Ultrasound Daily Digest     Thu,  1 Apr 93       Volume 3 : Issue   1 

Today's Topics:
					   [GUS] A Couple Problems
		 [GUS] Driver crashes Windows (was Re: GUS questions)
								 GMOS
						   GMOS,_GusMOD...
							GMOS_&_GusMOD
				 great news GUS'ers. New Game support
							 GUS Support
		   Hardware question For Hardware and Music GURUS.
				 LINE IN/OUT DIFFERENCES & BBS FILES
				  MIDI box and recording "variance"
					  Noise in recording (again)
	   NT-drivers for the GUS [Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #86]
					Patch Location in Stereo Space
			 Pet Peeve (Was Re: Zone 66 - Parity Errors)
				Soundcard Review in Next PC Mag & GUS
			soundcard support on upcoming release of DOOM
						   Surround Sound?
					  ULTRASOUND 03/30/93   1/2
					  ULTRASOUND 03/30/93   2/2
						Windows Sources review

	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.

	*** HEY!!! *** 

	Before you ask a question, *** READ THE FAQ ***.  It's
available on the request server and the ftp sites, or check the
newsgroup archives.

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

Date: 31 Mar 93 02:06:06 CST
From: bdavis@pepper.cray.com (Brent Davis  {x67000 CF/ENG})
Message-Id: <1993Mar31.020607.12629@walter.cray.com>
Subject: [GUS] A Couple Problems
Summary: 80ns DRAM's don't work & no sound in Dune
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

   I recently purchased my GUS, and I didn't have any problems until this
week.  I have been using the newest version of the software available
from archive.epas.utoronto.ca (gus0016-21 and the revised sbos2.04 from
gus0022).  Now I've run into 2 unrelated problems:

1)  I purchased and installed 6 256Kx4-80ns DRAM chips to fully populate
	my card.  Following this, I went to windows and changed my ultrasound
	drivers to recognize the full 1Meg.  Then I started up canyon.mid.
	Yikes!!!!  There was some horrible static where the drums and a
	few of the instruments should have been.  So I started up the
	ultrasnd/setup program and ran the DRAM test.  It came back with
	a failure of (351K).

	At this point, I opened up the computer and swapped the chips from
	Bank2 with those from Bank4, both to check if it wasn't a bad chip
	and also to check if the chips hadn't been seated properly.  Re-ran
	the DRAM test and it failed again with the same value.  Tried
	another midi file, and it had the same static.
	
	Next, I tried swapping the chips from Bank1 (the originals) with
	those from Bank2.  Ran the DRAM test and this time it failed sooner
	(123K).  Tried a midi file and it was nearly all static.
 
	Finally, I homed all the chips back to their original locations, and
	then using the patch manager tried each instrument loaded into memory
	for canyon.mid.  Anything under 256K was fine, but all those above
	this had a lot of static.

	The original chips on my card are 70ns, and it looks to me like
	there's a problem with using the 80ns variety.  The owner's manual
	clearly states chips of 100ns or faster may be used.  Has there been
	a change in the specs that I'm not aware of?  Or is there something
	I need to setup - like a software parameter or a jumper on the card
	(couldn't find anything like that listed in the documentation)?

2)  Before describing the next problem let me emphasize that it is
	isolated to this piece of software.  My GUS is working fine with
	all other software I have using its original 256K:

	A friend loaned me his copy of Dune to try out on my GUS.  (Merely
	a test - don't get all upset about illegal copies!)  It worked
	fine on his machine w/ a soundblaster.  Therefore, I know that the
	copy of the software is good since it was installed (and verified
	with another re-install) from the same disk.

	I installed it on my PC with SBOS loaded, and it detected the
	soundblaster emulator, but then when the game starts, I don't get
	any sound at all.  If I switch to the map screen and select the
	options, it shows that music should be playing, but obviously it's not.

	I've tried about a dozen other games that have sound support, but this
	is the first one that hasn't worked.  Is there something special
	I need to set up to get Dune to run with the GUS?  I stopped running
	with QEMM (Dune intro hangs!), and am now running with a nearly naked
	config.sys & autoexec.bat (files=30, buffers=15, device=mouse.sys).

	Note: This isn't really that critical, but I've been getting some
	ribbing from this guy since I can't get Dune & GUS to work together.

If it helps for either problem, here are my GUS settings:

   Addr    220
   DMA       7
   SB Irq    5
   SB DMA    1
   Gus Irq  11

E-mail me a reply if you can help me out.

Thanks,
Brent

--
 / bdavis@cray.com     | T | Given that 6 x 9 = 42, \
(  Cray Research, Inc. | 3 | then the Universe must  )
 \ Chippewa Falls, WI  | D | be a base 13 function. /

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 16:55:10 GMT
From: mer6g@fuggles.acc.Virginia.EDU (Marc Rouleau)
Message-Id: <C4rIzz.CMM@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Subject: [GUS] Driver crashes Windows (was Re: GUS questions)
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

robertt@n154.mentor.stortek.com (Robert Thompson (robertt)) writes:
>I have found that any application that opens either the LineIn or Midi
> ports crashes windows.
>
>   DTK 385/25
>   16MB Ram
>   GUS card (duh!)
>   WD 8013e ethernet card
>   IDE Disk

Are you specifically excluding the 8013e's shared ram area from being
used by emm386 (or qemm or 386max)?  Does everything work fine under
DOS?  Playmidi, SBOS, etc.?  Are you using the latest software (2.02)?
Have you checked to make sure that you don't have old Windows drivers
files in \WINDOWS?  (Follow directions from that 4-part Gravis posting
that came along earlier this week.)

If yes, it sounds like you may have a similar problem to mine.  My
Windows crashes don't occur right away, but they do occur regularly.
I can run WinJammer and the Patch Manager, play MIDI and WAV files
with Windows 3.1 applets, associate custom sounds with Windows events,
and even play a WAV-based game like JewelMaster while *also* playing
a MIDI file.  The AfterDark sounds are great.  Really, everything
sounds good and works as I would expect ... for a while.  The problem
is that Windows *always* crashes eventually when I do sound-related
things.

I start up AfterDark's Creepy Night screensaver, listen for a while to
the thunder, crickets, and wolf howls, and then it just stops.  Sometimes
Windows will pop up a box accusing AD.EXE of a protection violation;
usually everything will die and require a hard reset.  It might take
30 seconds or 20 minutes, but it always happens.

I run the Patch Manager, load my 256K Gus with patches, and audition them
as much as I like.  I unload all the patches, and on the next load Windows
crashes.  Every time.

I play JewelMaster.  Often it and usually Windows will crash immediately
after a game finishes; sometimes after 20-30 minutes of play it'll just
die in the midst of play.

I have tried all sorts of configurations of interrupts, I/O addresses,
memory managers, etc.  Windows dies with 386MAX, EMM386, or just HIMEM.SYS
all by itself.  I have tried booting cleanly with HIMEM.SYS only -- no
DOS=HIGH or EMM386 or any other device drivers, no SBOS, no other TSRs,
just the GUS variables and the ULTRINIT statement.  No improvement.

When I unload the GUS drivers, Windows works solidly.  If I have the
drivers loaded but don't use them much -- just for the occasional
Windows event -- Windows works.  For example, if I mute the sound in
AfterDark, Creepy Night runs forever.

  Opti 486/33 (with bad DMA -- I can only use channels 1 or 3)
  4M ram
  Diamond Speedstar 24X bios v2.03
  multi-I/O card -- there's no jumper to disable the game port, and I
	 *am* using the GUS port.  I removed the connecter, and I have had
	 no problems with the joystick, so I don't think this is an issue.
  GUS w/ 256K

Any suggestions?  Is my motherboard no good?  Gravis, are you working on
this?  What can I do to document the problem for you?  Is anyone else
experiencing symptoms like these?  Is anyone experiencing rock-solid
Windows 3.1 stability even while using the GUS drivers heavily?

	-- Marc Rouleau
	 

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 16:46:34 EDT
From: "The Punisher" <colotti@acad.wit.edu>
Message-Id: <0096A56C80E2DA00.0001703E@acad.wit.edu>
Subject: GMOS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

	Just a quick question.  What exactly is GMOS?  Is is an operating
program like SBOS?

-Chris Colotti

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 16:03:59 GMT
From: laurent@ismennt.is (Laurent Somers)
Message-Id: <9303311603.AA19220@akureyri.ismennt.is>
Subject: GMOS,_GusMOD...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Obviously, explaining all the problems and advantages of a GMOS driver back
in digests V2#60-62 was of feeble use, since it seems few did actually read it
and have therefore been posting again and again the same ideas, wasting
bandwidth.... :-) | )-:

First of all, there's NO NEED FOR *_ANY_* WIRES!!!  There's *_NO*_ NEED for
a MIDI-IN to MIDI-OUT or MIDI-I/O to Serial port.  The final word on this
I hope.

If you get error messages with the playmidi, make sure you don't have old cfg.
files in that directory.

Sierra and other companies may find it hard to support the GUS.  A compromise
available with making a GMOS is that these companies could simply INCLUDE
a .CFG file!  Alternately, Gravis could build a simple database which would
have references for most games, with pertinent information regarding the 
samples required.

Let me make it quite clear that making a MIDI driver is nothing more than
taking the SBOS engine and substituting the MIDI for the FM.  The SB is
as much a card as the GUS and other MIDI cards are, and there is thus
no problem in making such a driver.

What is deplorable is that the SBOS is such a good starting point for a MIDI
driver; having to start from scratch again to implement mainly the digitized
part of the SB is rather - let's just say inefficient (and leave it at that).

Substituting the MIDI driver for the FM driver in SBOS would also, I believe
make the driver simpler, since FM is more complicated (we have there a 
4-operator chip).  IS there ANY way Gravis/Forte would release to a third
party some SBOS code to develop a MIDI driver, since they do not intend
making one in the immediate future?  (Perhaps Josh's GusMOD engine could be
used?)

I had already asked for some docs on the Roland interface (I/O port, Interrupts
and so on) and got no reply...

*****************************
Well, what do you know.... it just occurred to me that the problem with
SC2 (*buzzing* with 1MB) MIGHT be related to the BUZZING (!) in GUSMod...
AND:  Yes!  This worked at least now when I tried it...
Seems that there is some pernicious problem involved when clearing the memory.
<Sigh> One more reason to make a dedicated memory cleaner...

Laurent F. Somers
laurent@akureyri.ismennt.is

P.S.: I'd appreciate if people would quote a bit less of text - we all get the
digests, so there's not too much a need to quote an entire message - that is,
if you save your old digests (as I do).

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 21:04:54 GMT
From: laurent@ismennt.is (Laurent Somers)
Message-Id: <9303312104.AA26519@akureyri.ismennt.is>
Subject: GMOS_&_GusMOD
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

>Well, what do you know.... it just occurred to me that the problem with
>SC2 (*buzzing* with 1MB) MIGHT be related to the BUZZING (!) in GUSMod...
>AND:  Yes!  This worked at least now when I tried it...
>Seems that there is some pernicious problem involved when clearing the memory.
><Sigh> One more reason to make a dedicated memory cleaner...

In case you don't know the fix:  Run G669 - any .669 module should do the trick.

Sorry I didn't mention it in the first place...

Laurent F. Somers
laurent@akureyri.ismennt.is

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 12:46:50 +0700 (MST)
From: Adam Cowen <cowen@ee.ualberta.ca>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.03.9303311250.A26120-c100000@bode.ee.ualberta.ca>
Subject: great news GUS'ers. New Game support
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Well I saw the promo for ID's newest game DOOM! But I didn't see any info
as to what soundcards it will support. So I mailed the guy that appeared
at the top of the message. I recieved the reply the same day (today) which
really impressed me. Below I will include the message I sent and the reply
I recieved. But don't go flooding this guy with email, as I am sure he
would start to get pissed off. Here goes
-------------------------MY message to ID--------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 20:36:39 GMT
From: Marc.Y.Paulin
Message-Id: <1993Mar31.203639.21433@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca>
Subject: GUS Support
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

	If Advanced Gravis (John Smith) is reading this,
please respond.  On your GUS support list, I saw two games
that are actually out but DOESN'T support the GUS.  The
games are Lemmings 2 and another one that I forgot the
name.
	I'd like to know why they don't support the Gravis
Ultrasound and how many other game companies on your list
won't support it.  I can't trust your list anymore.  The
first two games to be released doesn't support it.
	Please, respond.

