FF7 in 32 bit?

[The Skillster]

haha, lol. thats a drastic measure  
hell what we need is to find out what might be causing the differences in the pat file dumps, it might be official patches, windows versions or something to do wid the soundcard drivers? mail me your COMPLETE configuration of the whole PC (os ram running programs etc) and then ill do like wise.

[Sir Canealot]

Well thats takeing it quite far. How about I post what I now know and since its about 10 pages long ask and I can post-hey wait a minute.... This is from 3dmark 2001. I can post Direct x diag as well if you want. How the hell are we gonna analayse this stuff?

System Info Version:   2.0
Operating System:      Microsoft Windows 98
Processor:      AMD Athlon(tm) @ 649MHz
Graphics Card:      NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS/GeForce2 Pro
Total Physical Memory:   192MB
Free Physical Memory:   60.68MB
Motherboard Manufacturer:   MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
Motherboard Model:      MS-6167 (AMD751)

CPU:Manufacturer:      AMD
Family:         Athlon(tm)
Internal Clock:      649MHz
Internal Clock Maximum:   800MHz
External Clock:      100MHz
Socket Designation:   SLOT A
Type:         unknown
Upgrade:         Slot 1
Capabilities:      MMX, CMov, RDTSC, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!
Version:         AMD-K7
CPUID:         0x00000612

(I think I will leave the stuff out about catches)

DirectX Version:      8.0
DirectDraw Version :   4.08.00.0400
DirectShow Version:   6.03.01.0400

.RAM file Parser
AC3 Parser Filter
ACELP.net Sipro Lab Audio Decoder
ACM Wrapper
ASF ACM Handler
ASF DIB Handler
ASF DJPEG Handler
ASF ICM Handler
ASF JPEG Handler
ASF URL Handler
ASF embedded stuff Handler
ASX file Parser
ASX v.2 file Parser
AVI Decompressor
AVI Draw
AVI Splitter
AVI/WAV File Source
ClearVideo® Decompression Filter
Color Space Converter
DV Muxer
DV Splitter
DV Video Decoder
Default DirectSound Device
Default MidiOut Device
DivX MPEG-4 DVD Video Decompressor
File Source (Async.)
File Source (Netshow URL)
File Source (URL)
File stream renderer
IVF source filter
Indeo(R) audio software
Indeo® audio software
Indeo® video 4.4 Decompression Filter
Indeo® video 5.06 Decompression Filter
Internal LMRT Renderer
Internal Script Command Renderer
Line 21 Decoder
Lyric Parser
MIDI Parser
MJPEG Decompressor
MPEG Audio Decoder
MPEG Layer-3 Decoder
MPEG Video Decoder
MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
MPEG-2 Splitter
MPEG-I Stream Splitter
Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Decompressor
Microsoft Screen Video Decompressor
Multi-file Parser
NSC file Parser
NetShow Theater Source Filter
Overlay Mixer2
PN Wrap filter
QI DVD Filter
QT Decompressor
QuickTime Movie Parser
SAMI (CC) Parser
TrueMotion 2.0 Decompressor
URL StreamRenderer
VGA 16 Color Ditherer
VIVO Audio Decoder Filter
VIVO Video Decoder Filter
Video Renderer
Voxware MetaSound Audio Decoder
Voxware MetaVoice Audio Decoder
WM ASF Reader
WM ASF Writer
WMP CD Filter
Wave Parser
Windows Media Audio Decoder
Windows Media Multiplexer
Windows Media Update Filter
Windows Media Video Decoder
Windows Media source filter
XML Playlist

Description:      Primary Display Driver
Manufacturer:      NVIDIA
Name:         NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS/GeForce2 Pro
Total Local Video Memory:   64MB
Total Local Texture Memory:   64MB
Total AGP Memory:      24MB
Display Driver:      nvdisp.drv
Display Driver Version:   4.12.01.0650
Max Texture Width :   2048
Max Texture Height:   2048
Max User Clipping Planes:   0
Max Active Hardware Lights:   8
Max Texture Blending Stages:   8
Textures In Single Pass:   2
Vertex Shader Version:   N/A
Pixel Shader Version:   N/A
Max Vertex Blend Matrices:   0
Max Texture Coordinates:   8
Device ID:      0x0150
Vendor ID:      0x10de
Sub-System ID:      0x700814af
Revision:         0x00a4

