GUS Daily Digest            Sat, 26 Feb 94 0 :07 erv     Volume 11: Issue  24 

Today's Topics:
		 DIGEST ADMIN:  *** READ ME!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!! ***
						DOS Sequencer for GUS
						  GUS bad reviews...
				  GUS Daily Digest V11 #23 (2 msgs)
					  Help with OS/2 2.1 and GUS
				  How to make GUS & PAS16 co-exist ?
							Linear volume
								Moose!
					 My idea for GUS for Newbies
								sc2000
						  Software upgrades
						   Syndicate & GUS
						WfW 3.11, VFX1, Triton

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: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 16:20:36 -0700 (MST)
From: Dave DeBry <ddebry@dsd.es.com>
Subject: DIGEST ADMIN:  *** READ ME!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!! ***

	You may have noticed that today's Digests came from a
different site, namely mail.orst.edu.  This is a permanent change.
Thanks to Kean Stump for providing a site for the move.  Please update
your mail aliases to reflect the following new addresses:

GUS Daily Digest:       gus-general-request@mail.orst.edu
	Purpose:        General Gravis Ultrasound topics.
	To post:        gus-general@mail.orst.edu
	To talk to a human: gus-general-owner@mail.orst.edu

GUS Musician's Digest:      gus-music-request@mail.orst.edu
	Purpose:        For Gravis Ultrasound musicians.
	To post:        gus-music@mail.orst.edu
	To talk to a human: gus-music-owner@mail.orst.edu

GUS Programmer's Digest:    gus-sdk-request@mail.orst.edu
	Purpose:        For Gravis Ultrasound programmers.
	To post:        gus-sdk@mail.orst.edu
	To talk to a human: gus-general-sdk@mail.orst.edu

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

*** GUS WARNING!!! ***
	Neither the GUS lists or the list operator are owned or
	operated by Gravis.  Please don't mail your complaints
	concerning the Ultrasound to the list owner.  There are 
	Gravis employees on the lists, so post your problems there.

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



-- 
Dave  ddebry@ debry@   \ "Hey Rocky!  Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."
DeBry dsd.    peruvian. |"Aw, that trick never works." 
	  es.     cs.utah.  |"Shut up, you damn squirrel!  I'm sick and tired
	  com     edu      /  of your !@%$%& pessimistic attitude!"

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 12:20:16 -0500
From: Christian Fowler <cfowler@csugrad.cs.vt.edu>
Subject: DOS Sequencer for GUS

Hi I'm not a DOS/Windows user but a friend of mine just bought one. He has
a 286. The problem is getting a sequencer for it. The windows Midi driver
for the GUS requires a 386. So is there anything for DOS out there?

I'm not subscribed to this newsgroup because I don't want my mailbox littered

please email any info to

cfowler@csugrad.cs.vt.edu

thanks

christian

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 16:16:42 -0500 (EST)
From: gt7039a@acme.gatech.edu (An anonymous word of wisdom.)
Subject: GUS bad reviews...

There has been a lot of talk in the Digest about the GUS getting bad
reviews or not getting reviewed. Frankly, I'm not surprised that the GUS
is getting bad reviews... since the average computer user wishes for
plug n' play type operation, and the GUS is far from being plug n'
play... well, a computer magazine would downgrade the GUS for that
reason alone. Especially since it's strength, which lies in it's
digitized music playback (32 channels sound MUCH better on a GUS then
on any other card) and it's General MIDI, is not what most consumers are
wanting: a card to play games with. And, while the GUS has great sound
with games that support it, the Adlib emulation is not up to par.

Frankly, I think that if Gravis made a card with the built in Adlib
emulation it would solve about 3/4 of the incompatibility complaints out
there... because SBOS seems to be the thing that I would fault the GUS
the most for, and there's no known software way that I can think of
around it... But then again, we must ask who Gravis is marketing this
card for?

