GUS Daily Digest            Fri, 6 May 94  9:37 PST      Volume 13: Issue   6 

Today's Topics:
				   7th Guest Info & CDROM Question
							  Dying GUS
					   GUS Daily Digest V13 #5
			  GusDelay version 1.0 has been released!!!
			GUS emulator for ARIA and Anolog Devices cards
							 GUS MAX Fax
				   Help with ominous error message!
						M*Y*S*T and The Horde
							MegaEm and EMS
							MIDI interface
				 Need disk 4 of install disk ver2.06
					   Return to Zork problems
				  voiceoo1.pat for Return to Zork CD
						 windoze AVI 1.1a fix

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: Thu, 05 May 94 20:40:44 -0400
From: "Momentary language, sexual situations" <dantonio@tay2.dec.com>
Subject: Re: 7th Guest Info & CDROM Question

> Does anybody know what happens if you plug the cable from your CD-ROM to
> the GUS upside down (i.e. does it sound terrible or give you no sound at
> all letting you know that you've got it wrong)?

Since the CD pins (on a GUS 2.2 anyway) are L G G R, all that will happen
is that Left and Right will be switched...

> One more question: which is the better data transfer mode for a CD-ROM
> polled I/O or DMA transfer?

I'd say DMA, myself. Of course, bus-mastering DMA is less CPU load...
(but potentially more hassle :-)

DDA

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

Date: 6 May 94 09:43:00 MET
From: "VISX80::GRECNER" <GRECNER%VISX80.decnet@musx53.zfe.siemens.de>
Subject: Re: Dying GUS

>he GUS is dying. What are we going to do about it? 
>
>The problem is that the GUS has missed its window: It just isn't interesting 
>anymore that the GUS has got wavetable synthesis. Lots of cards do. 

Lots of cards do wavetable from ROM, but RAM is what's the point here.
Everyone seems to overlook this fact. There are only GUS, AWE32 and TB cards
having RAM on them. Unfortunatelu GUS's GF1 supports 1MB only, but it's still
much better than 4MB ROM. I can't imagine listening to the same sounds forever.
Another weekness og GUS is the lack of effects and not very happy windows
MIDI driver ignoring features like pitch enveloping and velocity splits.
Also a better LFO could be considered. TB MAUI/RIO use samples waveform
for LFO. I think this is implementable on GUS as well. This facts led me to
looking on TB Monterey as the right card for me, but it has it's flows as well.
First, it takes 15minutes (fifteen) to load 1MB of sample data, since it goes
through WaveBlaster compatible connector (that means MIDI sample download speed)
which makes it unusable for my. And it seems to have only up to four samples
pro instrument. But it has very flexible modulator scheme and effects as well.
And for the AWE32, I don't know much about it yet. I've heard it playing
yesterday, it sounded like a GUS with bad patches. And no patch editor was
available. So until the CL releases programing info for their Emu 8000 chip,
the GUS is still the best for many purposes. For some more serious work I'd
suggest TB Maui, however. It loads samples fast (1MB/2-3 seconds)

					Martin

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

Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 07:44:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: mikebat@netcom.com (Mike Batchelor)
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V13 #5

Not the GUS Server once wrote...
$  
$  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
$  
$  Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 01:17:55 -0400
$  From: gmyles@cml.com
$  Subject: 7th Guest Info & CDROM Question
$  
$  [...] 
$  
$  Does anybody know what happens if you plug the cable from your CD-ROM to
$  the GUS upside down (i.e. does it sound terrible or give you no sound at
$  all letting you know that you've got it wrong)?

Left and right will be reversed.  Check the balance control on your CD
player, see if it moves the sound in the right direction.

$  One more question: which is the better data transfer mode for a CD-ROM
$  polled I/O or DMA transfer?

Depends.  DMA transfer generally is better, because of better performance,
but polled can be more compatible.  If you have a problem with DMA, try
polled as a troubleshooting step.


-- 
Mike Batchelor      | UseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinux
mikebat@netcom.com  | xuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesU
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plug 'N' Play:  A specification invented by Microsoft and Intel which
enables a computer and its operating system to create hardware conflicts
without user intervention.

No more jumpers to misplace!  The computer will misplace them for you.

