GUS Daily Digest            Mon, 6 Mar 95  9:37 PST      Volume 20: Issue   6 

Today's Topics:
								 ACE
							 Best patches
	  Bounced Message to mbh.lightstream.nl!gus-general (2 msgs)
						   Cyberia and GUS
						  Gus (max) problem!
					   GUS Daily Digest V20 #4
				   GUS Daily Digest V20 #5 (3 msgs)
					 GUS memory upgrade in the UK
								memory
						  Memory for GUS...
					  Memory Poll Harumphles ...
						PLAYFILE won't record!
				   To: W.H. Li about memory prices
								U8???
					  Update on my gus problems

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: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 20:46:07 GMT
From: alek@linefeed.com (Alek Hayes)
Subject: ACE

Hi All,

Ok, I've heard *rumours* about this card, but when is it going to hit the
streets, and will GUS or GUS MAX users be left in the dark (ie, left with an
inferior card)?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Alek.
--
										 ___________________________________
This message was posted by Alek Hayes   | Email me about life, the universe |
		 Alek@linefeed.com              |          and everything.          |
										|                *                  |
										| But please, nothing about AWE32's |
										 -----------------------------------

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

Date: Sun, 05 Mar 1995 15:39:28 EST
From: timkwan@MIT.EDU
Subject: Best patches

It's been a while since I posted to and read the digest.
Can someone please point me to where I can find the very very
best instrument patches for the GUS that will work with CakeWalk?
The current wind instrument patches I have sorta suck.  Also, if
you have patches for heartbeat, footsteps, heavy breathing, please
send them to me.  Thank you.

-Tim

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

Date: Sun, 05 Mar 95 18:37:15 GMT
From: postmaster@mbh.lightstream.nl
Subject: Bounced Message to mbh.lightstream.nl!gus-general
Message-ID: <32CA74C9@mbh.lightstream.nl>

mbh.lightstream.nl bounced a message for gus-general@gaia.ucs.orst.edu

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

Date: Mon, 06 Mar 95 00:34:38 GMT
From: postmaster@mbh.lightstream.nl
Subject: Bounced Message to mbh.lightstream.nl!gus-general
Message-ID: <3301F326@mbh.lightstream.nl>

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

Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 12:14:10 -0500 (EST)
From: David Gifford <giff@ritz.mordor.com>
Subject: Cyberia and GUS

I'm unable to get sound out of the Interplay game
Cyberia on my GUS -- anyone know if its possible?  And if
so, would you be so kind as to tell me?


If this is in the archives somewhere, I'd
appreciate a brief description of how to search
the archives efficiently from some guru.


I'm using the 3.56 install of GUS software and the
SBOS that was shipped on that disk.

Thanks!
David Gifford
giff@mordor.com

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

Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 09:44:04 +0100
From: "The Slayer" <STESLE@calvin.nhidh.nki.no>
Subject: Gus (max) problem!

I have lately discovered a problem with my GUS (max) 512k. The thing 
is when I play some games like Warcraft and Descent (not shareware) 
some funny and very unwanted sound effects\tunes start to emerge 
after just a few minuttes of play. This is  getting to be very annoying! 
Also, in the game Under a Killing Moon the sound is great, but I get 
some annoying sparks now and then like if there was a bad connection 
between my Gus and HIFI (which it isn't because I have already 
checked this). 
The thing is that I'm not sure if it's me who is doing something 
wrong, or is my GUS going for a slow death!?! Has anyone had the same 
problem or the solution to this? I would really appreciate to hear 
from someone! The adress to mail me is listed below this text!

						   \|/
						  (o o)
						   (_)
	  ----------------ooO------Ooo--------------
	  Steffen Sletvold
	  E-Mail: STESLE@CALVIN.NHIDH.NKI.NO
	  WWW Site: http://www.nhidh.nki.no/~stesle/
	  -------------------ooO--------------------
						(   ) Ooo
						 ( ) (   )
							  ( )
						 
 Akida is like origami, only with people instead of paper!     

