HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Gravis Ultrasound - Links386 Pro - Internet
Date: 9 Oct 1992 22:56:06 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Civil Engineering, U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sam.civil.ubc.ca

Hello all. I just got off the phone with Gravis and as it turns out,
they didn't get a copy of the Pro version of Links386. That's why it's
not working just yet. So instead of waiting for Access, they will go out
and buy a copy themselves. So there will be new version of the driver
coming out now that they know about this problem.

But as I chat with the fellow, they know about Internet but didn't have
access to it. So he asked if I would forward new info (like release of
new driver or tell them about bug found) since I do have Internet access
and am on the Ultrasound emailing list. And I'm local hence no long
distance charges. So I said sure and gave them my number.

So if you have any bug reports and don't want to call long distance, let
me know and I'll forward the info to them. Otherwise, as they give me
new info, I'll post it to both this newsgroup and to the mailing list.
My email address is in my sig below.

Thomas.

--
    /*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
   /*   Thomas Y. K. Wong            BITNET:        usercedl@ubcmtsg       */
  /*   Civil Eng., U.B.C       INTERNET:     thomas_wong@civil.ubc.ca     */
 /*   Van, B.C., Canada    UUCP:    ...!uunet!civil.ubc.ca!thomas_wong   */
/*----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
From: dlou@sdcc3.ucsd.edu (Dennis Lou)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: Gravis vs. SoundBlaster vs. Pas 16 (was Re: THE GRAVIS ULTRASOUND)
Date: 13 Oct 92 00:07:02 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <1992Oct12.194556.20417@lclark.edu> harrison@lclark.edu (Mark Harrison) writes:
|>>	OK, I understand this.  Now, who's-to-say that people actually
|>>	WILL start supporting the Gravis?  I mean, OK, it's gotten a lot
|>>	of net-hype, but as far as real-world advertising, NO ONE has
|>>	ever heard of the damned thing.  
|>>
|>>	I understand that eventually, a new sound card standard will evolve,
|>>	it HAS to.  But, I'm not too convinced that Gravis' marketing campaign
|>>	is going to be able to pull it off.
|>
|>Well, time will tell I guess.  Personally I believe in the thing and am
|>taking my chances with it.  As far as their markering campaign, I don't
|>know.  But I am guessing that they have laid low with it until they could
|>actually release it.

Hmmm, all this discussio of SB16 vs PAS vs GUS reminds me a whole lot
of the situation between the 1985 IBMPC and Amiga.  On the one hand,
we have inferior technology pushed to the limits in terms of design,
marketing, development effort and quantity.  On the other hand, we
have novel and interesting technology underdeveloped and undersold.
Gravis seems to be marketing the GUS much like Commodore marketed the
Amiga.

As we all well know, the former became a very popular standard among
enthusiasts as well as casual users while the other developed a very 
small group of religious fanatics.

I know all this is comparing apples to oranges, but the similarities
are noteworthy.

|>>	Watch out for SB16, Gravis.

Watch out for IBM PC/AT, Commodore (1985).

-- 
Dennis Lou             || "But Yossarian, what if everyone thought that way?"
dlou@ucsd.edu          || "Then I'd be crazy to think any other way!"
[backbone]!ucsd!dlou   |+====================================================
dlou@ucsd.BITNET       |Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak went to my high school.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Subject: Re: THE GRAVIS ULTRASOUND
Organization: Dept. of Civil Engineering, U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 17:06:03 GMT

