GUS Daily Digest            Tue, 7 Dec 93   007          Volume 9: Issue   7  

Today's Topics:
							   Answers
					 Blake Stone under SBOS 2.08
					 Carl Pettypiece - try DBWIN!
					  CD-AUDIO Line IN Connector
						  Dr. Dobb's Journal
			European Registration -- Summary of Responses
				 GUS & CD-ROM owners - help me please
						GUS Daily Digest V9 #5
				   GUS Daily Digest V9 #6 (3 msgs)
							   IndyCar
						 Indy Car Racer @ GUS
						  Joerg and friends
			  MegaEm, GUS vs Soundwave & Ultrasound size
			 MEGAEM 2.3 (or whatever is the latest beta)
				   Megaem and F-15 Strike Eagle III
					  Minidiscs and missing info
							Misc. thoughts
			   Orchid Soundwave beats GUS in PC Format
								QSound
					 S.G.I. compatibility and GUS
					  Soundwave 32SE hatemail :)
					Volume control within Windows

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: Mon, 06 Dec 1993 09:59:39 GMT
From: Clarke Brunt <CLARKE@lsl.co.uk>
Subject: Answers

> Recently I have installed the new GUS Drivers for Windows (GUS0035.ZIP/ARJ)
> and I can not get the MIDI to work, WAVE works fine.
> It may be in midi-map setup though...
drivers that weren't there before. IE: (Ultrasound, Ultra1024, Ultra256,
Ultra512, 1024Drums, and a few others). And I have a hunch that the
midimap.cfg isn't correct and thats what the problem is. 

Did it work before? The MIDI Mapper stuff mentioned is what we have always
had using a GUS midimap.cfg. This still sounds like a problem with
ultrasnd.ini to me - the new file must be in \ultrasnd and the paths
to the patch files in in must be correct. Check that the new versions
of grvsultr.386, ultrasnd.drv, and ultmport.drv (didn't change?) are wherever
the entries in system.ini point to (probably \windows\system - the default
if no path is specified, but one of the intermediate GUS updates had them
in \ultrasnd\windows).

Select Ultrasound setup in MIDI Mapper, and play a MID with Media Player.
Perhaps better still, just try Patch Manager (doesn't use MIDI Mapper).
Another thought - make sure MIDI volume is not zero in Mixer.

> I was wondering if I had a Toshiba 3401 SCSI CD-ROM drive and a GUS,
> besides saving a slot, what difference would it be if I hooked up the
> CD-ROM to my Adaptec 1742A SCSI Controller, would I still be able to get
> sound from the CD-ROM out of the Soundcard?

As long as the audio out pins of the CD are connected to the CD-audio-in
pins on the GUS. I don't know how this is achieved with the daughtercard -
is there a separate cable for it?

> I am looking for some software to play MIDI's under DOS and the
> playmidi won't play some files since it says:
> Error: Expecting MTrk, corrupt Midi file? 

Does this MID play on some other system - it really does sound like
it is corrupt - MTrk marks the header for a track. Someone else will
have to advise on other players - I know Windows better.

> Does anyone know of any Music File Players to play the following types of
> files on the GUS in DOS if possible and in Windows if not...

MID and WAV are covered by the stuff that comes with the GUS (playmidi,
playfile etc) - don't know about the others.

> I'm currently having some MAJOR problems loading the *.386 driver for
> windows.  I keep getting the message "An error has occur in the *.386, and
> is unable to load Ultrasound drivers.

I've not heard of this one before. Only works in Windows Enhanced mode -
not Standard mode. Hope someone can be more help.

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93  12:35:02 EST
From: dklash%sedofis@VM1.NYSED.GOV
Subject: Re: Blake Stone under SBOS 2.08

==================    *ENCLOSURE*     ==================
I have the Blake Stone demo and found it ran fine under SBOS 2.08 with no
special modifications (I needed no -O switches or anything). The music
instruments sounded cheezy, but clear (what do you want from FM synthesis?).
Digital sound effects were fine. I liked hearing things such as doors
being open and closed in the distance.  I had no drop outs of sound. However, I
noticed it won't play more than 1 digitized sound effect at once so if you fire
your weapon at a monster who's talking while a door is closing you will only
hear one of the sounds.

