Ultrasound Daily Digest     Mon, 26 Apr 1993     Volume 3 : Issue  26 

Today's Topics:
				   2nd Attempt - Alone In The Dark
						2nd Attempt - Cakewalk
						   Dune II and SBOS
			Dune II Problems with my Soundblaster Blow...
						   Memory Problems
				  Miscellaneous GUS for music things
							  StarCon II
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #23
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #24
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #25

	Information about the UltraSound Daily Digest (such as
mail addresses, request servers, ftp sites, etc., etc.) can be found
at the end of the Digest.

	*** HEY!!! *** 

	Before you ask a question, *** READ THE FAQ ***.  It's
available on the request server and the ftp sites, or check the
newsgroup archives.


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

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 93 00:22:19 +0200
From: chief@lysator.liu.se
Subject: 2nd Attempt - Alone In The Dark
Message-ID: <9304252222.AA13700@ruben.lysator.liu.se>

In GUS Digest Vol.3 #20 whubis@teal.csn.org (Walter A. Hubis) writes:

>>        Has anyone else had any problems with the GUS with the 
>>Alone in the Dark demo?  When I choose digitized sound effects with
>>the Soundblaster DMA, I get this strange garbage out of my speakers,
>>it sounds almost like a voice talking backwards.  The music is
>>fine, but the digitized sound effects all sound like garbage.

[stuff deleted]

>>              Installed the new installation disks (2.01)
>>              Installed the new SBOS (2.04)

Finally! Another voice, except mine (which no-one noticed) about ALONE!
Yes, yes, yes! After installing the new set of disks and SBOS 2.04, those
backward-talking sounds appear. It has nothing to do with DOS 6.0 or
the amount of memory on the GUS unfortunately. I have tried everything
I could think of to fix this, but the only remedy is to use them old
SBOS drivers. 1.22 works best for me. What on earth did you do to SBOS
Gravis?

> Anyone else had problems with Doublespace? Does it use a DMA channel?

Like I said, it isn't DOS 6.0 at all that causes these mysterious
satanists (haha) in ALONE IN THE DARK. It's the new set of disks
together with SBOS 2.04.


markus@info.umoncton.ca (PAULIN MARC Y.) wrote:

>       Remember, select SoundBlaster WITH NO DMA!!!
										 ____

Are you kidding me? I don't want the game to be last in a race with
a turtle! It's so S-L-O-W without DMA, and the effects always come
too late without DMA. Go for working & tested versions of SBOS (like
ye good old v1.22) and DMA. That's what works best for me at least.

 -/- Erik

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

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 93 00:21:39 +0200
From: chief@lysator.liu.se
Subject: 2nd Attempt - Cakewalk
Message-ID: <9304252221.AA13694@ruben.lysator.liu.se>

In GUS Digest Vol.3 #20 CHRIS FORGERON <CS328A012@HUSKY1.STMARYS.CA> writes:

>  I've hear~rd much about this piece of software, but have yet to come across
> it. Can anyone tell me a FTP site where this is, or other means of obtaining
> this software?

Cakewalk [pro] is a commercial MIDI Sequencer that runs under Windoze (these
days it does at least) from Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. (I believe). A demo
circulated on the net a year or so ago, but I haven't seen it since. I guess
you'll have to contact your local dealer, or call them directly. I don't
have their phone number, sorry.

 -/- Erik

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1993 12:35:15 -0700
From: Eric N. Liao <liaoe@aero.org>
Subject: Dune II and SBOS
Message-ID: <199304251935.AA05631@aerospace.aero.org>

Someone said he couldn't get Dune II to function correctly with SBOS.

Just wondering, are you using an EMS manger like QEMM 6.0x?  I remember that
with QEMM loaded, the digitzied sounds worked fine (SBOS 2.04), however at the
end of the mission, the game just hung.  The guy is supposed to say "You have
completed your mission", but instead it hangs.

When I just use HIMEM.SYS, I don't have this problem.  However, I have to
"fight" in order to get 600,000 bytes free, otherwise there is no music.
 Hope this helps.

The vulcan gun noise is WAY OFF from the genuine Soundblaster (in Strike
Commander), otherwise I think the music is pretty similar.  At times it sounds
better than a SB, at times the GUS with SBOS sounds worse.

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

Date: 25 Apr 1993 22:05:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: PIRHANA MASTER <JKS4675@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Subject: Dune II Problems with my Soundblaster Blow...
Message-ID: <01GXFZGHFDDU9EDSWA@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>

It's interesting to read about the lockups in Dune II whenever you install the 
radar outpost. I have the same problem--this was after I applied the patch to upupgrade to v1.07; get in touch with me directly.

