Ultrasound Daily Digest Fri, 27 Aug 93 Volume 5: Issue 26 Today's Topics: (More) Miscellaneous Rantings (tm) .WAV format Can't understand why you complain GRAVIS BBS GONE WEIRD Is that new gus out yet? Midisoft Motherboard chipsets w/GUS card MRS Difficulties Revisited NT install with GUS resident + NT drivers plea Power Chords Pro Feature List Recording Session - useless sbos setting The Sound Newsletter Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #25 Using FTP sites for Ultrasound files wav format (and others) 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: Thu, 26 Aug 93 06:29:40 PDT From: deraud@power.amasd.anatcp.rockwell.com (Robert Lee DeRaud) Subject: (More) Miscellaneous Rantings (tm) Message-ID: <9308261329.AA10418@power.amasd.anatcp.rockwell.com> >From: Seymour >Subject: Midi Patch mixups > Lately, as I have been playing my midi files, there seems to have been >some, er, confusion. What happens is when a file is playing and a new >instrument is used, almost always in the rhythm section, it is not the >correct instrument. For example, in jonbgood right after the intro when >the bass comes in, the bass doesn't come in. What _does_ come in is this >really annoying dog bark and later on a whistle joins the fray. Uh, I think the file in question is out of the 'Bert's Best' set and uses some 'Brand X' rhythm track mappings - Proteus and Roland D70, which are NOT GM-compliant. So, for example, the bass drum comes out as a dog bark etc. It is *conceptually* trivial to 're-map' the channel 10 tracks to GM; from a practical standpoint, if all the drum parts are merged into a single track and all you have to work with is Recording Session, it's a TOTAL PAIN IN THE ASS! Which segue's nicely to the next thread... >From: aswani@sound.demon.co.uk (Robert Aswani) >Subject: MidiSoft Recording Session Difficulties >In reply to Bob Schmanski's letter regarding Midisoft Recording Session: >If you've only got one meg of ram left in Windows, you should be getting out >of memory problems. If you've got a 386, create some virtual memory. Use the >386 enhanced option in the control pannel to do this. True enough... >As for your other problems in MRS, they are all to do with your system, your >system configuration and Mircrosoft's Windows. So don't blame Gravis and >Midisoft, they have supplied a perfectly good peice of software. ...but there seem to be a LOT of people (myself included) with properly configured H/W and Windows that have had serious trouble with MRS. And it's not just a question of 'shareware' vs 'pro version' either: the troops at the local music stores have VERY strong opinions regarding the quality of Midisoft Studio for Windows - and NOT good ones either! The consensus of the People Who Know (tm) leans toward Cakewalk/WinCake or Encore/MusicTime/Trax; the only downside is the lack of patch-caching support, which should cure itself in the next updates. > From: jericho!gord (Gord Wait S-MOS Systems Vancouver Design Center) > Subject: MidiSoft Recording Session Difficulties > > I too had lots of problems with MRS, I stopped using it. Too bad, > cause it looks like a decent user interface. I'll be spending my > cash on PowerChords Pro in a few weeks. As far as PowerChords is concerned, I confess I haven't used it that much as a full-up composer/sequencer tool, but IMHO it is a DYNAMITE tool for laying down complicated drum tracks for subsequent export to MusicTime. For that matter, I'm not sure that it IS usable as a primary sequencer, but I may be being put off by the user interface. (I had the same reaction to Texture 1.0, which gives you some idea how long I've been mucking about with this stuff :-). Can you say 'Paradigm Shift'?) OTOH, it's not freeware or shareware, so customers (albeit indirect) have a perfect right to complain about bugs...but NOT to bitch because the Ford they bought doesn't have all the features of the Lincoln they thought they couldn't afford. >From: Alex Harden >Subject: MODs [MOD stuff deleted] >i truly am clueless about this, Yeah, but it could be worse: you could be posting to rec.motorcycles. *********************************************************************** Lee DeRaud Will program Windows for food. Rockwell Int. AESD (Hey, I'm easy but I'm not cheap!) DoD #985 - Fast and ugly beats slow and cute any day of the week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- My own opinions only, not those of Rockwell International. (Yeah, right: like anyone around here cares what *I* say...NOT!) *********************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 10:16:43 BST From: Andy Hewett Subject: .WAV format Message-ID: <350.9308260916@essex.mround.bt.co.uk> talbot@info.polymtl.ca writes: > Does anybody know where I can find some info about the .wav format ??? A colleague and I took apart some Windows 3.1 .WAV files and came up with the following file format. As far as I can remember the data size didn't include the header size. We never did find out exactly what the two flag fields were for but they were the same for all the .WAV files we looked at. In case you're wondering, we wrote a utility to convert Sun Audio files (.au) to .wav and vice-versa, just for fun :) Note that we've broken the .WAV header down into 2 sub-headers for clarity. Hope this is useful Andy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /* ** Define RIFF sub header */ typedef struct { char riff_id[4]; /* this is always "RIFF" */ unsigned long size; /* of following wave header and data */ } riff_subhdr_t; /* ** Define WAVE sub header */ typdef struct { char wave_id[8]; /* this is always "WAVEfmt" */ unsigned long flags1; /* this is always 16L */ unsigned long flags2; /* this is always 65536L+1L */ unsigned long sample_rate1; /* channel 1 sample rate */ unsigned long sample_rate2; /* channel 2 sample rate */ unsigned short num_channels; /* usually 1 for Windows */ unsigned short bits_per_sample; char data_id[4]; /* this is always "data" */ unsigned long data_size; /* of following data */ } wave_subhdr_t; /* ** This is the actual .WAV file header. 8-bit PCM data follows this. */ typedef struct { riff_subhdr_t riff_hdr; wave_subhdr_t wave_hdr; } wavHeader_t; -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 14:37:09 -0400 From: "Momentary language, sexual situations" Subject: Re: Can't understand why you complain Message-ID: <9308261837.AA15922@magick.tay2.dec.com> Eric, >> Come on Gravis, either include software that works and is well coded >> (not a quickly stripped down version of a commercial product), or don't >> include any at all. I didn't say this, I merely agreed with it. [...] > DDA, this is not the first time you have leapt to incorrect conclusions. > The version of Power Chords bundled with the GUS was identical to the > full, regular version except for two things - we limited the instrument > config features, and we set it up so it could only use the GUS drivers. > This program has never been shareware, and was not stripped from the PRO > version. At the time we delivered the software to Gravis, version 1.0 was > all that was shipping, not 1.1 and not PRO. Version 1.0 listed for $85.00 > I'd say that GUS customers got a good deal. I dare say that I'm not the only one leaping to conclusions. The message I posted was directed to both MidiSoft AND Howling Dog (and implicitly Gravis) . I never claimed PowerChords was shareware (although I believe that a previous version WAS, as I remember trying it out once, although that could have been a demo); That comment concerned WConvert, which didn't seem to work as intended. So, why did you limit the instrument config features? > Flaming companies when you don't know the facts is not a 'cool' thing > either. When someone wants to know how to do something using our software > and the GUS version doesn't have the feature, and the PRO version does, of > course I am going to point it out. I'm not forcing them to buy the darn > thing, am I? And which facts are am I ignorant of? Given past digest messages about MidiSoft and PowerChords, it's clear these are not the regular versions of either program. Now I will say that PowerChords seems to be missing very few things, but my message concerned both programs. And yes, I expect you'll mention that a feature is available in the PRO version. >> Either include full-featured versions of software that WORKS or don't >> include anything. Getting shareware (wconvert.exe) or "stripped" programs >> doesn't reflect well on anyone, especially Gravis... > Our software is not a 'quickly stripped down' version or poorly coded. > And it isn't 'free' either. Gravis has spent a lot of money to get these > bundled programs out to its users. WConvert was shareware and MidiSoft appears to be "quickly stripped down", judging from the help file/feature mismatches. And I remember poeple "hitting the wall" in PowerChords regarding number of measures (I think), although this doesn't appear to be only with the GUS version. And, from my point of view, this is "free" software in that I don't have to pay for it. For what it's worth, I will say that, of the bundled software, PowerChords seems to be in the best shape. > Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems DDA P.S. I complain because I want this soundboard to succeed and I see things that stand in the way of that, I'd like them fixed. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 14:35:08 From: matthew.arbeid@deepcove.com Subject: GRAVIS BBS GONE WEIRD Message-ID: <9308261435.A0462wk@deepcove.com> Hello All... Just a little announcement from Gravis... As of today, Thursday...untill Monday the Gravis BBS will be acting weird. Let me explain. John Smith has gone to a BBS Convention in Colorado, and so, naturally, our BBS/Internet system went on the fritz. (In fact, I beleive that there are now a number of systems around North America that have gone flakey because their sysops are at this darn convention). So...till he comes back you can continuue to e-mail us...but don't expect a response till Monday. Sorry... Matthew Arbeid Advanced Gravis Tech Support Group matthew@gravis.com (when working) :-) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 19:43:05 GMT From: thomasvk@blackhl.hacktic.nl (Thomas van Kuipers) Subject: Is that new gus out yet? Message-ID: Hi gusers, I heard a few weeks ago something was launched for gus at the comdex meeting in the summer. What was it? In which stadium are the os/2 mmpm/2 gus-native drivers yet? (alpha/beta or other messures to give a date to launch it for real) Thomas ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 13:02:09 -0400 From: gord@jericho (Gord Wait S-MOS Systems Vancouver Design Center) Subject: Midisoft Message-ID: <9308261702.AA16539@smos.bc.ca> aswani@sound.demon.co.uk (Robert Aswani) writes: >As for your other problems in MRS, they are all to do with your system, your >system configuration and Mircrosoft's Windows. So don't blame Gravis and >Midisoft, they have supplied a perfectly good peice of software. I didn't run out of memory in my experience with MRS. I loaded a midi file, did a simple cut and paste, saved it out to disk, and found that the results were trashed: Some notes got duplicated or triplicated in the event list, some of those with duration times of 0, others with duration times set to the entire song length, (When there should have been a single quarter note at the particular event time), And many other bizzare artifacts. These kind of problems are internal to the program, and can not be blamed on the Gus, my system, or windows. These kinds of problems show bugs in the handling of the midi data inside the program. I don't blame Gravis, but I do blame Midisoft. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 02:30:19 -0700 (PDT) From: I/We are Gaia Subject: Motherboard chipsets w/GUS card Message-ID: I will be buying a new motherboard to upgrade from my 386DX/25 C&T chipset. I haven't had any problems with DMA with this chipset, but am worried about when I upgrade.. It will be a VLB 486DX/50 or DX2/50 or 66, haven't really decided yet.. So far I have found to avoid the following chipsets to be safe... Opti UMC Hint What chipsets have been deemed safe?? I have heard about SIS, any others?? I know it isn't a for sure but as close as possible to being safe, at least a reccomendation please.. Thanx.. Reply email gaia@carson.u.washington.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 15:57:38 CDT From: Robert Schmanski Subject: MRS Difficulties Revisited Message-ID: <9308262057.AA07816@mixcom.mixcom.com> >In reply to Bob Schmanski's letter regarding Midisoft Recording Session: > >If you've only got one meg of ram left in Windows, you should be getting out >of memory problems. If you've got a 386, create some virtual memory. Use the >386 enhanced option in the control pannel to do this. > What I said (or at least what I meant) was, I had one meg of memory left free AFTER loading Recording Session and all the other necessaries (like the Clock). Even when it (session) said "OUT OF MEMORY" I quickly switched to program manager selected "About Program Manager" from the "Help" menu item (which includes a display of free memory) and it reported 1 MEG FREE. NOTE: Recording Session was still active when I did this mem check. So to make myself more clear, Recording Session was reporting "Out of Memory" when it had