Monthly Archives: May 2013

Now that XAudio2 is clear, time to be confused with X3DAudio

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  • Finished rolling up the SampleSounds(s) into BasicAudio.
  • Starting on 3D audio, using How to: Integrate X3DAudio with XAudio2
    • Adding the 3D calls to the main() in ConsoleSound2, just after the BasicAudio class has been initialized.
    • Had to add x3daudio.lib to the project and <x3daudio.h> to the #includes.
    • This looks to be the meat of the calculation. It looks like X3DCalculate() works on the relative position of an Emitter and the Listener and uses that to populate a DSP. Once that’s done, then the Audio2 source is manipulated appropriately.
    •         X3DAudioCalculate( g_audioState.x3DInstance, &g_audioState.listener, &g_audioState.emitter, dwCalcFlags,
                           &g_audioState.dspSettings );

        IXAudio2SourceVoice* voice = g_audioState.pSourceVoice;
        if( voice )
        {
            // Apply X3DAudio generated DSP settings to XAudio2
            voice->SetFrequencyRatio( g_audioState.dspSettings.DopplerFactor );
            voice->SetOutputMatrix( g_audioState.pMasteringVoice, INPUTCHANNELS, g_audioState.nChannels,
                                    g_audioState.matrixCoefficients );

            voice->SetOutputMatrix(g_audioState.pSubmixVoice, 1, 1, &g_audioState.dspSettings.ReverbLevel);

            XAUDIO2_FILTER_PARAMETERS FilterParametersDirect = { LowPassFilter, 2.0f * sinf(X3DAUDIO_PI/6.0f * g_audioState.dspSettings.LPFDirectCoefficient), 1.0f }; // see XAudio2CutoffFrequencyToRadians() in XAudio2.h for more information on the formula used here
            voice->SetOutputFilterParameters(g_audioState.pMasteringVoice, &FilterParametersDirect);
            XAUDIO2_FILTER_PARAMETERS FilterParametersReverb = { LowPassFilter, 2.0f * sinf(X3DAUDIO_PI/6.0f * g_audioState.dspSettings.LPFReverbCoefficient), 1.0f }; // see XAudio2CutoffFrequencyToRadians() in XAudio2.h for more information on the formula used here
            voice->SetOutputFilterParameters(g_audioState.pSubmixVoice, &FilterParametersReverb);
        }

Boring progress. But hey! Progress :-)

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Today’s work. Just solid satisfying programming, though I am playing fast and loose with pointers because of headaches getting const to behave properly.

  • Working on getting multi buffer support. Done! Also got repeating sound working.
  • Going to put a basic Audio class together to manage SampleSounds.
  • Done. BasicAudio (awesome name, huh?) is pretty wrapped up. Once all this is clean and commented, I’ll post the files.
  • Start on 3D/multichannel tomorrow?

Approaching understanding

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Today was a good day of slow progress! Here’s the play by play.

  • Building a copy of XAudio2BasicSound, cleverly calling it ConsoleSound2.
  • Since it depends on SDKwavefile, I had to pull SAFE_DELETE, SAFE_DELETE_ARRAY, and SAFE_RELEASE from dxut.h. It also requires dxerr.h. but that’s in the regular directx include directory.
  • Extremely empty code right now, but it compiles and links. On a side note, the compiler should accept the environment variable $(DXSDK_DIR), but it doesn’t. And adding macros is an enormous pain, as near as I can tell.
  • The code is ported over and works. It’s all stuck in a main() right now. I need to clean up and build an Audio class. Actually, looking at the way the code is set up, a WavSampleSound class might be better. It probably could extend from a SampleSound class, but I’ll break that out later…
  • Class is mostly done and running!
  •  ConsoleSound2
  • The only bug that I have is that I can run the sound only once. I still need to figure out how to reload the buffer.

3D sound compiled and running, if not understood all that well…

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Today’s twists and turns:

