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comparison FAQ @ 19:72a51b360b66

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Updated some entries, removed obsolete ones
author Matti Hamalainen <ccr@tnsp.org>
date Wed, 04 Jun 2003 19:16:02 +0000
parents 50556bffe2ed
children 469efc05e01e
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18:1774e16ab893 19:72a51b360b66
5 - Where to get SID tunes? 5 - Where to get SID tunes?
6 - Why isn't the sub-song control window skinnable? 6 - Why isn't the sub-song control window skinnable?
7 - When using XMMS-SID with the OpenGL Spectrum Analyzer, 7 - When using XMMS-SID with the OpenGL Spectrum Analyzer,
8 - Can I make my own SIDs??? How?? 8 - Can I make my own SIDs??? How??
9 - XMMS-SID plays some tune badly! 9 - XMMS-SID plays some tune badly!
10 - Do I really need to use the song-position patch?
11 - How do I use the song-position patch?
12 10
13 11
14 >--- 12 >---
15 13
16 Q: So what IS the SID and/or what are SID-tunes? 14 Q: So what IS the SID and/or what are SID-tunes?
18 A: SID is abbreviation for the sound chip that was used in many 16 A: SID is abbreviation for the sound chip that was used in many
19 of the old 8-bit home computers manufactured by Commodore Inc. 17 of the old 8-bit home computers manufactured by Commodore Inc.
20 in 1980's. Best known of those was the Commodore 64 home computer 18 in 1980's. Best known of those was the Commodore 64 home computer
21 (aka C64 or CBM64, also known as VIC-64 in some countries). 19 (aka C64 or CBM64, also known as VIC-64 in some countries).
22 20
23 The Sound Interface Device (SID), designed by Bob Yannes, was 21 The Sound Interface Device (SID), based on waveform modulation
22 and synthesis, was designed by Bob Yannes and is considered
24 one of the most advanced sound chips at the time. 23 one of the most advanced sound chips at the time.
24
25 It's capabilities surpassed all of the other chips on the 8-bit 25 It's capabilities surpassed all of the other chips on the 8-bit
26 home computer market and even most of the ones used in arcade 26 home computer market and even most of the ones used in arcade
27 game systems. Thousands of games were produced for C=64 in 27 game systems. Thousands of games were produced for C=64 in
28 1980's and beginning of 1990's, many of them having excellent 28 1980's and beginning of 1990's, many of them having excellent
29 musical score. 29 musical score.
30 30
31 Best of those tunes are still regarded to be legendary, 31 Best of those tunes are still regarded as legendary - such as songs
32 such as songs by Martin Galway (for games Arkanoid, Green Beret, 32 by Martin Galway (for games Arkanoid, Green Beret, Yie Ar Kung Fu 1
33 Yie Ar Kung Fu 1 & 2, Parallax...), Rob Hubbard (Commando, Auf 33 and 2, Parallax...), Rob Hubbard (Commando, Auf Wiedersehen Monty,
34 Wiedersehen Monty, Monty on the Run, Warhawk, Sanxion, Delta...), 34 Monty on the Run, Warhawk, Sanxion, Delta...), Ben Daglish (Jack
35 Ben Daglish (Jack the Nipper 1&2, Way of the Tiger, Cobra, Avenger) 35 the Nipper 1&2, Way of the Tiger, Cobra, Avenger) and numerous
36 and numerous other famous composers. Some of them quit their 36 other famous composers. Some of them quit their composing quickly
37 composing quickly after the 8-bit period, but some are still 37 after the 8-bit period, but some are still working in the computer
38 working in the computer music business. (Including Maniacs of 38 music business. (Including Maniacs of Noise, Chris Huelsbeck,
39 Noise, Chris Huelsbeck, Richard Joseph and ex. MON member 39 Richard Joseph and Charles Deenen who worked with Fallout 1 & 2's
40 Charles Deenen who worked with Fallout 1 & 2's musical score) 40 musical score)
41 41
42 Today, years after the 'decline' of 8-bit computers, many composers 42 Today, years after the 'decline' of 8-bit computers, many composers
43 (mainly from C64 demoscene) continue to compose tunes for SID and 43 (mainly from C64 demoscene) continue to compose tunes for SID and
44 get most amazing things out of it -- things that the designers of 44 get most amazing things out of it -- things that the designers of
45 the SID would have never believed. 45 the SID didn't even imagine.
