GUS Daily Digest Fri, 17 Dec 93 0:07 Volume 9: Issue 17 Today's Topics: CD-ROM daughter card question... Cheating in Doom Custom patch set for DOOM DOOM : Stop it already Doom SFX Voices Driver in use. Flight Simulator 5.0 questions... GUS Daily Digest V9 #16 GUS hardware versions ? GUS MAX 3D / gus ordering HELP NEEDED: Microsoft Sound Recorder Help with GUS config NMI Problems!!!! not DOOM, a Return to Zork (CD) and King's Quest 6 (CD) post Police Quest IV (fwd) problem with MOD4WIN: stereo Problem with Sierra CD games in Windows Seeking help/suggestions installing T7G (The Seventh Guest). Things 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, 16 Dec 1993 11:02:18 -0600 From: ken@austin.ibm.com (Ken Goach IBM) Subject: CD-ROM daughter card question... Well, I got a CD-ROM drive. It's a Sony I can't remember the exact model #, but it's double spin. Will it work with the GUS daughter card? Ken ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 19:53:54 -0200 From: ADALBERTO@VORTEX.UFRGS.BR Subject: Cheating in Doom Hi everybody! This may not be exactly a GUS related subject, but certainly is of interest to almost everyone who reads the Digest and likes Doom. Matthew Spewak wrote about the -devparm parameter to enter in development mode. Well, taking a look to DOOM.EXE I discovered some other parameter: " -wart x y " , where x is the episode and y is the level. Note this will only work with -devparm. For instance, to start at Episode 1, Level 8 (the last one), simply type: DOOM -devparm -wart 1 8 I also saw words like Invulnerablity in the EXE. If you have a good unassembler and knows what you're doing it's possible to discover all game cheats. Please someone do this and post here or to me. Jorge ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 07:32:27 -0800 (PST) From: mikebat@netcom.com (Mike Batchelor) Subject: Custom patch set for DOOM It needs one badly. And it would be easy to implement. The hard part would be auditioning and selecting the patches. Has anyone figured out how to rip the MIDI music out of DOOM yet? Would be a lot easier if you could check the sound without having to play through the whole game. Anyone else care to start a project like this? MOD2PAT would probably be able to produce adequate techno patches from techno MODs. -- Mike Batchelor | mikebat@netcom.com | This space for rent mikebat@qdeck.com | ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 03:01:09 -0500 From: pretzel@info.polymtl.ca Subject: DOOM : Stop it already This is getting really annoying. Is this a DOOM mailing list, or what? I wouldn't mind seeing requests about getting DOOM to run with the GUS, or how to change a patch, or bitching/raving about the sound, but just people complaining about not being to install the game, at all, is pretty pointless on a mailing list dedicated to a _sound card_. Why not post those queries to comp.ibm.pc.games.action or comp.i.p.g.misc? Oh, well. GUeSs I'm easily annoyed. obGUS : Damn, should've paid attention to all those "How to get NHL hockey to run with the GUS" posts before. Steph. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 93 08:07:06 EST From: michael@canada.lsil.com (Michael Smith) Subject: Doom SFX Voices When running the SETUP program for Doom, after selecting the Ultrasound (!!!!) for sound effects, it asks for the number of voices: 1, 2, 3 or 4. Why would anyone want to set this to anything but 4...? With 1, obviously if a monster is screaming at you, and you fire a shutgun at his head, you won't hear the trail-end of the scream, just the shotgun blast. As more voices are added, there is a "blending" of all of the digital sound effects; the more, the better! So, why would I want to put it at 3 instead of 4? Is there really such a difference in ISA bandwidth/CPU time to dump out that extra voice that I'll notice a difference on my obsolete 386DX33...? Thanks, Michael ------------------------------ Date: 16 Dec 93 22:18:22 EST From: "Eric Bell, Howling Dog Systems" <71333.2166@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Driver in use. Craig G wrote... > When I try to use GoldWave or Recording Session or Power Chords...like when > I try to play a file...I get the message "Driver already in use" or "Driver > already being used by another application". Now...call me stupid...because Okay, now you call me a cab. The message you are getting should be taken literally. Most midi drivers written for Windows allow only one program at a a time to use them. When you start Power Chords, it tries to open the driver you have specified for input. If this operation fails, it receives a return code, which it then decodes and prints the message you see on the screen. Alt-Tab your way through all apps and see what is open that might be using the MIDI driver (media player? some sound fx program that 'surprises' you with music at various times?). Check for a program manager group called Startup. Any programs in this group will be run every time Windows is loaded. Eric ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 15:26:48 -0700 (MST) From: Derek the Dweebosaurus Subject: Flight Simulator 5.0 questions... I just got flight simulator 5.0 It works OK with SBOS although there are slight pauses when the disk is accessed. With MegaEm it sounds good without the pauses, but then it reboots whenever I crash (into ground/bldg) or try to access one or two of the submenus. I've tried using the -noems option with MegaEm and it still does it. I've got 5 Megs of RAM so I don't think that it is a memory problem. Anybody having similar problems or can help out? Thanks in advance. I'm running a 386-33Mhz. I also recall reading about some FS5 drivers on epas. Anyone know what they are named as and/or under which subdirectory? Thanx. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 05:28:14 -0700 (MST) From: Kevin Fason Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V9 #16 Are any daughterboards out yet??? Like the CD-ROM one?? I think they are all supposed to be released 3rd Quarter 93... ------------------------------ Date: 16 Dec 93 09:11:22 GMT From: "A.J.Sithers" Subject: GUS hardware versions ? Hello all I've noticed a retailer selling 2 versions of the GUS, one is rather cheaper than the other. He quotes : version 3.4 --- 130 pounds stirling version 2.1 --- 90 pounds stirling some questions then .... 1. Are there any *hardware* differences between the 2 cards ? (the guy told me that v3.4 was better made + would sound better - 'no comparison' he said) 2. Would I be able to make up the software deficit by FTP ? If so, could somebody tell me which files I'll need (I guess that not _all_ the latest version of S/W are the best ...) Thanks in advance Andy A.J.Sithers Department of Pharmacology email wphajs@cardiff.ac.uk UWCM, Heath Park, Cardiff sem1ajs@thor.cf.ac.uk United Kingdon, CF4 3QD It works! It works! I'm a Genius! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 93 20:10:01 GMT From: nguyen@eerie.fr (NGUYEN Francois ) Subject: GUS MAX 3D / gus ordering hello you all. If the gus is as I tried one last year (nov 92) it cannot record 16 bit samples. Is it a problem to you, those that have one? I was told there was a new Gravis Ultra Sound MAX, already fitted with the 16 bits daughter board, and the SCSI port, anyone has some more info about it? (price, exact contents, value for money, ...) 2/ I live in France, and only gravis joystick, game pads, and games adapter cards are available. I 'd like to know where can I get a gus and why is gravis selling cheap memories (read in the faq) while it is cheaper to get the card from elsewhere? Is there any vendor that has an email address I can use? Do gravis people have an electronic address? what about the guys from apogee? (by electronic address, I mean either IP, compuserve, fidonet,...) After having read the faq, the GUS seems far superior to the sb, but what about compression, the gus is said to have compression circuitry in what extend can it be compared with the SB's ASP? About the Focal Point, does it only works with an ultrasound? (it is supposed to be only a piece of software) thanx for anszering. Francois. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 01:14:54 -0800 (PST) From: jtang@argon.chem.ucla.edu (James Tang) Subject: HELP NEEDED: Microsoft Sound Recorder I know this question have been ask before, but I don't seem to recall getting any answers. I am having problem running the Microsoft sound recorder. Whenever I tried to run it, the screen just go blank and the computer just hung there. I was wondering if anyone had found a solution to this problem? I really appreciate any help you can offer me. Thanks james ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 11:09:46 -0800 (PST) From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow) Subject: Help with GUS config Anyone out there using GUS with Cubase? I just got Cubase, installed it and ran it. I can't get the GUS to make any sounds with Cubase. Midisoft Sessions makes GUS sounds AND displays the patch names and everything. I would think that Cubase should be able to do this too. Also, anyone know how to run the GUS in standard mode under Windows? Cubase prefers standard mode, but when I do that I get an error message that The Gravis Ultrasound needs enhanced mode?!?!?! -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Schow | But you don't need to use the claw, if you sjs@netcom.com | pick the pear with the big paw paw...... (415) 354-4908 | Have I given you a clue......? 800-722-2007x4908 | - Baloo the Bear ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 20:34:00 -0600 (CST) From: "Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. 