Ultrasound Daily Digest     Fri,  4 Dec 92       Volume 1 : Issue  38 

Today's Topics:
						Another day on epas...
						   Bad motherboards
	   Digest Admin: What to do with executables, patches, etc.
							 DRAM for GUS
					  GUS + SCSI + SB2.0 = News!
					  GUS and Adaptec 1542b ???
						 GUS and Links386 Pro
					 GUS and Modplayers (3 msgs)
						 GUS rev 2 card info
				 GUS setup program crashes and burns
		  GUS sounds great!  Here's why I'm returning it...
				   Just thinking (about the GUS)...
						   MIDI File Format
						   remove from list
					   SBOS 1.22b is available
					   Ultrasound crashing OS/2
					  ultrasound daily digest v
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V1 #37
						 Ultrasound question
						   Well.. Comanche
					  will it work in an XT bus?
				 Wolf3D and other Digitized Effects.

Digest Address:           ultrasound@dsd.es.com
			  To post to tomorrow's digest.

Request Server Address:   ultrasound-request@dsd.es.com
						  To subscribe, unsubscribe, and request files.

Owner Address:            ultrasound-owner@dsd.es.com
						  To contact a human if the server has troubles.

FTP Site #1:              ftp epas.utoronto.ca (/pub/pc/ultrasound)
						  Digest back issues, mirror of request server

People responsible:       David DeBry, Adam Iles, Thomas Wong, Chris Yuzik,
			  and many others who should be thanked often. :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 4 Dec 92 3:05:28 EST
From: dionf@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Francois Dion)
Message-Id: <9212040805.AA05113@brise.ERE.UMontreal.CA>
Subject: Another day on epas...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hi, i uploaded several midi files on epas.utoronto.ca.

There is also an archive called anasyn1.arj which contains 4 new patches
for the GUS. They are still hot from the oven... I finished them not long
ago this early morning (or should i say, late at night). They are techno
style analog synths.

I'd really appreciate some feedback on this cause i didn't get a lot of
feedback on the accrdeon.arj patch. BTW, i'll replace it this weekend
with a better version ( i fixed the loop problem).

And for the arj format it is done with arj. No, really? Yup. The unarj
is available on epas also.

I also uploaded a general midi description with the instruments mapping
and the percussive key mapping (channel 10). Brief description of GS also.
I'm looking for other formats (MT-32, Proteus etc...) to do alternate
default.cfg files.

Last, what synths people have on the list? Anybody with a sampler and lots
of material already sampled? I have lots of stuff sampled, but if you
have anything that would be worth putting in a patch, email me. I'm
looking in particular for vocals (you know: move your body, free your
mind, ecstasy, etc...).

Ciao,
-- 
Francois Dion
	'  _   _   _ 
 CISM (_) (_)  _) FM       Montreal , Canada       Email: CISM@ERE.UMontreal.CA
	  (_)  / . _)             10000 Watts          Telephone no: (514) 343-7511
_______________________________________________________________________________
Audio-C-DJ-Fractals-Future-Label-Multimedia-Music-Radio-Rave-Video-VR-Volvo-...

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1992 15:45:01 -0500 (EST)
From: Morgan Stair <Morgan_Stair@dl5000.bc.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.03.9212031402.A8980-a100000@dlws9>
Subject: Bad motherboards
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

  It's looking like I may need a new motherboard (ISA 486DX-33MHz
currently) to use my GUS :-( Oh well, I kind of figured I was going to
need this sometime anyway.  My AMI BIOS is version 1.4F with a chipset
date 1987! 

  I thought I'd make this information available to all, so you'd be
forewarned/fourarmed when buying/upgrading your motherboard/PC: 

  There is a bug in the 16bit DMA channelling (4-7) with the Opti chipset
dated 9149 (49th week of 1991).  When I asked Gravis about the Chips and
Technologies chipset dated 9241, they said none of the C&T chipsets were
bad. 

  I've almost decided (after consulting my bank account) on getting a
486-33DX local-bus motherboard for $199 (32M max, 2 local slots, send me
mail if you want the company). 

  I think this is my best option (I'm keeping my CPU and SIMMs), but I am
hereby inviting constructive criticism.  How much more should I expect to
spend on a 486DX-33MHz EISA and is it worth it? 

Thanks,
  Morgan

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 20:01:01 MST
From: ddebry@itchy (Dave DeBry)
Message-Id: <9212040301.AA00525@itchy>
Subject: Digest Admin: What to do with executables, patches, etc.
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

> Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 0:51:00 EST
> From: dionf@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Francois Dion)
> Message-Id: <9211260551.AA22092@brise.ERE.UMontreal.CA>
> Subject: Executables != mailing list
> To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>
> 
> Please send executables (uuencoded) to ultrasound-owner@dsd.es.com, not
> to the mailing list. David will then put it on the request server.
> The thing is that of course, there's the bandwidth question, but also
> all the messages that are after the big uuencoded message in the digest
> probably wont get read.
> 
> You can also ftp them in the /pub/pc/ultrasound/submit directory of
> epas.utoronto.ca.
> Do verify that the file is not corrupt by getting it after putting it there.
> If it is corrupt, you can use delete to remove the file and then reupload
> it.

	Actually, please do BOTH (if you can):

	1] Email the uuencoded file(s) to ultrasound-owner@dsd.es.com
	2] Upload them to epas.toronto.edu:/pub/pc/ultrasound/submit
	3] Email to ultrasound-owner@dsd.es.com with a short description
		of what you've sent, and where you've put it.