In article <ghartzog.1s7o@terapin.com> ghartzog@terapin.com (Garrett Hartzog) writes:
>Actually I plan to be using the SCSI on the PAS-16. I plan to purchase a CD-ROM
>drive fairly soon and I don't want to hassle with an extra card. Fairly simple
>actually. Also, the fact you need a daughter card to record in 16-bits is a big
>deal. I only make 16 bit samples now after hearing the difference. Oh well,
>some companies actually give you what's important, other companies make you pay
>extra. Also, the need to sample at 44.1khz is important if you need high
>quality sound. If I got rid of a lot of my archived d/ls (like put them on
>disks), I'd probably record at that speed more often. The pas-16 isn't an
>inferior card. It isn't more expensive if you add in all the perks either.
>
As for me, I only use SVGA at 1024x768 on a 17" monitors nowadays. Can't
go back to 14" VGA if I want. Now that I've been here. But looking
around, I am only one of the privilege few who is using this setup. Just
about 99% of everyone else I know is still using 14" monitors and only
some of them is exploring the likes of SVGA. Most gone back to VGA cause
their monitor is too slow to display SVGA. I'll admit that 16 bit sampling
is a lot better. But for the average joe?
From: mp51+@andrew.cmu.edu (Miguel Pating)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Sound Canvas
Date: 16 Oct 92 10:06:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.oerkGzG00Vpc8Qu0xL
Organization: Sophomore, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Is there any possible way to use my Roland Sound Canvas (SC-55) with
computer games.  I tried hooking it up through the sound blaster pro,
but it wouldn't work.  I have the SC set to the MT-32 emulation mode. 
Called up Roland and said that it is compatible.  Hmm, do I need to use
a MPU-401?  Any help will be appreciated.  

Thanks in advance.

-Miguel

_______________________________________________________

Miguel Pating 

-mp51+@andrew.cmu.edu
"...it's simple, just shoot yourself with a .38, and you'll get rid of it..."
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: bjornhk@dhhalden.no (BJORN HAAVARD KLEVEN)
Subject: Re: GUS more ?
Organization: Ostfold College
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 12:38:34 GMT

>Since I will be using this board for Windows 3.1, and games mostly I have
>some questions about sb emulation.  I heard that jet fighter ii is not
>compatible, and have heard that it is, which one is it?? 

The README file included with the board says: "Jet Fighter II not supported"
Sorry.

    -=* Bjorn :: bjornhk@sofus.dhhalden.no
  ACCESS DATA :: TEL: (+47)-9-17 50 48/61-97 791 FAX: 61-97 791
                 BBS: 61-97 304/97 945
From: km4c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Ke-Wei Ma)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: CAN'T RECORD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 16 Oct 92 07:04:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.Eerhc0e00WBMI2V39h
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


    This is probably the oddest problem anyone can have with a sound
card.  I have a ATI/SFX card and I can't get it to record from either a
line from my CD player or from a el chepo mike.  One time when I
couldn't get either to connect to my card I decided to use my sony
headphones into my input jack...and it works, albeit slightly muffled.  
    Does anybody know why a stereo headphone is the only acceptable
input for a sound card and not a line or mic (stereo, I
believe)???????????????

Ke-Wei
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard,comp.os.os2.misc
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: OS/2 and Ultrasound - Need to hear from you
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 02:45:49 GMT


Update - the guy I talked to said that they will be writing OS/2
drivers.  However it couldn't hurt to keep calling and make sure that
they get the message.
-- 
Taxes are going up so fast, the government might price itself out of the market
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: twundke@nyx.cs.du.edu (Tim Wundke)
Subject: Scream Tracker 3??
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 92 18:38:42 GMT


Has anyone seen the latest version of Scream Tracker?
It is supposed to be version 3 (or so it said in a file
included in the Scream Tracker Music Interface Kit) and it
was supposed to be released in the summer of 91.
I haven't heard whether it is out or what (but I have heard
of some of the features ... sounds good :-) !!!)
If anyone out there knows how i could obtain a copy (registered
or shareware if there is one) I would be most grateful!!
Contact me at tcwundke@cs.adelaide.edu.au or post here (I read
it fairly often).

Tim.
----- The Enchanter!
From: 2cd5huffinec@vms.csd.mu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: Hey Proud Ultrasound ownders!!
Date: 7 Oct 1992 16:38:23 GMT
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services
Reply-To: 2cd5huffinec@vms.csd.mu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: vmsd.csd.mu.edu

In article <Bvpo60.EuE@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, adcg9841@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (flannel man) writes:
>I desire a very critical assessment of the A/D and D/A on the new Gravis
>Ultrasound.  Specifically, with the 16-bit daughterboard, how close to
>"CD-quality" does this beast get?  I am not looking for specs; I've read
>them and they often don't tell the whole story (a friend of mine has a PAS-16
>and, in his professional opinion, the board does NOT have CD-quality sound
>despite the 16bit, 44.1K specs -- FM-radio quality sound, maybe).