Marc Y. Paulin
Student in computer programming - 4th year
University of Moncton
markus@info.umoncton.ca

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 18:27:47 EST
From: Mike Ellis <mikee@seas.gwu.edu>
Message-Id: <9303312327.AA26443@sparko.gwu.edu>
Subject: Hardware question For Hardware and Music GURUS.
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hi,

	I was looking for a microphone do do some voice samples etc.

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

Date: Thu, 1 Apr 93 12:05:15 EST
From: adrianr@ecr.mu.oz.au (Adriano_Ennio RAIOLA)
Message-Id: <9304010206.7704@ecr.mu.oz.au>
Subject: LINE IN/OUT DIFFERENCES & BBS FILES
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

2 Questions 

======== 1 ======== 

I tried sampling with uss8 last night. Had my GUS connected via line OUT 
to my stereo (per normal), and a separate FM radio connected to the line
IN of the gus. Fine.

When clicking MON, It came thru crystal clear on my stereo, I was amazed!
the GUS was putting through the FM radio to the main speakers with amazing
clarity, I thought for 8 bit this was sensational. 

Tried sampling, mono, stereo, 11khz, 22khz all not bad, but I thought I
wouldnt get the same quality unless i went for 44khz st, I did, then played
back and although it was still very clear (ie not much distortion if any)
the sound came back slightly muffled, more like 8 bit.. but NOT up to
the clarity of the MONitored sound, which was identical to the quality
of the stereos own internal radio receiver.

QUESTION: DOES THIS MEAN that the GUS, when you MONitor on uss8, simply 
thru-put's the line in directly to the line out, without passing through
any DAC's?? It would seem so judging by the clarity of the MONitored sound
compared to the sampled sound at 8 bits 44Khz stereo. 

Can someone confirm or deny this either way?

If so, it would also be interested to see if, with a 16 bit dboard, the
sampled sound that comes back is identical to the MON sound.

Another thing, ramdrive is the ONLY way to go when using uss8

======== 2 =========

This is from digest volume #25:

>Logging into Gravis' BBS last night (01/26 - Tues), I discovered a
>number of new uploads.  Many of the files on the BBS have been 
>available for awhile on various FTP sites here on the net, but having
>them on the BBS sure helps those without FTP access (like me!).
>
>Here's a listing of new sound-related files (there were other utilities, too)
>on the BBS:
[stuff deleted]
>ULTRRAM2.ZIP     28154  1/26/93 A quick program that will clear all of the
>                                GUS's DRAM and reports the number of K bytes
>                                installed.  Good for checking of your memory
>                                upgrade worked.  Should also clear up SC2
>                                audio problems. dunno.
						 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
								 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Why isnt this program on epas OR wuarchive?? This is the answer to my
prayers, because although the SCII bug of distortion with 1 meg of 
GUS memory can be cured by p669gu0.exe, that program wont work when
EMS is installed, and I need EMS to play star control 2 properly! 

Can someone in the U.S. PLEASE upload this program (and others on the
Gravis BBS not on epas or wuarchive) to either epas or wuarchive so
us non Americans can have access without having to spend $$$$ on overseas
phonecalls? PLEASE!!!

Or a suggestion for any other program that WORKS with ems and clears
GUS memory, would be nice.

Thankyou

-- 
| adrianr@ecr.mu.oz.au --------| Adrian -aka- Plugger | *  * *  *   *  |  _/_\
| adrianr@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au -| What time is love?   | *_*  * *_  *_  | / OZ |
| adrianr@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au --| I think its gonna be | * *  *   *   * | \__-_/
| -- I want more accounts! ----| long, long time.     | *  * *  *   *  |     v

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 17:06:15 -0800
From: Eric N. Liao <liaoe@aero.org>
Message-Id: <199304010106.AA11619@aerospace.aero.org>
Subject: MIDI box and recording "variance"
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Okay, thanks for the help with the MIDI-box (specifically, info about my
Philips optoisolater.)

About the 1-bit variance with recording...then why didn't gravis/forte use
a 9-bit or 10-bit A/D converter, and use ONLY the 8 MSBits?  Wouldn't that
fix the problem (grin) ?

