. However, with all the sound coming out of my computer now using iTunes, MP3s, streaming radio, DVDs, games and the like, I started looking at ways and options to enhance all that audio. With the recent release of a new affordable consumer level audio cards that claim "Realistic Lifelike" sound capabilities I decided to check one out. The recently released "Revolution 7.1" PCI audio card by M-Audio is one of the cards that make such claims.
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I checked out the Revolution card to see if indeed I could experience better audio and if I was really missing out on anything. I am by no means an audio expert, I couldn't tell you the difference between a midi and a decibel. So this review will focus on what the average consumer should be able to expect from this audio card. I will state for the true audio aficionado that this card is based on the Envy 24HT sound chip. It sports eight available channels of output, 107dB signal-to-noise ratio, 0.003% of Total Harmonic Distortion and 24-bit/192kHz for pristine high-definition audio fidelity. I hope this makes sense to the audio pro because it's all gobbledygook to me. I also must say to help the sound card achieve it's full potential you will also need a decent speaker system. However, with that said your system doesn't have to be $900 deluxe set-up either. I used a 4.1 Logitech speaker system which costs about $140.
SETTING UP THE SOUND
I took the sound card out of the box, opened up my computer and slapped it in one of the PCI slots. I then inserted the CD and installed the cards drivers and control panel and plugged my speaker sound system into the card. The Revolution 7.1 control panel was painless to install. The control panel lets you mix, or adjust speaker configurations allowing you to pick your specific speaker sound system. They include over 60 pre-set speaker set-ups in the control panel and let you customize and add your own to your specific environment. For instance you can select headphones all the way to 7.1 Surround Sound systems and adjust the multiple levels of audio options such as number of speaker, distance in feet, specific speaker volumes among others. If you're not a tweaker, you can just pick your basic sound system and leave the other options at their default too.
PLAYING DVDs
While the basic default card sound settings is good, noticeably better than my built-in audio, adjusting the control panel options and settings allowed me to get... well, frightening results. To really bring out this cards capabilities I would recommend at least a 4.1 capable sound system. I disconnected my 2.1 speaker system and hooked up a Logitec 4.1 Z560 sound system to the card, popped in my Aliens DVD and while the movie was playing I went to the sound control panel and activated the "Surround Sound" option. I then adjusted the "SRS Circle Surround II, Dialog Clarity, and the Trubass" settings. The results were scary, instantly transforming my room into the spaceship itself with earthquake quality bass rumbling and sounds bouncing behind and all around me. It's the kind of sound quality that makes you flinch with explosions and turn your head and quickly glance over your shoulder once and a while. In other words the sound was extremely detailed bring my DVD viewing experience into another level.
PLAYING MUSIC
I then fired up my MP3 player and threw a smorgasbord of music at it, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Techno and Ambient. The music was a dramatic listening experience. I could hear individual instruments with way more clarity and detail. Seemed to emulate a "live" sound setting, like I was in a small club with a great sound system minus all the smoke.
PLAYING GAMES
Want to give yourself an edge playing you favorite first-person-shooter game or just make your role-playing strategy game come alive? This card seems to do just that. I launched one of my favorite games at the moment, Medal of Honor Allied Assault, and set up the audio option activating the 4.1 and surround sound settings. I was amazed at the level of sound detail I was experiencing. Gun shots to the left of me, grenades exploding behind me, a door opening to my right and the enemy reloading his weapon in front of me. Rat-tat-tat. Gotcha! The sound seemed to help and definitely enhance and extend my level of game play and I sometimes need all the help I can get. The card supports popular game audio technologies such as Sensaura, EAX, DirectSound, and A3D as well.
GETTING SOUND IN
I tried recording with the Revolution card via the Mic- and Line-In inputs and got mixed results. I hooked up a MP3 player, (An Apple iPod), to the Line In port and recorded a few songs. The recorded MP3's sounded great, just like the originals. I then hooked up a microphone via the Mic-In input and recorded myself talking. I used a shareware program called Amadeus II, www.hairersoft.com, to record the Mic In. The sound level of the mic'ed recording was definitely on the low side, I tried various setting adjustments with the same results. The sound volume seemed to be half of what it should have been but the quality sounded full and rich, just on the low side. The problem may have been with my mic so you may have hopefully better/different results.
SOFTWARE
The card comes bundled with over $200 of software including Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 game (PC-full version), MixMan Studio (full version), Arkaos VJ Lite, Propellerhead Reason (trial version), Ableton Live (trial version), Over 100 sounds and loops and a free M-Powered Artists CD sampler. I fired up a few of the programs, Reason and Ableton Live, and mixed some fat, dope beats together.
SUPPORT
I did have a slight problem with the Surround Sound using a 2.1 Labtec speaker system with regards to some audio distortion using a specific surround setting. I contacted M-Audio support by email and received a response back within 3 hours advising me to use a different speaker set-up and adjustments in the control panel which seemed to fixed the glitch. Was very nice to know that quick, responsive support is available should you need it.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the overall awesome level of sound detail and clarity I was able to experience with DVDs, music and games while using this card. The price at $99 makes your life-like desktop listening experience very affordable.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Not much except for the Mic In low recording level issues I experienced. I don't plan on doing a lot of Mic recording so this feature was not as important to me as it might be to you.
ARTICLE ADDENDUM
SELECTED READER FEEDBACK AND UPDATE NOTES REGARDING REVIEW
:: 010104 Riscx writes:
Finally after several misses with M-Audion Revolution 7.1 driver updates and Mac OS X updates my sound system is working again without any Kernel panics to report. One of the problems I noticed which seemed to be the cause of most System crashes was when the Revolution card tried to process more than one sound at the same time, i.e. had iTunes running and then another application which produced sound, like when Entourage E-mail client received mail would almost always cause a Kernel panic, at least 2 out of 3 times. I am currently running Mac OS X 10.3.2 with M-Audio's v. 1.2.9 Revolution driver with no problems to report. If you are planning on upgrading I would delete any previous versions of the driver including all preference files before installing the new one to make sure it's a clean install. Good Luck!
- Riscx
:: 091503 JAustin writes:
One of the things you failed to mention in your article on M-Audio's Revolution 7.1 Card is that Apples DVD player does not support Dolby Digital out yet. You have to use Video Lan to get this. I have the M-Audio in my Dual 1.25 MDD Powermac. I put the M-Audio in specifically to get Dolby Digital outta my Mac and pipe it to my DD Reciever and pipe that out to my 6.1 speaker set up I have. At first I was dismayed that I couldnt do it but then did some reading and found that the videolan client which is opensource freeware decodes the Dolby Digital signal as well.
I think though with 10.3 coming very very soon and the Powermac G5s having a Optical out that will be rectified. I read somewhere that Apples DVD player in 10.3 got a overhaul.
Thanks for the great article!!!
- JAustin
:: 091503 DJones writes:
Your review was pretty much on the money, but my big disappointment with the card (I have one) is that gaming sound formats (like EAX, A3D) are not supported under OS X even (such as in Jedi Knight II). This is NOT made clear on the box or website...
- DJones
E-mail Riscx
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