Ultrasound Daily Digest Wed, 9 Dec 92 Volume 1 : Issue 43 Today's Topics: Another list... Anti-Aliasing clearing RAM Different stories about MIDI IN Digest Admin: List Readership Update FAQ for GUS? GUS with MCS(?) Stereo for Windows LucasArts' official word on GUS support Lucasarts GUS support Media Player w/GUS? Ooooops Please specify which OPTi chip sets have problems Shuttle SBOS settings Winjammer... You could have a GUS two days from now! Digest Address: ultrasound@dsd.es.com To post to tomorrow's digest. Request Server Address: ultrasound-request@dsd.es.com To subscribe, unsubscribe, and request files. Owner Address: ultrasound-owner@dsd.es.com To contact a human if the server has troubles. FTP Site #1: ftp epas.utoronto.ca (/pub/pc/ultrasound) Digest back issues, mirror of request server People responsible: David DeBry, Adam Iles, Thomas Wong, Chris Yuzik, and many others who should be thanked often. :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 8 Dec 92 17:37:46 MET+1 From: "Daniel Falk" Message-Id: Subject: Another list... To: Ultrasound Daily Digest [ This message contains the file 'GAMES.TXT', which has been uuencoded. If you are not using Pegasus Mail, you will have to extract it and uudecode it manually. ] begin 660 GAMES.TXT uuencoded stuff removed end ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 92 06:42:40 EST From: timkwan@Athena.MIT.EDU Message-Id: <9212081142.AA24887@vongole> Subject: Anti-Aliasing To: Ultrasound Daily Digest Is there a MOD player that has the anti-aliasing feature? I thought WOWII and VP (Visual Player) sounded great playing some of the MOD files that I downloaded from saffron.inset.com until my roomie who owns a MAC played the same MOD files on his machine. It sounded 10 times better! Why? Because his program has an "Anti-aliasing" option that he can select or deselect. When selected, the sound is much smoother. I believe anti-aliasing basically calculates the midpoint between two successive sample points in the wave and playing (or sounding) that midpoint value as well, thus producing a much smoother sound. Is there any shareware program out there that does this? Comparing the output from WOWII and VP with my roomie's MAC program, the former truly sucks! -Tim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 12:21:48 -0500 (EST) From: Morgan Stair Message-Id: Subject: clearing RAM To: Ultrasound Daily Digest > You obviously must have loaded sbos beforehand. Even if you unload sbos with > the -f parameter, windows will still give you garbage. There are two ways to > go about it: (1) Hard boot the system, as in switching off and on again. I've > found that even hitting the bloody reset button doesn't clear the sbos > stuff inside the GUS's ram. > (2) WOuld be a better choice. Just run playmidi before running windows. It > somehow manages to clear the RAM on board... I'd think that clearing the RAM would be a fairly simple thing to do. Would someone with the developers kit please write a "GUS_CLEAR.EXE" utility, or is it not so simple. Morgan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 11:08:54 CST From: ken@batman.austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach) Message-Id: <9212081708.AA03769@batman.austin.ibm.com> Subject: Different stories about MIDI IN To: Ultrasound Daily Digest O.K., I just got off the Gravis tech line. I was reporting success/problems with the new SBOS. I happened to ask about MIDI In, and the guy (I think it was Walt ????) said the adapter would be out in January. So I said that I had heard that the driver has MIDI In disabled. He seemed surprised and said it should work - I could get the Creative Labs MIDI connector box and use it now. Then on Internet in the soundcard group, I see that Bjorn wrote that people have used the Windows MIDI In driver and the Gravis output driver and gotten an external MIDI synth to work for input in a sequencer (like Cakewalk). WHAT'S THE DEAL?!?!?!?! Who is right? Is anyone doing this currently? Does the 1.21 software have a working driver? One of the main reasons I got the GUS is for music - I am chomping at the bit, so to speak, to write music using MIDI. I am frustrated that I can't at this point do that. But if there *is* a way, I'd like to know about it!! PLEASE email ken@austin.ibm.com if you are doing this! Also, Fracois