VOGONS


Reply 641 of 929, by MJay99

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FreddyV wrote on 2020-12-08, 19:27:

Memory error on this module ?

Seems to be:
First system:

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Second system:

photo_2020-12-08_20-47-25.jpg
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Reply 642 of 929, by FreddyV

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I send you a version displaying more things during the SB Detection, can you test it and take a photo of what is displayed ?
I checked b19 v b24 SB Code, they are really close.

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Reply 643 of 929, by FreddyV

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Oh I have not seen the detection problem was fixed.
I will need to add again the automatic .CFG reset if not in the same version...

With the Beta 24, it should display the ESS Version ( I intended to add 16Bit support on ESS, but put the idea for later...)

Reply 644 of 929, by FreddyV

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Hi,

Some Bug Fix and improvements:

09/12/2020 Beta 25
- GUS is now working, but Interwave does not work yet.
- Corrected a Sound Blaster 16 Problem.
- Improved the Notes frequencies for mixed outputs.
- Improved the Speed precision for all the mixed output (With a really small performance reduction)

The .S3M Bug was the compressed pattern size > Not compressed size.

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Reply 645 of 929, by MJay99

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Perfect! It fixed loading that file and Gravis works again also, thanks!

Oh, and I did send the SB-testing version to my colleague yesterday also, to report back with the startup screen - even though it's working by now. That was mostly for curiosity's sake 😀)

Reply 647 of 929, by MobyGamer

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I very much look forward to your explanation, in your own words.

Also, a description of how you deal with high mixing demand (ie. what happens as farther buffers get exhausted: Raising the volume threshold of a channel to be heard, stopping mixing into the current buffer if it needs to be played next, etc.) would also be good, as I don't think I've seen a player that has ever done that.

Reply 648 of 929, by FreddyV

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Multiple articles will be needed then 😀

I think no player did it because it was not really needed, If we wanted to play better a module, we only had to purchase a faster machine, and the computers evolution was fast at that time.

The technique to decrease the "output" quality will be more simple to explain now, I changed it to simplify the Tandy DAC Code and allow to change the number of pre calculated buffer with a variable.
Before It had a counter telling the nb of buffer Not mixed vs the target, now It count the number of buffer mixed in advance.
So, Mod Master now pre calculate 6 or more buffers (It was 5 before the Tandy DAC code)

This technique allow to absorb performance Peaks, like all the channels playing a looped sample at the same time.
Also, lot of 8 channels or more module use the maximum number of channels for some short period, this help a lot in this case.

It is the case for a module I recorded on the Tandy DAC (For a future video), it is a 16 Channels module, playing more often at less than 8
This technique with the max mixed channels number technique allow to play it quite well ( I don't remember the rate)
Anyway, more than 8 Channels modules are not good in 8Bit, the more we add channels, the more the sound quality decrease.

Reply 649 of 929, by MobyGamer

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Is the number of buffers tunable? (for lower latency, and I think you know where I'm going with this)

I agree that there are rapidly diminishing returns when your channels exceed the number of bits in your PCM output.

Reply 650 of 929, by FreddyV

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MobyGamer wrote on 2020-12-12, 04:58:

Is the number of buffers tunable? (for lower latency, and I think you know where I'm going with this)

I agree that there are rapidly diminishing returns when your channels exceed the number of bits in your PCM output.

Yes, it is a variable now, but there is a minimum we can't go below or we need to remove the code reducing the minimal volume if too slow...

Reply 651 of 929, by matze79

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I still have b18 on one Machine and found out if i switch the CPU to 486SX25 it will play in slow motion on covox,
if i add back the 5x86 CPU its fine haha 😀
Sounds really special!

i really should Upgrade it !

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 653 of 929, by MJay99

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While you're at it:

I've just been listening to one more of my favorites from Necros: Starchips (a very fun chiptune remake of PM's Starshine):
https://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view … eid&query=69994

Playing it in MODM (compared to e.g. OCP or IT), I can hear a hanging note (e.g. end of pattern 12) and it seems to be lacking some accoustic 'finesse', which I cannot really put my finger on (maybe the vibrato or volume slide being somehow different....?)

Reply 654 of 929, by FreddyV

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Hi,

I checked and it is difficult to say.

for the hanging note, it is the same sample played on 3 different channels, with the same note and the volumes are correct on Mod Master.
If a sample played on 3 channels, the volume is added. I don't understand why ST3, impulse tracker and CP play it at a lower volume, I don't have access to the channels volume value.

Reply 656 of 929, by FreddyV

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Hi,
Happy new year to all.

Check out my last Youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwOF1NRfZRo

I also added an interesting feature to Mod Master (Simple to code) It can start DOSMID to play Midi.

Reply 657 of 929, by alsgeeklab

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Hi,

I downloaded the latest version of MODM. I use it with my XT which has a 286 daughtercard, so the performance is somewhere similar to a 6MHz AT. It has a UMB so some drivers are loaded high (in non allocated areas of RAM).

MODM runs OK, however on some of the more complicated MODs, the machine is definitely having a lot of performance issues: music becomes corrupt/choppy. The screen doesn't refresh much either, nor does the keyboard take input until it is free.

You have an 8088 @ 4.77 in your below video which seems to perform heaps better. What could I be doing wrong?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcP1QnfCVvw&pbjreload=101

Cheers,
Alistair

Al's Geeek Lab - The YouTube channel for retro reviews, tech topics, informative infosec and other geeky goodness!
https://www.youtube.com/alsgeeklab
Social Media: https://linktr.ee/alsgeeklab

Reply 659 of 929, by FreddyV

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Hi,

It is normal, you linked the Atari PC2 with Gravis UltraSound 😀
The Soundcard is doing the mixing so it can go up to 32 channels without problem.

What is the music, output device and mixing frequency ?

you can press Right/Left key to configure a mix frequency for each music