Ultrasound Daily Digest Fri Jun 11 00:36 Volume 4: Issue 11 Today's Topics: 3D demo Apple Mic & GUS Bug in new (2.06) software DMP 2.51 epas v2.06L not working GUS 2.06 Disk Mail-out...... GUS Disks in New Jersey GUS RAM upgrade beyond 1Meg Gus upgrade disks Incorrect patch version message Look what I found Mac Mic problem Need advice on new motherboard Need recording help? Read on! New disks & Probs Patch Creating Question about latest SBOS... switches??? THE NEWS tremstr patch problem SOLVED Ultrasound Daily Digest V4 #9 Windows lockup with 2.06 disks 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: Thu, 10 Jun 93 03:13:55 EDT From: timkwan@Athena.MIT.EDU Subject: 3D demo Message-ID: <9306100713.AA00873@alfredo> Hmm...I am not hearing many comments about the 3D demo, fptest. I personally found it VERY disappointing. I thought I would get the feeling that the sound would _appear_ to come from a virtual 20 feet away or something like that. But all I hear are sounds that seem _close_ to my head going around in a circle as I move the joystick around. The volume varies, but the sounds still appear close to the head. What's so hot about that? Doesn't clever manipulation of volume and panning create that effect anyway? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 09:39:36 -0500 (CDT) From: David Britton Subject: Re: Apple Mic & GUS Message-ID: <9306101439.AA20365@cwis.unomaha.edu> What software did you try the microphone out on? It's hard to say whether there's a problem with the mic without knowing how it was being used. ** David L. Britton ** A fool and his fish are soon parted ** ** University of Nebraska at Omaha ** I have no opinions to express ** ** fishead@cwis.unomaha.edu ** Support the Wild Life: Throw a Party ** ** I am the Lemon Merchant ** Don't blame me, I voted for Bush ** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 17:13:04 -0700 From: Eric N. Liao Subject: Bug in new (2.06) software Message-ID: <199306110013.AA23716@aerospace.aero.org> Here'sa minor-minor-minor bug in the GUS software. I noticed that the TREMOLO STRING patch (#45 I think) is missing. I found one MIDI file in my collection that required it, and PLAYMIDI aborted before any music began. So, I simply went into the default.cfg file (midi directory) and noticed that there's supposed to be a patch file called "tremstr.pat" Well I couldn't find it, so I simply changed the entry in the .cfg file from tremstr to marcato.pat. Does anyone know if the windows software has the same bug? Where's the tremstr patch?!? ------------------------------ Date: Jeu, 10 Jui 93 15:52:10 FRA From: 9269Z%FRESTP11.BITNET@FRMOP11.CNUSC.FR Subject: DMP 2.51 Message-ID: <9306101356.AA13894@orca.es.com> Date: 10 Juin 1993, 15:50:38 FRA From: Benjamin Ryzman 44.41.11.02 9269Z at FRESTP11 To: ultrasound@dsd.es.com Does DMP 2.51 supports the GUS? It's not written anywhere in the .txt file though I know it supports the Aria based soundcards... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 14:06:39 -0700 (PDT) From: jde@ciaran.ucr.edu (Jeff Ellis) Subject: epas v2.06L not working Message-ID: <9306102106.AA15701@ciaran> >From: mike@batpad.org (mike batchelor) >I got the 6 disks from epas, though, and can't get it installed. It >won't recognize disk #2 - it asks me over and over again for it. Disk >2 contains ultrasnd.002 and disk.id, a plain text file that claims >that this is disk #2. What's wrong? I also have seen this problem. I thought it might have been the way I moved them from the Sun to the 3.5" disks to try at home. I got them again today and used diffrent methods to put them on the disks. Maybe it will work now, if the epas archive is not bad. THis is putting a crimp in my useage. I got GUS last weekend for my birthday and disk 2 of the v2.05 divers was bad. I called Tech support about the problem and their responce was sendin the warentee card and they would sent me disks as soon as they got my warantee card. This bothered me some that they could not take the serial number of the hardware as proof that I own it. I cant get to the dealer it was purched from - that is 60 miles away! So until I get something that works I have a new toy that does not work :-( -- Jeff Ellis Internet: jde@ucrengr.ucr.edu Manager of Computing Services University of California, Riverside College of Engineering ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jun 