GUS Daily Digest Mon, 14 Feb 94 0:07 Volume 11: Issue 12 Today's Topics: Afterdark AfterDark; General Windows Volume Setting Issues ANSWER: Syndicate/AIL32 solution ANSWERS: GUS0038.ZIP Installation problem fixed bugs, new releases Future of GUS GUS Daily Digest V11 #11 GUS init suggestion.... Gus prices $ GUSTRIT.ZIP megaem & dos4gw Mortal Kombat and Megaem music cutting out in X-Wing Protected mode games, email address, Windows problems RAM Chips at Radio Shack for <$3 apiece! star reach demo Windows, GUS & AVI X-Wing and GUS and MegaEm.... 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, 13 Feb 1994 12:28:43 -0700 (MST) From: "Shawn T. Rutledge" Subject: Afterdark > Date: Fri, 11 Feb 94 11:48:47 PST > From: ez040231@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu > Subject: WAV's and AfterDark > > > Date: Thu, 10 Feb 94 12:05:11 MST > > From: tschmidt@pefs1.micron.com (Tom Schmidt) > > Subject: WAV volume within Windows with AfterDark > > > > I have noticed that when AfterDark kicks in a screensaver under Windows > > that it changes the WAV volume thereafter. I have the Mixer volume set at > > about 7/8 full scale. I have AfterDarks volume set one notch below full > > volume. My intent was to have the AfterDark screensaver volume to be about > > 1/2 of the normal WAV volume. But instead, the volume of the screensaver is > > very low. Plus now, any other WAV's played by windows is at this same very > > low volume. I have to open mixer and set the volume back up. But if I leave > > the AD volume at full scale, it does not effect the volume set by the GUS > > mixer. > > > > Shouldn't these two be independent? Why is the AfterDark volume control > > not appear to be linear when using the multimedia output? If I set AD to use > > the PC speaker instead, the AD volume control has no effect on the GUS mixer > > and appears to have linear response. > > > > I haven't seen anyone else post any comments about this. FYI, it has done > > this regardless of driver versions (2.05, 2.06a, 3.1). > > > > Thanks...Tom > > Tom, > I've noticed problems with AfterDark and the GUS as well. But I > noticed the problems differed depending which screen saver I selected. For > example, if I understood you right, you said AD made all your WAV's play at a > low volume. As of right now (with Aquatic Realm) once AD kicks in, all the > WAV's on my system are played at top volume unless I go reset the mixer. No > matter what the mixer was set at before, after AD kicks in, the WAV volume > controls end up at max volume the next time I check it after AD. I gave up > for now trying to get AD to work with sound. But I agree, it makes no sense > that AD can have an effect on WAV's outside it. If anyone knows any way to > remedy the problem(s), please drop me a line. I don't have Afterdark 2.0 (wish I did) but I have Wired for Sound (which assigns sounds to all kinds of system events, like opening specific applications, or just a window in general, or minimizing a window, or clicking the right mouse button) and it does the same thing. I suspect that there is only one means of controlling volume, and so each application twiddles the "knob" when it starts up, according to how you have set the volume within the app. What they ought to do is restore the volume to whatever it was before you started the app, after each sound that is played. Because in reality, it's not true that only one application has control of the GUS at a given time, which is what Microsoft wanted. Therefore all applications should be friendly to all other applications by reversing any changes they made to any soundboard parameters, including volume. ------------------------------ Date: 13 Feb 94 12:08:13 PST From: ksoule@tatertot.com (KSoule) Subject: AfterDark; General Windows Volume Setting Issues I discovered problems with AfterDark and sound when I was using a PAS16; I don't think the AfterDark problems are unique to the GUS. My AfterDark problem was that AD has its own volume control; every time the blanker kicked in, it apparently writes to the [MCI]Mixer module, and resets the volume; it does NOT, however, change it back when the blanker is released. However, even MORE tricky is that AfterDark resets the volume EVEN IF the sounds are disabled in AD. This was really hard to figure out, 'cause I knew AD sounds were not enabled, yet my mixer volume kept adjusting. Obviously, when AD disables sound, it leaves ENABLED the portion of the code which addresses the mixer. Nice, huh?! There is a way around this latter problem, assuming that you (i) want AD; (ii) don't want sound and (iii) don't want AD to mess with your volume settings. Change the AD output to the PC Speaker driver, and disable the AD sounds. Then, at least when AD kicks in, it won't send a command to the [MCI]Mixer module, and your volume won't get messed up with other apps. Oh yes, please complain to Berkeley Systems ... maybe they will fix it . . . * * * * * Related to the AD issue, I am looking for a way to save Windows volume settings, that