UltiMOD v1.0 UltiMOD is a native Gravis Ultrasound modplayer for OS/2 2.x or OS/2 Warp with MMPM/2 installed. ================================================================================ Features: ================================================================================ - support for: - 4 channel, 31 and 15 instrument Protracker/Noisetracker files - 4 and 8 channel Startracker files - 6 and 8 channel Fasttracker files - ability to play samples inside a modfile at any note. - low overhead (measured on my 486 SX 25 Mhz computer using pulse and cpu tach) - 21 % (4 channels) - 23 % (6 channels) - 25 % (8 channels) - support for songlists. (up to 512 files in one songlist) - Graphical user interface. (animated buttons, volume buttons, slidebar etc) - Multithreaded. Two threads for playing modfiles and 1 for the user interface. This means that you can create your own songlist and save it while UltiMOD is playing one of your modfiles. ================================================================================ Installation: ================================================================================ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step 1: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Add the following line to your config.sys: DEVICE = DRIVE:PATH\GUSDD.SYS /B:xxx /C:xxx /G:xx /M:xx /D:xx /B:xxx - GUS baseport (default is address 220) /C:xxx - CODEC baseport (default is address 327) (not needed for the 'normal' GUS) /G:xx - GF1 irq (default is irq 11) /M:xx - Midi irq (default is irq 5) /D:x - DMA channel (default is DMA channel 7) WARNING: Robert Manley's and Gravis' MMPM/2 drivers should be REMmed out your config.sys. (if they're present) Loading both gusdd.sys and one of the MMPM/2 driver sets will cause unpredictable behaviour of your system! I'm currently working with Robert Manley to incorporate my driver into his MMPM/2 driver so they can coexits peacefully. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step 2: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reboot your computer to load the driver necessary to run UltiMOD. If gusdd.sys couldn't be loaded, please follow the instructions given in the error message. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step 3: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy ultimod.exe and ultimod.hlp into one directory and run ultimod. If you like to run ultimod from any directory on your hard disk(s) add the directory, in which you copied ultimod, to the 'SET HELP =' line and 'SET PATH = ' line in your config.sys. Load your favourite modfile and fully exploit OS/2's multitasking capabilities by running it alongside other applications. WARNING: You shouldn't open a dos box, which loads ultinit in its autoexec.bat, while UltiMOD is playing a modfile. Ultinit resets the GUS and causes UltiMOD to stop playing. This also holds for starting a WIN-OS2 session, which loads the Gravis Windows drivers. Don't run any programs (dos, os/2 or windows) that use the Ultrasound, while running UltiMOD. Doing that could cause unpredictable results. When UltiMOD isn't running, you can do whatever you want. ================================================================================ General information about UltiMOD ================================================================================ This document won't explain how UltiMOD works. It's interface is self explaining by providing you with graphical pushbuttons and simple menu's. If something isn't clear just press F1 for online help. UltiMOD accepts a songlist or a modfile as a parameter on the command line. Known limitation: For some reason I can't get the Ultrasound Max to initialize properly. (I don't have a Max at home to test my driver) A temporary solution is to open a dosbox that loads ultinit before starting UltiMOD. I'll fix this ASAP. UltiMOD is shareware and needs to be registered after 30 days of use. Please see the registration section below for more details. Future plans for UltiMOD: - support for S3M and possibly XM music files I encourage people that like to see XM support included to mail me, so I estimate the demand for this. The more people ask for XM support the more likely I'll include it in a future release. Should you like to see other file formats supported don't hesitate to let me know. - integration of my device driver into Robert Manley's MMPM/2 driver - adding usefull suggestions from users to the program - more WPS integration - probably lots more. Finally I want to thank the beta testers for their extensive testing: - Anssi Saari - John Rohland - Juha Kauppinen - Bruce Brown - Mark Ruys I hope you will enjoy UltiMOD: Sander van Leeuwen Meikoninginlaan 4 2645 NT Delfgauw the Netherlands email: s509475@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl ================================================================================ Standard disclaimer: ================================================================================ This software is provided AS IS. No warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, is granted including any warranties of quality or fitness for a particular purpose. Under no circumstances will Sander van Leeuwen be held responsible for any damage that results directly or indirectly from the use of this product. ================================================================================ Questions & Answers: ================================================================================ Q: When I start UltiMOD an error dialog pops up saying it couldn't load the help manager. What's up? A: Be sure to have ultimod.exe and ultimod.hlp in one directory. If you want to run ultimod from other directories, add the directory, in which ultimod.hlp is located, to the line 'SET HELP =' in your config.sys. Q: When I try to play a modfile nothing happens or OS/2 crashes. Can't you even make a working modplayer? A: Are you sure you've included my device driver in your config.sys? If so, please check if you've added the right baseport, irq and dma values to my driver. REM out any references to Robert Manley's or Gravis' MMPM/2 drivers. If nothing helps, send me a bug report and we'll try to work it out. Q: When I run UltiMOD a dialog window pops up saying the device GUSDD$ is in use or busy. Huh? A: Did you try to run 2 copies of UltiMOD alongside? This doesn't work, so don't run more than one at a time. Q: When I try to run UltiMOD, OS/2 says it can't find SW.LIB. Damn OS/2, should have stayed with Windows. A: UltiMOD uses the dynamic library SW.LIB for its graphical buttons and some other stuff. To use this library you should install MMPM/2. Consult you OS/2 manual for the details. Q: When I try to load a modfile, UltiMOD reports it can't load this file. A: There are two possibilities: - you don't have enough memory on your GUS to load all the instruments - the file you selected isn't a valid modfile Q: Sometimes UltiMOD will stop playing music under a heavy system load. What's causing this? A: There's still a bug in the device driver that causes this problem. Just press the pause button twice to continue the song. This bug will be fixed in a future release. ================================================================================ REGISTRATION ================================================================================ You can use UltiMOD up to 30 days for free. If you continue to use it after this period, you should register. The unregistered version doesn't save its settings (options, balance settings, volume, window position etc) in an .ini file. This limitation is removed in the registered version. Registered users will receive free future upgrades or new versions. One regi- stration and free updates for the rest your life. These new versions will be send to you by email. The more users register the more chance I will continue to enhance UltiMOD. To register UltiMOD please fill in the registration form and send it, along with a cheque or money order for $15 US to: Sander van Leeuwen Meikoninginlaan 4 2645 NT Delfgauw the Netherlands Name: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Email : __________________________________________________ ================================================================================ Bug Reports: ================================================================================ If you experience crashes or bugs when you use UltiMOD, please send me mail (email or snail mail) explaining the problem along with the following filled in form and your config.sys. OS/2 version : ______ GUS hardware revision: ___ Codec Daughtercard? : _ (yes, no) Onboard GUS memory : ____ K