	PLEASE make sure to do part #3.  We've finally received our
wuarchive area, and I'm working now to get things balanced out between
the list server, epas.toronto.edu, and wuarchive, so I need to know
what exists out there.  

	Thanks for your help!

-- 
Dave  ddebry@ debry@   \ "Is this a monster I see before me, with
DeBry dsd.    peruvian. | tentacles instead of hands?  Don't let
	  es.     cs.utah.  | it clutch me!"
	  com     edu      /                        - Captain Tempest

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

Date: 3 Dec 92 11:48:08 GMT
From: captain@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Bran Muffin)
Message-Id: <84719@ut-emx.uucp>
Subject: DRAM for GUS
Summary: WHERE?????
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I've called all over trying to locate 6 256K 4bit DRAMs, with no luck on 
the retail front.  (found a couple of wholesale places that would only 
take $100-$200 minimum orders)

So, can anyone tell me where I can get these chips? ...especially in the
<$30 range, since the wholesale quotes were more than that.


-- 
|The opinions expressed above are merely the result of chaotic synapse firings|
|Electrics and electronics work on smoke. If you let the smoke       -   O    |
|out, they stop working.   --   Fight AIDS.  Play safe.                |      |
|captain@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu  (Brian Murfin)  DoD# 0690  nt650gt     \_^___/   |

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

Date: Wed, 2 Dec 1992 23:26:17 GMT
From: tmcreek@eos.ncsu.edu (Tobin M. Creek)
Message-Id: <1992Dec2.232617.3899@ncsu.edu>
Subject: GUS + SCSI + SB2.0 = News!
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I ordered my UltraSound two weeks ago from PC-Zone.  True to their word, it 
arrived today.  

Perfect SB compatibility was non-negotiable.  I heard that it had been done,
so I installed it with the SB 2.0 that was already in.  I set the 
GUS for address 240 and put it in.  Power on!

The bootup sequence stopped when the HD tried to boot.  Something about a 
diagnostic failure.  Check the GUS.  Reboot.  Same thing.  At this point, I 
enabled the boot up sequence display on the controller to see what was 
happening step-by-step (Thanks Adaptec!)  I can only use floppies at this point.  
The Adaptec 1522 I have was not happy with the big red board.  Power off.  
Check the Adaptec.  Relocate the Adaptec from INT 11 to INT 12.  DMA and 
address are OK.  Boot again.  No dice.  Call Gravis.

[No help given here.]

Yank the SB and the GUS.  Reboot.  The HD works fine.  At least I know
The controller is OK.  Reset the GUS for 260, just in case.  This time, the 
diagnostics pass fine!  The HD boots!  I install the Gravis disks.  I accepted 
the other defaults for both IRQ's and the DMA channel (my ch7 works fine 
even with parity!)

Now for the SB 2.0.  I disable the joystick port on the Gravis.  I disable
the joystick port on my multi-I/O card.  I enable the SB's port, reset
it for IRQ7 and move the printer to IRQ5.  (I have 3 joystick ports, and if
I want to play head-to-head, I have to buy a Y cable?!)

Reboot.  Everything works perfectly!  I get great sound on StarControl II, and
there don't appear to be any problems!  Now I have to try OS/2 with SC2 in
one window, and an SB game in the other!  Or maybe install SBOS and play
two SB games at once!!!

The moral of the story:  Check your addresses and IRQ's if you are gonna try 
this.  The Adaptec's default is 11.  Even  though the Adaptec didn't come 
close to port 240, it wouldn't work.  260 ran fine.  The SB is now all default
(Hey, where's Nova 9?), so problems are gone for good.  
Also, if you have an Adaptec, enable the full bootup message sequence.  It will tell you when it
gets the target ready and diagnostics passed.

End Result:
	printer on IRQ 5, standard LPT1: address.
		Adaptec 1522 at 340, INT12, DMA 0 (floppies INT6, DMA 2)
		GUS at 260, DMA7, GF1-INT 11, MIDI-INT 5
		SB 2.0 at 220, DMA1, IRQ7

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

Date: 3 Dec 1992 08:53:16 GMT
From: rleberle@sparc2.cstp.umkc.edu (Rainer Leberle)
Message-Id: <1fkhtsINNqqm@parsifal.umkc.edu>
Subject: GUS and Adaptec 1542b ???
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <1fjt3uINNlb8@parsifal.umkc.edu> rleberle@sparc2.cstp.umkc.edu (Rainer Leberle) writes:
>Hi folks,
>
>I've spent the last few hours gettting a GUS and an Adaptec 1542b
>SCSI-Controller to work.
>I've changed the base adress on the GUS, DMA channel and IRQ on the
>Adaptec, but every time i run setup, the system hangs (and the red
>activity light on the Adaptec stays on!!)
>
>So, has anyone suceeded in installing a GUS and a Aha 1542b ?
>Could you please send me your configuration (GUS & Adaptec) ?
>
>thanks
>
>               Rainer
>P.S.: I also have a S3 based graphics card in the system, but I think
>the problem is between the GUS and the Adaptec.
>
>-- 
>Rainer Leberle                            rleberle@sparc2.cstp.umkc.edu
>University of Kansas City, MO  

Hate to followup to my own posts, but digging through CompuServe I found
the solution :

Subj:  Probs Config UltraSound                 Section: Advanced Gravis
From:  Alan Alvarez [GravTech]  71333,350      # 215473, * No Replies * 
  To:  Walter Worland (UK)      100015,2175    Date: 30-Nov-92 03:54:10
 
Walter, You've just discovered the joys of our advanced new 'smart' setup
program. It goes out and finds what DMA channels are already in use. 
Unfortunately, quite a number of machines have problems having their DMA
channels probed and don't return anything when we expect it. Anyhow, a new
setup is on the way, and untill then, just place these lines into your
autoexec.bat file after the path (put the path to your ULTRASND directory
in your PATH):
 
SET ULTRASND=220,1,1,11,5 SET ULTRADIR=c:\ULTRASND
c:\ULTRASND\Ultrinit.exe SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T1
 
These settings are the defult. You may have to set the IRQ, DMA, and Base
setup diffrently for your system. Feel free to ask here if we can be of
further assistance.
 