  • More Audio3d.
  • Starting to add in the 3dAudio based on this and this and this.
  • Got an audio link error and chased that down, discovering a few things along the way.
  • There is directX help for C++ in (“C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2010)\Documentation\DirectX9\directx_sdk.chm”). I don’t know it it’s any good, but I’m going to look though it next. Note that this is DX9, not 11. I’m *hoping* that this is all up to date…
  • Pointed Configuration Properties->Linker->General->Additional Library Directories at (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2010)\Lib\x86), and added the following files to Configuration Properties->Linker->Input->additional dependencies”
    • d3d11.lib
      d3dx11.lib
      winmm.lib
      xinput.lib
      X3DAudio.lib
    • This is a change from the libraries that the demo book points at, which were dxd9 libs. Recompiled and ran the code with no problems. I did attempt to clean up the xact3dInstance pointer in ~Audio3d(), but delete[] threw an exception
  • Reading through the DX documentation, which, though it is in the DX9 folder, contains information about DX11. Whatever.
  • The documentation is kind of what you’d expect, but it let me find the tutorials and demos, which are quite nice. On my machine, the demos that I’m interested in are located here: (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2010)\Samples\C++\XAudio2). It contains 4 projects:
    • XAudio2BasicSound
    • XAudioBasicStream
    • XAudio2CustomAPO
    • XAudio2Sound3D
  • Each project has source and MSVC2008 and MSVC2010 project files. I’ve just opened up the XAudio2Sound3D MSVC2010 project, and it compiled and ran just fine: XAudio2demo
  • This is almost exactly what I intend to build for the test environment, so that’s pretty cool. And using the buttons or the keyboard, I can drive the sound emitter around my head. Woohoo!
  • Next goal is to build up a copy of XAudio2BasicSound and then add the 3D components (without the graphics) from XAudio2Sound3D.

One of those days when work interfered with school

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Only a couple of hours worked today – someone decided that today would be a good day to discuss server security, and I had a nice lunch consulting (kibitzing?) with Greg, an old buddy of mine about his new company/product.

  • Work on Audio3d class
  • It appears that you *have* to include <xact3.h> before <xact3d3.h>. It seems to be tied up with <x3daudio.h>, which is declared before <xact3.h> in <xact3d3.h>. If I reverse the order of those calls, no error messages. otherwise I get the following (included for the next poor soul who pastes this error in Google): 
    • 1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(6361): error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'ContextRecord'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(6361): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(6361): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12983): error C2065: 'PCONTEXT' : undeclared identifier
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12984): error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before identifier 'ContextRecord'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12984): warning C4229: anachronism used : modifiers on data are ignored
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12984): error C2182: 'RtlCaptureContext' : illegal use of type 'void'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12984): error C2491: 'RtlCaptureContext' : definition of dllimport data not allowed
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(12984): error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(13372): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '__stdcall'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(13372): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(13376): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(14982): error C3861: '__readfsdword': identifier not found
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(1048): error C2146: syntax error : missing ';' before identifier 'LPCONTEXT'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(1048): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(1048): error C2378: 'PCONTEXT' : redefinition; symbol cannot be overloaded with a typedef
1>          c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winnt.h(13372) : see declaration of 'PCONTEXT'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(1048): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(3610): error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'PCONTEXT'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(4449): error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'LPCONTEXT'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(4457): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(4457): error C2143: syntax error : missing ',' before '*'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(15112): error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '__stdcall'
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(15112): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
1>c:\program files (x86)\microsoft sdks\windows\v7.0a\include\winbase.h(15116): error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int
  • This truly is one of the reasons the Microsoft drives me so crazy…

A quick thought on passwords

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I had an interesting talk with a work buddy about his Master’s program which is Information Security. That led to a rambling discussion on what “trust” and “identity” mean. So what if access to a system was based on an Eliza-like conversation with the computer. There would be an initial “get acquainted” session, and then the “login” conversation would be shorter.

  • Store key hit timing and error/correction  patterns as well as the words.
  • Use a plagerism test to look for cut-and-paste replies from recorded sessions
  • Login discussions could be like Capchas in that they could be half test, half learning.

3D sound and the search for a header file.

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Today, I was going to extend the audio app to do some simple 3D sound. Nope. Aside from a lot of distractions that really only allowed me to get a couple of hours work done, the C++ documentation for this capability is getting harder and harder to find. And for some reason, Microsoft does not seem to believe in producing samples of code that actually do something. Instead, there are lots of nested pages, each pointing to a tidbit of information. Sigh. Anyway, here’s today’s struggles.

  • I thought this tutorial would be the best way to get positional information, but it appears to be stale. The New Way seems to be this.
  • Close, but it’s actually part of the Windows API now?
  • Nope that’s C#. Still looking. Since I have xact3.h working, trying to stay in this space…
  • Ok, at least for now (and yet again!) I think I know what’s going on and what I should do next. For tomorrow, I start writing a 3D version of Audio.h/Audio.cpp and then try calling that from the ConsoleSoundApp.

A working console app!