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 8:54:27 CST
From: Jon Holt <holt@holt.camax.com>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V11 #23

>From: Martin H Rogers <mrogers@afit.af.mil>
>Subject: SBOS & Megaem with MS DOS 6.2
>
>Some kind souls replied to my plea for help several days ago--thank you.
>
>I still don't have the latest version of SBOS working with FS 5.0, though.
>The common thread for those that do have it working seems to be use of
>MS DOS 5.0. In addition, I recall posts about the targetting pause not
>being present with X-Wing and Megaem when EMM386.EXE from MS DOS 5.0 or
>Windows 3.1 was used.

I'm running DOS 5.0 (and EMM386) and I DO get the X-wing targetting pause
when I use Megaem for music.  This didn't happen with my older version
of Megaem, and I'm wondering if it's Megaem and/or the new
ultrasnd.ini file and/or new patches that are causing this.

-Jon

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 11:26:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V11 #23

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 13:14:01 -0500
> From: Fok Leslie Li Sze <a228fokl@cdf.toronto.edu>
> Subject: cd audio cable
> 
> Hi! I've just rigged my own cd audio cable. To my dismay, I could not
> find the proper plug that will fit my NEC CD-ROM drive. So I just wrap the wire
> onto the pins. The cable works, but I find the volume output is a bit low
> comparing to the line out GUS Volume (The .wavs in Windows sounds really loud
> when red book audio sounds normal.) I wonder if it is because of my cable, or

Make sure that you have the pins connected correctly (GUS: RGGL).  Red 
book audio should sound about as loud as the MIDI and WAV sounds.

> its supposed to be that way. In yesterday's digest, I`ve notice that the 16-bit
> daughter card comes with a new Windows mixer that can adjust CD volume as well, 
> I wonder will it be available for us who don't have the 16-bit daughter card?

If you have a 3.7 GUS, then you have the enhanced mixer (it's a hardware
thing, not software).  

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 21:50:57 -0700 (MST)
> From: Dave DeBry <ddebry@dsd.ES.COM>
> Subject: Re: Didn't get today's digest.
> 
>   I appreciate the fact that people look forward to getting
> their digests everyday.  However, there are now ~1800 people on the
> list.  I can't respond to things like this.  That's why we have the

1800!?  A sizeable letter-writing campaign, wouldn't you say? ;)

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 9:24:37 -0800 (PST)
> From: KOZARD@uvphys.phys.UVic.CA
> Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V11 #22
> 
> (If the 16 bit board doesn't work I'm going to take this GUS back.
> It still play drums like pastic buckets and locks windows. The
> 16 bit not running on a 3.7 is the last straw.)

Umm... getting gus0040.zip should fix the plastic buckets and Windows
problems.

Can't answer the question about the 16-bit DB and your 3.7 GUS.

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 17:06:15 SST
> From: "FLAT^^TOP AT DISCS, NUS, SINGAPORE" <kohkhang@iscs.nus.sg>
> Subject: GUS Hardware revisions
> 
> Yesterday in the digest Phat wrote
> >Latest is revision 3.7.  The main enhancement is a much improved line
> >mixer with adjustable levels on the CD, Line, and Mic inputs.
> >
> >Phat.
> 
> Synergy, the OEM supplier of the CDrom upgrade for GUS claims that Gravis is
> not shipping the 3.7 card yet, they think they only have the 2.4 (or could it
> be 3.4) ? But they also said that their GUS boards come with the latest 3.1
> software.

GUSes that ship with the 3.1 software should be revision 3.7, or at least
revision 3.4.  The 2.4s are ancient and shipped around the time of
the 1.21 disks, I believe.

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 10:39:48 +0100
> From: oss@itnsg1.science.unitn.it (Stefano Oss)
> Subject: GUS version
> 
> Sorry for the STUPID question: where can I get my GUS card version number?
> I mean, is it located somewhere on the board? I was bought in February 1992.

The revision can be read off the top surface of the card.