By the way, I bought my GUS last month (November) and it came with SBOS 2.08,
not 2.06, as well as two fairly thick manuals (one covering the 3rd party
software included in the package, such as MidiSoft Recorder, PowerChords,
etc..). I noticed our European friends saying they just bought a GUS and it
came
with SBOS 2.06 (or even earlier and they had to send for 2.06). I think your
GUS
was sitting on the vendor's shelves too long.

-- Dave K.

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

Date: 06 Dec 93 10:38:15 EST
From: "Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems" <71333.2166@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Carl Pettypiece - try DBWIN!

Carl Pettypiece

> The only unusual thing I have (but I can't see why it would have any effect)
> is an old IBM mono video card I use for debugging Windows stuff. 

This hasn't much to do with the GUS, but it might lead you to being able to
ditch your mono card.

Have you tried DBWIN or WINRIP? They direct debugging output to your main
screen in a window. Very handy.

Eric

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 18:08:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Vincent Poy <hippo@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu>
Subject: CD-AUDIO Line IN Connector

I have heard from many people that there is a CD-ROM Audio Line IN
Connector on the GUS... I have the Internal Version of the Toshiba 3401
CD-ROM and I have looked in both the GUS Manuals that came with the GUS
and the Manuals that have came with the Software Update that Gravis
shipped but have not seen anything mentioning this line in. Does anyone
out there know anything about this? And also where I can get the cable for
the connection? Also, I was planning on plugging a Walkman using a 1/8" to
1/8" stereo male cord from the walkman headphone jack (what's the volume I
should have the Walkman at?) to the line in jack on the GUS but I am not
getting any sound out of the GUS when I turn the Walkman on... Any help
would be appreciated... Thanks in advance!


Cheers,

Vince
hippo@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu
root@kingdom.com
System Administrator/Owner 
Kingdom Communications Inc./California Unix Public Access Systems Inc.
San Francisco, California USA
		  
						 \|/
							(o o)
		   _____________oOO__(_)__OOo_______________
		  | No warranty for my actions of any kind  |

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

Date: Mon, 06 Dec 93 23:44:49 EST
From: Steph <CT80@MUSIC.MUS.POLYMTL.CA>
Subject: Dr. Dobb's Journal

I haven't seen anyone mention this yet, so I thought I would.

I glanced at the MultiMedia issue of DDJ today, specifically at their
sound card article.  As far as I could tell, every card was listed,
including the GUS.

No manufacturer, except 3-4, gave out how many of their sound cards were
installed, not even Creative Labs.

On the other hand, Advanced Gravis did : 100,000 GUS installed, they
say.  There was another column listed for Advanced Gravis -- GUS MAX.
100,000 installed, as well.

The difference between those two columns?  $100, and under "sound
compression", the GUS MAX was listed as "Yes", while GUS said "No." That
is all the difference I could see.

In the article itself, which I didn't read (I just scanned for
"UltraSound" -- no match), they talked about emerging technologies,
pointing the way to WaveTable Synth.  Didn't talk about the GUS being a
leader or anything.

You know, I'm starting to think the GUS will always be an 'emulation'
card.  If software developpers don't have to write native code for it
because it can emulate Roland, SB, etc, then why bother?  Maybe this
will be the Amiga of the soundcards : emulate everything that exists out
there.  (Go ahead, flame on.  It's just an opinion)

Steph.

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 16:05:50 GMT
From: Mark Bullen <Mark.Bullen@src.bae.co.uk>
Subject: European Registration -- Summary of Responses

First of all I'd like to thank all those people who replied directly to me,
you know who you are :-)

The various responses that I've had all suggest that sending my
registration card to Logitech, Switzerland will ensure that I get updates
from Gravis, Canada.  Although a couple of people suggested faxing a copy
of the registration card to Gravis, Canada too :-}

Someone from Germany (ukr8 ?) said that Gravis were shipping the 2.06 (incl
Powerchords and Midisoft) update packs to Rotterdam (that's in Europe!) and
from there to the European GUS-Owners.

I'll be sending my registration card to Logitech, Switzerland tomorrow, but
I'll keep a photo-copy just in case...

