From: chrisr@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Chris Ringe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: GUS: Q & A (Read this for more info!)
Summary: The Gravis Ultrasound in the best!
Keywords: GRAVIS, ULTRASOUND, BEST, PAS, SUCKS
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 02:42:04 MDT
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems #1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

u2102800@csdvax.csd.unsw.edu.au writes:

- To all those gravis owners out there!!!!
- PLEASE post in and give me your opinions of the gravis ultrasound.
- Also, can someone get into contact with Gravis and tell me if and when
- they are shipping the GUS (Gravis UltraSound) to Australia?!?!?
- All help is appreciated ;)
-
- **** No enlightening saying because I just couldn't think of one ******

I suppose there is quite a few people anxious to hear about the SOUND/FEEL of
the Ultrasound card.  I hope I can help somewhat...

I picked up my card from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (Where the card is
MANUFACTURED!).  I also stopped at Software Alley (The place on the net that
everyone is talking about).  Software Alley had in 100 cards so far, and my
friend scooped the 100th one.  Anyways, these rumors about the card being
discontinued was probably schemed up by one of those PAS (piece a ----)
owners.  They are NOT going to be discontinued.  <-right from Gravis...

There has been overwhelming offers by over 50 different software manufactures
to support the GUS card. (ORIGIN, SIERRA, MICROPROSE, ect...) Some of these new
pieces of software wil be out in the next month.

Anyways, down to the sound of the board...

The board supports SB emulation through a TSR.  This TSR does quite a lot to
offer complete compatability with MOST software.  There are a few things that
don't work properlly though.  Mostly cheaply written games (ie. GALACTIX).  The
TSR is called SBOS (sound board operating system). This TSR has quite a number
of options, but most importantly is the (-o#) option (# means number).  When
installing SBOS, you get a rather nausating voice saying "SBOS Installed!".
The voice is digitized, however, and the person must of had his fingers up his
nose when he said it.  Back the the (-o#) option.  If the program that you are
running doesn't seem to sound right, or at all, then you have to play with the
other setting.  There is only -o1,-o2,or -o3, so the time consumed testing
each is not terrible.

Once you do have the music playing, you may notice that is sounds a little
different than the soundblaster.  It seems to sound more lifelike, not like
some handheld videogame from years past.  Wolfenstein 3D is my favorite
example.  The difference in sound is incredible.  The digitized samples sound
alot "cleaner", and the background music has depth to it.

The digitizing section of the card is awesome compared to my trashed PAS-16
pile.  Again, the samples are much cleaner at 44.1k on the GUS compared to the
PAS at 44.1k.  The digitizing software with the GUS is graphical and easy to
use.

Quite frankly, the only complaint I have is that it doesn't play everything.
But like I said, the only stuff that doesn't run is cheaply programmed
software.  Overall, the GUS is going to be the card to beat.  If a GUS pro is
going to be a reality, I for one will be sure to scoop it.

BTW - When sending in your registration cards, please ask for OS/2 support.
Mickeysoft's Windog just doesn't cut it...

Feel free to pose any questions about the card... just title is "GUS: Q & A"
and will try to answer anything I can...  The reason for the the title?  I
don't feel like listening to the rambling of holyer than thou PAS owners.

Make no joke, my GUS kicked my PAS-16's "pas" around the block...



 /  __  ___   /___                    \ /   Chris Ringe       (VE6MCP)    \
|  /  \(__   / ___)                    |    St. Albert, Alberta, CANADA    |
|  \__/___) / (___   F O R E V E R !   |    MAIL: chrisr@ersys.edm.ab.ca   |
 \         /                          / \   PHONE: (403) 460-PLAY/7529    /
Organization: Freshman, MCS general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA