GUS Daily Digest            Thu, 12 May 94  9:37 PST     Volume 13: Issue  11 

Today's Topics:
						About a MAX upgrade...
				Anyone with problems with MIDI volume?
			   Are there any problems with Ultima 7.5?
			CFV: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard reorganization
					   Compress samples w/ db?
				  DIGEST ADMIN: GUS LISTS LOST A DAY
	   DIGEST ADMIN: IMPORTANT NOTICE IN TODAY'S GENERAL DIGEST
					Distorsion on Beethoven's 5th
					   GF2 and Megaem protected
					   GUS Daily Digest V13 #10
			  Hopefully waiting for an improved Mega-Em
				  Return to Zork 1.1 / VOICEOOH.PAT
							  TFX & GUS
				  Video for Windows and the Ultrasnd

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: Tue, 10 May 1994 16:42:42 +0800 (PST)
From: Francis Li <fli@nermal.santarosa.edu>
Subject: About a MAX upgrade...

No, buying a daughtercard is not the same as the MAX.  Only the MAX can
have both CD-ROM interfaces and 16 recording and playback.  Also, I want
the enhanced mixer (line-in/microphone control), and I would like the DSP
and the drivers it has to make it Sound System compatible.

So, any sort of upgrade out?

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 10:54:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Juan Carlos Leon <jleon@chaph.usc.edu>
Subject: Anyone with problems with MIDI volume?

Hi again GUSers!

Well, it seems that there are some people that don't like us in the
comp.ibm.pc.soundcard group.
Has anybody suffered of this problem? I'm playing some MIDI files with the
Creative Labs Jukebox, it plays three or four files and then the volume
gets lowered a lot.  They volume stays that way until I stop the jukebox,
clear the queue and play some other file manually.  Then I can start again
the thing until it strikes again.
I think this is because my GUS&PAS configuration but I want to make sure it's
only this and I'm the only one.

Juan

PS. I still want to register my used GUS, please coments!
-- 
email: jleon@scf.usc.edu                   *-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*
Major in Electrical Engineering, Computers |    empty until I have time to   |
University of Southern California          |    think on a new signature     |
Los Angeles, CA.  USA                      *-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-*

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 17:41:54 CDT
From: Gary L Snethen <xeno@iastate.edu>
Subject: Are there any problems with Ultima 7.5?

Hello Everyone,

   I had no trouble getting SBOS to work with Ultima 7 - The Black Gate.  Am I
going to have trouble with Ultima 7, part II - Serpent Isle?  I didn't see
this game listed in glist.zip.  If I am going to have trouble, is there any
solution, or did Origin use a different sound driver on it?

   Also, how good is Archon Ultra's sound for the GUS?  Did they do a decent
job of using native mode, or did they just hook their SB routines up to a GUS
noisemaker?

Thanks!

---Xeno

p.s.  I'd appreciate it if you'd forward me a personal copy of any
	  followups you send to the list.  Thanks!  (xeno@iastate.edu)

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 94 11:40:32 PDT
From: asolovay@geoworks.com (Andrew Solovay)
Subject: CFV: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard reorganization

Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!ames!hookup!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!EU.net!uunet!bounce-back
From: asolovay@geoworks.com (Andrew Solovay)
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: CFV: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard reorganization
Followup-To: poster
Date: 9 May 1994 19:10:13 -0400
Organization: Usenet Volunteer Votetakers (UVV)
Lines: 213
Sender: tale@uunet.uu.net
Approved: tale@uunet.uu.net
Expires: 31 May 1994 00:00:00 GMT
Message-ID: <comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard-reorg-CFV1@uunet.uu.net>
Reply-To: votes@geoworks.com (Andrew Solovay's vote-taking alias)
NNTP-Posting-Host: rodan.uu.net

					 FIRST CALL FOR VOTES (of 2)
		   unmoderated group comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech
		  unmoderated group comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.music
		  unmoderated group comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.games
		 unmoderated group comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.advocacy
unmoderated group comp.sys.icm.pc.soundcard.misc (replaces comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard)



Newsgroups line:
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech  Technical questions about pc soundcards.
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.music Music and sound questions using soundcards.
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.games Questions about using soundcards with games.
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.advocacy  Advocacy for a particular soundcard.
comp.sys.icm.pc.soundcard.misc  Soundcards in general.

