diff FAQ @ 199:6117c326cc3e

Updated documentation
author Matti Hamalainen <ccr@tnsp.org>
date Wed, 18 Aug 2004 15:23:05 +0000
parents af7c0e0ce11a
children 6a82506329ae
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line diff
--- a/FAQ	Wed Aug 18 09:01:05 2004 +0000
+++ b/FAQ	Wed Aug 18 15:23:05 2004 +0000
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@
    for more information:
 
    -> Press <ctrl+p>
-   -> Audio I/O Plugins -tab
-   -> Select XMMS-SID, press "Configure"
-   -> Misc -tab, Sub-song control
+   -> Select "Audio I/O Plugins"-tab
+   -> Choose "XMMS-SID x.y.z [libxmmssid.so]" from the list
+   -> Click "Configure"
+   -> Select "Misc"-tab, Sub-song control
 
    There is also a selector in song-information window of XMMS
    (Press <ctrl+3>)
@@ -65,21 +66,25 @@
    another, special analog filter (low-, high- and band-pass) add
    to the capabilities of SID.
 
-   What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's volume
-   control, composers were able to push the limits farther ...
-   Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of the
-   first to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like real instruments and speech.
+   What is even more amazing, using a certain 'bug' in SID chip's
+   volume control, composers were able to push the limits farther
+   ... Martin Galway's very famous piece on Arkanoid game was one of
+   the first to feature DIGITIZED SAMPLES like real instruments and
+   speech.
 
 ---
 
 Q: What are "SID-tunes"?
 
 A: The "SID-tunes" are files that contain C64 machine code and data
-   that plays the music. SID-tune players are programs that emulate
-   the SID chip capabilities and other parts of C64 hardware to
-   produce almost authentic re-creation of the original music.
-   SID-tunes can be created by ripping the music routines and data
-   from some game or just composing the music with some editor.
+   that plays the music. These files usually have names ending in
+   .sid, .psid, .dat or .inf.
+
+   SID-tune players are programs that emulate the SID's capabilities
+   and other parts of C64 hardware to produce almost authentic re-
+   creation of the original music. SID-tune files can be created by
+   ripping the music routines and data from a program (game/demo) or
+   just composing the music with some editor.
 
    XMMS-SID is interface, a piece of "software glue", that pieces
    together several emulator libraries and XMMS, allowing it to
@@ -90,13 +95,13 @@
 Q: Where to get SID-tunes?
 
 A: There are many collections of SID-tunes on the Internet, but
-   probably the best one and best known one is the High Voltage
+   probably the best and best known one is the High Voltage
    SID Collection aka HVSC.
 
    It is available at: http://hvsc.c64.org/
 
    HVSC contains the tunes ripped from all legendary C64 games,
-   loaders, etc. And more. There are over 20,660 tunes in the
+   loaders, etc. And more. There are over 20,000 tunes in the
    HVSC version 5.3 and more are coming. HVSC also contains the
    STIL database (SID Tune Information List) that contains lots
    of information about many of the tunes included in HVSC.
@@ -109,6 +114,46 @@
 
 ---
 
+Q: Why the SID-tunes just loop on forever and XMMS does not
+   advance in playlist?!
+Q: Why there is no length shown for SID-tunes?
+Q: Why are all tunes same length?
+
+A: Above problems come from the fact that SID-tunes are not
+   really files containing music comparable to MP3/Ogg/MOD/etc.
+   A SID-file/tune is actually a piece of program and data,
+   which are executed in emulated system to produce simulated
+   audio.
+
+   These programs (often called "drivers" or "players") come
+   in various shapes and forms, there are usually not many
+   common factors. While not delving deeply into technology
+   of Commodore 64 computer and it's brethen, there are
+   various ways how such "driver"/"player" can work. The
+   only access points are provided by some extra information
+   in PSID-file's header, including information how to
+   execute the player inside the emulator, etc.
+
+   This lengthy explanation is required to understand that
+   there is simply no _direct_ way to know the duration of
+   any SID-tune!
+
+   There are, however, few _indirect_ ways:
+
+   - HVSC Song Length Database (SLDB): There exists a database
+     of  song-lengths for High Voltage SID Collection. XMMS-SID
+     supports this database, please refer to README for more
+     information.
+
+   - Maximum and Minimum playtime: These help, when SLDB does
+     not provide a duration for given song. Maximum playtime
+     should be self-explanatory. Minimum playtime may be
+     preferred if the tune's length is very short and there
+     are subtunes. Refer to XMMS-SID's configuration and README
+     for more information.
+
+---
+
 Q: Why isn't the sub-song control window skinned?
 
 A: Because the XMMS's code for skins is not exported to