Apparently-To: john.smith@gravis.com


GUS Daily Digest            Thu, 4 Nov 93   007 MST      Volume 8: Issue   4  

Today's Topics:
                  A potentially stupid DRAM question
                 Compaq Deskpro 486m with Ultrasound
                     Correct rumor about GUS MAX
                              DosMax !?
                        Epic Pinball - where?
                   GUS Daily Digest V7 #3 (2 msgs)
                     How to make NHL hockey work?
                   JURASIC PARK (OCEAN) UK (GUS 3D)
                     mega-em time limit extender
                          MegaEM news, etc.
                            Ooohh..Aaah...
                         snap crackle and pop
                          subscribe (2 msgs)

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: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 12:36:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Sinclar Shuit <sshuit@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: A potentially stupid DRAM question

OK Now I have the FAQ and althought the issue is explained clearly there I
am confused. If I have 256K GUS and want to upgrade to 1 MB why do I need 
SIX 256x4 Dram Chips and not 3 as my mathematical intuition would predict.?

Sinclair Shuit : Easily confused GUS owner

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 10:06:34 EST
From: lcheung@mosaic.uncc.edu (Leung Cheung)
Subject: Compaq Deskpro 486m with Ultrasound

I think someone has mentioned the compatibality between the Compaq Deskpro
486m(EISA) with ultrasound.
The Deskpro works very good with the Ultrasound.
The system comes with the Business Audio(MS Sound System), I just set the       ultrasound with irq 15 because the Compaq Audio system sets on irq 11.
And just play with the system.ini and maybe the control.ini in the windows
directory, the sound card should work properly.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 16:14 CST
From: T4100076%twncu865.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU
Subject: Correct rumor about GUS MAX

Hi GUS lover:

  I am the engineering manager of distributor of Gravis in Taiwan, and I saw
someone quote my message without my agreement, and I must correct some of the
quotation he used:

 -All characters of UltraSound
 -16 bit recording function (for the option on GUS, the price is $130,basing
                             on the mail-ordering catalog)
 -SCSI II CD-ROM interface
 -Filter built-in
 -Mixer built-in
 -1024k DRAM on-board
 -Many other new software bundle in package (Voice-Rec,MIDI..)
 -Fixed bugs in UltraSound v3.4
        ^^^^
  I didn't mean the UltraSound board has "bugs" but mean the software improvment
of SBOS or other drivers. Please notice about them and don't be misleaded.

  And I won't received the UltraSound MAX until Dec.,according to the Vice
President of Sales & Marketing of Advanced Gravis, David Reid. He phoned me
today. So the specification might be wrong. And I will certainly receive the
beta test version of 16 bit recording board on GUS. I will test it and post the
result on net.

  About the price, we DO sell it in $210 in local market, but we DO have to do
advertisement for Gravis, who never do any advertisement in Taiwan. Plus we
offer the Chinese user's manual. Also we provide driver updates, upgrades, and
problem solving for Gravis, for those who can't access to Internet or can't
wait some long for Gravis new drivers. PLUS the Sound Blaster 16 ASP is sold
at $400 by Creative Lab, so I don't think $210 is unreasonable.

p.s. We are also encouraging Chinese game company to support the GUS by provid
     -ing they SDK and GUS at free charge. Besides, Taiwan users can see intro
     duction on New Age Gaming magazine, whose report is basing on the data
     we provided. So, we are NOT sitting there and sell GUS in the incredible
     price. Anyone who has their opinion could mail to

     u4100076@twncu865.ncu.edu.tw


Pach Lin

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1993 13:51:07 +0100
From: MATERIA1@IPDUNIVX.UNIPD.IT
Subject: DosMax !?

Hi all. Few days ago someone posted something about a Shareware utility called
DosMax that allows you to get 40k UMB free (so you can LH ultramid without
problems). He mentioned that he (probably) got it from WUArchive, but I've been
unable to locate it. Since I don't seem to be able to connect to ARCHIVE
and run and Archie search, can somebody please give me more info on this 
program (i.e. where can I get it?)
Many thanks. Ciao Paolo Colombo

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 10:43:47 GMT
From: "Bjarni R. Einarsson" <bre@os.is>
Subject: Epic Pinball - where?

