HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jh5y+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jordan Powell Hargrave)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: GUS and Star Control II
Date: 21 Nov 92 19:36:25 GMT
Organization: Senior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


  Anyone with a GUS and Star Control II having problems with the game playing
the wrong patches?  Epsecially when I go down to a planet's surface, the sound
is way off (playing patches from all over the place), and when I go into
Hyperspace, the sound is messed up too, for a few seconds, till the patches
get reloaded. (rather annoying)

  Jordan Hargrave

  PS: Telemart is shipping the GUS, I got mine yesterday (Ordered Oct. 5th)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: goyal@utdallas.edu (Mohit K. Goyal)
Subject: Anyone heard Ultrasound & Star Control 2?
Organization: Univ. of Texas at Dallas
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 06:44:31 GMT

Has anyone with a GUS played SC2 yet?

I'm surprised no one has bragged about how good it sounds yet. :)

Anyways, I am interested to know if the sound is good.

I'm espescially interested in comparisons, since SC2 is the first game
we can compare the SB-PRO and GUS with.

Thanks.
From: DXR8@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: SoundBlaster V2 and fast machines
Date: 23 Nov 92 19:30:30 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

I saw some fixes for fast machines on the Creative Lab BBS.  Can't remember
exactly what they were for, but you might give it a try..

(408) 428-6660

Brian
From: edhall@rand.org (Ed Hall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: PAS 16 SDK (was: Re: Pro Audio Spectrum FAQL ver 1.1)
Date: 17 Nov 92 00:43:27 GMT
Organization: RAND

In article <1e78u2INNfh2@uwm.edu> tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>From article <4008@randvax.rand.org>, by edhall@rand.org (Ed Hall):
>> In article <1e6ep4INNd55@uwm.edu> tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>>> . . . .  The problem
>>>is that the source for MVSOUND.SYS is NOT included! . . . .

>> There is a file "MVSOUND.ASM" in the developer's kit which sure looks
>> like the source to MVSOUND.SYS.  Perhaps you obtained an old or
>> incomplete SDK...

>Have you looked at the file MVSOUND.ASM?  As far as I can tell, it contains
>some of the routines used in MVSOUND.SYS, but it is not the complete
>source for MVSOUND, unfortunately.  Most importantly, it does not include
>the initialization code.

You are absolutely right--my mistake.  There seems to be a fair amount
of initialization code in pas/subs/misc/* --it claims to be able to
initialize the PAS from a cold boot--but it all assumes that the base
address is already set.  Grepping around turns up only the definition
of "MASTERADDRP", the "master address pointer"--but no code in the
kit ever references this definition or the hex port number (9A01) it
is defined to.

		-Ed Hall
		edhall@rand.org
From: tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Michael D Kretzer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: Pro Audio Spectrum FAQL ver 1.1
Date: 15 Nov 1992 21:17:24 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Reply-To: tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

From article <1992Nov15.043147.11379@sco.com>, by bobti@sco.COM (Bob Tinsman):
> Has anyone written a Unix driver for the PAS-16? If not, are the specs
> given in the developer's kit sufficient to figure out how to write a 
> driver?

Unfortunately the specs given in the developer's kit are not sufficient
for writing a driver for an operating system other than DOS.  The problem
is that the source for MVSOUND.SYS is NOT included!  This means that you
have no way to know how to properly initialize the card.

I am a registered ISV developer for MediaVision and I am currently
working on drivers for both OS/2 and Unix BSD386, and not having documentation
and/or source code for the initialization of the card is hampering
my progress.  I chatted with MediaVision's technical support and the
lady answering the phone gave me the first clue to initializing the board.
Here's how to 'wake up' the PAS16 board:

	1) Write 0xBC to port 0x9A01
	2) Write 0xE2 to port 0x9A01
	3) Read port 0xFF88.  If it returns a non-0xFF, the board is 'awake'.
           (The number returned by this port is the revision level of the 
	   board)
Port 0x9A01 is NOT mentioned in any of their technical documentation!!!

Anyway, then you can turn on the audio output by writing to the port mentioned
in the documentation (my memory fails me as to what the number of the port
is) and you will hear a slight hiss as output (normal 'background' system
noise) letting you know that audio output has been disabled...