Maybe his source material wasn't very good?  My PAS-16 has at least Beta
Hi-Fi quality sound, at least 80db dynamic range.  It sounds much better
than any FM radio.  Make sure your source is adjusted so it isn't maxing
out the line-input.  Make sure the record level (both independent and master)
are correctly adjusted...
 
--Cmh
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Huffine / Marquette University EE Major     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: johnf@scd.hp.com (John Flowers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Reducing white noise
Date: 14 Oct 1992 20:14:05 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
NNTP-Posting-Host: hpscle.scd.hp.com
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

While recording some tracks off of CD last night, I noticed a large
amount of white noise in the recording. I am using a PAS-16 and have 
followed the standard methods for reducing noise, correct audio input
levels, all other input sources volumes are set to 0 and still I get
a large amount of noise.

I was considering isolating the power supplies and seeing if that would
help. Before I do that, however, I was wondering if there was any
net.wisdom on specific changes I can make in my board/setup.

P.S. I am using the Line-In jack(stereo) not the CD input inside the
computer.

--
*********************************************************************
*   John P. Flowers            _\|/_______________________          *
*   johnf@scd.hp.com            /|\ We can tell how                 *
*   HP Santa Clara Division         far gone you are!               * 
*   Laser R&D                                                       *
*   q: What's the difference between hardware and software ?        *
*   a: You can't kick the software.....                             *
*********************************************************************
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard,comp.os.ms-windows.apps
From: lawson@mdc.com (Jim Lawson)
Subject: Trek audioclip package for win3.1
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 23:50:25 GMT
Organization: MDSSC-SSD
Reply-To: Lawson%ssdvax.decnet@lbgwy.mdc.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]


I just purchased Star Trek Audioclips Volume 1 "The Logical Collection"
at Egghead software for $32.00. It contains about 2 meg of wave files
for windows 3.1 and "Whoop it up" for windows to assign those wave
files to windows programs, system and generic events. You can also order
another 2 disks of wave files for $20.00 with a coupon in the package.

I spoke with the vendor "Sound Source Unlimited, Inc." and they haveanother
volume for the original Trek, and volumes for 2001 and ST:TNG as well

It seems to be a pretty nifty package.

--
Jim Lawson	Lawson%ssdvax.decnet@lbgwy.mdc.com
		Alt:	Lawson@netsun.mdc.com or Lawson@mdcbbs.com

Opinions/Comments expressed here are my own and no one elses !!
From: seah@ee.rochester.edu (David Seah)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: THE GRAVIS ULTRASOUND
Date: 15 Oct 92 06:48:04 GMT
Organization: Univ of Rochester, College of Engineering and Applied Science

In article <Bw29qC.DJD@news.udel.edu> jon@chopin.udel.edu (Jon Deutsch) writes:
>In article <bjornhk.17.718975725@dhhalden.no> bjornhk@dhhalden.no (BJORN HAAVARD KLEVEN) writes:
>|>In article <1992Oct12.171112.14657@lclark.edu> harrison@lclark.edu (Mark Harrison) writes:
>|>
>|>What's so great about the GUS? 
>|>
>|>- The GUS has *32* sample channels (as opposed to the PAS & SB Pro's 2) wich 
>|>  can be used all at the same time, both for recording and playing
>
>	OK- here's the first nab:  What is a sample channel?
>	Does the GUS have 32 ocillators?  Any filters?
>	It still only has 2 DACs right?
>	Do tell!

You actually only need two DACs to support stereo.  Most probably the
"oscillators" can be assigned (or are assigned) two either the left or
right audio channel (one of the DACs).  Each digital oscillator (more
accurately, a "wavetable counter", I suppose) outputs a byte of sound
data at a periodic interval.  At the digital input of the DAC, all
these bytes are probably combined/summed together before being converted
to analog.  A loose analog might be the connection of a synthesizer to your
stereo system.  Each key doesn't need its own separate speaker.

