Appendix F. User feedback
149
F.2.2 Features we will not implement
This is a list of Feature Requests we get repeatedly that we simply cannot do. View it
as the opposite of a TODO!
•
Record to WAV (uncompressed) or MP3pro format!
The recording hardware (the MAS) does not allow us to do this
•
Crossfade between tracks!
Crossfading would require two mp3 decoders, and we only have one. This is not
possible.
•
Support MP3pro, WMA or other sound format playback!
The mp3-decoding hardware can only play MP3. We cannot make it play other
sound formats.
•
Converting OGG
→
MP3
The mp3-decoding hardware cannot decode OGG. It can be reprogrammed, but
there is too little memory for OGG and we have no documentation on how to
program the MAS’ DSP. Doing the conversion with the CPU is impossible, since
a 12MHz SH1 is far too slow for this daunting task.
•
Archos Multimedia support!
The Archos Multimedia is a completely different beast. It is an entirely differ-
ent architecture, different CPU and upgrading the software is done a completely
different way. We do not wish to venture into this. Others may do so. We will
not.
•
Multi-band (or graphic) equaliser
We cannot access information for that kind of visualisation from the MP3 decoding
hardware.
•
CBR recording!
The MP3 encoding hardware does not allow this.
•
Change tempo of a song without changing pitch!
The MP3 decoding hardware does not allow this.
•
Graphic frequency (spectrum analyser!)
We cannot access the audio waveform from the MP3 decoder so we cannot analyse
it. Even if we had access to it, the CPU would probably be too slow to perform
the analysis anyway.
•
Cool sound effects!
Adding new sound effects requires reprogramming the MAS chip, and we cannot
do that. The MAS chip is programmable, but we have no access to the chip
documentation.
The Rockbox manual
Archos Recorder