But there must be more to initializing the board, because the board still
won't work with OS/2 & Unix Soundblaster drivers at all.  (However, if I
load MVSOUND.SYS in a DOS Box under OS/2, and then exit from it...the
board is properly initialized and OS/2 Soundblaster drivers work fine).
Also, I don't know how to replicate the 'T:1' paramter of MVSOUND.SYS...
I get lots of noise if I don't use this...and of course, I don't know
how to set up the DMA or IRQ port for the PAS 16 port.

But writing what those two things to port 0x9A01 does 'wake up' the board
from a warm/cold reboot...

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with DOS device driver structure, so it's
taking me a long time to rip apart MVSOUND.SYS.  Has anyone done this
perchace?

Unfortunately, the lady I talked to cut me short on Monday and said she
would call me back.  She hasn't been in all week it seems...I haven't been
able to get in touch with her since then...I hope I will be able to catch
her this week to find out how to initialize the board.

If anyone else knows how to initialize the PAS 16 board fully, I would
greatly appreciate it if they sent me mail or posted to this newsgroup
exactly how to do it...

Well, that's all I know so far...

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: dohm@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Peter J Dohm)
Subject: New GUS Software Availability
Summary: When Is it going to ship?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: comp
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 01:16:57 GMT

Hi all...
Concerning this new software that Gravis is intending upon shipping, does
anyone know when it'll be shipping with the hardware?
(hopefully immediately, i'm getting one very soon...)

Pete
---
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Peter J. Dohm - Comp. Science Major    |    The Ohio State University    |
| ** dohm@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu **    |   ak541@cleveland.freenet.edu   |
| dohm.1@osu.edu, dohm@cis.ohio-state.edu |     dohm@cis.ohio-state.edu     |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: ariz@sulo.otol.fi (A Salmela)
Subject: Re: Pro Audio Spectrum FAQL ver 1.1
Organization: Oulu Institute of Technology, Finland
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 10:28:01 GMT

From article <4008@randvax.rand.org>, by edhall@rand.org (Ed Hall):
> In article <1e6ep4INNd55@uwm.edu> tanith@csd4.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>>Unfortunately the specs given in the developer's kit are not sufficient
>>for writing a driver for an operating system other than DOS.  The problem
>>is that the source for MVSOUND.SYS is NOT included!  This means that you
>>have no way to know how to properly initialize the card.
> 
> There is a file "MVSOUND.ASM" in the developer's kit which sure looks
> like the source to MVSOUND.SYS.  Perhaps you obtained an old or
> incomplete SDK...
> 
> 		-Ed Hall
> 		edhall@rand.org

BTW, could somebody post it (PAS-16 FAQ ) to this group. I havent been eble
to see it yet.

-Ari
Organization: Sophomore, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 17:58:47 -0500 
From: Ivan Genekey Lau <il00+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: GTS uploaded

Could someone please post the exact locations (i.e. full path as much as
possible) of the GTS files when they are uploaded to Simtel, Ulowell,
Wuarchive, and Saffron.

Also, could the same person perhaps downlaod the files and unzip them
just to make sure that we're not all ofter the same bunch of "corrupt"
files.

Just a request, no flames please.

Ivan
From: bell@nella4.cc.monash.edu.au (mr g.a. bell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Using SBPRO libs in TURBOVISION
Keywords: SBPRO,TURBOVISION,HELP
Date: 15 Nov 92 22:00:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: nella4.bell.721864802
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.



Hi Netters, 

I am having trouble linking in the sbpro libraries
to a TurboVision program. The application works fine if I remove
the sound card calls but when I place the sbpro code in the program
it does not work.

I have found the the order of linking is also a problem, for example
if you do not link in the sbpro library last the program hangs the
computer. You must have not default libs linked and add the libs
you need to the project file.

I get an Abnormal Program termination error which does not occur
when no sbpro libs are linked. 

Can any one help me.

I am using BCC 3.1 on a 486.

Thanks,

Gary.


