#CDROMs & sound boards
4 messages in this thread
I am trying to add a CD-ROM/sound board to my computer and am confused
about many of the things I am reading. The primary use of this equipment
would be for accessing multimedia encyclopedias and other reference
material.
1. As far as I can determine, the Sony Desktop Library and the Media
Vision Fusion-16 packages both contain the same Sony 31A drive and a
modified Pro Audio Spectrum 16 card that includes a proprietary Sony CD-ROM
interface. However, messages on this and other forums indicate that the
Media Vision package will NOT support multi-session photo CD while Sony
tech support claims that their package does support photo CD (and in fact
the Sony package inlcudes Photo CD Access). Can anyone explain this
discrepancy?
2. Many of the multimedia upgrade kits (e.g., Creative Labs, Media Vision)
include sound boards with proprietary CD-ROM interfaces built in. Do I
lose anything if I buy a 16-bit sound board separately from an internal
CD-ROM drive/interface board and merely connect them with the stereo
line-in/line-out connections?
3. The Creative Labs kit says that the included CD-ROM drive has a
capacity of 540 MB. Many CDs, however, can hold 600-700 MB. Does this mean
that the drive would not be able to read all of the data on a CD, and is
this a real limitation with todays multimedia encyclopedias?
4. Sound boards are 8-bit or 16-bit. I realize that 16-bit sound is
higher quality than 8-bit, but I'm confused as to what sound this refers
to. Does this distinction refer only to sounds sampled through the
microphone input on the board or does it pertain to any sounds produced by
the board? Another way to ask that question is whether the sounds from a
multimedia encyclopedia or game would sound better from a 16-bit board or
would those sounds be the same regardless of whether it is an 8- or 16-bit
board.
5. Is the 550 ms access time of the Sony 31A CD-ROM drive too slow for
multimedia encyclopedias.
I realize that most of these questions have probably been answered numerous
times before, but I'm just starting to try and make an intelligent buying
decision. Any help would be appreciated.
You can download a few files to help in your decision. KODAK.TXT is a file
that lists all Photo CD compatible CD-ROM drives. CDFAQ.TXT and CDROMF.ZIP
give good background material on what CD-ROM is, how it works and what
features you may want in the drive you purchase.
SBPRO is proprietary SCSI interface. PAS-16 is a true SCSI port that you
hang additional items off it. Trantor Systems writes the drivers and
frequents this forum from time to time. Media Vision (they make PAS-16)
and are in the multi-media vendors forum (GO MULTIVEN).
I would try to stick with a SCSI drive with access speed lower than 400ms.
Noting your other reply, I like the idea that the PAS-16 has a "real" SCSI
interface. This would theoretically allow you to SCSI hard drives,
scanners and other devices off that controller if it is indeed that good.
I purchased the SBPro kit, which includes a 380ms drive with a 64K internal
buffer. The only pauses I have suffered so far were with the 9th Symphony
demo off Cinemania, and those only occurred during hard drive access, not
CD-ROM access. I am very satisfied with the SBPro performance, but I also
have no plans to add other SCSI device to my computer. If you are big time
sound fan and plan to write your own music, by all means get a 16-bit sound
card. If you just intend to use the card to access existing sound from
Windows and games, an 8-bit card may be sufficient. If you can swing it,
those Altec-Lansings(?) with the sub-woofer are very impressive…
I don't claim to be an expert David, but I can tell you what has worked
for me..
I am using a PAS 16 board as just a sound board, and have a separate SCSI
host adapter running my CD-ROM and hard and floppy drives. I am happy
leaving the SCSI support to a dedicated board, and the sound to the PAS,
kind of keeping everybody in their specialty. I haven't even bothered with
an internal cable, I just ran a 1/8 inch stereo cable from the headphone
out on the CD-ROM to the audio in on the PAS, for the few CD-ROM's that use
RedBook sound, and audio CD's.
I'm not real well informed on the 16 vs 8 bit sound differences, one of
the younger members of the family is the main user of the sound board, but
he feels the 16 bit board is well worth the difference in price. True
44Khz sampling, 22 FM Voices, and a lot of other stuff I don't
understand..Then again, I paid for it, so *of course* it is worth the price
to him <g>.
Just to complicate things, if I had an IDE hard drive already, I'd
probably use the sound card to operate the CD-ROM rather than investing in
a third card. Clear as mud, huh???
-Bill