Votes must be received by 29:59:59 GMT, 30 May 1994.

This vote is being conducted by a neutral third party.  For voting
questions only contact Andrew Solovay <asolovay@geoworks.com>.  For
questions about the proposed group contact Michael Young Ko
<vincie@cs.jhu.edu>.

The vote-taker will post each CFV to the GUS Daily Digest at
<gus-general@mail.orst.edu> shortly after it is posted to
news.announce.newsgroups. He will send an abridged RESULT posting
(without the full list of voters) to the mailing list after voting
ends; the full RESULTs will be posted to all the newsgroups where the
CFV was posted.

CHARTERS

comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.games 

	Unmoderated discussion of using IBM-PC compatible games with a
	specific soundcard, resolving compatibility problems of a certain
	soundcard with a particular game, discussing campaigns at software
	groups to have more native soundcard support, questions if a
	particular game supports a certain soundcard, and questions on
	which soundcard is best for a particular game or all games in
	general.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.music 

	Unmoderated discussion of software that plays back and record
	sound and music files, music formats such as WAV, VOC, MIDI, MOD,
	STM, 669, ULT, ROL, etc., resolving problems with musical
	software, discussing which software or hardware is best for a
	particular musical or sound project, and questions concerning
	sampling or sound patch making.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech 

	Unmoderated discussion of questions concerning programming a
	particular soundcard, discussing hardware problems such as loss of
	sound from a particular channel, discussing the pros and cons of a
	particular sound generation scheme, questions on the compatibility
	of the soundcard to a particular computer type, operating system,
	and peripheral such as a CD-ROM drive, questions about the
	functionality of a particular soundcard, and resolving hardware
	problems.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.advocacy

	Unmoderated discussion of the pros and cons of soundcards in
	general. This discussion will possibly overlap some discussions on
	the other soundcard groups. Also reviews of soundcards and future
	opinions and tests of soundcards will be placed in this group to
	be discussed by the users.

comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.misc

	Unmoderated discussion of topics concerning soundcard hardware and
	software that is outside of the above mentioned topics. These
	could include upcoming product release or updates for soundcard
	software. (This group would supersede the existing group
	comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.)

JUSTIFICATION:

		The sudden increase in the volume of messages posted to the group
		comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard has caused the suggestion of splitting the
		group to appear. Many users on the group have expressed interest
		in dividing the group because the topics listed on the group are
		varied tremendously. Having approximately 200+ new messages a day
		on this group is expensive to some users who must pay for the 
		receiving the usenet group based upon amount of information as well
		as paying for the amount of time needed to sort through all of the
		messages. Currently, a heated debate is present on the c.s.i.p.s
		group which is disrupting those users more interested in new software
		and problems. They have expressed concern that some are not able to 
		keep up with all of the traffic and decided that
		by splitting the group, this would allow them to read the messages
		relevant to their interests pertaining to their soundcard.

		The comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.GUS is unrecognized usenet group
		throughout many news servers. Therefore, to avoid confusion and to
		reorganize the entire soundcard group, this illegal group must be
		eliminated. Many GUS users are satisfied with removing this group
		and using the four above mentioned subgroups.
		
		There was also concern about where this group should be located, under
		the comp.syd.ibm.pc hierarchy or comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware hierarchy. 
		It has been decided to leave the soundcard subgroups under the
		former mentioned hierarchy to prevent any problems with news servers
		and provides with usenet groups with seven level names. Also, the
		transition would be less disturbing.

RATIONALE:

		The idea of spliting the group was tossed around the c.s.i.p.s
		group many times. However, no action was ever taken. It is hoped
		that finally with the dramatic increase in messages, that this
		reorganization would make the group more efficient and easier to
		use. Questions had to be raised about add another group, a
		c.s.i.p.soundcard.GUS group which would handle all topics 
		specific to the Gravis Ultrasound card. Presently, a majority of
		messages on the group is concerned with this card. Now with the
		a 100 message increase because of a heated debate (flame war?)
		the rational users want the group to be split. This eventually let to
		a group discussion about splitting up the soundcard group based upon
		the particular cards discussed, such as the Ultrasound, Soundblaster,
		Pro Audio Spectrum, etc. However, further discussion revealed that a
		majority thought that such a split would be short term due to the
		possibility of an unexpected loss of interest in a particular product.
		Therefore, because of the prospect of new soundcards being released
		that would increase the number of messages to the group, the prospect
		of more pc users of becoming involved in the multimedia revolution,
		and the steadily increase in messages in this group, it was decided
		that the group should be split based upon the topics mentioned above.

