XBOX: DD Center Channel MIA? What is the deal (1 Viewer)

[MaxY]

OK I had been using my Xbox in the bedroom and laying in bed I have my system setup so it images very good. I did not notice until today when I moved to an off center postion and found little to no center channel sound.

I have tried with several games now and here is what I have found.

Transworld Surfing

No Center Sound at all.

Cell Damage

No Center Channel sound at all

Madden Football

Some Center channel sound but not very much.

Are there any games that use the center channel correctly?

Max

 

[Al Mansur]

I have Halo and DD works perfectly. All my channels work fine.

I think I know exactly what your problem may be. Start up your Xbox with no cd inside. In the system screen, go into settings. Then go into audio. Choose "Dolby Surround."

It should work now, instead of just stereo.

 

[Mike_G]

It's designed that way for some strange reason. I don't understand why game developers aren't using the center channel as much as they should.

Mike

 

[Scott L]

Several others on this board (including me) have complained about the lack of a center channel during actual gameplay. Halo only uses the center channel during the game while Cortana is speaking. All other sound fx go to the mains, rears and LFE. This is VERY annoying when you need to hear a voice or conversation when someone is right in front of you. You have to turn to the side to hear it better.
(ie- In the level "The Library" when the bot talks to you. Turning to your side makes his voice much more audible. Test it out for yourself, hopefully you'll get different results)
I have AF Delta Strom and it is basically the same thing, with little or no use of the center channel during gameplay. Go figure...
Hopefully the developers will make better use (or just any) out of the center channel output from the Xbox's sound proc.

 

[Ryan Peter]

It sounds like a good idea not to use the center speak except for dialogue. In fact, that's how it is in most films. The center speaker is usually not as strong as the two front speakers and game developers and sound mixers develop accordingly.

 

[Al Mansur]

Guys, full time DD in games is VERY new. Sure there was DD in in-game cinematics, but game developers haven't really mastered full time DD during games. Well the good thing is at least its a software problem and not a hardware problem. Maybe in the future developers will use the center channel more.