Wave file problems

This page discusses differences in the RIFF wave file header format for a system wave file from Win3.1, Win95 and a file recorded in Win95 with the MS standard SoundRec application. All 3 files are exactly the same format, namely 22050 Hz sampling rate, 8 bit mono and all three property sheets in Win95 look the same except for their file sizes. Note that according to part of the official RIFF wave spec, the wave file header can contain several other chunks, apart from the required format and data chunks. (Note that several upgrades to the SB16 drivers have been installed as shown by the SB16 properties drivers sheet at the bottom.)

Win3.1 system Chord.wav file

(Note that there is NO fact chunk in header which is optional according to wave spec.)

Win95 system Chord.wav file

(Note that there IS a fact chunk followed by 8 bytes before "data")

Win95 SoundRec test.wav file

(Note that this **IS STRANGE**!! There seems to be TWO EXTRA BYTES (36, 37) before the fact chunk which does not seem to fit into the spec?! Because of these extra bytes, programs like Wham (for Win3.1) fail on reading files created with SoundRec95)

SB16 System Properties Sheet

 1/9/96  M. Gallant  Win95 

        Selected Resource Report  -  Page: 1 
       ******************** SYSTEM DEVICE ********************

       Class: Sound, video and game controllers
       Device: Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or AWE-32
       Resources:
         IRQ: 05
         I/O: 0220h-022Fh
         I/O: 0330h-0331h
         I/O: 0388h-038Bh
         DMA: 01
         DMA: 05
       Device drivers:
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\cspman.dll
           File size: 0 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.12.1
           Copyright: Copyright (C) Creative Technology Ltd. 1994-1995
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\sb16.vxd
           File size: 4168 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.28.1 
           Copyright: Copyright (C) Creative Technology Ltd. 1994-1996 
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\sbfm.drv
           File size: 4128 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.11
           Copyright: Copyright (C) Creative Technology Ltd. 1994-1995
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\sb16snd.drv
           File size: 8288 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.28.7
           Copyright: Copyright (C) Creative Technology Ltd. 1994-1996
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0200.acv
           File size: 12976 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.02
           Copyright: Copyright c Creative Technology Ltd.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0200a.csp
           File size: 2238 bytes.
           No version information.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0201.acv
           File size: 5184 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.02
           Copyright: Copyright c Creative Technology Ltd.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0201a.csp
           File size: 6776 bytes.
           No version information.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0202.acv
           File size: 49792 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.02
           Copyright: Copyright c Creative Technology Ltd.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0202a.csp
           File size: 9004 bytes.
           No version information.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0203.acv

       Selected Resource Report  -  Page: 2

           File size: 60240 bytes.
           Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd.
           File version: 4.02
           Copyright: Copyright c Creative Technology Ltd.
         C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wfm0203a.csp
           File size: 9004 bytes.
           No version information.

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