> > My list was only there to try and prove the point that Russ has > > made -- pick a most common format and stick with it. Convert > > everything else into it. > By this logic, I need to have my application to convert CDROM-XA ADPCM > audio from a device into PCM just to talk to an interface, which in turn > must convert it back into ADPCM to play it back because the DMA > transfers to the audio hardware buffer require ADPCM.
the problem with supporting everything the hardware will do is that it's quite expensive in terms of development time. and that is the scarce resource that needs to be optimized. it also will make the interfaces much bulkier because you have to make accomidations for the quirks of n formats. you're right, there is a cost. simple is expensive. - erik