93 12:46:41 U From: "zz Paul Murgatroyd" Subject: Re: GUS 2.06 Disk Mail-out...... Message-ID: <9306110236.AA08941@kirk.Bond.edu.au> Well, The GUS 2.06 disks made it to Japan safe and sound. Well done Gravis! I am very pleased to have found a company that lives up to its word! Keep up the good work. _______________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 16:49:08 EDT From: pccmoddan@aol.com Subject: GUS Disks in New Jersey Message-ID: <9306101649.tn69536@aol.com> The Update has come to New Jersey. :) Happy Happy Joy Joy - Dan ________________________________________________ | Dan Nicholson | email: pccmoddan@aol.com | | aka | uuencoded: moddan@bowker.com | | Maelcum [KLF] | America Online: PCC ModDan | | and | VirtualNet: 2 @ 9082 | | [PCC] ModDan | Voice Phone: currently down | |_______________|______________________________| | | | Levisionet Technologies | | 553 Thoreau Terrace | | Union, NJ 07083 U.S.A. | | (Formerly PCkS Associates) | |______________________________________________| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 13:24:00 +0000 From: "Timmy (Y.T.) Chan" Subject: GUS RAM upgrade beyond 1Meg Message-ID: <"13398 Thu Jun 10 13:25:21 1993"@bnr.ca> This is question aimed at the people who work at GUS. I figured a lot of others might be interested, so I've posted the question here rather than direct e-mail. Are there any plans to release a board that supports over 1 Meg RAM?? (Don't matter to me whether it be a daughter board or a brand new 'GUS-Pro' board.) It seems 1Meg is sorely insufficient to support GM. I heard samples had to be dropped to support the 128 instruments of GM - from 44.1 samples/sec to around 20 samples/sec. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 10:12:22 BST From: "James Andrews, User Support" Subject: Re: Gus upgrade disks Message-ID: <29686.9306100912@uk.ac.uel.sol1> > Have you received your upgrade disks from Gravis. I have but there is no > Midisoft or PowerChords. If you have can you let me know what you > received. Thanks. Well its all a bit odd. About a month ago, I got version 2.05 upgrade disks, plus powerchords and midisoft studio from Optech in the UK. The other day I got version 2.06 disks direct from gravis- which seemed to have a manual that had chapters on powerchords and midisoft studio, but no powerchords/midisoft disk with it on. I might be wrong about the 2.06 disks not containing the long awaited sequencer software, as I havent bothered to install it yet. Optech also sent me a copy of the pd SDK on a floppy. When I registered the GUS I registered with Optech. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1993 11:07:09 +1000 (EST) From: MICHAEL DANIEL Subject: Incorrect patch version message Message-ID: I am also having the message about the incorrect patch version when I load windows, and the message appears three times before program manager appears, I think the version I have is 2.03 (I go{ it from wuarchive as GUS0018.zip -> GUS0022.zip (or numbers close to those)). Also, in the midi mapper under control panel, when I change the setup it reverts back to ultrasound/1024drums/+1 as soon as I close the midi mapper applet, I don't think this is right. Thanks in advance Michael Daniel, Emerald, Victoria, Australia ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Jun 93 22:58:58 PDT From: godfrel@sfu.ca Subject: Look what I found Message-ID: <9306100558.AA06620@fraser.sfu.ca> Brad Craig said that Forte just finished a patch for Prince of Persia 2. It should be available around Friday. As for other stuff, check it out: Subj: Sound Blaster ASP 16 VS GUS Date: 93-06-09 21:10:07 EDT From: Adv Gravis Posted on: America Online Gravis demoed GUS VS the Sound Blaster 16 ASP board at CES. I wonder what card sounded better??? It wasn't the Creative board.... Virgin was blown away by hearing the 7th Guest in Native mode! (You can also check with your good friends at Westwood to see what they thought, or call Troy at Interplay. The Fat Man couldn't believe his ears how great the GUS card is. The same goes for John Ratcliff.... I have been away for the last 1 1/2 months working on all kinds of different projects and support. So don't proceed to tell anyone about lack of support because, you know nothing at all, or where I've been and what's going on!!! PC Expo is in New York in a couple of weeks, stop bye and see Origin