Apparently-To: john.smith@gravis.com GUS Daily Digest Thu, 4 Nov 93 007 MST Volume 8: Issue 4 Today's Topics: A potentially stupid DRAM question Compaq Deskpro 486m with Ultrasound Correct rumor about GUS MAX DosMax !? Epic Pinball - where? GUS Daily Digest V7 #3 (2 msgs) How to make NHL hockey work? JURASIC PARK (OCEAN) UK (GUS 3D) mega-em time limit extender MegaEM news, etc. Ooohh..Aaah... snap crackle and pop subscribe (2 msgs) 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: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 12:36:13 -0500 (EST) From: Sinclar Shuit Subject: A potentially stupid DRAM question OK Now I have the FAQ and althought the issue is explained clearly there I am confused. If I have 256K GUS and want to upgrade to 1 MB why do I need SIX 256x4 Dram Chips and not 3 as my mathematical intuition would predict.? Sinclair Shuit : Easily confused GUS owner ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 10:06:34 EST From: lcheung@mosaic.uncc.edu (Leung Cheung) Subject: Compaq Deskpro 486m with Ultrasound I think someone has mentioned the compatibality between the Compaq Deskpro 486m(EISA) with ultrasound. The Deskpro works very good with the Ultrasound. The system comes with the Business Audio(MS Sound System), I just set the ultrasound with irq 15 because the Compaq Audio system sets on irq 11. And just play with the system.ini and maybe the control.ini in the windows directory, the sound card should work properly. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 16:14 CST From: T4100076%twncu865.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU Subject: Correct rumor about GUS MAX Hi GUS lover: I am the engineering manager of distributor of Gravis in Taiwan, and I saw someone quote my message without my agreement, and I must correct some of the quotation he used: -All characters of UltraSound -16 bit recording function (for the option on GUS, the price is $130,basing on the mail-ordering catalog) -SCSI II CD-ROM interface -Filter built-in -Mixer built-in -1024k DRAM on-board -Many other new software bundle in package (Voice-Rec,MIDI..) -Fixed bugs in UltraSound v3.4 ^^^^ I didn't mean the UltraSound board has "bugs" but mean the software improvment of SBOS or other drivers. Please notice about them and don't be misleaded. And I won't received the UltraSound MAX until Dec.,according to the Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Advanced Gravis, David Reid. He phoned me today. So the specification might be wrong. And I will certainly receive the beta test version of 16 bit recording board on GUS. I will test it and post the result on net. About the price, we DO sell it in $210 in local market, but we DO have to do advertisement for Gravis, who never do any advertisement in Taiwan. Plus we offer the Chinese user's manual. Also we provide driver updates, upgrades, and problem solving for Gravis, for those who can't access to Internet or can't wait some long for Gravis new drivers. PLUS the Sound Blaster 16 ASP is sold at $400 by Creative Lab, so I don't think $210 is unreasonable. p.s. We are also encouraging Chinese game company to support the GUS by provid -ing they SDK and GUS at free charge. Besides, Taiwan users can see intro duction on New Age Gaming magazine, whose report is basing on the data we provided. So, we are NOT sitting there and sell GUS in the incredible price. Anyone who has their opinion could mail to u4100076@twncu865.ncu.edu.tw Pach Lin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1993 13:51:07 +0100 From: MATERIA1@IPDUNIVX.UNIPD.IT Subject: DosMax !? Hi all. Few days ago someone posted something about a Shareware utility called DosMax that allows you to get 40k UMB free (so you can LH ultramid without problems). He mentioned that he (probably) got it from WUArchive, but I've been unable to locate it. Since I don't seem to be able to connect to ARCHIVE and run and Archie search, can somebody please give me more info on this program (i.e. where can I get it?) Many thanks. Ciao Paolo Colombo ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 10:43:47 GMT From: "Bjarni R. Einarsson" Subject: Epic Pinball - where? 