Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!tybalt.caltech.edu!toddpw
From: toddpw@tybalt.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Sound Formats
Message-ID: <1990Jul18.230532.5165@laguna.ccsf.caltech.edu>
Date: 18 Jul 90 23:05:32 GMT
References: <1990Jul18.210231.29673@utstat.uucp>
Sender: news@laguna.ccsf.caltech.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Lines: 37

philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough) writes:

>There is a sound format called AIFF by AE, when using the Audio Animator. This
>same name is used by SoundSmith, Music Studio, etc...Also Hyperstudio will
>import, via the Sound application, AIFF files saved by the AA( although it
>does not support the AA directly). Now SoundSmith, MS, etc...do not seem to
>recognize the AA's AIFF. Is there such a thing as AIFF? If so, is there a
>program to convert all the confusing sound formats?

Whoa. Don't confuse yourself. I am aware of FIVE sampled sound formats used by
GS-specific programs:

1. Raw binary. This is the most common format for non-musical sounds, i.e.
	sysbeeps and sound files ported over from the Mac. Often the auxiliary
	type contains the default playback speed.

2. ACE compressed sound files. I don't know much else about these because I
	haven't done any work with them.

3. ASIF Musical instruments. These are used by SoundSmith and other music
	programs.

4. AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) sounds. A much more generic way to
	store sounds. I have successfully ported many Mac sounds to the GS
	by saving them as AIFF from SoundEdit.

5. AE's own format, used by the Sonic Blaster software (when's the update?)
	and I suppose by the Audio Animator software. I'm strongly tempted
	to upgrade my SB to an AA now that MIDI synth is almost out.

We do need a conversion utility -- I'd rather see this built into AE's software
but a PD/Shareware program that just converts, plays, and allows primitive
editing would also be nice. SoundStudio does that (to an extent) but I think
it only handles raw binary sounds.

Todd Whitesel
toddpw @ tybalt.caltech.edu