[Scummvm-tracker] [ScummVM :: Bugs] #13365: SCUMM: French version of The Dig has original audio issues in SMUSH

[ScummVM :: Bugs]

#13365: SCUMM: French version of The Dig has original audio issues in SMUSH
-----------------------------------+----------------------------
Reporter:  dwatteau                |       Owner:  (none)
    Type:  defect                  |      Status:  new
Priority:  normal                  |   Component:  Engine: SCUMM
 Version:                          |  Resolution:
Keywords:  dig,french,audio,smush  |        Game:  The Dig
-----------------------------------+----------------------------
Description changed by dwatteau:

Old description:

> There are some audio problems in the French version of The Dig, which
> also happen with the official interpreters (confirmed with: 1995 DOS,
> 2002 Aaron Giles, and 2009 Steam interpreters. Macintosh interpreter
> wasn't tested).
>
> For example, in the intro scene:
>
> (1) The very first sentence pauses/glitches in its first few seconds, as
> if the audio buffer had troubles initializing/calibrating. Example here:
> https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=206 (and the streamer notices the glitch
> too), and it also happens there: https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=231
> (2) When the background art credits appear, there's a long sentence,
> which is cut a couple of seconds too early in the French version (the
> next sentence is started before the last "une langue étrangère" words are
> told). Example here: https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=393
>
> After some discussion with Bosca on Discord, it appears that this happens
> during SMUSH sequences, so I don't really know how to determine the ID of
> the audio content that should be extracted with SCUMM Revisited in order
> to make sure that the original audio is OK. Bosca says that the audio of
> the Italian version is also a bit choppy.
>
> However, I think that the original audio *is* OK here: if I open the
> ScummVM debugger when the voice says "elle peut apprendre" (just before
> the sentence gets interrupted), then the full original sentence can be
> heard (because the debugger pauses the script that interrupts it, I
> guess). It's also possible to hear the complete sentence when playing in
> DOSbox with a low-cycle value (e.g. 4000). So I think that (2) is "just"
> a timing issue, but I don't know how to do this within SMUSH.
>
> Since the behavior is the same in ScummVM and in the original
> interpreters, I don't think that this qualifies as a ScummVM bug, but
> working around this would be nice (although all French players of The Dig
> have been used to these issues for more than 25 years ;).
>
> The French version is available on GOG and Steam, if necessary. You can
> ping me here or over Discord if you want me to do some tests or provide
> more information.

New description:

 There are some audio problems in the French version of The Dig, which also
 happen with the official interpreters (confirmed with: 1995 DOS, 1996
 Macintosh, 2002 Aaron Giles, and 2009 Steam interpreters).

 For example, in the intro scene:

 (1) The very first sentence pauses/glitches in its first few seconds, as
 if the audio buffer had troubles initializing/calibrating. Example here:
 https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=206 (and the streamer notices the glitch
 too), and it also happens there: https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=231
 (2) When the background art credits appear, there's a long sentence, which
 is cut a couple of seconds too early in the French version (the next
 sentence is started before the last "une langue étrangère" words are
 told). Example here: https://youtu.be/C2MA7tVYlvY?t=393

 After some discussion with Bosca on Discord, it appears that this happens
 during SMUSH sequences, so I don't really know how to determine the ID of
 the audio content that should be extracted with SCUMM Revisited in order
 to make sure that the original audio is OK. Bosca says that the audio of
 the Italian version is also a bit choppy.

 However, I think that the original audio *is* OK here: if I open the
 ScummVM debugger when the voice says "elle peut apprendre" (just before
 the sentence gets interrupted), then the full original sentence can be
 heard (because the debugger pauses the script that interrupts it, I
 guess). It's also possible to hear the complete sentence when playing in
 DOSbox with a low-cycle value (e.g. 4000). So I think that (2) is "just" a
 timing issue, but I don't know how to do this within SMUSH.

 Since the behavior is the same in ScummVM and in the original
 interpreters, I don't think that this qualifies as a ScummVM bug, but
 working around this would be nice (although all French players of The Dig
 have been used to these issues for more than 25 years ;).

 The French version is available on GOG and Steam, if necessary. You can
 ping me here or over Discord if you want me to do some tests or provide
 more information.

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Ticket URL: <https://bugs.scummvm.org/ticket/13365#comment:2>
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