		The games group was chosen because a great number of posts on the
		soundcard group are concerned with how to use a particular soundcard
		with a particular game and what soundcard is best to use with game.
		Many users were concerned that the group was overrun with posts
		concerning how to get a particular game to work with a particular
		soundcard. They had to try to sift through the 200+ message a day
		to look for non-game compatibility messages. Therefore,
		the music group was also chosen because the other large part of
		message is related to the production of music. These include what
		programs can use a particular music format, and what programs exist
		to create programs. Also, in this group is the topic of sounds
		such as digitizing sound bytes and songs. A separate group was not
		created because many of the problems and solutions concerning
		recording or playing back sounds is related to the music production
		scene. The tech section was chosen because many users occasionally
		have questions about the technical aspect of soundcard, such as
		the pros and cons on how a soundcard generates sounds. Also,
		any hardware problems and compatibility would be discussed. But
		most importantly, the advocacy group would handle the bulk of the
		soundcard debate and keep it away from those more concerned
		with games or music. Finally, the misc group would be concerned with
		any topic or discussion outside of the above mentioned groups. This
		group is need to provide some kind of order in the other groups.
		Posting messages not really relevant to a particular group would cause
		an increase in traffic where it is not needed. As evident from other
		groups that have split, the misc section is used often. Possibly, by
		posting to the misc group, the message could be sent to the proper
		subgroup.Such a split would try to evenly distribute the
		messages throughout the sub groups. Most agree that sorting through
		50+ is cheaper and less time-consuming.


HOW TO VOTE

Erase everything above the top "-=-=-=-" line and erase everything
below the bottom "-=-=-=-" line.  Do not erase anything between these
lines and do not change the group names.

Give your name on the line that asks for it. For each group, place a YES or
NO in the brackets next to it to vote for or against it.  If you don't want
to vote on a particular group, just leave the space blank.  Don't worry
about spacing of the columns or any quote characters (">") that your reply
inserts.

Then mail the ballot to:    votes@geoworks.com
Just Replying to this message should work, but check the "To:" line.



-=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard reorganization Ballot    <SOUND-0001> (Don't remove this marker)

Give your real name here:

[Your Vote]  Group
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[         ]  comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.tech
[         ]  comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.music
[         ]  comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.games
[         ]  comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.advocacy
[         ]  comp.sys.icm.pc.soundcard.misc (replaces comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard)
-=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-



Anything else may be rejected by the automatic vote counting program.  The
votetaker will respond to your received ballots with a personal acknowledge-
ment by mail - if you do not receive one within several days, try again.
It's your responsibility to make sure your vote is registered correctly.

Each person may vote only once, no matter how many accounts he or she
may have. Also, only one ballot will be accepted from any account, no
matter how many people may share it. If more than one vote is received
from any person or any account, only the last vote received will be
counted.

Addresses and votes of all voters will be published in the final
voting results list. All ballots received are kept in the UVV archives
(including "cancelled" and invalid ballots). The vote files are made
available to the moderator of news.announce.newgroups on request. They
may also, at the discretion of the UVV, be made more widely available
if there is a controversy concerning the vote.

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 13:53:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "George A. Montemayor" <gmontem@eis.calstate.edu>
Subject: Compress samples w/ db?

Is it possible to use the 16-bit db's 4:1 ADPCM compression to compress 
the samples and have the GUS uncompress them on the file while it plays a 
MIDI file? That way, we can compress those Pro Pats v2.0 and be able to 
use them with MIDI and games with little loss of quality.

-George

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

Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 00:17:07 -0600 (MDT)
From: Dave DeBry <ddebry@dsd.es.com>
Subject: DIGEST ADMIN: GUS LISTS LOST A DAY

	In case you hadn't noticed, all of the GUS lists were gone for
Wednesday, May 11.  I won't point any fingers of blame, mainly because
I'm not masochistic.  :)

	If you sent in anything for those days (subscribe or
unsubscribe requests, articles for the digests, etc.), please resend
them, as they have been lost in the ether.

	Thanks for your patience.