GP Texturing
Additive Texture Blending
Anisotropic Filtering
Bilinear Filtering
Cube Mapping
DXT Compressed Textures
Dot3 Texture Blending
Factor Alpha Blending
Guard Band Support
Hardware Transform and Lighting
Mipmap LOD Bias Adjustment
Multiplicative Texture Blending
Point Sampling
Positional Lights
Projected Textures
Range Fog
Rendering to a Window
Specular Gouraud Shading
Stencil Buffers
Subpixel Accurate Rasterizing
Subtractive Texture Blending
Table Fog
Texture Alpha Blending
Texture Clamping
Texture Mirroring
Texture Wrapping
Trilinear Filtering
Vertex Alpha Blending
Vertex Fog
W-Fog

Total Physical Memory:   192MB
Free Physical Memory:   60.68MB
Total Pagefile Memory:   1000MB
Free Pagefile Memory:   862.86MB

Manufacturer:      MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
Model:         MS-6167 (AMD751)
Version:         1.X
BIOS Vendor:      Award Software International, Inc.
BIOS Version:      6.0 PG
BIOS Release Date:   09/30/99
BIOS Charasteristics:   Plug and Play, Flash, AGP

I hope that lot means any thing to you. Shall I post a Direct x diag as well?

[The Skillster]

hey i was looking more OS details and sound card and multimedia details. after all it is a sound problem  

[The Skillster]

o and send us info from DXdiag especially sound card, direct sound, diret music, and midi infos!!!

[Sir Canealot]

Oh sorry. but I am at school now....

Is this what you were looking for?

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/3/2001, 16:11:05
       Machine name: OEMComputer
   Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 (4.10, Build 2222)  A
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Time Computer Systems
       System Model: Windows 98 SE
               BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: AMD-K7(tm) Processor,  MMX,  3DNow, ~649MHz
             Memory: 192MB RAM
          Page File: 142MB used, 857MB available
    DirectX Version: DirectX 8.0 (4.08.00.0400)
DX Setup Parameters: /PackageInstall
     DxDiag Version: 4.08.00.0400

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: The file nvdisp.drv is uncertified, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs.  You may be able to get a certified driver from the manufacturer of the hardware device.
        Sound Tab 1: The file EMU10K1.VXD is uncertified, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs.  You may be able to get a certified driver from the manufacturer of the hardware device.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: The registry information for the DirectPlay application 'No One Lives Forever Technology Demo' is missing or damaged.  You should reinstall that application.

