STarKos YM generator, STARK2YM

[mr_lou]

Trying to generate some YM files from some of my SKS files isn't going that well.

I know I can create YM files using WinAPE, but
1) I don't use Windows
2) It doesn't feel right to need to play the music before being able to get a YM file out of it
3) It seems logical that the STARK2YM tool on the STarKos DSK would do a better job, since it knows exactly how the format is built.

But the YM files STARK2YM generates for me are firstly quite large, up to 160 kb in size, and secondly I can't play them with either of the two YM players I have on my system.

ymplayer says "Error in loading file 1.YM: Unknow YM format !"
and Markus' Java YM Player just kinda hangs there.

Any ideas?

[redbox]

I know I can create YM files using WinAPE, but
1) I don't use Windows

Sorry, I don't know the solution to your problem but I too have been having problems with AY files.

WinAPE doesn't appear to record them properly - it does whilst caching the file to disk but then when it finishes the file becomes 2kb odd in size and isn't right.

I wanted to use Kit AY to turn YM recorded files into AY files to play with the low footprint player.

It would be nice to have a set of utilities that work with YM playback and conversion...!

[almasys]

I know I can create YM files using WinAPE, but
1) I don't use Windows

I'm running WinAPE using WINE on Mac OS X 10.6, it works fine.

[arnoldemu]

Trying to generate some YM files from some of my SKS files isn't going that well.

I know I can create YM files using WinAPE, but
1) I don't use Windows
2) It doesn't feel right to need to play the music before being able to get a YM file out of it
3) It seems logical that the STARK2YM tool on the STarKos DSK would do a better job, since it knows exactly how the format is built.

But the YM files STARK2YM generates for me are firstly quite large, up to 160 kb in size, and secondly I can't play them with either of the two YM players I have on my system.

ymplayer says "Error in loading file 1.YM: Unknow YM format !"
and Markus' Java YM Player just kinda hangs there.

Any ideas?

yeah it's generating uncompressed ym files.
Try LHAing them, then renaming that to .ym and try again.

The ym files that most players can play are lha compressed files, and within the archive is the ym data itself.

[mr_lou]

yeah it's generating uncompressed ym files.
Try LHAing them, then renaming that to .ym and try again.

Thanks for the explanation.
It doesn't seem to change anything though, but maybe my version of LHA on Ubuntu is the reason. I'll try LHA'ing one of the STARK2YM generated YM files on my Amiga later. :-)

[redbox]

Ah, so that's why it's not working on my PC.

I renamed test.ym that WinAPE outputs to test.ym.lha and then used 7-Zip to uncompress it 

[mr_lou]

Doesn't change anything to LHA it on my Amiga either. It won't play. 
"Error in loading file 1.ym: Unknow YM format !"

Any other suggestions?

[robcfg]

There a couple of YM revisions with minor differences, but most probabky your player expects a YM3 or YM3B file while modern players/convertes generate YM5 files.


Check the first bytes of the YM files and if they are in fact YM5, try a YM3 or YM3B with your player.


It shouldn't be difficult to convert them if that's the problem.

[mr_lou]

There a couple of YM revisions with minor differences, but most probabky your player expects a YM3 or YM3B file while modern players/convertes generate YM5 files.

I checked with a Hex-Editor, and you're right. It appears to be a YM5 file. How do I convert them to YM3? I'm thinking about releasing these YM files, so therefor it has to be a format that can be played on most players.

[mr_lou]

Solved.

I'm so stupid. When exporting the files using ManageDsk it included the AMSDOS header. Doh!

[Executioner]

I'm so stupid. When exporting the files using ManageDsk it included the AMSDOS header. Doh!

You know you can export the files directly from WinAPE by opening the disk editor (CTRL-SHIFT-F1) and just drag/drop the files. There is a checkbox to turn AMSDOS headers on/off.

[mr_lou]

You know you can export the files directly from WinAPE by opening the disk editor (CTRL-SHIFT-F1) and just drag/drop the files. There is a checkbox to turn AMSDOS headers on/off.

That's good to know, but something I'm not likely to ever use, because I don't use Windows.

ManageDsk also has an option of exporting without headers. I just didn't see/remember about it.

(Yes, ManageDsk is also a Windows tool, but it works with Wine. WinAPE doesn't work with Wine, at least not last time I checked).

[Executioner]

Sorry mr_lou, didn't read the whole thread properly. I haven't tried WinAPE on WINE (or WINE at all for that matter), but almasys says it works above on Mac.

WinAPE doesn't appear to record them properly - it does whilst caching the file to disk but then when it finishes the file becomes 2kb odd in size and isn't right.

Is this actually a problem, or have you figured it out? I think WinAPE initially creates the uncompressed YM file, then compresses it using LHA when you close the output file or the emulator.

[redbox]

Is this actually a problem, or have you figured it out? I think WinAPE initially creates the uncompressed YM file, then compresses it using LHA when you close the output file or the emulator.

Yes I figured it out - to get the uncompressed file, I rename the file WinAPE generates to have the extension .LHA and then inside there is the .YM5 file that I can extract.