High quality Audio? MakeCD plays better than AHI!

[FuZion]

Or maybe it's just me...

I recently downloaded the MakeCD demo & after a little messing & testing found that *.aiff files created from CDs sounded MUCH sharper when using the "Play" feature on MakeCD than when I use Amplifier.

So, I thought I'd have a listen to one of my MP3s files too... Shock horror! There it was again! Even the low end frequencies sounded better.

Note: I have a Blizzard 1260/50 & no sound card, Paula is working her socks off here.

Can anyone tell me, is this just some damn fine programming on the MakeCD programmers part or can I get AHI to output at this quality too?

One of the reasons I ask is because I have just tried AmiNetRadio & wouldn't mind if I could get this as sharp while I'm at it rather than using MakeCD as my audio player of choice :-D Mental!

Cheers, FuZion.

[HotRod]

Hi!

You could try Prayer2 (aminet) as a player for
your MP3's. It sounds much better as well.

[KennyR]

AHI's quality isn't great on paula. It's really meant for sound cards, and the paula driver was just for compatibility (since <5% of Amiga users actually had a sound card when AHI was released).

A hint to increase sound quality on AmiNetRadio: use a Stereo++ mode, and whatever you do, avoid the direct DMA mode. It sucks. Also try to get a decent sample rate, over 28kHz if you can.

And did you know that you don't actually have to use AHI in AMPlifier? Use directaudio if it bothers you!

[Alkemyst]

by FuZion on 2003/4/6 13:50:25

Or maybe it's just me...

I recently downloaded the MakeCD demo & after a little messing & testing found that *.aiff files created from CDs sounded MUCH sharper when using the "Play" feature on MakeCD than when I use Amplifier.

So, I thought I'd have a listen to one of my MP3s files too... Shock horror! There it was again! Even the low end frequencies sounded better.

Note: I have a Blizzard 1260/50 & no sound card, Paula is working her socks off here.

Can anyone tell me, is this just some damn fine programming on the MakeCD programmers part or can I get AHI to output at this quality too?

One of the reasons I ask is because I have just tried AmiNetRadio & wouldn't mind if I could get this as sharp while I'm at it rather than using MakeCD as my audio player of choice Mental!

AHI is just fine.

Some progs that use it will only read from what you set in AHI prefs it self & if the setting in AHI perfs are low then that prog will sound bad.

Aother progs can set their own AHI output. thus bypass the AHIprefs settings.

Amplifer uses the AHI Prefs

I have Music unit & unit 0 set to Paula;HiFI 14bit stereo++ calibrated  Frequency 48,000Hz

So that any prog going strate for the AHI prefs will use the best sound that paula can push.

You also got to take into acount what AGA video chip is running at even with gfx cards

Need to force amiga video into 31Khz or higher to get CD 41,100Hz .

+ with Aos3.9 add in envnarc:paulaaudio/HIRFREQS
put 1 in the HIRFREQS file.

[FuZion]

Hi Alkemyst,

At the moment the highest frequency I can get on my AHI prefs is 27,429 Hz

How can I get higher frequencies?

(I hope this isn't a "rtfm" moment ;-) Hehe!

Cheers.

[Karlos]

Hi FuZion,

Well, for a start, you need either a graphics card or run your native graphics in a scan-doubled mode like DblPal or DblNTSC.
These modes double the DMA bandwidth available to paula (AFAIR), thereby doubling the top frequency that's available for playback.

[FuZion]

HI Karlos,

I really should let you guys know what I've got to save unnecessary posts shouldn't I :-D

I have an A1200 with a B1260/50, Mediator with a Voodoo 3 3000, 48mb... ... Er anything else that might be relevant. . . . . Oh yeah, I'm going to watch the Simpsons in a bit ;-)

Oh, & I've tried that thing Alkemyst suggested in the paulaaudio draw. No change :-(

[Alkemyst]

by FuZion on 2003/4/6 18:45:11

HI Karlos,

I really should let you guys know what I've got to save unnecessary posts shouldn't I

I have an A1200 with a B1260/50, Mediator with a Voodoo 3 3000, 48mb... ... Er anything else that might be relevant. . . . . Oh yeah, I'm going to watch the Simpsons in a bit

Oh, & I've tried that thing Alkemyst suggested in the paulaaudio draw. No change

Its gets easy now i know your setup.

i assume your useing P96

goto aminet & download a prog called PVS.

IN the Envirorment setting  Keep Amiga Video 31Khz.

save reboot.

[FuZion]

All nice & clear & stuff & thingz...

MakeCD is now a CD burner again :-)

Cheers Alkemyst