IT2AGI sound converter script - some fixes

[Sinus]

New feature in the making: "magic noise" instrument. Mark a specific instrument so that the script automatically generates "play noise, borrowing frequency from channel 3" notes on channel 4. And then go all glissando on channel 3! Many notes, big memory footprint, but WIND!

[Sinus]

I find myself deeply disappointed that the "borrow frequency" mode isn't precise at all. It generates buzz at something like 10.5-note octaves, or rather an octave that doesn't double the frequency. Perhaps it's a DOSBox emulation issue, I'll have to dig into its sources... :/

[Sinus]

Sooo, with some frequency trickery, it IS possible to hijack the "periodic" buzz noise and make it work as a bass line.

Bass buzz in AGI!

How's that "sounds AGI is not supposed to ever make" category doing?

This sounds consistently in DOSBox and ScummVM, but does it work on the original PCJr/Tandy SN76489 chip? Who knows.

[bokkers]

Sounds epic! How would I go about in MIDI or IT to get that effect?

[Sinus]

In the next version, the script will recognize a [BUZZ] tag in an instrument's name, and will generate appropriate notes on the noise channel magically. Of course you won't be able to use drums at that tick.

[Sinus]

Well, for what it's worth, a new version is out. Add a separate instrument in IT (my usual choice is the Synth Lead - Square from the MIDI Library), give it a name containing [BUZZ], and play some bass notes on the 3rd channel. Let me know if it works, or maybe sounds horrible if your DOSBox/ScummVM happens to sound differently than mine!

[Sinus]

More features incoming!
- Global volume (initial setting and effect) - perfect for fade-ins and outs
- Channel volume effect
- Volume slide effect

Also, here's a teaser. Direct IT-to-AGI export, no trickery. The NeverEnding Story in Sierra AGI glory! (Only the beginning so far, but yes, solos are coming.)

(Hey, TNES came out in 1984, if Sierra had the rights, they could've made a TNES adventure! Any takers..? )

[Collector]

You should do an AGI NeverEnding Story trailer or teaser using that soundtrack.

[Kawa]

Those not in the know wouldn't believe it's the AGI engine producing those sounds.

[Sinus]

So here's a hot take. Tandy/PCjr use the same chip that the SMS console has. Consoles have a lively music scene. The VGM format stores bytes for the chip ready-to-play. What the hell stopped AGI musicians from using that as a resource..? 🤔 I'm either missing something, or rediscovering the wheel here...

[lskovlun]

Portability.

[Sinus]

Portability.

Expand? 🤔

Let me rephrase. It seems that whatever is possible on the chip on consoles, should (well, minus crazy hacks) be possible in AGI. But so far I've seen not a single mention of that approach anywhere, so I wondered why. Why are AGI users happy to hear a single note of bass, while it's commonplace on consoles..?

[Kawa]

Possibly, because it takes a plain ol' 8086 with just under 5 MHz too much effort to process it all while also running the actual game?

And that goes for all games that support the 3-Voice. In fact, even with the single-voice PC speaker, there's a reason the screen freezes up when some games push sampled audio.

[Sinus]

It doesn't take much to send a few bytes to a sound chip, that can't take much CPU power...

[Kawa]

You can only send so many bytes per second. More if that's all you do.

Which is also why 8088 MPH's credits have a much nicer-sounding background song than the main demo.