Ultrasound Daily Digest     Thu, 26 Aug 93       Volume 5: Issue  25  

Today's Topics:
							 .wav format
						  Answers to Digest
				  Can't understand why you complain
				 Freeware Functionality (PowerChords)
						  Midi Patch mixups
			   MidiSoft Recording Session Difficulties
								 MODs
								  NT
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #24

Standard Info:
	- Meta-info about the GUS can be found at the end of the Digest.
	- Before you ask a question, please READ THE FAQ.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 22:01:44 -0400
From: Martin Talbot <talbot@info.polymtl.ca>
Subject: .wav format
Message-ID: <199308260201.AA13143@info.polymtl.ca>

Does anybody know where I can find some info about the .wav format ???

		Thank !

talbot@info.polymtl.ca

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 20:37:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: CWSMART@delphi.com
Subject: Answers to Digest
Message-ID: <01H26BUMISUW99FEYO@delphi.com>

nswers to Digest questions"
I enjoy reading the questions asked and problems expressed--but I do not
see very many answers being posted.  Is there a reason for this.  I sell
the GUS boards and many of the questions asked and problems posed could
and do come up at times I'd like to be able to provide answers.  Do you 
provide the answers to the sender privately or can be subscribe
to that side of the program?  

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 93 09:02:15 EDT
From: "Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems" <71333.2166@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Can't understand why you complain
Message-ID: <930825130215_71333.2166_DHQ37-4@CompuServe.COM>

> From <dantonio@magick.tay2.dec.com>

>> Come on Gravis, either include software that works and is well coded
>> (not a quickly stripped down version of a commercial product), or don't
>> include any at all.

>> I'd like to echo this message and direct it to both MidiSoft and Howling
>> Dog. Charging big bucks (I consider $75 to be big bucks) for the "Pro"
>> version of your program when you've stripped out the more useful features
>> in the "free" version, isn't exactly a cool thing. I've seen a few
>> responses from Eric Bell saying basically, "Oh, you can't do that with
>> PowerChords, get PowerChords Pro [out real soon now] for $75." Or the
>> hacked up helpfile in Recording Session that lists options that don't
>> exist.

> DDA, this is not the first time you have leapt to incorrect conclusions.
> The version of Power Chords bundled with the GUS was identical to the 
> full, regular version except for two things - we limited the instrument
> config features, and we set it up so it could only use the GUS drivers.
> This program has never been shareware, and was not stripped from the PRO
> version. At the time we delivered the software to Gravis, version 1.0 was
> all that was shipping, not 1.1 and not PRO. Version 1.0 listed for $85.00
> I'd say that GUS customers got a good deal.

> Flaming companies when you don't know the facts is not a 'cool' thing
> either. When someone wants to know how to do something using our software
> and the GUS version doesn't have the feature, and the PRO version does, of
> course I am going to point it out. I'm not forcing them to buy the darn
> thing, am I?

>> Either include full-featured versions of software that WORKS or don't
>> include anything. Getting shareware (wconvert.exe) or "stripped" programs
>> doesn't reflect well on anyone, especially Gravis...

> Our software is not a 'quickly stripped down' version or poorly coded.
> And it isn't 'free' either. Gravis has spent a lot of money to get these
> bundled programs out to its users. 

> Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 93 10:22:21 MDT
From: Stuart Yoshida <yoshida@elektra.fc.hp.com>
Subject: Re: Freeware Functionality (PowerChords)
Message-ID: <9308251622.AA17875@elektra.fc.hp.com>

"Momentary language, sexual situations" <dantonio@magick.tay2.dec.com>
writes:
>[tale of woes using Recording Session deleted]
>>          Come on Gravis, either include software that works and is well coded
>> (not a quickly stripped down version of a commercial product), or don't
>> include any at all.
>
>I'd like to echo this message and direct it to both MidiSoft and Howling
>Dog. Charging big bucks (I consider $75 to be big bucks) for the "Pro"
>version of your program when you've stripped out the more useful features
>in the "free" version, isn't exactly a cool thing. I've seen a few
>responses from Eric Bell saying basically, "Oh, you can't do that with
>PowerChords, get PowerChords Pro [out real soon now] for $75." Or the
>hacked up helpfile in Recording Session that lists options that don't
>exist.

 I have used both MidiSoft Recording Session and PowerChords, and I'd
 like to add my comments.

 *  I agree that the included GUS freeware should have a certain level
	of functionality, and that some of the software does *NOT* meet that
	minimum level of functionality (MLF).

 *  I think MidiSoft Recording Session in particular does not meet the
	MLF.  The message from here is this:  "EITHER IMPROVE MIDISOFT
	RECORDING SESSION OR LOSE IT ALTOGETHER!"

 *  However, I believe that PowerChords has more than enough
	functionality in the GUS version for most musical hobbyists.  And
	for $15 more, you can get v1.1 that has a slightly better and more
	robust interface.

	If you are a serious musician and are expecting PowerChords to be on
	the same level as Cakewalk Pro for Windows, then I think you have
	unrealistic expectations.  PowerChords, as it is shipped with the
	GUS, has the MLF needed to successfully compose and sequence a song.

	Take a listen to the song I sequenced using PowerChords v1.1 (it's
	on EPAS in the MIDI song file directory archived in a file called
	toytrain.zip).  I sequenced that song using PowerChords, and that
	was done *WITHOUT* a MIDI keyboard.  All I used was my mouse.