'Ello everybody.. In the last digest the game Epic Pinball was mentioned 3 times.. Where can I get ahold of this? Since it is an Epic product I would think it would be available via anonymous FTP somewhere.. wasn't on my favorite game archive last weekend.. Is this the same thing as Silverball? (SW version?) What *IS* the most current Epic FTP site? ______________________________________________ ___________________ / \ / \ ( "Shee, you guys are so unhip its a wonder your O Bjarni R. Einarsson ) ( bums don't fall off!" -- Zaphod Beeblebrox O - - bre@os.is - - ) \______________________________________________/ \___________________/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 08:46:49 -0500 (EST) From: Phat H Tran Subject: GUS Daily Digest V7 #3 > Date: 2 Nov 93 07:32:00 PST > From: EBULALACAO@CSUPomona.Edu > Subject: recording my own samples > > How do I record my own samples? Which software am I supposed to use? Is there > a limit on the size of the sample? > You can use Playfile or USS8 to record in DOS. With Playfile, the size of your sample is limited by the amount of free disk space you have. In Windows, you can use Sound Recorder, which comes with Win31. You'll then be limited by how much free memory you have on your PC. There are also several other Windows recording utilities such as GoldWave or Wave that you can use. > Date: Tue, 02 Nov 93 12:03:55 +0100 > From: Roberto Bonet > Subject: SFX in LOL > > Anybody out there who knows how to get good soundfx in Lands of Lore? > I have installed the ail drivers and the music is just great, but the > sfx is not very good. The digital sound effects will not work with the GUS AIL drivers. The game is apparently sending a null pointer to the digital routine instead of the location of the sample to be played. > Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 19:28:08 -0500 > From: TOMMYLEE@uhura.trinity.toronto.edu > Subject: snap, crackle and popping with the GUS > > Here's a question for the techies out there who know about this > sort of thing: > > I noticed that when playing back complex music or samples (ie. > many simultaneous voices or, detailed digital effects), I get a > little bit of crackle or popping. Kind of like listening to a radio > broadcast. > That could be clipping on the digital side. Turn down the volume of your GUS software. Pops and clicks can also be due to poor samples, poor loop points, or poor voice handling routines. Sometimes, they can be caused by bad DRAM, in which case the pops get worse the longer a sample stays in GUS memory. Phat. > Date: Tue, 02 Nov 93 17:59:06 EDT > From: Thayer York > Subject: Voyetra SPGold > > I know the majority of people here use the GUS for games (at least it > seems that way), but has anyone figured out a way to get a DOS-based > MIDI sequencing program (such as Voyetra's SPGold) to use the > synthesizer on board the GUS? > You can try using Mega-Em to emulate a Roland synth on the GUS. > Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 10:48:03 PST > From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow) > Subject: XWING don't work! > > Well, I just installed my new GUS card and tried out my one and only game, > XWING, and no sound at all. I do also have a demo version of Castle Wolfenstien > that worked great with GUS, but XWING made no sounds at all. Now if anyone > knows how to configure GUS, sbos or whatever to work with XWING, please lit > me know....thanks in advance Make sure that your GUS is on 220h, and if the game starts without any sound at the LucasArts logo, quit it, and restart it again. It might take several tries before X-Wing will detect the GUS as SB compatible. Phat. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 11:50:29 -0800 (PST) From: Mark Harrison Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V7 #3 > Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 22:28:52 -0700 (MST) > From: bfreeman@NMSU.Edu > Subject: Computer Setup > > I have been having trouble getting Wolfenstein 3-D to run correctly > with my Gravis for some time now. And when I recently purchased > Privateer, it always crashes on me if I try to enable the digitized > sounds. I know people have gotten this to work for them. I am running > SBOS v2.10 and have 1024K of DRAM. I have tried everything recommended > by Gravis to make sure it works properly, but no such luck getting it > to work with some programs. I too had problems with Wolfenstein and SBOS v2.10. It was giving me the exact same problems I had with my bad OPTi chipset before I got it fixed. Going back to v2.08 fixed the problem though. > Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1993 09:56:41 -0400 (EDT) > From: "Two weeks left..." > Subject: Epic Pinball in OS/2 > > Well... > > This game is nothing short of amazing. It works quite nicely in OS/2, > but it seems that the game will not save the high scores. Also, the 'goodbye' > screen does not appear and the thread sits there playing music and doing > nothing. Minor complaint, I know. > > As far as the DOS settings, the game runs way too fast unless you > change them enough to slow it down. If anybody is interested, I'll post... Yes, I'm very interested since I can't get it to run as smoothly as it does in DOS. Mark Harrison harrison@sun.lclark.