Mixomat 1.01a

Contents
About Mixomat
License
Installation
Files
Settings
REXX Interface
Scope
Known Problems
Frequently Asked Questions
Future
History
Updates

1. About Mixomat

Mixomat is a mixer for Soundblaster 16/32 and 64 cards. It is optimized for OS/2 Warp 4 but it also works with OS/2 Warp 3 together. MMPM is not necessary.

2. Licence

Mixomat is Homeware, that means that this program is free for all home users (students, pupils, home workers and other none profit users). I know that IBM wants to drop this market. I want to stop these development with my Homeware campaign. I am a student of chemistry.
All other users must buy a license of Mixomat. A license costs 20$ (or Fr. 30.-) for a single version (or send me a license of your program). Please send the money by mail to my address. Write also your e-mail address that I can send you a confirmation. Updates will be free or they will cost a little update fee. That depends on how much new things are in the update.
Questions? e-mail.

Address:

Christoph Bratschi
Felsenweg 16
CH-4123 Allschwil
Switzerland

E-Mail: cbratschi@datacomm.ch

There is only one version of Mixomat without any limitations!

Guarantee: You use this program at your own risk! All rights are reserved!

3. Installation

1. Create a directory with the name 'MIXOMAT' or choose another name.

2. Unzip the program archive to this directory: unzip archiv.zip.

3. Run INSTALL.CMD to create a WPS program folder.

4. That's it!

4. Files

5. Settings

Settings Dialog:

Context menu:

Click the right mouse button to open a context menu.

Command line:

Keys

Full View

Mini View

6. REXX Interface

Initialization

call RxFuncAdd 'MixLoadFuncs','SBREXX','MixLoadFuncs'
call MixLoadFuncs

Datatypes

Bool  = 0/1
HexNr = 220

Functions

General

HexNr   = MixGetPort()
          MixSetPort(HexPort)
HexNr   = MixCheckPort()
Hi'.'Lo = MixGetDSP()
          MixReset()
Bool    = MixGetTimeCritical()
          MixSetTimeCritical(Bool)

Master

Bool   = MixIsMasterAvailable()
Number = MixGetMasterMin()
Number = MixGetMasterMax()
Number = MixGetMasterL()
Number = MixGetMasterR()
L','R  = MixGetMaster()
         MixSetMasterL(Number)
         MixSetMasterR(Number)
         MixSetMaster(L,R)

Voice

Bool   = MixIsVoiceAvailable()
Number = MixGetVoiceMin()
Number = MixGetVoiceMax()
Number = MixGetVoiceL()
Number = MixGetVoiceR()
L','R  = MixGetVoice()
         MixSetVoiceL(Number)
         MixSetVoiceR(Number)
         MixSetVoice(L,R)

Midi

Bool   = MixIsMidiAvailable()
Number = MixGetMidiMin()
Number = MixGetMidiMax()
Number = MixGetMidiL()
Number = MixGetMidiR()
L','R  = MixGetMidi()
         MixSetMidiL(Number)
         MixSetMidiR(Number)
         MixSetMidi(L,R)

CD

Bool   = MixIsCDAvailable()
Number = MixGetCDMin()
Number = MixGetCDMax()
Number = MixGetCDL()
Number = MixGetCDR()
L','R  = MixGetCD()
         MixSetCDL(Number)
         MixSetCDR(Number)
         MixSetCD(L,R)

Line

Bool   = MixIsLineAvailable()
Number = MixGetLineMin()
Number = MixGetLineMax()
Number = MixGetLineL()
Number = MixGetLineR()
L','R  = MixGetLine()
         MixSetLineL(Number)
         MixSetLineR(Number)
         MixSetLine(L,R)

Micro

Bool   = MixIsMicroAvailable()
Number = MixGetMicroMin()
Number = MixGetMicroMax()
Number = MixGetMicro()
         MixSetMicro(Number)

Speaker

Bool   = MixIsSpeakerAvailable()
Number = MixGetSpeakerMin()
Number = MixGetSpeakerMax()
Number = MixGetSpeaker()
         MixSetSpeaker(Number)