------------------
DirectX Components
------------------
   ddraw.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 344064 bytes
 ddraw16.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 28496 bytes
 ddrawex.dll: 4.87.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 24336 bytes
   ddraw.vxd: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 30469 bytes
  ddhelp.exe: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 41984 bytes
   dxapi.sys: 4.87.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 2416 bytes
    d3d8.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 1062400 bytes
 d3dref8.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 236544 bytes
   d3dim.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 625936 bytes
d3dim700.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 872960 bytes
  d3dref.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 140800 bytes
 d3dramp.dll: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 590096 bytes
   d3drm.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 446464 bytes
  d3dxof.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 118784 bytes
d3dpmesh.dll: 4.06.02.0436 English Final Retail 4/23/1999 22:22:00 102400 bytes
  dplayx.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 245760 bytes
dpmodemx.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 36864 bytes
dpwsockx.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 77824 bytes
dplaysvr.exe: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 45056 bytes
  dpnsvr.exe: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 69632 bytes
   dpnet.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 237568 bytes
dpnlobby.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 98304 bytes
dpnwsock.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 118784 bytes
 dpnaddr.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 90112 bytes
dpnmodem.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 110592 bytes
 dpvoice.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 282624 bytes
dpvsetup.exe: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 122880 bytes
  dpvvox.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 184320 bytes
  dpvacm.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 90112 bytes
  dinput.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 176128 bytes
 dinput8.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 204800 bytes
  dinput.vxd: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 10874 bytes
   dimap.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 102400 bytes
diactfrm.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 307200 bytes
   vjoyd.vxd: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 33361 bytes
  joyhid.vxd: 4.88.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 13055 bytes
     joy.cpl: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 155648 bytes
   gcdef.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 249856 bytes
  gchand.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 6144 bytes
     pid.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 40960 bytes
gameenum.sys: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 9/9/1999 07:00:00 10512 bytes
 hidgame.sys: 4.07.00.0700 English Final Retail 11/27/1999 07:00:00 8880 bytes
  dsound.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 455680 bytes
dsound3d.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 1339392 bytes
  dsound.vxd: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 48171 bytes
  dswave.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 15360 bytes
   dsdmo.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 176128 bytes
dsdmoprp.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 66560 bytes
  dmusic.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 94208 bytes
dmusic16.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 11008 bytes
dmusic32.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 28672 bytes
  dmband.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 25600 bytes
dmcompos.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 59392 bytes
   dmime.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 168960 bytes
dmloader.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 30720 bytes
 dmstyle.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 110080 bytes
 dmsynth.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 130048 bytes
dmscript.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 78336 bytes
   dx7vb.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 600576 bytes
   dx8vb.dll: 4.08.00.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 1069056 bytes
amstream.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 63488 bytes
 devenum.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 52224 bytes
  dxmasf.dll: 6.04.07.1112 English Final Retail 12/14/1999 13:16:50 498448 bytes
  mciqtz.drv: 4.00.96.0729 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 09:21:54 11776 bytes
mciqtz32.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 33792 bytes
 mpg2splt.ax: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 141312 bytes
    qcap.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 167936 bytes
     qdv.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 229888 bytes
    qdvd.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 344064 bytes
  quartz.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 956416 bytes
  quartz.vxd: 4.00.00.0501 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 09:21:56 5672 bytes
 strmdll.dll: 4.01.00.3857 English Final Retail 12/14/1999 13:16:50 252736 bytes
  vidx16.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 8/17/1998 09:21:56 10240 bytes
 iac25_32.ax: 2.00.05.0052 English Final Retail 5/7/1998 10:56:06 199680 bytes
  ir41_32.ax: 4.41.16.0002 English Final Retail 2/25/1998 11:24:22 848384 bytes
 ir41_qc.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 1/23/1998 05:05:24 120320 bytes
ir41_qcx.dll: 0.00.00.0000 English Final Retail 1/23/1998 05:05:24 338432 bytes
 ir50_32.dll: 5.1538.15.0044 English Final Retail 4/22/1998 12:21:38 739328 bytes
 ir50_qc.dll: 5.00.63.0038 English Final Retail 1/23/1998 05:05:26 198144 bytes
ir50_qcx.dll: 5.00.64.0038 English Final Retail 1/23/1998 05:05:26 181760 bytes
   ivfsrc.ax: 5.04.02.0040 English Final Retail 2/23/1998 14:11:12 142848 bytes
mswebdvd.dll: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 245248 bytes
      ks.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 117056 bytes
  ksproxy.ax: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 116224 bytes
  ksuser.dll: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 4096 bytes
  stream.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 41920 bytes
mspclock.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 4800 bytes
 mskssrv.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 6368 bytes
  swenum.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 3456 bytes
   mstee.sys: 4.90.3000.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 4896 bytes
 mpg2splt.ax: 6.03.01.0400 English Final Retail 11/3/2000 14:35:22 141312 bytes

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS/GeForce2 Pro
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type:
         DAC type:
        Device ID: EnumPCIVEN_10DE&DEV_0150&SUBSYS_700814AF&REV_A4280800
   Display Memory: 63.5 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit)(100Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nvdisp.drv
   Driver Version: 4.12.01.0650 (English)
      DDI Version: 7
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 12/4/2000 08:39:00, 92224 bytes
 Driver Certified: No
  WHQL Date Stamp: None
              VDD: *vdd
         Mini VDD: nvmini.vxd
    Mini VDD Date: , 0 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4210-11CF-9575-095007C2C935}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0150
        SubSys ID: 0x700814AF
      Revision ID: 0x00A4
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result:
  D3D Test Result:
  AGP Test Result:

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
      Description: DirectSound (SB Live! Wave Out [E400])
        Device ID: PCIVEN_1102&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_80261102&REV_07BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_00
  Manufacturer ID: 2
       Product ID: 104
             Type: VXD
      Driver Name: EMU10K1.VXD
   Driver Version: 4.11.01.0711 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Certified: No
    Date and Size: 4/3/2000 01:07:00, 265293 bytes
      Other Files: emu10k1.vxd
  Driver Provider: Creative
   HW Accel Level: Full
         Registry: OK
Sound Test Result:

