Ultrasound Daily Digest     Mon, 28 Dec 92       Volume 1 : Issue  60 

Today's Topics:
					   A MOD player for the GUS
					   Attn: Gravis Programmers
	BETA-USERS wanted for new Music Notation Program!  (IBM, DOS)
						  GUS: SBOS vr 1.22
						  GUS: SBOS vr 1.23
						  GUS and TB woes...
					   Microprose supports GUS?
							Some problems
						  Ultrasond and OS/2

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

Date: 27 Dec 1992 00:20:06 -0800
From: joseph@aludra.usc.edu (Jeff Lawson)
Message-Id: <1hjovmINNk9e@aludra.usc.edu>
Subject: A MOD player for the GUS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Okay, folks!  Here's my beta version of the MODulator, which is a
module editor/player for the Ultrasound.  I have not yet implimented
most of the commands, the playing speeds are approximated greatly, and
most of the editing part isn't even implimented, however, it is fun to
play with.

You can find it on klingon.epas.utoronto.ca in the
/pub/pc/ultrasound/submit directory under the filename modul10.zip

Remember, it is still very buggy, but in a few days, I will hopefully
have support of most, if not all commands.

Send any comments to joseph@aludra.usc.edu


---
Jeff Lawson

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

Date: 26 Dec 92 20:58:01 MDT
From: sl8nl@cc.usu.edu
Message-Id: <1992Dec26.205801.62277@cc.usu.edu>
Subject: Attn: Gravis Programmers
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

OK, Gravis Programmers only!

This is what we've been waiting for.  A module player for the Gravis.  I've
spent the past week hacking away at it and killed MOST of the bugs.  There are
still some that linger, but I'm not sure why...or where.  I'm burned out on
this project right now.  

The source code for the Protracker player came directly from my PPS player for
SB/SBPro.  It SHOULD have smoothly converted over.  Listen, and you'll hear odd
notes every so often.  I've got to get this working within two weeks,
so...proposition time.

If any GUS programmers want to help with this project, email me and I'll send
you the source.  Full source code will be in the completedarchive when it is
finished.

Take care
Joshua Jensen

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

Date: 26 Dec 92 19:49:03 GMT
From: jaysen@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Jason A. Brotherton)
Message-Id: <3359@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>
Subject: BETA-USERS wanted for new Music Notation Program!  (IBM, DOS)
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Hello!

I am currently working on a DOS-based music notation program for my
honors project.  I've noticed that there is a huge need for such a
program in the shareware market, so I shall release it as shareware with
a very modest registration fee.  My program will rival, if not be better
than similar programs costing > $300...at least that is the whole point
of the project!  :)

What I need from you guys are some beta-testers...I appreciate all help, 
but to be useful you need to be honest (frank) and have a good idea of
what you want in a notation program, or at least, what you don't want. :)
All that I ask is a few hours of your time for suggestions and to try
out the finished program before distribution.  In return, you will receive
the fully registered version and any updates absolutely free.

For those of you who are looking for a notation program here are a few of
the specs...
							NOTATE!
Notate! will allow you to enter music using the mouse and print it to
your favorite printer in a crisp, publishable format.  Notate! will also
play back any composition you have written using your favorite MIDI device
or a SoundBlaster (Pro) audio card.
Notate! will require the following:
   *100% compatible IBM (286 or better), Mouse, VGA, DOS 3.x & up
   *512K free memory  (for now)
   *Hard disk
Optional Items are:
   *Any kind of printer
   *SoundBlaster
   *MIDI instrument

If you would like to help me out and be a beta-tester, please send me
a note!

As a final note...due to the recent MODEDIT fiasco, any pointers to a 
document specifying *exactly* what is shareware/crippleware/etc would
be muchly appreciated!  

