Gabriel Knight 1 audio fix

[notbobsmith]

The last time I played GK1, I noticed that there were some annoying pops and clicks in the dialog audio. I've tried several versions of DOSBox and ScummVM and they all have the same problem. I'm also not the only one who has reported the issue:

viewtopic.php?t=1374
viewtopic.php?p=24758#p24758
viewtopic.php?t=4828&start=15#p64933

It seems that the problem is with the audio itself and someone has finally gone through and patched the audio:

https://alltinker.itch.io/gk-speech-fix

The download is not a replacement of the RESOURCE.AUD file. It just patches it and you need a separate program to do that. The instruction are in the download page. And I have to say, the audio is significantly improved. Alternatively, the just released version of ScummVM includes code to implement the patch without changing the RESOURCE.AUD file. I actually found this to be more effective. I still hear the occasional pop when using the patched file in DOSBox, but I didn't hear any popping in ScummVM. I know some people are a little cold towards ScummVM, but right now I think it offers the best experience.

[Collector]

Usually poping in SCI games can be fixed simply by using the Thunderboard driver instead of the SB. The only game that I have found that this does not help is RAMA.

[Tawmis]

Am I crazy? (Wait, don't answer that). I actually don't recall any popping/cracking during my (somewhat recent?) play through of GK1. Either that, or I was oblivious to it.

But that's cool that someone found a fix for those that do see it.

Er, hear it.

[notbobsmith]

Usually poping in SCI games can be fixed simply by using the Thunderboard driver instead of the SB. The only game that I have found that this does not help is RAMA.

I tried playing with "audioDrv = DACTHUND.DRV" in the RESOURCE.CFG file. It seemed to be an improvement over the SoundBlaster driver, but I still heard some pops in the audio.

Am I crazy? (Wait, don't answer that). I actually don't recall any popping/cracking during my (somewhat recent?) play through of GK1. Either that, or I was oblivious to it.

But that's cool that someone found a fix for those that do see it.

Er, hear it.

Listening to your video, there are a few random pops here in there in the beginning with Gabriel and Grace speaking. It's pretty noticeable at ~5:09 when Grace says "to speak" or 6:36 when Grace says "the devil himself".

[Tawmis]

Listening to your video, there are a few random pops here in there in the beginning with Gabriel and Grace speaking. It's pretty noticeable at ~5:09 when Grace says "to speak" or 6:36 when Grace says "the devil himself".

Oh yeah. I went to the 5:09 - and even just before then there's a quick pop. I think I was thinking it was a louder pop, probably why I never really paid attention. But yeah, I can hear it.

[Collector]

The first one sounds more like soundFX of stirring his coffee. The 2nd one does sound unintentional, but is still not too intrusive.