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comparison FAQ @ 201:6a82506329ae

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Updates, typofixes and cleanups.
author Matti Hamalainen <ccr@tnsp.org>
date Tue, 16 Nov 2004 06:55:04 +0000
parents 6117c326cc3e
children 2e82a1742254
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200:ec8b735f5418 201:6a82506329ae
40 1980's and beginning of 1990's, many of them having excellent 40 1980's and beginning of 1990's, many of them having excellent
41 musical score. 41 musical score.
42 42
43 Best of those tunes are still regarded as legendary - such as songs 43 Best of those tunes are still regarded as legendary - such as songs
44 by Martin Galway (for games Arkanoid, Green Beret, Yie Ar Kung Fu 1 44 by Martin Galway (for games Arkanoid, Green Beret, Yie Ar Kung Fu 1
45 and 2, Parallax...), Rob Hubbard (Commando, Auf Wiedersehen Monty, 45 and 2, Parallax), Rob Hubbard (Commando, Auf Wiedersehen Monty,
46 Monty on the Run, Warhawk, Sanxion, Delta...), Ben Daglish (Jack 46 Monty on the Run, Warhawk, Sanxion, Delta), Ben Daglish (Jack
47 the Nipper 1&2, Way of the Tiger, Cobra, Avenger) and numerous 47 the Nipper 1&2, Way of the Tiger, Cobra, Avenger) and numerous
48 other famous composers. Some of them quit their composing quickly 48 other famous composers. Some of them quit their composing quickly
49 after the 8-bit period, but some are still working in the computer 49 after the 8-bit period, but some are still working in the computer
50 music business. (Including Maniacs of Noise, Chris Huelsbeck, 50 music business. (Including Maniacs of Noise, Chris Huelsbeck,
51 Richard Joseph and Charles Deenen who worked with Fallout 1 & 2's 51 Richard Joseph and Charles Deenen who worked with Fallout 1 & 2's
52 musical score) 52 musical score)
53 53
54 Today, years after the decline of 8-bit computers, many composers 54 Today, years after the decline of 8-bit computers, many composers
55 mainly from C64 demoscene, continue to compose tunes for SID and 55 mainly from C64 demoscene continue to compose tunes for SID and
56 get most amazing things out of it -- things that the designers of 56 get most amazing things out of it -- things that the designers of
57 the SID didn't even imagine. 57 the SID didn't even imagine to be possible.
58 58
59 59
60 The SID-chip is based on waveform modulation and synthesis and has 60 The SID-chip is based on waveform modulation and synthesis and has
61 only three separate sound channels, but there are tunes that use 61 only three separate sound channels, but there are tunes that use
62 special techniques to "multiplex" them to sound like four or even 62 special techniques to "multiplex" them to sound like four or even
67 to the capabilities of SID. 67 to the capabilities of SID.
68 68
69 What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's 69 What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's
70 volume control, composers were able to push the limits farther 70 volume control, composers were able to push the limits farther
71 ... Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of 71 ... Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of
72 the first to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like real instruments and 72 the first to feature digitized samples of real instruments. Later
73 speech. 73 on speech and more advanced sampling techniques were developed.
74 74
75 --- 75 ---
76 76
77 Q: What are "SID-tunes"? 77 Q: What are "SID-tunes"?
78 78
84 and other parts of C64 hardware to produce almost authentic re- 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 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 86 ripping the music routines and data from a program (game/demo) or
87 just composing the music with some editor. 87 just composing the music with some editor.
88 88
89 XMMS-SID is interface, a piece of "software glue", that pieces 89 XMMS-SID is interface and piece of "software glue", that knits
90 together several emulator libraries and XMMS, allowing it to 90 together several emulator libraries and XMMS, allowing it to
91 play SID-tunes. 91 play SID-tunes.
92 92
93 --- 93 ---
94 94
109 tune can be viewed with the "XMMS fileinfo" window (CTRL+3). 109 tune can be viewed with the "XMMS fileinfo" window (CTRL+3).
110 STIL information can contain comments from composers, notice 110 STIL information can contain comments from composers, notice
111 if the tune is a cover and historically interesting facts 111 if the tune is a cover and historically interesting facts
112 about games, etc... 112 about games, etc...
113 113
114
115 --- 114 ---
116 115
117 Q: Why the SID-tunes just loop on forever and XMMS does not 116 Q: Why the SID-tunes just loop on forever and XMMS does not
118 advance in playlist?! 117 advance in playlist?!
