Author Topic: Audio problem with Magic Engine (Read 347 times)

sunteam_paul · « **on:** April 08, 2006, 03:26:20 AM »

My Magic Engine v0.99 (yes I know it's the old version) has suddenly stopped playing CD audio. I've had a quick look through the settings, removed the cfg and ini files but it still doesnt work. It's worked for ever until recently, nothing has changed (like audio drivers), but looking at the log file I see this:

read sector 3598...3599 (2)
read sector 3630...3648 (19)
read sector 3694...3753 (60)
read sector 3662...3673 (12)
play audio 246029...257393
pause audio... OK

Anyone have an idea? Have I just pushed a wrong button somewhere?

The latest Magic Engine works fine. (And please don't say 'well use that instead'

)

FM-77 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2006, 03:53:37 AM »

Try editing the INI/CFG file(s). Edit the volume settings and the drive letter settings (D:, E:, etc.)

Are you using real CDs or disc images? If you're using Daemon Tools and disc images, check and see if DT's "Analogue Audio option" is on.

Magic Engine 0.99? Why?

sunteam_paul · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2006, 04:06:33 AM »

Real CDs. Drive settings and volumes in the ini are fine.

FM-77 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2006, 06:18:37 AM »

Maybe you've acidentally muted the CD-drive. Will it play actual audio CDs in something like iTunes, for example?

esteban · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2006, 08:10:43 AM »

EDIT: Concerning the "pause audio" statement... I'd definitely ask this question over at MagicEngine (the forums are back up!). Kaminari or someone else who's savvy with the .ini file might provide the fastest answer.

That said, it's good to do what Seldane suggested, if only to eliminate possible causes...

-------------- original post ----------------
Following up on Seldane's suggestion: Definitely test a regular audio cd. You're on a PC sunteam_, right? Go into the "sound mixer menu" (double-click on the picture of the speaker in lower-right base menu bar). You can see all the volumes for individual devices, in addition to the master volume and "mute" settings ...

I haven't been on a PC for a few weeks, but I'm sure I'm recalling things properly...

Are you getting PSG sounds (i.e. sound effects?) in any games? Try Neo Nectaris (if you have it) and go to the "Input Password" screen: A PSG tune plays here, unlike the rest of the game's Red Book. Well, actually, the "Game Over" sequence also has a PSG tune, but that's not easilly accessed for trouble shooting.

Black Tiger · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:36:59 AM »

Quote

Concerning the "pause audio" statement... I'd definitely ask this question over at MagicEngine (the forums are back up!). Kaminari or someone else who's savvy with the .ini file might provide the fastest answer.

Except that up till the last time I visited, you'd get flamed for such a "noob" question and get 10 resonses all saying "Search the forums! Thats what the search feature if for!!!" or "We've been over this a thousands times!!!".

motdelbuort · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2006, 12:39:22 PM »

Have you tried a system restore?

esteban · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2006, 12:57:08 PM »

Quote from: "Black_Tiger"

Quote
Concerning the "pause audio" statement... I'd definitely ask this question over at MagicEngine (the forums are back up!). Kaminari or someone else who's savvy with the .ini file might provide the fastest answer.

Except that up till the last time I visited, you'd get flamed for such a "noob" question and get 10 resonses all saying "Search the forums! Thats what the search feature if for!!!" or "We've been over this a thousands times!!!".

Hahahahhahahaaha.

Well, that's because most folks haved improperly ripped / burned ISO images (which makes troubleshooting *that* much harder) -- unlike, sunteam_paul, who is using actual PCE discs. I think he'll get a much warmer response due to this

.

Keranu · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2006, 05:59:12 PM »

Whatever you do, keep your Dracula X technical problems FAR away from the Magic Engine boards!

NightWolve · « **Reply #9 on:** April 08, 2006, 07:30:09 PM »

Why don't you upgrade to PR10 ?? I can't think of why it's doing this, but I also can't think of why you shouldn't upgrade, unless you're having other problems with PR10.

Quote from: "stevek666"

Well, that's because most folks haved improperly ripped / burned ISO images (which makes troubleshooting *that* much harder) -- unlike, sunteam_paul, who is using actual PCE discs. I think he'll get a much warmer response due to this .

We just tell 'em now to first run my TocFixer program if they haven't already, then come back if they still can't get it to work. They're coming in asking for help with a DraculaX ISO/MP3 archive they've downloaded which needs to be manipulated after the MP3s are converted back to waves. The TOC is destroyed and the game code is sensitive to that since it hardcodes the sector offsets of where every audio track begins. That's why ISO/MP3 archives are unstable, unless they're being processed in conjunction with the TOC data Squaresoft provides on his site or if you use my program, you essentially repair all the wave and iso files, restoring them to their original sizes.

Anyway, point is there should be less frustration now with all that. All that's left now is giving shit to wiseguys that pretend they own legitimate Magic Engine keys, when they don't, and are actually brazen enough to come onto David's forum asking for technical support.

"Yeah, I'm using your shit alright with a pirated license key, but I deserve tech support anyhow! All emulators should be free, so neener neener neener!!!"

sunteam_paul · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2006, 08:30:51 PM »

Chip sound works fine.
Samples streamed off the CD work fine.
Audio CDs work fine.
The only thing that doesn't work is Magic Engine v0.99
I removed the .ini and .cfg files but still no difference.
It's just odd that it suddenly stopped working for no apparent reason.
(Yes I do use the latest ME as well, just the older one runs better on another machine I have)

I guess I could just reinstall but that means it's beaten me.

Kaminari · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2006, 03:12:35 AM »

A few things come to mind...

ME 0.99 needs Analog Playback; so either your CD properties are set to Digital Playback, or your CD-ROM Audio Cable is unplugged. Also make sure that cd_audio_input_line is left empty. Finally, don't use drive and drive_letter simultaneously. The former is for Win9x, the latter for NT/2k/XP systems.

esteban · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2006, 07:24:44 PM »

Quote from: "NightWolve"

Anyway, point is there should be less frustration now with all that. All that's left now is giving shit to wiseguys that pretend they own legitimate Magic Engine keys, when they don't, and are actually brazen enough to come onto David's forum asking for technical support. "Yeah, I'm using your shit alright with a pirated license key, but I deserve tech support anyhow! All emulators should be free, so neener neener neener!!!"

. Definitely

.