Mark.Bullen@src.bae.co.uk

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 16:21:36 -0600
From: ken@austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach IBM)
Subject: GUS & CD-ROM owners - help me please

Hi all,

I am planning to buy a CD-ROM drive for my PC, and I was wondering
if anyone had any recommendations (or warnings) about drives that
worked well (or didn't work) with the Ultrasound.

I've sorta got my eye on a Sony that comes packaged from Pro-Com
Technology. It's double-spin and only $229.00. I've seen a few
others, but I'm not really familiar with the specs, so any help
would be appreciated, namely what does and doesn't work.

Also, how's the GUS CD-ROM controller daughter card? What does it
work with?

And finally, what CD-ROM software does (and doesn't) work with
the GUS?

Thanks for any help - email ken@austin.ibm.com.

Ken

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 11:39:41 +0100
From: KJELLJF <KJELLJF@dhhalden.no>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V9 #5

> Anyone know if Creative Labs "Voice Assist" will work with the GUS ?
> Sounds interesting enough, and I've looked for such a program for
> some time now.
> 
> Erik
> chief@lysator.liu.se

Voice Assist doesn't work with my GUS, but the PAS16 ExecuVoice works 
perfectly!

KJF

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

Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1993 12:18:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: DMC5483@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V9 #6

Hi,
Im trying to get Links386 to work with my GUS. I read the documents and 
see I need links386 1.05 or better. I remember hearing about where the
patch is for links386 1.05, but I never paid attention to it, now 
I need to know. Anybody know what ftp site or BBS has this upgrade patch
or has a copy they can send to me???

Thanx for listening.
- Dave

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 12:31:12 -0500 (EST)
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V9 #6

> Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 00:23:17 -0500
> From: Carl Pettypiece <pettypi@gaul.csd.uwo.ca>
> Subject: GUS and Falcon 3.0
> 
> Hello, fellow GUSsers!
> 
>    I haven't seen this problem posted before so it's either easy to solve
> or I have a peculiar problem.  Anyway....
> 
>    I can't for the life of me get Falcon 3.0 to work properly with my GUS,
> either with SBOS or MegaEm (I'd prefer MegaEm, of course).  MegaEm has no
> problems with the Roland emulation, the music sounds great.  However, the
> digitized sounds are distorted and slow the system down horribly when they
> play.  It sounds much better on my PC speaker (ack!).  The same symptoms
[...]
> Oh and my motherboard is a C&T type with '89 AMI BIOS 386DX/25.  The only

Falcon 3.0 plays the digital sound effects by poking the sounds byte by
byte into the DAC instead of using DMA.  This lame-brain technique is
very interrupt-intensive for SBOS and Mega-Em and results in a slowdown.
It also causes slowdowns with a real SB.  The slowdown is greater the slower 
your CPU.  With my 386-33, the drop in frame rate with SBOS or Mega-Em is
from about 8 to 4 fps.  With the SB, (I have a version 1.5 SB), the drop in 
frame rate is about the same.

>    What I've noticed:  This game works perfectly with MegaEm for a friend of
> mine.  He has a 486DX2/66 and uses DOS 5.0 and QEMM 6.0.  I also have many
> games which work great, most relavent I guess is X-Wing.  No lock-ups, no
> slow-downs with MegaEm, just perfect.

There would also be a slowdown on your friend's 66, but it would be much
less noticeable than on your 386-25.

> Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1993 19:16:12 +0100
> From: chief@lysator.liu.se
> Subject: Orchid card beats GUS in Review
> 
> Raeann Kneefe <RAEANN@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU> wrote:
> 
> >Subject: Dvorak & GUS thoughts
> 
> [snip snip]
> 
> >Oh, by the way, Orchid is supposedly coming out with a GameWave
> >version of it's wavetable card... That will sell for the same
> >if not lower price than the GUS. I think the GUS will have some
> >stiff competion if it can't come out with an "Advanced" version
> >soon. 
> 
> The Orchid SoundWave 32SE got 88% in the November issue of PC Format,
> beating GUS (with 87%). The list price is 189.00 (umm, about $230.00)
> 
>  "The UltraSound software only enables you to record in 8-bit, so the
>   recording quality with the Soundwave is significantly better. That's
>   sure to be great news for anyone who's serious about creating their
>   own music."