119 Q: Why there is no length shown for SID-tunes? 118 Q: Why there is no length shown for SID-tunes?
120 Q: Why are all tunes same length? 119 Q: Why are all tunes same length?
121 120
122 A: Above problems come from the fact that SID-tunes are not 121 A: Above problems come from the fact that SID-tunes are not
123 really files containing music comparable to MP3/Ogg/MOD/etc. 122 really files containing music comparable to MP3/Ogg/MOD/etc.
124 A SID-file/tune is actually a piece of program and data, 123 A SID-file/tune is actually a piece of program and data,
125 which are executed in emulated system to produce simulated 124 which are executed in emulated system to produce sound.
126 audio.
127 125
128 These programs (often called "drivers" or "players") come 126 These programs (often called "drivers" or "players") come
129 in various shapes and forms, there are usually not many 127 in various shapes and forms, there are usually not many
130 common factors. While not delving deeply into technology 128 common factors. While not delving deeply into technology
131 of Commodore 64 computer and it's brethen, there are 129 of Commodore 64 computer and it's brethen, there are
132 various ways how such "driver"/"player" can work. The 130 various ways how such "driver"/"player" can work. The
133 only access points are provided by some extra information 131 only access points are provided by some extra information
134 in PSID-file's header, including information how to 132 in SID-tune file's header, including information how to
135 execute the player inside the emulator, etc. 133 execute the player inside the emulator, etc.
136 134
137 This lengthy explanation is required to understand that 135 This lengthy explanation is required to understand that
138 there is simply no _direct_ way to know the duration of 136 there is simply no _direct_ way to know the duration of
139 any SID-tune! 137 any SID-tune!
140 138
141 There are, however, few _indirect_ ways: 139 There are, however, few _indirect_ ways:
142 140
143 - HVSC Song Length Database (SLDB): There exists a database 141 - HVSC Song Length Database (SLDB): There exists a database
144 of song-lengths for High Voltage SID Collection. XMMS-SID 142 of song-lengths for High Voltage SID Collection. XMMS-SID
145 supports this database, please refer to README for more 143 supports this database, please refer to README for more
146 information. 144 information.
147 145
148 - Maximum and Minimum playtime: These help, when SLDB does 146 - Maximum and Minimum playtime: These help, when SLDB does
149 not provide a duration for given song. Maximum playtime 147 not provide a duration for given song. Maximum playtime
150 should be self-explanatory. Minimum playtime may be 148 should be self-explanatory. Minimum playtime may be
151 preferred if the tune's length is very short and there 149 preferred if the tune's length is very short and there
152 are subtunes. Refer to XMMS-SID's configuration and README 150 are subtunes. Refer to XMMS-SID's configuration and
153 for more information. 151 README for more information.
154 152
155 --- 153 ---
156 154
157 Q: Why isn't the sub-song control window skinned? 155 Q: Why isn't the sub-song control window skinned?
158 156
204 202
205 --- 203 ---
206 204
207 Q: XMMS-SID plays some tunes too fast / there are severe playback bugs! 205 Q: XMMS-SID plays some tunes too fast / there are severe playback bugs!
208 206
209 A1: If you are using libSIDPlay2 emulator engine, SID-tunes in old format 207 A1: If you are using libSIDPlay2 emulator engine, SID-tunes in old
210 are not compatible with it anymore and may play too fast or with some 208 format (PSIDv1) are not compatible with it anymore and may play
211 other audible glitches. Get new rips of those tunes in PSIDv2NG or 209 too fast or with some other audible glitches. Get new rips of those
212 RSID format (for example from recent version of HVSC). 210 tunes in PSIDv2NG or RSID format, for example from recent version
211 of HVSC.
213 212
214 A2: Generally speaking this might be a bug in emulation-library or some 213 A2: Generally speaking this might be a bug in emulation-library or some
215 other component. Or it might be in XMMS-SID. Report and I'll see 214 other component. Or it might be in XMMS-SID. Report and I'll see
216 what can be done. 215 what can be done.
217 216
219 218
220 Q: Some tunes are so short that I don't have time to change sub-tune 219 Q: Some tunes are so short that I don't have time to change sub-tune
221 before XMMS moves on to next song in playlist! 220 before XMMS moves on to next song in playlist!
222 221
223 A: Enable "Minimum playtime" option in XMMS-SID configuration 222 A: Enable "Minimum playtime" option in XMMS-SID configuration
224 (Songlength -tab in configuration dialog) and you have more 223 (Songlength -tab in configuration dialog), which adds silence to
225 time to change the sub-tune. 224 end of short tunes and you have more time to change the sub-tune.
226 225
227 --- 226 ---
228 227