Dion wrote about converting patches from other synths (like the Korg Wavestation) into GUS patches. HOW?!?! Enquiring minds want to know! Lastly, how much is the Creative Labs MIDI box, and would it be a better idea to wait for the real GUS one? Thanks, Ken ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 20:57:14 MST From: ddebry@itchy (Dave DeBry) Message-Id: <9212090357.AA25548@itchy> Subject: Digest Admin: List Readership Update To: Ultrasound Daily Digest It seems that 600 is (well, WAS) the equilibrium point for the Daily Digest. For the past week and a half, the number of readers has been bouncing from 595 to 602. Well, yesterday we reached 606, and we've stayed steady there for over 24 hours now. Yay! This announcement may stir up talk (again) of making a newsgroup for all of us, but I'd like to try to dissuade the idea before it happens. With the weekly composite posting to USENET, I think the discussion in comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard concerning the Ultrasound is going pretty well, and this digest still is a useful forum for new info about the card. Thanks to you all for participating. In perusing the list of users, I've found that the digest LOOKS like it's being mailed to some relay and reflector accounts. Is anyone out there sending this on to other nets or BBSs or such? If you are, that's great! I'd just like to know about it so Gravis has a good idea of how many people are receiving the digest each day. Please let me know if you are. Thanks again, everyone. -- Dave ddebry@ debry@ \ DeBry dsd. peruvian. | "Who do you think you are, Bjorn Nitmo?" es. cs.utah. | - Bjorn Nitmo com edu / ------------------------------ Date: 8 Dec 92 08:47:00 GMT From: d2henan@dtek.chalmers.se (Andreas Henning) Message-Id: Subject: FAQ for GUS? To: Ultrasound Daily Digest Hi! I'm getting interested in the Ultrasound, but i'd like to know more about it. Is there an FAQ somewhere?? If so, would someone please mail it to me, or tell me where I can FTP it? Thanks, Andreas d2henan@dtek.chalmers.se -- What is a .sig, anyway?? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 21:53:06 GMT From: c60a-lj@danube.Berkeley.EDU (Rasputin) Message-Id: Subject: GUS with MCS(?) Stereo for Windows To: Ultrasound Daily Digest I just got a copy of MCS Stereo for Windows anyway, this program is unbelievable, exactly perfect for the mixing that I want to do. But the only prob is, I've got a lowly thunderbaord installed to run it. The program has a mixing console and a CD player, but they don't show up when I run it. On the other hand, my friend who has a SBPro can get the CD player and Mixing console to show up. I am planning to get a GUS, almost specifically for this program, but I wasnt to know if I will be able to access the mixing console, and if the GUS is fairly reliable in Windows. How is the gus for sampling CD's, and what is the best way to hook it up do so, I assume its thru the Mic jack, but their might be a better way. Also, is .WAV the only sample format availible. I know that .MOD is not posssible, and even if it was, I heard that the GUS doesn't work with WinMod..... As a final note, anyone who has a soundcard and is interested in recording in Windows has to check out this program. It's simply amazing.... Audi... -=Rasputin=- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 92 22:36:30 CST From: Roland Ferreras Message-Id: <9212090454.AA16339@orca.es.com> Subject: LucasArts' official word on GUS support To: Ultrasound Daily Digest Well, since there has all this comotion about the LucasArts rep on Compuserve, I checked in with the rep on America On-Line. Well, I relayed the message of what the Compuserve rep said, and here is the official word on Gravis Ultrasound support by Lucasarts. Reprinted from email message Subj: More on Gravis Date: 92-12-08 18:13:14 EST From: The Wol To: Sixpacker Here is an offical release from Michael Land who is the sound Manager at LucasArts. I'd be very pleased if you posted it on the internet Gravis mailing list. "I was recently informed about a posting from LucasArts which described the Gravis Ultrasound in less than complimentary terms. As manager of the sound department, I want to make clear that the opinions expressed were solely those of the individual who posted the message. It was inappropriate