Cheers, =<Alan>=
 
 
Hope it helps some pour soul.
The mididemo sounds very good, but I haven't tried the SBOS yet, so
stay tuned for more problems :-)

P.S: I changed the default IRQ on the Adaptec to 12 and DMA channel to 7

-- 
Rainer Leberle                             rleberle@sparc2.cstp.umkc.edu
University of Kansas City, MO  

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

Date: 1 Dec 1992 04:52:21 GMT
From: woan@soda.berkeley.edu (Ronald Woan)
Message-Id: <1fer25INNb2h@agate.berkeley.edu>
Subject: GUS and Links386 Pro
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <acl1.723175488@crux1.cit.cornell.edu> acl1@crux2.cit.cornell.edu (Albert C. Lee) writes:
>I know that this is a FAQ, but hopefully someone can help me.  How do I get
>Links386 Pro to work with the GUS?  I'm having problems getting it to work
>with SBOS doing Soundblaster emulation.  It works on AdLib but the AdLib sound
>quality stinks.

You need Links 386 Pro 1.05 or later (call Access for access to their
BBS or get it from GamePub on Compuserve). Invoke Links386.exe with the 
/s option and sbos with the -x2 option.

-- 
+-----All Views Expressed Are My Own And Are Not Necessarily Shared By------+
+------------------------------My Employer----------------------------------+
+ Ronald S. Woan                woan@soda.berkeley.edu or woan@vnet.ibm.com +
+ other email addresses             Prodigy: XTCR74A Compuserve: 73530,2537 +

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

Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1992 18:43:35 GMT
From: ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran)
Message-Id: <ByLG0o.E1p@watserv2.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: GUS and Modplayers
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <1992Dec1.145831.800@dcs.warwick.ac.uk> mew@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Merlyn) writes:
>Help Needed...
>
>Now I've got my GUS i'm looking for a MOD player that supports it..
>
>Also I've had a few problems with existing ModPlayers when running SBOS. IE
>the system slows down to a point where you can't bear to listen to the MOD.
>I've tried modplay, spp, and GTS and they are all running too slow with SBOS.
>My system is a 386DX33 with 5 Meg of RAM.  The only modplayer I can get too
>work properly is WinMod Pro through windows, But it doesn't sound anybetter
>than my soundblaster through windows.  Can anyone help ????
>

MOD files are poor quality by nature.  They are 8-bit, and have relatively
low sampling rates (8-11 kHz, I've heard), and playing them through the
GUS won't change any of that.  If you want to make better use of your
soundcard, play MIDI files on it.  The GUS uses 16-bit instrument patches,
sampled at 44.1 or 22 kHz, when playing MIDI files.  MIDI files also
use many more channels than MODs, though I've not come across any that
uses all of the card's 16 stereo channels, and none I've seen even comes
close to filling all 32 channels in mono.

But if you insist on playing MODs, WOWII supposedly works the best with
SBOS.

Phat.

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

Date: Wed, 2 Dec 1992 01:21:27 GMT
From: aa344@yfn.ysu.edu (Joseph Maruschek)
Message-Id: <1992Dec2.012127.19418@news.ysu.edu>
Subject: GUS and Modplayers
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In a previous article, DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu () says:

>2) Mods WILL sound better. Four channels of 8-bit sound added together
>gives 10-bits. When you play a mod on a SoundBlaster, you lose 2 bits of
>audio information present in the original.

Mathematically, yes, you are losing 2 bits worth of information
when played through the Sound Blaster.  But that's not the reason
that MODs don't sound as well on PC's as they do on Amigas. 

The problem is that we have to do this real-time digital mixing
while the Amiga just has to do analog mixing.  Any MOD listeners
know that the faster the mixing rate is, the better the resulting
sound is.  

The Amiga also has independent volume control of each of its four
DACs.  Thus, soft sounds can be reproduced with 8-bit resolution
on the Amiga.  On the SB, if a sound is softer, the sound has to
be reproduced with only 7 or 6 bits.  And that's before mixing!

The Amiga's sound sound sub-system also does not have that great
of a high-frequency response.  In fact, there is a low-pass
filter on the output that rolls off at about 8 kHz, I think. 
Most MOD players and games turn this filter off to get some more
highs (this is why the power light goes off; the power on LED is
turned off when the filter is turned off). 

As far as we know about the GUS, it has four mono DACs which can
be used as two stero DACs, and it appears that the DACs can take
data either through an I/O port or from the GUS's on-board
memory.  It certainly looks as if the GUS can work just like the
Amiga's sound sub-system, but we'll have to get some more
technical info about its architecture before we can be sure.  If
so, the mixing of the four channels will be done in the analog
domain, and that's why MODs will finally sound better. 


-- 
aa344 is Joseph Maruschek                   3      3      3      3      3 
IBM PC SIGop, Youngstown Free-Net             D     D     D     D     D
motto: Strive for the simplest and the best.    |    |    |    |    |
												  :   :   :   :   :

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

Date: 3 Dec 1992 21:03:59 GMT
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Message-Id: <1flsnvINNbhi@iskut.ucs.ubc.ca>
Subject: GUS and Modplayers
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <1992Dec02.091628.23494@infko.uucp> hodgen@infko.uni-koblenz.de writes:
>You're all missing the point. I have >40 MB of MOD files, some of which I
>*do* happen to like! (I case you missed it, there's some sarcasm in there).
>At the moment I have maybe 20 MIDI files, of which I like 2 or 3. Until I
>can get more or convert the MOD files (is that possible?) I still want to
>listen to my MODs. The GUS is great but until I can DO something with it
>(Star Control II *still* hasn't been released in Europe) other than listen
>to the demo MIDI files, my SB will be staying in my machine.


Well, I have both MODEDIT and WOWII working fine on my machine.
For plain MOD playback, I'd use WOWII cause it looks much fancier
and you can see each channel which doesn't do much but looks "neat".

So try the above. Remember to load SBOS first.
No options needed. In fact, I just use a batch file that loads SBOS,
then the mod program, and unloads it when done. Very nice that SBOS has
an option to remove itself from memory. I use batch files for all my
games and anything that needs SBOS.

Thomas.

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1992 14:37:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Morgan Stair <Morgan_Stair@dl5000.bc.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.03.9212031456.A8980-a100000@dlws9>
Subject: GUS rev 2 card info
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

  I just spoke with Tech Support at Gravis (my turn for installation
problems) and got some usefuls. 

  First, a new GUS card IS coming out sometime, maybe toward the end of
January (HAH!).  The ONLY logical change will be that some of the SB
emulation will be handled by hardware.  The significant change will be the
reduced number of chips on the card, allowing for easier production. 

  It sounds like they don't even have a PROTOTYPE of it yet, so don't hold
your breath.  Once again though, I was told there will be no real
differences between this card and the current one. 

Morgan

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

Date: 4 Dec 92 00:33:00 GMT
From: v062l48d@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Harold J Screven)
Message-Id: <BypLJs.Cyr@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Subject: GUS setup program crashes and burns
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In response to my own question...for all interested parties out there I spoke
to Gravis and they informed me that the setup program WILL crash for some types
of computer.  They claimed some incompatability in the way DMA is handled or
something to that effect.  For those having this problem there is a new version
of the setup program available on the Gravis BBS, telephone # (604)-431-5927.
There is also a newer version of SBOS, v 1.22, that is supposed to clear up
come problems with games.  It was also mentioned that a new BBS number will
be available soon in Rochester NY.

Harold Screven (V062l48D@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu)

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 7:36:01 EST
From: iam@stiatl.salestech.com (Ian Mercado)
Message-Id: <9212030736.AA17035@stiatl.salestech.com>
Subject: GUS sounds great!  Here's why I'm returning it...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Well, folks, here it is...the complete and unabridged version of why I am 
forced to return my great-sounding Gravis Ultrasound for a full refund.  (Make
sure you buy yours at such a place that will accept returns as well.)  

After many months of hype and GUS digest reading, I couldn't wait until the
Gravis started appearing in retail outlets (I didn't want to deal with all the
many mail-order headaches that many of you had been describing).  Well,
last Monday, that day had finally arrived.  Several Ultrasounds had been 
spotted by a friend at the local Micro Center over the weekend, and after 
rushing out there after work, I was able to pick up one of the two remaining
cards (they originally had four) for $159 plus tax.  (Not the greatest of
deals, but I knew I could return it if I had problems with it...and, oh, did
I have problems; read on...)

I rushed home to install my new Gravis, but only had an hour to get it
installed before heading to the Springsteen concert that evening (shame on
The Boss for interrupting my Ultrasound fun!).  But that was plenty for me...
in 45 minutes I had that card installed, setup for the default port (220),
DMA channel (1), and interrupts (GUS 11, MIDI 5).  My computer booted just
great (a homebuilt 486/33 with a MusicQuest MIDI card, 16550 serial card,
bus mouse card, original Diamond Speedstar card, and Aska multi I/O card),
and I was delighted (and relieved) when I was finally greeted with my
familiar "D:\>" prompt.  (By the way, software items in my configuration
included QEMM, ANSI.SYS, Microsoft Mouse Driver 8.xx, Stacker, Hyperdisk,
Doskey, and Vmode).  I quickly switched to the D:\ULTRASND directory to
begin the fun.

I loaded the FLIDEMO (with fingers crossed).  It sounded great.  I played
all the MIDIDEMO songs, they sounded even better.  (Especially HIDNSEEK.MID,
that one truly shows off the GUS's potential, and I think it could easily
have been better, too!)  Well, I'd used up my remaining 15 minutes, so it
was off to see how Bruce could perform without his familiar E-Street band
backing him up (he did quite well, BTW).  Well, as we all know, "The Boss" is 
famous for his concerts of extended length, so it was straight to bed when I 
doggedly trudged home at about 1:00 am (I still have to work 40 hours a week, 
you know!).  But Tuesday would be the true test...SBOS.  (Insert menacing music
here).

