CompuServe Thread

Forum unknown · Audiophile

#AMIGA-MUSIC

5 messages in this thread
#36335From: Chris GriggOct 15, 1986 3:19 AM
The problem with using the volume control for extended sample ranges is that you lose the volume control, which is _almost_ all the Amiga gives you to make sounds change over time…hate to harp, but DYNAMIC sounds are, in general, more important than high-resolution sounds for most home-computer-type stuff. IMHO.
#36364From: Richard RaeOct 15, 1986 5:27 PM
Chris, No, no, no… The reason for the 6 volume control bits is to make up for the deficiency of only having eight bits. If we can emulate a 14 bit DAC, we get improved S/N ratio and EVERY BIT AS MUCH DYNAMIC RANGE AS YOU GET WITH THE VOLUME CONTROL METHOD. Besides, I'm getting really tired of ratty sounding attack/release slopes caused by that six bit volume control… with an effective 14 bit resolution we can make MUCH better sounds. Sorry to jump on you like this, but if you can pick nits, so can I. 8) Nybbles (er, Nits), Rick
#36779From: Chris GriggOct 20, 1986 2:29 AM
Clarification (to my earlier comments): When you go 8 bits + 6 bits, you lose INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLABLE volume. This is incontrovertable. Any volume changes then need to be COMPUTED as part of the word-stream being fed (either directly or via DMA) to the audio DAC's. Which means increased per-sample overhead (like an extra multiply per channel per sample), ne-c'est pas? So you can't A) share wavetables if they're going to be played at different volumes, and B) change timbre and volume independently in AS SIMPLE a way; that's all I was saying. You were right to pick this nit! Fondly, –Chris The Nit Wit Nit Picker
#36779From: Chris GriggOct 20, 1986 2:29 AM
Clarification (to my earlier comments): When you go 8 bits + 6 bits, you lose INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLABLE volume. This is incontrovertable. Any volume changes then need to be COMPUTED as part of the word-stream being fed (either directly or via DMA) to the audio DAC's. Which means increased per-sample overhead (like an extra multiply per channel per sample), ne-c'est pas? So you can't A) share wavetables if they're going to be played at different volumes, and B) change timbre and volume independently in AS SIMPLE a way; that's all I was saying. You were right to pick this nit! Fondly, –Chris The Nit Wit Nit Picker
#36364From: Richard RaeOct 15, 1986 5:27 PM
Chris, No, no, no… The reason for the 6 volume control bits is to make up for the deficiency of only having eight bits. If we can emulate a 14 bit DAC, we get improved S/N ratio and EVERY BIT AS MUCH DYNAMIC RANGE AS YOU GET WITH THE VOLUME CONTROL METHOD. Besides, I'm getting really tired of ratty sounding attack/release slopes caused by that six bit volume control… with an effective 14 bit resolution we can make MUCH better sounds. Sorry to jump on you like this, but if you can pick nits, so can I. 8) Nybbles (er, Nits), Rick