and us at our booth. Regards Brad Craig Subj: Gus not selling get real! Date: 93-06-09 21:47:47 EDT From: Adv Gravis Posted on: America Online Dear Rich I just came with tons of literature from CES. I have all the lastest mags and funny thing is that they just happen to list the card. Oh by the way GUS was named as runner-up for product of the YEAR by BYTE Magazine at Comdex.... Please check your copy of June 1993 Computer Gaming World page 119 Bit Wit Software for the low price of $126.00, also try page 151 Zero's & One's for $138.95, also page 104 Viking Software for $130.00 also page 89 Disk Count Software for $130.00 also on page 63 Chips and Bits Inc. $139.00. In PC Games check out our new add on page 53. Guess what I found on page 79 an ad with GUS. Yes it's Chips and Bits Inc. with the Gus at $139.00 I just opened the back pages of the July Strategy Plus and found an ad on page 92 by Chips and Bits. Wow!!!! I found more in Computer Game Review in the June edition. Please check page 113 Zero's & One's. Chips and Bits Inc. have an ad on page 55. In the June edition of PC Format from the UK. UltraSound from Gravis won hands down against all the other sound boards including Roland, Sound Blaster ASP,Pro, regular and Pro Audio Spectrum 16, Plus, Covox, and several others. It won on sound quality.....not because we paid them off! For the RECORD.... since the new software has shipped UltraSound is in hot demand and so wil,l be the new UltraSound Max with 3-D audio. Hope the info helps! Regards Brad Craig ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Godfrey. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 10:23:08 PDT From: jericho!gord@uunet.UU.NET (Gord Wait S-MOS Systems Vancouver Design Center) Subject: Mac Mic problem Message-ID: <9306101723.AA07369@ jericho> The reason the Mac mic won't work as is in the gus is that it requires some power to run. It is a condenser mic, and gets power from the mac when plugged in. All is not lost: you can build yourself a goofy cable (or get fancy and make an adapter box) that supplies power to the mic from a 9 volt battery. Of the three wires you list in your diagram, One should be Ground, (and battery negative) One should be Power, (ie battery positive) and One should be audio out. The Diode in the circuit will prevent you from smoking the mic if you get power backwards. Without seeing one in my hand, my best guess is that you may have your diagram wrong? The Power and Ground lines should get all the way to the mic element itself, with NO capacitors in the way, and the audio out should be connected only to one side of a capacitor. Radio Shack sells little condenser elements, and they have a little schematic on the back that shows the connections you probably need. Good Luck Jim, if you choose to do the mission. This email will self destruct in 5, 4, 3, (Showing my age again..:) Gord Wait ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 10:27:38 -0500 From: ken@austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach IBM) Subject: Need advice on new motherboard Message-ID: <9306101527.AA23874@daedalus.austin.ibm.com> Hey GUS people, Well, as some of you have read, I'm still having some weird things happen with MIDI on my GUS. So I'm considering getting a new motherboard to try and remedy the problem. First off, let me tell you what I have. I have a Packard Bell Legend 300 SX. It's a 386, 25 mhz machine with 4 meg RAM (two soldered on the motherboard, two that I added). It's a smaller motherboard (the case is smaller). It has a riser with three expansion slots (all are 16-bit, I believe). So, that's what I want to replace. Second, what all is involved in doing this? How hard is it? Do I just buy the motherboard, put it in, and bingo, it works? Do I move my 386 CPU over to the new board? What other things need to be moved? Does this affect the BIOS? etc. etc. etc. Is there a detailed explanation of how to do this anywhere? Lastly, if anyone is running a GUS successfully in a Packard Bell Legend 300SX, please email me. Maybe there's a workaround I haven't tried yet. Thanks, Ken ------------------------------ Date: 10 Jun 93 19:23:31 EST From: "Joseph R. Granto" Subject: Need recording help? Read on! Message-ID: I have been having various problems recording with my GUS card. Actually, they boil down to this: I get these annoying clicks on the recording, regardless