GUS Daily Digest Wed, 29 Mar 95 9:37 PST Volume 20: Issue 29 Today's Topics: 256K-16bit DRAM for GUS AVI sound playback under Windows Earthsiege, MK2 Fried DMA on GUS!! GUS Daily Digest V20 #24 GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 (6 msgs) GUS or GUS MAX? Music in sheet form -> Stratos New mod player for GUS & OS/2 Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS Please disconnect my acount from GUS Q: Amiga MOD files Recording a MIDI file as a WAV file with computer Sound in Windows 95 To install Win95... Ultrasound vs. AWE, & Sound Station 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, 29 Mar 1995 08:27:00 -0500 From: "eddie (e.) kwong" Subject: 256K-16bit DRAM for GUS __________________________________________________________________________ Greetings: Can anyone please give me an idea where to get the 256K, 16-bit (40pin) surface mount DRAM for a 512K GUS upgrade to 1Mb in Canada or US. I believe this is the same DRAM used in the GUSMax memory upgrade. The required part numbers according to manual are: OKI MSM514260A NEC 424S4260LE-70 424260LE-70 TI TM545160DZ About how much is this chip cost and where can I get a better deal? This upgrade is intended for the UltraSound ACE (an excellent card! by the way). Thanks in advance. ___________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 23:05:07 -0800 (PST) From: Sky Woo Subject: AVI sound playback under Windows > Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 14:16 -0500 > From: DANTONIO@PROCESS.COM (Momentary Language, Sexual Situations) > Subject: WWindows and AVI files (yet again)... > > I'll ask this again... > > I am having a problem with AVI files under Windows 3.1 and the last few revs > of the GUS drivers. The trouble is that AVI files played with no sound, until > one pauses and resumes them. Then they are fine. I'm using VfW1.1d and 5.50 > of the GUS drivers. I've tried reduces buffers to 512 (withOUT the fixed box > checked. Should it be checked?) and that didn't help. I can't say when this > problem started, but I KNOW it worked a while ago, before upgrading the GUS > drivers. I've noticed this mentioned in the digest a couple times, without any > solution... > > Any help from anyone? > > DDA For starters, the buffer size has no effect on this AVI volume problem. They're not even remotely related. Anyways, awhile back there was a GUS Windows driver version that would set the GUS at an extremely low value for the volume when Windows was loaded. The current driver version doesn't do this. I'm guessing here but I think the AVI sound problem is related to that Windows startup volume problem. I get the same problem with AVIs. MOVs work great though. If you have the mixer on at the same time, press any button for adjusting WAVE file playback and the volume will correct itself. This to me sounds like it is something on the fault of Gravis, and I would imagine they are aware of it, but apparently haven't done anything about it as this problem has been around for awhile. I've run a number of CDROM encyclopedias and they all screw up the same way. Whoever from Gravis that was monitoring the digest awhile back seems to have stopped. But I would assume the AOL account is still up. I'll write to them about this problem sometime when I get a chance. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 14:41:14 -0500 From: Greg Chung Subject: Earthsiege, MK2 I know there was discussion about Earthsiege & GUS way back when it came out, but I didn't have ES back then 8-) I dl'd the esgusfix.zip (I think) from ftp sites, applied the patch, and can play the game, but the intro and demo will crash immediately, and the game crashes eventually too. Any ideas? Also, MK2 occasionally produces squeals squeaks wrong sounds, but otherwise is fine. Thanks for any help. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 10:25:07 +1000 From: bigdave@cse.unsw.edu.au (David Khoury) Subject: Re: Fried DMA on GUS!! > > Hi - > > I have a GUS v2.2, and accidentally had my AT bus running at 16.666Mhz. > It seems now that DMA operations will no longer work. That is, I > think the DMA has been fried. > > All programs that DMA - playfile, playmidi, Windows, Doom, will no > longer work. Programs that send data through the port still work, eg: > One Must Fall, Gusmod. > > Is there any way I can fix/replace the fried parts involved. My GUS is > no longer covered by warranty :(. > > Any help would be greatly appreciated, > > Steven Junacko > cscsj@lux.latrobe.edu.au > About a year ago, my GUS suddenly decided to stop working. I eventually had to mail it back to Canada with a $50 US cheque because my warranty had run out. Yes, I know.... a fairly pricey fix, but I was a desperate man. In any case, the fixed card had another 12 month warranty. Can't remember the address I sent it to, but if you mail to the Gravis compuserve address (never could get in touch with gravis using their internet e-mail address), you should get a helpful reply. Their address is at XXXX,XXXXXX@compuserve.com where the X's are Gravis' compuserve id number. You should be able to get it from any press release that Gravis release. Hope I've been helpful...... Dave. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 02:23:40 +0800 From: s915240@hp720a.csc.cuhk.hk Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #24 Dear anyone concerned, I'm an e-mail user in Hong Kong. I don't care who are you but I just know that I was confused with the somewhat DIGESTs received every day recently. I do also like to meet friends from other parts of the world (I guess you're from Australia because your e-mail address ends with "edu") but I don't have much knowledge about hardware, joystick or musical instruments. Your Daily Digests do have too many specialized vocabulary that I can't understand. If you only want to communicate with computer experts, I suggest you dial to Intelet stations or whatever. I would appreicate very much if you stop emailing those message to me. Thankx. P.S. I wonder from where you get my email address. Yours faithfully, Chrysan Chan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 95 11:21:49 PST From: sharon@netlabs.com (Sharon Hopkins) Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 > Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 21:53:48 -0400 (EDT) > From: SSARTOR@TrentU.ca > Subject: Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS > > Good day fellow GUSers. I just had a friend install a PANASONIC > CD-ROM in my system which has a regular Gravis Ultrasound. When we went > to plug the cable into the plug on the soundcard it was smaller than the > plug. We went to a local computer store and first off they tried to sell > me a sound blaster - which I refused. Secondly, they told me I could buy > just a straight controller card. Is this the right way of doing it, and > if not what should I do? Thanks. > > > -- > Sergio Sartor \ Internet: SSARTOR@TRENTU.CA > HBSc Computer Studies/GIS \ Telnet: 192.75.12.103 > Trent University \ > Peterborough, Ontario, Canada \ "Programmers Give Better Output!" > PHONE: (705)748-3880 \ I had this exact problem, and the answer was very simple -- I just pulled out my Swiss Army Knife, a little bitty one with a really sharp blade, and trimmed the connector (which *claimed* to be a Panasonic to GUS cable!) until it fit. No problems since, except the time I accidentally pulled the cable back off the GUS and then closed up my case again, *that* took a while to debug... :-) The panasonic -> gus cable can be bought at Frys or similar big computer and component etc. stores, for about $2.00, but doesn't fit without trimming. --Sharon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 95 14:39:05 CST From: Steve Sesterhenn Subject: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 21:53:48 -0400 (EDT) >From: SSARTOR@TrentU.ca >Subject: Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS >Good day fellow GUSers. I just had a friend install a PANASONIC >CD-ROM in my system which has a regular Gravis Ultrasound. When we went >to plug the cable into the plug on the soundcard it was smaller than the >plug.... Are you talking about hooking up the AUDIO cable to the GUS or the CD drive CONTROLLER cable? The audio cable that came with my cd drive was too small for my GUS audio port as well. I have to check out a Radio Shack or something to get a different one. >Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 02:06:30 -0500 (EST) >From: Gunnar Swanson >Subject: Quad Speeds and the GUS >In reference to your question what CD-ROM drive should I get for use on >my GUS I would recomend a TEAC CD-55A 4quad drive. Not to flame, but this drive gets absolutely terrible reviews and actually performs worse than a good double speed of the same price. The best cheap quad speed to buy, in my opinion, is the Mitsumi FX400, sold at Best Buy under the "Reveal" name for $179. Comes with a 16 bit EIDE (ATAPI) controller or hooks up to a current EIDE controller. Gets much-better-than-double-speed performace for well under $200 on the street. I have a GUS rev. 2.4, and this drive seems to work perfectly with my GUS so far. >Please keep further posts like this out of the digest. Not to mention >the fact that this sort of thing doesn't have much to do with using the >UltraSound by itself... I have to disagree. Many GUS owners (including myself) are VERY interested in the performance of other sound cards compared to ours, as that gives us a good indication of the rest of the market and the future of the GUS. Plus it gives us bragging rights if the GUS does indeed sound clearly better than the aweful32. Cheers all, Steve ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 01:28:04 +0300 (EET DST) From: Saari Anssi Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 95 13:59:15 EST >From: ping@cais.dsm.sp-agency.ca (Ka-Ping Yee) >Subject: DMP 4.00: right channel toast > >I downloaded DMP 4.00 and tried it out with my GUS MAX. I was very pleased >to discover that it supports the MAX codec (so i could do digital reverb, >for instance, and proper