The Software Continued:

     The  Karaoke/Magic Voice settings are back as well.  The Claro uses Magic Voice to help fine tune vocal range and pitch.  These settings can also be used to change your voice for voice over IP or game chat if you want to mess with your friends!  The effects included are Monster, Cartoon, Male and Female.  Key Shifting allows you to fine tune your pitch with a range of - 4b to +4#.  Voice Cancellation attempts to mute the vocals on your favorite music to allow you to give each song your special treatment!

     The FlexBass tab enables precise bass management from within the software.  Using the theory that smaller speakers probably cannot reproduce full range bass, the software allows you to choose the size of your speakers.  With smaller speakers, the Claro will route the bass from your speakers directly to the subwoofer.  Not only does this improve the sound, it also improves the speaker efficiency.

     The Information tab provides the big picture on everything from the current codec to the driver version.  The Checkbox provides the ability to toggle the system tray settings.

Helicopter: HRTF 3D Positional Sound:

     The Helicopter: HRTF 3D Positional Sound test is shown here.  This test is designed to help test your system using a simple rotating sound source.  The source and path can be adjusted from the menu to help you get the best sound possible.

The C-Media Play3D Demo:

     C-Media has also included a more comprehensive Play 3D demo that allows for 3D testing in a variety of simulated environments and sounds.  This is quite nice for checking those fine adjustments from the driver.

The Media Rack:

     HT Omega has also included the Media Rack software for audio playback of CDs or music files.  Designed to look like a traditional home audio component, the Media Rack is a easy to use suite of simple playback tools.  Most users will probably already have a media player installed but the inclusion is a nice touch.

     The Media rack allows you to use apply some of the more common environmental effects to your playback on the fly.

     A 10 band equalizer with 13 presets is also included.  Like the Xear 3D software a user defined setting allows you to save your own favorite presets.

The Playback settings allow for the more common play list modes and also adjusting the time between tracks.

The Device tab is pretty self explanatory with the addition of a Digital/Analog playback toggle.

     The File link provides a list of the supported file types and allows you the option to choose which file types to assign to the Media Rack as a default player.

     If the standard look of the Media Rack is not to your liking, several other skins are included.  The changes are primarily cosmetic but the potential to create or download other skins may make the Media Rack an appealing alternative to your current player.