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 1994 11:01:19 -0400
From: davidm@marcam.com (David MacMahon)
Subject: GusDelay version 1.0 has been released!!!

Hi, GUSers,

I have officially released GusDelay version 1.0! (finally)  It has many 
significant improvements to the old version as well as many new and useful 
features.  A list of some of the key features is given below.

You may find GusDelay 1.0 in...

archive.epas.utoronto.ca:/pub/pc/ultrasound/submit/gusdly10.zip

Here is an excerpt from the introduction to GusDelay's documentation...

GusDelay is a program that transforms your Gravis UltraSound into an 
extremely powerful yet easy to use digital delay system (DDS).  It has 
features found only on professional DDSs that cost far more than the Gravis  
UltraSound itself.

Features
--------
Here is a brief list of some of GusDelay's features:

*** Up to 14 individually controllable output taps - GusDelay can use this 
	ability to create regenerative effects that are not degenerative.  
	Single tap delay units must feed the output back into the input in order 
	to create regenerative effects (such as multiple echoes or reverb).  
	Each time the signal goes through the system it is degraded in quality.  
	After several iterations the signal can be quite distorted.  With 
	multiple taps, regenerative effects can be simulated without feeding the 
	output back into the input thereby eliminating the degenerative side 
	effects.

*** Sampling frequencies up to 44.1 kHz in both mono and stereo - GusDelay 
	supports the entire sampling frequency range of the Gravis UltraSound.  
		
*** Jitter free and dropout free recording - GusDelay uses a technique for 
	recording that produces higher quality recordings than other recording 
	programs for the Gravis UltraSound including USS 8 and Playfile.

*** Real-time surround sound capabilities - GusDelay can produce real-time 
	output that can be decoded by surround sound systems to produce true, 
	on-the-fly surround sound effects.

*** Supports text based configuration files for plug-and-play usability 
	and easy customization - GusDelay is highly configurable through the use 
	of ASCII based configuration files.  This makes it easy for GusDelay 
	users to save their favorite "presets" for quick recall, exchange their 
	favorite settings with other users,  write simple programs to generate 
	the settings for a mathematically calculated effect, and so on.

*** Command line arguments - GusDelay takes many of its parameters from the 
	command line.  This enhances GusDelay's flexibility by allowing it to be 
	started unattended from within batch files.

*** On-line help - GusDelay offers on-line help for the command line 
	arguments as well as runtime operation.  This on-line quick reference 
	information makes GusDelay easier to use.

I hope you like it,
Dave

David MacMahon
Software Engineer
davidm@marcam.com

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

Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 17:11:01 MST
From: "Dean C. Johnson" <JOHNSODC@caedm.et.byu.edu>
Subject: GUS emulator for ARIA and Anolog Devices cards

I think that if someone where to write a GUS emulator for ARIA and/or 
Anolog Devices (like the Orchid SoundWave) cards, it would   
yeild a positive result for the GUS.  There are alot of demos that 
only support the GUS, and those ARIA and Anolog Devices cards were 
"Born to Emulate" so to speak by having programable DSPs (that s how 
they run Sound Blaster software).  I'm not sure if the card 
manufacturers would like it but, such programs could be dristrubuted 
on the net and owners of such cards would then be able to run all 
those great demos...  Ofcourse it would not sound as good as on a GUS 
but that's whole point, and the GUS would start to be seen a "something of a 
standard."

What do you all think of my idea?
Is there anyone who knows enough and cares enough to do it?

-Dean  

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

Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 18:43:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Christy G McCartney <cmccart@eis.calstate.edu>
Subject: GUS MAX Fax

	Here are some of the tech specs sent to me by Advanced Gravis via 
Fax.  Due to my inability to save incoming Faxes, I had to type out some 
of the more interesting features of the card before I left my Fax 
software.  Here goes... :

UltraSound MAX

UltraSound MAX Features :

* 32 Voice Wavetable Synthesis : Any combination of digital
	or synthesized notes, instruments, or sound effects.

* 16 Bit, 48 kHz Stereo Playback and Recording (Over 90 dB
	of Dynamic Range)

* 3D Holographic Sound

* 16 Stereo Digital Channels : Allows 32 voices to play at the
	same time.

* Compression : 16Bit 4:1 ADPCM, A-LAW, and uLAW.

