Re: . Wav files

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

dj_lx1@juno.com  (dj_lx) asked:

>Is there a program for the Apple II that can record .WAV files?

If you mean an Apple IIgs, then several fairly simple add-ons permit
the Ensoniq chip to create 8-bit monaural samples.  These raw
samples can be made into a .wav file by prefixing a suitable header.

If you mean an 8-bit Apple II, then its native capability is limited
to 1-bit digitizing.  For example, you could apply the sound (at
speaker level) to the cassette input and could then read the
cassette input port with software to determine whether the input
voltage was positive or negative--that is the only property of the
input that can be measured.

If you record these 1-bit samples, when they are played back,
it sounds like "infinitely clipped" sound, or "maximum fuzz".
Some speech can be surprisingly intelligible, but many people
without radio communications experience find it difficult to
understand clipped speech.  Music, unless it is _very_ clipped
to begin with, is terribly distorted by infinite clipping, though the
melody and rhythm may be clearly distinguished.

.wav files are not usually less than 8 bits per sample.

There are A/D converter boards for Apple II's that permit the
Apple II to capture 8-bit, or even 12-bit samples, but they are
unusual and difficult to find.

If you want to _play back_ sampled sounds on an 8-bit Apple II,
take a look at my software DAC and sound editor.  ;-)

-michael

Check out amazing quality sound for 8-bit Apples on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/