-- 
Dave  ddebry@ debry@   \  
DeBry dsd.    peruvian. | "Great googly moogly!"
	  es.     cs.utah.  | 
	  com     edu      /  

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

Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 00:27:22 -0600 (MDT)
From: Dave DeBry <ddebry@dsd.es.com>
Subject: DIGEST ADMIN: IMPORTANT NOTICE IN TODAY'S GENERAL DIGEST

	There is an important notice in the GUS General Daily Digest
today.  It is the Call For Votes (CFV) for the restructuring of the
USENET news hierarchy concerning sound cards.

	This CFV was put forward almost directly as a result of the
high volume of traffic GUS related topics have generated on USENET.
If you remember, this Digest went through the exact same split for the
same reasons.

	I would encourage all of you to please read the information
carefully, and vote on the issues as you see fit.

	IMHO, the split that the GUS Digests went through turned out
to be a Very Good Thing (tm).  I feel that it would also be good for
USENET to do the same thing.

	If it's legal for me (as digest administrator) to say so, the
official stand of the GUS Digests is that all resolutions in this CFV
are good, and I would encourage the readers of the Digest to vote that
way.  (Keep in mind, though, you still can vote any way you want to.)

	If it's not legal for me to say that, then I never did.  :)

	Remember: You don't have to be a USENET reader to vote.  You
just have to have an email account.

-- 
Dave  ddebry@ debry@   \  "In summing up, the moral seems
DeBry dsd.    peruvian. |  A little bit obscure...
	  es.     cs.utah.  |  Whatever you do, 
	  com     edu      /   Take care of your shoes."

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 94 15:20:50 CDT
From: Daniel A Nielsen <dnielsen@ria-emh2.army.mil>
Subject: Distorsion on Beethoven's 5th

Well, One more time I guess.  I used midi1m to play B's 5th. After the applause
it starts to make what sounds like a beeping distorted fog horn sound.  At
first I thought something was played wrong, but now I think it shouldn't
be there at all.  Any suggestions?

Thanks again
dan

Barney isn't kissing those kids, He's tasting them!  -- me

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

Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 21:37:54 +1000 (EST)
From: Iain Huxley <ihuxley@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU>
Subject: GF2 and Megaem protected

What is the GF2?  Are there some outlines of what features it will 
include, and when it is coming out in a soundcard?

Also, do we have any idea when megaem protected mode will be out?  How 
will it work?  I would have thought it would take more memory and be less 
effcient in this mode.  Is this true?

thanks,

Iain.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iain Huxley         
Electrical Engineering II
University of Sydney
email: ihuxley@extro.ucc.su.oz.au
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A GUS * GET A GUS * GET A GUS * GET A GUS * GET A GUS * GET A GUS * GET A GUS * 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 16:18:56 +0100 (GDT)
From: dustin@ed.gse.utah.edu
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V13 #10

Whoever said:
> at large understands it.  I realize that GM is really just a specification
> for what to name your patches and really little else, but for me GM
> support means GM patchset+MPU-401+hardware/firmware capable of
> UNDERSTANDING MIDI.  The GUS only works as a GM synth in Windows or with
> hacks, kludges, and a very VERY few programs that support it completely in
> native mode. 

I guess you would like a PC that has DOS in hardware? or windows? I 
think that you insult Jayeson by calling megaem a kludge. I see it as a 
DRIVER much the same as you may have a cd-rom DRIVER. I am GLAD that the GUS 
requires these. It seems to imply that other OS may be able to better use 
it. The problems with GUS are not as bad as trying to get network cards 
working! Same goes for almost ANY add-on card for an IBM PC. Personally, 
I've never had any problem with the GUS. (If I had, my story would 
probably be different, but who knows?) 
  
> I'm not bashing the GUS.  I'm simply no longer happy with it, as it has 
> NEVER met my original expecations.  I was one of those people who got 
> sucked in by proud proclamations and blatantly false information.  I'm 
> tired of not being happy with my soundcard, and I've finally decided to 
> buy something else.  Enough said.

Fine line between bash and not bash, I guess.
I know some people who cannot tell the difference between a 45" and a CD. 
I guess you are like that with sound cards. If so, then an SB is just 
fine for you. Also, it may be easier for you. Oh well. I hope you keep 
the GUS, because I see great things coming....