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 15:10:37 -0700 (MST)
> From: shannon@physics.Arizona.EDU (Shannon Miller)
> Subject: GUS vs. the world
> 
> None of you seem to realize that when a magazine evaluates a card's "worth"
> to the market, they also analyze things like ease of installation and 
> maintenance, average number of games which support it, and future support and
> development.
[...]
> my machine). And yes, it is a good-sounding card. But please don't be so
> confused when magazines fail to recommend it to the general consumer quite yet.

All that most GUS owners ask for is a thorough and accurate exposition
of the card's strengths and weaknesses.  I don't mind if a reviewer
harps on the GUS' poor SB emulation, but I'd also like him or her to
emphasize the sound quality, price, and versatility (also, perhaps,
the growing support) of the GUS.  Few magazine reviews have done that.  
I, myself, don't offer a blanket recommendation for the GUS to people 
who seek my advice, so why would I expect a games magazine to?

Also, the example given of a reviewer trying to run DOOM with SBOS
on the GUS is inexcusable.  Ranting and raving is justified in light
of such incompetence.

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 09:47:50 -0600 (CST)
> From: Siu-fung Lee <umlee182@CC.UManitoba.CA>
> Subject: Linear volume
> 
> Alright... I've had enough of this "linear is better" crap.  Someone
> explain to me WHY it is better.  And please don't say because other sound
> cards do that.
> 
> It doesn't seem to make sense that linear vol is better than log.  I mean,
> the dB system is log.  Most stereo equipment (I think...) uses logarithmic
> scale.

By "linear volume" I, and most synth specs, mean with respect to 
perceived loudness.  The power output is logarithmic (or perhaps the
correct terminology is exponential?)  Stereo equipment have linear
volume knobs, I think.  A setting of 5 should be about half as loud 
as a setting of 10, non?

> So what's the deal?  Is this another CL "lower quality" standard?

No.  Linear volume is used by Roland and virtually every other synth
because it's more intuitive.  

> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 15:34:01 +0000 (GMT)
> From: Toby <T.W.Nichols@hertfordshire.ac.uk>
> Subject: This and That
> 
> Luky for You Phat, you don't seem to have many problems with your GUS. 
> Neither did I until I installed gus0038. The ultrinit v2.16 would not 
> initialise my GUS properly so I have to run GUSMOD to get anything to work.
> Now I had hoped that v2.18 (a bug *fix*), from GUS0040, would fix this. 
> NOOOOO It does not! I  have a v2.4 rev card.

You're the only one I've heard from with this problem.  What is your
autoexec.bat?  What version does ultrinit report when it is run?

> Megaem does not work either. It reports Honky.pat not found. I know this 
> is a FAQ but not a difficult problem to solve surely? 

Simple solution: get the honky.pat file.  ("File not found" means
just that.)  Most people have it already from previous installations.

> I may be tempted to reinstall my 2.54 disk set. and "Go back to basics" 
> but it is arse ache.

The 2.54 disks did not have the honky.pat (straining to remember here).
Download the 2.06L disks and gus0034.zip and install them.

>re: SC2000 problems 
>(Delete your message by mistake, James.)

Try using the low settings (<=7) for your GUS IRQs.  The AIL32
drivers lock up for me when I use the high IRQs with certain 
versions of the DOS4GW DOS extender (I don't know which version
SC2000 has). 

Phat.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 00:09:43 -0700 (MST)
From: dingo@cscns.com (Dingo)
Subject: Help with OS/2 2.1 and GUS

   I've installed the GUS drive (v3.7), but have yet to hear anything 
from my board.

Does anyone have any tricks or tips to try??? I can load SBOS (LOADSBOS, 
use ULTRMIDI.EXE, and all teh others through DOS, but when I try to use 
them through WINOS/2, on starting the full-screen session (AFTER making 
sure the settings are made for the enhanced mode!), it tells me that the 
Windows session must be set for Enhanced Mode. But I did! I did! I swear!

But all through it, in DOS or Windows, not a peep from my board... Help 
me, someone!