Treble

Bool   = MixIsTrebleAvailable()
Number = MixGetTrebleMin()
Number = MixGetTrebleMax()
Number = MixGetTrebleL()
Number = MixGetTrebleR()
L','R  = MixGetTreble()
         MixSetTrebleL(Number)
         MixSetTrebleR(Number)
         MixSetTreble(L,R)

Bass

Bool   = MixIsBassAvailable()
Number = MixGetBassMin()
Number = MixGetBassMax()
Number = MixGetBassL()
Number = MixGetBassR()
L','R  = MixGetBass()
         MixSetBassL(Number)
         MixSetBassR(Number)
         MixSetBass(L,R)

Output

Bool                              = MixIsOutputAvailable()
LineL','LineR','CDL','CDR','Micro = MixGetOutput()
                                    MixSetOutput(LineL,LineR,CDL,CDR,Micro)

Line

Bool = MixIsOutLineAvailable()
Bool = MixIsOutLineLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetOutLineL()
       MixSetOutLineL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsOutLineRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetOutLineR()
       MixSetOutLineR(Bool)

CD

Bool = MixIsOutCDAvailable()
Bool = MixIsOutCDLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetOutCDL()
       MixSetOutCDL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsOutCDRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetOutCDR()
       MixSetOutCDR(Bool)

Micro

Bool = MixIsOutMicroAvailable()
Bool = MixGetOutMicro()
       MixSetOutMicro(Bool)

Input

Left

Bool                                              = MixIsInputLAvailable()
MidiL','MidiR','LineL','LineR','CDL','CDR','Micro = MixGetInputL()
                                                    MixSetInputL(MidiL,MidiR,LineL,LineR,CDL,CDR,Micro)

Midi left

Bool = MixIsInLMidiAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInLMidiLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLMidiL()
       MixSetInLMidiL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInLMidiRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLMidiR()
       MixSetInLMidiR(Bool)

Line left

Bool = MixIsInLLineAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInLLineLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLLineL()
       MixSetInLLineL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInLLineRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLLineR()
       MixSetInLLineR(Bool)

CD left

Bool = MixIsInLCDAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInLCDLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLCDL()
       MixSetInLCDL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInLCDRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLCDR()
       MixSetInLCDR(Bool)

Micro left

Bool = MixIsInLMicroAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInLMicro()
       MixSetInLMicro(Bool)

Right

Bool                                              = MixIsInputRAvailable()
MidiL','MidiR','LineL','LineR','CDL','CDR','Micro = MixGetInputR()
                                                    MixSetInputR(MidiL,MidiR,LineL,LineR,CDL,CDR,Micro)

Midi right

Bool = MixIsInRMidiAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInRMidiLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRMidiL()
       MixSetInRMidiL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInRMidiRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRMidiR()
       MixSetInRMidiR(Bool)

Line right

Bool = MixIsInRLineAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInRLineLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRLineL()
       MixSetInRLineL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInRLineRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRLineR
       MixSetInRLineR(Bool)

CD right

Bool = MixIsInRCDAvailable()
Bool = MixIsInRCDLAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRCDL()
       MixSetInRCDL(Bool)
Bool = MixIsInRCDRAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRCDR()
       MixSetInRCDR(Bool)

Micro right

Bool = MixIsInRMicroAvailable()
Bool = MixGetInRMicro()
       MixSetInRMicro(Bool)

Output gain

Bool   = MixIsOutGainAvailable()
Number = MixGetOutGainMin()
Number = MixGetOutGainMax()
Number = MixGetOutGainL()
Number = MixGetOutGainR()
L','R  = MixGetOutGain()
         MixSetOutGainL(Bool)
         MixSetOutGainR(Bool)
         MixSetOutGain(L,R)