Dustin

--------------------------(Short .sig)---------------------------------
Dustin Caldwell                                 dustin@ed.gse.utah.edu
Computer Engineering         Japanese proverb: saru demo ki kara taoru.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 13:51:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: "George A. Montemayor" <gmontem@eis.calstate.edu>
Subject: Hopefully waiting for an improved Mega-Em

  Any news on Jayeson's new Mega-Em project? I just heard that the he is 
working on a version that will work under protected-mode software.  While 
he is coding that, can he add these other features?

   * Ability to load patches > 64k
   * Ability to load only patches listed in a config file
   * Ability to do software reverb (is this possible?)
   * Ability to do software chorus effects ""
   * Support SB-PRO DAC
   * Load MT-32 custom 'patches'
   
heck, if the new mega-em supports all or most of these, i wouldn't mind 
paying for the new version.


-George

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

Date: Thu, 12 May 94 06:49:36 -0400
From: "Marco Coletti" <p00923@psilink.com>
Subject: Return to Zork 1.1 / VOICEOOH.PAT

For anyone that is interested, the 1.1 update to RTZ now uses EMS/XMS to
free up an additional 64K of conventional RAM.  If you don't have the 
1.1 update I suggest you nab a copy (I got it from Compu$erve, ughhh).

In the ongoing saga of Zork problems I'm having, I've noticed that the
README file says to get a patch called VOICEOOH.PAT if you are 
experiencing "Divide by zero" errors.  Well, I am so I'd like some help 
in finding this file.  Is it in one of the files under ../gravis/disk?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 18:00:50 -0600 (MDT)
From: Derek the Dweebosaurus <dng@med.ucalgary.ca>
Subject: TFX & GUS

This may be a little dated... but anybody manage to get music with the 
TFX while using the GUS? I've tried MegaEm but it locks up... with the 
native GUS support there is no music.

Thanks.

Also, I've just bought a SB-16ASP MultiCD card and a
CD-ROM (I was extremely happy with the GUS alone but at $199Cdn, why not
and get the CD interface included too?) and they co-exist awesome
together, so I no longer need SBOS and I run MegaEm with the -SBOFF option
and it works (after changing the IRQs and DMAs around). However, is it
possible to disable the SB DMA on the GUS at all? There is still the odd
program that conflicts since the SB DMA must be set at 1 and the two
boards are using it... 

I'm using: SB-16ASP = A220, I5, DMA1 and 5, Midi at 300H
GUS = A260, I11, DMA6, SBInt7, Midi at 330H(unchangable)

Also, in Windows does one get better results and compatibility using GUS
for both MIDI and WAVE, or GUS for just MIDI and the SB16ASP for the WAVE? 

Thanks a lot.

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

Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 10:47:50 -0500 (CDT)
From: vic@cd.com (Vic Serbe x237)
Subject: Re: Video for Windows and the Ultrasnd

Mike Geileskey writes:
>
> Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 13:33:11 GMT
> From: Mike Geileskey <GEI0089L@whstud1.uel.ac.uk>
> Subject: Video for Windows and the Ultrasnd
> 
> Some time ago, I managed to get a copy of Video for windows off the 
> internet (usenet news alt.binaries.sounds.utilities), but I can't 
> remember the version.
>  The thing worked fine with my setup: VLB Cirrus card (displaying 32K 
> cols. in windows) and GUS v3.4
> 
>  About a couple of months later, I got what I thought was a better 
> version: VFW v1.1  This was not the case. Since I upgraded, I am 
> unable to run VFW in windows if I am displaying more than 256 
> colours (in 32K mode I just get a blue box containing a 'Profiling 
> display' message, and the system freezes). In 256 col. mode, the GUS 
> sound is also clipped. Why have microsoft made VFW worse?

I had the same profiling freezes with my CL board until I upgraded the
software drivers.  In fact, the CL board I have is a cheap China clone,
but I'm running Actix Prostar (same board, diff company) drivers.  That
fixed all my VFW problems.  I've never had any sound problems, but I did
have vid problems until the update.

The weird thing is, if I cheated by getting VFW to profile a different
driver by renaming, and then copied the original over it again, the actual
video worked fine.  Only the profiling broke.  In other words, Encarta ran
great, but the profiler crashed with the same driver.  Go figure.

-- 
Vic Serbe (vic@cd.com), Applications Engineer
Central Data Corp. - Makers of the scsiTerminal Server
800/482-0315 or (+1) 217/359-8010 (FAX-6904)

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

End of GUS Daily Digest V13 #11
*******************************
