Ultrasound Daily Digest     Fri,  8 Jan 93       Volume 2 : Issue   7 

Today's Topics:
		  Call ACCOLADE about your Star Control II problems!
				 Finally.. I have a GUSable computer
					For those who don't have it...
						GUS registration card
				 Patches other than ones from Gravis?
	   SC2 (Star Control II) and 1MB GUS -- NEW suggestions???
					  Trouble recording with GUS
						   Ultrasound 3D!!
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #6
						Weird MODULATOR thing!

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 14:04:35 CST
From: ibmpa!hartmann.austin.ibm.com!lance@ibminet.awdpa.ibm.com (Lance Hartmann)
Message-Id: <9301072004.AA07086@hartmann.austin.ibm.com>
Subject: Call ACCOLADE about your Star Control II problems!
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I just got off the phone with the technical support at:

	   ACCOLADE
	   408-296-8400

regarding my problems with a 1MB GUS and Star Control II.  If you, too,
are experiencing problems, then PLEASE call them.  I was VERY surprised,
based on my readings here, to hear the tech rep at Accolade state that he
had NEVER (repeat:  NEVER) heard of this problem!

The rep suggested I use as clean a system as possible (ie. HIMEM.SYS okay)
so I plan to give that a try tonight.  The rep didn't, however, even try to
explain why or how I didn't have problems with a 256K GUS....

Lance Hartmann (lance%hartmann.austin.ibm.com@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com)
			   Yes, that IS a '%' (percent sign) in my network address.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All statements, comments, opinions, etc. herein reflect those of the author
and shall NOT be miscontrued as those of IBM or anyone else for that matter.

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 23:51:11 -0500 (EST)
From: impster@ais.org (Charles Budensiek)
Message-Id: <m0nABgd-000A7zC@ais.org>
Subject: Finally.. I have a GUSable computer
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I just received my nifty 386DX-33 from the kind UPS people and have a
question or two on using my GUS in windows 3.1.
 
I have gotten the GUS to work just fine with WAV sounds, MIDI Mapper, Media
player... actually the GUS works great on everything. Except for two
programs, KBMIDI and DRUM. Both of these programs are sposed to make midi
... er allow me to make midi music, but I can't get any sound out of either
of them. Midimap.cfg is in my \windows\system directory, ultrasnd.ini is in
my \ultrasnd\windows directory. Have I missed something?

thanks,

-- 
=============================================================================
| "Anyone have a coat hanger? My brain itches." | impster@umcc.ais.org
| "If I was a turnip, would I be revered and    | Charles Budensiek
| "worshipped like I would deserve to be?"      | ph #: Ask if you want it.
=============================================================================

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 11:27:42 MET
From: 07-Jan-1993 1128 <sabiani@taec.enet.dec.com>
Message-Id: <9301071024.AA08785@vbormc.vbo.dec.com>
Subject: For those who don't have it...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hi GUSers,

I have been a subscriber to this mailing from its start but because of a big 
lack of time I haven't been able read everything...so excuse me if the following 
has been discussed before !

The GUS has been released for some months now and I still haven't seen any 
article or ad about it in the press. (There was a recent article in Byte that 
compared all the sound cards but nothing about the GUS).
I am almost completely convinced that the GUS is what I (and most of my friends) 
need but I don't even know where I can buy it !
You have to know that I'm in France and the SB starts to be quite popular here 
(;^)) and apart from the people who read the News, nobody has ever heard of the 
GUS !

So can you answer to those basic questions :

- what is the best company where I could order it from ?
- what is the current (best ?) price ?
- when the daughter boards will be available ?
- what games offer a real GUS driver ?

I would be glad to organize the GUS invasion in France so please help me !

Thanks,
Stephane.

PS : If someone from Gravis reads this, please tell me how it's possible to 
become an official reseller (I have some friends who have Computer Shops and 
would be glad to sell the GUS in France)

PSbis : If someone in France reads that and already has a GUS, please contact me 
!

