5. THX Panel

Naturally, Creative continues to use their StereoXpand algorithm for extracting the ambience information present in the original recording, as with CMSS-3D Surround and CMSS-3D Headphone. For games, CMSS-3D Interactive comes into play; even 5.1 soundtracks, for example, can benefit from CMSS-3D Virtual. For games using an audio 3D API (Application Programming Interface) like OpenAL (www.openal.org) or DirectSound3D (from Microsoft), Creative has announced particularly precise positioning of the sound sources. Thanks to the superior power of the X-Fi processor, there is the possibility of managing a much greater number of sources simultaneously, resulting in a more effective approach to virtual reality. CMSS-3D Interactive is capable of achieving excellent front/rear discrimination and also of managing height effects. Thanks to support for the Sensaura MacroFX technology, it can also manage proximity effects for sources located near the player's head. Again, clearly the realism of the reproduction will be improved!

Headphones Conquer Space

Among the experiences X-Fi can provide, listening with headphones is surely one of the most spectacular - the difference from traditional headphone listening is huge. To achieve this result, CMSS-3D Headphone uses research done by Creative's ATC (Advanced Technology Center), Aureal, and Sensaura, but also by institutions like IRCAM in Paris, France, and the CIPIC Laboratory at the University of California, Davis (now part of IDAV). The technologies mentioned above are naturally used in CMSS-3D Headphone, but for headphone reproduction specifically, Creative is still (understandably) somewhat vague about the technologies used. The company says that its system is based on HRTF filters developed from a huge database of HRTF measurements, and processing using proprietary tools for equalization and standardization. Obviously we will have to wait a little to find out more; so stay tuned to THG...