46 46
47 For example: SID has only three sound channels, but there are tunes 47 For example: SID has only three sound channels, but there are tunes
48 that use special techniques to "multiplex" them to sound like four 48 that use special techniques to "multiplex" them to sound like four
49 or even six channels. Also these three channels are "limited" to 49 or even six channels. Also these three channels are "limited" to
50 synthesized sounds, kind like the FM sounds produced by old Sound 50 synthesized sounds, kind like the FM sounds produced by old Sound
54 been proven that Chris Huelsbeck's Bad Cat was the first but was 54 been proven that Chris Huelsbeck's Bad Cat was the first but was
55 released later) to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like speech, etc. 55 released later) to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like speech, etc.
56 56
57 ... 57 ...
58 58
59 So this is the story in short. The "SID tunes" are usually understood 59 The "SID tunes" are usually understood to be the files that contain
60 to be the files that contain the C64 machine code and data that plays 60 the C64 machine code and data that plays the music. SID players (or
61 the music. SID players (or emulators) are programs that emulate the 61 emulators) are programs that emulate the SID chip capabilities and
62 SID chip capabilities and other parts of C64 hardware to produce 62 other parts of C64 hardware to produce almost authentic re-creation
63 almost authentic re-creation of the original music. SID-files (aka 63 of the original music. SID-files (aka SID tunes) can be created by
64 SID tunes) can be created by ripping the music routines and data from 64 ripping the music routines and data from some game or just composing
65 some game or just composing the music with some editor. 65 the music with some editor.
66 66
67 XMMS-SID is interface for one of those emulators, libSIDPlay by 67 XMMS-SID is interface for one of those emulators, libSIDPlay by
68 Michael Schwendt. 68 Michael Schwendt.
69 69
70 70
122 a composing program. There are many available, I know only 122 a composing program. There are many available, I know only
123 few of them: 123 few of them:
124 124
125 - JCH's editor 125 - JCH's editor
126 - Cybertracker (http://noname.c64.org/) 126 - Cybertracker (http://noname.c64.org/)
127 - GoatTracker (http://www.covertbitops.cjb.net/) 127 - GoatTracker (http://covertbitops.c64.org/)
128 128
129 Some of the mentioned tools can be found from Lemon's 129 Some of the mentioned tools can be found from Lemon's
130 collection which is an excellent place to look for info 130 collection which is an excellent place to look for info
131 on games and other Commodore-related software. 131 on games and other Commodore-related software.
132 The URL is: http://www.lemon64.com/ 132 The URL is: http://www.lemon64.com/
147 might be a bug in SIDPlay-library or some other component. 147 might be a bug in SIDPlay-library or some other component.
148 Or it might be in XMMS-SID. Report and I'll see what 148 Or it might be in XMMS-SID. Report and I'll see what
149 can be done. 149 can be done.
150 150
151 >--- 151 >---
152
153 Q: Do I really need to use the song-position patch?
154 I would like to have my XMMS as it is.
155
156 A: No, you don't need to use it or patch XMMS. There is
157 now an alternative available, although it only covers
158 XMMS-SID (no other plugins, like the patch).
159
160 This new sub-song control window is imitated from SIDAmp.
161
162 The new sub-song-selector is used automagically if
163 you have NOT patched the XMMS. If you have patched it,
164 then the patch will be used instead.
165
166 >---
167
168 Q: How do I use the song-position patch?
169
170 A: Apply the patch to XMMS, configure and (re)compile,
171 install. Configure and compile XMMS-SID, install.
172
173 XMMS-SID automagically detects a patched XMMS and uses the
174 extended features. (See also the previous questions)
175
176 Patching
177 ========
178 Short instructions of patching XMMS for the uninitiated ;-)
179 (Substitute the XMMS version 1.2.5 with the appropriate version)
180
181 1) Unpack the XMMS source distribution:
182
183 tar -xzvf xmms-1.2.5.tar.gz
184
185 2) cd xmms-1.2.5
186
187 3) Patch the XMMS (with the selected patch file)
188
189 patch -p1 < /some/where/xmms-songpos.patch
190
191 4) If the patch succeeded (no failures, no .rej files), you
192 can now compile and install the XMMS. (Read through XMMS
193 documentation how to do it if you don't know)
194
195 If some part of the patch does not succeed, you may need
196 to fix it by hand. Or you could just not use the patch :)
197
198
199 If you patched and recompiled XMMS _after_ you had already used
200 XMMS-SID, you need to re-compile XMMS-SID too to make it use the
201 patch features!
202
203 >---