PS-Are you using OS/2?? That may be a partial cause. I am, if that matters         

Jeff

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 93 0:40:19 PDT
From: Vincent Poy <kingdom@CERF.NET>
Subject: Memory Problems
Message-ID: <9304250740.AA12794@nic.cerf.net>

Well, I hope someone can help me out, I bought memory for the GUS to
upgrade it to 1 MEG from 256K base memory... Well, I'm having the
following problem, with both GUSDRAM.EXE (GUS DRAM Tester), GUS Disk
v2.05 Setup Diagnostic DRAM Testing Utility, GUSTEST (GUS Tester):
I bought (6) NMBS Part Number: AAA1M304P-08 (44256-08) 80ns DRAM 
chips.... I installed all six off them and when I run the test,
it usually reports that the DRAM test failed.. then I remove two
chips from Bank 4 and the entire test passes so I brought those
two chips back to the store and exchange it for another two and 
then installed it and the same thing happened on the DRAM test.
so once again, I brought two chips back and exchange them again
for two new ones and the same thing happened again... This happened
for two more times so I finally decided to ask people in this
channel if they are having the same problem as I am.. I was won-
dering if it is the brand of the chips..... My GUS came with
NEC 80ns DRAMS so I was wondering if any of you have the same
DRAMS that came with your GUS?  Also, which brand of DRAMS have 
you found the GUS to be compatible with?  I'm considering getting
Texas Instruments 70ns 44256-07 DRAMS since the GUS Manuals recom-
mended Texas Instruments or equivilent fast page mode DRAM chips,
anyways, Help!!!!! Your help would be appreciated!

Vince

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

Date: 25 Apr 1993   13:49:28 PST
From: chrisw <chrisw@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Subject: Miscellaneous GUS for music things
Message-ID: <9304252050.AA09873@leland.Stanford.EDU>

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

Took my GUS back yesterday for a swap to see if I could get one that recorded
silence when there was silence (my last one had one of the ADCs moving back
and forth between 7A and 7B even with shorted inputs). Unfortunately, my
new one does as well, but it's 81 and 80 it moves between and it's the other
channel from the first one. This is a big improvement, though, because before
it was in the channel used for mono recording and now it's in the one used 
only for stereo recording. Makes me wonder, though: does my local store just
have a bad batch of GUSes or do they all have this problem? I think I've
decided to just live with it and wait for the 16-bit board to come out.
Speaking of which, wasn't it due out by now?

Anyway, a second story: the line input on the GUS IS a proper line input level.
If you're having problems getting adequate levels from a CD player going in the
line input, it probably means that someone has sold you some leads with built
in resistance. They do this because 3.5mm stereo -> RCA plugs is what people
might try to use to play back a walkman through a stereo system. Since they
would use the headphone out they build in resitance to stop them blowing up 
the input stages of their amplifiers I guess. Anyway, the bottom line is this.
Don't believe that leads that come in a packet that doesn't mention built in
resistance will actually not have any built in resistance.  

THe basic symptom to look for is this. If you plug your CD player into the
line in input with the volume on full in a noisy part of a CD this should 
cause the recording inputs to clip (reach maximum values). If it doesn't,
someone may have sold you stupid leads. Or, an alternative test, playing back
a CD through the line in input should not result in a lower volume level then
playing it back straight into the amplifier.

Yet another issue. Someone was asking about whether it was necessary to use the
WINDOWS MIDI MAPPER. The basic answer seems to be no, but it all depends on
your application software. Cakewalk for Windows does not need the midi mapper:
you just set up an MPU-401 and an Ultrasnd as different ports and send the
normal 16 midi channels to each of them. I think the Media player or whatever 
it's called does use it though. Other applications might as well.

One last thing: how many voices should you choose to have running in the 
Windows ultrasnd synth driver? Does it matter at all? And why the cryptic 
comment about precisely 14 voices on a 386SX? In particular, can anyone tell
me why I shouldn't ask to use the full 32??? (I'm using a 486DX33 if it makes
a difference). I really can't understand why you get a choice at all: if 
it's got 32 voices why can't we use 32 voices (less 2 for DACs)? Anyone know
anything about this mysterious issue?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated,

Chris.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 93 13:22:13 PDT
From: "JAMES HARGRAVE" <D1140167@BCIT.BC.CA>
Subject: StarCon II
Message-ID: <9304252033.AA17884@orca.es.com>

Hey, I remember reading something about a patch/fix for StarCon, can any one
send me any info on it?  I have some weird/neato problems with it.  Some times
when I'm playing the Super Melee the ships start making the wrong sound,
for example just the other day the human ship (when it fire's a missle) made
the sound(s) a Pkunk does when it is re-fueling.. it's not THAT anoying and
can sometimes be really funny but it would be nice to know if there is a way
to fix it.