can be called by a batch file (so I can create unique settings for each Windows app). It IS possible to create multiple ULTRAMIX.INI files that can be swapped in and out; however, I don't know how to "re-initialize" the GUS to the new settings after swapping INI files (without restarting Windows). Anyone have any ideas? Kent TaterTot News & Mail * San Francisco,CA * VirtualNET @1415008 * ManicNet @2 415.255.8340 @tatertot.com * WWIVNet @4552 Link @14552 GAYnet @4500 * DM ON ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 00:40:11 -0800 (PST) From: jtang@argon.chem.ucla.edu (James Tang) Subject: ANSWER: Syndicate/AIL32 solution All you need to do is edit the file contain the patch assignment. You need to change 27 to 24 for the Jazz patch. Also, don't specify which port (edit your synd.bat file and remove the flag for i/o port). It worked great after that. I think there's a document on some archive on how to fix it. Let me know if you can't find it. I finished Syndicate and deleted it off my harddrive. That's why I don't remember the exact fix of some of these problems. james ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 00:36:21 -0800 (PST) From: jtang@argon.chem.ucla.edu (James Tang) Subject: ANSWERS: GUS0038.ZIP Installation problem I just got through installing the GUS0038.zip upgrade. In case you didn't know, GUS0038.ZIP is a collection of a few program update. I believe the updated files (from my 2.04 diskes) are: SBOS Upgraded Playmidi Upgraded MODULS (sp?) Added Patch Maker L. Added Midifier Added GUSMOD Added Ultrainit.sys Upgraded And I think a few other things I can't remember. Anyway, the major problem that I think is that it modified some of the *.cfg and *.ini files so that now your MIDI programs can't find the patches. For example, I had to put "set GUSMOD=c:\ultrasnd\mod" manually in "autoexec.bat" in order for GUSMOD to work (after your run the gsetup program). And some midi wouldn't play after I get TREMSTR.PAT patches (which can be found in GUS0034 or GUS0035 or GUS0036. I can't remember which one it was in) and EDIT the "patches.ini", "default.cfg", rename the hokeyton patch to honky.pat. Also make sure all of your "patches.ini" and "default.cfg" are the same one. Oh GUS0038.ZIP also replaces some of the windows driver. It wouldn't work until I change all of the *.ini and updated the missing patch files. So bascally, there's a few things you'll need to "touch" up on your own to get it to work. I'll have to say that I like the new programs. It's much better then the ones that I had. james ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 12:27:17 CST From: Jim English Subject: fixed bugs, new releases someone said gravis had already fixeed the bugs in the gus0038.zip playmidi and such...are they going to release the bug fixes soon? Also someone said something about the ultrinit putting the older version guses in an unstable state, any chance of a soon fix for that? -jim -- ______________________________________________________________________________ Jim English - jenglish@hpserv.keh.utulsa.edu / EJP51823@vax1.utulsa.edu I do not represent the University of Tulsa in any way, but I'm sure if they wanted me too they could easily create another Vice President position and raise tuition. "Oh good heavens baby where's my medicine? Well I must have left it outside with my ettiquette." - Hotel Illness (Black Crowes) ______________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 22:31:51 +0000 From: jlfs@vax.ox.ac.uk Subject: Future of GUS Hello, I've just brought a GUS and I'm very impressed with the sound and the support available here on the Internet. However, at the momment I only have 256Kb of RAM, which by all accounts is not enough to use the GUS to its full potentional. When I brought I asked for 1Mb RAM but the supplier said there were difficulties in getting RAM chips, so he's (hopefully) going to send me these soon. But, I am very worried because many people seem to be having problems obtaining DRAM, and there was one post recently that said that the RAM chips were being discontinued. How will this affect GUS in the future? If there aren't any RAM chips available (or they are very expensive) then many people will be discouraged from buying one, and support will wane. What are Gravis doing about this? Is there any good news? Tom Payne ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 10:25:50 EST From: madbax@aol.com Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V11 #11 >RE: > (I am told by a friend of a dentistry demo in 3-D sound that >cannot be >released--Focal Point's exclusive property--that makes you turn >your head to >see what is "clanking" behind you....and he says "Don't even ASK >me about the >drill!" )--- > ------------------------------------------- > >How funny ! I went to see Gravis at the InterMedia show in San >Jose >last year (1993) and got to listen to this exact demo. > >it was quite impressive, to tell you the truth. And the 3-d was >VERY >effective. > >Rath Well, I believe