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 14:38:04 PST From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow) Subject: How to make NHL hockey work? Anyone know how to configure NHL hockey to work with GUS. I used sbos with default parameters and it mostly played the music, but the digital sounds...especially the digitized voices were all tweaked. The voices where slow and jittery. Help anyone? -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Schow | But you don't need to use the claw, if you sjs@netcom.com | pick the pear with the big paw paw...... (415) 354-4908 | Have I given you a clue......? | - Baloo the Bear ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 09:41:42 GMT From: Ben Leamy Subject: JURASIC PARK (OCEAN) UK (GUS 3D) Arrrrgh! I called Ocean after seeing Jarasic Park in the stores. Why? No mention of GUS on the box! Technical support tells me that there is NO GUS support and certainly no 3D sound! What gives? All the lastest reviews in the UK failed to mention GUS or 3D sound as well. (PS. They know we are concerned, apperently they have had loads of calls! :)) _____________________________________________________ Ben INTERNET = LEAMY%uel.ac.uk@earn-relay.ac.uk (the Bastard) JANET (UK) = LEAMY@UK.AC.UEL ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1993 11:28:23 +1030 (CST) From: Gavin Subject: mega-em time limit extender OK, since JS has said that the megaem time limit will be removed - I quote: >1) In the next public release the 20min time limit will be removed and no registrations are possible, I give you an interim solution - a time extender by 10 ie. gives 200mins. This TSR intercepts the clock int and only passes on 1 in 10, so you MUST load it AFTER megaem. Here's the UUencoded version: ----------------------cut from next line -------------------- begin 666 slow.com MZR&0 H +O\.!P%T!U"P(.8@6,\NQP8' 0H +O\N P&X"#7-(2Z)'@,! 2+HP&!0&Z"0&X""7-(;HC Also on a sadder note, Matt Cranfield (of Gravis) had a bad accident on his motorcycle and was going in for an operation today on his spine. Matt is my contact at Gravis and is generally responsible for most of the news I get. I guess I'll have to get John to fill in till Matt returns. Hopefully Matt will have a rapid recovery! If you've been paying attention, you know that "Return to Zork" is out and has GUS support even though its not on the Box. Also get the Playable Demo "Rampage". It supports the GUS and looks & Sounds great. Its a Game in the Wolf3D tradition. Worth the D/L if you have a fast modem. Rampage is a FREE D/L! Thats it for now. See Ya! Dave ====== (end of quote) ==================================================== And, Gravis just got a rep up on Genie, here's excerpts of his opening: ------------ Category 1, Topic 47 Message 123 Wed Oct 27, 1993 GRAVIS at 23:07 EDT Greetings.....this is Bryan Del Rizzo from Advanced Gravis. Sorry it took so long to get on here, but I had some problems logging on from Canada....anyways here I am. (stuff deleted) Third, just to let you know, we will be addressing your needs on Genie, American On-Line and Compuserve too. I know people have been complaining about lack of online support, and I apologize, but we are still a very small company in terms of people. (stuff deleted) As some of you may know, the author of Mega-Em, is now under contract with Gravis. He arrives in Vancouver tomorrow from Australia. An official release of MEGA-EM will be made in the next week or two. The new version will have Roland MT-32, Roland General Midi, and Sound Blaster support. This undoubtly, will eventually replace SBOS. Mega-Em allows you to get great MIDI music and SB effects only. We will not put support in for SB music. There is no point, since it sounds lousy anyways, compared to wave table synthesis. This is a great time for GUS owners. We have tonnes of support from major developers including Sierra (LSL6, PQ4, QFG3, Gabriel Knights), Lucasfilm (Rebel Assault CD version), Ocean (Jurassic Park), Mirage (Jack the Ripper), Knowledge Adventure (9 titles including Kids Zoo), SSI (many titles), Accolade (Brett Hull Hockey), Maxis (Sim products including SIM CITY 2000), Hollyware (Johnny Quest), just to name a few. Developers really love the GUS. It is very easy to program for (contrary to other comments), and has really great capabilities, including the 3-D Holographic Sound. As a side note, Thomas Dolby uses the card to create "Virtual Music Compositions", a sort of 3-D, interactive composition. He is showcasing his works with the GUS at the Guggenheim museum in New York this month. Anyways, I will keep up to date here, and start uploading some new files, including the new Mega-EM. Please post to me here or via mail any messages or questions or whatever regarding our products. Or, you can call me at (604) 431-5020, ext. 1082. Also, I started our own topic (#6), so post stuff there too, and we'll start to rock this