As for the 16-bit recording card?  I understand that variance would be a much
smaller problem (although still existent), but likewise, would the "variance"
problem be eliminated by using an 18-bit A/D converter, and using only the
top 16-bits?

Also, what kind of A/D converter does the 16-bit recording board have?  Does
it have a D/A of its own?  And, for the A-law and u-law sound compression,
is this hooked up to the GF1 chip?  I mean, can you play 32-simultaneous
samples with A/U-law compression? Or can you only have 1 (or 2 for stereo)
concurrently?

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 23:49:57 -0500
From: mtl1@crux2.cit.cornell.edu
Message-Id: <9304010449.AA17029@crux3.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject: Noise in recording (again)
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

OK, I'll try to make this short.
  I just tried recording some silences files thru line in (I actually grounded
the wires together.  Yes cut off the jack physically.).  Both in stereo and
mono.  As yesterday's digest suggest, they are mainly 1 bit variances.  So
I guess they are ok.  But howcome they are at 85 or 84 instead of 7F?  I
know someone noticed this before and hence the sndfix program. (Much
credit to the programmer. Good work noticing this.)
	Also, despite that the file only contains one bit variances,  when the
file is played back, there is substantial background noise!  I don't understand.
I know that a lot of the files from the commercial programs have a lot less
noise when played back.  Why this phenomenon?
	John Smith?  Any answers?
						A confused but satisfied GUSer
							Marshall

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

Date: 31 Mar 93 12:57:00 GMT+0100
From: "Alexander Majarek, Sascha, SAM"  <Alexander.Majarek@uibk.ac.at>
Message-Id: <MAILQUEUE-101.930331125700.416@subz-nov>
Subject: NT-drivers for the GUS [Ultrasound Daily Digest V2 #86]
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Someone stated, that it would be more important to have NT-drivers for
the GUS (based on 70000 beta-copies) than for OS/2.

I don't think, that 70000 beta-copies are a good base for immediate
support (especially when you regard the over 2 millions of installed
OS/2 copies).

Another point is, that NT-drivers might (if the GUS is successful on
the market) be included in WIN-NT by M$ itself. But there is hardly
any sound driver available for native OS/2 for any card. So these 2
million copies would be a good base for support, as for these users
the GUS would then be the ONE and ONLY (and plus VERY GOOD) soundcard
supported by their system.

Just my $ 0.02. Flames directly to my address, constructive critizism
to the list, please.

Greetings,
SAM

*********************************************************************
*Alexander.Majarek@uibk.ac.at * There are 3 ways (fast, sweet, sure)*
*Perthalerg. 1c/11            * for a man to ruin himself:          *
*A-6020 Innsbruck             * 1. Gamblin'   (fast),               *
*AUSTRIA (EUROPE)             * 2. Women      (sweet) &             *
*Tel.: 0043-512-84-26-15      * 3. Computers  (sure)                *
*********************************************************************

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 03:30:04 MST
From: rappelj@cuugnet.cuug.ab.ca (John Rappel 275-7230)
Message-Id: <9303311030.AA09274@sun>
Subject: Patch Location in Stereo Space
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Has anyone else noticed that when using Patch Manager, and occasionally when
playing a Midi file that consists of one instrument (ie, piano>, the 
odd note will sound from one speaker side or the other, rather than both,
as it usually does? I am not referring to any of the patches, such as
String Ensemble, that shift location as pitch goes up or down, but rather
patches that <usually> stay put all along their range...

At first I thought this was a bug in Patch Manager, which is where I first t
noticed it, but now I'm inclined to think it's a bug in the Windows driver,
for I've had it happen in Media Player and Winjammer, as well. Of course,
this could also be a feature that allows you to ping-pong sounds and get
those crazy stereo fx, but I've heard nothing that supports this theory
anywhere.

To duplicate this effect, try hammering on one note with your mouse in 
Patch Manager, and with any luck you'll hear, sooner or later, the note
coming from the left or right rather than the middle. Unless, of course,
I'm just hallucinating from too many nights spent diddling around with my
GUS.

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 16:24:52 -0500
From: "It's your hand, Buckaroo" <dantonio@magick.tay2.dec.com>
Message-Id: <9303312124.AA03378@magick.tay2.dec.com>
Subject: Pet Peeve (Was Re: Zone 66 - Parity Errors)
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

> Has anyone else had trouble running Zone 66?