'Ello everybody..

	In the last digest the game Epic Pinball was mentioned 3 times..
Where can I get ahold of this?  Since it is an Epic product I would think
it would be available via anonymous FTP somewhere.. wasn't on my favorite
game archive last weekend..

	Is this the same thing as Silverball?  (SW version?)
	What *IS* the most current Epic FTP site?

  ______________________________________________   ___________________
 /                                              \ /                   \
( "Shee, you guys are so unhip its a wonder your O Bjarni R. Einarsson )
(  bums don't fall off!" -- Zaphod Beeblebrox    O  - - bre@os.is - -  )
 \______________________________________________/ \___________________/

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 08:46:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Phat H Tran <ptran@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>
Subject: GUS Daily Digest V7 #3

> Date: 2 Nov 93 07:32:00 PST
> From: EBULALACAO@CSUPomona.Edu
> Subject: recording my own samples
> 
> How do I record my own samples?  Which software am I supposed to use?  Is there
> a limit on the size of the sample?
>

You can use Playfile or USS8 to record in DOS.  With Playfile, the size of
your sample is limited by the amount of free disk space you have.

In Windows, you can use Sound Recorder, which comes with Win31.  You'll 
then be limited by how much free memory you have on your PC.  There are
also several other Windows recording utilities such as GoldWave or Wave
that you can use.

> Date: Tue, 02 Nov 93 12:03:55 +0100
> From: Roberto Bonet <d93-rob@nada.kth.se>
> Subject: SFX in LOL
> 
> Anybody out there who knows how to get good soundfx in Lands of Lore?
> I have installed the ail drivers and the music is just great, but the
> sfx is not very good.

The digital sound effects will not work with the GUS AIL drivers.  The
game is apparently sending a null pointer to the digital routine instead
of the location of the sample to be played.

> Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 19:28:08 -0500
> From: TOMMYLEE@uhura.trinity.toronto.edu
> Subject: snap, crackle and popping with the GUS
> 
>    Here's a question for the techies out there who know about this
> sort of thing:
> 
>     I noticed that when playing back complex music or samples (ie.
> many simultaneous voices or, detailed digital effects), I get a
> little bit of crackle or popping.  Kind of like listening to a radio
> broadcast.
>

That could be clipping on the digital side.  Turn down the volume of your
GUS software.

Pops and clicks can also be due to poor samples, poor loop points, or poor
voice handling routines.  Sometimes, they can be caused by bad DRAM, in
which case the pops get worse the longer a sample stays in GUS memory.

Phat. 

> Date: Tue, 02 Nov 93 17:59:06 EDT
> From: Thayer York <YT50@lafibm.lafayette.edu>
> Subject: Voyetra SPGold
> 
> I know the majority of people here use the GUS for games (at least it
> seems that way), but has anyone figured out a way to get a DOS-based
> MIDI sequencing program (such as Voyetra's SPGold) to use the
> synthesizer on board the GUS?
>

You can try using Mega-Em to emulate a Roland synth on the GUS.
 
> Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 10:48:03 PST
> From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow)
> Subject: XWING don't work!
> 
> Well, I just installed my new GUS card and tried out my one and only game,
> XWING, and no sound at all.  I do also have a demo version of Castle Wolfenstien
> that worked great with GUS, but XWING made no sounds at all.  Now if anyone
> knows how to configure GUS, sbos or whatever to work with XWING, please lit
> me know....thanks in advance

Make sure that your GUS is on 220h, and if the game starts without any sound
at the LucasArts logo, quit it, and restart it again.  It might take several
tries before X-Wing will detect the GUS as SB compatible.

Phat.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 11:50:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Mark Harrison <harrison@lclark.edu>
Subject: Re: GUS Daily Digest V7 #3

> Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 22:28:52 -0700 (MST)
> From: bfreeman@NMSU.Edu
> Subject: Computer Setup
> 
> I have been having trouble getting Wolfenstein 3-D to run correctly
> with my Gravis for some time now. And when I recently purchased
> Privateer, it always crashes on me if I try to enable the digitized
> sounds. I know people have gotten this to work for them. I am running
> SBOS v2.10 and have 1024K of DRAM. I have tried everything recommended
> by Gravis to make sure it works properly, but no such luck getting it
> to work with some programs.