I rushed home from work Tuesday to again return to my GUSsing.   (And you'd
better believe my wife was starting to wonder what all the fuss was over
this little computer product.)  I started up my computer fine, and began the
testing.  "SBOS installed," the irritatingly nasal voice informed me.  I
considered using the "-p" option to shut him up permanently, but since so
many people had posted about strange problems occurring when using this 
option, I decided to bear with the sound of the anonymous Canadian as long
as I could.  First test...WOWII (the .MOD player which reportedly worked
with the GUS).  WOWII came up just fine, the oscilloscopes started
oscillating, but what was this?  NO SOUND AT ALL!!!  WOWII apparently noticed
this, because fived seconds later, it locked the machine up hard.  "Uh, oh,"
I thought as I realized I was in that unlucky group of people who currently
face problems getting their Ultrasound to run correctly.  A few other tests
revealed that indeed other games that reportedly have and should work did
not work at all on my computer.  After stripping all suspect items out
of my configuration (MIDI card, 16550 card, bus mouse card, QEMM, and 
Hyperdisk), I still could not get the thing to produce any digitalized sound,
I COULD however get it to do Adlib sound, which did indeed sound quite better
than the original Adlib most of the time.  Well, this day had produced nothing
but frustration, and unfortunately, it was once again bedtime.  Further
GUSsing would have to wait until Wednesday.  

I got a call from my wife Wednesday afternoon.  "Honey, the computer won't 
boot."  "Oh, great," I thought as I reverted to my days of working on
the computer help-line for a former employer.  Apparently, the computer
would power-on, the hard disk light would light...stay lit...stay lit...and
nothing would execute.  After putting my poor wife through many meaningless
(to her) boot-floppy, Norton utilities gyrations (none of which would get the
computer booted), I had her remove the Ultrasound.  It booted like a champ.
Well, I knew I would be in store for more GUS fun that evening, so I enlisted
the aid of a fellow computer-knowledgeable programming geek to help me out
with the Ultrasound tuning that was to ensue. 

We arrived at my house that evening, armed to the teeth with
our favorite game software (including the much renowned Star Control II)
and our collectively vast pool of knowledge of IBM computer circuitry.  Two
and a half hours later, we determined that absolutely no matter what sort of
software configuration we used, no matter what DMA channel we selected, and
no matter what interrupts we used for the GUS, DIGITAL SOUNDS WOULD NOT WORK
ON THE DAMN THING USING SBOS!!!  (Yes, I was getting peeved by this point...
especially because the problem my wife was having during the day had carried 
over into the evening...most of the time the computer would NOT boot off the 
hard drive with the GUS installed...it would boot fine from a floppy however, 
and then allow hard drive access.)  Well, nearing the point of total despair,
we loaded up Star Control II.  It sounded AWESOME!!  Damn, WHY WOULDN'T SBOS
WORK RIGHT ON THIS THING?????  As we again pondered possible solutions to
the problem with renewed vigor, I suddenly remembered that extra 386/40 I had
lying in the corner I had purchased as a Christmas present for my little
sister (don't worry, my wife has already given me thorough mental pummeling
for my overly extended generosity).  

Well, you'd better believe we had the GUS installed in a flash...this system 
contained the 386/40 with a Boca SVGA card, a no-name multi I/O card, the GUS, 
and the hard drive from my 486/33 (I couldn't afford to get my sis a hard 
drive, I was being bashed by my wife enough as it was).  We powered up both
systems (the hard drive was still in my 486/33's case), and BINGO...it booted
right up off the hard drive!  FLIDEMO?  Check!  MIDIDEMO?  Check!  SBOS?
CHECK!!  WOWII played mods like a champ!  Tristan played digitized pinball
sounds just great!  Even Castle Wolfenstein sounded superb!! (I had forgotten
how much I enjoyed playing that game, too!)  My excitement quickly turned
sour, however, when I realized that the computer I was enjoying my wonderful
Ultrasound on was slated to be delivered to my little sister in just a few
weeks.  But my friend and I did figure out a few things as he was packaging
up the Ultrasound to take home and try out on his 486/50:

Apparently the Ultrasound has some problem with certain hardware configurations
that can easily prevent SBOS from working correctly, and (in my case), even
prevent the computer from booting up successfully.  Obviously, the software
was not a factor as I was successfully running SBOS on the 386/40 with
QEMM, Stacker, and Hyperdisk loaded.  Oh, and the Ultrasound was back to
the default ports and interrupts when we used the 386/40 also.  We took pity
on poor Joe-Average user who doesn't know his DMA channel from his RAM disk.
Obviously, there are some hardware problems that Gravis needs to address
before releasing the final revision of this card (see included message
below).

As for me?  Well, after my friend gets through his testing, I'll re-install
it on my 486/33 to give it one last shot.  There's still a few things I could
try changing in the CMOS, that could possibly (but doubtfully) produce better
results with SBOS.  If I fail to have any luck there, I'll be returning my
GUS (woefully) for a full refund.  Thank goodness I had planned for these
abnormalities ahead of time by purchasing the GUS from a place with such
a customer-oriented return policy.  

