Ultrasound Daily Digest     Mon, 6 Sep 93   :46 MDT      Volume 6: Issue   5  

Today's Topics:
						[GUS & SB] Question...
				  Contration Zack works with Gravis
							 dune2ail.zip
							   Line-in
					 MIDI Surfer (v1.01) released
								 Misc
						 Return To Zork (fwd)
					Ultrasound Daily Digest V6 #3
						  What is a FAR file
						Zorkdemo setup for GUS

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: Sun, 5 Sep 93 14:36:29 CST
From: Erick_Bergquist@edtng.Kenosha.WI.US (Erick Bergquist)
Subject: [GUS & SB] Question...
Message-ID: <9309052036.AA00a5d@edtng.Kenosha.WI.US>

Hello,

   I recently plugged in my old SB card, and everything is working fine.
   Sounds awesome btw. But, some programs such as DMP will run fine on
   the GUS, but when I try to run DMP on the SB all I get is garbage.
   
   My settings for each card are below, maybe someone can point out what
   may be wrong ... 

   SoundBlaster:                     GUS:
				Base: 220                Base: 240
				 IRQ: 7                   IRQ: 11
				 DMA: 1                   DMA: 3 for both
									 MIDI IRQ: 5
									   SB DMA: 1

 Lemmings II with Mega-EM and Blaster Effects sounds awesome!!

See ya!!

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=

	// Amiga / 386  Erick Bergquist                     ITCnet: 85:872/203
\\ //               Kenowhere, Wisconsin               KENOnet: 10:11/0
 \X/    CIS Major   Erick_Bergquist@EDTNG.Kenosha.WI.US
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=[ Happy GUSing
]=-=-=

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 13:49:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Geoffery Wright <gwright@cie-2.uoregon.edu>
Subject: Contration Zack works with Gravis
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.9309051311.A29227-9100000@cie-2.uoregon.edu>

I've gotten Contraption Zack to work with the Gravis Ultrasound. Its simply
a matter of copying the Gravis midi driver over the SB driver and copying
the GF166.com file over the other com file. 

The funny thing is, I think COntraption Zack only supports the SB but it
has MIDI songs in it. Works for me.

I found it was not that hard at all to install a Thunderboard (SB compatable)
with the Gravis Ultrasound. Now I have the perfect sound package at a low
price.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 93 13:34:34 -0500
From: Stephen Neely <neely@celnext.BoysTown.ORG>
Subject: Re: dune2ail.zip
Message-ID: <9309051834.AA05152@celnext.BoysTown.ORG>

Michael Allen <mlallen@uafhp.uark.edu> wrote:

>I am trying to get the dune2ail program to work but I don't know where to
>find the files: ultramid, gf1midi.adv, or gf1didi.adv. I looked in the
>ultrasound directory and did not find them. Any help would be greatly
>appreciated.

Get the ultramid files in umid102.zip from the submit directory on epas.


==============================================================
 Stephen T. Neely            INTERNET: neely@BoysTown.ORG
 Boys Town National Research Hospital
 555 North 30th Street          PHONE:  (402) 498-6751
 Omaha, NE 68131                  FAX:  (402) 498-6638
==============================================================

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 23:09:43 -0600 (MDT)
From: Jody L. Baze <jbaze@carina.unm.edu>
Subject: Line-in
Message-ID: <9309060509.AA23302@carina.unm.edu>

I recently purchased a CD-ROM drive. I would like to play a CD from
OS/2, but I cannot reliably enable the GUS's line-in.  If I use
sbos -L to  do it, OS/2 eventually gets upset.  I can not use
MEGAEM to do it  since it will not run in a DOS session under OS/2.

Is there some utility out there that enable the GUS's line-in and
nothing else?  Do I need to get the GUS SDK and figuare  out how
to do it myself?  If I do need to do it myself, are there any  tips
you can give me.

