Questions tagged [digital-audio]
For questions about digital audio hardware and software
9
questions
15
votes
3answers
1k views
How did musicians acquire samples for tracker music (MOD, S3M, XM and the like)?
Many songs in the so called "tracker" format quite popular in the early 90s (think .MOD, .S3M, .XM, .IT and the like) seemingly used sound samples from real synthesizers. This sometimes ...
7
votes
4answers
387 views
ES688 AudioDrive 4-bit proprietary codec: Any way to decode?
I have files, which I recorded back in 90s with ESS ES688 AudioDrive card, 4-bit voice optimized codec. Nowadays I do not possess the card any more and proprietary codec is no longer supported or I ...
3
votes
2answers
383 views
ZX Spectrum: What is the “T” state value, with reference to sound?
I have that awesome book - Zx Spectrum ROM Disassembled (correct the title if I got it wrong), where the author wrote about the audio code in the ROM and referring to "T" state, "... T200... T5000, ...
3
votes
1answer
182 views
How to write directly to the Commodore 64 (or similar) DAC [duplicate]
I read some related information in a SAM question but I want to know exactly how to write amplitudes directly to the DAC, sample by sample, like in a bytebeat formula. I understand it is possible on ...
25
votes
4answers
3k views
Why does MP3 audio decoding overwhelm retro CPU's?
Many retrocomputers from the late 80s and early 90s had audio DAC hardware support. This includes the Amiga, Classic Macintosh, and PC's with SoundBlaster add-on cards. Despite the fact that the MP3 ...
39
votes
5answers
6k views
Why do programmable sound generators like SID include a noise generator?
In layman's terms, please explain the reason that all the popular PSG's used in 1980s computers and game consoles provided an additional channel to generate programmable "noise". How was this "noise" ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it possible to use a TI-99/4A cassette cable with Digital Audio devices?
I would like to save and load BASIC programs with my TI-99/4A. The TI-99/4A can be connected to a cassette recorder for this purpose. Buying a cassette recorder and cassette tapes seems unnecessary ...
24
votes
3answers
1k views
How was polyphony achieved on systems with only one audio channel?
Systems like the ZX Spectrum have simple audio hardware with just one channel. But apparently it was possible to do polyphony on these systems. How was that achieved?
The amazing thing with these ...
22
votes
3answers
3k views
How was digital sound playback achieved on the Commodore 64?
The Commodore 64 did not have any hardware dedicated to digital audio playback, so how were some games and songs able to achieve this on an unmodified and unextended Commodore 64? Did these ...