Except that you can't create good music from digital recordings on the
Orchid.  You'll need to have a GUS to use the samples as instruments.
Why not then just get the GUS with the 16-bit DB, which I'm quite
confident will provide much better recording capabilities than the 
Orchid SoundWave32?

>  "The sound quality is exceptional, easily rivalling the Gravis UltraSound,
>   and surpassing every other 16-bit soundcard..."

All reports have so far stated that the SoundWave's wavetable synth and
sample library are much inferior to the GUS', which is to be expected.
Some have gone so far as to say that the SW32's wavetable sound is only
20% better than FM, and that the GUS sounds ten times better.

>  and finally...
> 
>  "If the Soundwave 32SE had the 3D sound function, it would easily outclass
>   the UltraSound."

Hardly.  With only 1MB of samples burned in ROM, and no RAM for custom
instruments, the Orchid is far behind the GUS in sound quality and
versatility.  However, what I do think the Orchid is good for is a gamer's
soundcard.  It has seemingly hassle-free compatibility with the SB, the
MT-32 (without the sound effects), and General MIDI.  Some people may 
not care that it doesn't sound too hot or isn't anywhere near as flexible 
as the GUS as long as it sounds better than FM and works without too much 
fiddling on their part.

> Date: Sun, 5 Dec 93 14:26:03 -0800
> From: brian@ccnext.ucsf.edu (Brian Huddleston)
> Subject: IndyCar
> 
> Has anyone gotten Indy car racing to work with Ultrasound?  I've tried
> Megaem, Miles, and Sbos, and all i get is silence....please help.
>

I hear that sbos -o3 will work.
 
> Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 12:21:02 -0800 (PST)
> From: Vincent Poy <hippo@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu>
> Subject: MIDI Software
> 
>   I am looking for some software to play MIDI's under DOS and the
> playmidi won't play some files since it says:
> 
> Error: Expecting MTrk, corrupt Midi file? 

If PlayMIDI reports this, then it's very likely that the MIDI file you're
trying to play isn't a standard .mid.  Remember, you can't play .xmid,
 wrk, .pow, etc. files with PlayMIDI.

> Date: 05 Dec 93 11:12:08 PST
> From: pil!rotaryma@PacBell.COM (rotaryman)
> Subject: Problems with GUS and Window
> 
> Regarding: GUS Daily Digest V9 #5
> I'm currently having some MAJOR problems loading the *.386 driver for
> windows.  I keep getting the message "An error has occur in the *.386, and
> is unenable to load Ultrasound drivers. Please check your User's Guide for
> Troubleshooting".  I checked and checked, and everything is fine under DOS,
> no conflicts in DMA or IRQ.  So, can someone please HELP me?  Thanks!!

Have you tried upgrading your Windows driver?  If you have, then make sure
that the paths in system.ini for your ult*.drv and .386 files point to
/ultrasnd/windows (where your latest Windows drivers should go).

Phat.

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

Date: 6 Dec 93 20:36:00 +0100
From: Tom Skoglund <Toso@bbb.no>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V9 #6

Charlie Brady <charlieb@tplrd.tpl.oz.au> wrote

>I've been trying to find out about CD-ROM interface cards for GUS,
>without getting definitive information. Is the daughter card from
>Gravis? much? Are there DOS/Windows drivers? If I can get one of these
>and there is no Linux driver, I can work on one if I can get the
>technical information.

Thanks for your eager to help, but I've found a solution to that
problem.
I found I could use the Soundblaster driver for my Panasonic CR-562B. If
anybody is interested the file is 'SBCD2.ZIP', and can be found at
various sites.

-Tom

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 16:55:06 EST
From: acutz@ee.ryerson.ca (ALAN CUTZ)
Subject: IndyCar

IndyCar does not work with Megem or Ultramid you must use
SBOS -o3 option.
IndyCar also does not like any memory managers, not even a config.sys.
If you use DOS 6+ you can make a menu before boot up try it, 'help menu'
to get info how to to this, you can also make seperate autoexec.bat that 
load with the config.sys.

Just load your path to ultrasnd directory, and the SET that goes with the
ultrasound. 

IndyCar is 32 bit and doesn't want useless 16 bit  TSR's to take up place.