Yea, I've had alot of trouble running Zone 66. It seems that it won't work
with my memory manager. Nor, of course, will it work with OS/2. For some
odd reason, people feel compelled to write code that tries to do things
that the OS does (or should do). I sorta refuse to have "boot disks" for
games (like Zone 66 and Ultima 7) that won't "play by the rules." Since I
do other things with my machine than play games, I don't want to have to
reboot everytime I want to change "tasks"...

Am I the only one bothered by this?

DDA

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 21:36:23 GMT
From: actai@cs.wm.edu (alan c. tai)
Message-Id: <1993Mar31.213623.28407@cs.wm.edu>
Subject: Soundcard Review in Next PC Mag & GUS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Just browsed through the latest issue of Computer Shopper, and one of
the regular columns was about all of the current soundcards on the
market.  Unfortunately, the columnist mentioned every soundcard but the
GUS!  Also, apparently PC Magazine will be doing a review of all of the
soundcards in their next issue.  And it would be a very serious omission
if PC Magazine doesn't even acknowledge its existence.  I hope Gravis
sent them one :-).

Alan Tai
actaix@mail.wm.edu or actai@cs.wm.edu
p.s. has anyone ever seen an ad for the GUS?  I believe I've seen ads for
their joysticks.

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1993 11:34:25 +0700 (MST)
From: Adam Cowen <cowen@bode.ee.ualberta.ca>
Subject: soundcard support on upcoming release of DOOM
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Jay,

 I have read the promo that was sent out regarding ID's new release DOOM.
I was wondering on behalf of all Gravis UltraSound (GUS) Owners if DOOM
will be supporting it in native mode? Or if there would be an upgrade
patch available to us GUS owners, etc. As you have probably heard the specs on
the GUS I won't reiterate the reasons to support it. Although I will say
that as a GUS owner I would much rather support games that support my card
in native mode(as would many other GUS owners I am sure). I would also think
that a revolutionary game like DOOM would use the awesome technology that
the GUS has to offer. I appreciate any response on the subject of GUS
support, and will relay this message and any reply I recieve to the
UltraSound Daily Digest. 

Thank-you for your time,
Adam Cowen
cowen@ee.ualberta.ca

------------------I do not represent anyone but myself-----------------------
-------------------------end of MY message-----------------------------------
----------------------------ID's response----------------------------------
FFrom jayw@idcube.idsoftware.com Wed Mar 31 12:46:45 1993
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 13:26:39 -0600
From: Jay Wilbur <jayw@idcube.idsoftware.com>
Reply to: jay@idcube.idsoftware.com
To: Adam Cowen <cowen@bode.ee.ualberta.ca>
Subject: Re: soundcard support on upcoming release of DOOM

> I have read the promo that was sent out regarding ID's new
> release DOOM. I was wondering on behalf of all Gravis
<text toasted>

We hope to support it either on initial release or with a sound card  
driver update sometime after initial release.

---
Jay Wilbur (jay@idsoftware.com) Id Software
Send questions about Id software to help@idsoftware.com
(NeXTmail OK).

ftp.uwp.edu[131.210.1.4]      Id "Official" anonymous FTP site  
/pub/msdos/games/id           Id games
/pub/msdos/games/id/home-brew Id games' great add-ons
/pub/incoming/id              Upload dir
 
---------------------------end of reply------------------------------
  Talk about great hey. Chalk one more for the GUS! I think that if great
companies like ID support the gus then in a short time all the major
software companies (who cares 'bout Sierra though) will support it.

seeya later, and happy GUS'ing!

Adam Cowen
cowen@ee.ualberta.ca

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

Date: Wed, 31 Mar 93 14:03:46 EST
From: Matthew Spewak <mspewak@walnut.prs.k12.nj.us>
Message-Id: <930331.140346.8048@walnut.prs.k12.nj.us>
Subject: Surround Sound?
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Here's something else to think about...
In addition to all the talk about 3d sound and QSound, I was wondering why there 
was no disscussion of Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound.  I know that Dolby 
Surround requires two digital sound wires in order to decode for the four 
speakers (five in Pro Logic).  BUT, There is a way to produce True Surround 
sound through the use of one stereo output.  If you feed the output of an 
ULTRASOUND into a Dolby decoder it will decode all sound onto the front 
speakers.  Although, if you take the output of a portable cd player and plug it 
into a decoder (or reciever that has it), it will come out in full 5 speaker pro 
logic form.

