Need help finding a Creative Fast Speech decoder!

[ilgrank]

Hi everyone
first of all: thanks to everyone who took its time reading this post!
I've come here as a last hope: I've searched for years (since 2002) a way to decode a small collection of wave files I had recorded with a SoundBlaster AWE32.
These files are either Creative Fast Speech 8, Fast Speech 10, and .VOC. I've been unable to decode any of them. I kept trying, now and then, over the years.. searching the net, asking pros, even buying an old pc and an AWE32. all to no avail.
A frien of mine suggested me some day ago to try in this forum since there are many codec experts.. I please ask: help me!
These files have a great sentimental value for me, since they're the recordings of long talks between me and a dear friend of mine that is no more in this world... I would really want to hear him once again..
To everyone who read up to here, you have my sincere thanks
..and if it happens by chance that you know a way to convert/decode this waves.. please let me know. I'm not rich, but I also pay some money to have that dear memory back..
Again, thanks!
(if someone needs a file sample, just message me!)

Aldo

[setarip_old]

Hi!if someone needs a file sample, just message me!Just post a link to a sample...

[ilgrank]

Hi
you're right: a sample should make things easier!

this one is very small, and is encoded with Creative FastSpeech 8

Thanks for your time, sincerely

[Zarxrax]

You mentioned that you bought an old pc with an awe32, yet you couldn't play the files? Stating the obvious here, but did you install the accompanying drivers and software? You can apparently get it from here: http://download.cnet.com/Creative-Labs-Sound-Blaster-16-32-AWE32-Basic-Disk/3000-2120_4-10005160.html

You might also try doing it in a virtual machine running windows 3.1 or win95, whichever it was made for.

Edit: oops, file not found there. Looks like this is it though: http://www.superstart.org/sbbasic.exe

[ilgrank]

Hi
Other than the drivers there would be the need to find the decoders that were shipped on the original cd.
The Virtual Machine way did not work because the virtual sound card couldn't work with the sound blaster drivers.
I read somewhere that the FastSpeech codecs where hardware accelerated by the AWE soundcard..

[ilgrank]

While desperately trying to convert those files, Zarxrax gave me a great idea.
Since long ago I had written windows device drivers, I made a fake awe 32 virtual device on wich I installed an awe 32 driver package in virtualbox. Now the 'strange' stuff: I've been able to make windows 98 native programs (sndrec32, but not wmplayer) to open the file loading the fastspeech codec.. but I've not been able to convert or output them.
If I try to convert sndrec32 gives me an error ("Sound recorder was unable to complete the conversion") and cannot go on.
I don't have any real audio output of course, and I've tried all ancient software I could find on the net (goldwave, old winamp versions, audacity and many others) but none of them is able to open the files.. just windows sound recorder seems to be able to.
at this point.. I can just imagine this solution if someone had the chance of using similar programs: do you know if there was any virtual sound card for windows 98 that outputted to file?
OR, do someone knows of any other program that relied on windows codecs that did some audio editing? (GoldWave and Audacity have their own codecs it seems: even tho if now I have a virtual Windows 98 install that lists those creative codecs I can't find a program that uses them)

Many thanks again for your time!
Sincerely

EDIT: of course if someone knows of a Fastspeech codec or app that works under XP that would be great :)

[Midzuki]

do you know if there was any virtual sound card for windows 98 that outputted to file?

OLD versions of:

Total Recorder

Virtual Audio Cable

[mariush]

Try this:

http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&subCatID=207&prodID=38&prodName=16%20PCI&subCatName=Others&CatName=Sound+Blaster&VARSET=prodfaq:PRODFAQ_38,VARSET=CategoryID:1


Application
SB PCI 64/128/128 vibra application updates
Filesize : 857.07 KB Download
Hide Details
Release date : 10 Nov 00
To ensure a successful installation, the card must be already installed on the system. You are required to download the following packages. These must placed into the same directory: Creative Mixer 6.04.00 (906,973 bytes) Creative Recorder 1.04.03 (2,614,085 bytes) Creative Playcenter 1.5......
File Name : capp_setupus.exe
To ensure a successful installation, the card must be already installed on the system. You are required to download the following packages. These must placed into the same directory:

* Creative Mixer 6.04.00 (906,973 bytes)
* Creative Recorder 1.04.03 (2,614,085 bytes)
* Creative Playcenter 1.55.06 and Creative News 2.50.10 (3,774,332 bytes)
* Creative Installer 1.00.06 and setup files (6,371,790 bytes)

This is a new applications release for users running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT4, Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium Edition.

This update supports the following products:

* Sound Blaster PCI128 (Model No. CT4700, CT4750 & CT4751)
* SB 16 PCI (CT4740)
* Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI (CT4810, CT4811, CT4812, CT4815 & CT4816)
* Vibra 128 (CT4810, CT4811, CT4812, CT4815 & CT4816)
* 1370 and 1371-based card models


Download the 800 KB exe, and the four "packages" and place them in the same folder then try running the setup. Maybe Creative Recorder is the app you used.