There is no speech with the SBOS driver. You don't really need it
but it would be nice. All what it said is " Welcome to Papyrus
Indycar I'm Paul Page" or something like that. That's all the game
has to say, during regular play, I am not sure about the
Championship Season.

SBOS -o3----- That's it!
 

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

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 00:50:32 -0500 (EST)
From: gt7039a@prism.gatech.edu (An anonymous word of wisdom)
Subject: Indy Car Racer @ GUS

To Brian: Indy Car Racer works with my machine on SBOS, but not with
Mega-em... it uses the 4GW protected mode and therefore Megaem won't
work.
You must use the /O3 switch on SBOS.
BTW, I run Dos 5.0 with QEMM 7.01.

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

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 00:46:57 -0600 (CST)
From: Phil Johnson <pjohnso2@ua.d.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: Joerg and friends

  That reminds me of an interesting tidbit.. there is a new sound card, 
and I believe it's "MediaMagic" although I am most likely wrong*.. anyway 
this card sports 16 bit record/play, FM synth..blah blah.. nothing too 
fancy, except that it has a three mode DSP chip.  
  Has anyone heard this?  I thought it'd be kinda nifty..

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| pjohnso2@ub.d.umn.edu  Univ. of Minnesota - Duluth | "Lawnmower Man's in |
 -----------------------------------------------------  your head now,     |
													 |  Jake."             |
								 | -- Jeff Fahey in    |
							 | Stephen King's THE  |
							 | LAWNMOWER MAN       |
													 |_____________________|

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 18:45:31 GMT
From: charltjr <charltjr@sun.aston.ac.uk>
Subject: MegaEm, GUS vs Soundwave & Ultrasound size

To all those concerned about the PC Format review of Orchid Soundwave,

First, I've just (3 days ago) purchased a GUS after reading the review
and not being convinced by ANY of the arguments in favour of the
Soundwave.  Second, let's be honest here. HARDWARE support for Roland,
SB, etc is infinately preferable to messing around with drivers be
they SBOS, MegaEm or whatever and that's the only advantage the
Soundwave has.  Third, the review was aimed at games players. With
this in mind it's easy to see why they rate the Soundwave higher than
the Gravis, it's because it's SO compatible with every (!!) game on
the market.

HOWEVER, I feel the review was seriously flawed. The GUS is so much
more versatile, sounds so much better and has growing support from
software writers. Why live in the past? With MegaEm the GUS can
emulate with most software and it will sound better than the Soundwave
ever can with the next generation of GUS-aware software.

I agree it's annoying to see the Soundwave placed ahead of the GUS
when it's inherently inferior, but the review didn't convince me and
after HEARING the difference at the UK Computer Shopper show I doubt
the Soundwave will be as sucessful as the GUS.

Also, PC Format's December issue (UK) announced that from now on
Gravis will bundle Mega-Em with GUS's in the UK. Surely this means
Europe and US wide too? Or have Gravis purchased a UK licence only?
(Unlikely!!)

Mega-Em is available in the Gravis folder of the GUS area in
archive.epas.utoronto.ca but I'm not sure if this is the "10 minute
trial" shareware version or not. I'm writing this as I download it but
since it's in the Gravis area it would *suggest* to me that it's the
full version direct from Gravis. If I'm being over-enthusiastic and it
turns out to be the shareware version I'll mail again tomorrow and
apologise profusely.

To finish, as a new GUS owner I've been blown away by the quality of
the sound and annoyed by the installation procedure. The one quibble I
have is why is the board so BIG?? Surely in these days of surface
mount components a full length card is excessive?

Anyway, as a "virgin" GUSser I'd welcome contact from anyone who has
valuable advice to impart or who simply wants to criticise the SB
(don't we all?).

Mail me at charltjr@bravo.aston.uk.ac if you want to..............

Happy GUSing,

:-)

John Charlton.

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

Date: 6 Dec 93 17:48:12 +0100
From: "Alexander Majarek, Sascha, SAM"  <Alexander.Majarek@uibk.ac.at>
Subject: MEGAEM 2.3 (or whatever is the latest beta)

I get an error everytime I try to use MEGAEM using the /NOEMS switch.

