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Dish
Posts: 323/596 |
Originally posted by Xkeeper
Pros of GBS->GSF conversion
1. Some sound enhanchments, like interpolation or whatever
This is a false pro -- it has nothing to do with GSF conversions. It has to do with the lack of [quality] GBS players. A GBS player could have just as good or better quality sound as a GSF player -- the format with which hold the music data doesn't dictate it one way or the other. |
RT-55J
Posts: 24/240 |
I'd rather see someone make a GBSE format or something. My 500Mhz Celeron absolutey SUCKS when playing back GSFs. At best it's *second of music* *stops of a second* *sec of music*. You get the idea. |
Ran-chan
Posts: 8775/12781 |
Sorry for the late reply. I had totally forgotten about this thread and my internet access has benn pretty...eh, limited. 
I |
HyperLamer
Posts: 3985/8210 |
Originally posted by Ailure
I would prefer saying that a clear statement would be a press release some sort, like "We don't care about the music."  .
When was the last time you saw someone get busted for distributing SPCs?
Also, there's a simple solution if your computer lags playing GSF/USF/COW/whatever, called the DiskWriter plugin. Even if the music lags for several seconds, it'll pause to keep it synchronized. I just converted a bunch of USFs (MP3 players don't play them  ) with BitTorrent running, lagged like hell but came out perfect. (And no more random Winamp crashing!) |
Colin
Posts: 7624/11302 |
I'd have to think that's the next step - it's one thing to convert existing files, but if you can go from there it should be *relatively* simple to start ripping new stuff. |
Xkeeper
Posts: -2234/-863 |
The problem is, the GBS format is still going nowhere. All they're doing is converting them to another format.
It's like MID -> MP3.
Now if they were to actually do something, like make new files off of games that weren't previously ripped, I would change my mind somewhat -- but as it stands, I"m not going to sacrifice speed for a minor enhanchment.
Oh, and so you know, a new GBS player was released a while ago. It doesn't play some GBSes (like the Zelda: Oracle games) but it sounds somewhat better. |
Prier
Posts: 5682/8392 |
Yea and no one's doing anything for the GBS format as it is. It's been dead since 2002. Now if someone were to actually DO something about it, then yea, I'd probably be with you.
But sometimes the only solution for new shit is the best one. Beggars really can't be choosers in cases like this. |
Xkeeper
Posts: -2236/-863 |
I suppose I should add that Disch brings up some good points as well -- all I have to wonder is, why not make a sort of GBS-E format if you want titles, timing, or whatever, or go code another GBS player with the features you want, like interpolation?
Pros of GBS->GSF conversion
1. Some sound enhanchments, like interpolation or whatever
2. Track names, timings, and other such things
3. Individual files for each track
Cons
1. Much higher CPU load (GBS's play wonderfully on the old 250MHz/32MB RAM laptop during normal usage, but a GSF will play one second of music every ten seconds - comparably, the 2.X GHZ computer in the living room plays GBS's with roughly 1-2% CPU load; GSF's use about 16%)
2. Higher file size
3. Requirement to convert a simple format to a much more complex one
4. Requirement to fix the bugs that will inevitably appear with the music player / files
Not to mention that this is doing nothing in the way of ripping GB/C music -- it's just converting it to another format. Ripping GBS files is still as unknown and (likely) difficult as before. |
dormento
Posts: 86/99 |
GSFs are a nice solution, but not the best. Plus that Winamp GSF plugin is pretty taxing to old computers (personal experience).
I like to think that SPC files are completely legal, they're memory dumps from the spc chip, but NSFs have the game sound engine full implementation along with all the "hard data" used to play the tunes. So, to me, SPCs are "more legal" than NSFs.
BTW i listen NSFs a lot more. |
Ailure
Posts: 8946/11162 |
I would prefer saying that a clear statement would be a press release some sort, like "We don't care about the music." .