surround). However, occasionally every sound that >comes from the right channel is replaced with loud scratching noises. I found that happens every time you try to pan a channel to anything but full left or right. As for playing mods, DMP seems to be even worse than before. I only tried three mods and one s3m but none of them sounded even remotely what they should have! Also, I noticed weird sounds in the background when using the codec support, GF1 didn't have that problem at least. Of course, I realize dmp is mainly an ad for a commercial product, which only needs to be good enough to sell, not perfect. Anssi ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 00:25 BST-1 From: haydn@cix.compulink.co.uk (Haydn Evans) Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 In-Reply-To: <199503281818.KAA13626@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> >I have a GUS v2.2, and accidentally had my AT bus running at 16.666Mhz. >It seems now that DMA operations will no longer work. That is, I >think the DMA has been fried. Is this possible? I have upped my bus speed to 16.666MHz (about 3 weeks ago) and have not had any problems so far. Is it possible that I may damage my GUS also? ]-[aydn ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 00:25 BST-1 From: haydn@cix.compulink.co.uk (Haydn Evans) Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 In-Reply-To: <199503281818.KAA13626@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> >From: Duncan_McKay@scet.org.uk (Duncan McKay) >Subject: No sound in Windows 3.1 What version of GUS have you? Also what version of GUS software are you using and what version of the GUS Windows drivers are you using? ]-[aydn ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 00:25 BST-1 From: haydn@cix.compulink.co.uk (Haydn Evans) Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V20 #28 In-Reply-To: <199503281818.KAA13626@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> >From: SSARTOR@TrentU.ca >Subject: Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS If you are talking about the plug being incompatable with the the pins on the GUS (audio) then I had the same problem. I removed the plastic casing from the GUS end of the CD-ROM cable and simply pushed them onto the pins on the GUS board. It has been working fine for well over 12 months now. ]-[aydn ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 22:33:26 -0600 (CST) From: zmievski@herbie.unl.edu (Silicon) Subject: GUS or GUS MAX? I am currently considering buying one of the Gravis soundcards, but I want to know which one I should get. GUS MAX offers more features that regular GUS, but it's almost twice as expensive. I guess my question is, if I want to use it mostly for games and music composing, should I get GUS or GUS MAX? Does GUS MAX sound better? Work better? Is regular GUS with 1mb of RAM comparable to GUS MAX in sound quality? Please, let me know what you think through e-mail since I do not subscribe to this list. Andrey ZIPtag * WAITER! there's soup in my fly! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 17:18:40 METDST From: (Martijn de Jong) Subject: Music in sheet form -> Stratos Hi Gussers, I've seen some questions about a program that's capable of printing midi-files in sheet form. I have a program called "Stratos" which does this very well! The program is made by Turtle Beach systems and I have version 1.0 which still has some bugs in it like when you entered music in sheet form the comp hangs when you try to save it as a midi file. If someone out there has a patch or a newer version of this program I'd like to know it. Martinus. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 01:30:50 +0300 (EET DST) From: Saari Anssi Subject: New mod player for GUS & OS/2 There's a new mod player out for GUS and OS/2, called UltiMod. See hobbes.nmsu.edu, in os2/mmedia. As it is, there's support for mods only, S3M and XM in future. Anssi ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 14:27:38 EST From: MMACDONELL Subject: Re: Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 21:53:48 -0400 (EDT) >From: SSARTOR@TrentU.ca >Subject: Panasonic CD-ROM & GUS > > Good day fellow GUSers. I just had a friend install a PANASONIC >CD-ROM in my system which has a regular Gravis Ultrasound. When we went >to plug the cable into the plug on the soundcard it was smaller than the >plug. We went to a local computer store and first off they tried to sell >me a sound blaster - which I refused. Secondly, they told me I could buy >just a straight controller card. Is this the right way of doing it, and >if not what should I do? Thanks. Had exactly the same problem. The GUS has four pins (right, ground, ground, left) while the Panasonic has a three-pin interface. A local computer store couldn't help me but recommended I try an electronics/computer repair shop. The guys there knew what I needed and we traded my audio cable for one with a four-pin interface. Everything works fine now. That's about all I can tell you. Try for something like Computer Repairs and Service in your Yellow Pages. You might find someone who knows the insides of a computer, which rules out a lot of computer salesmen. Good luck, Marc ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 22:01:08 CST From: linfy@iastate.edu Subject: Please disconnect my acount from GUS I am sorry if this is not the right address for this. However, I do not know where to write as my computer net knowledge is limited. Will you please disconnect my account for GUS. My boyfriend, the one who usually read this newsgroup went back already, so he will not read this anymore. Thank You. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 10:55:00 BST From: D.W.Johnson@ppc.icl.co.uk Subject: Q: Amiga MOD files Hi all I own an Amiga CD32 with several CD-ROMs. Some of these CD-ROMs contain MOD files which I would like to transfer to my PC to play using my GUS. When I try to read these files using Windows File Manager, I can read the CDs directory structure and filename, but not the file itself. I assume there is some sort of binary file incompatibility (byte-swap?) between Amiga and PC files. Does anyone know how to convert Amiga files from CD to PC readable format? I would appreciate any help. Dave ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 07:38:57 EST From: Timster Subject: Recording a MIDI file as a WAV file with computer Can someone please describe a step-by-step procedure to play a MIDI file on the GUS and record the output as a WAV file directly on my computer. Please forward your response to my e-mail address. -Tim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Mar 95 9:59:12 METDST From: Paal Andreassen Subject: Sound in Windows 95 To all the people who are jibbering about sound problems (or rather the lack of sound) under Windows 95: Have you all forgotten that win95 is still a beta, and that you are trying to use the 16bits win 3.1 drivers ? My advice is: 1. Wait for Gravis to release their new drivers and 2. use sound from a dos-box while waiting. -- Paal Andreassen (paaland3@knoll.kih.no) Buskerud College - Engineering Programme Department Institute of Computer Science ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 12:17:20 -0600 From: bbaskin@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU (Bryan K. Baskin) Subject: To install Win95... To Cliff, It sounds like you should install over a working Win31+DOS setup for the easiest GUS install. So i would reccommend that you setup that spare drive winth Win31+DOS and then install the GUS. Get that pile working and THEN install the M8 BETA. It sounds like that would be simpler than installing the GUS after a Win95 install. If it is the M8 BETA you have, i might reccommend waiting a bit, as MicroSoft has admitted to some serious problems with that release. As in it can't do more than a light multitasking load without running out of system resources and locking up. MS announced they had a fixed, but it made the rest of the system even more unstable... What is gravis's AOL email tech address? Thanks. Baskin -) The University of Texas at Austin Team OS/2 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Mar 1995 13:29:39 -0800 From: "Dale Newcomb, Jr." Subject: Re: Ultrasound vs. AWE, & Sound Station Lance Kalzus writes: >Please keep further posts like this out of the digest. Not to mention >the fact that this sort of thing doesn't have much to do with using the >UltraSound by itself, I would guess that almost everyone who gets this >list already owns a GUS or is set on getting one (or is unsubscribing to >the list because they'd rather go for something else). Not true, I have had my GUS for a few years now, but before I bought it, I sat in on this group to see what people thought of it first (especially since it was fairly new at the time) before I took the plunge. These types of questions are being asked on SB groups so why should we let all of the replies be pro-SB? We may as well use the opportunity to share our knowledge about the virtues of GUS ownership over SBs, right? Face it, a soundcard may be a somewhat "cheap" component to add on for some people, but most of us (especially the students) have to save up for a bit before shelling out $100-200 for anything, so we want to be sure that we're making the best choice, and who better to ask than people who have already tested the waters? We have ane AWE32 here at work and I love telling people how much better my stuff at home sounds, especially at half the price!! Anyway, nuff said. Dale -- ************************************************ ************************************************ *** ********** **** Dale Newcomb, Jr. ********* ***** Gemini Technology Corp. ******** ****** Phones: (714) 789-1932 ******* ******* (800) 827-1980 ****** ******** FAX: (714) 727-3066 ***** ********* email: newcomb@gemtech.com **** ********** *** ************************************************ ************************************************ ------------------------------ End of GUS Daily Digest V20 #29 *******************************