My problem is: I simply don't want to waste UMB-memory for an EMS-page-
frame. So I tried /NOEMS, which should work, but ... No chance!

I also tried to switch EMM386 explicitly ON. Ok, EMM386 is now active.
But MEGAEM refuses to load saying that the EMS-service is DISABLED.

So what ? Any hint ?
Thanx
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: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 22:35:05 -0500
From: Alex Harden <harden@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Subject: Megaem and F-15 Strike Eagle III

i'm trying to get megaem to emulate a mt-32 and a soundblaster mainly so i
can get the digital effects to be heard.  (couldn't do it with sbos)  the
music turns out fine but MIDI instruments are used for all the sound
effects and there is no speech.  i would post all the details but i'd
rather talk to someone who's in the know about this problem first.  so if
you have any info, please mail me!  thanks!

alex
--
alex harden -- university at buffalo -- harden@acsu.buffalo.edu
----------------------- bassist at large ----------------------
 rickenbacker - ibanez - hartke - peavey - boss - dod/digitech
	   "this is not a love song." -- "cold fire", rush

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 10:43:09 +0100
From: f93-maj@nada.kth.se
Subject: Re: Minidiscs and missing info

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't also the ADPCM compression bulit into
SB16 and PAS16 a lossy compression method? (selectable between 2:1, 3:1, 4:1
for different audio compression/quality factors).
Anyway lossy audio compression will be something we'll see more of, it's
used not only in minidiscs but also in DCC, HDTV and Digital Radio (no
acronym for that last one yet?). One might argue that analog sound
transmission is also more or less lossy.

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 05:12:07 -0700 (MST)
From: Keith McIntyre-ELlis <kmellis@santafe.edu>
Subject: Misc. thoughts

Re: Data Compression
In Vol.9#5, Chris Hedberg writes:

	 "While data compression is definitely going to make
	  future headlines, _lossy_ compression is not the way to go." 

I disagree. While I *do* agree that lossy compression *will* be noticeable, 
I do not agree that it is then not very useful in many situations. I suspect
that there will be a great number of multi-media applications where hi-fi
quality is not necessary, yet the sound needs to be lacking the artifacts
of low-bandwith. In fact, I believe these apps will be the majority. OTOH,
for the serious computer-audiophile, a lossless compression method will be
necessary. However, there will *always* be the trade-off between quality
and compression. Where size is of paramount importance, lossy will be
necessary.
********************
Re: Blake Stone problems...
In Vol.9#6, Mike Finkel (mfinkel@metronet.com) writes:

	 "I cannot seem to get it to sound right with SBOS 2.08 - 
	  loses many sounds intermittently.  Sometimes I will hear
	  the guards scream, sometimes not (usually not).  Most of
	  the time I will not hear my gun fire."

I also am using SBOS 2.08, and I have not had the same severity of problems
as you have. I *have* noticed that I do not hear my gun firing until after
the first time I have shot it. After that, however, I get *all* the sounds
with nary a dropout.

Regarding an Ultrawolf-style patch for Blake- I bet somebody already has
one in the works! :) (I hope!)
********************
Re: Mega-Em included with distribution disks
In Vol.9#6, Frank Wang (fwang@sbcs.sunysb.edu)  quotes and writes:

	 " '4) Mega-em in every box!
		 This is, of course, a droolware package, not a
		 real expectation,...'

	   Why not?  doesn't anyone else think that Gravis is shooting
	   themselves in the foot big time by not including this program
	   with their GUS's?"

I agree. I think that Mega-Em is Gravis' biggest asset right now- until the
industry moves away from the stupid SB/FM sound card "standard."

But I thought that there was even official word that Gravis will replace
SBOS with Mega-Em soon? After, I assume, Jayeson has added FM music
simulation (which I thought was not a high priority)...

I have had my GUS only a few months now- but I have friend who's had his
for about a year. He was dying to get his hands on the new
installation disks- and the new Mega-Em, and the Miles drivers. Really,
without all the stuff that has recently become available, I think that
the GUS hasn't seemed like much of a smart buy. Most important: **see that
all the Magazine reviewers have Mega-Em.**
********************
Thanks to the person who responded to my question about Windoze recording.
I actually think that it may be a more *recent* driver that is causing the
problems, rather than an older. I plan on meticulously adding to a fresh
installation 'till I get the problem again- and thus identify where the
conflict is. I'll report my findings here for those lurkers experiencing the
same problems. No solution (or even any hints) has appeared in the digest in
the three months I've been faithfully reading it... Probably not that many
of us that this is happening to.