of input level. After posting here and at comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcards, and getting no solutions that worked, I called the Gravis tech support number. I talked to Matthew, the person whose job it is to figure out the recording errors. First and foremost, Matthew said that you should not use smartdrive or any other disk caching utility. Also, you should not use any disk compression software (doubledisk, stacker, superstor, etc). I was using both smartdrive and doubledisk. So I created a DOS 6 boot disk, deleted the hidden doubledisk file, and copied all the needed software to my A: drive. I am recording with USS8, by the way. This GREATLY helped with the problem. However, the clicks were still there (I had tried GoldWave 1.0, and GoldWave performs as good as USS8 with clean DOS as described above). I then decided to use a RAM drive, and store the sound data to this drive. This would rule out and disk speed/access problems. The clicks still exist. So I called Matthew back up and told him what I had done. He thanked me for doing the exact experiment he was going to have to do, and decided it has something to do with my bus. Unshielded or low shielded buses seem to suffer from more clicks, says Matthew. There is not much I can do about this, unfortunately. Oh, my GUS is 4-5 slots away from my video card, so we ruled out video interference. Matthew asked that I post all this information to the digest to let everyone know that they are trying to figure out the problem. I am still very perplexed at this clicking because the first time I ran USS8 I got a really good recording; no clicks at all. Ever since then, lots of clicks have existed on the recording. Then, just for the fun of it, I played around with various sampling rates. I have now narrowed down the problem. At lower sampling rates (below 11kHz), the sound is fine (well, it only sounds okay, but there are NO clicks). As I increased the sampling rate, the clicking gets worse. My theory is that at least part of the recording problem is CPU related. USS8 uses the CPU's clock to determine when and how often it should sample the audio signal. When sampling rates become very high, the CPU simply cannot handle the work load. I have a 486DX25, by the way. The CPU is running DOS, USS8, doing moving video, etc, and cannot sample pefectly. This is further illustrated by the fact that at lower sampling rates the second-counter runs very smoothly. At higher rates (44kHz, for example), the seconds-counter sort of pauses, then continues (keeping the correct time all the while). The question now arises as to how powerful a CPU is needed to make a 44kHz recording? A 486 DX/2 66 might do it. What about a 586 (oops, Pentium.... sorry Intel)? I would be interested if some 486/66 brutes out there would play around with recording to see if any of my hypothesis is true. Oh, I am running the GUS through my receiver on Tape 2 IN and OUT. Also, does anyone out there know where WaveLight (a Turtle Beach product) can be gotten via ftp? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Granto GLOCK@chip.cba.ufl.edu "When the going gets tough, the tough get a GLOCK!" --Guns & Ammo "Don't clock'em, GLOCK'em!" --Miami Dade police officer --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 20:19:44 +0300 From: Shmuel Gazit Subject: New disks & Probs Message-ID: <9306101719.AA12961@ccsg.tau.ac.il> Hi GUSsers !!! Well, to add to the reports the float in - I got mine yesterday ! Nice to know Israel is on Gravis' map - great to hear from u guys !! Now, the only probs I got concernning it, is the SBOS & DMA checks. SBOS is running well on my comp, well - at least with the products that other ppl have been playing with successfully. SETGUS's diagnostics refuse to validate any settings I do with it ! DMA check got bounced with DMA READ (on dma 1,5 I think) and DMA WRITE (DMA 7 I think..) . I got one passed - DMA 6. ok, I could live with it, especially that it is a 16bit one. When I checked the SBOS configuration - It shouted 'Memory parity error', and the system got halted. I have an Opti chipset, but it is the one installed in 386SX comps, so it shouldn't be the faulty one. Also, I have a Trident,Modem card, and the IDE controller installed, nothing fancy that should take DMA 1 for its use. How can u explain that the simple test doesn't pass, and games and applications that use it much more extensivly - work ? Thanks for any info :) /Shmulik. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1993 14:48:55 +0930 (CST) From: SCARMAN@hfrd.dsto.gov.au (Gavin) Subject: Patch Creating Message-ID: <930611144855.5ba9@hfrd.dsto.gov.au> For those of you who haven't created any of you own patches, here's one way I've found to have a play: 1. Record a .WAV with whatever, eg. Windows Sound Recorder (I use Noise Master which records up to 44k/stereo, which I got off a BBS). Try to keep it under 2 secs max by editing it to bare minimum. 2. Run it through WAV2PAT to create a .PAT file. (WAVPAT05.ZIP is available at epas archive site) 3. You will need to edit your default.cfg file to be able to load it with patchman. ie. replace an instrument in your current default.cfg or create a new one (after saving you old one of course). This really works well with recording voices and non instruments sounds (does your dog bark on cue?). If theres a better way please let me know, and is there any windows software that will record through the 'line in' properly? And I haven't been able to sample my MT32 yet, has anyone else? BTW did anyone else have trouble getting GMOD DEMO from the 2.06l disks to work? And one for Gravis: have you considered multiple patch configuration files? I mean having only one is a bit limiting, esp. with patchman. ------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 09:47:54 -0500 (CDT) From: David Britton Subject: Re: Question about latest SBOS... Message-ID: <9306101447.AA20886@cwis.unomaha.edu> Let's be fair, a TSR driver such as SBOS can't have ESP and still maintain a small enough size so that games have enough room to run. I suggest you start using .bat files to automate the correct load parameters. To insure everything get's loaded right, just add a line at the beginning of the file to unload SBOS (just in case it's loaded with some parameters that will send the system south). Gravis provides the UBAT utility to help create batch files, but ya don't really need it (I prefer direct edit). ** David L. Britton ** A fool and his fish are soon parted ** ** University of Nebraska at Omaha ** I have no opinions to express ** ** fishead@cwis.unomaha.edu ** Support the Wild Life: Throw a Party ** ** I am the Lemon Merchant ** Don't blame me, I voted for Bush ** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 08:06:51 EDT From: ciabatto@esc.syr.ge.com (David Ciabattoni) Subject: switches??? Message-ID: <9306101206.AA11512@escsyr.esc.syr.ge.com> hello. First Id like to say that I received my disks yesterday (rochester , NY) Someone on the netnews suggested they are shipping by zipcode (makes sense) so My zip is 14623 (SO you can all all plan accordingly) Second while waiting for my new disks, I obtained Kings Quest VI, X-wing and Dune II. The problem is that Im (of course) having problems with the sound. IF anyone could please explain to me what I need to do for any/all of these games. For Kings Quest Vi I have the sound but no voice (There is voice right?),x-wing and Dune II, no sound, Im sure it has to do with switches, which brings me to my third question. Is there a running list of switches and or instructions for SBOS on what to do with the games that need them? Any sort of list would eliminate all these types of silly (How do I?) questions. (EMAIL prefered) And finally in response to the Mac microphone, I think its a different design. If I remember correctly and if is like the sun workstation microphone, it has a flat battery in it , so it is powered by some sort of amp. Where for IBM (and the gus) there is no battery. Radio shack sells a little plastic one for $6 bucks, or you can attach any speaker to it(Although , I wouldnt recommend it) For a while I was using my cheap earphones to try out IN3CUBE.. ciao. ^^^^^ ( . .) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ____ + + + =oOo=====oOo=== + + + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + + + + David M. Ciabattoni Ciabatto@esc.syr.ge.com + + + Engineering Support Center 315-456-6850 (Voice) + + + EP4-104 315-456-6844 (Fax) + + + Syracuse, NY 13221-4840 8*256-6850 (Dial Comm + + + + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Jun 93 18:01:21 From: john.smith@gravis.com Subject: THE NEWS Message-ID: <9306091801.A0495wk@gravis.com> We released SBOS 2.0B9. Which should be more tolerant of Prince of Persia 2 and XWing. Let me know what you think. The file name is GUS0032.ZIP. John PS: I hope that guy in today's digest didn't toss his card off the garage roof yet. PSS: And for those of you who wanted the V2.06 disks on 5 1/4", I made a copy today. It only took 25 disks! (360K) But it works. We'll be including a coupon in future GUS boxes to get the disks on 5 1/4". It will probably be a $20 charge. Later ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 10:06:04 -0500 From: ken@austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach IBM) Subject: tremstr patch problem SOLVED Message-ID: <9306101506.AA21757@daedalus.austin.ibm.com> Thanks for the many replies I've gotten. There were several sugegstions. First, I did delete everything before I reinstalled. Last night I reinstalled part of the last version of the software in another directory and compared the DEFAULT.CFG files and the .PAT files. Here's the verdict. The problem is there's a patch missing - or the DEFAULT.CFG is wrong. The new DEFAULT.CFG identifies patch 45 as tremstr. There's no such patch. In previous versions of the DEFAULT.CFG file, the following was done: 43 .... 44 .... #45 tremstr 45 marcato 46 .... 47 .... The marcato.pat was substituted for the tremstr.pat. Making this change to the DEFAULT.CFG solved the problem. PLAYMIDI now works like it did before. Ken ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 93 12:20:13 -0400 From: "Momentary language, sexual situations" Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V4 #9 Message-ID: <9306101620.AA04925@magick.tay2.dec.com> > > If it's so cheap and having 1 meg solves so many patch problems, > > why not just make it a permanent part of the board?? > > It's part of Gravis' marketing philosophy. You pay for the minimum > functionality, a bare-bones GUS. You can then customize the card to > fit your specific needs by adding daughterboards and extra DRAM. Ha! This is why they are going to release the UltraSound MAXX which is has 1 MB, and the SCSI and 16-bit recording built in. Looks like the philosophy might be changing...There is NO reason not to sell the card with 1MB on-board. The folks who make video cards figured this out years ago... DDA ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1993 08:46:43 -0500 From: aspencer@inetnode.austin.ibm.com (Alex Spencer) Subject: Windows lockup with 2.06 disks Message-ID: <9306101346.AA05076@inetnode.austin.ibm.com> I received my upgrade two days ago. Last night I installed them, everything went smoothly, including the windows install. When running a shareware program called Nisus Missile Master I can easily lock up my system when multiple explosions and missile sounds are occuring. The sounds are all .wav files. I have no problems playing any of the midi stuff under windows. I have been hearing that some new window drivers are to be release soon. I hope that Gravis gets this game and finally squashes this bug. I have been reporting the same behaviour since I got my card in January, and again when I downloaded the 2.02 disk, the program that would lock up with digital sounds was Super Tetris. Now I use Nisus Missile Master to demostrate this bug because it occurs much easier than in Super Tetris, more concurrent sounds I guess. Alex Spencer ------------------------------ Date: (null) From: (null) Food for thought ... I think Turtle Beach is coming out with a $200 Maui wavetable synth board expandable to 8 Megs (2 SIMM slots that can except up to 4Megs each)! Plus, they already have the GM set in ROM (2 Megs of compressed samples). Adding memory expansion capability shouldn't be that hard or expensive. And in my opinion, it's one of the GUS's major bottlenecks (and a serious one at that, considering the competition from Turtle Beach is on the horizon). Please let us know your plans with regards to the GUS's RAM space. Regards, Tim. ------------------------------ End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V4 #11 ************************************* To post to tomorrow's digest: To (un)subscribe or get help: To contact a human (last resort): FTP sites: archive.epas.utoronto.ca pub/pc/ultrasound wuarchive.wustl.edu systems/msdos/ultrasound Hints: - Get the FAQ from the FTP sites or the request server. - Mail to for info about other GUS related mailing lists (UNIX, OS/2, GUS-MIDI, etc.)