Does anyone know more about the subject?  I think it would be very possible for 
Gravis to write music or maybe it requires additional hardware, that will 
produce the 4-5 channel sound.

On another note, Nintendo has achieved this with their Super Nintendo 16 bit 
system.  Some of the newer carts will feature Dolby Surround Sound!

Matt

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

Date: Tue, 30 Mar 93 13:11:19 
From: john.smith@gravis.com
Message-Id: <9303301311.A8918wk@gravis.com>
Subject: ULTRASOUND 03/30/93   1/2
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

UltraSound 03/30/93
-------------------

1) A few days ago I posted a long tech note from Gravis and Forte.
   The last line of that message said, "5) Being overly critical
   of a $150 sound card....".  This was suppose to make you laugh!
   I've heard from a few people who didn't find this very funny.
   Yes, we do make attempts at a little humor now and then. ;-)

2) There has been a discussion over the last few weeks about recording
   silence with the GUS card.  People have been complaining of
   popping or static periodically.  Here are the results of some
   testing I've done.

   To test the recording of silence I shorted out line in and mic in
   using two phono plugs. NOTE: You can short our your GUS inputs but
   NOT the outputs, line out, or amp. line out.  I used PLAYFILE and
   USS8 to handle the recording and both returned the same results.

   The 'static' you are hearing is due to a 1 bit variance in the
   recording.  Silence should be recorded as DC offset 0 (7Fh) on
   the UltraSound.  A +-1 bit variance is actually very good for
   an AD converter.  Even a +-2 bit variance is ok.

   When recording silence your ear is very sensitive to any shift
   in the noise pattern.  Which is why this your ear can pick up
   this bit difference when silence is recorded.

   In the test files I did, over 95% of it had a DC offset of 0.
   There were only small sections of the file that had small periods
   of this 'static' (+-1bit).  Remember, this is only noticeable when
   recording silence.  If you are recording noise you wouldn't be
   able to hear this small of a difference.

   A couple things to keep in mind though:

	   EMM386 or any memory manager will affect your recording
		   performance.

	   A disk cache will help your performance.

	   Make sure your hard disk is not overly fragmented.

	   Mic in will cause more noise than Line in due to the fact that
		   it is amplified.

	   Even with a 16bit recording card you will still get this variance.
		   However, it should be less noticeable due to the larger
		   sampling window.

   For those of you who want to test this, try creating a file full
   of 7Fh.  Make sure you use a hex editor and not a text editor.
   You may then use PLAYFILE to play it back.  Now go in there and
   change a few bits to either 7Eh or 80h and hear the difference
   it can make.

3) Boy did I screw up.  It seems in our "Authorized Gravis Nodes"
   list I put my home phone number in there as the Gravis BBS phone
   number.  Guess that explains why I was getting calls at 3am <grin>.
   Here is a new list:

						 Authorized Gravis Nodes BBS List
									 as of
								 March 30, 1993

Name                    Location           Node No.   BBS Phone No.   Speed
============================================================================
Advanced Gravis         Burnaby, Canada   *1:153/978  (604) 431-5927  V32bis
										  *13:900/3
										  *88:8100/106
										  %gravis.com
Deep Cove BBS           White Rock, Canada 1:153/915  (604) 536-5859  DS
MIDI 1040               Vancouver, Canada  1:153/7040 (604) 732-4446  V32bis
Infinite Dreams         Vancouver, Canada  1:153/7042 (604) 733-6432  DS
T-8000 Info. System     Calgary, Canada    1:134/160  (403) 246-4487  V32bis
Max Megabit's Data Port Halifax, Canada   *1:251/1    (902) 454-8351  DS
													  (902) 453-5731  HST
													  (902) 454-9635  2400
The 1st Dutch MIDI BBS  Holland, Europe    2:281/610  +31-15138754    DS
Open Access BBS         Norway, Europe     2:502/284  +47-61-97945    V32bis
Geniaal BBS 2           Netherland, Europe 14:1000/3  +31-2290-43038  V32bis
													  +31-2290-45816  V32bis
StarPort                Finland, Europe    2:220/630  +358-0-804-4626 DS
Data Bank BBS           Pennsylvania, USA  1:273/316  (215) 429-9455  V32bis
The Sound Barrier       Staten Island, USA 13:420/0   (718) 979-6629  DS
													  (718) 979-9406  DS
I can 'C' Clearly Now   Iowa, USA         *1:290/102  (515) 472-3651  V32bis
Music Connection        Texas, USA         1:124/3109 (214) 596-2827  DS
										   1:124/3110 (214) 964-3743  V32bis
Joyful Noise            Oregon, USA       *1:105/55   (503) 335-9600  V32bis
MultiMedia              Singapore, Asia    6:600/408  +65-2831964     V32bis
============================================================================

