Videologic Sonic Storm Pro

Simon King

Sound - Games

Hmm. There I go again, repeating myself. I normally don't find two-speaker 3d audio algorithms that convincing. Neither Creative or Aureal can fool me. I don't know if it's just my ears or what. Now headphones are another matter. My MX300 absolutely kicks buttocks with A3D 2 on headphones. But I digress.

What I'm trying to say is that the two-speaker algorithms on this baby are really quite good. It might be me, I am a bit of a freak, but whilst playing the provided demo - playroom, in full 3d graphics, far better visually than Aureal or Creative's efforts - the two speakers really had me going.

Headphones were also good, better than the SB Live! in my opinion, but fall short against the MX300. Vertical positioning was no way as good as the MX300, but the front/rear was quite respectable.

In actual games, it's good. Again the two speakers really shines. Half-life sounds like you would expect, running on 8 3d audio streams. I've never heard the 'drop back' to 2D audio on the Vortex 1 or Monster cards, but it's noticeable on this card. I miss the EAX/A3D as well. Same for Unreal. It would seem that the generally muddy sound when listening to audio really doesn't matter when your playing games. Front rear positioning on speakers is what makes me sit up and notice. Again, this is markedly better than the Live!, and to be honest, with wavetracing off, I would hazard saying that they're at least as convincing, if not more so, than the MX300's. Vertical positioning just don't work on 2 speakers as far as I can tell. I can tell they're trying vertical positioning, but it just doesn't fool me.

It is also worth mentioning that Sensaura are updating their drivers to add EAX support to this little baby. Having heard this, I can say it is very well implemented and should be considered.

Soundblaster? Yes, it works, and in SBPro stereo mode as well. Judging by what I used in dos mode, it seems that this card is even more muffled when playing 8 bit samples than 16 bit ones. Compatibility? Well Quake picked it up as an SB Pro, and Secret of Monkey Island worked - a feat the SB Live! can't manage. But nowadays, who gives a monkeys?

Overall 6.5/10 (7/10 when EAX is finalised). Games paper over the weaknesses and focus on the strengths, but 8 streams still ain't enough.

Software

Well, although the hardware might not be that sparkling, the software bundle is fabbo of the highest order. For many years we have been using piddle-poor rack software to play our CD's, an example of such is included. Called AudioRack32, it illustrates exactly what not to do. Fortunately, VideoLogic have also included a wazzo example of how to do it right.

Jet-Audio takes every other player/rack software outside to the car park for a damn good kicking. It only offers similar features, but it's just good where the others ain't.

First of all, the CD player hooks up to the net to give you cd names instead of you typing them in all yourself. Good stuff. Secondly, it playes MP3's in a way that's at least as good as Winamp. Put it this way, I'm converted. Thirdly, the graphical readout is totally spiffing. And fourthly, it goes some way to correcting the SonicStorms audio shortcomings.

Winamp has a software equaliser. And I use it. But the one in Jet Audio, when tuned (actually, with all of the sliders rammed up to 100%), the card comes alive again. Radiohead once again had my fingers tapping along. Tin Tin Out's 'Here's where the Story Ends' really jumped into my lugholes. Jet also comes with a 3d function that you may want to leave on. And some good software reverbs.

Unfortunately, these don't work with CD's or MIDI. But the difference it makes is totally astounding.

If Jet Audio sorts out the audio, the Yamaha Softsynth sorts out the MIDI. Put simply, Yamaha XG Midi kicks buttocks. I've had a DB50XG for nigh on four years now. The Softsynth replicates all of the functions and most of the quality at the expense of CPU power. And it sounds pretty good, but again suffers from the muddy wave output.

The bundle shows Videologic's bias towards music, which seems strange given the fact that the card sounds better as a gaming card. There are some game demos on the CD, but they are ancient, like Destruction Derby 2, and none of the ones I tried offered and kind of 3d audio. Some ran through DOS!

Overall 7.5/10. A great software bundle for an MP3 junkie. Less so for a gamer

Conclusion

Six months ago, when it was released, the SonicStorm Pro looked an excellent package. Since then, the mail order price of the MX300 has dropped to £50. On the plus side, the SonicStorm offers good digital output - it's a 'pure' output, unlike the SBLive! - and a storming software package. The Digital Input upgrade costs £35, and so for £70 or so you've got yourself complete Digital I/O. It is here the SonicStorm may find it's market. I have no way of checking the response through the Digital I/O - maybe Arny at Pcavtech can help. On the down side, the analogue output is pretty grim and the Midi is nothing short of dire.

Videologic have made a valiant attempt with the SonicStorm Pro. It is a viable alternative to a Vortex 1 card, with comparable chipset featuresl. The card would also be excellent for a naïve user wishing to upgrade to PCI 3D audio. And the bundled software is of the highest quality. But the picture on the front of the box is of a professional mixing desk, which this quite clearly isn't. The problem is cost. Although the card is now around the £40 mark, the MX300 can be had for £55. And the SB Live! Value for an extra tenner.

The SonicStorm Pro is an ageing chipset with good software from a reputable firm. Unless you are dead set on digital I/O though, there aren't many reasons to buy it. If you can get one for about £20-£25 then grab it for Jet Audio alone. Otherwise there are superior offerings for similar money.

Overall 6.5/10. A well thought out package, with good software for MP3 use, but for anything else, it's majorly outgunned.

NB. Videologic have announced their new sound card, the Sonic Vortex. Unsurprisingly a Vortex 2 card, it would seem that with the quality hardware and bundling skills, Videologic could be on to something good.

So now that you have read the review you can enter the contest to win either a Sonic Storm Pro or a cool t-shirt from Sensaura.  After you have completed the contest,  why not check out our related articles on Sensaura's 3D technology and Simon's visit to Sensaura's London office.

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