-- 
Dingo - He who ventures where no wolf has been before!
dingo@cns.cscns.com
						   |\  |\
						   ||\_||\              For your information,
						  /       \                THIS is NOT reality!
					_____|<o>      \
				   ()               \
					\_____           \ _______
					 \/\/\/           \
					(________/
							\
							 \
							 |

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

Date: Sat, 26 Feb 1994 00:27:08 +0200
From: Petri Asko Juhani Lammi <plammi@utu.fi>
Subject: How to make GUS & PAS16 co-exist ?

Hello all 

Yes, I saw it here once, but what was/were the trick(s) to make GUS & PAS16
live together. Both work nicely alone, but no way together.
Thanks for your time.

Petri   

 .............................................................................
Petri Lammi                What we can't feel can drive us grazy 
plammi@polaris.cc.utu.fi                              - Arthur Janov
 .............................................................................

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 13:19:51 GMT
From: Clarke Brunt <CLARKE@lsl.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Linear volume

>Alright... I've had enough of this "linear is better" crap.  Someone
>explain to me WHY it is better.  And please don't say because other sound
>cards do that.
>
>It doesn't seem to make sense that linear vol is better than log.  I mean,
>the dB system is log.  Most stereo equipment (I think...) uses logarithmic
>scale.
>
>So what's the deal?  Is this another CL "lower quality" standard?

I don't think that anyone can say that what the GUS did 'before' was
good. If you played notes at each volume from 0-127, then the entire
audible dynamic range was crammed into approx 100-127, with everything
below 100 being inaudible. I will try a diagram:
			   |
			   |
			  /
		   ---
-----------

Whereas what we have now with linear volume is more like:
		   /
		---
	   /
	---
   /
---

What I can't understand is what the first version was intended to be for.
I could more understand if the output curve had been like
   ----------
  /
 |
/
|
i.e. got loud quickly and then didn't get any louder. This is the result
you might have expected if the power output was proportional to the MIDI
volume level, since it is said that to perceive equal steps of volume,
the power needs to be e.g. doubled each time - not just increased
linearly.

The equations involved, if I am correct, are
Power = Amplitude squared, and
Perceived loudness = log (Power)

So will anyone tell me - are these equations wrong, or how do you get
a volume curve like the initial one using them?

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 10:36:13 +0000 (GMT)
From: Toby <T.W.Nichols@hertfordshire.ac.uk>
Subject: Moose!

OK, Shannon, I take your point. The GUS can be a bit difficult to setup 
with some games but not many. It is no more difficult that fiddling 
arround with memory managers. So OK, for people who are beginers with 
computers the GUS may not be a best buy. The thing that annoys me is that 
they don't even say this. It would be OK if they said "This card sounds 
great but is not recomended unless you are familiar with irq 
settings etc.", but they dont. They don't give the reader the chance to 
make up his/her own mind, which is what a review should be about.

# | \        /  ~~|~~ /~~~\ !   !      {} ............................ | #
* <  \  /\  / /~\ |   |     |---|  /\  {} Pessimism? It'll never work. > *
# |   \/  \/  \_/ |   \___/ !   ! /~~\ {} ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ | #

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 14:27:58 +0200
From: Yossi Oren <LIOREN1@WEIZMANN.weizmann.ac.il>
Subject: My idea for GUS for Newbies

OK, check this one out.
You type GUS, you press enter.
You get a nice blue screen with 5 options or so.
* Set up the GUS as SB compatible.
* Set up the GUS as MT32 compatible.
* Set up the GUS as SCC-1 compatible.
* Configure a game.
* Run a configured game.  //which would throw you into a menu.

This is so stupid it could even be done with an ANSI script and a batch file.
AND your newbie would just press 3.
Yossi.