	I was thoroughly impressed by the ease of use of PowerChords.  In a
	couple of hours I had a song sequenced with rhythm, bass, and melody
	tracks.  I spent the next couple of hours tweaking little bits of
	the song, basically polishing it up.

	REMEMBER:  PowerChords is a simple four-track sequencer that was
	designed to quickly and easily create a song.  It's very basic, but
	it does its intended job quite well.

	I perceive MidiSoft Recording Studio to be the sequencer that you
	use to really flesh out the song you created with PowerChords, and
	MidiSoft has failed in this respect.  Not so for PowerChords.

	Keep on GUS'ing,

--

  Stuart Yoshida

Internet: yoshida@elektra.fc.hp.com
   Voice: (303) 229-2324

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 12:41:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Seymour <yaga@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Midi Patch mixups
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05z.9308251204.A25485-a100000@carson.u.washington.edu>

	 Lately, as I have been playing my midi files, there seems to have been
some, er, confusion.  What happens is when a file is playing and a new
instrument is used, almost always in the rhythm section, it is not the
correct instrument.  For example, in jonbgood right after the intro when
the bass comes in, the bass doesn't come in.  What _does_ come in is this
really annoying dog bark and later on a whistle joins the fray.
	Originally, I thought it was just the composer having a little fun
with the tune.  However, since that time it has happened quite a bit.  Today,
for example, while playing Bach's Fugue in Dminor, the same thing
happened (the dog bark, that is).  Ugh.  So basically I have two questions:
	1.)  Why?
	2.)  How can I fix it?  (I tried disabling the tracks, but to no avail)
Thank you all for any help in advance!
Chris
yaga@u.washington.edu

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 93 13:20:11  GMT
From: aswani@sound.demon.co.uk (Robert Aswani)
Subject: MidiSoft Recording Session Difficulties
Message-ID: <746310011snx@sound.demon.co.uk>

In reply to Bob Schmanski's letter regarding Midisoft Recording Session:

If you've only got one meg of ram left in Windows, you should be getting out 
of memory problems. If you've got a 386, create some virtual memory. Use the 
386 enhanced option in the control pannel to do this.

As for your other problems in MRS, they are all to do with your system, your 
system configuration and Mircrosoft's Windows. So don't blame Gravis and 
Midisoft, they have supplied a perfectly good peice of software. 
							 
							 
												 
					  |        Robert Aswani       |
					  |                            |
					  |  Aswani@Sound.Demon.Co.Uk  |
												 

				   
			   

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 15:50:07 -0400
From: Alex Harden <harden@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Subject: MODs
Message-ID: <199308251950.PAA23925@lictor.acsu.buffalo.edu>

i've had my GUS for a while, but have just recently gotten into the
composition of MODs and am interested in composing some.  is there a MOD
creator/composer that has a decent user interface; i ask this because, as a
newbie, when i tried the "ripper" mod editor i didn't understand how to do
one thing.

i truly am clueless about this, so if anyone would point me toward better
info and tools than the modform.zip text file that didn't do me a whole lot
of good, i would be in their debt.

what i would define as a "decent user interface" given my glimpse at the
scrolling info that Gusmod gives would be one where one could first create
a table of patches ("samples" in this genre?) and then edit each "piece" of
music (the 4-channel scroll) in a spreadsheet format.  are there different
MOD formats that use more than 4 channels?  doesn't the GUS have 32 channels?

any info greatly appreciated...
thanks,
alex
--
alex harden-------------- "if we forget yesterday, we're bound to repeat it
university at buffalo----  tomorrow; it's not too late to start today,
harden@acsu.buffalo.edu--  better off safe, than sorry."
v409epk3@ubvms.bitnet----                     - extreme, "stop the world"

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 14:04:19 -0700
From: Steve Smoot <smoot@postgres.Berkeley.EDU>
Subject: NT
Message-ID: <199308252104.OAA08084@roger-rabbit.cs.berkeley.edu>

So, has anyone installed NT with the GUS in the machine?
For me (on two radically different computers) the GUS crashed
setup while it was looking for network cards...
Reinstalling with the GUS removed worked.
-s

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 93 12:46:22 BST
From: James Andrews <james@vortex1.exeter.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #24
Message-ID: <21057.9308251146@euclid.vortex1.exeter.ac.uk>

> From: jericho!gord (Gord Wait S-MOS Systems Vancouver Design Center)
> Subject: MidiSoft Recording Session Difficulties
> 
> I too had lots of problems with MRS, I stopped using it. Too bad,
> cause it looks like a decent user interface. I'll be spending my 
> cash on PowerChords Pro in a few weeks. 
> 
> My message to Midisoft is that I won't be purchasing their
> "full blown" version based on my experience with the freebie version.
> I think the demo version kind of backfired...

For me too.  Its learning curve is something like: 

'agggh this is too slow to run'
'oh I see thats how you put notes in'
'ah thats an easier way to cut and paste'
'out of memory? why?'
'I give up. Wheres that copy of winjammer?'

Midisoft studio doesnt have *any* killer features and crashes all the time.

At least Powerchords has a good drum rhythm thing.

Mr. Howling Dog should write a big list of all the features that his new 'Pro'
version has and post it on here.  Im a bit dubious about buying software that
I havent even seen described.  For instance if Im going to pay out even a 
small amount of cash like $75 the flippin' midi import-export had better be
a bit more flexible and even user friendly than in the version bundled with
the GUS.  Will the string bending on the instrument be recordable?  I could
go on....


-- 
James Andrews, Computer Development Officer, Exeter University Maths Dept

------------------------------

End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #25
*************************************