-- 
``````````` bell@nellads.cc.monash.edu.au `````````````````````````````````````
| Gary Bell                                                                   |
| Department of Robotics and Digital Technology                               |
|Faculty of Computing, Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Australia         |
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: graeme@labtam.labtam.oz.au (Graeme Gill)
Subject: Re: PAS16 & Wave for Windows
Organization: Labtam Australia Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 05:10:01 GMT
Summary: Yes, but ..

In article <1992Nov18.131023.24373@HAN.Paramax.COM>, starner@HAN.Paramax.COM (Mark Starner) writes:
> I just gor Wave for Windows (Turtle Beach) and it doesnt seem to play
> a sound sampled at 16bits/44.1KHz/Stereo.... It plays other Wav files
> (11Khz,Mono) samples fine.... but I cant seem to get it to play the
> 16bit 44.1 khz ones... It seems to play it fast, skipping most of it...
> like a record skipping....
> 
> anyone else have any experience with this software?

	Yes, I have used it a fair bit. It'll be nice when they get more
of the bugs out. 16bit 44.1 stereo - I've had it play short files on
my system ok (33Mhz 486, 8Mb mem, IDE drive, Multisound card), but it
flunked on a long file (7 minutes). I have written my own DOS mode
playback program for the Multisound card and managed to get it to play back
this long file successfully only be bumping the file read-ahead up to about
450 Kbytes (that's 2.5 seconds read-ahead). It seems like your system
has a problem with disk throughput or disk latency.

	Graeme Gill

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Phat H Tran)
Subject: Re: Anyone heard Ultrasound & Star Control 2?
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 00:59:35 GMT

In article <BxyAq7.KIo@utdallas.edu> goyal@utdallas.edu (Mohit K. Goyal) writes:
>Has anyone with a GUS played SC2 yet?
>
>I'm surprised no one has bragged about how good it sounds yet. :)
>
>Anyways, I am interested to know if the sound is good.
>
>I'm espescially interested in comparisons, since SC2 is the first game
>we can compare the SB-PRO and GUS with.
>
>Thanks.
>

Even though SC2 doesn't use the Ultrasound's full potential, AJ Redmer of
Spectrum Holobyte (an avid SC2 fan, though it's made my Accolade) says that
the game sounds best on the GUS.  However, he then goes on to say how
flakey the card is, which I totally disagree.

Phat.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: markus@clement.info.umoncton.ca (MARC PAULIN)
Subject: Re: So what exactly does upgrading GUS to 1MB do for you?
Organization: Universite de Moncton
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 16:33:49 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.121924.17528@stiatl.salestech.com> iam@stiatl.salestech.com (Ian Mercado) writes:
>From: iam@stiatl.salestech.com (Ian Mercado)
>Subject: So what exactly does upgrading GUS to 1MB do for you?
>Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 12:19:24 GMT

>I know it only costs $30 if you do it yourself, but what exactly are you
>gaining in usability by adding the extra 768K of memory?  I assume since
>game manufacturers tend to lean towards the least-common-denominator, that
>it won't make any games sound any better.


I did it myself.  Easy.  I now have 1 Megabyte of memory on my GUS.  I can 
load more patches into my GUS memory and play more complex MIDI files I 
could not play before (with 256K).  
From my point of view, a game will not sound better with 1 Meg, it will have 
more instruments, a richer music.  

                                         ____
              _  _  _                  / \   \ 
            /' )' )' )                |   |   |           
              /  /  /                 | (_|__/         \   
             /     /  __. .__    ___  |   |  __.  . .   \  .   ___ 
            /     (__(_/|__) )__/(__   \_/__(_/|__)\_)__/\__)__) <_ 
                    Markus on QuartzPARADISE and AfterFive
                            (506)855-4974 - Canada
+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
|            markus@info.umoncton.ca          | "My son, ask for thyself    |
|     For Talk:  8900795@info.umoncton.ca     |  another kingdom.  For that |
|---------------------------------------------+  which I leave is too small |
| When all else fails,  read the instructions |  for thee" - King Philippe  |
+---------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
From: c60a-lj@danube.Berkeley.EDU (LAB ASSISTANT)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Re: GUS SB emulation
Date: 19 Nov 92 21:47:18 GMT
Organization: University of California, at Berkeley

bjornhk@dhhalden.no (BJORN HAAVARD KLEVEN) writes:

>In article <c60a-lj.722065923@danube.Berkeley.EDU> c60a-lj@danube.Berkeley.EDU (LAB ASSISTANT) writes:
>>From: c60a-lj@danube.Berkeley.EDU (LAB ASSISTANT)
>>Subject: GUS SB emulation
>>Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 05:52:03 GMT
>>
>Well, since you already own a SB compatible device, what's the problem? 
>Since the SB can coexist with the GUS, I see no reason why the TB cannot? 
>Most programs only support original SB features anyway. Actually, if you're 
>only going to use programs with SB support, what's the point of upgrading?
>(If you're gonna use the GUS as a *MIDI-device*, though, that's a different 
>thing alltogether!)

Well, first of all, I really don't want to have to resort to having 2 sound
cards.  If I decide to go and get a new one, it will be as an UPGRADE, not
as another accessory.  Although I don't plan on using the card for MIDI, 
I do plan on using it for some limited recordings and mixing in the windows
enviornment.  Currently, the THUNDERBOARD sounds like crap in windows -- loud
hissing, popping, etc. - so I would therefore like a card that would utilize
the windows potential.  But I also notice that there is a strong trend in 
games that support the SB PRO now, which is why I'm choosing not to get the 
PAS 16 due to its limited hardware compatability with only the SB.  So 
basically its down to either the GUS or the SB16 - tho I still don't know how
much the SB16 sells for.   My only apprehension about the GUS is that
I don't want to get a card that will not be expelicitely supprted (ie PAS16)
and has limited emulation of the mainstream stuff...
	Guess only time will tell....
						-RAS-

			

>    -=* Bjorn :: bjornhk@sofus.dhhalden.no
>  ACCESS DATA :: TEL: (+47)-9-17 50 48/61-97 791 
>                 BBS: 61-97 304/97 945
> 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: bdl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (brian.d.leshin)
Subject: Re: Problems with new PAS16 Windows drivers (1.42) 
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:21:06 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.162420.6204@cognos.com> smithb@cognos.com (Brad Smith) writes:
...
>
>>BTW, Media Vision should better include some information, at least a general
>>README with some information would be good. They didn't even put in a README
>>for the new Pocket Recorder od the CD App.....(maybe they're assuming that 
>>everyone got the latest beta drivers)!
>
>I agree. You have to wonder what kind of hackers are putting this crap
>together. The lack of *any* documentation is inexcusable, IMHO. :-|

I also downloaded the 1.42 Windows drivers, and seem to be pretty lucky
since I somehow had the right combination of IRQ's, DMA channels, etc.
so that they worked OK. However, I was a little surprised about the lack
of any documentation. I logged back on to MediaVision BBS, and asked
for more information. Here's the dialogue:

-----------------------------begin BBS dialogue-------------------------
From    : BRETT STEWART                          Number    : 698 of 716
To      : BRIAN LESHIN                           Date      : 11/18/92 10:24a
Subject : New PAS-16 WIN DVRS                    Reference : 661
Read    : 11/16/92 1:43p                         Private   : NO
Conf    : 025 - Comments to the Sysop
 
-> Could you post a short description of the changes incorporated into
-> the new PAS-16 windows drivers (Version 1.42)? I downloaded them to
-> replace my version 1.3 drivers, but I'm not sure what the differences
-> are. I "heard" that among other things, you would be able to shell out
-> of Windows 3.1 in 2 operator mode automatically to be able to run
-> SoundBlaster programs. Is this true, or do you still have to hard wire
-> the driver to do this? Thanks.
 
What you have heard is true, if the IRQ's for our DOS and Windows
drivers are the same, then you can sucessfuly shell to dos, and keep
your FM sounds.  Other features include better handling of mixer
settings between DOS and Windows, Improved Pocket Recorder and Mixer,
Pocket CD Player program, more stability, etc.
 
Brett-
------------------------------end BBS dialogue---------------------------

Hope this helps clear up a few questions. I really like the PAS-16, and
kind of sympathize with the support crew; obviously the new software gets
thrown over the fence, and these folks have to try to support it as best
they can. I guess I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on this.

BTW - There is a broadcast message when you log into the BBS saying that
they acknowledge that there is a problem with the 1.42 drivers, and they
have pulled them from the BBS until it's solved. The problem is described
as the .wav "looping" mentioned here. I guess 1.43 is on the horizon.....

============================================================================
Brian Leshin