+---+---+---+---------------------------------------------------+---+---+
| = | E |_|/|               Signature 1.2                       | V | ^ |
+---+---+---+---------------------------------------------------+---+---+
|Yossi Oren, Al-Daf Engineering Ltd., Rishon Le-Zion, Israel.      Help |
++-----------------------------------------------++--------------------++
||Internet EMail:LIOREN1@WEIZMANN.WEIZMANN.AC.IL || The people are with||
||Bitnet EMail:LIOREN1@WEIZMANN                  ++ the Golan Heights! ||
|| "Even if you do live in this country, it doesn't mean  ++ DOOM!!    ||
||  you have to behave like an animal."           --Nati  || GUS!!     ||
+=========================================================++============+

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 11:47:43 MET
From: Herman Dullink <csg669@wing.rug.nl>
Subject: sc2000

> I get a random mixture of "applaus",
> "birthday party whsiles", and some random music.  Am I the only one
> having that problem?  Any solution?  (I have it set on general midi
> and sound blaster for sound FX).
I've edited the file sc2000.cfg manually. Just put 'Gravis Ultrasound' for
the names, 'C:\GUS\GF1MID32.DLL' and 'C:\GUS\GF1DIG32.DLL' (or something like that) for
the drivers, and set the 'Midibank'(?) to 'GM'.
This works fine for me. I did the same thing for 'Monopoly Deluxe'. It sounds MUCH better
than sound blaster emulation.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 15:19:33 +0200 (EET)
From: Mikko Rauhala <mjr@lyseo.otol.fi>
Subject: Software upgrades

Hi

I have only installed the 2.06L disks which came with my GUS (plus MegaEm,
but that doesn't count ;), and I was wondering since I have so ancient
version if there's a full upgrade to the latest software and patches
available somewhere via FTP or do I have to get many many many partial
upgrades? If so, please list them, preferably in the proper order if that
counts... 

	- Mjr

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 20:59:18 +0100
From: Jarle Andre Unes <jarleu@ifi.uio.no>
Subject: Syndicate & GUS

HELP!

How do I get SYNDICATE to work witj the 32bit ail drivers ? My system keep
crashing... :-(

- Jarle Unes / Department of Informatics University of OSLO

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

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 07:49:03 -0500
From: gmyles@cml.com (MajorBBS: Amber)
Subject: WfW 3.11, VFX1, Triton

OK, got lots to say, so here goes.
-
I decided to get to Windows for Workgroups 3.11.  I was able to get 32
bit disk access but not 32 bit file access, so in general I got some but
not a huge speed difference from before.  Has a few nice additions and
if you can get it for a cheap price it might be worth it but don't spend
a lot on it.
-
Here's the problem (a few other people have also mentioned this).  When
I upgraded everything worked fine except that the MIDI Mapper can't find
a MIDI device on the system.  When I checked the only setups on the list
weren't there.  I can't remember the name of the file for the ultrasound
setup to add to the MIDI Mapper.
-
-
Problem number two involves the Triton demo and IPlay MOD player.  I
have used the latest ultrinit driver from gus0040 and still can't play
either.  This may not be a GUS problem because I have had OFF BOARD
PARITY errors with other programs that use DOS extenders.  The strange
thing is that when I use EMM386 I get the PARITY error whereas when I
use Netrooms memory manager Triton displays the DOS extender and
freezes.
-
-
Here's what Computer Gaming World and Computer Game Review had to say
about the Forte VFX1.
-
CGW: 'Sadly, there was very little new technology on display in the
computer gaming arena.  One piece of good news was the unveiling of a
virtual reality system for the home from Advanced Gravis.  Their new
headtracking unit is expected to sell for around $700 retail, and a
floating mouse peripheral for $100 more.  Both peripherals should
enhance the gaming experience for those who want to experience virtual
new worlds.  An Advanced Gravis spokesperson suggested that the
peripherals could be on sale as early as the fall of this year.'
-
CGR: 'One of the wildest products at the show was the Forte VFX1 Head
Mounted System shown by Advanced Gravis.  This device fits over the eyes
and ears of the gamer, bringing them into the game like never before.
We have seen the future of virtual reality, and it is high-tech looking
headpieces like this one.'
-
Thanks
-
Garry Myles

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

End of GUS Daily Digest V11 #24
*******************************
