Nintendo Switch Main Thread

[Derb]

meh, just seems odd to me they don't support basic codecs. LPCM is perfectly fine for gaming sound. Most third party games use either Dolby or dts.

Some positive "Rumor" news for NX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMtHYa7S-3g

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by Derb

Better Sound?

Has nothing to do with video. They are just too cheap to pay the royalty fee.

Better sound?

Wii U supports LPCM 5.1. Which is uncompressed raw surround sound. Which is simply better than for example lossy compressed Dolby Digital 5.1.

Dolby Digital 5.1 would be useful in case Wii U had an optical out port, but it doesn't. Only then would it be useful for legacy receivers, because optical out is limited to LPCM 2.0 b/c of bandwidth. And it's not just about royalty fees, but they would have also needed to use a "better" DSP, which supports compressing audio that way. And why bother, when you can send uncompressed audio directly instead?

[Derb]

Originally Posted by jimidini

Better sound?

Wii U supports LPCM 5.1. Which is uncompressed raw surround sound. Which is simply better than for example lossy compressed Dolby Digital 5.1.

Dolby Digital 5.1 would be useful in case Wii U had an optical out port, but it doesn't. Only then would it be useful for legacy receivers.

Ok then.

I'd go on & on about the audio but I simply don't care to. LPCM is a means to carry lossless sound. Doesn't mean LPCM tracks are. Given the file sizes of Wii U games, I doubt any are in fact lossless so actually having LPCM is "kinda" pointless in the Wii U.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by Derb

Ok then.

I'd go on & on about the audio but I simply don't care to. LPCM is a means to carry lossless sound. Doesn't mean LPCM tracks are. Given the file sizes of Wii U games, I doubt any are in fact lossless so actually having LPCM is "kinda" pointless in the Wii U.

All sorts of games use compressed audio internally of course. Which may or may not be lossy compression. They may also use FLAC.

Anyway those third party Dolby Digital games just uncompress audio assets, mix them together and then send this uncompressed stream (LPCM) to the audio chip, which creates a lossy Dolby Digital track on-the-fly, which means the audio quality is worse in any case, because in the worst case 2 lossy compressions/decompressions are applied and not just 1. If you own a PS3 and you also own a HDMI receiver, you should always choose LPCM 5.1 and not Dolby Digital.

The only actual problem is for example Netflix delivering stereo only on Wii U, if I remember correctly. Still that's a Netflix problem, because they could implement Dolby Digital decompression via software (or use another codec) and then still send LPCM audio out. They would then have to pay fees of course, but why should I when I don't watch movies on Wii U?

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by Derb

Given the file sizes of Wii U games, I doubt any are in fact lossless so actually having LPCM is "kinda" pointless in the Wii U.

At least the games' tunes don't sound like crap as they did on Wii games.

I love Brawl's vocal opening but it was partially ruined by the low quality sound.

[dyne]

Originally Posted by jimidini

The only actual problem is for example Netflix delivering stereo only on Wii U, if I remember correctly.

Iirc this was also a problem with games as well. Some are in stereo and would only output from the center channel. I think they later fixed it but I can't say 100%.

[dyne]

Rumor that they might use an all AMD APU for the NX. Not good for backwards compatibility (if this is to replace the Wii U).

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/201...o_nx_processor

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dyne

Rumor that they might use an all AMD APU for the NX. Not good for backwards compatibility (if this is to replace the Wii U).

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/201...o_nx_processor

Is that the same AMD mentioned in the video above I posted?

[dyne]

No. Totally different.

[Show spoiler]I don't normally watch posted videos, so if that was already mentioned I didn't catch it.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by dyne

Iirc this was also a problem with games as well. Some are in stereo and would only output from the center channel. I think they later fixed it but I can't say 100%.

When the game doesn't output surround sound, then that's a game problem. I mean every game outputs raw audio samples, which is LPCM in any case on all consoles.

Some games just compress the sound using DTS or Dolby Digital right after that and this step isn't needed or possible on Wii U.