place! Thanks! Bryan ====== (end of quote) ==================================================== And, just for more an extra dash o' good vibes, here's one from the author of EA's upcoming Seawolf sub sim: ------------ Category 9, Topic 34 Message 79 Fri Oct 29, 1993 J.RATCLIFF3 at 17:41 EDT Sewaolf FULLY supports the Gravis Ultrasound, not only with a full general MIDI music score but also with real-time multichannel 16 bit stereo digital sound in the waterfall display. JWR ------------ (end of quote) And finally, for the RUMOR dept., I'm posting this email from a friend, please take this for what its worth: Thanks again! And I heard from the Sysop of Ultrasnd BBS and he's getting to test the new Mega-em SB Program. He say's that it's works great as General Midi and SB digital,but locks up when trying to do SB music.Mr. Steele (Author of Mega-em) will be working at Gravis for the next 6 months on new projects involving Mega- em.The papers are signed! The contracts ink is drying!We should see a release copy in about a week hopefully. ========= (yep, end of last quote) =============================== Break out the drool buckets, GUS'ers! *------------------- f.graham@genie.geis.com ---------------------* ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 15:05:24 +0800 (PST) From: Francis Li Subject: Ooohh..Aaah... I am reaaaalllly looking forward to this next year with my GUS. When I bought it early this year I really started to regret it but I think it will ALL be repaid when Rebel Assault comes out with HOPEFULLY GUS Support. Has everyone seen the previews? Amazing... Unfortunately I am kind of disapointed that Gravis is not releasing a beta of the new MEGAEM right now. Out of all the good things this is the bad point. First, an amazing program. BUT, with a time limit. THEN, we're told NOT to register! THEN we know there's a new version that I have heard works great but they are NOT releasing it! I would RATHER much have a few system crashes with the new MEGAEM than have to wait longer... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 14:41:55 PST From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow) Subject: Re: snap crackle and pop > > Here's a question for the techies out there who know about this > sort of thing: > > I noticed that when playing back complex music or samples (ie. > many simultaneous voices or, detailed digital effects), I get a > little bit of crackle or popping. Kind of like listening to a radio > broadcast. > > I'm using cheap-o non-amplified speakers, but I hear the same > popping when I listen through a fairly good set of Sony headphones. > > In particular, I've noticed this problem in Space Quest V (GREAT > music and sound effects on the GUS!), and also in the 2nd Reality > demo (when the multi-sided ball first appears..). It's not really a > major problem, I suppose, but it's annoying. > > Midi files general play without the popping, and I haven't really > tried my GUS with a wide variety of other software due to lack of > time on my part. > > Does anyone out there have any idea what is wrong, if anything? I have noticed the same thing. What is going on here? I thought the GUS was supposed to be this great high fidelity 16-bit sound. I have a pretty extensive MIDI studio and I was hoping to add the GUS sounds to some of my mixes, but not with those crackles! I have also noticed that while auditioning patches such as acoustic piano, the sounds have a lot of noise as they decay out. Sort of a compressor hiss kind of thing. Anyone have any comments? -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Schow | But you don't need to use the claw, if you sjs@netcom.com | pick the pear with the big paw paw...... (415) 354-4908 | Have I given you a clue......? | - Baloo the Bear ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 93 14:51:59 +0000 From: eeyjsfa@unicorn.ccc.nottingham.ac.uk Subject: subscribe subscribe ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 13:50:42 -0600 From: Christopher Neely Subject: subscribe ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 13:06:11 +0100 From: rock@POOL.Informatik.RWTH-Aachen.DE Hi folks! There is one thing i cannot understand: If Electronic Arts owns Origin, and EA supports GUS, why can't Origin support GUS too ? I mean, why should EA lawyers delay GUS support in Origin games? Brooding...Olli ------------------------------ End of GUS Daily Digest V8 #4 ****************************** 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 archive.orst.edu /pub/packages/gravis theoris.rz.uni-konstanz.de /pub/sound/gus FTP mail server: mail-server@nike.rz.uni-konstanz.de Hints: - Get the FAQ from the FTP sites or the request server. - Mail to for info about other GUS related mailing lists (programmers, musicians, etc.).