For all you people who have GUSses installed and working great, I am very happy
for you.  I laud Gravis's attempt to make such a bold first entry into the 
sound card market.  I firmly believe that Wave Table Synthesis is the sound
card technology of the future, and I can't wait until a stable card emerges as 
the industry standard, so I can purchase it and enjoy a whole new realm of PC 
gaming enjoyment.  I only hope that the "card of the future" is as reasonably 
priced as the Gravis, and possibly even hope that it would indeed be made by 
Gravis (I still think that their PC Gamepad is the greatest PC video gaming 
accessory ever made!).  But until then, here's what Spectrum Holobyte has to
say:

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

From: ajredmer@netcom.com (Akila J. Redmer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard,comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Comanche:Max Overkill and Ultrasound?
Date: 1 Dec 92 23:04:11 GMT

Actually, I have found most of the messages very interesting.  I would like to
add my two cents to the discussion because I have a different prespective to
offer.  I am head of development at Spectrum HoloByte and also worked on
Accolade Star Control I and II products.  I have been VERY involved with
Gravis on various projects incuding the Ultrasound.  It has been our 
experience that the UltraSound is significantly more difficult to support 
than competing sound cards.  This is partly due to it being flakely in
different machines (something they know about and are fixing), and the 
fact that they only supply object modules for developer's to be compatible
with. This severely limits software developer's access to the board.  A 
third noteworthy reason that it is more difficult to support is that
it has some capabilities that surpass existing sound cards.  It is
essentailly three Amiga's stuck together from the audio pespective.

As for comments regarding its relative value.  Star Control II does sound
better running with a Gravis than any other cards available.  It is also
true that many people cannot get Star Controll II to run with a Gravis,
as noted in other posts.  This is tied to flakiness.  Gravis as a whole
makes very good products, especially input devices for the Macintosh, I 
would editorialize that they feel short with the UltraSound.  Here at 
Spectrum we are working with next generation sound cards just around the
corner that far outperform all cards on the market today.  Consumers are
in for a lot of wondeful choices.

AJ Redmer
Executive Director, R & D
Spectrum HoloByte, Inc.

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

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1992 23:42:25 GMT
From: adhir@wam.umd.edu (Al Dhir)
Message-Id: <1992Nov30.234225.14576@wam.umd.edu>
Subject: Just thinking (about the GUS)...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Supposedly my GUS is coming tomorrow... :)

I was thinking:  Seeing as how the GUs supports daughtercards (SCSI, 16-bit
sampling), why wouldn't it be possible for Gravis to make a SB support
daughtercard with an FM chip on it and bag all this SBOS bs?  It couldn't
be too expensive, and then we'd have 100% hw compatibilty.  I say this
because I am thinking about buying an old SB along with my GUS for 50 or
60 bucks if I can find one so I don't have to sacrifice any games that
don't work with it.  If Gravis made one and sold it for 50 or 60 dollars,
I'm sure a number of people would buy it.  That way we'd have a choice...

Also, what's the latest scoop on how GUs works under OS/2.  Can I expect to
see native drivers anytime soon, or do I have to keep booting DOS/Windows?

-- 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Al Dhir                                   Technical Consulting Staff
 Internet: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu      University of Maryland, College Park
 Bitnet:   adhir%cygnus.umd.edu@Interbit      (301) 405-1500 * (301) 405-3014

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 20:59:37 -0800
From: cs15fa38@csufres.CSUFresno.EDU
Message-Id: <9212040459.AA01915@csufres.CSUFresno.EDU>
Subject: MIDI File Format
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Does Ultrasound work with standard MIDI file(MFF 0 or MFF 1)?  I don't
own an Ultrasound presently, but I've a LAPC.  I've a collection of
MIDI files(all standard format), and I can upload them, if US works
with MFF 0 or MFF 1.

Roland Chia

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 18:36:48 PST
From: Bob Beck <rbk@sequent.com>
Message-Id: <9212040236.AA21512@eng2.sequent.com>
Subject: remove from list
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Please remove me from the Ultrasound mailing list.  Thanks.
-- 
Bob Beck            rbk@sequent.com
Sequent Computer Systems    (503)578-9809

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1992 14:40:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Morgan Stair <Morgan_Stair@dl5000.bc.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.03.9212031402.A8980-9100000@dlws9>
Subject: SBOS 1.22b is available
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

  Tech support says there is a Beta version of the next SBOS available on
the Gravis BBS as a selfextracting archive.  Would someone put it on epas? 
Better yet, would someone from epas get an original from gravis and put it
in the read-only section of /pub/pc/ultrasnd? 

Thanks,
Morgan

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

Date: 2 Dec 1992 20:35:44 GMT
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Message-Id: <1fj6n0INN6ni@iskut.ucs.ubc.ca>
Subject: Ultrasound crashing OS/2
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <1fhbhqINNpsr@agate.berkeley.edu> drkszk@ocf.berkeley.edu (Derek Suzuki) writes:
>   Whenever I try to run any GUS software (playmidi, SBOS, etc.)
>in an OS/2 DOS session, it takes down the whole system.  It gives me
>a register dump and says to reboot.
>   What might be causing this?  Is there a way around it?
>

Well, as Alan from Gravis puts it.... OS/2's comment about being "a
better DOS than DOS" ain't exactly correct in that it can't handle some
of the things DOS program can tell DOS to do. In other words, just like
those with the Sound Blaster, PAS,....etc.... wait for the OS/2 drivers
to come out. The driver for SB is out by the way.

Gravis did say they will come out with a OS/2 driver (one of these days)
and someone did mention in Usenet that they'll have a hand at writing a
OS/2 driver for the Ultrasound (if he got the technical info he asked
for). So one thing you can do is write Gravis and tell them we NEED an
OS/2 driver and get them going on that! :)

Their Fax number is (604) 434-5155 and their phone (604) 431-1807.
Or 1-800-663-8558.

But if anyone know how to send email to CompuServe from internet...
their CompuServe address is 75300,733. 

Their internet address is 75300.733@compuserve.com 

OR

Chris Yuzik             Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.
chris_yuzik@sfu.ca



Thomas.

