The GUS Daily Digest Saturday, 16 December 1995 Volume 26 : Number 009 Today's Topics: Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 Re: Pro Patches Lite WPATMENU Compressed recording under Windows re: Pro Patches Lite Pro Patches Lite - Gauge.vbx Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 Recording with a GUS Max re: mt32 thingy gus and win95 Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 Pro Patches Lite - update 1.34 RE: MT32 stuff RE: Privateer gravis web-site problems AWEful? Whats happened To the digest GUS RAM under WIN Re: GUS RAM under WIN Theme Park or HMI Drivers 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Yossi Oren Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 11:42:26 +0200 Subject: Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 Mark, if your CDROM is up to it, check out CDINFO, which was written by Dick (hi Dick!) It's available on GUS sites, and it's currently at version 1.3 or 1.4 (cdinfo13 or cdinfo14). John, the GUSDK lists the MIDI commands supported by GUS hardware and software. I think modulation is supported, but I don't know about portamento. And yes, you can subscribe to the digest in mailserver format - the info is in the footer. Michael, if you have VBX loading problems, make sure they're located either in your PATH or in your Windows or System subdirs. Yossi. lioren1@weizmann.weizmann.ac.il / Visit . Currently serving somewhere in / Politically correct my ass. the Israeli Defense Forces. / Get a GUS. - --------( "ObKibo" )--------- ------------------------------ From: Clarke Brunt Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 09:56:34 GMT Subject: Re: Pro Patches Lite WPATMENU Well - yet another Digest >50k and full mainly of replicated copies of messages. I do wish the Digest listserv would work properly (and no - I don't want to receive individual messages - the distraction here at work would be too great). Anyway, I too can't get WPATMENU that comes with Pro Patches Lite (version of 8th December I think) to run. I'm trying to run it under Win95, but I doubt that it relevant. First the error other have reported about 'loading GAUGE.VBX' (yes - I believe it is GAUGE and not GUAGE as eveyone else seems to type!) - - there wasn't one of these on my system, so I found one with Archie, only for the error to be replaced with one 'Error registering class...' I think (sorry, the machine with the error is at home). I suspect the author must have all the Visual Basic bits and pieces on his machine, which makes it difficult to know just which of them are required on users' machines. - -- Clarke Brunt (CCB), Principal Software Engineer, Laser-Scan Ltd, Science Park, Milton Rd, CAMBRIDGE, CB4 4FY, England. Tel: (+44) (0)1223 420414; Fax: 420044 Email: clarke@lsl.co.uk ------------------------------ From: Okan Tuncer Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 12:23:00 PST Subject: Compressed recording under Windows Help! How can I take advantage of GUSMAX DDSP chip to make compressed recording under Windows 3.1? I can do that with USS under DOS, but how under Windows? Thanks Okan Tuncer Turkey ------------------------------ From: Eero R{s{nen Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 13:58:34 +0200 Subject: re: Pro Patches Lite >Gerd Reichinger wrote: >As the author of the biggest _quality_ collection of MIDI files for the GUS, Oooh, the you must be wise ;) . >First of all I want to say that Eero R{s{nen did a great job compiling >this new patch set. It is well-balanced and it seems to be a big improvement >when playing MIDI files from commercial games software. Could you just decide your opinion about Pro Patches Lite. I don't like this kind of manipulation. First you're saying "it seems to be a big improvement" and later "I'm a little disappointed". >I tried out a lot of high-quality MIDI files from my collection, and I must >say that I'm a little disappointed. With PPL our beloved GUS tends to sound >like an ordinary wavetable board - without getting close to the better ones >(Roland SC-10, SC-15 etc.). HAH !! It's the GUS we are 'talking' about here !!! The oldest cheap wavetable card there is , with NO effects and relatively small memory. If you mean by "ordinary wavetable card" card like "Ensoniq soundscape", I am pretty flattered. >However, I cannot agree with the enthusiastic opinions posted by various >people in this digest. I am getting them by Email also...and there are LOTS OF of them !! What can you say about that ? Everybody's wrong ?!! Anonymous philosopher: "If million flies like the taste of shit, they can't be wrong, can they ?" :) . >Not much is left of the often-mentioned brilliant sound quality. If GUS' sound quality is so brilliant, then, why GUS is getting the worst results when comparing the sound of WaveTable sound card ?? Sure, things were a bit different one or two years back. And yes, GUS has brilliant sound quality when compared to FM synthesis... with