he got it from Forte's developer's BBS...which is exclusive, if they don't set up an account for a user then there's no getting on it (well, "I" know the number...but even that's a long story). He also has one called "Virtual Turkey" which is also Focal Point's property and may not be released. It's a silly little turkey shoot, but you aim based on what you hear (i.e. where you think the turkey sounds are coming from). Anyone played Hired Gun yet? Is it worth the wait? Does it effectively fool the senses? I'd like it to take the market by storm...but then if we had some cheese, we could have cheese and crackers...if we had some crackers... Cya. --Joe ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 13:31:45 -0500 (EST) From: "M. Wells" Subject: GUS init suggestion.... I've noticed that some people are having problems with GUS initialization.. I had problems with the GUS Triton demo (NMI Problem) and with Pinball Fantasies... someone suggested playing a mod file... and while this works, I have a somewhat more elegant solution: init.bat --> sbos -f ultrinit That's it. Don't know exactally what it does, but it gets everything to work.. Hope it helps! BTW: Someone mentioned some bugfixes from Gravis for the GUS0038 disks.... Where are they? Mike ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 12:10:37 -0100 (MET) From: Mads Storm Andersen Subject: Gus prices $ Hi. I was wondering if somebody would be so kind to mail me an address/phone/fax for a cheap GUS dealer. Her in Denmark i will have to pay around 250$, and that i find a wee bit to expensive. BTW: Will there be an upgrade for GUS so it can use 2 megs. Or will they just release a NEW GUS PRO;( Regards Mads Storm --- Mstamads@int.uni-c.dk / 2:231/440.2 --- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 11:52:07 +1100 (EST) From: Iain Huxley Subject: GUSTRIT.ZIP anyone know where I can ge this file? Archie shows no matches. Perhaps someone could u/l it to epas if it's not already there ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 12:02:58 +1100 (EST) From: Iain Huxley Subject: megaem & dos4gw how come these two work together in Mortal Kombat? I thought they were both protected mode programs... ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 22:57:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Kids run for the nutritious taste of Sampo Subject: Mortal Kombat and Megaem I haven't been following the thread on Mortal Kombat (sorry....wasted BW) but I am wondering how to get it to run with megaem- I get a 'critical emulation error' and it forces a reboot. Any ideas Later, Jeff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - It is often said that electrons and holes rotate | Jeffrey K. Salzmann - - in opposite directions in their cyclotron motion | RIT (A 4 year school)- - in k-space, only when the electron and hole states | Sick of it, really! - - are in separate bands; thus the transport property | Fly McLaren-Peugot - of a band is interpreted in terms of a hole or | Eater of pizza - - electron. -HP Meyers | Send $$$$ - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 19:25:22 -0800 (PST) From: chrism@huey.nic.bc.ca (Chris Mackay @SO) Subject: music cutting out in X-Wing I'm wondering why the midi music in x-wing in all the playable sequences cuts out after a second or so into play?? I don't know if it's the new Megaem or what?!? My GUS has 1 meg of memory on it. t -- Chris Mackay | It's discouraging to think how many people are chrism@huey.nic.bc.ca | shocked by honesty and not deceit. North Island College | -Noel Coward My opinions don't necessarily represent those of North Island College's. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 17:56:45 -0500 (EST) From: Phat H Tran Subject: Protected mode games, email address, Windows problems > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 23:15:14 +0800 (WST) > From: Roderick Nasir DAVID > Subject: DOS4WG or whatever its called... > > G'day again, > > Here is something to add a bit more fuel to this 'will the GUS be > supported in protected mode without 32bit AIL" discussion.... > > I got the Star Trek : Judgment rites game from interplay the other > day and included in the game (30 Meg Game mind you...;) was this > demo called STAR REACH....a new release for them. > > Now, this Demo uses this DOS4GW (dont hassle me...I cant remember > if the G goes before the W or the D goes... :) and supports the > gus natively...