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
 DLS Path: C:WINDOWSsystem32driversgm.dls
  Version: 1.00.16.0002
    Ports:
           Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
           MIDI Mapper, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
           Creative S/W Synth, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
           A: SB Live! MIDI Synth, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
           B: SB Live! MIDI Synth, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
           SB Live! MIDI Out [E400], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, External
           YAMAHA SXG70 Driver, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, External
           SB Live! MIDI In [E400], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Input, No DLS, External
 Registry: OK
Music Test Result:

-------------
Input Devices
-------------
      Device Name: HID Game Controller: 2 axis 8 button gamepad
      Driver Name: joyhid.vxd
   Driver Version: 4.88.00.0400 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Date and Size: 11/3/2000 14:35:22, 13055 bytes

Poll w/ Interrupt: Yes
         Registry: OK

-------------
Input Drivers
-------------
  Registry Key: msjstick.drv<0002>
        Active: Yes
      DeviceID: VIRTUAL*CTL7010PCI&VEN_1102&DEV_7002&SUBSYS_00201102&REV_06&BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_01
Matching DevID: PCIVEN_109E&DEV_0878&SUBSYS_010114C7&REV_02
 16-bit Driver: msjstick.drv
 32-bit Driver: BtPciAud.vxd

 Registry Key: msjstick.drv<0005>
        Active: Yes
      DeviceID: VIRTUAL*CTL7010PCI&VEN_1102&DEV_7002&SUBSYS_00201102&REV_07&BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_01
Matching DevID:
 16-bit Driver: msjstick.drv
 32-bit Driver:

 Registry Key: msjstick.drv<0006>
        Active: Yes
      DeviceID: HIDVID_07B5&PID_9902000USB&VID_07B5&PID_9902&INST_0
Matching DevID: HID_DEVICE_SYSTEM_GAME
 16-bit Driver: msjstick.drv
 32-bit Driver: vjoyd.vxd

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.08.00.0400)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.08.00.0400)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.08.00.0400)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.08.00.0400)
Wireplay Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: wplaysp.dll (2.00.00.0001)
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnwsock.dll (4.08.00.0400)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnwsock.dll (4.08.00.0400)
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnmodem.dll (4.08.00.0400)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnmodem.dll (4.08.00.0400)
DirectPlay Test Result:

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------
No One Lives Forever Technology Demo (DX7) - Registry: Error, ExeFile:  ()

------------------------------------
Inactive Display Entries in Registry
------------------------------------
 None

----------------------------------
Inactive Sound Entries in Registry
----------------------------------
 Card name: Creative SB Live! Wave Device
    Driver: ctmm16.drv

[This message has been edited by Sir Canealot (edited April 03, 2001).]

[The Skillster]

hmm u have a faaaar superior spec, but the sound card and drivers r the same.... and so is the OS, and directX versions...

[Sir Canealot]

Well buggered if I know.
Perhaps the grxs card has something to do with it? Ficedula your the bloody genies fix it already!  

[ficedula]

I think this just shows the midi ID method I used isn't very good  

Like I said, I'll think of another way sometime. Working on other things (including Cosmo, ok!) at the moment.

[Sir Canealot]

*Looks at the hours put into getting the pat files*

Oh Bugger.

[The Skillster]

well since u cant look into it right now i suggest the rest of us discuss possible ways o solve it till fice gets round to it again  
hmm u know windows media files somtimes have URL links in them? at the end of playing internet explorer opens up. maybe we make the signitures ourselves? like make a bloated file ( to the exact file size) but at the start have the files name in ascii? like:
bat.mid$%$^£""$"$%$£%""%"%"%£", etc?
hmm maybe we need to hack ff7 further?
im outta ideas   anyone else got a good suggestion? Dag, Jari, terrence, Saint, Srethron, QHIMM?  

[ficedula]

Won't work. All the files already have their filename encoded in them as an ASCII value. The problem is that FF7 decodes them and sends only the midi messages through to WinMM. That's a crap way to do it - why not just let Windows do all the work? - but that's how it does it. Hence all the problems with identifying the midis.

