Yandros on 30/12/2004 at 16:11
Quote Posted by SlyFoxx
I just tried the conversion. The original music files were ~11.3MB at PCM 16 bit mono (one stereo) At IMA ADPCM 22,050k 4bit mono they weigh in at ~3.9MB. A huge savings. However they just don't sound good enough IMO. For this "mission" I think the extra fidelity is warranted. I didn' try IMA ADPCM 44.1k 4bit mono (which usually sounds much better) since the source files had a rate of either 11,025k or 22,050k to begin with.
I just did this while getting v2.2a ready for release, and I agree. The sound quality is noticeably worse... there's a lot of distortion and more background noise (which to be expected when mashing them down to 4bit). For voice files, it would probably be Ok, but not for music (although if I went back to the original songs and remade the loops, I might be able to keep them at ADPCM 44k/4bit and have it sound decent enough, but I'm not going through the pain of making the loops again... but I'll keep it in mind for future missions).
ZylonBane on 30/12/2004 at 16:22
Are you listening to the compressed WAV files directly, or in-game? Something about the way Thief plays sound files seems to smooth over the (very slight) noise introduced by ADPCM.
Just FYI, ADPCM does not convert audio to 4-bit samples. It compresses a 16-bit sample into 4 bits by storing the difference between samples. It's a somewhat lossy process but most people can't tell the difference.
In any case, that isn't a CD player sitting next to that Christmas tree. A little noise in the music (which most people won't even notice) just adds to the authenticity!
Another possiblity, if you simply can't stomach the near-imperceptible ADPCM artifacts, is going with 16-bit 11Khz PCM. It's perfectly clear, but you lose some of the high end.
PS-- Make sure to edit out the notches in the turntable texture. Those are only in the records themselves!
Yandros on 30/12/2004 at 18:09
Most of the WAVs in the mission are already 16bit/11khz. And the difference isn't near-imperceptible to me. :p
Lucky Hand of Glory on 2/1/2005 at 22:10
OH MY GOD!
This is an absolutely SWEET mission!!!
:thumb: :thumb: :joke: :thumb:
EXCELLENT!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR THIS, Yandros!!!
:D
Gloria Creep on 3/1/2005 at 04:08
YEP !!!
One of the best Christmas gifts this year! :thumb:
Gloria Creep :angel:
Yandros on 3/1/2005 at 12:10
Thanks! Jason just posted v2.2a which includes German support, courtesy of flying_hope. (Sorry I forgot to mention him in the new readme, I'll correct that soon!)
Oneiroscope on 3/1/2005 at 18:26
Just wanted to pop in and say how much I liked this mission. Even got me a bit misty, what with all the sweet music and lovely scenery. :o Thanks, Yandros!
shadow theif on 7/1/2005 at 03:00
Yandros, your mission was the best way to start christmas
sc on 24/12/2006 at 15:03
Yandros, just wanted to tell you how much my kids and I have enjoyed playing this FM at Christmastime the last couple of years. Great fun.
Cheers!!
Yandros on 24/12/2006 at 16:20
Thank you! I need to play through it sometime today myself.
Merry Christmas everyone!