Another (but well trodden) topic: 16-bit recording. When I was shopping
for a sound card a few months ago, this was a feature that factored heavily
in my choice. Happily, I bought my GUS anyway, expecting the daughtercard
to be available soon. Well, it's not, but I don't really care right now. Most
of what I do doesn''t require that high of quality anyway, and I don't
know where I would put the files. Really- how many people are there that
are going to do much 16-bit recording anyway? Not the average game player
or Windows user, that's for sure. This just points up how ludricrous many
of these magazines reviews are that so heavily weigh 16-bit recording,
rather than playback. (Gee, one reason I haven't been achin' to do some
serious audio production is because the software tools I've found are
pretty disapointing... Check out Goldwave & NoiseMaker for the best- though
each has unique advantages/disadvantages.)

-Keith McIntyre-Ellis (kmellis@santafe.edu / 75330.3255@compuserve.com )
---------------------------************************-------------------------
"The actors are at hand and by their show
  You shall know all that you are like to know."
	 -  Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
		   ____St. John's College: Great Books, No Gym____
---------------------------************************-------------------------

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

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 01:08:03 +0100
From: chief@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: Orchid Soundwave beats GUS in PC Format

fwang@sbcs.sunysb.edu (Frank Wang) wrote:

>>  o 512k on-board ROM chips with samples.
>     ^^^^
> er, uh?  I assume this some sort of typo?  How can a soundcard with 512k
> ROM samples beat anything?  even with some sort of compression - any 
> respective ROM card should have at least 4 megs of samples.  

Here's exactly what it said in the article -

 "For MIDI music creation, the Soundwave 32SE has eight megabits
  (that's 512K) of high-quality samples held in on-board ROM chips."


John Armstrong <jarmst@kaiwan.com> wrote:

> I have a couple of questions.  First of all, what is this 88% for
> the SoundWave and 87% for the GUS?  What is the basis for that comparison?

It's an overall rating they give. The GUS was reviewed in PC Format #20
and got 87%. The Orchid Soundwave 32SE was reviewed in PC Format #26
and it got 88%.

> Lastly, I dont want audio compression if it degrades sound quality and
> I detest _loosy_ compression.

So the ADPCM compression degrades the sound quality? It strips the
high frequencies right?


Jurassic Mark <markus@Info.UMoncton.ca> wrote:

> Give 'em time.  MegaEM is only 2 weeks old and that review was written
> a month or two ago I'm pretty sure. :)  But don't worry, it'll come.

Yeah, I thought of that after I posted the message. :)


Gavin <SCARMAN@hfrd.dsto.gov.au> wrote:

>>o 16-bit recording/playback
>
> This is useful - so what are you going to do with the samples? You can't
> use them for MIDI, perhaps MOD types?

Yeah, probably. As they don't mention any RAM at all in the article.

>>They also say that they will _maybe_ release a daughtercard for 3D sound
>> capabilities in the near future.
>
> And does it do D/A processing itself, or requires the CPU? From the above 
> statement I'd guess it doesn't.

I have no idea. I wrote basically what was interesting from the review,
and the review itself wasn't an in-depth one either.

Erik
chief@lysator.liu.se

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

Date: 06 Dec 93 09:04:05 PST
From: pil!zapo@PacBell.COM (Zapo Zapper)
Subject: QSound

Regarding: GUS Daily Digest V9 #6
 
> Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 14:48:41 -0600 (CST)
> From: Joerg Bashir <spinoza@shamu.micro.umn.edu>
> Subject: QSound...
> In an article is Electronic Entertainment, they mention QSound as the next
> great thing.  And that "This winter, Creative [Labs] will be shipping an
> upgrade to its Sound Blaster ASP board that will include QSound, along
> with kits for developers who want their games to support it."
> Sierra, Virgin and Ocean are also mentioned as beign interested.  
> Can GUS do QSound, or do you need a DSP.  Supposedly, Ecco and some other
> titles on Sega use it... so I imagine that no special harware would be
> required.

