From: kgermann@zeos.com (Ken Germann)
Subject: sound card faq's
Organization: Zeos International, Ltd
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1992 14:03:05 GMT

                             THUNDER BOARD'S 
MOST COMMONLY-ASKED 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 
                             January 25, 1992

THE THUNDER BOARD PACKAGE CONTAINS:
     Media Vision Thunder Board Sound Card
     Thunder Board User's Guide
     Thunder Board Program Disk v1.1 on 5 1/4" High Density
     Thunder Board Program Disk v1.1 on 3 1/2" Double Density
     Lemmings and Lexicross Sample Games Disk on 5 1/4" High Density
     Nova-9 Sample Game Disk on 3 1/2" High Density

ABBREVIATIONS:
     TB   = Thunder Board
     RMA  = Return Material Authorization number

SOUND TYPES:
     Digital Audio     = Recorded sounds, usually speech and sound effects. 
                         These sounds are played back by the Digital-To-
                         Analog Converter (DAC) on the TB.
     Synthesized Audio = FM sounds, usually music but can also be used to
                         produce speech and sound effects.  These sounds
                         are played back by the FM Synthesizer on the TB.
     PC Speaker        = Crude music tones, speech and sound effects 
                         produced by the System Timer Chip on the
                         motherboard.  These sounds are played back by the
                         internal PC Speaker.

For questions that pertain to:
     Lemmings, please contact Psygnosis at (617) 731-3553.
     Lexicross, please contact InterPlay Productions at (714) 549-2411.
     Nova-9, please contact Dynamix at 1-800-326-6654.
     Other software packages, please contact the software manufacturers for
          assistance.

THE THUNDER BOARD USES THE FOLLOWING:

     DMA 1.  This setting is fixed.
     IRQ 7 at default.  Selectable between 2, 3, 5 and 7.
     I/O 220h at default.  Selectable between 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 and
          260. 

*****************************TB INSTALLATION******************************
1.   Q:   Do I have to change any switches or jumpers before I install the
          TB?
     A:   The default setting will work in most computers.  Only try with
          different I/O port address and IRQ settings if you experience any
          problems.  Please refer to pages 5 and 6 of the TB User's Guide.

2.   Q:   The TB works in another computer but it does not work in a 486/33
          which uses the OPTI chipset and AMI BIOS.
     A:   Go to the "Advanced Chipset Setup" in the AMI BIOS and select AT
          CYCLE WAIT ENABLED, HIDDEN REFRESH DISABLED.  Please contact the
          computer's manufacturer for additional assistance.

3.   Q:   TBTEST issues "Null" and does not generate the tone or play the
          thunder file.
     A:   The TB's design allows DMA 1 share which means that another
          peripheral board can share the same DMA 1 channel with the TB. 
          However, some computers, in particular 386/33MHz machines that
          use the Chips & Technology Peak Chipset, do not support DMA 1
          share.  To resolve the problem, the TB must be sent in with a
          Return Material Authorization (RMA) number to get a hardware fix
          to disable DMA 1 share. 

4.   Q:   The TB does not make any sound.
     A:   The TB's audio out jack is a 1/8" stereo phono plug.  The TB
          requires either 4/8-ohm self-amplified speakers or headphones. 
          The TB does not use the internal PC speaker.  The plug for your
          speakers or headphones may not make proper connections with the
          audio out jack.  You may need to pull the plug out slightly to
          see if that helps.

*******************************SAMPLE GAMES*******************************
5.   Q:   a.   Lemmings plays without any sound.
          b.   Lexicross reports "No sound card found, will use PC
               Speaker."
          c.   Nova-9 plays without any sound.
     A:   Make sure switch 4 for FM on the TB is set to ON.  If this switch
          is OFF, the TB will not produce any sound when running software
          that use synthesized audio. 

6.   Q:   The Nova-9 demo game only plays through the PC Speaker.
     A:   This demo version uses I/O 220 and does not allow you to change
          it to match the TB's setting; therefore, if your TB is set for a
          different I/O, the game will not recognize that you have a TB
          installed.  If no other board in your computer is using I/O 220,
          set the TB to I/O 220 and re-install the game.