I too had problems with Wolfenstein and SBOS v2.10.  It was giving me the
exact same problems I had with my bad OPTi chipset before I got it fixed. 
Going back to v2.08 fixed the problem though.

> Date: Tue, 02 Nov 1993 09:56:41 -0400 (EDT)
> From: "Two weeks left..." <JKS4675@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
> Subject: Epic Pinball in OS/2
> 
> Well...
> 
> 	This game is nothing short of amazing. It works quite nicely in OS/2,
> but it seems that the game will not save the high scores. Also, the 'goodbye'
> screen does not appear and the thread sits there playing music and doing
> nothing. Minor complaint, I know.
> 
> 	As far as the DOS settings, the game runs way too fast unless you
> change them enough to slow it down. If anybody is interested, I'll post...

Yes, I'm very interested since I can't get it to run as smoothly as it
does in DOS.

Mark Harrison
harrison@sun.lclark.edu

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 14:38:04 PST
From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow)
Subject: How to make NHL hockey work?

Anyone know how to configure NHL hockey to work with GUS.  I used sbos
with default parameters and it mostly played the music, but the digital
sounds...especially the digitized voices were all tweaked.  The voices
where slow and jittery.

Help anyone?
-- 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
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......?
               |                       - Baloo the Bear
 -----------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 09:41:42 GMT
From: Ben Leamy <LEAMY@dhmain.east-london.ac.uk>
Subject: JURASIC PARK (OCEAN) UK (GUS 3D)

Arrrrgh!

I called Ocean after seeing Jarasic Park in the stores.

Why?  No mention of GUS on the box!

Technical support tells me that there is NO GUS support and certainly 
no 3D sound!

What gives?

All the lastest reviews in the UK failed to mention GUS or 3D sound 
as well.  

(PS.  They know we are concerned, apperently they have had loads of 
calls! :))

_____________________________________________________
Ben       INTERNET = LEAMY%uel.ac.uk@earn-relay.ac.uk
(the Bastard)            JANET (UK) = LEAMY@UK.AC.UEL

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1993 11:28:23 +1030 (CST)
From: Gavin <SCARMAN@hfrd.dsto.gov.au>
Subject: mega-em time limit extender

OK, since JS has said that the megaem time limit will be removed - I quote:
 >1) In the next public release the 20min time limit will be removed

and no registrations are possible, I give you an interim solution - a time 
extender by 10 ie. gives 200mins. This TSR intercepts the clock int and only 
passes on 1 in 10, so you MUST load it AFTER megaem. Here's the UUencoded 
version:
----------------------cut from next line --------------------
begin 666 slow.com
MZR&0      H +O\.!P%T!U"P(.8@6,\NQP8' 0H +O\N P&X"#7-(2Z)'@,!
2+HP&!0&Z"0&X""7-(;HC <TG
 
end
--------------------- cut to above line ---------------------

And for those of you who don't have uudecode but can drive debug or whatever:
EB 21 90 00 00 00 00 0A  00 2E FF OE 07 01 74 07
50 B0 20 E6 20 58 CF 2E  C7 06 07 01 0A 00 2E FF
2E 03 01 B8 08 35 CD 21  2E 89 1E 03 01 2E 8C 06
05 01 BA 09 01 B8 08 25  CD 21 BA 23 01 CD 27

A big thanks to JD who wrote this for me ( I have a MT32 so megaem was only an
experiment for me). Oh, BTW I disclaim any responsibility for everything.

------------------------------

Date: Wed,  3 Nov 93 01:46:00 BST
From: f.graham@genie.geis.com
Subject: MegaEM news, etc.

K.S. Holly,
        Yeh, you hit 2 notorious ones in a row, I dunno about Harrier, we
all feel for ya. But the following otta be encouraging, especially as FPS
Football is even mentioned...
 