Thanks,
Jason Brotherton
jaysen@bsu-cs.bsu.edu

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 07:54:24 GMT
From: impster@ais.org (Charles Budensiek)
Message-Id: <Bzt1yp.3Bz@ais.org>
Subject: GUS: SBOS vr 1.22
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <Bzst85.DtB@watserv2.uwaterloo.ca> ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran) writes:
>In article <1992Dec24.071829.10990@sfu.ca> mtichy@fraser.sfu.ca (Martin Tichy) writes:
>>I like the fact that they are distributing the drivers like this
>>but I didn't like the new driver (SBOS v1.3 or 1.2b whatever).
>>
>[...]
>>
>>So the TSR hasn't improved at all IMO.
>>
>
[....stuff deleted...]>
>However, I found that the DAC emulation deteriorated.  The Inca demo used
>to work much better with SBOS 1.22 than it does with SBOS 1.23.  With the
>new SBOS, when the Incan leader/guru spoke, instead of speech, there is
>only garbage.  Version 1.23 is a step forward, and two steps back, I
>believe.  
>
>Phat.

I also have a new problem with the new beta release on my lowly 80286 16MHz
machine. With the new version <1.23> WOWII doesn't even think about working,
it hangs up before any graphics even show on the screen. Version 1.22 of
SBOS worked beautifully with WOWII and it's front end menu WOWY. 
 
I've tried everything <about 2 hours of fiddling> and could not get it to
work. I guess I'l stick with 1.22.

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

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

Date: 27 Dec 1992 05:33:43 GMT
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Message-Id: <1hjf7nINN1mn@iskut.ucs.ubc.ca>
Subject: GUS: SBOS vr 1.23
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

For all those having problems with the new SBOS 1.23, please contact
Gravis and let them know what your problems are. Remember to be detailed
about what you are doing and what the problem is.

The email address for Alan, the tech guy, is 71333.350@compuserve.com.

Let them know so that they can keep fixing it till we get a perfect
SBOS. Gravis is putting in their effort with wild distribution. Let's
give them our effort as well.

As for me, I've gone back to SBOS 1.22. I found that this worked 99.9%
of the time which is about perfect and is sure better than the latest
1.23.


Thomas.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 05:26:28 GMT
From: ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran)
Message-Id: <Bzsv45.Eot@watserv2.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: GUS and TB woes...
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

In article <gting.725194139@sfu.ca> gting@fraser.sfu.ca (Gabriel Sii Kuok Ting) writes:
>Couldn't stop myself when I managed to find a Thunderboard for CAD$50. 
>Plunked the thing into my system with the GUS and voila... the answer to
>most people's dreams... or is it?
>
>TB: 220h, IRQ 5
>GUS: 240h, MIDI IRQ 5, GF1 IRQ 11, DMA 7.
>

When I had my SB and GUS coexisting, I made sure that none of the IRQs,
DMA channels, and ports overlapped.  It looks like your TB IRQ and GUS
MIDI IRQ are that same.  Try changing your MIDI IRQ to something else.

>Result: It WORKS! At least, a few games I tried worked perfectly fine, but 
>there were still a few games that balked:
>
>Wolf 3D: won't recognise the existence of an SB or Adlib. I think Phat mentioned something about running SBOS and unloading it, but when I tried it, I got
>garbage out of the TB and the computer froze. Hmm... doesn't sound too nice.
>

The GUS will conflict with every Adlib-compatible device because it
maps some of its registers onto ports 388h and 389h, the Adlib ports.
With the SB, I found that the GUS's registers masked the SB's own
Adlib registers at these locations, and thus, games wouldn't recognize
that there was an Adlib-compatible card in my machine.  SBOS sets the
GUS registers that map onto the Adlib ports to values that the real
Adlib would return.  These values would linger in the registers even
after SBOS was uninstalled.  As a result, games that checked locations
388h and 389h for the presence of an Adlib card would then sence one.

I don't know by what mechanism the GUS's registers at the Adlib locations
were interfering with the SB's.  It might be a pull high or a pull low.
If it's a pull high, then storing all zeroes into these two registers
would eliminate the interference.  It it's a pull low, then storing FFh
will do it.  If it's opaque masking, then some "Adlib values" would have
to be placed into the GUS's "Adlib" registers.  A program could easily
be written to allow the GUS to coexist with SBs and TBs more peacefully
by placing appropriate values into the registers which mapped over the
Adlib registers.  SBOS alread puts "Adlib values" into these registers,
but if the conflict is a result of a pull high or a pull low instead of
opaque (or complete) masking, then 00h's or FFh's would be much better.