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 13:09:44 EST
From: snowdog@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (Rodney CHANG)
Message-Id: <9301071809.AA13426@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca>
Subject: GUS registration card
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hi, I recently bought GUS from a local dealer, but I found no
registration card inside.  Is there suppose to be one?  If so, how can
I register w/o a registration card?  Thanks in advance.

-- 
Rodney Chang          | "Dohhh!!" - Homer Simpson, Springfield Nuclear Sup.
snowdog@cs.mcgill.ca  | "Dohhh??" - Richard Holden, a nobody.
b7jd@musicb.mcgill.ca | ** Les Expos & Nordiques in '93, '94, '95, '96  ... ***

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 14:36:47 CST
From: ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach)
Message-Id: <9301072036.AA14758@batman.austin.ibm.com>
Subject: Patches other than ones from Gravis?
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

O.K., I remember that someone posted about creating some patches
and uploading them. I have some questions.

1. What kind are they? For me, the GUS is sorely lacking in one area,
   namely "synth" patches. I'd like a nice Oberheim patch, maybe an
   ARP, who knows, but there are times when you need a more "synthy"
   sound than a natural sound. I love the strings, horns, etc., but
   for some types of music violins and trumpets just don't cut it!

   (Slap me for bitching - I really love the orchestral stuff!)

2. How can I use them? Other than downloading them, etc. I mean is
   there a way other than a .CFG for playmidi to use them? Can I
   specify them in, say, Winjammer? Or are the patch "numbers"
   predefined? I don't care much for playmidi because it sometimes
   chokes. More in #3.

3. This is a MIDI question: say I save a file at 120 b.p.m. with Winjammer.
   Then I play it with playmidi and it's sslloowweerr. A lor slower.
   Anyone know why, or how to speed playmidi up?

4. How are you all specifying the drum patch? I just call channel 10
   with no patch specified and it works (note I am using 1.1 software).
   I assume things will change with the new patches/drivers/etc.

5. Again on drums - anyone got any techno/disco drum sounds? And where
   oh where is my crash cymbal? Maybe 1.1 doesn't have it. (or 1.01,
   whatever).

Thanks,

Ken

ken@austin.ibm.com

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 7:58:50 CST
From: ibmpa!hartmann.austin.ibm.com!lance@ibminet.awdpa.ibm.com (Lance Hartmann)
Message-Id: <9301071358.AA07070@hartmann.austin.ibm.com>
Subject: SC2 (Star Control II) and 1MB GUS -- NEW suggestions???
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Anyone have any MORE solutions/suggestions as to curing the 1MB problem
with Star Control II?

After recently posting my hesitance to upgrade to 1MB, I went ahead and
installed the chips last night after reading that I could probably "fix"
or "prevent" problems with Star Control II by changing my DMA channel.

					 NOPE -- DOESN'T WORK FOR ME!

I've tried both 8-bit and 16-bit DMA channels (DMA 1 and DMA 7, respectively).
Previous to my "upgrade", I was running on DMA 1 and withOUT any problems.
Now, of course, I'm getting the "noise" during menu selections, editing, etc.
Note, that both DMA channels work fine with other apps (thus far) on my
486/50MHz, 256K cache, 8MB RAM, ETEQ chipset, AMI BIOS, "normal" bus speed.

I logged into Accolade's (for the uninitiated, Accolade is the vendor for
Star Control II) BBS last night and spent about 20 mins. hunting through
it.  While I wasn't too surprised to note the absence of any kind of patch,
I was caught off guard by the fact that I failed to see ANY messages
on the bulletins regarding the problem.  I left a message to Customer Support
myself.  Does anyone have any recent news from them?  I plan on calling
them (voice) today.

Lance Hartmann (lance%hartmann.austin.ibm.com@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com)
			   Yes, that IS a '%' (percent sign) in my network address.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All statements, comments, opinions, etc. herein reflect those of the author
and shall NOT be miscontrued as those of IBM or anyone else for that matter.