NOTE(S): - All systems are No Parity, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop bit (N81)

(Continued to next message)
---
 ~ QMPro 1.01 05-8925 ~ Gravis UltraSound - Who could ask for anything more?

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

Date: Tue, 30 Mar 93 13:11:22 
From: john.smith@gravis.com
Message-Id: <9303301311.A8919wk@gravis.com>
Subject: ULTRASOUND 03/30/93   2/2
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

(Continued from previous message)

		 - All systems are online 24 hours/day
		 - Speeds: V32bis - 14,400 bits per second (CCITT standard)
				   HST    - 14,400/16,800 bits per second (US Robotics Prop.)
				   DS     - 14,400/16,800 bits per second (HST/V32bis)
		 - * - Files are File Requestable
		 - % - EMail Only.  No FTP or Telnet.

Other Sources for UltraSound Files:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
	CompuServe:         GO PCVENB  area #14

	FTP Sites:          archive.epas.utoronto.ca         pub/pc/ultrasound
						wuarchive.wustl.edu       systems/msdos/ultrasound

	Internet: 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

============================================================================


TTUL

John
---
 ~ QMPro 1.01 05-8925 ~ Gravis UltraSound - Who could ask for anything more?

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

Date: 31 Mar 1993 09:46:16 -0500 (EST)
From: DEATH BEFORE DISCO <JKS4675@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Message-Id: <01GWGC0S3CZC8ZFEDR@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Subject: Windows Sources review
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Concerning the ridiculous notion that a PAS-16 and SB Pro are better
than the GUS....

1) Most Windows magazines like supporting readily available (and therefore
supported) hardware and software. This is commonplace with Windows because
most people want 'instant compatibility' which the GUS does not offer.

2) Most Windows magazines (Such as BYTE, et al) tend to worship whatever
bit of gospel-code that Micro$oft writes. For instance, the jerk-off 
(NO, I WON'T APOLIGIZE FOR THAT) that wrote the 'Year's Best' review
picked a @!#$%$# card game written by Lord Gates and his Merry Minions,
over such wonderful games as Dune II. Since these losers know little
about software (they must, since they use Windows) they probably know
less about hardware.

Just let them listen to some midi and then do a cost comparision. For overall
audio performance, the GUS is better engineered (Rah rah Forte ;-)) and costs
less than the crap that Creative labs egests. Hmmm....Why does the SB Pro
hum when the mouse moves? Must be because it's a well designed card.


******************************************************************************
*                                                                            *
*  If Windows is such a great, intuitive interface, why does Norton Desktop  *
******************************************************************************


******************************************************************************
*                                            *
* Jeff Salzmann, 5th year Microelectronic Engineering                        *
* Hater of Windows and all other heavily supported garbage                   *
* User of OS/2 and somebody who would have bought a Mac Quadra 950           *
* If he had money...                                                         *
*                                                                            *
* JKS4675@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU                                                 *
*                                            *
******************************************************************************

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

Date: (null)
From: (null)
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

1st I guess you would power the mike. But then you get a signal that is
also powered. I do NOT think this is compatible with a line-in at this
point.

There should be a simple circtuit one could build to take the output from
this powered MIKE and transform it ot either MiKE (input) or LINE-IN.

PRIZE!!!

	He or she who comes up with the first circuit will get a FREE
Apple powered MIKE in the mail from me.... ( hey its all I have...)

Any takers?


Thanks,
	MikeE

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

End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V3 #1
******************************