(ANY IRQ me thinks...) . Sounds great and its got this DOOM uses DOS4GW, and it supports the GUS in its native mode. Same with any game back-patched with the GUS' AIL32 drivers. Protected mode games will not leave GUS users behind now that we have the necessary 32-bit drivers. > wicked bit in it where it says....."Unreal sound support" and then > it flashes to the next screen shot of the control menu for sound card > selection and well, the ULTRASOUND is highlighed on the menu (above > the SB16 and the others... *BIG GRIN* I wonder why??? ) One thing that looks promising for the GUS is the migration of demo makers into the games industry. Since the GUS is _the_ card to program for in the demo scene, it will not be overlooked when ex-demo coders publish their commercial games. Pinball Fantasies was written by demo makers, and it has good native GUS support. SSI's CES demo was done in cooperation with Future Crew (according to the demo's information file), and it also has GUS support. There is reason to be optimistic about the GUS' future in games. > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 11:11:10 -0400 (EDT) > From: Kids run for the nutritious taste of Sampo > Subject: Dune on CDROM > > Two questions- [Dune problems deleted -- due to lack of an answer] > > 2) Why doesn't the new ultramid load patches? Maybe I'm ignorant, but moving > ULTRAMID.INI all over the place didn't help either. Don't fret over what you could be doing wrong. Ultramid 1.07 has some bugs that are being ironed out. > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 14:30:00 -0500 > From: eddie.maste@ablelink.org (Eddie Maste) > Subject: Game company addresses > > Hi! First, this is my first time posting to the digest, so if > something goes wrong, sorry. Anyway, I've been reading about > Origin's position on GUS support. What I'd like to do is > write to as many software companies as possible, and ask for > their position on the GUS. So, if you don't mind, could you > send me the names and (snail mail) addresses of any game > companies you know. Here's a partial list of company email addresses that I have (courtesy of "Sir Launcelot du Lac"). If you or anyone else drops them a line, please be civil, and use good grammar and spelling. Access Software, Inc. Email: Linkspro_1@aol.com Accolade Email: 76004.2132@compuserve.com DC Software Email: davidh@ttsi.tandem.com 72557.336@compuserve.com Dragon's Eye Productions Email: cat@wixer.bga.com Dynamix Email: Sierras@aol.com Electronic Arts Email: 76004.237@compuserve.com Epic MegaGames Email: 70451.633@compuserve.com EpicGames@aol.com GlenEpic@delphi.com Id Software Email: help@idsoftware.com Impressions Software Email: 71333.463@compuserve.com Intergalactic Development Inc. Email: 76356.2172@compuserve.com Interplay Productions Email: 76702.1342@compuserve.com interpla@orion.oac.uci.edu LucasArts Email: 75300.454@compuserve.com LucasArts@aol.com Maxis Email: zoinks@netcom.com MicroProse Email: 76004.2223@compuserve.com MicroProse@aol.com Mindcraft New World Computing Email: shannon@inter.com order@inter.com Omnitrend Email: 70300.245@compuserve.com Origin Systems Email: 76004.2612@compuserve.com OSI@aol.com Origin_CS@aol.com origin@world.std.com Ozark Software Email: 76326.403@compuserve.com Papyrus Design Group Email: papyrus@world.std.com Quantum Quality Productions Email: 75300.3233@compuserve.com Sierra On-Line Email: 76004.2143@compuserve.com Sierras@aol.com SierDan@aol.com Sir-Tech Email: 76711.33@compuserve.com Shadowsoft Email: 76056.1537@compuserve.com Spectrum HoloByte Email: S_Holobyte@aol.com Strategic Simulations, Inc. Email: 76711.250@compuserve.com StratSim@aol.com Strategic Studies Group Email: 72040.340@compuserve.com SSG@genie.geis.com Three-Sixty Pacific Email: 76711.240@compuserve.com threesixty@aol.com Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd Email: 71764.3137@compuserve.com WizardScot@aol.com Fitzgerald@delphi.com Europe: Digital Integration Ltd Email: digint@cix.compulink.co.uk Electronic Arts Email: ea@cix.compulink.co.uk Affiliates: Interplay, Origin Merit Software Email: 76711.2470@compuserve.com > BTW, I've had my GUS for about 2-3 weeks now and I love it! > However, I tried out Sierra's LSL6 and had some problems with the > sound effects. The samples would pause or loop while playing, > but stopped properly. The music worked perfectly. I really Two general things to try when you encounter digital sound difficulties: If you're using IRQ 7 for either the GF1 IRQ or the SB/MIDI IRQ, changing it to some other IRQ might help. Using a lower DMA channel might also solve your problem. > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 12:06:36 -0500 > From: SHEMAVONIAN DEREK MICHAEL > Subject: Re: gus0038 and Windows > > I too have been having trouble with Windows since installing gus0038. And... > Date: Fri, 11 Feb 94 9:37:10 CST > From: tom@cornhusker.oppd.gov (Tom Heng) > Subject: Random faults in Windows > > It might be important to those of you who have been experiencing > random windows problems might not be solely due to the gus > software. Columnist Brian Livingston for INFOWORLD magazine > reports that the line "MaxBPS = 768" should be put in the > 386Enh section of WIN.INI. This takes care of a lot of problems > with windows dying prematurely, which is caused by using up > all of the breakpoints (BPS) and windows having random errors > after this is exceeded. Give it a try, it might work for you. Something else to check is whether or not your have the line DEVICE=VDMADX.386 in your system.ini, and if so, to change it to DEVICE=*vdmad James Tang told me that this modification to his system.ini solved his Windows recording problems. It might remedy other Windows flakiness as well. Another thing to try is putting the d=256 switch after EMM386 in your config.sys. This has been reported to solve certain GUS and Windows difficulties. Phat. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 17:53:43 -0700 (MST) From: Derek the Dweebosaurus Subject: RAM Chips at Radio Shack for <$3 apiece! I was in Radio Shack and I saw their 256x4 RAM chips on sale: 9 for $24.95 (Cdn) regularly $49.95. I don't know why they sell them in packages of 9... The only thing is that they are 120ns. The chip number is TMS4256-12NL first line, then HH948 001 S on the next line... I don't know the manufacturer, but the "watermark" on the chip is I think an outline of a province or state with an italic "i" inside... maybe Intel? Anyone know if these are OK? Can one mix the 120ns chips with the 70ns chips that were supplied with the GUS? Will there be any noticable performance deficiency (with a 386-33, 8-bit DMA since 16 doesn't work on mine...)? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 15:50:05 -0700 From: Tam Ignatius Ying S Subject: star reach demo Forwarded message: > > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 23:15:14 +0800 (WST) > From: Roderick Nasir DAVID > Subject: DOS4WG or whatever its called... > > Now, this Demo uses this DOS4GW (dont hassle me...I cant remember > if the G goes before the W or the D goes... :) and supports the yeah, yr right. > gus natively...(ANY IRQ me thinks...) . Sounds great and its got this > wicked bit in it where it says....."Unreal sound support" and then > it flashes to the next screen shot of the control menu for sound card > selection and well, the ULTRASOUND is highlighed on the menu (above > the SB16 and the others... *BIG GRIN* I wonder why??? ) great! i've seen the ad of this game in CGR, it seems to be a great game! BTW, what's "Unreal sound support", is it a joke or something? > I'll upload it before the weekend is up. I'm sure Interplay wont mind > distrubuting there demo... ;) can't wait to see it. > Subject: Game company addresses > [oops, deleted the name] > it if I have problems with other games. LSL6 came with > Ultramid.exe, but I used my own (later release.) Could this > have been the problem? Maybe that's the problem, I used the ultramid they provided and had no problems. > > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 11:43:07 -0500 > From: animals are not food > Subject: GUS for FIFTY BUCKS?! > > > I only bought my GUS because it was $82 w/1Meg and I guess > Well if you get a job @ a software store you get all kinds of deals from > manufacturers so you can tell your customers what a great product they have. > For example, you can get a GUS for $50 and add a mem upgrade for $32. I > couldn't resist. :) Wow! I want one! > > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 94 15:03:02 CST > From: Jim English > Subject: tie fighter playable demo? > > someone mentioned a tie fighter playable demo in the last newsletter... > where can i ftp it? Can't remember, but someone said it's in wpi.wpi.edu(com?) in a directory called starwars. well, don't count on me. - Ignatius ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 13:44:38 -0500 From: Narimane NABAHI Subject: Windows, GUS & AVI Hello, I'm using the Gravis UltraSound since November 1992 and, in 2 years, I NEVER had any chance to see an AVI (or any Windows Video) correctly. I posted a message last year, but nobody had a solution to this problem: I have a 486DX2-66, 8 Meg RAM, 800MB+ HD IDE, ATI ULTRAPRO 2 MEG VRAM VL-BUS....... and when I want to play an AVI, the video hangs for about 1/20 second each 1 second!!!! I have the LAST NEW disk set of the GUS (with the new mixer, epic pinball etc.) and the problem remain unsolved. I tried different DMA chanels without success. I don't want an answer like 'Maybe you should do this....' or 'We don't know anything about this problem...'!!!! I really LOVE the GUS and for my multimedia presentations I NEED an AVI *without* any hangup. Give me a honnest answer. Thank you. Xavier Rustom LOGIX INNOVATION, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA (514)735-7850 GUS FOR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Feb 94 10:12:19 EST From: madbax@aol.com Subject: X-Wing and GUS and MegaEm.... Hey, Try some other IRQs. 220,1,1,11,5 (or 11,7) generally work the best. Maybe 7,7 or 5,5 if you still can't get it to work. MegaEm won't run very well at all with a CL Sound Blaster installed with the GUS, or a stand-alone MPU-401 interface. Make sure the game is set up for the right sound options (I know, I know ). Maybe copy your game saves into another directory and re-install the game... (Oh, and if you're trying on another DMA but 1, "I" never have been able to make it run *consistantly* for me. But that may just be my system) Later. --Joe ------------------------------ End of GUS Daily Digest V11 #12 *******************************