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Multimedia
for Coherent 4.2.10
The
following packages were ported :
libmad-0.15.1b
libidt3
lame-3.96.1
, including lame mp3 encoder
mp3x(with
lame) mp3 and wav frame analyser using gtk gui
sox-12.18.2,
converter with mp3 support
madplay-0.15.2b
decoder, or mp3 player
mp3blaster-3.2
(with mp3->wav converter)
nmixer
splay
( wav player)
libogg-1.1.3
( ogg format in sox does not work correctly yet)
libvorbis-1.1.x
SoundStudio
(GUI using tcl/tk), including mixer interface
New
audio driver supporting OSS (Open Sound System) framework
implemented, includes also some code from old 8 bit mono driver
written by Harry Pulley.
Cards
tested and supported
SB16
,ISA, DSP 4.13
SB
AWE64 CT4520, ISA, DSP 4.16, PNP
SB
AWE64 GOLD 4390 , ISA, DSP 4.16, PNP
At
the moment , because of memory restrictions in Coherent kernel
space, driver for every new card will have to be written as a
separate driver.Three above mentioned cards are supported by one
driver(card type is autodetected).The driver should also work
with SB1 card(8 bit mono).
Features
supported by new driver
16
bit DMA, tested on DMA channel 7(of 300 MHZ PC)
stereo
mixer
3DSE(stereo
enhancement) switch on/off OK( no software available with
positional audio to test, if it is at all possible),it requires
speakers configuration to work, effects are different for
speakers and headphones. Optional ASP(CSP) processor with extra
3D capabilities(QSOUND,but only in some SB16 and AWE32).
no
OPL FM(YAMAHA) synth support yet
midi
not supported yet
no
AWE synth support yet
driver
is interrupt driven(it really works, in my case PNP BIOS assigns
IRQ 9 line), but it can used also in polled mode(of course
timing is worse in this case and quality suffers a little bit,
delay must be carefully tuned).IRQ line is autodetected by
driver.
Because
at the moment PNP is not supported, PNP OS must be switched off
in BIOS.
Status
sox,
lame,mp3x, splay, madplay, nmixer, studio commands work fine
.Madplay requires more CPU power than my 300 MHZ system, it
means it slowdowns playing mp3 music.
Player
splay plays almost perfectly 22050/44100 HZ ,16 bit ,
stereo music in wav format(of course I mean Gold version with
its gold RadioCorporationOfAmerica connectors, 90 dB).I have
tested it with super Phillips headphones (200 $, gold
connectors,32 Ohm,102 dB,5-40KHZ) and newest but rather cheap
Tesco Technica computer speakers with active subwoofer(2.1).Wav
files must be created(ripped from audio CD) using for example
SoundJuice (tested with Ubuntu 7.x version), SoundJuice must be
specially configured to create such files.
TODO:
One could await improvement in sound quality using SP/DIF(20
bit(?) , 120 dB) pinhead of Gold and external amplifier with
digital/optical input(external DAC ,for example we have tested
affordable and fantastic TC-7510 Beresford)
or speakers with S/PDIF input. In AWE32 S/PDIF output is
connected directly to EMU8000 port,it means one can play by
writing to EMU memory, for example AWEWavePlayer does it. As far
as I know AWEWavePlayer was tested also with AWE64 and
AWE64Gold(?). According to AWE64 GOLD original manual the output
from SPDIF contains output from EMU8000 wavetable chip mixed
with digital voice playback if the playback is 16 bit stereo
44100HZ .And that in order to listen to WaveSynth/WG through
SPDIF one must enable it in software. I would like to know what
does it exactly mean.It rather confirms , that AWEWavePlayer is
the only way to do the thing.The next step would be to port
AWEWavePlayer to Coherent.It would enable if succesful to play
wav or mp3 files through S/PDIF output.
2.5.2009
upgrade : AweWavePlayer
ported , but not usable yet,
because sb driver at the moment does not contain sequencer
control code .I will try to add it step by step.
Awe
support is slowly added to the sb driver.At the moment driver
does not detect EMU, although we are using standard tricks
published .It is quite possible , that it does have someting to
do with the fact that Awe Gold is PNP card and should be
properly initialized.Anyway we have ported isapnp tools
including isapnp and pnpdump.Pnpdump used with -D option
properly detects all hardware, including IO EMU addresses etc.At
the moment we cannot say if isapnp correctly initializes the AWE
Gold card. The problem is , that Coherent does not support
loadable drivers and pnp hardware should be initialized before
the driver is loaded or pnp support must be implemented in the
driver itself.
8.6.2009 : cdplayer 2.x tested with brand new (but
manufactured few years ago)Pioneer 706DRS 36x SCSI CD internal drive
and 2+1 computer loudspeakers connected to Awe Gold output;
perfect CD quality achieved, nmixer helps during setting the
card.We have used binary alfa upgrade of the hai driver with
added support for SCSI CD, available in so called cd-kit
package.Luckily this driver has no problems with Seagate SCSI
12/24 GB streamer.BTW cdv/cdview/cdcat etc work also fine
reading perfectly and very fast newest ISO images on CD.
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