for such statements to be made under the LucasArts name. Furthermore, I disagree with the content of the message. Ever since I first heard about the Ultrasound, I have been extremely enthusiastic about the significant step forward it represents. As a person who is primarily focused on audio, I can really appreciate the value of having this kind of power to work with. For me, the only real question is how to get there...i.e., how soon can I justify to my managers the extra overhead of supporting the card in native mode. The answer depends on sales. I hope it sells big, soon, so I can start working with it. Michael Land" ============================================================ So there it is. An informed answer from a credible person at LucasArts rather than an under informed, ignorant answer from a CompuServe rep. Roland Ferreras U56980@uicvm.cc.uic.edu sixpacker@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Dec 92 02:02:44 -0600 From: pancake@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Christopher Daniello) Message-Id: <9212090802.AA05798@pooh.cc.utexas.edu> Subject: Lucasarts GUS support To: Ultrasound Daily Digest I sent a letter to the Lucasfilm games Compuserve address and this is the reply, fairly encouraging compared to what was previously said... >From 75300.454@compuserve.com Tue Dec 8 21:07:24 1992 >Date: 08 Dec 92 22:00:46 EST >From: Lucasfilm Games <75300.454@CompuServe.COM> >To: Blind.Copy.List:;@compuserve.com >Subject: Re: Gravis Ultrasound support > >Hello! I absolutely AGREE with you! In truth what's been happening recently >is that a singular representative has made some seriously derogutory comments >about the GUS which have no basis whatsoever in the feeling of LucasArts or >especially of any of us in development who can do nothing *but* be excited about > >the possibilities its advancements represent for the future of sound. >sincerely apologize for the confusion that has been caused by the >recent messages, and want to assure you that we are >definitely watching the cards sales >and absolutely plan on looking into support for it. Please feel free to send >any messages or comments to our new representative, Wallace Poulter, at this >number, where he'll be able to give you accurate, up to the minute >information that truly reflects the opinions of LucasArts. Thank you for your >patience during this time of transition, and also for your message! >Best Wishes, >Khris Brown >LucasArts Games ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 10:43:07 -0600 From: captain@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Bran Muffin) Message-Id: <9212081643.AA28356@pooh.cc.utexas.edu> Subject: Media Player w/GUS? To: Ultrasound Daily Digest I'm sorry to ask this again, but I have spent the past several hours wading through the ultrasound digests and trying to get Windows' Media Player to play canyon.mid, all to no avail. I read somewhere about having to load one program to get the patches into memory, and then using another program to play the .mid file, but I haven't been able to locate the specifics. Am I even close? Would someone who knows how to get this frustrating Media Player working please write me, and save me from further torture? Oh, I should add that I seem to be having trouble with only the midi stuff in Windows. All of the tah-dah etc. beep sounds work fine. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 92 06:26:38 EST From: timkwan@Athena.MIT.EDU Message-Id: <9212081126.AA24707@vongole> Subject: Ooooops To: Ultrasound Daily Digest Ah, sorry I didn't read Ken's email address at the bottom of his posting. I still need the answer to my question tho... -Tim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 12:07:39 EET From: s106275@ee.tut.fi (Anssi Saari) Message-Id: <199212081007.AA03632@ee.tut.fi> Subject: Please specify which OPTi chip sets have problems To: Ultrasound Daily Digest People have been saying here that some OPTi chip sets are faulty and some aren't. Nobody has yet specified exact chip set numbers, so please, if it is not too much trouble, open your computer and look. There are usually one or two big chips with the text OPTi on them. Write down the numbers and post to the list or mail directly to me, I'll compile a list. Chip sets I know of are: 82C281, 82C282, 82C283 ( 386SX ) 82C496 ( 386DX, 486 ) 82C391 ( 386DX ), 82C493 ( 486 ) 82C682 ( 386DX, 486 ) 82C382 ( 386DX ), 82C482 ( 486 ) For example, I have 82C496. (These are from umb_drvr documentation). Thanks, Anssi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 15:51 MST From: Bryan Brown Message-Id: <995FFAE1E2015568@CC.UTAH.EDU> Subject: Shuttle SBOS settings To: Ultrasound Daily Digest I finally got my ultrasound and haven't had any problems with it. I did give up on Telemart when I found one locally. As far as SBOS goes I've had no real problems with that either. Sure some of the games sound differently but no real problems. Whoever wrote in two days ago about Shuttle - The Simulator I've been running that with just SBOS and no options selected. The liftoff noises are constant until the main engines cutoff and the gravis's volume control comes in handy to turn it way down but otherwise no problems. DAVID DeBRY: I've ment to call you. Give me a call and come over and see my toy. ****************************************** * Ah, it seems he intends to kill us." * Bryan Brown * -The Doctor * Bryan@gse.utah.edu ****************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 06:23:50 -0500 From: timkwan@Athena.MIT.EDU Message-Id: <9212081123.AA24690@vongole> Subject: Winjammer... To: Ultrasound Daily Digest I read Ken's posting about Winjammer. Ken, I tried sending you email directly (ken@batman.austin.ibm.com) but it bounced! Well, everyone, this is my question. I hope someone will be kind enough to take the time to answer me.... What is Dan McKee's email address? (Ken, you should know.) Ken, you said the GUS works well with Winjammer? Don't you have any problems loading in the patches? Some people have suggested loading the MID file into Microsoft's Media Player and then load it into Winjammer. That way the patches would be loaded in correctly. While that may work (I haven't confirmed this for all MID files I have), how do I write a new song with Winjammer? Simple scenario: I want 4 instruments say, a piano, flute, oboe, and bass. How do I load in the patches or should I say, how do I specify the right patch for the particular melody? How do I use the piano roll thing for input of the melody itself? Seems counter- intuitive. Any help would be appreciated. I just want to begin writing some MIDI songs with my GUS! Thanks in advance. -Tim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Dec 92 14:40 EST From: Scott Bringen Message-Id: <9212081941.AA06102@orca.es.com> Subject: You could have a GUS two days from now! To: Ultrasound Daily Digest Hi all, I've decided to sell my home 386/33 to a friend of mine. He is not interested in the GUS that I have installed in it. So .....(drum roll)....... I am willing to sell it for what I have invested in it. I purchased it on the EA intro deal for $99 and payed $20 for overnight express. Therefore, I will sell it for $120 OBO (You pay shipping). I downloaded the 1.21 setup disks. I used them to install it last time. Setup was a snap. I'll send them along. The GUS is in perfect working order. It has the default factory memory(256K?). Email me for more info or with an offer :). ZMSKB@GIBBS.GSFC.NASA.GOV Scott Bringen ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Dec 92 05:48:53 -0500 From: ylee@norton.uwaterloo.ca Message-Id: <9212081048.AA00786@norton.uwaterloo.ca> To: Ultrasound Daily Digest This is a letter I got from sierra few days ago. ------------------------------------------------ Wow, this is amazing. I can't tell you how many emails I'm getting about the GUS. With such a push out there, and for such a powerful card, I think the only thing we have to worry about is not WILL Sierra support the card, but WHEN will the drivers for it be released. I've been in contact with one of our producers who happens to also be a composer and he can't confirm the status of the drivers, BUT, Sierra has always tried to lead the way in entertainment software technology, so it may just be a matter of time for the GUS support to come about. Happy Gaming! ----------------------------- Obviously, there support of GUS is not out of reach so just push them far enough, we'll eventually get GUS support on all the Sierra games. ------------------------------ End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V1 #43 ******************************