or without Pro Patches Lite. When I bought GUS, I was pretty disappointed to the sound quality, because I had just heard Ensoniq SoundScape. That's why I made Pro Patches Lite. I bought GUS, only, because it was cheaper (money didn't come from my rear end :) )...and because of the support for demos and other software. >the new patches are well chosen many of them sound a bit muffled and dull. That only your personal opinion...not a 'complete truth'. Send me a complete list of the patches and tell what's wrong with them and I'll see what I can do. >Some patches have grown bigger and still sound worse than before (the >overdriven and distorted guitars for example). I think it's generally accepted fact that GUS's elecric guitars are not so good. IMHO the PPLT guitars are a lot better...well may be I am not in a position of judging PPLT patches. Besides you can always remove the patches you don't like from you PPLT directory !!! There sure are not many of them. >I guess the problem is that Eero does neither have the equipment nor the >skill to produce high-quality patches like the professionals (Roland, >Terratec etc.). This is not meant as an offence but as an explanation. Bet I don't have the equipment. Skill ? I know something... I just have 1 meg GUS, Ess688 based 16-bit cheap SB-clone and couple of Wav editors. Just about anybody could do what I did and imagine how much better the sound of GUS would be, if there were more people developing sounds than people who are just critisizing the productions :(. You must remember that I am not getting any money (not a dime) from this and that's why you cannot expect the results to be perfect...nor even good. You can think PPLT as "a free present". If you like it, use it and enjoy...if you don't like it, don't use it and shut up ! Well, you could always ask Roland or Terratec to do a patch set for GUS. Hope it won't cost you anything :) !! This kind of thing always happens to popular stuff !! First you go up, then you go down...just like "Knight Rider" the TV series :). >And what is worst: Some of the best MIDI files available - the ones that >(probably) sounded better on the GUS than on any other card - now tend to >sound mediocre. I bet, there are not many of them and at least I didn't buy WaveTable card just to play midis which are specially made for it. In contrary, there are thousand of midi files which are not made specially made for GUS, which...almost all...sound a lot better with PPLT. Eero P.S. Manipulation - "Still, it was nice to read yout honest opinion" 8-) . ------------------------------ From: Eero R{s{nen Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 13:59:43 +0200 Subject: Pro Patches Lite - Gauge.vbx >It contually gives an invalid operation with an error loading GUAGE.VBX??? >Could someone help me? I'll upload the .vbx file (with update 1.34) to EPAS one of these days. I'am really sorry of my carelessness !! Eero - the author of Pro Patches Lite ------------------------------ From: Adrian Kwong Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 07:00:48 -0500 Subject: Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 >From: Dewi Daniels >> Also I Have A SBawe 32 Sitting Outside of my machine how hard is it to >> set them up so they work together? > >Dead easy. Go for it! We'd all be interested to know how you think the >AWE32 compares with the GUS! I have an SB32 and a GUS. I don't want to start any debates but I will comment briefly on the two. Please email me directly and save the digest from a flame war if you want to debate. The GUS was the best card I had. It was a 2.4. It had 1Meg. It was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It had wonderful MIDI, mediocre WAV capabilities, and had some interesting utilities for it. I still look for GUS stuff even though I no longer use it. I now have an SB32 with 2 Megs of RAM. I leave the patch setting on "GS". You'd be suprised at just how many MIDI files use GS mappings. However, The builtin Drum Kits (For GM and the GS) are pathetic. Other than that, I find all my MIDI's to be so much more vibrant and alive. (it has Reverb and Chorus) The other part is, It's supported by Windows 95 and that is what I use exclusively. Overall, I like the SB32. I will probably pickup an Interwave based card when they become popular. (just cuz...) ------------------------------ From: Aaron Cameron Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 11:54:00 -0330 Subject: Recording with a GUS Max I've recently tried to record digital audio throught a mic to the gus max. I've tried this in DOS and win. However, for whatever reason I hardly ever get any input, and the couple times I did the signal was so weak that it could hardly be heard even with the playback volume maxed out. I've got the thing set to 220,5,6,11,7. I've tried the mic in both input jacks (incidentally, does anybody know which one is for the mic and which one is for the line? The