1911" Subject: NMI Problems!!!! I just installed my mother board in a new case. Now when I boot up and try to run loadsbos it says "NMI process not enabled on this P.C.". WHAT IS THIS ERROR? People at GRAVIS! PLEASE HELP Me!! Right now I cannot get SBOS to work and DOOM wont work either!! Thanks, Jacque ------------------------------ Date: 16 Dec 93 09:05:00 EST From: "VULCAN::WATTERS_C" Subject: not DOOM, a Return to Zork (CD) and King's Quest 6 (CD) post I recently got my CDrom back from NEC repair (after almost 5 weeks), and finally got the chance to try RTZ and KQ6 with MEGAEM. Gee, what a nice package! I was having problems getting the RTZ to run on my system, once I loaded the CD drivers and mouse, I was still coming up about 15k short on conventional when running RTZ with the GUS as the sound board in setup. Running it with Megaem works nicely, other than a little stuttering in the speech which is caused by 1) my SLOW CDrom (NEC's supposed 150kb/sec sustained xfer rate is a LIE for the CDR36), and my slow system (16mhz/386sx). Like the combination, of course ya do! Likewise, ignoring KQ6CD's suggestion (in the readme) to run SBOS -X2, using Megaem works like a wonder, though, once again, I get the speech stuttering. Maybe I'll upgrade to dos 6.2 just for the Smartdrive (does anyone know if the new Smartdrive will work ok under DOS5, like the newest MSCDEX did?) so I can cache the CDrom drive. But, Gravis showed insight by hiring Jayeson! (sp?) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 93 13:58:25 EST From: Jon Spewak Subject: Police Quest IV (fwd) I sent a message to Sierra Tech support asking why I don't get any sound through my GUS with Police Quest IV. Here's the response. Forwarded message: > From 76004.2143@CompuServe.COM Thu Dec 16 00:18:42 1993 > Date: 16 Dec 93 00:15:19 EST > From: Sierra On-Line <76004.2143@CompuServe.COM> > To: > Subject: Police Quest IV > Message-Id: <931216051519_76004.2143_DHI22-29@CompuServe.COM> > > Hi Jon, > > I am sorry, but the GUS card will not work with the new games we are > currently producing. We have changed to a 32 bit development system > and the GUS drivers are not compliant with it. It does not support > SBOS either, sorry. The game does work fine with DAC devices, but the > GUS uses Wave table sysnthesis. > > Happy Gaming! > > - Chris/Sierra On-Line Tech Support I guess this means the new Leisure Suit Larry VI and Quest for Glory IV will most likely not work either. Is it just me or did I recall seeing something a while back from Sierra saying that their new games will support the ultrasound? Also, from the sound of this message, it doesn't appear Sierra is too inclined to have a patch out anytime soon.. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 93 10:00:01 FWT From: tblanchot@vnet.IBM.COM Subject: problem with MOD4WIN: stereo Hello| Mod4win works fine for me, at 16 bit 40Khz, but whenever I try to click on the "stereo" button in the setup screen, my system hangs. I've also tried to set it to stereo with 8 bit playback only, with the same result. I have 8MB ram, a DX2/66 and my GUS is at 220,7,7,11,7. Could the 16 bit DMA (7) be faulty? Thierry. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 11:21:13 -0500 (EST) From: Peter Joseph Guillaume Subject: Problem with Sierra CD games in Windows Hi all! I'm stumped on this one. I've got KQ6-CD and SQ4-CD and both of them will work fine in DOS (KQ6 with the patch from Sierra and SQ4 with Mega-Em). However, when I try to use either in Windows, the Wave sounds come out ok, but when after about a minute of playing (with no MIDI sounds) it gives me a Divide by Zero Overflow error or some such thing and clears the screen and locks up my computer. I can play MIDI files with MPLAYER.EXE and MidiSoft Recording Session just fine. If anyone has ANY thoughts or suggestions, it would be most helpful to offer them up! Thanks, -Peter J. Guillaume Internet: guillau1@studentg.msu.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 09:08:36 -0600 (CST) From: ibmpa!hartmann.austin.ibm.com!lance@ibminet.awdpa.ibm.com (Lance Hartmann) Subject: Seeking help/suggestions installing T7G (The Seventh Guest). Having just obtained a CD-ROM (early Christmas :-)), I sat down last night to try out The Seventh Guest. To date, I've encountered no difficulties whatsoever with my GUS (with the exception of the 1MB SC II known bug). Well, I guess it's my turn now. I tried to install T7G to use the AIL drivers. The install went smoothly, but upon starting the game I got the opening screen with a message like "please wait... loading midi drivers" and then I got dumped to DOS with 'Memory error'. I don't know how the rest of you do it, but it just doesn't seem possible for me to load EVERYTHING high: o QEMM o ASPI driver o CD driver o MSCDEX driver o Mouse driver o Video driver o Cacheing software -- AND -- o UltraMid Using QEMM, the best I can come up with is 610K free BEFORE loading UltraMid. As such, I tried to use MegaEm. I've used it quite successfully with XWing so I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, I cannot even complete the install. T7G's INSTALL immediately complains that it cannot find the "device" (yes -- I run MegaEm/Emuset BEFORE T7G's INSTALL). I didn't get these error messages when trying the AIL route. Frustrated, I even tried SBOS and that failed, too! Aaaarrrrgggh! Here I have a brand new NEC 3Xe and NOTHING to try it out with. Incidentally, the T7G INSTALL reported the CD-ROM at 443K/sec :-). My ultrasound variable is 220,7,7,11,5. Any help/suggestions would be most appreciated. Lance Hartmann (lance%hartmann.austin.ibm.com@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com) Yes, that IS a '%' (percent sign) in my network address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- All statements, comments, opinions, etc. herein reflect those of the author and shall NOT be misconstrued as those of IBM or anyone else for that matter. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 12:05:45 -0500 (EST) From: Phat H Tran Subject: Things > Date: 16 Dec 93 14:29:05 GMT+1000 > From: SXD9@major-mitchell.mit.csu.edu.au > Subject: DMA problems > > >Using 'setgus' and testing the board, it seems that the irq's and the > >memory is perfectly OK, but when it tests the sbos DMA and the DMA > >channel, it gives an error "bad DMA data transfer (read)". Does this > >mean DMA controller chip on the board has fried????? Please help me Have you installed a new memory manager? I've found that on my system, switching from EMM386 to 386Max would result in DMA errors to and from the GUS. My motherboard is a DTK PEM-3301. > Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1993 13:58:00 -0800 (PST) > From: Telepathic Surgery > Subject: DOOM and Ultramid > > I don't know about the rest of you, but when I play DOOM without loading > ultramid, all I get are crappy little pops and clicks for sound, but when > I do load ultramid I get pretty decent, albeit buggy, sound fx. How are > you getting good sound w/o ultramid? Yes, I have the dmxgus.ini file and > all that, my GUS is at the default options, but the sound just doesn't > work well if I don't load ultramid. What am I missing here? DOOM does not support high IRQs (a limitation of the DOS extender it uses), so you'll need to use IRQs < 9 for your GUS. I have ultrasnd = 220,1,1,5,7 when I need to play DOOM. > Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 00:30:55 +1100 (EST) > From: Iain Huxley > Subject: Doom batch file makes life easy... > > Just a quick note: for all those still whinging about doom in > one way or another... this batch file (along with DMXGUS.INI) > should solve all your problems so long as there isn't an > interrupt conflict: > > "GO.BAT" > ******************************* > @echo off > set ultrasnd=220,1,1,7,7 [remainder of batch file deleted] I've found that if my GF1 IRQ = SB/MIDI IRQ, DOOM would crash, so if anybody has problems with 7,7, try 5,7 or 7,5. > Date: Wed, 15 Dec 93 20:54:59 > From: jeffrey.stewart@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu > Subject: Doom ram? > > Hello music lovers, > Does anyone know how much free RAM DOOM requires to run? My system has > 620k largest executable program size but still I get an out of memory error > when trying to run DOOM. Thanx in advance You need 4 megs of RAM to play DOOM, I believe. Your free conventional memory shouldn't be a worry since DOOM uses a DOS extender to access all that space above the 1st Megabyte. > Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1993 10:05:51 -0800 (PST) > From: Mark Harrison > Subject: Re: GUS and Doom possible project? > > On Mon, 13 Dec 1993, GUS Server wrote: > > > Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1993 22:14:48 -0500 (EST) > > From: Phat H Tran > > Subject: Answers to DOOM, SB IRQ timeout, and possibly other questions > > > > [much deleted] > > [ditto] > > > Doom does not use Ultramid, nor does it have 3D sound. It uses an > > internal GUS driver that appears to have cannabalized a lot of the > > code from Ultramid, and the sound effects are only panned left or > > right. The sounds also appear to be mixed in software instead of > > being loaded into GUS RAM and triggered from there. I was mistaken about DOOM doing the mixing in software. I assumed that since the game didn't cache the sound effects in GUS RAM that it's mixing them all into one channel before sending them to the GUS. But when I asked John C. of id about the GUS sound support, he said that the game uses the GUS hardware to do the mixing. The samples are DMAd into separate buffers and mixed by the voices. This meant that DMA overhead increases as the number of channels increases, but John C. said that this overhead is negligible. > Date: 15 Dec 93 13:15:18 ADT > From: "Craig G" > Subject: Windows - "Driver already in use" > > Hello there everyone! > Well...I'm new to this scene...I just got my GUS in September > and I haven't had any trouble up until now. > When I try to use GoldWave or Recording Session or Power > Chords...like when I try to play a file...I get the message "Driver > already in use" or "Driver already being used by another > application". Now...call me stupid...because I don't know much about > this stuff...but what am I doing wrong? I imagine it must have Try disabling system sounds and start Windows while holding down the right shift key (this prevents programs in the Startup group from being loaded). Then try those apps again. Maybe something that's using the GUS before you use Goldwave/etc. is not letting go of the driver. Also, are the output/input devices configured correctly in those apps? Does Media Player or Sound Recorder work? If all else fails, remove the GUS drivers, and then Add them again from the /ultrasnd/windows directory. Phat. ------------------------------ End of GUS Daily Digest V9 #17 ******************************