Thanks,
	John
-- 
jbaze@carina.unm.edu
	John Poet using a friends account

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 18:11:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Alan S. Estenson" <este0005@gold.tc.umn.edu>
Subject: MIDI Surfer (v1.01) released
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.9309051821.A4895-b100000@gold.tc.umn.edu>

Mycroft's MIDI Surfer, a freeware "jukebox" style program for Windows 3.1
has been released to archive.epas.utoronto.ca (as well as several other
ftp sites)  Of course, MIDI Surfer fully supports the GUS.  :)
(for a _short_ time only, I will email this program to interested parties)

Program Information...
File: SRFMD101.ZIP
File Size: 28889 bytes
Compressed with: PKZip 2.04g
Application Name: Mycroft's MIDI Surfer
Version: 1.01 (first release version)
Distribution: freeware
Author: Alan S. Estenson, este0005@gold.tc.umn.edu
Requires: MS Windows 3.1, VBRUN300.DLL, an installed sound device capable
		  of playing MIDI files (does not work with PC Speaker driver)
Description: Mycroft's MIDI Surfer is a "jukebox" style program for setting
			 up and playing a queue of midi files in MS Windows 3.1.  Thus,
			 you may work at any application while your favorite midi files
			 play in the background.  Midi Surfer supports midi patch caching;
			 it is therefore fully compatible with the Gravis UltraSound.
			 Features include: queueing files from different directories, the
			 ability to calculate the queue playing time, the ability to add
			 and remove files to/from the queue at any time, plus all the
			 usual features and more!
Included documentation: Surfmidi.doc


--
Alan S. Estenson     aka "Mycroft"           este0005@gold.tc.umn.edu
Aerospace Engineering     / University of Minnesota / Minneapolis, MN
Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. / Burnsville, MN   #std. disclaimers apply#

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 15:19:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Misc
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.9309051541.A20229-d100000@sciborg>

> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 93 12:28:29 PDT
> From: mikebat@netcom.com (Mike Batchelor)
> Subject: Emuset and Ultrasnd.ini
> Message-ID: <9309041928.AA14161@netcom2.netcom.com>
> 
> You once wrote...
> 
> $  
> $  Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1993 14:18:51 -0400 (EDT)
> $  From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
> $  
[...]
> $  However, emuset uses ultramid.ini, not ultrasnd.ini.  Ultramid.ini can be
> $  found in the GUS AIL package on Epas.  Place it in your /ultrasnd/midi
> $  directory.
> 
> I'm afraid you are mistaken, Phat.  Emuset definitely looks for
> ultrasnd.ini in the ULTRADIR directory.  I found this out when I added the
> pistol patches to it, leaving the whistle commented out with a ;
> semicolon.  Emuset complained mightly about a corrupt ultrasnd.ini until I
> removed the comments.
> 

You are quite correct.  I had always thought emuset would use ultramid
since it already had the proper GM patch subsets for 256k, 512k, 768k,
and 1024k GUSes.

> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1993 09:30:18 -0400
> From: jgamache@AIX1.si.usherb.ca (Jerry Gamache med. nucl)
> Subject: Re: Return to Zork (demo)
> Message-ID: <9309041330.AA24070@AIX1.si.usherb.ca>
> 
> Phat H. Tran wrote
> > 
> PH> I want to pressure Activision into putting GUS drivers into this
> PH> game when it ships.  I'm really looking forward to it, but will
> PH> feel much better buying it if it supports the Ultrasound.  Anybody
> PH> know Activision's email address?
> 
> Has Gravis contacted activision first?...
> Is the midpak digipak package released to the proper authorities for
>     distribution (i.e. Ratcliff and Miles software companies)?...

I think Gravis have already submitted the GUS drivers to John Miles
and Ratcliff, but I don't know if they've been officially approved
yet.

One thing that bugs me about the game industry is that many developers
there seem to think that the GUS gobbles CPU time.  For example, Pat Cook,
designer of Front Page Sports Football Pro, said that his game won't support
the GUS as anything but an Adlib because it, like the Adlib, requires the
CPU to do all the work to play digitized samples!?  This from a top designer
at Dynamix?!  Then there are pundits (eg. Rich Heimlich) who say that 
Mega-Em will bring a system to its knees since handling the MIDI stream 
without the aid of a 68000 requires huge amounts of CPU time.  Right.

> If the answer to the two previous questions is yes, then it is time to 
>     contact Novalogic 
>

Novalogic? 

> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 93 13:52:06 -0400
> From: jkauth@emunix.emich.edu (gruft)
> Subject: Return to Zork demo
> Message-ID: <9309041752.AA05620@emunix.emich.edu>
> 
> programs which use the digpak drivers for producing digital sound gives sound
> full of popping noises... are these the infamous UltraClicks(TM) I've been
> hearing so much about?  If this is what we can expect when software companies
> use to support digital sound on the GUS, I will NOT be happy.
>

The GF166.COM driver was apparently written by John Ratcliff, not Forte.
(Well, Forte wasn't mentioned anywhere in the copyright.)  We all know
that the GUS can play a sample stream without clicks, as evidenced by the
GF1DIGI.ADV driver, so these UltraClicks aren't inevitable.  

