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1993-02-15
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Convert to SAM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 2.00 (02/15/93)
Jim Dahl
---------------------------------------
0. THIS VERSION
---------------------------------------
1.1 HISTORY. This is the third version (versions 1.00 and 1.10 supported only
RAW data, requiring a VOC conversion utility to be utilized). With VOC
support added, the program has been renamed from RAW2SAM to CVT2SAM to
demonstrate its multi-format input capabilities. Future plans include
expanded VOC support (repeat blocks) and WAV support (I have yet been unable
to obtain the necessary documentation, or WAV support would have been
included in this version). Updates will be posted on City Lites BBS (sec 5).
1.2 WHY USE CVT2SAM? CVT2SAM is provided to you, by me, as a free utility.
I encourage you to use it and copy it. CVT2SAM, however, is not 'junkware'
(a cheap utility whipped up overnight then sent to the mass markets and left
unsupported), rather it constantly evolves and includes many hours work and
thousands of lines of code. Each section of code has been rewritten, from
scratch, two or three times to optimize the speed and increase modularity of
the code. I have heard many comments that the speed of CVT2SAM is amazingly
fast compared to other utilities of the type (though most utilities just strip
the VOC header and treat the rest as raw data, rather than processing the
individual blocks in blocked VOC's).
---------------------------------------
1. PURPOSE
---------------------------------------
CVT2SAM.EXE converts raw sound files and VOC files to .SAM files
suitable for use in ModEdit. Most types of VOC files and all raw
sound types work with CVT2SAM. If the CTV format is not recognized,
the type will be assumed to be a raw sample, so unknown formats, such as
Microsoft's WAV format, will not be converted correctly.
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2. USAGE
---------------------------------------
After typing 'CVT2SAM' on the command line, the program will prompt for
an input file name and an output file name. The output file name will
default to the first eight characters of the input file name with a '.SAM'
extension.
Instead of using the interactive mode, the user can also type:
CVT2SAM [InFile] [OutFile] [-?] [-C]
If both an input file and an output file are specified, the program will
execute the conversion. If only an input file is specified, the program
will prompt for an output file, with a default value of the first eight
characters of the input file name with a '.SAM' extension.
It is recommended that the '.SAM' extension be used, as ModEdit will only
recognize those samples which have an '.SAM' extension.
CVT2SAM assumes that the OutFile should be overwritten if it already exists
and therefore does not prompt or warn the user.
The '-?' option brings up a short help screen. The '-C' option instructs
the CTV converter to convert even compressed data (see note in section 4.3).
--------------------------------------*
3. FUNCTION
--------------------------------------*
3.1 WHAT DOES CVT2SAM DO? CVT2SAM converts the sound data from the input
file from unsigned to signed sound data. (Most popular sound types,
including VOC files, use unsigned data; SAM files use signed data). CVT2SAM
also recognizes CTV block types headers and performs the appropriate action
to convert the blocks to raw sound data when possible.
3.2 HOW EFFICIENT IS CVT2SAM? CVT2SAM was written in assembly, then PKLITE'd
so it is very compact and time efficient. (This version was initially
ready for release over a month before the actual date of release, but I
pushed back the date to completely rewrite the VOC conversion routines).
--------------------------------------*
4. USAGE TIPS - RAW and VOC FILES
--------------------------------------*
4.1 VOC SAMPLING RATES. A rate of 8000hz corresponds to C2 in ModEdit,
the default instrument pitch. However, with ModEdit 3, you can adjust the
rate of each sample at playback or loading time, therefore all VOC speeds
and sampling rates can be used.
4.2 VOC BLOCK TYPES. This version of CVT2SAM recognizes VOC file structure
and all current block types. Silence blocks are expanded; new data and
consecutive data blocks are converted, marker blocks are discarded, message
blocks are displayed on the screen, and repeat blocks are ignored at this
time.
4.3 VOC COMPRESSION. As the hardware compression feature of the Sound
Blaster actually discards data from the VOC, compressed VOC files are not
supported. If you do not have or can not obtain a decompressed copy of the
VOC file, use the -C switch to tell CVT2SAM to convert compressed data as
well (though bear in mind that the actual decompression of it is done by the
hardware at playback time only if the sound is in VOC format, so by
converting a 2:1 compressed VOC sampled at 8000hz, you would be left with a
much poorer quality 4000hz SAM file. That is why hardware compression is
NOT supported by default, and not recommended).
4.4 NEW VOC TYPES. Stereo VOC blocks can not be used, as the SAM format
does not support stereo and there is no comfortable way to convert a
stereo sample to a mono sample. As I gain information of other new block
types, I will address them and include them if appropriate.
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5. SUPPORT
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** In testing VOC files (over 500 passed successfully through), I encountered
only one error (and have now misplaced the VOC file). I am, however,
completely unable to duplicate the error, so I suspect it was a faulty VOC.
If, however, you should have any strange behavior or problems, PLEASE contact
me and send me the VOC file! The particular error was that during processing
the screen filled with extended ASCII characters then the system locked up.
I can be contacted at:
Internet
JADAHL@VM1.NoDak.Edu
City Lites BBS
(701) 775-1143 (2400- baud)
(701) 772-5399 (9600+ baud)
Jim Dahl
Home
Jim Dahl
2236 Springbrook Ct.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Feel free to contact me with any questions/comments (particularly error
reports!) If for some reason you want the source code, no problem, just
get in touch.