[Scummvm-devel] MDT_PREFER_MT32 and MDT_PREFER_GM

[Filippos Karapetis]

Hello

I checked a bit the usage of MDT_PREFER_MT32 and MDT_PREFER_GM,
and updated the comments concerning them.

Currently, MDT_PREFER_MT32 is a bit problematic. If the default audio
settings are used, and an engine defines MDT_PREFER_MT32, then on
desktop systems the Munt emulator is selected as a "best/preferred" device
(unless a real MT-32 device is present).

This isn't ideal IMHO, since it basically forces people to use Munt. Users
who haven't changed their music settings will probably not even know what
Munt is, and will be confused by the cryptic "you need XXX roms images" in
order to get it working.

The situation is a bit similar with MDT_PREFER_GM, but I consider this one
a "feature", as it'll pick up a GM MIDI device with the default music
settings,
and most modern systems have GM MIDI capabilities. Thus, this one will
actually pick up a "good" setting in the games that want it, without forcing
the user to use Munt.

Therefore, I'm a bit baffled by the actual usage of MDT_PREFER_MT32... why
is
this needed at all, other than to force people to use Munt with the default
audio settings? If a game engine requests MIDI output with MT-32 by default,
and
the default settings can't handle that, wouldn't it be a better idea to
switch to the
Adlib emulator by default, instead of Munt? IMHO, Munt shouldn't fire up
with the
default settings, cause this is mostly confusing for people who don't know
what
it is and get a dialog to provide ROM files which they probably don't
have...

Regards
Filippos

-- 
"Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes" - Oscar Wilde
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