> Date: Sat, 04 Sep 93 22:32:24 EDT
> From: Raphael Pungin <IQM221@URIACC.URI.EDU>
> Subject: SBOS loading and Patch Manager problems
> Message-ID: <9309050309.AA26766@orca.es.com>
> 
> Hi. I have two problems.
> 
> Here is the first one:
> 
> When I try to load SBOS, I get the following error:
> 
> Interrupt time out
> Error on load of patch library (C:\ULTRASND\sbos\sbos.sbs)
> 
> My GUS configuration is 240, 7, 7, 11, 5. I also have SB PRO installed in
> my machine. It's configuration is A220 I7 D1. Here is my DOS environment:
>
[...] 
> According to SBGUSFAQ.TXT I have to load and unload SBOS to "allow GUS Adlib
> registers to "float"". Does any one know what could cause the error I get
> when loading SBOS.

I'm not sure why SBOS 2.08 is giving you problems (could it be an improper
installation?) but if all you're using SBOS for is to make the GUS coexist 
with the SBPro, you should try using SBOS 1.20 since it's a little less 
grumpy about your settings and motherboard than the new SBOSes.

>                                      ***
> My second problem is:
> 
> When I start Patch Manager in windows, the Gravis logo comes up and then
> Patch Manager window comes up *VERY* slowly. You can actually see it being
> painted for about 7 seconds. And all I get is a wait cursor with patch
> scrollers empty. Windows locks up. Everything else in windows works fine
> with the GUS.
> 
> Neither of the two problems occured originally when I bought my GUS. I am
> not sure what caused those problems. Any help is greatly appriciated.
>

Have you added or removed any hardware or software recently?  Have you 
checked to see if your GUS is properly seated?  (I've heard of reports
of GUSes becoming unseated because of poor fit in the machine.)  Have
your tried running the diagnostics in SETGUS?  What disk version do you
have?

> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1993 03:35:04 -0600 (CDT)
> From: ddebry@grue.dsd.ES.COM (Dave DeBry)
> Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V6 #3
> Message-ID: <9309040935.AA13389@grue.dsd.ES.COM>
> 
> Phat H Tran scurries across a keyboard, producing this:
> > I want to pressure Activision into putting GUS drivers into this game
> > when it ships.  I'm really looking forward to it, but will feel much
> > better buying it if it supports the Ultrasound.  Anybody know Activision's
> > email address?
> 
>   According to the readme: 76004.2122@compuserve.com
> 
>   Being the wacky cynic that I am, I'd have to say that I don't
> think you stand a chance in hell of changing the minds of those EVIL
> CORPORATE TAKEOVER RAIDING PIRATE SCUM!  BAH!
>

I don't have high hopes of swaying anybody, but I'd just like to hear
what excuses they have for not shipping the game with the GUS drivers.
Will an extra 45k kill them?
 
>   Sorry.  Hey, as long as you are writing to them, get them to
> join the mailing list.  I promise not to slam them anymore.
>

It would help if others write in as well... :) 

BTW, a while back, it was reported that The 7th Guest, Rules of 
Engagement 2, and Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space will soon ship with
GUS drivers (the original releases of these games did not have GUS
support, except BARIS with only GUS digitized sounds.)  Anybody seen
proof of this?

Phat.

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 21:48:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: Return To Zork (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.3.05.9309052132.C25382-a100000@sciborg>

I asked the Activision rep on CIS regarding GUS support in Zork, and
here was his very prompt reply:  (sounds good)

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 05 Sep 93 20:08:22 EDT
From: "W. Volk (Activision)" <76004.2122@CompuServe.COM>
To: ptran@sciborg
Subject: Return To Zork

We just barely managed to get a set of Gravis drivers (for digital audio and
MIDI) working properly in the product this previous week.  It was a huge
effort, but it looks like it worked.  Right now I'd say that there's a very
good chance that the Gravis stuff will be in the release product.  Only
remaining issue (for the floppy, not CD) is the size of all the Gravis stuff..

Zork will be in the stores on Oct. 1st.