at least 1 meg of FREE MEMORY to work with. >As for your other problems in MRS, they are all to do with your system, your >system configuration and Mircrosoft's Windows. So don't blame Gravis and >Midisoft, they have supplied a perfectly good peice of software. > Sorry, but my idea of a perfectly good piece of software is not one that locks up Windows, reports false "Out Of Memory" messages, corrupts midi files, and causes Windows Kernel errors. These things shouldn't happen no matter what system/setup/config you have. Note: I have a normal system/setup/config. If those were the true cause, then everyone with a similar system/setup/config would be having the same problems, and Midisoft would still be to blame because their software should work on an average system like mine. By the way how can you make such a judgement about all the problems being due to my system/configuration/Windows, since you don't really know how I have my system set up? You didn't even know that I have a 386, which I would abviously have to in order to use the UltraSound under Windows (ie. the UltraSound drivers require 386 protected mode.) And I seriously doubt that the three of four other people who have already concurred with my evaluation/experiences of Recording Session have exactly the same system/config that I do. As for blaming it on Windows, that's a good justification because Midisoft was the one to chose to put their program under Windows, not me. I would have preferred a DOS based sequencer. (NOTE: If anyone knows of a decent shareware DOS-based sequencer that works with GUS, LET ME KNOW!!) If they can't program for Windows properly, then don't program for it. Blaming Windows for not running a Windows based program is like blaming MS-DOS for a program that didn't work right under DOS. Why are you defending MRS when it's obvious, from things like the numerous (I've counted over 10) errors in the help file stating options that don't exist (in the GUS version), as well as testimonials from other users with similar problems, that the program wasn't derived very carefully from the commerical version? It's not like I'm the only one having these problems with MRS. NOTE: I am not ripping on you, just stating logical conclusions that I, as well as others, have come to. NOTE: I never said anything about the functionality of Power Chords, DDA (dantonio) was the one who mentioned difficulties with it. I never really use the program. NOTE: I still haven't heard a reply from Gravis or Midisoft yet. > > > | Robert Aswani | > | | > | Aswani@Sound.Demon.Co.Uk | -- Bob Schmanski Email Adress: Robert.Schmanski@mixcom.com or: bschmans@solaria.mil.wi.us ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 08:53:21 -0700 From: Bob Beck Subject: NT install with GUS resident + NT drivers plea Message-ID: <9308261553.AA13310@eng2.sequent.com> I've installed both the March NT Beta (twice) and the released version on my PC with a GUS also in the PC with no problems (i486, 16MB RAM, non-OPTi chip set). My problem is that the GUS is rather silent when I'm running NT (which is most of the time now; much nicer than Win3.1 for lots of reasons, BTW). Sooo... any idea when there might be NT drivers? Or, should I sell my GUS and buy a card supported by NT (ie, an (ugh) SB) ?? I can wait a little while (maybe a couple of months), but I'll get tired of that. No flames about OS/2 drivers, please; I understand folks have been patiently awaiting those as well. - Bob (rbk@sequent.com) ------------------------------ Date: 26 Aug 93 09:29:35 EDT From: "Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems" <71333.2166@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Power Chords Pro Feature List Message-ID: <930826132934_71333.2166_DHQ56-2@CompuServe.COM> >> James Andrews >>Midisoft studio doesnt have *any* killer features and crashes all the time. >>At least Powerchords has a good drum rhythm thing. >>Mr. Howling Dog should write a big list of all the features that his new Pro >>version has and post it on here. Im a bit dubious about buying software that >>I havent even seen described. For instance if Im going to pay out even a >>small amount of cash like $75 the flippin' midi import-export had better be >>a bit more flexible and even user friendly than in the version bundled with >>the GUS. Will the string bending on the instrument be recordable? I could >>go on.... > James, > Here is the a list of features new in Power Chords Pro. Wish we had more > room on the upgrade flyer to describe it. > - 16 melodies parts per bar > - smart drag'n drop editing in the Rhythm Editor. This means copying notes, > quick transposition, time shifting, moving drum parts from one instrument to > another etc. etc. You can adjust all facets of a rhythm while in the rhythm > editor - upper and lower bounds, length in bars, patch, channel etc. > 'Lock' mode lets you combine parts of any type, or convert parts from one > type to another. > - Power Effects - automatically create up strums, down strums, alternating > strums, random notes, humanize velocity, quantize, drum and mallet rolls, > arpeggios at the click of a button. > - on-screen keyboard for melodies, or chords. Transpose chords between the > fret-board and keyboard. > - You can record any type of part from either the fret-board, on screen > keyboard, or MIDI input. This means you can strum the strings to create a > chord rhythm. > - New melody record mode on fretboard - Yes, you can record string bending > into a melody. > - record chord progressions in real time by clicking on chords in the chord > palette with the right mouse button > - import parts with pre-audition from any Power Chords file. > - import parts from MIDI files (including drum parts, and chord rhythms). > Convert MIDI information freely to any type of part. The import window shows > a bar by bar representation of the imported MIDI data - you can audition > tracks or subtracks with the right mouse button, and bring in as much or as > little as you want. > Drum parts that are spread across more than one track are automatically > consolidated in an additional track for easy import. > - import MIDI info from the clipboard (from Cakewalk, Winjammer, etc.) > - export rhythm editor or song to either a MIDI file, or the clipboard for > import into Cakewalk, Winjammer etc. > - button bar access to all windows. No more dicking around with iconized > windows, no more losing windows, or having to select them from the menu just > to find them. > - expanded song length and palette capacities. > - new 'compressed' song display > - Chord rhythms now contain patch change and midi channel information so > you can easily change patches in the chord part any time you want. > Whew. Hope this gives you the info you need, James. We also have a set of > drum patterns available for sale. If you want info on that, let me know. > FWIW, more than 256K on the GUS RAM is recommended for this product, so > you will have room for piles o' patches. > Mr. Howling Dog, Eric Bell ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1993 10:34:57 +0930 (CST) From: Gavin Subject: Recording Session - useless Message-ID: <930827103457.e4ed@hfrd.dsto.gov.au> Just to add my 2c worth, MRS is a pain loading standard midifiles because it is so sloooowww. No music software should treat standard midifiles as an alien thing that requires drastic conversion to get into an editable form, which MRS obviously feels it does. And it badly needs a option to ignore the staff 'feature', it slows the system down too much and is a sloppy way of editing. Midisoft, go and look at Cakewalk for windows and see how a real sequencing program should run, or even Winjammer for that matter. MRS is just too much work. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 02:24:21 PDT From: zorro%40607.hepnet@Lbl.Gov Subject: sbos setting Message-ID: <930826022421.2020ac20@Lbl.Gov> Hi i'm a new users of GUS it's fantastic and SBOS work not bad, the problem is which switch use with it, so if i don't make mistake i have seen in a file some day ago all the setting for a lot of games, so if someone have it or know where i can take it (on ftp sites) or the name of it or can send it to me, i'll thank you for all life. actually i'm not subscribe to the list but i'll do it very soon. my email address is zorro@v8550.ias.fra.cnr.it thanks Claudio Soprano from Italy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 93 14:02:57 HST From: David Komatsu Subject: The Sound Newsletter Message-ID: Just dropping a line to let everybody know that the Sound Newsletter is available for anonymous FTP from... oak.oakland.edu (misc/sound) garbo.uwasa.fi (pc/sound) sound.usach.cl (pub/sound/newsletters) I have listed the contents below of course this is the debut of the GUS column by Michael Sutter. In Issue #15 ------------- o Special Thanks o Do you want to announce a new product? o Feature Articles o The Sound Site Network o News o Sound.usach.cl (Update) o NSF Research project help o Columns o The Gus Gallery by Michael Sutter o Ultra Tracker o CoolEdit o Multisound by Kevin Whalen o Sound Bits o MODCLEAN: Clean up the unused samples in your MOD files o Anonymous FTP sound Sites o Bulletin Board Listing -----> Dave ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 15:10:26 -0400 (EDT) From: Phat H Tran Subject: Re: Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #25 Message-ID: > Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 20:37:05 -0400 (EDT) > From: CWSMART@delphi.com > Subject: Answers to Digest > Message-ID: <01H26BUMISUW99FEYO@delphi.com> > > nswers to Digest questions" > I enjoy reading the questions asked and problems expressed--but I do not > see very many answers being posted. Is there a reason for this. I sell > the GUS boards and many of the questions asked and problems posed could > and do come up at times I'd like to be able to provide answers. Do you > provide the answers to the sender privately or can be subscribe > to that side of the program? > Sometimes the same questions are asked so frequently that people get tired of answering them. You can find the answers to these questions in the FAQ (frequently asked questions) that Matthew has compiled. Other times, no one knows the answer. > Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 12:41:04 -0700 (PDT) > From: Seymour > Subject: Midi Patch mixups > Message-ID: > > Lately, as I have been playing my midi files, there seems to have been > some, er, confusion. What happens is when a file is playing and a new > instrument is used, almost always in the rhythm section, it is not the > correct instrument. For example, in jonbgood right after the intro when > the bass comes in, the bass doesn't come in. What _does_ come in is this > really annoying dog bark and later on a whistle joins the fray. It seems that one or more of the melodic tracks in the MIDI file are on the GUS' percussion channel. The GUS drivers usually reserve channel 10 for the percussions. Some MIDI files use channel 16 instead. Use a sequencer such as WinJammer to switch the channels around to see if they song will sound better. Also, I notice that you mention jonbgood.mid. The version I have of this file was not arranged for General MIDI, and thus, will not play properly on the GUS. If you are fooling around with the MIDI files in rsierra.zip, which is where my jonbgood file came from, you should note that none of them are for GM. > Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 15:50:07 -0400 > From: Alex Harden > Subject: MODs > Message-ID: <199308251950.PAA23925@lictor.acsu.buffalo.edu> > [...] > what i would define as a "decent user interface" given my glimpse at the > scrolling info that Gusmod gives would be one where one could first create > a table of patches ("samples" in this genre?) and then edit each "piece" of > music (the 4-channel scroll) in a spreadsheet format. are there different > MOD formats that use more than 4 channels? doesn't the GUS have 32 channels? > There is a 32-channel composer called Ultra Tracker that uses a "spreadsheet" layout. Version 1.30 is the latest I'm aware of. Check the index on Epas to see where it's located. If you would like to stick with 4-channel MODs, GUS Tracker 1.03 may be what you want. It's in the submit directory on Epas (filename gustr103.arj). Phat. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 21:00:04 -0400 (EDT) From: CWSMART@delphi.com Subject: Using FTP sites for Ultrasound files Message-ID: <01H27QW4J0DE8Y55ET@delphi.com> I suppose its dense gray matter. Can someone give me a step by step to det to those great FTP files. Now I can get the ther server. For example, I got to the "archive.epas.utoronto.ca" server. But now what? Every command I try gets me no where. The address I have been reading for this server for the files is "pub/pc/ultrasound" but nothing happens when I use it. The server doesnt recoqnize the command. Maybe there is a helper f [CThe server doesnt recognize the command. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1993 10:38:18 +0930 (CST) From: Gavin Subject: Re: wav format (and others) Message-ID: <930827103818.c5d2@hfrd.dsto.gov.au> For info on sound file formats get the FAQ from ftp.cs.ruu.nl [131.211.80.17] in directory MIDI/DOC/archives ------------------------------ End of Ultrasound Daily Digest V5 #26 *************************************