Vive HDMI Audio vs Vive USB Audio

[jhoff80]

I have both showing in my playback devices. I feel like this might be confusing to some, and probably should be tweaked to only be one or the other.

[--ranXerox--]

People need to know the technology and not make it too stupid proof. It's like me telling you in order for you to get directional 7.1 audio, you need to go into the game settings and change the audio from 7.1 to directional 7.1 audio for headaets.

Stupid huh.

[jhoff80]

I would disagree with your premise entirely. One of the biggest advantages Oculus has over SteamVR is that it is idiotproof. Obviously these prpducts are currently niche devices aimed at technology enthusiasts and early adopters, but if Valve wants SteamVR to be the mass market standard in VR, these are the types of complexities they need to smooth over first.

Personally, I don't think that it is all like your 7.1 example either... it's more that I've got one device plugged into one computer, so why would there ever be a need for the user to pick between two different audio choices that both go to the same headphones?

[--ranXerox--]

Originally posted by jhoff80:

I would disagree with your premise entirely. One of the biggest advantages Oculus has over SteamVR is that it is idiotproof. Obviously these prpducts are currently niche devices aimed at technology enthusiasts and early adopters, but if Valve wants SteamVR to be the mass market standard in VR, these are the types of complexities they need to smooth over first.

Personally, I don't think that it is all like your 7.1 example either... it's more that I've got one device plugged into one computer, so why would there ever be a need for the user to pick between two different audio choices that both go to the same headphones?

Elite dangerous has such an option. That game works on desktop and hmd displays. When on desktop, you need to set the preference to stereo, 5.1, 7.1, and the last option is for the hmd. So if you have gunfire and you turn your head, let's say left, you hear main guns on your right ear. Otherwise, the sound followed your visual perspective.

It's not that you need to disagree with me, the fact is, pc needs to have options and the user needs to be knowledgable. Just like you you had no knowledge of this.

If you disagree, you need to admit failure in your understanding. A pc is not a ps4. And people with lack of knowledge Need go to ps4.

[Coffee]

The HTC VIVE should have an actual in-depth guide that also cover all these tiny but important aspects.

That giant sheet in the box don't seems to cover that and I can only find a PRE HTC VIVE user manual dgitally that cover a bit but far from all the important infos.


I wish there would be some actual PDF of an in-depth manual.
In fact, I would have enjoyed an actual printer guide too. But yeah, a digital one could be fine.
Would be even better to be able to go at the toilet while having the HTC VIVE on the head and reading it virtually while taking a ♥♥♥♥. (Cuz we all know that the text on the bottle of room air freshener gets repetitive.)

[jhoff80]

Originally posted by --ranXerox--:

Originally posted by jhoff80:

I would disagree with your premise entirely. One of the biggest advantages Oculus has over SteamVR is that it is idiotproof. Obviously these prpducts are currently niche devices aimed at technology enthusiasts and early adopters, but if Valve wants SteamVR to be the mass market standard in VR, these are the types of complexities they need to smooth over first.

Personally, I don't think that it is all like your 7.1 example either... it's more that I've got one device plugged into one computer, so why would there ever be a need for the user to pick between two different audio choices that both go to the same headphones?

Elite dangerous has such an option. That game works on desktop and hmd displays. When on desktop, you need to set the preference to stereo, 5.1, 7.1, and the last option is for the hmd. So if you have gunfire and you turn your head, let's say left, you hear main guns on your right ear. Otherwise, the sound followed your visual perspective.

It's not that you need to disagree with me, the fact is, pc needs to have options and the user needs to be knowledgable. Just like you you had no knowledge of this.

If you disagree, you need to admit failure in your understanding. A pc is not a ps4. And people with lack of knowledge Need go to ps4.

Just no. You are completely misunderstanding every single part of my post.

First, I am not at all talking about choosing how many channels of audio. This is the Vive for zero reason showing up as TWO DIFFERENT DEVICES in Windows Playback Devices. It's not a matter of choosing between VR Headphones and VR speakers. It's a matter of choosing between Vive HDMI audio, and Vive USB audio. (Spoilers, they're the same damn thing, just going over different parts of the 3-in-1 cable).

Secondly, I am very much clear of the difference. The entire point of this post is it makes no sense to the mass audience.

And finally, this sort of PC master race BS is going to be a problem if we want to see VR catch on. There is zero reason for this extra complexity. "If you're too dumb, get a PS4" is not the solution.