******************************THUNDER MASTER******************************
7.   Q:   a.   When I run Thunder Master, the computer issues the error
               message "Thunder Board abnormal abort error #5". 
          b.   Every program that came with the TB works except Thunder
               Master. 
     A:   The Thunder Master program uses the 640x350 or 640x480 color
          modes.  It will not work on old monochrome, CGA or monochrome VGA
          monitors.  If the customer does have an EGA or VGA monitor,
          suggest that the customer contact the graphics board
          manufacturer.  They can also register the Thunder Master software
          which will entitle them to technical assistance and program
          updates from the author:

                    Gary Maddox
                    1901 Spring Creek #315
                    Plano, TX 75023
                    Home (214) 517-2014
     
8.   Q:   Digital audio skips/pauses/does not play.
     A:   At default, the TB uses IRQ 7 and I/O port 220.  DMA 1 is fixed. 
          First, try with different IRQ and I/O port settings on the TB. 
          Second, make sure that no other boards are set for DMA 1 since
          this is fixed on the TB.  Third, if the computer is too fast that
          may also cause a problem.  Reduce the computer's BUS (I/O CLK)
          speed and try again.  Refer to your computer user's guide for
          instructions on how to adjust the BUS (I/O CLK) speed.

**********************************GAMES***********************************
9.   Q:   I have games that have already been installed before I installed
          the TB.  These games are still playing through the internal PC
          Speaker.
     A:   You need to re-select the sound card or re-install each game. 
          Please refer to the user's guides for these games or contact the
          game manufacturers for assistance.

10.  Q:   Links, The Golf Game, by Access, causes my computer to lock up.
     A:   Links defaults to IRQ 3 and I/O 220.  And the TB defaults to IRQ
          7 and I/O 220.  Run SETBLAST.EXE (which came with Links) to
          change the defaults used by Links to match whichever settings
          used by the TB.

11.  Q:   Wing Commander II, by Origin, causes my computer to lock up or
          does not produce any digital audio.
     A:   First, make sure you have enabled speech in the WC II's
          INSTALL.EXE program.  Second, make sure you have expanded memory. 
          Third, if you use QEMM 6.0, the "Stealth" option may distort
          sounds and lock up the computer.  
               Fourth, check the WC II's WC2.CFG file.  At  default, this
               file contains "v a904 c27".  "c" indicates Sound Blaster
               driver. "2" indicates I/O 220.  "7" indicates IRQ 7.  Change
               these two digits to match the settings on the TB.

12.  Q:   Falcon 3.0, by Spectrum Holobyte, does not play any radio voice
          messages and produces popping sounds.
     A:   Please contact Spectrum Holobyte at (510) 522-1164 to request a
          software patch.  Any problems that you experience using this
          patch should be reported back to Spectrum Holobyte.

13.  Q:   I have some Disney Software games that have problems with digital
          audio.
     A:   Please contact Disney Software at (818) 567-5340 to request a
          software patch.  Any problems that you experience using this
          patch should be reported back to Disney Software.

14.  Q:   I have some Lawrence Productions games that have problems with
          digital audio.
     A:   Please contact Lawrence Productions at (800) 421-4157 to request
          an updated CT-VOICE.DRV.  Any problems that you experience using
          this patch should be reported back to Lawrence Productions.

15.  Q:   a.   LHX, by Electronic Arts, only plays sounds out of the
               internal PC Speaker.
          b.   Ultima VI, by Origin, produces distorted/noisy sound effects
               and music.
     A:   Please slow down the computer and try again.  This game does not
          abide by the sound requirements of the FM synthesizer chip,
          creating a problem when running in fast machines.

16.  Q:   Robin Hood, The Legend of the Long Bow, by Sierra, produces poor
          or no digital audio.
     A:   If the TB is currently set at IRQ 7, please select a different
          IRQ and then try again.

17.  Q:   My game requires that I load the AdLib SOUND.COM or the Creative
          Labs SBSOUND.COM driver before starting up the game.  
     A:   Media Vision has developed our own version of this driver.  It is
          currently available in beta version on our BBS.  The filename is
          FM.COM.

18.  Q:   The joystick does not work at all or does not work properly when
          using the TB's joystick port.
     A:   First, some computers have a built-in joystick port on the
          motherboard.  Other computers have a multi-I/O board that has a
          joystick port.  Make sure that only one joystick port is enabled
          and the other one is disabled.  Second, if the computer is too
          fast that may also cause a problem.  Reduce the computer's BUS
          (I/O CLK) speed and try again.  Refer to your computer user's
          guide for instructions on how to adjust the BUS (I/O CLK) speed. 
          Third, contact the game manufacturer to ask for a joystick driver
          that works on fast machines.

Before returning a defective product for repair, please call to request an
RMA number first.  Please contact Media Vision Technical Support at 1-800-
638-2807 if you have any questions or would like an update to this list. 
Media Vision Sales can be reached at 1-800-845-5870.

tbq&a.doc
-- 
       	     
Ken Germann		ZEOS International, Ltd.  
Technical Support				support@zeos.com.
Operating Systems Group.			os@zeos.com	
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard