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comparison FAQ @ 199:6117c326cc3e

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Updated documentation
author Matti Hamalainen <ccr@tnsp.org>
date Wed, 18 Aug 2004 15:23:05 +0000
parents af7c0e0ce11a
children 6a82506329ae
comparison
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198:c7b5120c53c8 199:6117c326cc3e
12 including support for the XMMS patch used by old versions of 12 including support for the XMMS patch used by old versions of
13 XMMS-SID (0.7.x and earlier), refer to XMMS-SID configuration 13 XMMS-SID (0.7.x and earlier), refer to XMMS-SID configuration
14 for more information: 14 for more information:
15 15
16 -> Press <ctrl+p> 16 -> Press <ctrl+p>
17 -> Audio I/O Plugins -tab 17 -> Select "Audio I/O Plugins"-tab
18 -> Select XMMS-SID, press "Configure" 18 -> Choose "XMMS-SID x.y.z [libxmmssid.so]" from the list
19 -> Misc -tab, Sub-song control 19 -> Click "Configure"
20 -> Select "Misc"-tab, Sub-song control
20 21
21 There is also a selector in song-information window of XMMS 22 There is also a selector in song-information window of XMMS
22 (Press <ctrl+3>) 23 (Press <ctrl+3>)
23 24
24 --- 25 ---
63 different basic waveforms (saw, triangle, pulse and noise), SID is 64 different basic waveforms (saw, triangle, pulse and noise), SID is
64 able to create most wonderful sounds. Modulation of channels via 65 able to create most wonderful sounds. Modulation of channels via
65 another, special analog filter (low-, high- and band-pass) add 66 another, special analog filter (low-, high- and band-pass) add
66 to the capabilities of SID. 67 to the capabilities of SID.
67 68
68 What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's volume 69 What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's
69 control, composers were able to push the limits farther ... 70 volume control, composers were able to push the limits farther
70 Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of the 71 ... Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of
71 first to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like real instruments and speech. 72 the first to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like real instruments and
73 speech.
72 74
73 --- 75 ---
74 76
75 Q: What are "SID-tunes"? 77 Q: What are "SID-tunes"?
76 78
77 A: The "SID-tunes" are files that contain C64 machine code and data 79 A: The "SID-tunes" are files that contain C64 machine code and data
78 that plays the music. SID-tune players are programs that emulate 80 that plays the music. These files usually have names ending in
79 the SID chip capabilities and other parts of C64 hardware to 81 .sid, .psid, .dat or .inf.
80 produce almost authentic re-creation of the original music. 82
81 SID-tunes can be created by ripping the music routines and data 83 SID-tune players are programs that emulate the SID's capabilities
82 from some game or just composing the music with some editor. 84 and other parts of C64 hardware to produce almost authentic re-
85 creation of the original music. SID-tune files can be created by
86 ripping the music routines and data from a program (game/demo) or
87 just composing the music with some editor.
83 88
84 XMMS-SID is interface, a piece of "software glue", that pieces 89 XMMS-SID is interface, a piece of "software glue", that pieces
85 together several emulator libraries and XMMS, allowing it to 90 together several emulator libraries and XMMS, allowing it to
86 play SID-tunes. 91 play SID-tunes.
87 92
88 --- 93 ---
89 94
90 Q: Where to get SID-tunes? 95 Q: Where to get SID-tunes?
91 96
92 A: There are many collections of SID-tunes on the Internet, but 97 A: There are many collections of SID-tunes on the Internet, but
93 probably the best one and best known one is the High Voltage 98 probably the best and best known one is the High Voltage
94 SID Collection aka HVSC. 99 SID Collection aka HVSC.
95 100
96 It is available at: http://hvsc.c64.org/ 101 It is available at: http://hvsc.c64.org/
97 102
98 HVSC contains the tunes ripped from all legendary C64 games, 103 HVSC contains the tunes ripped from all legendary C64 games,
99 loaders, etc. And more. There are over 20,660 tunes in the 104 loaders, etc. And more. There are over 20,000 tunes in the
100 HVSC version 5.3 and more are coming. HVSC also contains the 105 HVSC version 5.3 and more are coming. HVSC also contains the
101 STIL database (SID Tune Information List) that contains lots 106 STIL database (SID Tune Information List) that contains lots
102 of information about many of the tunes included in HVSC. 107 of information about many of the tunes included in HVSC.
103 XMMS-SID supports the STIL database and info about the selected 108 XMMS-SID supports the STIL database and info about the selected
104 tune can be viewed with the "XMMS fileinfo" window (CTRL+3). 109 tune can be viewed with the "XMMS fileinfo" window (CTRL+3).
107 about games, etc... 112 about games, etc...
108 113
109 114
110 --- 115 ---
111 116
117 Q: Why the SID-tunes just loop on forever and XMMS does not
118 advance in playlist?!
119 Q: Why there is no length shown for SID-tunes?
120 Q: Why are all tunes same length?
121
122 A: Above problems come from the fact that SID-tunes are not
123 really files containing music comparable to MP3/Ogg/MOD/etc.
124 A SID-file/tune is actually a piece of program and data,
125 which are executed in emulated system to produce simulated
126 audio.
127
128 These programs (often called "drivers" or "players") come
129 in various shapes and forms, there are usually not many
130 common factors. While not delving deeply into technology
131 of Commodore 64 computer and it's brethen, there are
132 various ways how such "driver"/"player" can work. The
133 only access points are provided by some extra information
134 in PSID-file's header, including information how to
135 execute the player inside the emulator, etc.
136
137 This lengthy explanation is required to understand that
138 there is simply no _direct_ way to know the duration of
139 any SID-tune!
140
141 There are, however, few _indirect_ ways:
142
143 - HVSC Song Length Database (SLDB): There exists a database
144 of song-lengths for High Voltage SID Collection. XMMS-SID
145 supports this database, please refer to README for more
146 information.
147
148 - Maximum and Minimum playtime: These help, when SLDB does
149 not provide a duration for given song. Maximum playtime
150 should be self-explanatory. Minimum playtime may be
151 preferred if the tune's length is very short and there
152 are subtunes. Refer to XMMS-SID's configuration and README
153 for more information.
154
155 ---
156
112 Q: Why isn't the sub-song control window skinned? 157 Q: Why isn't the sub-song control window skinned?
113 158
114 A: Because the XMMS's code for skins is not exported to 159 A: Because the XMMS's code for skins is not exported to
115 plugins. And besides, you would need new reworked 160 plugins. And besides, you would need new reworked
116 skin(s) anyway, piecing a skin together from existing 161 skin(s) anyway, piecing a skin together from existing