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

Date: Mon, 06 Mar 95 09:59:19 CST
From: Steve Sesterhenn <sesterhs@Janus-ccm.zenithe.com>
Subject: GUS Daily Digest V20 #4

	 David's arguments for putting lots of RAM on the GUS2 standard have
	 some valid points.  But he is forgetting one major issue:  if you make
	 the new GUS only with 4Mb or more standard, not NEARLY as many people
	 will buy it, and, by his arguments, game companies will not support
	 the card because there will not be a big base of people who own the
	 card.  Simple capitalism.  It won't be profitable to them or to
	 Gravis, since their card won't get supported.  Thus, Gravis will have
	 to cater to the majority, which won't buy an overloaded, overpriced
	 sound card, and ship it with only 1 or 2Mb on it. Sure thrift=silence,
	 but high-cost=silence as well.  Sorry, but your arguments don't
	 change my vote.  Don't think anyone else's changed either.  Money
	 talks.  Simple capitalism.


	 Someone brought up a valid argument that the new GUS should be shipped
	 with 256k RAM and 4MB of ROM.  Perhaps that might be another
	 alternative, although I'd rather not see the GUS get lumped into all
	 those ROM wavetable cards with less quality music.


>     Whoever has them HUGE sigs.. NUKE `EM!!  They're annoying as HELL!
>       That guy with the big RAF in his sig, and the guy with the big,
>     ugly race car come to mind.  Jeez, how about a little economy..

	 Right on.

>     Senate bill 314 petitions do NOT belong on a GUS discussion list...

	 Why not?  It applies EVERYONE on the list, and if the bill goes
	 through the GUS list could be no more.  I hate politics, but here is
	 where gov't law hits home hard.

>     And, even if you're a new user.. PLEASE don't quote the entire
>     previous day's digest in your reply.  That's lame too..

	 Right on.


>Sorry i didn't send in my vote earlier, but i think for affordabilities
>sake, 1 or 2 megs would be good. But i must say this: 4MB RAM does NOT
>cost $300. Jesus! I sell 4MB 72pin SIMMs for about $160. 30pin memory

	 Your right, I was thinking 8Mb...  still, $160 for memory plus the
	 card itself ($150-$200) brings it up over $300 into $350.  Still not
	 affordable to a lot of people.

	 Well enough of this subject.  Maybe Gravis will actually listen to the
	 opinions of current GUS owners while designing the GUS2.


	 Steve

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

Date: Sun, 05 Mar 1995 15:39:38 -0500
From: jhladun@io.org (John Hladun)
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #5

>
>Date: Sat, 4 Mar 1995 15:01:37 -0600
>From: Michael.Murphy@dlep1.itg.ti.com (Michael Murphy)
>Subject: Win95 and GUS
>
>I realize this has been discussed before on the Digest, but could someone
>who has gotten the GUS and Win95 to work together let me know how it is
>done.  I have tried loading the 3.56 and 3.57 drivers using the "add
>hardware" wizard.  The CD-Audio sounds OK, but .WAVs and .MIDs don't sound
>good at all.  The .WAVs get cut off in the middle, repeat themselves
>randomly, and generally sound "sucky".  The .MIDs don't even play.
>Please help.
>
>My configuration:
>  GUS w/ 1 MB RAM
>  486DX2/50 w/ 20MB RAM
>  Win95 Beta Build 345
>  GUS is using DMA 3, IRQ 5, Address 220h, MIDI IRQ 7.  I've tried using
>different buffer sizes with no difference in the "sucky" sound.
>
>Thanks for any help in advance.
>
>-Murph
>
Careful! GUS in combination with Windows 95 discussion is not perceived very
well on this list.

I have gotten the 3.59 drivers to operate with Playback DMA 5 Record DMA 6
IRQ 7 Address 220h  and MIDI 5. I used the gravis installation program
rather than the install wizard.
The only problem I had was the combination of the QEMM "RAM" switch with the
grvsutl.386 device driver. I heard that EMM386 with the RAM switch had a
similar detrimental effect. This is with build 324 BTW.

Hope this helps!
John. 