I remember people complaining about Half-Life 2 on PS3 about exactly this issue. Those people said, that the game was stereo only, which is somewhat true and somewhat not true. The game actually did support surround sound, but LPCM 5.1 only, which means people, who use optical cables did get stereo sound only. This was also not a PS3 issue, but actually a game-specific issue.

Oh and right, originally (all) Wii games had stereo sound only on Wii U, because of some issue. Nintendo fixed this and Wii games output Dolby Pro Logic II (which is surround sound encoded into a stereo signal) on Wii U as they should have. That actually was a firmware issue.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by jimidini

When the game doesn't output surround sound, then that's a game problem. I mean every game outputs raw audio samples, which is LPCM in any case on all consoles.

Some games just compress the sound using DTS or Dolby Digital right after that and this step isn't needed or possible on Wii U.

I remember people complaining about Half-Life 2 on PS3 about exactly this issue. Those people said, that the game was stereo only, which is somewhat true and somewhat not true. The game actually did support surround sound, but LPCM 5.1 only, which means people, who use optical cables did get stereo sound only. This was also not a PS3 issue, but actually a game-specific issue.

Oh and right, originally (all) Wii games had stereo sound only on Wii U, because of some issue. Nintendo fixed this and Wii games output Dolby Pro Logic II (which is surround sound encoded into a stereo signal) on Wii U as they should have. That actually was a firmware issue.

Mario should of had 5.1 @ launch.

One thing I don't mind when they compress LPCM into either Dolby or dts is you will get better bass management & it also dials up the overall db levels.
Yep the sound quality ain't lossless so I know it's not the best.. Loudest, yes.

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by dyne

Rumor that they might use an all AMD APU for the NX. Not good for backwards compatibility (if this is to replace the Wii U).

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/201...o_nx_processor

It was bound to happen and since Nintendo's getting used to having an online service it could mean they'll sell their games all digitally.

eShop is still freaking primitive as well as how the online's handled on 3DS and Wii U.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

It was bound to happen and since Nintendo's getting used to having an online service it could mean they'll sell their games all digitally.

eShop is still freaking primitive as well as how the online's handled on 3DS and Wii U.

My only complaint about VC is game icons don't tell you what platform the game is from. As for downloading them, I've rarely come across any issue. Also my Wii U games are all digital. I guess maybe a nitpick would be they change their store layout like once a week.

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by Derb

My only complaint about VC is game icons don't tell you what platform the game is from. As for downloading them, I've rarely come across any issue. Also my Wii U games are all digital. I guess maybe a nitpick would be they change their store layout like once a week.

Even though the eShop is supported by different controllers it still feels very much made for unique use with the GamePad. Surely Nintendo could change that.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

Even though the eShop is supported by different controllers it still feels very much made for unique use with the GamePad. Surely Nintendo could change that.

Havnt tried browsing the store without it yet..

I hadn't checked the latest firmware options added in awhile & maybe I missed it.. (Prob not)

Is there a way to turn on the system with a different controller & not have the GamePad screen turn on? That would be awesome!

[dyne]

No but you can always press the home button, controller options, turn off screen. I do this all the time when using my Classic Plus.

[ps3bd_owner]

It works but it feels very awkward, same thing goes for Miiverse when trying to write a message using a WUPC/Wiimote/CCP.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dyne

No but you can always press the home button, controller options, turn off screen. I do this all the time when using my Classic Plus.

Thanks. I turn on system with Pro, pick up Gamepad, turn off screen, put back on charge cradle. Then I sit down & usually end up turning off the system.

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by Derb

Thanks. I turn on system with Pro, pick up Gamepad, turn off screen, put back on charge cradle. Then I sit down & usually end up turning off the system.

You don't use the Quick Menu feature? Whole lot better than turning it on to the main menu then pressing X thing.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

You don't use the Quick Menu feature? Whole lot better than turning it on to the main menu then pressing X thing.

Why does it have to be soo difficult to be able to turn on a system with 1 controller & not have .um. Like 2 turn on?