All,
        I posted this before, but I think it got etherized by the big
bounce. If I'm repeating this, sorry. Here's some news I got hold of,
surprised no-one's posted some of this already, enjoy:
 
     October 26, 1993                                 Issue #  27
   EDITION: in Conference              EDITOR: DAVE REDFERN
 
                                DAILY NEWS
                         The UltraSound Connection
                                 GUS News
 
 
     OK GUSer's, here's whats new. Jayeson Steere will be at
     Gravis Thurs (28th). They should be woking the kinks out of
     the Megaem MT32/SB emulator and maybe we'll get a Beta to
     play with. Gravis has been playing with a Beta with good
     results. They have "Front Page Sports Football" working
     with it and we all know that it wouldn't work with SBOS.
     John Smith told me it was working with some other games
     also with no problem. Gravis has some insight into the
     UltraSound that they want to share with Jayeson which could
     help him finish it up. Forte is working on a New SBOS to
     address some of the recent problems with new games. Don't
     know any more than that. I know MS FS5.0 was one of them
     and I had already figured that one out.<G> Also on a sadder
     note, Matt Cranfield (of Gravis) had a bad accident on his
     motorcycle and was going in for an operation today on his
     spine. Matt is my contact at Gravis and is generally
     responsible for most of the news I get. I guess I'll have
     to get John to fill in till Matt returns. Hopefully Matt
     will have a rapid recovery!
     If you've been paying attention, you know that "Return to
     Zork" is out and has GUS support even though its not on the
     Box. Also get the Playable Demo "Rampage". It supports the
     GUS and looks & Sounds great. Its a Game in the Wolf3D
     tradition. Worth the D/L if you have a fast modem. Rampage
     is a FREE D/L! Thats it for now. See Ya!
                                              Dave
 ====== (end of quote) ====================================================
 
And, Gravis just got a rep up on Genie, here's excerpts of his opening:
 
 ------------
 Category 1,  Topic 47
 Message 123       Wed Oct 27, 1993
 GRAVIS                       at 23:07 EDT
 Greetings.....this is Bryan Del Rizzo from Advanced Gravis.
 Sorry it took so long to get on here, but I had some problems logging on
from Canada....anyways here I am.
 
(stuff deleted)
 Third, just to let you know, we will be addressing your needs on  Genie,
 American On-Line and Compuserve too. I know people have been complaining
about lack of online support, and I apologize, but we are still a very small
company in terms of people.
 
(stuff deleted)
 As some of you may know, the author of Mega-Em, is now under contract with
 Gravis. He arrives in Vancouver tomorrow from Australia. An official release
 of MEGA-EM will be made in the next week or two. The new version will have
 Roland MT-32, Roland General Midi, and Sound Blaster support. This
undoubtly, will eventually replace SBOS. Mega-Em allows you to get great
MIDI music and SB effects only. We will not put support in for SB music.
There is no point, since it sounds lousy anyways, compared to wave table
synthesis.
 
This is a great time for GUS owners. We have tonnes of support from major
 developers including Sierra (LSL6, PQ4, QFG3, Gabriel Knights), Lucasfilm
 (Rebel Assault CD version), Ocean (Jurassic Park),  Mirage (Jack the
Ripper), Knowledge Adventure (9 titles including Kids Zoo), SSI (many
titles), Accolade (Brett Hull Hockey), Maxis (Sim products including SIM
CITY 2000), Hollyware (Johnny Quest), just to name a few.  Developers really
love the GUS. It is very easy to program for (contrary to other comments),
and has really great capabilities, including the 3-D Holographic Sound.
 
As a side note, Thomas Dolby uses the card to create "Virtual Music
 Compositions", a sort of 3-D, interactive composition. He is showcasing his
 works with the GUS at the Guggenheim museum in  New York this month.
 
Anyways, I will keep up to date here, and start uploading some  new files,
 including the new Mega-EM.  Please post to me here or via mail any messages
or questions or whatever regarding our products.
 
Or, you can call me at (604) 431-5020, ext. 1082.
 Also, I started our own topic (#6), so post stuff there too, and  we'll
start to rock this place!
 
