The snapshot feature is very unstable when SonicStage is used. One small mistake and the emulator freezes permanently with Java error when loading from snapshot.
I suggest disabling snapshot feature when audio decoding with sonicStage is enabled until a solution is found. Sometimes, even if the emulator doesn't freeze after the snapshot load, all text is missing (from dialogues to menu options and sub menus); and if the emulator didn't freeze at first, it much probably will once the game characters leave the room / area they are in.
For final Fantasy IV Complete Collection and probably any Final Fantasy based game, these are the conditions to avoid an emulation freeze via snapshot load:
1.If you are in a battle and saved a snapshot, only load that snapshot during that battle (applies to all battles random or boss battles altogether);
2. Do not save during screen break effect before boss battles;
3.If you are in a town / village's building and saved, make sure you load the snapshot while you are in the same building;
4. If you are in a town / village outdoors and saved, make sure you load the snapshot while you are in the same town / village outdoors;
5. If you saved during a dialogue make sure you load the snapshot only when the exact same sentence spoken by the same character is shown on screen;
6. When a menu or sub menu is shown and you saved make sure you load while the same menu or sub menu is shown and the same menu item is selected. Applies to all game menus: start up menu, in game main menu and all sub menus, shopping menus and so on;
7. If you are in a dungeon and saved make sure you load snapshot while in the same room or area of the same level; be careful, complex dungeons have multiple areas / rooms located at the same level of altitude;
8. All above conditions needs to be complied simultaneously which is clearly very difficult and will definitely screw up sooner or later.
I suggest disabling snapshot feature when audio decoding with sonicStage is enabled until a solution is found. Sometimes, even if the emulator doesn't freeze after the snapshot load, all text is missing (from dialogues to menu options and sub menus); and if the emulator didn't freeze at first, it much probably will once the game characters leave the room / area they are in.
For final Fantasy IV Complete Collection and probably any Final Fantasy based game, these are the conditions to avoid an emulation freeze via snapshot load:
1.If you are in a battle and saved a snapshot, only load that snapshot during that battle (applies to all battles random or boss battles altogether);
2. Do not save during screen break effect before boss battles;
3.If you are in a town / village's building and saved, make sure you load the snapshot while you are in the same building;
4. If you are in a town / village outdoors and saved, make sure you load the snapshot while you are in the same town / village outdoors;
5. If you saved during a dialogue make sure you load the snapshot only when the exact same sentence spoken by the same character is shown on screen;
6. When a menu or sub menu is shown and you saved make sure you load while the same menu or sub menu is shown and the same menu item is selected. Applies to all game menus: start up menu, in game main menu and all sub menus, shopping menus and so on;
7. If you are in a dungeon and saved make sure you load snapshot while in the same room or area of the same level; be careful, complex dungeons have multiple areas / rooms located at the same level of altitude;
8. All above conditions needs to be complied simultaneously which is clearly very difficult and will definitely screw up sooner or later.