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Good progress today

Looks like everything is working in the proof of concept! Here’s the code:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <Windows.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include "audio.h"

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
	int keyIn;
	HRESULT hr;                 // standard return type
	LPTSTR buf;
	LPTSTR targetDir = "C:\\Programming 2D Games in DirectX 11\\Chapter 7 - Sound\\ConsoleSound\\ConsoleSound\\ConsoleSound";
	Audio *audio = new Audio();

	SetCurrentDirectory(targetDir);
	buf = (LPTSTR)calloc(256, sizeof(char));
	GetCurrentDirectory(256, buf);
	printf("Current dir: '%s'\n", buf);
	if (*WAVE_BANK != '' && *SOUND_BANK != '')  // if sound files defined
	{
		if( FAILED( hr = audio->initialize() ) )
		{
			if( hr == HRESULT_FROM_WIN32( ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND ) ){
				printf("Failed to initialize sound system because media file not found.\n");
				printf("hit return to exit\n");
				getchar();
				return -1;
			}
			else{
				printf("Failed to initialize sound system.\n");
				printf("hit return to exit\n");
				getchar();
				return -1;
			}
		}
	}

	printf("Type 'x' to quit, 1, 2, or 3 for sounds.\n");
	bool doit = true;
	while(doit){
		if(kbhit()){
			keyIn = getch();

			printf("key = %c\n", keyIn);
			switch(keyIn){
			case 'x' : doit = false; 
				break;
			case '1' : audio->playCue(BEEP1);                  // play sound
				break;
			case '2' : audio->playCue(BEEP2);                  // play sound
				break;
			case '3' : audio->playCue(BEEP3);                  // play sound
				break;
			}
		}
		audio->run();                       // perform periodic sound engine tasks
		Sleep(100);
	}
	SAFE_DELETE(audio);

	printf("hit return to exit");
	getchar();
	return 0;
	}

Tomorrow, we’ll try to add positional sound.

A much better day…

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Today’s stuff.

  • Imported the sound example code from P2DG chapter 7 into MSVC and successfully compiled.
  • And runs! With sound!
  •  withSound
  • Next we try to put the audio class into a console app (main as opposed to winmain) and see if that can be made to work.
  • That went pretty smoothly. I had to add the DirectX “include” directories, add stdafx.h to the audio.cpp file and cast some char* to LPWSTR. The next step is to fill out the main() so that the audio is initialized and then run a loop to send different audio commands. A good task for Monday.

Beating on OpenAL, then giving up. Microsoft wins.

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Progress for today

  • Copied the OpenAL SDK out of the ProgramFiles(x86) directory where the installer put it and put it in my menagerie of API test code
  • Converted the MSVC 2005 project to 2010
  • Tried to compile, but the target names didn’t match. Adjusted the output name in the Properties->Configuration Properties->Linker->General->Output File field from PlayMultiChannelWin32.exe to PlayMultiChannel.exe. 
  • Compiled and ran in debug mode, but got the same problem where the audio is going to the 3 front speakers.
  • Since all else has failed, I’m going to RTFM. In OpenAL 1.1 SDK/docs is a collection of documents. Going to start with the OpenAL Programmer’s Guide.
  • So this is really weird. I’m looking through the code to see how the channels are activated, and there doesn’t seem to be anything explicit. But I do find where the wav files are stored. Listening to these samples in windows media player, the correct Dolby channels are selected for 5.1 and 7.1. It seems as though OpenAl is flattening the information to the front three channels. Wile poking around on the OpenAL website, I came across the following regarding Vista:
    • With Microsoft’s decision to remove the audio hardware layer in Windows Vista, legacy DirectSound 3D games will no longer use hardware 3D algorithms for audio spatialization. Instead they will have to rely upon the new Microsoft software mixer that is built into Windows Vista. This new software mixer will give the users basic audio support for their old Direct Sound games but since it has no hardware layer, all EAX® effects will be lost, and no individual per-voice processing can be performed using dedicated hardware processing.
    • I think I’m getting “basic” audio support. This explains why the codebase has not been touched since 2008 or so. Looks like a dead end.
  • Moving along, it’s time to try DirectX. The samples I can find online don’t really thrill me, but looking at books on Amazon, I found Programming 2D Games (P2DG), which has a nice section on sound. It’s now sitting in my Kindle Library. Let’s see how that goes.
  • Downloading the DirectX SDK. All 572 MB of it. Last updated in 2010. Why is this making me nervous?
  • Ran the DirectX installer, which blew up, but seems to have installed all the components, and the demos run. The demo games do generate Dolby 7.1 as well, so that’s progress…
  • Following the steps in Chapter 7 (Sound) in P2DG. XACT opend up just fine. Importing wav files from the OpenAL media directory. Interestingly, some .wav files choked as “unrecognizable” Don’t know why…
    xactError
  • Got the sounds imported and playing in XACT and the Audio Console. And considering how much stuff didn’t work today, That’s enough progress to leave on a high note.