Thanks!
 Bryan
  ====== (end of quote) ====================================================
 
And, just for more an extra dash o' good vibes, here's one from the author
of EA's upcoming Seawolf sub sim:
 
------------
 Category 9,  Topic 34
 Message 79        Fri Oct 29, 1993
 J.RATCLIFF3                  at 17:41 EDT
 
Sewaolf FULLY supports the Gravis Ultrasound, not only with a full general
 MIDI music score but also with real-time multichannel 16 bit stereo digital
 sound in the waterfall display.
 
JWR
 ------------ (end of quote)
 
And finally, for the <ahem> RUMOR dept., I'm posting this email from a
friend, please take this for what its worth:
 
Thanks again! And I heard from
 the Sysop of Ultrasnd BBS and he's getting to test the new Mega-em SB
 Program. He say's that it's works great as General Midi and SB digital,but
 locks up when trying to do SB music.Mr. Steele (Author of Mega-em) will
 be working at Gravis for the next 6 months on new projects involving Mega-
 em.The papers are signed! The contracts ink is drying!We should see a
release copy in about a week hopefully.
 ========= (yep, end of last quote) ===============================
 
Break out the drool buckets, GUS'ers!
 
     *------------------- f.graham@genie.geis.com ---------------------*
 

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 15:05:24 +0800 (PST)
From: Francis Li <fli@nermal.santarosa.edu>
Subject: Ooohh..Aaah...

I am reaaaalllly looking forward to this next year with my GUS.  When I
bought it early this year I really started to regret it but I think it
will ALL be repaid when Rebel Assault comes out with HOPEFULLY GUS
Support. Has everyone seen the previews? Amazing...

Unfortunately I am kind of disapointed that Gravis is not releasing a beta
of the new MEGAEM right now. Out of all the good things this is the bad
point. First, an amazing program. BUT, with a time limit. THEN, we're told
NOT to register! THEN we know there's a new version that I have heard
works great but they are NOT releasing it! I would RATHER much have a few
system crashes with the new MEGAEM than have to wait longer...

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 14:41:55 PST
From: sjs@netcom.com (Stephen Schow)
Subject: Re: snap crackle and pop

> 
>    Here's a question for the techies out there who know about this
> sort of thing:
> 
>     I noticed that when playing back complex music or samples (ie.
> many simultaneous voices or, detailed digital effects), I get a
> little bit of crackle or popping.  Kind of like listening to a radio
> broadcast.
> 
>     I'm using cheap-o non-amplified speakers, but I hear the same
> popping when I listen through a fairly good set of Sony headphones.
> 
>     In particular, I've noticed this problem in Space Quest V (GREAT
> music and sound effects on the GUS!), and also in the 2nd Reality
> demo (when the multi-sided ball first appears..).  It's not really a
> major problem, I suppose, but it's annoying.
> 
>     Midi files general play without the popping, and I haven't really
> tried my GUS with a wide variety of other software due to lack of
> time on my part.
> 
>     Does anyone out there have any idea what is wrong, if anything?

I have noticed the same thing.  What is going on here?  I thought the GUS
was supposed to be this great high fidelity 16-bit sound. I have a pretty
extensive MIDI studio and I was hoping to add the GUS sounds to some of my
mixes, but not with those crackles!  I have also noticed that while 
auditioning patches such as acoustic piano, the sounds have a lot of noise
as they decay out.  Sort of a compressor hiss kind of thing.  Anyone have
any comments?

-- 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
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......?
               |                       - Baloo the Bear
 -----------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 03 Nov 93 14:51:59 +0000
From: eeyjsfa@unicorn.ccc.nottingham.ac.uk
Subject: subscribe

subscribe

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 13:50:42 -0600
From: Christopher Neely <chris@celnext.BoysTown.ORG>
Subject: subscribe



------------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 93 13:06:11 +0100
From: rock@POOL.Informatik.RWTH-Aachen.DE

Hi folks!
 
There is one thing i cannot understand: If Electronic Arts owns Origin,
and EA supports GUS, why can't Origin support GUS too ?
I mean, why should EA lawyers delay GUS support in Origin games?
Brooding...Olli

------------------------------

End of GUS Daily Digest V8 #4
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