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

Date: Wed, 2 Dec 1992 19:00:00 -0500
From: Yuri Lee <yuri.lee@canrem.com>
Message-Id: <1992Dec3.104.144652@dosgate>
Subject: ultrasound daily digest v
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I don't think that was an error. It says not to use mono phono jack on
line-out connector but if you want to use it anyway, get a stereo to mono
adapter.

UG>And on a side note, when I tested the cards, Gravis is actually pretty
UG>bland compared to most. And it's speech truly sucks...
UG>Still 99% of it is the amp and speakers that you hook it through...

This is a damn lousy letter. I don't know what the guy tested GUS with but
it seems that the guy only looked at demo softwares that came with GUS.
What other cards is he comparing GUS with ? Obviously, he doesn't appear to
be a programmer.

UG>I'm not trying to talk anybody out of the GUS, just trying to face what may
UG>be a difficult situation... A great product with very little support. My
UG>principle use for the GUS will be gameplay and the SBOS software sounds like
UG>a real pain in the butt (TSRs in general have always worried me, and with
UG>the 'pushing the hardware envelope' entertainment software we are seeing
UG>now, every lower-640K chunk of memory is *so* important...). The $130 SB Pro
UG>Basic at Egghead is starting to look a whole lot better.

No. No. No SB pro. If you don't like GUS, I suggest you to look elsewhere.
But not SB pro. It just isn't worth the money.

UG> Does anyone here know what it is that Media Player does to load patches
UG>that other programs don't do? I assume it's probably a fairly simple call, but
UG>it doesn't help if I don't know what call it is :)

Other softwares aren't simply aware of such sound cards as GUS. If all are
written the way MCI MIDI driver handles MIDI synth device, there shouldn't
have been any problems with current GUS windows driver. BTW, Media Player
simply dumps a MIDI file to MCI MIDI driver in Windows. And if you want
to use lower level MIDI I/O functions in windows to play a note on GUS, you
need to load patches before you send Note On message to MIDI device.
'mmloadpatch()' loads patches for you.

- Yuri

 regards,

 - Yuri -

** Waterloo, Ont.,Canada *** internet: ylee@sunee.uwaterloo.ca **
---
 ~ DeLuxe} 1.26b #10704 ~ I tried the rest but bought the best!!!!
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 13:00:50 EST
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Message-Id: <9212031800.AA15353@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Ultrasound Daily Digest V1 #37
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 92 20:57:19 EET
> From: Lasse Hero <larry@mdata.fi>
> Message-Id: <199212021857.AA03730@mdata.fi>
> Subject: Lucasfilm and support for GUS (lack of...)
> To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>
> 
> I asked Lucasfilm Games about Ultrasound support, here's the answer:
> 
> - - - - 
> 
> At this time, nope. I've listened to many cards, all with the same
> machine, same speakers, just different cards. And with so many new 
> developers coming out with new cards it's difficult to find ones that
> will stay any sort of distance. When some of the dust settles, we may
> look into it. Just not at this time. 
>  
> And on a side note, when I tested the cards, Gravis is actually pretty
> bland compared to most. And it's speech truly sucks...
> Still 99% of it is the amp and speakers that you hook it through...
>  
> \\illiam
> 
> - - - - 
> 
> Damn! I don't have the card yet, but it CAN'T be that lousy, can it..?
>

Sorry, but I don't think that William did more than run some games with 
SBOS when he tested the GUS.  The Ultrasound is definitely one of the
best sounding cards out there.  About the only cards that sound better
than it at the moment is the Roland Sound Canvas and the Turtle Beach
Multisound, and anything more expensive than these two.  If you can
divulge William's email address to the net of GUS fanatics, I think
we can get him to give the GUS a second look.
 
> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 92 7:15:05 PST
> From: Andy Young at Nosferatu U. <andy@hpsmo100.rose.hp.com>
> Message-Id: <9212021515.AA00828@hpsmo100.rose.hp.com>
> Subject: Support concerns
> To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>
> 
> I too am starting to be more than a little worried about support for the
> GUS. Two of my favorite game companies, LucasArts and Sierra, have stated
> that they have no plans to support the GUS. Of course, this isn't to say
> that they never will; but if they do, it'll be a while, and by then, maybe
> we'll see the GUS Pro :-).
> 

The GUS is spanking new, and almost unheard of outside the Internet's
small circle of devotees, so I'm not surprised that not all developers
have warmed up to it.  The ones that have given the card a close
inspection have been very receptive, though.  Take the crew at Toys for
Bob (Star Con 2), for example.  Electronic Arts is also promoting the
card, but with customers very angry at delays, and EA blaming Gravis
for not delivering, I wonder if the relationship has somewhat soured.

If there are any of you who are hoping for an overnight explosion in
Ultrasound games and utilities, let me remind you that the PAS-16 and
SBPro, released when there were few sound cards around, had to wait
quite a while for support.  It will be harder for the GUS, released two
months ago, amid hundreds of other "new" soundcards, to catch the eye
of game makers.  The fact that there is a small number of developers
committing themselves to the Ultrasound this early in its release is
a good sign.  When Gravis get off their asses and start promoting their
card, the exposure will help tremendously.  At the moment, it's up to
Ultrasound owners to lobby for its support.  Addresses, anyone?