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

Date: Fri, 08 Jan 93 03:22:15 EST
From: ebynum@server.cs.jhu.edu
Message-Id: <9301080821.AA11308@orca.es.com>
Subject: Trouble recording with GUS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hiya fellas,

	I just got my GUS today (Telemart got it to me in 30 hours!) and it
sounds great. Playback of existing .snd and .mid files is fine. The problem
occurs when I try to record using playfile and USS8. There seems to be an
awful lot of background hiss, and the sounds pop and stutter periodically.
In addition, the volume is pathetically low. I've tried various sample rates
and other fun and obscure switches to no avail.

	Here's my setup:

	1. System - Zeos 386SX-20. DOS 5.0, 104M hard disk, 6M RAM. I am
	   using QEMM to load various TSRs high. Half of my RAM is in a 3.1M
	   RAM disk. The rest is left available to the OS as expanded memory.

	2. GUS - 16-bit slot, 256K RAM, using all the default IRQs, etc. The
	   only other card I have is an ATI VGA Wonder XL with 1 meg RAM,
	   and it's 5 slots away, so there shouldn't be any interference.

	3. Sound equipment - I'm using the line in and line out ports on the
	   GUS to hook up with my stereo system - Sony receiver & tape deck,
	   Magnavox CD player.

	Any help anyone out there has to offer will be greatly appreciated -
I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to record and maintain the quality of the
original sounds. You can respond through E-mail, but you might also want to
post replies to the digest for those too shy to ask.

						Thanks in advance,

						Evan H. Bynum
						ebynum@cs.jhu.edu

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 19:48:40 -0600 (CST)
From: "Alan S. Estenson" <este0005@student.tc.umn.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.05.9301071940.A1039-c100000@student.tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Ultrasound 3D!!
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

This press release is copied verbatim from America Online.  Once you've read
it, you'll know just as much as I do....so please direct your questions to
Gravis (I don't have the answers).
 
Alan Estenson
este0005@student.tc.umn.edu
***************************
 
Subj:  Just Announced.....
Date:  93-01-07 19:42:47 EST
From:  BluJJFan
 
ADVANCED GRAVIS UNVEILS NEXT DIMENSION IN COMPUTER SOUND WITH ULTRASOUND 3D
LAS VEGAS (JAN. 7) BUSINESS WIRE - Advanced Gravis
(TSE & VSE-AED;OTCBBS-GRVSF) Wednesday announced a development that will
forever change the way PC game players, business, and multimedia software
users perceive sound from their computer software. 
 
Gravis UltraSound 3D for the PC, the next step for the Gravis UltraSound
card, places the computer user in the middle of an audio environment
for immersive virtual reality audio. 
 
For the first time outside virtual reality labs and at an affordable
consumer pricepoint, sound effects, music, even simple clicks of a mouse
can be placed in an audio space that surrounds the user like a sphere. 
 
Utilizing Focal Point technology, UltraSound 3D processes the audio signal
through a technique called "convolution," new right and left binaural
audio signals are generated that create a wraparound sound effect to
the human ear. 
 
The sound signal is actually a stereo signal shaped electronically to
make the listener hear the sound as three-dimensional and in the correct
location -- a psychoacoustic effect that can be manipulated in real time. 
 
When compared to an equalizer, binaural processing adjusts the gain and
phase of the frequency band.  But it would take two hundred sliders for
gain and another two hundred sliders for phase shift per ear and the
ability to change all of them in real time to achieve the immersive virtual
reality audio effect of Gravis UltraSound 3D. 
 
"Game players -- particularly jetfighter enthusiasts -- will be first to
embrace Gravis UltraSound 3D," said Grant Russell, president of Advanced
Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.  "As a fighter zooms past, the sound will
now follow the jet and ... WATCH OUT he's shooting you from behind!
Sound can even be placed above or below the player. 
 
"There are many other significant applications," Russell continued.
"Entertainment multimedia such as the new music CD-ROMs featuring rock
artists can now deliver a much more interactive concert environment.
Business applications can use 3D audio to enhance presentations or even
help visually impaired users navigate complex spreadsheets." 
 