As for filtering, with digital synthesis you don't really need it (except
to avoid nasty high frequency harmonics).  You don't have analog oscillators
to filter to create weird Dr. Who-like effects (which could be considered
a good thing, I suppose :)

>|>- The GUS has up to 1 MB of Audio RAM, which will free up system memory and 
>|>  speed up operations
>
>	1MB of RAM isn't really all that much if you're talking
>	16bit 44Mhz samples.  Not much at all.  And forget stereo.

As a buffer, though, I suspect it is adequate.  You should be able to DMA
sound data to this buffer at a much greater rate than you can play it back
even at stereo 16-bit 44KHz.  That would require approximately 170K/second.
That's well within 256K (which is what the GUS comes with, I think).  Compare
the 170K/sec requirements with the data transfer rates possible with DMA
on a 16-bit bus running at 8MHz.  I don't know the precise figures, but it
must be at least in excess of several _MEGA_bytes per second!  So, the load
on the system will be pretty minimal even with the highest quality sound
output.
-- 
Dave Seah ^..^     | Graduate MSEE, University of Rochester, New York         |
                   | Apple II Art & Graphics Forum Consultant, America Online |

[Internet] seah@ee.rochester.edu, AFCDaveS@aol.com   [America Online] AFC DaveS
From: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu (Alok Dhir)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: The Gravis Ultrasound
Date: 12 Oct 92 03:20:39 GMT
Organization: /etc/organization

So?  Was it worth the wait??  I have yet to see an in-depth review and bunch of
you have had it for a week or so now!  


-- 
 ============================================================================
 Al Dhir                      			   Technical Consulting Staff
 Internet: adhir@cygnus.umd.edu	  	 University of Maryland, College Park
 Bitnet:   adhir%cygnus.umd.edu@Interbit      (301) 405-1500 * (301) 405-3014
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: marcnarc@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (Marc BRANCHAUD)
Subject: Re: Sound Blaster Pro Upgrade To SB Pro V2.0
Organization: SOCS, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 05:32:12 GMT

brown_i@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz wrote:
: o.k can any of you out there tell me about the upgradeing of the sound
: blaster pro.. i heard somewhere that you could send your SB Pro to
: C-Labs and they will swap it for the new upgrade for $30US, do any of
: you know if this is true..??
: 
: Cheers.....
: 

I'd like to know, too!

Indeed, is there even such a beast as an SBPro2?  I've heard rumours, but
nothing concrete.  What's the difference?

			marcnarc@cs.mcgill.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: warren@wam.umd.edu (the stupid one)
Subject: Re: SBPRO problems
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 16:44:04 GMT

in article <1992Oct11.061154.5449@actrix.gen.nz>,
dhaigh@actrix.gen.nz (David Haigh) writes:

  On an unrelated topic: I have been evaluating an SBPRO/2 in a
  486/50. Some programs loose one of the channels!!! However, it would
  appear that a SB/2 works fine. ????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


and in article <1992Oct11.230909.1@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz>,
tom_r@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz writes:

  Hi, Ive got a problem, my Sbpro doesnt work properly with my 486 dx 50,
  I heard there are patches or programmes to help SB cope with the speed, if
  are programmes, where can I get them?. Any help would be appreciated


Do either of the mobtherboards in question have OPTi chipsets?
I (and one other person i have been in contact with) have observed a
problem similar to that described by Mr. Haigh when software attempts to
modify the volume settings on the card.

CL has made some new software to attempt to deal w/ the SBP's
inability to deal with some fast systems.  The only new puece i have tried
is the new version of SBP-SET which made the problem worse on my
system.

The software is available on CL's BBS reachable at:

                      (408)428-6660

kind of a long call from NZ, i know.  i only tried the one piece because
i'm on the other side of the US and only have 2400b.
Maybe someone in California could download the stuff and put it
somewhere FTPable if CL wouldn't mind?
From: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: GUS will be discontinued !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 14 Oct 92 22:48:20 GMT
Article-I.D.: sarah.1992Oct14.224820.9781
Reply-To: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Organization: University of NY at Albany