one closer to the joystic plug, or the one ont he outside?). I figure either the mic is fried or the jacks are fried (never used either before, so i don't know which if either is broken). Anybody else have simmilar problems and if so how can they be fixed? Cheers, AC /---------------------------------------------------------------------------\ | *** ***** WELCOME TO MY WORLD! | | ***** *********** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | ** ** **** *** It's really not that bad... | | *** *** **** once you get used to it! | | *********** **** | | ************* **** *** ---------> Aaron Cameron <--------- | | **** **** *********** Memorial University of Newfoundland | | ***** ***** ***** ---> acameron@europa.cs.mun.ca <--- | \---------------------------------------------------------------------------/ ------------------------------ From: George Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 08:38:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: re: mt32 thingy > Hmm? So it dosn't load patches, but makes an FM synth datum for the > noise it wants? Urk. Anyone wanna make a mt-32 dump TSR that > saves all the reprogramming a game sends, then figure it out? > > Anyway, what this takes is the following: Figure out the MT32 autodetect > routines, and make a TSR that does that, but ignores anything else. > Take that, then find the specs on the MT32 reprogramming. (I.E. what > means what) play a game, dumping any reprogramming info to disk, > then use that to make a patchset for the GUS. let's hope gravis would able to do something like this for the gus pnp through its realtime 'mix-modify-???' capability. - -george ------------------------------ From: George Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 08:43:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: gus and win95 where can i get the latest drivers (just the drivers only) that will work with win95. i have v5.50 and have problems with this beast. everytime i run win95, i get an error that says something like: "cannot use ultrasound" or something like that, and when i check the midi and audio status in the multimedia folder, it says: "enabled but inactive because of an unknown reason" anyone have a suggestion? i got it working before when i upgraded win3.1, but no longer worked as soon as i installed a new hp printer driver, in which win95 "detected a new component". i tried reinstalling the drivers via install-new-hardware-wizard, or by quitting to dos mode and running the ultrasound setup, but still doesn't work. help me!!!! it's been very quiet for the past 1.5 weeks. - -george ------------------------------ From: GUI TERENCE ANG Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 14:31:56 -0500 Subject: Re: The GUS Daily Digest V26 #8 > From: gioragur@NETVISION.net.IL > Date: Sat, 9 Dec 95 20:03:42 PST > Subject: RE: The GUS Daily Digest V25 #34 > > - ---------------------------------------------- > Hi all, > > Maybe it's been said before but I can't rememeber. I just bought the > game Privateer (ok it's an oldy but so are Larry games and they are > still great!!!), and with SBOS it starts ok but when in a dog fight > the game stops and starts in intervals (so it stutters). It's become > unplayable. Now I've downloaded the AILPATCH.ZIP and that says i have > to run it on the SOUND.TRE file. This file doesn't exist however!!! > Has anyone had the same problems and could you fix it? > You can directly mail me. > > Thanks all in advance, > > Dennis > menace@lcnnl.sprint.com > - ---------------------------------------------- > > Well, i played privateer with SBOS, FX worked fine, music sucked. > > About the SOUND.TRE, i think it's from the Privateer speech disks, > not sure though. > The CD-Classic version of Privateer (which I assume is what's being talked about here) only contains two main files: priv.tre and rf.tre. I believe the patches for this game weren't designed for the CD (it would be kind of hard to overwrite the files). You can try using the latest version of Mega-Em (3.06b, I believe), and see if that helps. I've got the GUS Max and a mono SB, so I didn't have much problems with the music. My CD was damn slow though, so I copied the whole thing into my HD, cleared the game, then deleted it. TAG ------------------------------ From: Eero R{s{nen Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 22:59:29 +0200 Subject: Pro Patches Lite - update 1.34 I Just uploaded update v1.34 for Pro Patches Lite 1.33 to EPAS. == Files: ftp://archive.epas.utoronto.ca/pub/pc/ultrasound/submit/pplt134upd.