bdl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com
============================================================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: adavey@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alan Davey)
Subject: Visual Player Problems
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 00:52:34 GMT


Has anyone been having problems getting VP to work with a sound blaster
pro?  Whenever I play a .mod file the oscillators work but the music just
sounds like garbage(no I am not listing to any Euro disco stuff).  I have

played around with the .cfg file and can get the music to play on the
speaker, but have had no luck getting it to work with my SBPro.  I saw no
mention in the documentation about what the programmers had defaults set
to,
so I am assuming that they used 220h and IRQ 7.  If anyone has gotten thi

program to work, please leave a post or e-mail me at:
daveyd@stono.cs.cofc.edu.  I have tried other mod players like wow and 
protracker and have never had a problem with those, so the problem is not
with my sound blaster.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Alan
From: DXR8@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Read before buying MediaVision
Date: 17 Nov 92 19:44:01 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

Day #1
I purchased MediaVisions "Fusion CD-Rom package" (Pro Audio Spectrum card and
NEC-25 CD Rom).  After arriving home and opening the package, I found a 3.5"
install disk.  I realize every other computer owner in the world has a 3.5"
disk drive, but I don't.  For $500 they could throw in a $0.25 5.25" floppy.

After copying the disk at a friends house (since everyone else has a 3.5")
I tried to install it.  My computer hung each time the SCSI driver loaded.
After several hours of frustration, I decided to call their BBS.

Day #1 (Late @ night)
I called the BBS and downloaded all the help files I could find on it.  After
reading them, I was more confused than ever, at this point I'm not sure which
model of the Pro Audio Spectrum board I have..

Day #2
Called MediaVision tech support line.  The operator tells me all the reps are
busy and to leave a description of the problem and they will call back.  When
I tell her what the problem is, she asks what version of the software I am
using, "is it 1.2?"  "No" I say, "it's 1.0."  "That's the problem" she says,"
You have to use 1.2, 1.0 WILL LOCK UP YOUR COMPUTER".  I ask her if they
upgraded the hardware?  "No they didn't."  Hmmmm  then shouldn't the software
that came with the hardware work????  Nevermind....  She tells me what files
to download from the BBS and I do.

Day #2 (After work)
I install the software, wait.... it works!  Great!  I try and install Ultima
Underworld.  It won't install, says I have an IRQ contention.  Hmmm now here's
a problem, the documentation clearly tells me how to change the ProAudio's IRQ
but the SoundBlaster portion is a little sketchy.  The documentation says it
defaults to IRQ 5, but the README files from the BBS say IRQ 7.

Day # 2 (Late at night)
I have taken every card out of my computer and still cannot solve the IRQ
conflict.  At this point I have decided I have the Pro Audio 16 board, and I
must set the IRQ for the Sound Blaster portion up with the sound driver
(Although the README file says there is a jumper. Hmmm not on mine).  I
try it, doesn't seem to make any difference.  Ok, better call Tech Support and
ask....

Day #3 (8:00 AM)
I call Media Vision tech support again, no person this time, just a recording
that they hired 4 more tech support people and to leave a message and they
will call me back.  Ok, I did...

Day #3 (5:00 PM)
No call back yet....

Day #4
(It's Saturday)

Day #5
(It's Sunday)

Day #6
Still no call.  Maybe those people with 3.5" drives will have better luck than
I did if they buy one.  I'm a computer technician/programmer and I sure
couldn't get it to work.  Anyways, I took mine back and bought a combo from
another company...


Brian Rotsten

PS: MediaVision did call on the evening of Day #6 while I was in transit from
work to home, they left a LONG DISTANCE telephone number to call back.  At
that point I was not interested in talking to them.....
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
From: gairns@ccrs.emr.ca (Jamie Gairns)
Subject: Converting from Soundsource to Soundblaster
Organization: Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 20:44:34 GMT

I currently have a soundblaster card which I am impressed with.  I also have
access to several Disney games which use the Sound Source.  I want to find
out what would be required to substitute the soundblaster in place of the
Sound Source?

Please sesnd all responses to gairns@ccrs.emr.ca as I am using his account
for this.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard