daTextBox=<font size="12" face="arial" color="#000000"><b>The LFE and You</b><br>The LFE channel, perhaps the most misunderstood of all 5.1 channels, presents a game developer with an interesting tool. The LFE channel should be used for non-essential, bass-only effects. Users with conventional two channel stereo systems will not hear the LFE channel because it is not included in the two channel downmix. Only users with 5.1-channel systems will be able to hear LFE content. But what a difference it can make!
It is easiest to route sounds to the main channels and the LFE when extra emphasis on the effect is desired. Use the LFE sparingly as too much LFE content will take away from the dynamic effect that the channel offers. For example, far away explosions can be routed to the main channels and near explosions can be routed to the main channels and the LFE for added bass effect.
If time and budget allows, a sound designer can create special "rumble tracks" for the LFE that are triggered with a sound effect in the main channel when extra emphasis is needed. This is by far the most effective way to use the LFE, but requires a sound designer to create two files for a sound effect: the sound itself, and the rumble track. This may sound like a lot of work, but simply lowpass filtering the original sound gives you an instant "rumble track."</font>