[Disclaimer:  The above two paragraphs depict what I believe to be going
on inside the GUS.  I can't guarantee the accuracy of any of it, as I 
don't know for sure what the Ultrasound is all about.  Nobody does.]

>[...]
>On the up side, my other games worked flawlessly. Ultima 7, F1GP (yay!) and
>a few others. Can anyone offer any advice as to what is wrong and what can 
>be done to solve my probs? Phat?

I've tried my best to explain what I think is going on.  I hope what I've
typed will give you some ideas of what to do now.

Phat.

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

Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 03:21:45 GMT
From: dedmunds@selkirk.sfu.ca (Darran Edmundson)
Message-Id: <dedmunds.725253705@sfu.ca>
Subject: Microprose supports GUS?
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

Is there any truth to the rumour that Microprose is supporting the GUS
in native mode?  I had also heard that they were going to release a
driver for World Circuit which is already on the market.

Fingers crossed,

-- 

Darran Edmundson
dedmunds@sfu.ca

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

Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 21:59:23 -0700 (MST)
From: michael a finkel  <mfinkel@argon.GAS.uug.Arizona.EDU>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.05.9212272123.A6253-c100000@argon>
Subject: Some problems
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

I am extremely delighted and impressed with my Ultrasound - the sound
quality is extremely impressive compared to any other sound card I have
heard for the IBM. =20

Despite this, I am having a few problems.
=09
=091.  Star Control II -  running in the native mode, I tend to get
=09     static sounds during some of the music - particularly the
=09     "hyperspace" music.

=092.  Wowii 1.30 running with the Wowy menu front - I can't seem to=20
=09     find an SBOS setting that agrees with both of them.  Wowy likes
=09     -o2 and Wowii doesn't seem to like anything.  I am using SBOS
=09     1.2B/1.23 (gus0009.zip) - the .sys driver.

 =093.  Comanche/Maximum Overkill - cannot get any effects - only music
=09     I used the patch on the ftp site to get this much, but
=09     haven't been able to get the sounds (weapons, explosions, etc..)=20

=094.  I was wondering about volume control - there is not a hardware=20
=09    volume control (one thing I definitely like better about the SB
  =09    cards).  Is there any way to control the master volume?

That's about it for now.  I thank you all in advance for your responses,
and appreciate this method of disseminating information and support.

 =C9=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CB=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=BB
 =BA                               =BA      Tell me something I don't know =
	 =BA
 =BA  MFinkel@Gas.uug.Arizona.edu  =BA        Show me something I can use  =
	 =BA
 =BA                               =BA               Push the button       =
	 =BA
 =BA    =AF=C4=C4=C4=C4> Tucson, Arizona     =BA         CONNECT THE GOD DA=
MN DOTS        =BA
 =BA                               =BA                        =C4-Ministry =
	   =BA
 =C8=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CA=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=CD=
=CD=BC

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

Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 2:23:49 CST
From: Brett Person <person@plains.NoDak.edu>
Message-Id: <199212280823.AA21584@plains.NoDak.edu>
Subject: Ultrasond and OS/2
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>

> 
> Hello all,
> 
> My attempts to run the card in a virtual dos machine or WINOS321 beta
> have all ended in some sort of internal OS/2 error. HAs anyone been able
> to make it work?
> 
> Cheers,
> Dave
> 
> ps - interesting that the warranty registration card mentions OS/2 - 
> apparently Gravis thinks it should work?
> 
I get the internal error occasionaly.  I haven't been able to get winos231
to work with the GUS yet, but I can get the midi player et al to work under
almost any os2 dos configuration. This includes both thw built-in dos boxes
plus 4DOS and DOS 5.0 running in a VD sesssion. 
-Brett


-- 
Brett Person
Guest Account   
North Dakota State University
person@plains.nodak.edu || person@plains.bitnet
I don't do Windows, but OS/2 does.

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

End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V1 #60
******************************