> I'm not trying to talk anybody out of the GUS, just trying to face what may
> be a difficult situation... A great product with very little support. My
> principle use for the GUS will be gameplay and the SBOS software sounds like
> a real pain in the butt (TSRs in general have always worried me, and with
> the 'pushing the hardware envelope' entertainment software we are seeing
> now, every lower-640K chunk of memory is *so* important...). The $130 SB Pro
> Basic at Egghead is starting to look a whole lot better.
> 
> 
> Dissappointed and more than a little indecisive,
> 
> .Andy.
> 
> andy@hpsmo100.rose.hp.com Hewlett Packard - Support Materials Operation
> TSN: AndyY, Box 24491           8050 Foothills Blvd, Roseville, CA 95678
>

In terms of sound quality, the SBPro looks mighty ugly next to my GUS.
GUS owners should not be second-guessing their purchase, for they have
bought the best soundcard inexpensive enough for the masses.  And worries
over lack of support are premature.  If, after six months, developers are
still saying that they won't support the Ultrasound, then we can worry.
But at the moment, the situation is actually quite positive.  The GUS
is just too good a card for developers to ignore.  The only thing that
can prevent its success is industry politics.  Let's hope Gravis stays
in developers' good books.
 
Phat.

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

Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1992 07:40:18 GMT
From: ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran)
Message-Id: <ByKLB7.8F@watserv2.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Ultrasound question
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <ByJMGw.IMp@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl> zonnevel@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl (B.J.Zonneveld.tel-015-622622) writes:
>I still haven't got my Ultrasound card but do have some questions:
>
>1) Is the card that's being shipped now fully upgradable to 16-bit? I have
>   a pamphlet describing this option but wanna know from someone closer to
>   the Gravis source. Being from Europe I have to buy the card via another
>   dealer. I do want to know this cause when I wanted a soundcard I looked
>   into this and found out that the Ultrasound is the best deal for its
>   money with 16-bit sampled sound and 32 channels of wavetable synthesis.
>

Yes, the card that is being shipped is fully upgradeable to 16-bit recording.
It has several rows of bare connectors and tens of undocumented jumpers
for the purpose of upgrading.

>2) Is it also upgradable with the CD-ROM interface?
>

Yes.

>3) Is it really true the midi-in doesn't work yet? I got some synths stacked
>   at home and this is just another reason I wanted this card.
>

The MIDI hardware is in place, I think, but the current drivers don't 
support MIDI IN.  Out and thru are operative, from what I've heard,
but you'll have to wait for new drivers if you want to use the card as
a MIDI synth module.  I haven't tried any of the MIDI facilities on my
GUS, so I could be mistaken in the above.

>4) How easy is it to plug in the extra memory? Can a regular pc-user do this?
>

If you can remove the lid off your box, you can also upgrade the memory
on the card yourself.  Simple insertion of six small chips into standard
DIP sockets is all that's needed.  

Phat.

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

Date: Thu, 03 Dec 92 10:49:15 CST
From: tarjan@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9212031649.AA05347@iastate.edu>
Subject: Well.. Comanche
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Does anyone have the patch for Comanche?
Cant call LD .. So...

Also anyone have the patch to Power Chords.. It is a windows guitar simulator
that does midi..

It is awesome but it might be nice to have it produce sound!!

Cya later..

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 12:24:57 MET DST
From: mico@trzdor1.ico.olivetti.com (Michele Costabile)
Message-Id: <9212031125.AA03067@trzdor5.trzdor1.ico.olivetti.com>
Subject: will it work in an XT bus?
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hi,

I am waiting  for my card and have not changed computer yet (will
do that soon).
Will the GUS fit into and old XT type of machine or shall I have to
wait until the new super duper more86??
-- 
						Michele

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

Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1992 00:45:40 -0500 (EST)
From: "Mark W. Fleig" <mfleig@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Message-Id: <9212040544.AA06598@orca.es.com>
Subject: Wolf3D and other Digitized Effects.
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Would someone mind refreshing my memory about getting the digitized sounds
to come through on a 286. I've had the GUS installed for only a few days,
and everything works great, except for the digitized sounds through SBOS.
I'm running on a 286, so cpu speed is defintely a posability, and I do recall
something mentioned in the past about setting the card freq speed a little
slower for slower machines. Any ideas?

By the way. "Get a 486" IS a valid answer. Should be here soon, but until
then...

-mark

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

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 92 13:18:05 GMT
From: G.S.R.Price@cen.exeter.ac.uk
Message-Id: <9016.9212031318@olib>
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I am having some problems with my Ultrasound and I would be grateful if some
of you with GUS cards could try out an experiment for me and mail me the
results.  The senario is as follows:

I bought a GUS at the same time as a friend.  To begin with, I thought I had
some sort of interupt conflict, since if you click into USS8, and record a
sample at 44.1Khz in stereo, "hiss" is added to the sample.  The problem can
be shown up very effectively, by sampling with no input, and then playing back
at full volume - you can hear random noise.  This is not a problem with the
power supply introducing noise into the amp, but from the sample.  I eventually
tried my card in my friends machine and found it to have the same problem.
However, his card, (although it has hiss), has nothing like the hiss mine does.
I sent the card back and the card I recieved as a replacement has the same
problem.  I would be grateful if some of you could try sampling nothing for me,
and mail me to say whether you had the same problem.

One final point - if you click the "zoom" icon in USS8 to view the waveform,
my card shows two separate lines, one red and one yellow.  My friends card
however only shows one red line, (ie. the yellow and red are so close, they
cannot be distinguished and the red pixels overwrite the yellow ones).  I
would also like to know if you can see one or both channels using USS8.

Thanx in advance.

Gordon Price
(G.S.R.Price@uk.ac.ex)

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

End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V1 #38
******************************