John Hladun              jhladun@io.org             Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Is life so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains
and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others may
take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
**************************** Finger for PGP Key ****************************

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 22:00:28 +0100
From: lemmen@iaehv.nl (Frank Lemmen)
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #5

>From: Michael.Murphy@dlep1.itg.ti.com (Michael Murphy)
>Subject: Win95 and GUS
>
>I realize this has been discussed before on the Digest, but could someone
>who has gotten the GUS and Win95 to work together let me know how it is
>done.  I have tried loading the 3.56 and 3.57 drivers using the "add
>hardware" wizard.  The CD-Audio sounds OK, but .WAVs and .MIDs don't sound
>good at all.  The .WAVs get cut off in the middle, repeat themselves
>randomly, and generally sound "sucky".  The .MIDs don't even play.
>Please help.
>
>My configuration:
>  GUS w/ 1 MB RAM
>  486DX2/50 w/ 20MB RAM
>  Win95 Beta Build 345
>  GUS is using DMA 3, IRQ 5, Address 220h, MIDI IRQ 7.  I've tried using
>different buffer sizes with no difference in the "sucky" sound.

Since one week i'm using the beta version 4.00.331 wich i got from microsoft
and at this moment my gus functions well with .WAV files and CD-Audio. But
the midi files don't work either. But that needs some work but it can work.
With the
patch manager the sounds get trough but the midi banks 0 stay empty.?
I put my gus at DMA 7 and sometimes there's a little tick sound but most of
the time
it sounds great. I've installed the win95 over my "old" 3.11 and everything
looks like its working
I'm using the 3.58 disks and i'm soon to install the 3.59 disks.

To install the gus shut down the computer and choose restart in dos mode.
Then install the software.
If you install from a dos box it goes wrong. The hardware wizzard does NOT
recognize the gus at this time.
my config:
- 512 kb gus dma 7 base 220 irq 5 midi irq 7
- 66Mhz dx2
- 8 Megs ram
- Windows '95

But it still remains a BETA version so don't expect it to with everthing
(not Yet)

Greetings
Frank Lemmen  -=*=-  lemmen@iaehv.nl  

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 16:42:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Lance Kalzus <kqy5125@is.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #5

Someone wrote:

Although my anonymity was protected in the poll, I'll confess to being
the ``silly person.''   But I want to provide an explanation.  In my
response to the poll, what I said in full was that 256K of RAM was
sufficient ... if the General Midi patches were pre-loaded in ROM!  In
this scenario, the 256K RAM would be needed only for generating digital
audio - for instance .wav playback.  My idea is that the ROM provides a
set of low-fidelity pre-loaded patches, thereby avoiding the need for
patch loading/caching software for entry-level uses, while professionals
and audiophiles who want to load hi-fidelity patches or do sampling
could add RAM for this purpose.

---

Fair enough.  Only problem is that putting 256KB on the board as well
accepting as memory in MB increments makes memory addressing a nightmare,
requiring more circuits, or pulling a cheese (a.k.a. AWE32), where if you
add memory you set a jumper to disable the memory soldiered on the board
already (512KB for the AWE, I think). 


	"Invisible airwaves crackle with life
	 Bright and tender, bristle with the energy
	 Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength
	 Bearing a gift beyond price that's almost free" -- Rush

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


Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 16:28:42 GMT
From: Mike Geileskey <gei0089l@uel.ac.uk>
Subject: GUS memory upgrade in the UK

Can someone tell me where I can buy a cheap GUS upgrade from 256k to 
1mb in the UK. The only places I seem to find charge a great deal for 
just 768k.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 19:38:18 +0000 (GMT)
From: Sam <Samuel.Marshall@durham.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: memory

> From: rwright@dhostwo.convex.com (Randy Wright)
> 
> In V20 #2 we saw...
> 
> >   256K?!!?   :  1       (silly person!)
> 
> Although my anonymity was protected in the poll, I'll confess to being
> the ``silly person.''   But I want to provide an explanation.  In my
> response to the poll, what I said in full was that 256K of RAM was
> sufficient ... if the General Midi patches were pre-loaded in ROM!  In
> this scenario, the 256K RAM would be needed only for generating digital
> audio - for instance .wav playback.  My idea is that the ROM provides a
> set of low-fidelity pre-loaded patches, thereby avoiding the need for
> patch loading/caching software for entry-level uses, while professionals
> and audiophiles who want to load hi-fidelity patches or do sampling
> could add RAM for this purpose.