Advanced Gravis will begin shipping Gravis UltraSound 3D during the first
quarter of 1993 for USD $249 complete with a set of headphones with 512K
of memory (Gravis UltraSound currently offers 256K standard). 
 
The company is currently working with more than 25 developers who are
writing for, or already offer products that support the Gravis UltraSound
standard including such companies as Accolade, Electronic Arts, and
MidiSoft. 
 
The Gravis UltraSound card, introduced October 1992, offers 16-bit, 32-voice
wave table synthesis and CD quality sound reproduction and recording
capability.  UltraSound is compatible with Sound Blaster and AdLib and
provides enhanced AdLib and Sound Blaster reproduction.  It also supports
Microsoft Windows 3.1 Multimedia Extensions. 
 
Advanced Gravis, a Canadian company based in Burnaby B.C., is a leading
designer and manufacturer of computer input devices.  In addition to
UltraSound and UltraSound 3D, the company offers more than 14 models of
joysticks for most major computers including the Gravis Analog Joystick,
the Gravis GamePad, and the optical MouseStick for the Macintosh and IBM PC
platforms. 
 
CONTACT:  Advanced Gravis, Burnaby, B.C. 
	Grant Russell, 604/431-5020 
		   or 
	Pat Meier Associates P.R., San Francisco 
	Pat Meier, 415/957-5999 
 
Transmitted:  93-01-07 16:48:00 EST
***************************

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 14:22:56 +0100
From: mir@opus.chorus.fr (Adam MIROWSKI)
Message-Id: <9301071322.AA10749@chorus.chorus.fr>
Subject: Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #6
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 13:04:46 -0500
> From: aa344@yfn.ysu.edu (Joseph Maruschek)
> Subject: PATINFO utility
> 
> I've written a small utility that lets you peek at some of the
> fields in the GUS's patch files.  Since I don't have the SDK,
> there is a lot of other information in the header that I don't
> understand.
> 
> File: SLAPBAS1.PAT 
> This file contains  2  sample(s).
>  
> Sample # 1 
> Sample length: 14658        Loop start:  14150          Loop end: 14648 
> Sample rate: 18382 Hz
> Lowest note: A0             Highest note: B2            Base note: D2
> Detune: 0     Unknown: 2    Balance: 7 

The "Unknown" paramater could identify the way the
sample and its loop should be played. Usually, there
are 4 possibilities:

- once, forward
- once, backward (the whole sample or just the loop)
- repeating, loop played each time from the start
- repeating, loop playing forward then immediately
	backward. This gives a smoother transition.

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

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 14:21:52 CST
From: ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach)
Message-Id: <9301072021.AA14742@batman.austin.ibm.com>
Subject: Weird MODULATOR thing!
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I grabbed a modified version of modulator off the Internet sound news-
group. It's Modulator 1.0 and the poster said it had been modified for
the GUS. I'd never played with MODs before, so I thought I'd give it
a whack.

The program worked, recognizing my GUS as the target device. I loaded
a file (and kinda freaked when the "Wiping memory" message came up!)
and played a MOD someone had posted. It was distorted, but I think that's
because I really had my mixer cranked. The timing seemed off too.

Anyway, after I exited Modulator, every once in a while, I'd get part
of the song coming out my GUS! This really freaked me out. I dunno if
it was when I did a certain event or just randomly (seemed random),
but this was odd. I ran ULTRINIT thinking it would clear the GUS
memory, but the sample still played every now and then. I finally
rebooted and the problem (obviously) went away.

I ran Modulator again, but I didn't ever get the odd sample playing
like before, so I dunno. I didn't play as much of the song as I did
the first time (it was a kinda boring techno song), so maybe that
has something to do with it. Anyone else had this problem?

Ken

ken@austin.ibm.com

P.S. I'm having great fun writing MIDI files for the GUS, but I'm
using a Music Quest MIDI Interface card rather than the GUS's port.
Anyone got any success stories with the GUS MIDI port working?

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End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #7
******************************
