most accurate amiga mod-playback backend?

[Nova]

backend		version		year	frontend

?		2.50		2004	deliplayer
libbass		2.4.15		2019	xmplay
libdumb		0.9.3		2005	deadbeef, xmms
libmikmod	3.3.11.1	2017	mikmod, mpd
libopenmpt	0.5.0		2020	xmplay, mpv, foobar2000, openmpt123
libxmp		4.4.1		2016	xmp, qmmp, xmplay
uade		2.13		2009	uade123, hippoplayer

the playback of mods on non-amiga platforms can sound very different despite similar settings choosen.

i have tried to make a small list of backends focusing on mod. playback here, as i am interested in finding out, which engine you can achieve the most accurate results with.

if you can think of other back/frontends or should errors have crept in, just let me know.

looking forward to hearing your opinions.

[chip]

I'm also interested in the opinions here

Indeed i don't trust (from my experience) of non Amiga players

[Asle]

Just curious. How would you scale accuracy, exactly ? And what would be your reference ?

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Asle

Just curious. How would you scale accuracy, exactly ? And what would be your reference ?

to be honest, i don't really know either

you can hear about different backends that they are outdated nowadays and the successor x is much more accurate in terms of playback.

i guess, a previously losslessly converted/streamripped mod from fs/winuae or a real amiga could serve as reference for a later abx (blind listening) test?

something like that.

[Nova]

that's the whole idea

you would need a suitable test mod to be agreed upon.

the next step would be to create a reference mod.flac and conversions from all avaiable engines, of course.

the files could be uploaded somewhere (to eab fileserver?) and all who are interested could participate in an abx test. in the end we would have a winner-engine.

how about that?

the question is, whose ears are still good enough for a task like that

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Nova

the question is, whose ears are still good enough for a task like that

You don't need good ears. More often than not, PC players fail miserably.

I can provide the reference with Delitracker2 and the file saving ability of some noteplayer. I can even provide mods that are known (by me) to fail on some, if not all, PC players. Anyway, don't test single mod, use several -- otherwise the test will be biased.

[Jope]

http://zakalwe.fi/uade/download.html uade is the most accurate. Also a bit forsaken. Still, accurate.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by meynaf

I can provide the reference with Delitracker2 and the file saving ability of some noteplayer. I can even provide mods that are known (by me) to fail on some, if not all, PC players.

that would be truly great, very appreciated.

i must admit that i'm often struggeling with too many options while seeking for the unpolished amiga-like sound.

@jope: do you know the mod-backend routine of uade, so i can add it to the list?

[Jope]

Uade is the backend basically.

[Nova]

Originally Posted by Jope

Uade is the backend basically.

ok, added, thanks.

[Nova]

perhaps @meynaf has already spoiled too much, but I don't think there is much interest here, is there?

however, i tried to create a reference wav from a mod via delitracker 2.27 under fsuae (recording the audio monitor in audacity). works better than expected for a non-amiga linux scenario.

now here is the problem. despite some testings, the backend recordings are easily distinguishable, because of a stereo separation mismatch.

let's take openmpt as an example. which settings do you make to be closer to the original?

[Hewitson]

This is something I've been experimenting with myself recently.

I have coded simple players using FMOD, SDL2_mixer, and MikMod in order to compare playback quality. The MikMod replayer definitely sounds the best by a large margin as it doesn't use interpolation. The other two sound terrible.

Of course, none of them are as good as UADE.

[Nova]

interesting. I've just been going over mikmods page. if i am not mistaken, it seems to adapt code from openmpt (for playback?).

i would like to add more players to the list, but i am not always sure about the details. just let me know if you have anything to add.