On: Modder re-creates Game Boy Advance games using the...

[freeqaz]

Would it be possible to get a higher quality read from using something like an Arduino's I/O pins and some bit-banged C code? I'd be curious to see what would be possible using cheap, off-the-shelf tools since a lot of people don't necessarily have an oscilloscope laying around. :P

[fodkodrasz → freeqaz]

Without looking up datasheets, just form the top of my head: the Arduino DAC most likely has 12 bits resolution (as common for cheap uCs), and maybe even slower sampling than a soundcard. A sound card was probably better than that even in the 1990s (say a Sound Blaster).

[aidenn0 → fodkodrasz]

The original Sound Blaster could only record at 8-bit resolution at up to 12 kHz. The 2.0 could record at up to 15kHz, still 8-bit.

The second generation of Sound Blaster was the first that could record at 44kHz (mono) sampling rate, but was still only 8-bits of resolution.

It wasn't until the 3rd generation Sound Blaster 16 that 16-bit audio could be recorded.

[fodkodrasz → aidenn0]

Hmm, I had (false) memories of better capabilities. Though my first soundcard was an SB Pro clone, later an SB16, both almost capable :)