Input gain

Bool   = MixIsInGainAvailable()
Number = MixGetInGainMin()
Number = MixGetInGainMax()
Number = MixGetInGainL()
Number = MixGetInGainR()
L','R  = MixGetInGain()
         MixSetInGainL(Bool)
         MixSetInGainR(Bool)
         MixSetInGain(L,R)

AGC

Bool = MixIsAGCAvailable()
Bool = MixGetAGC()
       MixSetAGC(Bool)

Example

/* SBRexx Test */

call RxFuncAdd 'MixLoadFuncs','SBREXX','MixLoadFuncs'
call MixLoadFuncs

Say MixVer()
Say MixCopyright()
Say

/* if MixIsMasterAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Master:  'MixGetMasterL()'/'MixGetMasterR()'' */
if MixIsMasterAvailable() = 1 then
do
parse value MixGetMaster() with L','R
Say 'Master:  'L'/'R''
end;
if MixIsVoiceAvailable()   = 1 then Say 'Voice:   'MixGetVoiceL()'/'MixGetVoiceR()''
if MixIsMidiAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'Midi:    'MixGetMidiL()'/'MixGetMidiR()''
if MixIsCDAvailable()      = 1 then Say 'CD:      'MixGetCDL()'/'MixGetCDR()''
if MixIsLineAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'Line:    'MixGetLineL()'/'MixGetLineR()''
if MixIsMicroAvailable()   = 1 then Say 'Micro:   'MixGetMicro()''
if MixIsSpeakerAvailable() = 1 then Say 'Speaker: 'MixGetSpeaker()''
if MixIsTrebleAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Treble:  'MixGetTrebleL()'/'MixGetTrebleR()''
if MixIsBassAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'Bass:    'MixGetBassL()'/'MixGetBassR()''
pause
Say
Say 'Output:'
if MixIsOutLineAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Line:  'MixGetOutLineL()'/'MixGetOutLineR()''
if MixIsOutCDAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'CD:    'MixGetOutCDL()'/'MixGetOutCDR()''
if MixIsOutMicroAvailable() = 1 then Say 'Micro: 'MixGetOutMicro()''
if MixIsOutGainAvailable()      = 1 then 
do
L = MixGetOutGainL()
if L = 0 then L = 'x1'
else if L = 1 then L = 'x2'
else if L = 2 then L = 'x4'
else if L = 3 then L = 'x8'
R = MixGetOutGainR()
if R = 0 then R = 'x1'
else if R = 1 then R = 'x2'
else if R = 2 then R = 'x4'
else if R = 3 then R = 'x8'
Say 'Gain:  'L'/'R''
end
Say
Say 'InputL:'
if MixIsInLMidiAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Midi:  'MixGetInLMidiL()'/'MixGetInLMidiR()''
if MixIsInLLineAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Line:  'MixGetInLLineL()'/'MixGetInLLineR()''
if MixIsInLCDAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'CD:    'MixGetInLCDL()'/'MixGetInLCDR()''
if MixIsInLMicroAvailable() = 1 then Say 'Micro: 'MixGetInLMicro()''
Say
Say 'InputR:'
if MixIsInRMidiAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Midi:  'MixGetInRMidiL()'/'MixGetInRMidiR()''
if MixIsInRLineAvailable()  = 1 then Say 'Line:  'MixGetInRLineL()'/'MixGetInRLineR()''
if MixIsInRCDAvailable()    = 1 then Say 'CD:    'MixGetInRCDL()'/'MixGetInRCDR()''
if MixIsInRMicroAvailable() = 1 then Say 'Micro: 'MixGetInRMicro()''
if MixIsInGainAvailable()      = 1 then 
do
L = MixGetInGainL()
if L = 0 then L = 'x1'
else if L = 1 then L = 'x2'
else if L = 2 then L = 'x4'
else if L = 3 then L = 'x8'
R = MixGetInGainR()
if R = 0 then R = 'x1'
else if R = 1 then R = 'x2'
else if R = 2 then R = 'x4'
else if R = 3 then R = 'x8'
Say 'Gain:  'L'/'R''
end
if MixIsAGCAvailable() = 1 then Say 'AGC:   'MixGetAGC()''

7. Scope

Parameters

Attention: This is a beta release of Scope!

