Buying a sound card

[Expendable Grunt]

And I was wondering, since I was looking, what the "Channels" option means? Like, if a card has 2 or 8 or 16 channels -- what does that do? (Sound cards have been something I havn't really learned much about)

[Special~Issue]

Originally Posted by Expendable Grunt

And I was wondering, since I was looking, what the "Channels" option means? Like, if a card has 2 or 8 or 16 channels -- what does that do? (Sound cards have been something I havn't really learned much about)

The number of channels is basically the maximum number of speakers the card supports. The most common setups are: 2, 4, 5.1(6 channel), and 7.1(8 channel). The .1 refers to an optional subwoofer that puts out the longer bass effects, usually, at an increased volume level. Most any card supporting the higher number configurations can be setup with a lower number (i.e. 8 channel cards can be configured to use 2, 4, 6, or 8 channels).

The other options you may consider important:
1) Hardware acceleration for DirectSound/OpenAL(games need this).
2) EAX support(EAX 4.0 /5.0 is what I see the most when shopping)
3) 3D-positioned voices(this can sometimes be referred to as "channels with independent sampling" recommend a card with at least 64 voices)

[JohnnyPissoff]

No man the channels are how many "voices" or sounds in bits the card supports, where 24 is the maximum. example; 16 you get the main sounds nearby gunfire approaching vehicles etc...then with 24 you get the ambient sounds as well as distant gunfire. Most cards support 24bit incoming sound although only the top end cards support 24bit recording.

Another word about sound cards Grunt; any sound card is better than on-board sound mainly because sound cards are hardware and help take the load in resources off your CPU. so don't be bothered worrying about buying the most expensive one. Although I'd advise getting something in the Creative line as they are the most supported brand. Hope that information helps.

[vanity]

Originally Posted by JohnnyPissoff

No man the channels are how many "voices" or sounds in bits the card supports, where 24 is the maximum. example; 16 you get the main sounds nearby gunfire approaching vehicles etc...then with 24 you get the ambient sounds as well as distant gunfire. Most cards support 24bit incoming sound although only the top end cards support 24bit recording.

Another word about sound cards Grunt; any sound card is better than on-board sound mainly because sound cards are hardware and help take the load in resources off your CPU. so don't be bothered worrying about buying the most expensive one. Although I'd advise getting something in the Creative line as they are the most supported brand. Hope that information helps.

You're both right, which makes this confusing to people. It just depends on which context is being used.

[Special~Issue]

Originally Posted by JohnnyPissoff

No man the channels are how many "voices" or sounds in bits the card supports, where 24 is the maximum. example; 16 you get the main sounds nearby gunfire approaching vehicles etc...then with 24 you get the ambient sounds as well as distant gunfire. Most cards support 24bit incoming sound although only the top end cards support 24bit recording.

Did you read my whole post? I tried to be clear with my usage of the word "channel" to avoid any confusion, seems I failed.

Originally Posted by Special~Issue

3) 3D-positioned voices(this can sometimes be referred to as "channels with independent sampling" recommend a card with at least 64 voices)

Try a google search for 8-channel audio, or "6-channel audio", you'll find plenty of links refering to 5.1/7.1 surround sound systems, which what I believe the OP was refering too.

[El_Vikingo]

X-Fi Gamer Edition, almost shit myself playing FEAR, (I hadn't shit myself playing it before).

[Expendable Grunt]

How about this?

[vanity]

Originally Posted by Expendable Grunt

How about this?

By seeing the number of threads with people experiencing issues with the "SE Edition" of soundcards, I would completely avoid them.

They lack many features available in regular versions. It's not a Special Edition, it's actually a crippled edition.

[El_Vikingo]

SE=SillyEdition

[JohnnyPissoff]

I believe he was referring to "voices" or bits. I quote Grunt: "Like, if a card has 2 or 8 or 16 channels" I don't believe we have 16. surround speakers as yet.