[The Skillster]

if it decodes them straight out of the lgp file, why not have the lgp file filed with dummy midi files? each with their own sig' that is coded in midi format, or something?
by the way, i was thinking, does ff7 really need to be running to make the pat files? why not decode the midi out of the lgp the way ff7 does it, and use say ff7midi.exe to play it and make a menu where the midi plays and at the same time the user has to match the midi to the mp3, and then when the midi closes, the pat files are generated and then renamed automatically by the player? i dont think that sounded right   but u should get the general idea, that maybe its time to do similar decoding outside of the EXE.

[Sir Canealot]

I twould be cool to some how have the MP3s play though Windows Media Player. Reason? Heard the SRS Wow effects? it would be way cool to have them used playing FFVII Music.

[ficedula]

Skillster: Not many programs DO decode the midi's internally like FF7 so it'd be hard to generate correct 'signature' PAT files using anything but FF7.

I really think a totally different method is needed ...

[The Skillster]

hmm maybe a bruteforce (TM) tactic is needed? any suggestions? how about we strip the executable code outta ff7 and plce it in to a pat spewing exe or something   (joke)
seriously, this needs to be done logically and it looks like mp3 music is going back to the drawing board!

[ficedula]

Yeah, a completely new approach would be best. Obviously it'd have to be a WinMM layer since that's the only way to intercept midi messages, and the Winamp plugin method is a good one to use for playback since it lets people use whatever plugins work best on *their* PC. The only problem is still how to identify the damn midis! Argh.

I might have a look at the midis again now I've done a Cosmo bugfix. I can't help thinking there should be a really simple, elegant way of doing this ... probably just wishful thinking.

[The Skillster]

hmm maybe if we bullet ideas on the board? or if we do some kind of flow charts or something?

[Aaron]

Wow... my thread sure got complicated...  

[ficedula]

Yeah, well the first few posts were to do with 32-bit FF7...

I think I've got a way to ID the midis properly now. I'll post a test version of the app when I've got it working on my PC. Of course, I thought this about the original release ... but the new method is better anyway...

[The Skillster]

what is it? hows it work? whats it involve? and all the general stuff too please

[ficedula]

OK...

Basically, FF7 decodes the midi's itself then sends midi messages to Windows to pass on to the sound card. Messages along the lines of:

-Activate instrument flute
-Play note X of length Y
-Stop playing note
-Play note....... etc etc etc

The PAT method was just a log of these messages. However, if your PC ran slightly differently to someone elses the messages might arrive in a *slightly* different order. Not enough to make the music sound different, but the PAT files wouldn't match up.

The new method I'm trying (seems to work for me!) is to log only the instrument change messages, and to disregard the order. So it basically stores which instruments the midi uses on which channels. Since it's no longer reliant on the messages arriving in a particular order it should work on any PC...at least, that's the theory.

Ironically, it's easy to do because FF7 has already decoded the midi messages into nice blocks for me...

Update: Anyone who's already got the original FF7MUSIC patch can download an update from
 http://www.legacy-ovwp.org/~ficedula/download/ff7musicb.zip" TARGET=_blank>http://www.legacy-ovwp.org/~ficedula/download/ff7musicb.zip

Hopefully it works on everyone's PC ... please test it!

[This message has been edited by ficedula (edited April 05, 2001).]

[The Skillster]

will do, ill test it now...
hold on, its not there   u sure u uploaded it?

[ficedula]

Sorry, uploaded it to wrong folder. It's up now.

[Sir Canealot]

Yo! Skillster send my a copy of your battle.pat when you have got it! and where are you playing from? Shall I start the game again or shall I countenu playing from the desert prision? Personnaly I would like to start again and get the pat files myself(Since you will most likely be slower than me. I have easter hilidays now. 2 weeks of school   )

So what up?

Edit:
I dont get it. I never had one of them .dll file in my folder in the first place. My FFVII Dosent play the mp3s and make midi dumps.
So how do I set this up?

[This message has been edited by Sir Canealot (edited April 05, 2001).]

[The Skillster]

hmm looks complicated but then so was the first one!
there are no more pat files now, all u need is ID numbers!
bin all those pat files and start again, hopefully we can compare id numbers to check, and keep the midi set to GM. i cant check till tomorow cos im in windows 2000  
but this way looks very weird, but still as long as it works  
ill post my id numbers tommorow, untill then someone figure out how to use this? i mean ficedula? u r cery bad at writing user freindly readmes   lol
just kiddin ill have this sorted by tommorow.