Development Thread New AX HLE testing thread

[delroth]

I'm creating this topic to separate the "testing" stuff from the questions and explanations about how AX works.

New AX HLE is a branch of Dolphin dedicated to re-implement the DSP HLE for the AX UCode. You can find up-to-date builds here: http://dolphin-emu.org/download/list/new-ax-hle/1/

Currently this only changes (or should only change) audio emulation for Gamecube and Wii games using AX. This excludes Zelda games, some Mario games, etc. If you are not sure if a game is using AX, enable logging in Dolphin and check for a log message saying something like this:

Code:

W[DSPHLE]: Instantiating CUCode_NewAX: crc=4e8a8b21

I would like people to test these builds a lot and report every issue they can find that is not already mentioned in this first post. Also mention audio issues in Gamecube/Wii games using AX that are present in master but not fixed in this branch: I want this branch to be as perfect as possible!

If you find a new bug, describe the bug precisely, provide a memory card with a save where this bug can easily be reproduced (not needed if it's on the main menu, obviously), and if possible give the CRC of the AX UCode the game is using (look for a warning logging message saying "Instantiating CUCode_NewAX" in Dolphin logs).

Known bugs:

• Confirmed Pacman World 2 (GC): intro cutscene sound crackles (every 20ms)
  
• To confirm SSX Tricky (GC) music dies at random
  
• Confirmed Wario World (GC) music loop
  
• To confirm Megaman Network Transmission (GC) audio stops
  
• Windows only RE 2/3 (GC) music fading in/out constantly
  
• To confirm RE2 (GC) bullet drops issue with XAudio2
  
• Confirmed Excite Truck (Wii) crash (regression, WiiSports AX version)

Known fixed bugs (just for the record):

• "Missing instruments in the music" bug affecting Tales of Symphonia, Skies of Arcadia: Legends, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life and a few other games
  
• Mario Baseball audio emulation fixed
  
• Resident Evil (GC) intro missing sounds/voices fixed
  
• SNES VC games sound fixed
  
• http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/sou...7098d6e29f
  
• http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/sou...5ce385459a
  
• http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/sou...5a5fe99b25
  
• Most GC EA games sound/music fixed

Not bugs:

• Audio stutters when the game does not run at full speed. This was not the case with previous HLE because it was a big hack and was not synchronized with the emulation. This will NOT be fixed. At best we could implement some kind of timestretching in the audio backend (which will slow down the music instead of stuttering). This is not linked to AX HLE though.
  
• Sound is too fast with Accurate VBeam emulation: that's because this option makes the CPU thread run without throttle. The new AX HLE is synchronized with the CPU thread instead of running on its own clock, so this is not a bug.

TODO:

• Old AXWii versions handling (WiiSports PAL)
  
• AXWii/AXGC refactoring
  
• Wiimote sound mixing for AXWii
  
• Polyphase SRC implementation (using our own coeffs)
  
• ITD support (will need a test program)
  
• Dolby ProLogic2 sound mixing (AUXB/AUXC DPL2)

Changelog:

• 3.0-849: Fixes volume mixing with volumes >= 1.0. Tomb Raider Legends music now outputs correctly.
  
• 3.0-844: Fixes samples interlacing in the output command. Now stereo audio shouldn't have inverted left/right.
  
• 3.0-843: Fixes missing weapon sounds in Metroid Prime 2 (missing command implementation)
  
• 3.0-841: More GC AX fixes: now EA games music works in all the games I could test (including FIFA 06 and Madden 08 which were broken before)
  
• 3.0-840: Fixes a regression from 3.0-828 causing issues in some GC games (no sound)
  
• 3.0-837: GC AX now handles AUX mixing better, causing EA games to output sound/music, but with noise
  
• 3.0-833: Fixed crashes with AXWii on Windows
  
• 3.0-831: Fixed crashes with AXWii and high SRC ratios
  
• 3.0-828: Basic AXWii support
  
• 3.0-825: Fixed audio in Skies of Arcadia Legends without a hack (mixer_control handling in older AX versions)
  

[Starscream]

The Resident Evil (GC) intro seems to have all the missing sound and voices now playing correctly. Intro meaning the entire video up to inside the mansion for the first time.

[mbc07]

Zelda Twilight Princess (GC) may not entirely rely on AX, but the issue with the music of the town (in the middle of the music you could get a skipping note for some seconds) is fixed in this branch...

[delroth]

This is very, very, unlikely Jhonn. Like, impossible. Nothing has been changed in the Zelda UCode HLE.

[rpglord]

Not bugs:

• Audio stutters when the game does not run at full speed. This was not the case with previous HLE because it was a big hack and was not synchronized with the emulation. This will NOT be fixed. At best we could implement some kind of timestretching in the audio backend (which will slow down the music instead of stuttering). This is not linked to AX HLE though.
  

What about not making jit run at the same speed as gpu thread (emulation)?
I have a thread about this in general, but nothing concrete was said about this from devs...
This fixes LLE stuttering, I am sure it would fix stuttering in your new HLE implementation

[Starscream]

For what it's worth, I just ran Madden 08 (GC), there is no music playing (EA games).

[delroth]

For what it's worth, I just ran Madden 08 (GC), there is no music playing (EA games).

I'll take a look at this. Is this a new bug, or was this already the case in old AX?

[Vlad]

The Resident Evil (GC) intro seems to have all the missing sound and voices now playing correctly. Intro meaning the entire video up to inside the mansion for the first time.

Also save room music doesent have missing instruments anymore. Great work

[Starscream]

For what it's worth, I just ran Madden 08 (GC), there is no music playing (EA games).

I'll take a look at this. Is this a new bug, or was this already the case in old AX?

It was the case already. LLE works normally though, as expected.

[garrlker]

For what it's worth, I just ran Madden 08 (GC), there is no music playing (EA games).

I can confirm that as well. In madden 13 I don't hear any sound.