8. Known Problems

Problems with Multimedia Presentation Manager

There are several ways to control the Soundblaster from an OS/2 program. The Media Control Interface (MCI) is one way. But the MCI supports only volume, treble, bass, gain and balance. If I use the MCI I couldn't use all capabilities of the Soundblaster card.

I decided to access the sound card directly through ports. This works but I recognized that other programs can use the port at the same time and you can't use the sound card anymore, you must reboot. I've tried many things to handle this problem but it isn't possible. By the way: other mixers have the same problem.

Only the Creative Labs mixer uses a third way to access the sound card: IOCtls (DosDevIOCtl). Creative Labs added this functionality to their Soundblaster device driver. I wrote an e-mail to the former OS/2 developer Hariharan Mahadevan.

Hariharan Mahadevan: "Creative Mixer uses private IOCtls to access the Mixer controls.
We can't release these to the public. However, the new drives do support the standard MIXER IOCtls defined by IBM and you should be able to write a MCI mixer program based on that specs."

Creative Labs stopped the development of OS/2 drivers. I thought that I could be possible that they would give me the information how I can use this IOCtls in Mixomat. I answered him that I need the IOCtls, the MCI isn't useful. Second answer:

Hariharan Mahadevan: "Sorry, but can't do. It's not under my jurisdiction to decide whether I can release this info. to third party developers. You have to talk to our developer relations people in the audio group, but really doubt if the answer would be any different(Questions like this have come up before, and all of them have been turned down).

You can contact, Tan Choong Hwee, <chtan@ctlsg.creaf.com>.He's the product manager for audio products and he might be able to help you.

Anyway, it's been a while since I stopped doing audio stuff. In a different dept altogether."

I wrote an e-mail to Tan Choong Hwee but got no answer.

Then I wrote to the Creative Labs Developer Support. They sent me the source code of a DOS and a Window 3.1 mixer. That wasn't very useful to me.

Phillip Williams: "He or she is correct is what they said. The WINDOWS, NT, OS2 ... code is not available, nor will it be made available. Much of the code is proprietary. One of the reason I was given for the droping of OS2 support, is the lack of a standard interface for multi media or that the number of functions not implimented.

I will see what I can find out for OS2, if any commands can be made available."

[...]

"I will see what I can find out for OS2, if any commands can be made available. or what if any IOCtrl commands can be released."

Da steh ich nun ich armer Tor und bin so klug als wie zuvor! [Goethe, Faust I]

After that Phillip Williams sent me the answers of some Create Labs developers:

"We do have a private MIXER interface in our audio PDD(Physical Device Driver). This was necessitated by the lack of mixer support in early versions of OS/2. But these have been superseded by IBM's own MIXER standard which does not expose all the hardware features to the application. This is simply due to the fact that the interface is purely a functional one and not one which can address all future mixer hardware implementations."

"The developer in question here, wants us to expose these private IOCtls so that he can write his own Mixer program. We've had requests like this before, all of which have been turned down."

This was the last message I've received (8. October 1997). I don't know what I can do now, but I hope you know now that I want to create a functional OS/2 Soundblaster mixer. But I can't do it!

The only think you can do is to send e-mails to Creative Labs.
Or send my a better sound card and I will write the best mixer for it.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I use the sliders to change the volume but they don't work.

Answer: Check your sound card and the selected port. If other programs overwrite the settings then use the aggressive mode: open the settings dialog and enable Update/Aggressive.

Question: I have problems with VoiceType and other programs.

Question: I can't play wave files after using Mixomat. I can only hear 0.5 s of the wave file.

Answer: Read Known Problems.

10. Future

• Netscape plug-in

• Interface for other sound cards

11. History

New things are marked with a *.

12. Updates

Please visit my homepage for updates.

All mentioned products and trade marks belong to their respective owners.

Christoph Bratschi's Homepage
© 1997 by Christoph Bratschi