Umm. What about demos and mod-type files, which are the GUS's significant 
advantage over all other cards? [apart from the free SDK].

Most demos and many mods require at least 512k ram already. If you were 
only going to put in 256k, it'd be best to forget it entirely and just 
leave it to the DMA chip (for `digital audio' and `WAV playback'). And 
you know what? Then it'd be just like every other crap soundcard.

Plus, assuming the RAM will be in the form of SIMMs so musicians etc can 
afford to upgrade it sensibly, it might be difficult to find 256k SIMMs - 
and the cost-per-k will be more as well...

And who the hell wants `low fidelity' ROM patches? If they are fixed they
ought to be the best affordable. Like 4 megs ROM for instance (ROM is
cheaper than RAM). That's the problem with ROM patches on other boards,
from the Orchid to the AWE32. They only have 1 meg (or less!), which can
sound a lot worse than the GUS's 1 meg chosen from 4.5. 

Sam

--> Home Page <-- ** Go on, try it! ** --> http://www.dur.ac.uk/~d405ua <--
  --> [1mLatest Feature[m:  BUGFIX: realtime fractalzoom in 3K (486/P5).. <--

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

Date: Mon, 06 Mar 95 09:19:45 EST
From: Bryan Maher <bsm@SEI.CMU.EDU>
Subject: Memory for GUS...

To: Bryan Baskin,

Yes, you are correct in saying that 4MB costs about $160 but you did not read
the original post correctly.  I beleive the gentleman was trying to say that
4MB of RAM ($160) on a GUS (~$140) would be around $300.  Remember, memory is
only one of the components and Gravis would have to make up costs on the new
GF2 or buy the AMD Interwave ... AMD has to make a profit somewhere too.

BTW: I noticed that there was a post from someone who works for a DRAM
manufacturer... I have a question.  Why is it that back in the summer of 92
memory was down as low as $25/MB (Mail Order) and now these same places are
carrying it for >$40/MB.  I know, "they" claim there was a natural disaster
that wiped out the major manufacturer of resin but the alleged world wide
shortage of resin never occured (ask the Wallstreet Journal). Current prices
are like an OPEC scam. CONSUMERS UNITE!! Demand fair DRAM prices!!

Sorry for the digression but high DRAM prices are the reason our GUS's don't
come maxed out in the first place.  By 1990 to 1992 trend analysis, memory
should be about $5/MB now.  


Bryan Maher

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 13:01:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Woldrich <davew@uofport.edu>
Subject: Memory Poll Harumphles ...

Sorry to agitate all the Australians!!  Geez.. I mean, I'm SORRY that you 
guys have expensive RAM!!  Them's the breaks..  Anyhow, why don't you 
look at the technology this way, the days of the 8meg 486 may be drastically 
and speedily coming to an end!  My intel buddy says that the 486 may be 
discontinued NEXT year!  Amazing, but true.  Great new RAM specs for 
intel's new motherboards coming too... What I'm getting at is, if you're 
uncomfortable with the cost of things now, possibly the cost for the same 
items will be pushed lower by new technologies when AMD Interwave arrives on 
the scene -- possibly to a level even acceptable to all you frugal 
Australians!!  :)  You P'SHAW and HARUMPH at me now, but you only look to 
the future as far as the tip of your nose allows.  I happen to see a much 
brighter, cheaper vision of future comings..  SO THERE!!  THLPT!!!  Heheheh..

David Woldrich    (davew@wally.uofport.edu)  |  Majoring in Computer Science 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
		 "Uh ... d'they do that with LASERS?!?!"  -Dave Letterman 
									 ^^^^^^ 

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

Date: Mon, 06 Mar 95 05:50:41 EST
From: Pooya Hemami <PHEMAMI@MUSICM.MCGILL.CA>
Subject: PLAYFILE won't record!