* Expandable 192 General MIDI Instrument Set : Professional
	voice crystal 5.6 megabyte patch set.

* DDSP - Dedicated Digital Sound Processor : More powerful
	than general purpose DSPs.

* Ram Based System : For greater flexibility - 512k standard,
	upgradable to 1 meg.

* CD ROM Interface : For single or double Mitsumi, (LU005,
	FX001), Sony (CDU-31A, CDU-33A), or Panasonic
	(523, 562, 563) CD-ROM drives.

* Speed Compensating Game Port : Eliminates joystick 'drift'
	in systems up to 100MHz.

* Built-in Stereo Amplifier : 4 watts per channel.

* External Connectors : Stereo Line-In, Line-Out, Amp Out,
	Mic-In, D-15 Joystick/MIDI Adaptor.

* Supports Windows 3.1, Sound Blaster, General MIDI, MT-32
	and MicroSoft Sound System Applications : Upgradable
	software operating system for future expansion.

* MPC2 Compliant

	Now, I have two questions for Advanced Gravis or anyone else that 
knows.  First, why does it say '16 Stereo Digital Channels' when it can 
play 32?  Another question...  What is the difference between the GF1 on 
the GUS and the 'DDSP' which I presume is the GF1 for the GUS MAX??  Can 
this DDSP do chorus/reverb/echo like the AWE32, SCC-1, etc.??

Dustin McCartney, cmccart@eis.calstate.edu

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

Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 13:28:59 -0600
From: masten@beta.lanl.gov
Subject: Help with ominous error message!

GUS seemed to be working fine alone.  And even seemed to coexist with
LAPC-1 and SBPro.  But lately (after I started playing Privateer), I
occasionally get the following message (in large unfriendly block letters)
when I boot:

PARITY ERROR ????
SYSTEM HALTED

And they ain't kidding.  Ctl-alt-del or reset or off-on req'd.  And often
it will appear again, but not always.

I've been using 240,5,5,11,5 due to having the SBPro at the default
220,7,1.  Otherwise, nothing unusual in the config/autoexec.

Also, even worse, on the occasional boot, my system now loses its BIOS info
(eeek!), and I have to re-enter the HD numbers, floppy info, and other BIOS
settings. 

I just switched to 240,5,5,15,5, and the problem hasn't recurred, YET. 
Haven't tried it too many times, but hopefully it'll clear the problem. 
Any clues?

Last Q.  I gather after a power down, if I don't initialize the GUS, it'll
go to the default setups?  I've tried configs without initializing the GUS,
and I get SBPro conflicts.  I gather it is due to the default DMA/IRQ?

Dave

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

Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 13:39:34 +1000 (EST)
From: Andrew See <asee@st.nepean.uws.edu.au>
Subject: M*Y*S*T and The Horde

Firstly a question on MYST, a cdrom game which runs in windoze.
Dos it support patch caching?
^^^
Freudian slip.

Second, I've got the Horde, which has native GUS support
no tsr's no AIL's, nothing, not even a setup program.
It autodetects the GUS.
THe music is great, the digital FX are great. But the 
speech is totally garbled.
Any ideas on this one?

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

Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 07:56:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: mikebat@netcom.com (Mike Batchelor)
Subject: MegaEm and EMS

Not the GUS Server once wrote...
$  
$  ------------------------------
$  
$  Date: Wed, 4 May 1994 22:53:09 -0700 (PDT)
$  From: Juan Carlos Leon <jleon@chaph.usc.edu>
$  Subject: Midi interface and Megaem questions (good ideas here!)
$  
$  - Another Megaem solution: some programs don't run under protected mode, so
$    you can't get EMS to run Megaem and use GM with the program/game.  What about
$    a memory expansion board, can it give EMS without any drivers loaded? just
$    the card?  I saw a used 512Kb expansion board very cheap ($10) in a computer
$    show and this idea came up.  I guess the real question here is, can a memory
$    expansion board give EMS by itself to use Megaem?

No.  MegaEm does not really use EMS, except to detect the presence of a
386 EMM, or more accurately, a compatible VCPI host.  That is what is
required for it to operate, and a EMS board would not provide that.  Only
QEMM, 386MAX, MSDOS 5.0, 6.0 EMM386 and Netroom are supported at this time.