Thanks,

William Volk

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1993 10:54:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: sad@umcc.umich.edu (Scott Deming)
Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V6 #3
Message-ID: <m0oZLTe-000AAhC@umcc.umich.edu>

nc = hip-hop!digger@amdahl.com
benny = ?; Benny, async = s2969065@t2.technion.ac.il

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

Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1993 11:29:41 +1000 (EST)
From: s904858@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU (Stuart Gough)
Subject: What is a FAR file
Message-ID: <9309060129.4717@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU>

Hi all,

Recently someone uploaded a file called comunion.zip - it is a music file of 
some sort with the extension .FAR!  I tried to play it using damtrak ( or 
whatever it is called) but nothing happened except that the program said it 
was a 15 sample mod!

Can anyone tell me ( or everyone else ) what this format is and how to play it!
I am yet to come across any other .FAR files

Stuart Gough

----------------------------- ------ ---------------------------------------------------
								| If you can't stay young -
Stuart Gough                    | 
								|       Stay immature
s904858@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au    |             
s904858@otto.bf.rmit.oz.au      |             Lucas Kenny - aged 10
s904858@huntsman.cse.rmit.edu.au|
s904858@kowari.cse.rmit.edu.au  | 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 93 12:00:18 PDT
From: mikebat@netcom.com (Mike Batchelor)
Subject: Zorkdemo setup for GUS
Message-ID: <9309051900.AA25639@netcom3.netcom.com>

jgamache & jkauth once wrote...
$  
$  Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1993 09:30:18 -0400
$  From: jgamache@AIX1.si.usherb.ca (Jerry Gamache med. nucl)
$  Subject: Re: Return to Zork (demo)
$  
$  On a side note, this demo contains digital sound... Just run GF166.COM 
$      before MADE DEMO -O -M:GF1MIDI (if you copy GF166 to the directory
$      and run SETD, the program will offer you to choose the GUS, very
$      nice, but only works for digital voices.) Look in the batch files
$      to see how it works. Nice output, with lots of clicks and pops, maybe
$      the drivers need more tuning, maybe the demo is badly programmed.
$  
$                       Have fun
$                       Jerry Gamache
$                       jgamache@aix1.si.usherb.ca
$  ------------------------------
$  Date: Sat, 4 Sep 93 13:52:06 -0400
$  From: jkauth@emunix.emich.edu (gruft)
$  Subject: Return to Zork demo
$  
$  I got digitzed sound to work just fine with the Zork demo.  I copied the gf166.com file over to the demo directory and the setup screen for digitized sound
$  displayed the Gravis card as an option.  Now for a question.  I've noticed that
$  programs which use the digpak drivers for producing digital sound gives sound
$  full of popping noises... are these the infamous UltraClicks(TM) I've been
$  hearing so much about?  If this is what we can expect when software companies
$  use to support digital sound on the GUS, I will NOT be happy.
$  
$  -Josh

Josh is right on the money, Jerry.  Copy your AIL *.adv drivers to the
zorkdemo directory, including gf166.com (gf1digi.adv is not really
needed).  Then make a batch file, 'zorkgus.bat':

setd
soundrv
made demo -o -m:gf1midi
soundrv -o

SETD will find gf166.com and offer Ultrasound as one of the choices.  It
only selects the device for digital effects.  The MIDI driver is selected
from the command line -m switch.  SETD copies the selected driver to
soundrv.com (NOW you know what that ubiquitous driver is!).

Not very sophisticated, but I suppose it doesn't have to be (that's the
idear, right?).

I heard the pops when I ran it under EMM386 from MSDOS 6.  They vanished
under QEMM386 v7.  The quality of the digital voice samples is not very
good to begin with, at least compared to The 7th Guest or DuneII.  The
music sounds an awful lot like The 7th Guest, not very inspired, but sound
quality is good.  The demo also sounds super under Mega-Em 1.00, minus
digitized effects.

Using SBOS, the pops were still there with EMM386 and vanished under QEMM
v7.  Sensitivity to brand of memory manager seems to vary from machine to
machine.

I agree with Phat - the Ultrasound drivers ought to be included with the
release version of the game.  But if they are not, it's still easily
supported.  The neat thing about including the drivers with the game is
that the compatibility sticker will FINALLY list "Advanced Gravis
Ultrasound."  I always liked the name of the company, it sounds very high
tech. :)

-- 
Mike Batchelor      |
mikebat@netcom.com  |                  This space for rent
mikebat@qdeck.com   |

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

End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V6 #5
************************************