QSound, as I understand it, is basically a joke.  the FP3d routines are
'sposed to be better...

QSound is another method of 3d sound generation, that uses speakers instead
of headsets.  Red-Book CD's have support for 4 (not 2) audio tracks on them,
and one of them is QSound.

MPC-2 Also specified QSound from a CD source, I don't know about QSound w/o a
sound card.

-Scott

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Image Limited VBBS (510) 831-3634 [ASV] Guest Account open
Home of VUUCP/2 USENet Interface! [VSP]  VBBS 6.10   [Primary Dist. Site]

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 93 3:44:47 EST
From: Nemesis <machina@clam.rutgers.edu>
Subject: S.G.I. compatibility and GUS

	I wanted to know if anyone knows if the Silicon Graphics Industries 
Indy computer(almost home PC) would be compatible with the GUS.  I own a GUS
and a 386 but might be getting an Indy...(on a longshot).  I love GUS, but
What I see of Indy is just too amazing... both would be awesome!

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 18:48:21 +1100 (EST)
From: Iain Huxley <ihuxley@ucc.su.OZ.AU>
Subject: Soundwave 32SE hatemail :)

In response to Erik's message, I would agree that the soundwave 32SE is 
certainly an inferior card to the GUS, and not because of 3D sound.

1) musicians wanting to use their own samples (and of course you 
would), the Orchid card is useless.

2) the orchid card would be just as memory and processor hungry as a 
sound blaster (probably more so due to better quality, stereo) for 
playing Mod files, 669 files, and suchlike

3) the GUS is far more flexible due to it's on board ram etc.

4) poor compatibility with SB is, in my opinion, one of the Ultrasound's 
strengths.  If it were not for this, I would imagine that support in 
games would be slower coming, simply because at the moment, publishers 
know that their games will not work all that well with the thousands of 
GUS owners computers, and that is a problem.  If the GUS was SB 
compatible, I would imagine they would leave it at that.  Anyway, once 
you've heard the GUS in full swing, SB sound, even through a genuine SB 
can become irritating and scratchy... :)

	I am planning on writing to PC format regarding their poor 
judgement. God knows if it will do anything, but if we're lucky they'll 
print the letter.  Why not do the same? 

	The address is:

PC FORMAT Mail,
30 Monmouth St,
Bath,
Avon,
BA12BW
U.K.

Maybe someone in England could send them a copy of megaem.  I wish 
everywhere could have an internet address..


OK.  So it's official.  It's war.  Death to all Orchid sound cards!  :-)

A question, tho: if the orchid card has only 512K of rom, surely the samples 
must be of poorer quality, shorter length, or less of them, or a combination.
Compression isn't that good, and GUS's patches take up about 5 meg or so..

cya round,

Iain Huxley,
Sydney University,
Australia.
(ihuxley@extro.ucc.su.oz.au)

P.S. why is the GUS's distribution so bad???
I had a hell of a job finding one here, and have read many messages 
saying "I have read about the GUS and concluded it is a great soundcard, 
but can't find one"  or the like.  What about the people who don't read 
email.  How are they going to find out about the GUS?  It has to be in 
the shops!!

Get your act together on this front, please, Gravis... 

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

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 18:25:28 -0400
From: mauricio@unlp.unlp.edu.ar
Subject: Volume control within Windows

Title: Separate volume control within Windows

By means of the USS8 software, I could see (and hear) that the GUS has the
capability to play sound with different volume in each stereo channel.
I want make this within Windows, but when I use the GUS under Windows the
situation is different.
By using the command waveOutGetDevCaps (this function queries a specified
waveform device to determine its capabilities) included in the library
mmsystem.dll, the command returns this result: the GUS not support separate
left and right volume control
How can I control the volume for each channel within Windows?
Somebody can explain me this?

***************************************
* Mauricio F. Lumbreras               *
* LIFIA                               *
* Dto. Informatica - Fac. Cs. Exactas *
* Universidad Nacional de La Plata    *
* ARGENTINA                           *
* email: mauricio@unlp.edu.ar         *
***************************************

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

End of GUS Daily Digest V9 #7
******************************