About all this "new technology" and the alleged GUS Professional...
If we all wait for "newer" and "better" technology, none of us would ever
get anything, and we would always be waiting for something better!
Take it from me, I know.
I am a keyboard player, who spent YEARS waiting for synthesizer technology
to get better.  I finally decided that the Yamaha SY77 is good enough for me.
Sure, there were better things at the time, and there are definately better
synths out right now.  But I got my keyboard 2 years ago, and have been
enjoying it during that time, rather than waiting for something better.
I do not currently own a soundcard.  My friend has had a SB 1.5 for years,
and he was VERY happy with it.  Sure the sounds are cheesy, but it is FUN!
I am waiting for the SB 16 so I can use 16 bit samples in my sequences, as 
well as use it for games.  And it supposedly has MPU401 compatible MIDI.
If the GUS or the GUS Professional are better, then great, those who want 
them can get them.
In the meantime, I will be happy with my SB16 (when it comes out-- otherwise
I will get a PAS16 with a separate MIDI interface).

And here is one other thing to think about.
If we all wait for new technology, then nobody will buy anything, and the 
companies will lose business, and never release the new products that we
might all be waiting for.  If you don't believe me, just look at what
happened to AdLib, while we were waiting for the AdLib Gold.

Okay, I am stepping off my soapbox now.
Peter Volpe
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: ST32373@VM.CC.LATECH.EDU
Subject: Demos?
Organization: LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 02:02:47 CST

Please let me know if anyone has or knows where to get some REALLY good demos.
I have UNREAL and it was AWE...well you know. E-mail also to:rcb@engr.latech.ed
u
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: GUS Interrupts?
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 07:07:33 GMT

dedmunds@selkirk.sfu.ca (Darran Edmundson) writes:
>rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold) writes:
>>So what interrupts does the GUS use/have available?  Can it use those
>>above 8 on an AT?

>The setup allows for 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, and 15.  I don't know whether there
>are restrictions for the 286.

Shouldn't be - it's just for XTs.  ATs and above can use interrupts
above 8, XTs can't.  However most cards don't seem to make use of this
ability.  The 11, 12, and 15 is nice so that it doesn't conflict with
other things.  May have to use 2,3,5, or 7 to be soundblaster
compatible, though.

-- 
I don't see you, so don't pretend to be there
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran)
Subject: Re: THE GRAVIS ULTRASOUND
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 05:07:09 GMT

In article <2362.22.uupcb@outlan.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca> terry.walter@outlan.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Terry Walter)  writes:
>From what I am reading, the Gravis Ultrasound is like a Sound Blaster
>Stereo Sound Card, but if you want the SCSI interface (is it true SCSI
>or like the SB's) you have to buy an add-on board, if you want 16 bit,
>you have to buy an add-on board.  If this is the case, give me a break,
>I will stick to me PAS 16.  For the price, it does the job plus more.
>

This is absolutely not the case.  The SBPro is an FM synthesis card
wherease the Ultrasound uses wavetable/sample playback synthesis.  It
has 32 voices in mono, 16 in stereo (panning), and all voices are
channels through which you can play samples stored on its 512k of RAM
(expandable to 1M).  

To get a taste of what wavetable synthesis can offer over FM synthesis,
compare a MOD to a ROL file.  (I don't mean to ridicule FM.  As others
have pointed out to me, proper FM synthesis with the right operators
and wave functions is very good.  The FM on SB, SBPro's, PAS-16's, etc.
is just very limited.)  MODs are only 4-voice, 8-bit, 8 or 16 kHz, but
nonetheless, they sound worlds better than FM.  Now, the Ultrasound
uses the same approach to music as MODs, but it has 32 voices in mono,
16 panning voices in stereo (MOD voices don't even pan), and hardware
that resamples and mixes.  To play MODs on the dumb (i.e. unassisted)
DACs of SB's and PAS's (and 'Pros and '16s) requires the CPU to handle
all the mixing of the samples, which can be time consuming.  The Gravis
card does all the mixing through hardware, freeing up the CPU.  This
means that even slow PCs can produce MOD or MOD-like music at 16-bits,
44.1kHz, and with up to 32 channels, without substantial slow down.

Well, that's my understanding of how the Ultrasound operates.  I have
yet to lay my hands on one.

Phat.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard