Razer Virtual Surround Audio Software

Just as a heads-up. Razer recently (25.June.2013) released a 7.1 Virtual Surround audio driver. You can find more information and download links here: Razer Surround

For the time being, Razer is not charging for this software. They are accepting donations, which will go to Child's Play charity, a gaming-focused charity that helps provide video game entertainment to children in hospitals.

My personal thoughts on this so far:

• Really? Razer giving away something for free? That's the complete opposite of Razer's usual pricing model, isn't it?
  Yup, +1 Razer. And any donations they collect are going to Child's Play, another +1 Razer.
  
  
• How is the wound quality of the surround sound virtualization?
  Like all virtual surround algorithms, you're going to get better surround field effects from a true physical 7.1 speaker setup. But among the top-tier virtual surround options that offer 7.1 channel --> 2.0 channel downmixing (Creative XMSS-3D Headphone; Dolby Headphone), it's about equal in terms of creating a convincing virtual surround effect. It is far better than the 2.0 channel --> 2.0 channel upmixing sound processing from RealTek or SRS.
  
  
• Do I need specific hardware (computer or audio) to use it?
  From what I can tell, no. It works with any computer audio hardware (including onboard sound), and works with any set of stereo 2.0 headphones. You do not need to own Razer-branded hardware to use this.
  
  
• Who should use this?
  You should use this if you: Own a pair of decent 2.0-channel stereo headphones; Do not own specialized hardware that does 7,1 channel --> 2.0 channel downmixing (e.g. Creative Labs X-Fi USB sound card; Astro MixAmp Dolby Headphone processor; Logitech G35 or Corsair 1500 USB headsets with built-in virtual surround sound).
  
  On my current rig, I am using a 15" Lenovo laptop as a desktop replacement. I am not using external sound hardware that provides virtual surround sound due to portability reasons. And this laptop does not otherwise have virtual surround downmixing capabilities.
  
  
• Who should NOT use this?
  You should NOT use this if you: already own some kind of 7.1 channel --> 2.0 channel downmixing solution for PC gaming purposes; Listening to music;

Otherwise, check it out. It's free. If you like it, donate. If you don't, uninstall. Definite +1's to Razer for this.

 

Guess I'll give it a try after all.

 

wondering if its going to work on my cans, too bad that they dont have a OSX version

 

Wow, I'm impressed! I was using a software called DFX, but their version of surround sound (as most in the industry, it seems) is making everything tinny and with a lot of echos, like you're in some sort of a cylinder metal box. Needless to say, I hate that effect.

Razer seem to have hit the nail on the head, their surround effect is unobtrusive and makes sound a bit muffled when it comes from the corners. I'm not too sure it's the best way to do it, but I ran Skyrim, closed my eyes and started turning slowly around myself and I could actually pinpoint the direction the sound is coming from a good 70%-80% of the time, which is mighty impressive coming from a software. In Borderlands 2 the effect was slight, but working as well.

I'm keeping that thing for sure, and really consider donating. Thanks for the heads up, kent!

Edit: just had a quick run in Far Cry 3, and this improves the game so much that instead of just doing a quick test, I kept playing for more than an hour. You can pinpoint enemies really quickly with the virtual sound, simply awesome.

 

I didn't expect too much from a free software from Razor but after listening to it it does sound far better then I expected. I haven't tested it very much as I am having heat problems at the moment when I put to much strain on my CPU. I was going to do some testing with foobar but discovered that the two aren't very friendly with each other, as to be expected I guess.