[ilgrank]

OLD versions of:

Total Recorder

Virtual Audio Cable

Hi
The idea was good: I've been able to find TotalRecorder 3.4 and 5.0. Installed them and tried converting the files.. but unfortunately while TR correctly recognizes the codec and loads the file, either crashes when trying to play it (3.4) or remains silent (5.0)
I'll try VAC and report
Meanwhile: many thanks for the hints.. I feel I'm getting there!

[ilgrank]

Try this:
Download the 800 KB exe, and the four "packages" and place them in the same folder then try running the setup. Maybe Creative Recorder is the app you used.

Tried that now and those apps are unable to open the files.
I had expected that since they're from the 128 audio card, wich lacked the DSP that the AWE32 had.

So far I had luck only with AWE 32/64 apps and the SNDREC32.. all other programs seems to use their own codecs (and not the ones installed in windows)

The most functional approach would seem to be the VAC or TR one.. but if you know some other program keep telling me please!
Again, many thanks to everyone!

[JReiginsei]

If I can fix my Kubuntu install I will try:

cspctl - Sound Blaster 16 ASP/CSP control program
http://linux.die.net/man/1/cspctl

EDIT: I misunderstood the program's purpose. Since I don't have a Sound Blaster I can't test this.

[ilgrank]

JReiginsei: You have my sincere thanks for trying anyways!

[Ghitulescu]

I think AWE32 has no support after W98. Besides, it should play the files it records. I own myself an AWE64 gold and I don't remember those codecs (but it's a long time since) - the reason for AWE over other soundcards was the WAV quality (that time :)) and the fullduplex ability (plus the internal banks, plus plus plus).

So, [temporarly] install a w98, install the software and drivers and try to use the duplex function to recopy the files "on-the-fly".

[ilgrank]

Hi Ghitulescu: if you read the first post that's exactly the first thing I did.
I even tried it in a virtualized enviroment. Basically: only sndrec32 and Sound'OLE are able to open the file and even then, they do either crash or produce no output when trying to convert them (i explained it some post above)

Thanks anyway!

[Ghitulescu]

Nope, technically you said you bought an old PC and an AWE32. :) I added: W98 + drivers + software and use the duplex mode. I didn't say convert, I said record in full duplex.

I don't think a file created by the software that comes with an AWE32 cannot be played back using the same HW+SW solution. As long as you can play them (you should be able) then you can record them.

Have you tried linux? -> http://linux.die.net/man/1/cspctl

[mariush]

If you can get the files to play then you can just use a second pc and the line input of the second pc to record what comes out to speakers on the first. Just set the volume on the first low enough. No need to worry about being full duplex and so on - just worry about getting the files to actually play - at the quality those files are, it doesn't matter that they go through another digital to analogue and analogue to digital on second pc.

[Ghitulescu]

After he'll manage to convert the files this will serve as a lesson (I hope): never use proprietary items, be it codecs, software or formats.

For VOC -> http://www.inversereality.org/tutorials/sound%20programming/examples/soundblaster16example3.html (the first item in google, maybe you'd already found it ;))

[ilgrank]

It already served me as a lessons, but at the time (We're talking of 1996) there was no concept of "open format".
If you were smart (and I wasn't it seems) you just converted you stuff from the 'disappearing' codec to the new ones when they both coexisted.
Now I'm just stuck :/
As for the VOC: it is just a container, internally it uses the same FastSpeech 8/10 codec of the wav.. thanks anyways :)

[Taurus]

I have a fully installed AWE32 running on Win98.
Your sample does not play on any of the Soundblaster programs.
Are you sure you cut it right?
Maybe the wav header is destroyed or missing.

I dont have fastspeech installed maybe thats the culprit.
But i have all old drivers somewhere in a jewel case :p

[Ghitulescu]

It already served me as a lessons, but at the time (We're talking of 1996) there was no concept of "open format".

Oh yes, WAV. As I said, the AWE family was targeted to enthusiasts and prosumers (that kind of HW that users like to call it pro and the pros reject as being consumer ;)). That is, it was illogic to buy the AWE and to use compressed codecs.

However, if you have all the original sofware you used back then, and still out of luck, maybe Taurus is right, the files are defective.

[ilgrank]

Hi
Codecs must, of course, be isntalled otherwise there's no way of opening the files.
With the codecs installed (I can give you the link, I'm at work right now but i'll post it later) the files open without problem in sndrec32.
No, the files are perfectly fine. Opening them in mediainfo will confirm you the codec (and thus the header sanity)

[Ghitulescu]

I could open the file but not play it :)
Apparently they are 11kHz, 2b and 2kBps - what are these, Sinclair or Commodore computer games?

[ilgrank]

They're speech.
They appear as 1bit because of the compression, actually the quality was very good for the time