I am having problems recording with PLAYFILE on my Gravis UltraSound
rev. 3.74.  Whenever I record something, even after I enable the
Mic. input, I don't hear anything once I play it back.  However,
recording in Windows is perfectly fine.

I think that this has something to do with PLAYFILE automatically
disabling the Mic. Input.  If I run ULTRAMIX to enable the Mic. Input,
I can speak into the mike and hear my voice come out of the GUS.  But
once I run PLAYFILE, I can no longer hear myself (i.e. it disables
the Mic. Input).  And if I click on the region desired to enable it,
nothing happens.  Coincidentally, a friend of mine (also with a rev.
3.74 GUS) ha the EXACT same problem; he can record in Windows but not
with PLAYFILE.  My ULTRASND variable is set to 220,7,5,11,5.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 12:57:39 -0600
From: bbaskin@mail.utexas.edu (Bryan K. Baskin)
Subject: To: W.H. Li about memory prices

Hey Y'all,

It seems Mr. Walker was a bit confused as to what kind of memory you were
looking for. He mentioned 256x4 chips which were used on the pre 3.7 GUS's.
But since you have a GUSMAX, you are reffering to 256x16 chips. His price on
the older ones was fine. Here in Austin, Texas, your chip costs $32 dollars.
But considering import costs or i don't know what your price might be fair.
My guess, look around a bit more, but if it can't be found for cheaper, get
it. It's worth it.

To the guy in Australia,
		Sorry things cost so much, i didn't realize what kind of costs were
added. Hopefully free trade and a growing Australian market in this kind of
stuff will help relieve that...

Later,
												  Baskin -)
												  The University of Texas at 
												  Austin
												  Team OS/2

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 12:38:58 -0800
From: Stephen Thomas Brindle <sbrindle@netcom.com>
Subject: U8???

I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but I didn't pay any 
attention to it then, but now that I have U8, I'm asking.

How the hell do you get ANY kind of sound support in Ultima 8?  MegaEm makes it 
lock up.  The GUS drivers from Gravis only give music support, no sound 
effects.  SBOS gives an error.  MAXSBOS gives an error.  MAXSBOS and the /C 
option works, but the music and sound effects are horribly screwy.

I am at my wit's end here trying to get this thing to work.  If there is no way 
to play with full music and sound support on this game, I'm going to probably 
sell my GUS in favor of an AWE32 or Tropez.  It is a HUGE hassle to get this 
card to work with just about ANYTHING.

Thanks to ANYONE who can help.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 Stephen Thomas Brindle |I have made this letter longer than usual,
------------------------|because I lack the time to make it short.
	Ethereal Dragon     |                            -Blaise Pascal
	 -==(UDIC)==-       |
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 22:49:24 -0500 (EST)
From: karna@pobox.upenn.edu (Animesh Karna)
Subject: Update on my gus problems

I had previously posted about the following GUS problems . . .

-- Doom1 -- (ver 1.2) music was draggy and yucky sounding
-- Doom2 & Heretic -- tons and tons and tons of static
-- System Shock -- occasionally, when I had the Gus doing both sound fx
   and music, I would get random instruments and various sounds occasionally
   pop in
-- Dragon's Lair and World of Xeen using MegaEm -- random instruments and
   various random sounds (both work fine with SBOS)

I haven't investigated the last one, but the first two and possibly the
third have been fixed.  The culprit?  Bus speed!  Yeh!  This turned out
to be non-trivial: I couldn't find a fix for bus speed in my CMOS and nowhere
in my motherboard manual.  I took a chance, however, and downloaded a pgm
called ami270.zip form Compuserve's PCHW forum: it claimed to be a different
AMI bios setup pgm.  I found the setting in this setup pgm, and I was able
to fix it with no problem.  (as a side benefit, I also was able to set to
0-wait states form my RAM; between these two fixes, my Wing Commander 3 CPU
test went from 15 to 12!)

Thanks for all the help.  I'm still investigating problems 3 and 4 above.
I haven't encountered the System Shock problem, but I haven't played it
much lately.  I'll post my findings as . . . er, as I find them.

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

End of GUS Daily Digest V20 #6
******************************