Also, a few days ago I was playing against a friend, the phone rang, so
either we paused the game (or maybe we just let the game sit at the ship
choosing screen, ie. one of us had just died).. any way to cut a long story
short the game was silent for about 5-10 mins and then suddenly started
playing every sound starcon has all in a row, it scared the crap out of
my friend.

Other then these 2 small problems Star Control 2 is debateably the best game
I've ever played, so if any one has any ideas how I could fix these 2 problems
please let me know.. Thanks
							-James
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D1140167@bcit.bc.ca  -or- 1:153/769@fidonet.org -or- BBS:(604)261-6144/5735
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 93 0:43:02 PDT
From: Vincent Poy <kingdom@CERF.NET>
Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #23
Message-ID: <9304250743.AA12815@nic.cerf.net>

> Date: Fri, 23 Apr 93 13:26:56 CDT
> From: ddebry@itchy (Dave DeBry)
> Subject: Readers in the San Francisco area?
> Message-ID: <9304231926.AA07867@itchy>
> 
>   I've always wanted to meet readers from the list, and now I
> have the chance.
> 
>   I'm going to be in the San Francisco Bay area on May 4-6.  If
> any of you are out there and would like to get in touch, let me know.
> (Essentially, I'm going to have a lot of free time out there and I
> don't know anyone in the area, so I'm looking for something to do. :)
> 
>   I could make T-shirts...
> 
> 
> 
>             Dave DeBry 1993 World Tour
> 
>        May 4,5,6      San Francisco & the Bay area
> 
> 
>   ;-)
> 
>
Well, I'm in San Francisco and would be glad to meet you! :) 

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

Date: 26 Apr 93 14:35:56 U
From: "zz Paul Murgatroyd" <zz_paul_murgatroyd@macmail.bu.oz.au>
Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #24
Message-ID: <9304260437.AA06821@kirk.bu.oz.au>

>Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 19:03:01 -0700
>From: Eric N. Liao <liaoe@aero.org>
>Subject: Strike Commander and SBOS
>Message-ID: <199304240203.AA13992@aerospace.aero.org>

>Amazingly, Strike Commander works fine with SBOS (at least on my system, a
>486sx/33 with 8megs RAM and MSDOS-5, QEMM 6.02, etc.etc.etc)

Works on mine as well..(486DX/50, 16 meg RAM, QEMM 6.02).

>However, I tried Strike Commander at Egghead, and I did notice one horribly
>wrong sound effect.  The vulcan gun on SBOS sounds like this horibly high-
>pitched whine...worse yet it sounds like it's clipping (too loud for the GF1.)

I would think this has quite a bit to do with the SBOS choice od instrument. If
Origin had used a digital sound instead, we would not have this problem. 

>The real noise (on a genuine SB) is a noise that I can only describe as a
>repeating drum.  It sounds decent, but I liked the gun noise in Jetfighter II
>more.

I reacquired my Sound Galaxy NX from a friend (I had only lent it to him) when
I heard the crappy machine gun noise when using SBOS. I am now using my Sound
Galaxy for Strike Commander, and the UltraSound for everything else.

>Are their any digital SFX in the game?  The only I can find are in the intro.

Yes, there are....bombs dropping, missiles firing, targets blowing up, and
things of that nature. 

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

Date: 26 Apr 93 14:41:20 U
From: "zz Paul Murgatroyd" <zz_paul_murgatroyd@macmail.bu.oz.au>
Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #25
Message-ID: <9304260438.AA06838@kirk.bu.oz.au>

>Date: Sat, 24 Apr 93 10:24:15 MES
>From: fischer@tmpmbx.netmbx.de (Axel Fischer)
>Subject: Strike Commander & GUS


>Options are -o2 and -p. 

Funny that...I am using SBOS 2.04, and I needed no options at all.

>Absolutly great, digitized speech is great too. Engine noise is a bit
>off, but I can live with all. All other things are ok.

The gun noise is crap, and the usual problem with odd sounding FM music is
evident (ie:it sounds pretty bad in places, like when drums are used). If you
dislike the engine noise, you may find the in game music to be more tolerable.

>I get the speech package today, but i would guess it will work like SC.

Yes, it works with the speech pack, just as you would expect.

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End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #26
*************************************