[--ranXerox--]

so even though you plug in the device, you have options to use either 5.1 stereo directly through your speaker system, the directional 5.1 or audio perspective which is directly shot through the headphones, or use the hmd hdmi which has probably all the settings figured out and all you need to do is use analog or hdmi depending from which what supports what.

[jhoff80]

Again, no. Vive HDMI audio = stereo audio over the Vive HDMI part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack. Vive USB audio = stereo audio over the Vive USB part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack.

It's confusing for no reason. There is zero reason for both to show to the end-user.

[--ranXerox--]

"Even the sounds are realistic
With attached headphones, Vive offers hi-fidelity sound that can distinguish between noises that are supposed to come from behind you or move horizontally in front of you. In other words, flat, uni-directional sound won’t take you out of this world. "

http://readwrite.com/2015/03/06/htc-vive-awesome-demo-hands-on/

so your saying its in stereo? ohh my god.

[--ranXerox--]

I use a old pair of logitech g930, which is only 2 speakers btw but i get 7.1 virtual sound. I even demo games and audio channel playback tests to confirm, even elite dangerous but i need to set the audio paramater in the game itself to hear the spatial sound work.

well, the whole point of this conversation is pc cannot cater to one because its used for many different things. You need to know your technology.

audio is not stereo from the vive btw.

[Pumcy]

Originally posted by jhoff80:

Again, no. Vive HDMI audio = stereo audio over the Vive HDMI part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack. Vive USB audio = stereo audio over the Vive USB part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack.

It's confusing for no reason. There is zero reason for both to show to the end-user.

Actually, there is a good reason for it.

USB audio goes to the extra USB jack inside the HMD.
The Vive pre included a cable that would let you plug in a USB headset rather than use the headphone jack. I don't know what the cable isn't included with the consumer hardware, but it works just fine with the cable. I hooked up my USB headset to my Vive and it works great.

[Pumcy]

Originally posted by --ranXerox--:

I use a old pair of logitech g930, which is only 2 speakers btw but i get 7.1 virtual sound. I even demo games and audio channel playback tests to confirm, even elite dangerous but i need to set the audio paramater in the game itself to hear the spatial sound work.

well, the whole point of this conversation is pc cannot cater to one because its used for many different things. You need to know your technology.

audio is not stereo from the vive btw.

This has litterally nothing to do with what the OP is talking about.

[jhoff80]

Originally posted by Pumcy:

Originally posted by jhoff80:

Again, no. Vive HDMI audio = stereo audio over the Vive HDMI part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack. Vive USB audio = stereo audio over the Vive USB part of the 3-in-1 cable to the headphone jack.

It's confusing for no reason. There is zero reason for both to show to the end-user.

Actually, there is a good reason for it.

USB audio goes to the extra USB jack inside the HMD.
The Vive pre included a cable that would let you plug in a USB headset rather than use the headphone jack. I don't know what the cable isn't included with the consumer hardware, but it works just fine with the cable. I hooked up my USB headset to my Vive and it works great.

A USB jack is a USB jack, no matter whether you're set to Vive USB Audio or Vive HDMI Audio. If I plug a USB DAC into the Vive USB jack, it shows as another device entirely.

My suspicion is that the USB connection is there for when using DisplayPort into the link box and that the HDMI connection is for HDMI into the link box... but if that's the intent, then the driver software should be able to only expose the connection that is actually being used, in my opinion.

[jhoff80]

Originally posted by --ranXerox--:

"Even the sounds are realistic
With attached headphones, Vive offers hi-fidelity sound that can distinguish between noises that are supposed to come from behind you or move horizontally in front of you. In other words, flat, uni-directional sound won’t take you out of this world. "

http://readwrite.com/2015/03/06/htc-vive-awesome-demo-hands-on/

so your saying its in stereo? ohh my god.

Binaural audio is still stereo, just using a HRTF to put that audio in 3D space. Just like how you only have two ears and hear in 3D. But more importantly, like what was already said, every single post you have made has had nothing to do with anything I've been saying.

[--ranXerox--]

Yes like rift using crystal audio for stereo, HTC vive has its own, I have options to output in 7.1 speaker, USB g930 7.1 dolby digital, HTC vive. Also, game needs to output in dolby to get all these drivers to talk and then it will output in 7.1 or what ever it wants but it looks like stereo to start. That's how my dk2 behaved. Just right click on speaker, click onplayback, easily choose your poison.

[Coffee]

So for example if using a sennheiser 363D is it better to use the jack plug connected to the VIVE, the USB plug connected to the VIVE or the USB plug connecting to the computer directly?