* What's new in version 1.34 ========================== - acguitar.pat I made even better version of acoustic guitar. - harmonca.pat The middle wave had clicky loop and it was practically unloopable, so I deleted it. With two waves the patch is still good (better ?!). - nyguitar.pat Better looping. - acpiano.pat Was a bit off tune. Should be better now. - altosax.pat The middle wave was too quiet. - rockorg.pat Was a bit off tune. Should be better now. - gauge.vbx This file was needed for windows version of Patmenu to work. I should have included this in the first place. I am sorry about the inconvenience ! Eero R{s{nen - author of the Pro Patches Lite ------------------------------ From: "Scarman, Gavin" Date: Thu, 14 Dec 95 18:02:00 CST Subject: RE: MT32 stuff >From: Dan Merillat >>On Mon, 4 Dec 1995, Dewi Daniels wrote: >> The MT32 was a rather unique card. As far as I know, the GUS does as >> well as any other card (and better than most) in emulating the MT32. >> The main problem as far as game sound is concerned is that the MT32 was >> programmeable (rather like an FM synthesis card), so that the games >> writer could create new sounds, for example engine noise or gun shots. > Hmm? So it dosn't load patches, but makes an FM synth datum for the > noise it wants? Urk. Anyone wanna make a mt-32 dump TSR that > saves all the reprogramming a game sends, then figure it out? Well it's not FM but Rolands own Linear Synthesis, which is a combination of up to 4 sounds sources which are either PCM (samples) or oscillators (which are sine/square/triangle). there are also a number of envelopes plus a wide variety of mixing methods. ie. a software emuator would be a very complex program indeed. ie. forget it. > Of course, the easier way would be to dump the MT32 before and after you > play. (can it be dumped? I.E. pull the sounds back out?) If not, yes it can be dumped, but no point ie. see above. >then you need to play each one and sample it (yecch.) Yup, can be done but not well, I've tried. >> The problem could be overcome by creating new patch sets for specific >> games > Unless some game got fancy and started reloading different sounds at > different parts of the game: Oy! unusual since the speed of MIDI data is so poor, but has been done before. >> As far as MIDI files for the MT32, I agree they sound a bit odd. You're Well there is a MID converter called something like MT2GM, which will convert MT arranged MIDs to GM instruments. >> probably right in saying that the GUS patch set is optimised towards >> General Midi. I *really* like the idea of some kind MT-32 owner >> recording the MT-32 sounds and creating a GUS patch set. Better yet, Megaem already does it. ie look at the patches megaem uses in MT mode. They are actually reasonably close to the MT sounds (except for Dr.SOLO which is possibly my favourite and one of the most commonly used, tho even that one is ok) >> the patch set could include some of the game specific sounds, such as >> gun fire, etc. Yes but each game uses the sfx patches in a different location. > Anyway, what this takes is the following: Figure out the MT32 autodetect > routines, and make a TSR that does that, but ignores anything else. > Take that, then find the specs on the MT32 reprogramming. (I.E. what > means what) play a game, dumping any reprogramming info to disk, > then use that to make a patchset for the GUS. Yeah, that's _all_. :) ------------------------------ From: "Carlo D. Fanega" Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 13:19:03 +0800 (GMT+0800) Subject: RE: Privateer On Sat, 9 Dec 1995 gioragur@NETVISION.net.IL wrote: > ------------------------------------------ --> > Maybe it's been said before but I can't rememeber. I just bought the > game Privateer (ok it's an oldy but so are Larry games and they are > still great!!!), and with SBOS it starts ok but when in a dog fight > the game stops and starts in intervals (so it stutters). It's become > unplayable. Now I've downloaded the AILPATCH.ZIP and that says i have > to run it on the SOUND.TRE file. This file doesn't exist however!!! > ---------------------------------------------- > Well, i played privateer with SBOS, FX worked fine, music sucked. > About the SOUND.TRE, i think it's from the Privateer speech disks, > not sure though. I don't think the SOUND.TRE file is patchable in the CD-ROM version of the game. Origin lumped all the .TRE files into one huge file that stays on the CD. Carlo ------------------------------ From: "Tomas Nagaj" Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 12:44:22 GMT+01DST Subject: gravis web-site problems Hi all, does anyone have any experience with accessing official Gravis web- site? I remember people reporting problems with online registrations. Well (hell!), I'm having trouble even accessing the home page at www.gravis.com! My browser always displays message saying that the server rejects my attempt to access it with an explanation that it might be down or overloaded. I'm using Netscape v1.2 if that's of any interest but I doubt the problem might be caused by browser's incompatibility - the thing is that Netscape sets the standards and I've had no problems with other web-pages so far. Does this problem affect only European surfers? Has anyone had the same problem? Tomas _ _ _ | |_| |_| | ============================================= |_________| \ Tomas Nagaj / |___|_| / University of Economics Prague \ |_|___| ( e-mail: xnagt01@st.vse.cz ) |___|_| \ phone: +42 2 8555674 / _/_______\_ / PC 486DX2/80, GUS-MAX \ |___________| ============================================= ------------------------------ From: Ted Ching Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 03:04:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: AWEful? I don't know why so many of you complain about the AWE-32 sounding so bad. I just heard one, and its MIDI sounds frighteningly close to the Roland Sound Canvas. More or less the same, IMO. Warcraft 2 freezes occassionally when using my GUS with MIDI. Probably cuz of loading all those damn patches something went wrong, but now i really don't see why i put up with this. The SB32 is $150. Unless someone can tell me why I should keep my GUS over the SB32, my conclusion: FOR SALE: GUS rev2.4 with 1 MEG RAM (make me an offer) ------------------------------ From: Rocco Valotta Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 21:02:11 -0500 Subject: Whats happened To the digest I haven't received the digest for about a week now anyone know what has happened to the digest or is there something i haven't done. If anyone has an answer for me plz email me cuz odds are i won't be getting the digest. Thanks for The Reply ------------------------------ From: Ed Dunkle Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 18:51:05 -0600 Subject: GUS RAM under WIN I have a 1024 GUS 2.2. I have loaded bosen_l.pat with Ultramid but I can not get it to load under WIndows with patch manager. The Patch manager reports that I only have 1008k of memory left, before any patches are loaded. The Gus dram test reported all OK on 1024k bytes. Anyone know what's up? ********************************************************************* * Ed Dunkle Texas Instruments Inc. * * Internet: ewd@ti.com PO Box 869305 MS 8409 * * CompuServe: 76376,2215 Plano, TX 75086 * * 214-575-4791 * * FAX 214-575-2524 * ********************************************************************* ------------------------------ From: Lance Kalzus Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 14:12:50 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: GUS RAM under WIN On Wed, 13 Dec 1995, Ed Dunkle wrote: > I have a 1024 GUS 2.2. I have loaded bosen_l.pat with Ultramid but I can not > get it to load under WIndows with patch manager. The Patch manager reports > that I only have 1008k of memory left, before any patches are loaded. The > Gus dram test reported all OK on 1024k bytes. Anyone know what's up? Your Windows GUS memory = installed memory - memory reserved for sound-playback buffers (now you know what the stuff in the lower left-hand corner of the UltraSound setup window is for :) - some minor internal data (<1K usually). ------------------------------ From: Jimmy Wan Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 17:18:27 -0500 (EST) Subject: Theme Park or HMI Drivers Does anyone know anything about HMI Drivers? If not, has anyone gotten a GUS Max to work with Theme Park??? No mention of it on the G-List... Jimmy Wan University of Michigan-Computer Engineering Turtle Beach Maui Page http://www-personal.umich.edu/~vecna/maui.html ------------------------------ End of The GUS Daily Digest V26 #9 ********************************** To post to tomorrow's digest: To (un)subscribe or get help: To contact a human (last resort): FTP Sites Archive Directories --------- ------------------- Main N.American Site: ftp.orst.edu pub/packages/gravis wuarchive.wustl.edu systems/ibmpc/ultrasound Main Asian Site: nctuccca.edu.tw PC/ultrasound Main European Site: src.doc.ic.ac.uk packages/ultrasound ftp.pwr.wroc.pl pub/ultrasound Main Australian Site: ftp.mpx.com.au /ultrasound/general /ultrasound/submit South African Site: ftp.sun.ac.za /pub/packages/ultrasound Submissions: archive.epas.utoronto.ca pub/pc/ultrasound/submit Newly Validated Files: archive.epas.utoronto.ca pub/pc/ultrasound Mirrors: garbo.uwasa.fi mirror/ultrasound ftp.st.nepean.uws.edu.au pc/ultrasound ftp.luth.se pub/msdos/ultrasound Gopher Sites Menu directory ------------ -------------- Main Site: src.doc.ic.ac.uk packages/ultrasound WWW Pages --------- Main Site: http://www.xmission.com/~grue/gus.html Main European Site: http://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/ultrasound/ Main Australian Site: http://ftp.mpx.com.au/archive/ultrasound/general/ http://ftp.mpx.com.au/archive/ultrasound/submit/ http://ftp.mpx.com.au/gravis.html Mirrors: http://www.st.nepean.uws.edu.au/pub/pc/ultrasound/ GUS Digest Archives: http://gpu.srv.ualberta.ca/~itam/digest.html http://www.student.adelaide.edu.au/~godfathr/gus/gus.html MailServer For Archive Access: Email to Hints: - Get the FAQ from the FTP sites or the request server. - Mail to for info about other GUS related mailing lists (programmers, musicians, etc.).