A VERY special preview, just for all you guys (^_^)

[sunteam_paul]

I've just set up a feedburner account for a forthcoming regular podcast I'm doing. It's called PC Engine City and covers CD and chip music.

I wanted to post the link here first so I can make sure everything is working OK with the RSS feed before I slap it on my website and other forums.

The first episode is done and the address is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/PCEngineCity

Please go take a look, a listen and give me some (kind) feedback  

If you can subscribe (if you have a reader) rather than just download the mp3 straight then that would be appreciated.

I've submitted it to itunes as well but that may take a little while before it's active there.

[esteban]

This is exactly what I've been hoping for: HuCard and CD music, plus some intro / background narrative to put things in context.

I'm only 20 minutes into the episode, so here's some preliminary feedback:

* love the music format. HuCard tunes get overlooked in general, so this is sure to raise awareness... plus, it's nice to have variety in the sound and I like CD <-> HuCard <-> CD transitions.

* your voice is nice and clear. your presentation is spot-on: you set up each track in a timely fashion, but you don't rush it. Your commentary is interesting, mixing game info with your personal feelings. Overall: Excellent.

I'm up to Dynastic Hero track in program...

My suggestions:

1. This reveals my HuCard bias:  Allow HuCard tunes to play a bit longer before fading out. I know, I know, the songs are shorter and repeat, but I'd like to hear them a bit more. Alternatively, stick in an extra HuCard tune (or two).

That's it!

The show is ending now

By the way, I love SLAY radio. I've been listening to it for the past few months I never seem to get sick of the playlists. A few tunes annoy me (the backstreet boys parody).... still,  whenever I work on the computer I listen to that or "Nectarine demoscene radio" (another great station).

p.s. i used quicktime to listen to ypur show in a browser... i've yet to get hip to podcasts...

[sunteam_paul]

Thanks for the feedback  

Usually with HuCard tunes I let them play twice over before stopping them. That's just how I always record them for myself so that's what I'm used to. Shorter tunes I may play three times in future then but I want to be careful that they don't get repetitive.

I'll try to put more chip music in future shows, although they are harder to record off and not as readily available if the game has no sound test.

[Keranu]

I love it so far! I agree with Steve's comments but I don't care what you do as long as it stays like this! However listening to this brings me to a question; have you ever thought about making a TV series like PC Engine FX or Retrocore ? I love these two online TV shows that deal with classic games (especially whenever PCE is involved), but they are pretty limited (Retrocore doesn't specialize on PCE games, but just classic games in general, more towards the Sega side). I actually wouldn't mind making one myself, but I don't have the equipment to do so. Keep up the great work for PC Engine City and you can count on me for being a common listener!

[Keranu]

Just listened through the whole thing now and I must thank you for playing the "See You Again" track from the PCE version of Ys! It's one of my all-time favorite Ys songs and VGM tracks in general! Also I really liked the humerous bits that were in there every now and then like the yell sound effect when describing how hard Ninja Gaiden is, the "I'll Be Back" voice from Soldier Blade, and the funny voice at the end for your site. Superbly made, Paul!

[esteban]

Thanks for the feedback  

Usually with HuCard tunes I let them play twice over before stopping them. That's just how I always record them for myself so that's what I'm used to. Shorter tunes I may play three times in future then but I want to be careful that they don't get repetitive.

I'll try to put more chip music in future shows, although they are harder to record off and not as readily available if the game has no sound test.

I know about the trouble with recording HuCards... in fact, I'd love for you to share any tips you have (types of software, sound card, do you clean up the sound, etc.).

Here's an old post I made concerning this:
http://pcenginefx.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=629

Also, if I didn't make it clear enough in my earlier post:
I LOVED YOUR SHOW!

[MotherGunner]

Awesome!  I would like to hear the song from the third stage/level in Dragon's Curse.  Now that song is awesome too.

[sunteam_paul]

I know about the trouble with recording HuCards... in fact, I'd love for you to share any tips you have (types of software, sound card, do you clean up the sound, etc.).

Here's an old post I made concerning this:
http://pcenginefx.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=629

Also, if I didn't make it clear enough in my earlier post:
I LOVED YOUR SHOW!

Yeah the chip sound has been a thorn in my side for some time now.

Recording from a 'proper' PC Engine is no good to me as it gives too much hiss and buzz and is just too much of a pain in the butt. Besides, the emulated sound on Magic Engine is 99-100% perfect on most games (not all) and I'm not so much of a purist that to demand the real thing is essential.

I have tried running Macic Engine and a sound capture utility at the same time on the same PC (P4 2Ghz) but I have found the emulation slows down very slightly now and again during the recording. Most people probably wouldn't notice, but it bugs the hell out of me.

So the current solution I have is this.
2 x PCs + 1 very long audio cable running from headphone jack to line-in = Magicsofts Sound Capture (free util that captures in mp3 format).

I recorded quite a few tracks before I found that it wasn't recording in Stereo properly (thanks to Bloody Wolf for highlighting this - lots of stereo in that game) but managed to suss it out by plugging it into a different hole.

Now all I have to do is set the capture off, run into another room and set the game off, then wait until I think it's finished before stopping it (no playthrough so I can't hear anything). Seems to be working so far.

Oh and I'm adding an extra chip tune in show 2 now, thanks to your feedback

[esteban]

I know about the trouble with recording HuCards... in fact, I'd love for you to share any tips you have (types of software, sound card, do you clean up the sound, etc.).

Here's an old post I made concerning this:
http://pcenginefx.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=629

Also, if I didn't make it clear enough in my earlier post:
I LOVED YOUR SHOW!

Yeah the chip sound has been a thorn in my side for some time now.

Recording from a 'proper' PC Engine is no good to me as it gives too much hiss and buzz and is just too much of a pain in the butt. Besides, the emulated sound on Magic Engine is 99-100% perfect on most games (not all) and I'm not so much of a purist that to demand the real thing is essential.

I have tried running Macic Engine and a sound capture utility at the same time on the same PC (P4 2Ghz) but I have found the emulation slows down very slightly now and again during the recording. Most people probably wouldn't notice, but it bugs the hell out of me.

So the current solution I have is this.
2 x PCs + 1 very long audio cable running from headphone jack to line-in = Magicsofts Sound Capture (free util that captures in mp3 format).

I recorded quite a few tracks before I found that it wasn't recording in Stereo properly (thanks to Bloody Wolf for highlighting this - lots of stereo in that game) but managed to suss it out by plugging it into a different hole.

Now all I have to do is set the capture off, run into another room and set the game off, then wait until I think it's finished before stopping it (no playthrough so I can't hear anything). Seems to be working so far.

Oh and I'm adding an extra chip tune in show 2 now, thanks to your feedback

DUDE! Thank you so much for this info! It never occurred to me to use two computers (ME + sound capture on the same PC was producing really lackluster results... granted, I have an ancient PC)! As my old post indicated, I had been recording the analog signal from a real PCE and while I was happy, it wasn't as clean as I hoped it would be. It worked for audio cassettes in my car, but it would sound like AM radio when I made an mp3.

I'll have to take your word that ME's emulated sound is so accurate, because I'm the type of person that will opt for noisy analog recordings from a real system instead of cleaner emulated sound.

BUT NO MORE. I'm going to try your method and I think I'll be quite happy.

Do you have nice sound cards in your PC's? I have absolute junk, so that may be another obstacle I'm facing.

I recorded quite a few tracks before I found that it wasn't recording in Stereo properly (thanks to Bloody Wolf for highlighting this - lots of stereo in that game) but managed to suss it out by plugging it into a different hole.

Could you elaborate on this, please ? You're referring to the audio in / audio out on your two PC's correct? My guess is that you might have initially plugged *computer 1 audio out*  to  *computer 2 microphone in*?

Thanks in advance!

[sunteam_paul]

I've run ME on ageing PCs with crappy soundcards and it seems to sound OK to me so I doubt you'll have a problem there. Make sure you use the newest verson of MC though as it clears up a few existing issues.

Yeah, I think it must have been the microphone in I plugged it into. It's hard enough to get back behind my PC so it's nigh on impossible to see what the plugs are without guessing.

[Michael Helgeson]

Really good quality!!!!
Now I have Pc Engine music on my Athlon 64 super gaming comp without the need to fire up Magic Engine!!!!! You guys are just making it easier and easier to not play the stuff anymore after I sold it all on ebay.

[Keranu]

Hey, Paul did you read this part of my post?:

...However listening to this brings me to a question; have you ever thought about making a TV series like PC Engine FX or Retrocore ? I love these two online TV shows that deal with classic games (especially whenever PCE is involved), but they are pretty limited (Retrocore doesn't specialize on PCE games, but just classic games in general, more towards the Sega side). I actually wouldn't mind making one myself, but I don't have the equipment to do so.

I'm just curious if you have ever considered doing this   .

[sunteam_paul]

Hey, Paul did you read this part of my post?:

...However listening to this brings me to a question; have you ever thought about making a TV series like PC Engine FX or Retrocore ? I love these two online TV shows that deal with classic games (especially whenever PCE is involved), but they are pretty limited (Retrocore doesn't specialize on PCE games, but just classic games in general, more towards the Sega side). I actually wouldn't mind making one myself, but I don't have the equipment to do so.

I'm just curious if you have ever considered doing this   .

I've not seen either and not really thought about anything like that. Maybe if I win the lottery and find myself with a lot of spare time then I'll think about it

[Keranu]

Hehe, well check both of them out sometime; they're excellent. And then after you watch them, think about it . I know it's early, but is there any chance of having any info for around when the next PC Engine City episode will be released?  

[sunteam_paul]

Hehe, well check both of them out sometime; they're excellent. And then after you watch them, think about it . I know it's early, but is there any chance of having any info for around when the next PC Engine City episode will be released?  

Well once this one is 'officially' out then probably every 3-4 weeks. I could easily finish off about 3 more episodes within a week but I have to step the release times or else I'll burn myself out and it'll be all over. After all, I have a gaming addiction to feed too.