VCPI is a spec for transitioning from real mode to protected mode and
back, without crashing the machine.  

-- 
Mike Batchelor      | UseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinuxUseLinux
mikebat@netcom.com  | xuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesUxuniLesU
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plug 'N' Play:  A specification invented by Microsoft and Intel which
enables a computer and its operating system to create hardware conflicts
without user intervention.

No more jumpers to misplace!  The computer will misplace them for you.

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 1994 14:42:15 GMT
From: Clarke Brunt <clarke@lsl.co.uk>
Subject: Re: MIDI interface

>- How can I make my GUS to constantly see any data coming into the GUS midi
>  port and play whatever it is.  I would like to hook up a midi controller
>  keyboard to the GUS and use it as a synthesizer.  If this requires a program
>  a TSR could be really great.

This certainly needs software. The GUS MIDI port is essentially just a serial
port which software can read and write. It has no other connection with
the sound-producing parts of the GUS. MIDI data is understood by either
Windows drivers, or DOS programs, and translated into things the GUS
hardware can do - the hardware cannot understand MIDI.

Most sequencer programs have a MIDI-Thru option which can take MIDI input
from the port and play it on the GUS. Is this what the 'midifier'
program does as well? - I haven't tried it. I don't know whether there
are any TSRs about which do this.

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

Date: Thu, 05 May 1994 12:37:45 -0500 (EST)
From: DINESH@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA
Subject: Need disk 4 of install disk ver2.06

Can anyone help me?  I damaged my install disk #4 of version 2.06.  I do not have anyother 
I do not have any other version of the ultrasound software and now
I cannot use my card because I was trying to reinstall the complete
package.  Can someone upload the files on that disk or any ideas
of how I could go around this problem.  I can't live without my GUS!!
Thanks for any help.  Dinesh@Vax2.Concordia.Ca

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 07:35:52 -0400
From: "Marco Coletti" <p00923@psilink.com>
Subject: Return to Zork problems

I'm having problems running RTZ.  I can run for about five minutes or 
so but eventually the game hangs and I have to power off my PC (the 
three-fingered salute doesn't work).  The other problem I'm having is 
that the GUS will sometimes emit a squawking sound for about a second 
or so when a scene changes.  I'm not loading the sound drivers high so 
that's not the problem.  For what it's worth, I had quite a tough time 
freeing up enough conventional memory for the game.

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

Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 19:44:45 -0400
From: <ddr@cis.ufl.edu>
Subject: voiceoo1.pat for Return to Zork CD

Does anyone know where to get this .pat file?

Dan.

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

Date: Thu, 5 May 1994 16:02:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: gt0074b@prism.gatech.edu
Subject: windoze AVI 1.1a fix

>Date: Wed, 04 May 94 09:00:41 PDT
>From: ksoule@tatertot.com (Kent E. Soule)
>Subject: Microsoft Video for Windows 1.1a
>
>>Date: Tue, 03 May 94 13:19:20 +0300
>>From: Yossi Oren <LIOREN1@WEIZMANN.weizmann.ac.il>
>>Subject: Great news for GUS motion video freaks!
>>Hi Y'all, I've just installed Microsoft Video for Windows 1.1a (note the a)
>
>>The filename is ftp.microsoft.com:softlib/mslfiles/wfw11a.exe (PKSFX), sized
>>about 1,280K.  f.m.c. is a good site for hanging out on anyway.
>
>The only file I could find on this site is WFW.EXE: 1115008 bytes.  Is this the
>
>Many thanks,
>Kent
 
  The correct name of the file is VW1019.exe.  WFW11a.exe does not exist.
The upgrade really improves animations.  Before the upgrade, my video
would jump every second or so.  Now it's smooth as silk.  I'm glad to
see that the GUS was never the culprit.   Just bad Microshaft programming.

PC

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

Date: Fri, 6 May 94 05:13:25 -0400
From: nngo@up.tjhsst.edu (Nhan Ngo)

~s How Do I get registered?
I just bought a GUS rev 3.4 a month ago(used) and I'm wondering If I can get 
registerd?  It didn
t come with a warranty/registration card since the old owner probably sent it
in or he might even had bought it second hand too..

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

End of GUS Daily Digest V13 #6
******************************