I think most of the Nintendo lawyers dosen't know even, or care. Probabably becuse they mainly got instructed to hunt after ROM images and not music. |
Colin
Posts: 7611/11302 |
By "quite clear" I think he means that Nintendo's taken no action against distributors of those formats, nor have they referenced them in any of their official documents/FAQ's. I think they know about them, but either they don't want to pursue it or they honestly don't have any problems with the format.
Or there's something screwy with the law. :\ One of those. |
Ailure
Posts: 8933/11162 |
Originally posted by HyperHacker
Nintendo's made it quite clear that they don't care.
When? Where? I yet have to see a offical statement on it. 
I doubt the composers would mind, and I must say that I do listen on alot of music myself. I'm not going against it but... heh.
I doubt it matters which format it is, it can be MP3 too... I doubt the game makers does mind music spreading as you said. Unless there is some sound track they have to release. :/ |
Colin
Posts: 7605/11302 |
It's pretty much like MIDI files. I think NSF's/SPC's/etc. are a real grey area, but Nintendo would be more concerned about emulating the games rather than the music. I wouldn't be surprised if the composers of the tracks really didn't give a crap. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 3934/8210 |
People have been distributing SPCs and NSFs for years. Nintendo's made it quite clear that they don't care. Why should they, after all? It's not like with ROMs where people sell/distribute them. All people do with sound rips is play them on their computers. |
Ailure
Posts: 8922/11162 |
Originally posted by Colin
*notices a certain emulator on the ripping page* ...That's not legal.
And yet, none complains about the legality with thoose rips.
Hey, they are copyrighted after all... but it's not like the Nintendo lawyers cares or even know that is illegal. |
Prier
Posts: 5672/8392 |
Well some of the stuff is horrible at the moment.
Try looking at Castle Lololo in the conversion from Kirby's Dream Land. Sounds like utter -shit-. The player is fucked with it. |
Dish
Posts: 304/596 |
Originally posted by Yomiko
At least THIS WAY people are getting something for now.
Yeah. I'll agree that's it's a solution. I just think it's the wrong solution. ;P
But as long as it's working out for people, I guess it's a good thing. It's not like it will destroy existing GBS soundtracks, so there's no real loss to people that don't like to use the converted GSFs |
Prier
Posts: 5670/8392 |
I'm only finding it good because there's certain soundtracks on here and that there's actual DEVELOPMENT after three years.
Now if someone were to do that for GBS instead, that'd be one thing...have something like GBSE or something like NSF went to NSFE...but the thing is I don't see that happening and I asked people here about it a while ago if anyone was doing dev and I pretty much get a sea full of dumbfounded faces.
At least THIS WAY people are getting something for now. |
Dish
Posts: 303/596 |
I'm with XKeeper. This seems profoundly silly to me. It makes about as much sense as GBS->NSF conversions (ie: no sense at all -- more of a novelty than anything practical).
All the work that goes into a project like this... for what. the ability to give individual tracks titles? On the flip side, you lose player compatibility (true there aren't many GBS players... but there's a grand total of one GSF player) and eat a good chunk more system resources for something that would play just as well on a simpler player; it's like using a bulldozer to push a pebble down the road.
It's like the people in charge weren't satisfied with GBS players (which is understandable). But instead of doing the obvious, simple, practical, and much more useful thing (make a better GBS player) -- they do the backasswards and overly complicated job of converting files to some other format.
I don't see how this will make it any easier to rip GBS files either. I mean it's still just as hard to rip them, but now there's the added task of converting them to a far more complex format.
edit: but meh. I guess I'm sounding like a downer. Obviously you guys (and others) find this to be a good thing so maybe I shouldn't be so negative. =) It just really does seem very strange to me. |
Colin
Posts: 7582/11302 |
Why not go ahead and send it?  If anything they'd just mark it as needing tagging unless you could find a track list somewhere.
*notices a certain emulator on the ripping page* ...That's not legal. |
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