This is my own program review list. I have listed the name of the distribution zip file, the author, a brief description, and whether or not I was impressed with it. There are a couple of files that I don't remember the actual zip file name or the author's name.
I have classified the programs under the version of my board that gives the best results (stereo). However, most programs that have a stereo mode also support mono and possibly even the PC speaker.
If you're up for a little torture, try listening to these programs through the PC speaker for any length of time. (Especially if your computer has a piezo speaker)
Most of these programs I obtained from Exec-PC BBS at (414) 789-4210, located in Elm Grove, WI. (Same as Milwaukee) I found them either in the Mahoney Collection or one of the shareware CD roms.
Currently, I have about 30 to 40 Mb (zipped) of sound for my sound card. Most of the files I have are MOD files with some SND (.VOC, .SND, etc.) of famous Sci-Fi movie quotes. I am always on the lookout for more sound files and programs.
Most of what I currently have for sound files, I downloaded off of Exec-PC before they banned sound files and deleted almost all of them. (This really pissed me off.) I have Emailed Bob Mahoney (The Sysop) expressing my opinions on this subject. According to him, as soon as they obtain a bigger capacity system, they will allow sound files back on. I keep reminding him of my interest in a sound file collection every time I renew my subscription with Exec-PC. There are still about 50 to 100 MOD files on Exec-PC in the CD-ROM file collections. It is almost guaranteed that these will be available for at least a few years, since it is impossible to delete files from a CD-ROM. (Actually, you can still find a lot of MODs in the Amiga Section as they get uploaded. They seem to be getting a little more lenient on allowing MODs there.)
The main place to obtain sound files is from the Music Channel BBS. In fact most of the files that were on Exec-PC came from this BBS. This BBS is entirely devoted to sound files. At last count they had over 6000 sound related files with about 1/3 of those being MOD files. (and I only have a couple hundred) They're located in Hartford, CT. and their number is (203) 646-3058. As far as I know the only way to get download credit is to upload sound files. Last I heard, the sysop of this board was toying with the notion of adding a payed subscription option for those of us who want sound files but don't have any to give in return.
Another place to find some sound files is the Apogee BBS. Their collection isn't as extensive but for the most part it is easier to get download credit on their board. Apogee allows you to either purchase a subscription or upload files to get download credit. Their number is (508) 365-2359, located in Massachusetts. Some of the demos listed below, I downloaded from this BBS, although I'm sure the Music Channel BBS has them too.
If anyone finds any good BBS's to get sound files, let me know. I'm also interested in finding someone that would want to and knows how to write device driver files for Microsoft's Windows 3.x. I have seen a third party sound driver for the DSS floating around, so I imagine that it can't be too much hassle for someone to write or adapt a driver file for my sound board. My address is in the README.1ST file or just Email Dave Boyd on Exec-PC.
V1.00 STEREO COMPATIBILITY:
COOL_93.ZIP from Mystery BBS
This is a VGA/sound demo. Although, this has to be the dullest demo I've found yet. It's one redeeming quality is that the MOD file is separate from the demo, thus making it possible to substitute a better MOD in for the one it comes with. In other words you can use it as another MOD player. This is also the first program (other than MODPLAY PRO and MODEDIT) I've found that supports the V1.00 stereo mode.
MODED215.ZIP by Norman Lin
This program allows you to edit or create your own MOD files. It is accompanied by a number of instrument samples and also allows you to extract samples from existing MODs. I've seen a newer version (3.00) of this program floating around, but it doesn't seem to work on my system.
MODRES.??? by Mark Cox
This program can be found accompanying MODED215.ZIP. It's the actual MOD playing software, similar to that used in MPLAY210 but without the front end. It is intended for programmers who want their programs to be able to play MODs, but don't want to write the software for it themselves.
MPLAY210.ZIP by Mark Cox
This is an earlier version of the above program. It doesn't have all the glitzy features that the one above does, but there seem to be a few MODs that don't sound right on the newer version that play fine on this one.
MPLAY219.ZIP by Mark Cox
This is the latest version of this program that I am aware of. It is capable of playing MOD files through just about anything, including SoundBlaster, the PC speaker, DSS, a quadraphonic DAC (bus card). This program features: a spectrum analyzer, scope overlayed on a 320x200x256 picture of your choice, volume control keys, ability to access MODs in zip files, the ability to shell to dos while playing MOD files, etc. This MOD player will auto-detect the sound board and default to the stereo mode if it finds it. This is still my favorite MOD player.
V1.50 STEREO COMPATIBILITY:
BUTTMAN.ZIP by Twilight Zone
This is another awesome VGA/sound demo. It's a good one to test whether the sound card is functioning correctly. The first part of the demo starts out in mono and then it abruptly switches to stereo. If the card is working properly, the auto-detect circuitry will automatically switch between mono and stereo at the appropriate time.
HP00A.ZIP by Zak McCracken
This program is another MOD player that I found more recently. It doesn't have much of a front end, but it actually delivers better sound quality than MPLAY219. For example, MPLAY219 will deliver a mixing speed up to 24 KHz with my computer, but HP00A will deliver up to 36 KHz. Another comparison might be that the maximum mixing frequency on MPLAY219 is 32 KHz while HP00A's maximum mixing frequency is 63 KHz.
TECHDEM1.ZIP by Twilight Zone
This is the program that motivated me to make my sound board compatible with this version of Stereo-on-1, this soon. It is actually just a demo. It'll show you what's actually possible on an IBM with VGA and this sound board. There are 2 parts to it, each with it's own stereo song. As far as the demos that I've come across thus far, the graphics are nothing complex, but I'm still impressed.
WHACK101.ZIP by Stein Norheim of TCB
This program is intended as a MOD player and editor. For some reason, this program crashes on my system. (It has been tested on a friend's computer and it does work.) I do know that the core of Whacker Tracker works because, if I remember correctly, one of the demos utilizes it.
MONO COMPATIBILITY:
BPT100.ZIP by Kim Heino
This program is another MOD editor and player, with a twist. This not only supports the MOD format but also BPM, BPS, STM, STS, MTM, and MTS. I'm not sure what all these other song/module formats are, but I'm sure they have some use. STMs are another popular form of the MOD file and can be easily converted to the MOD format by using STMTOMOD and then you can play the STMs in stereo on MPLAY219.
CRONOLOG.ZIP by Cascada
This is the BEST really really kick-ass demo that I've found so far. It requires VGA and all of your base memory. You have see it to believe it. It's not only just good graphics combined with good sound, it's choreographed and everything. (the screens change in sync with the bass beats)
JJDEMO.ZIP by Sourcer of TCB
This is another VGA/sound demo. It was apparently made as an advertisement for some foreign computer store. It has an interesting screen melt.
OVERLOAD.ZIP by HYSTERiA
This is another VGA/sound demo. It is a bit short compared to the other demos, but it's got its own little twist on vector graphics. This demo introduces the concept of rubber transformation.
OXYD_V34.ZIP by DongleWare Publishing, Inc.
This is a game. (Yes, I said GAME!) This is the first game that I have found that supports the sound card. It is basically a puzzle game with 100 unique levels. The basic idea is that you have to select consecutive pairs of "hidden" symbols, and to complete the level you have match all of the pairs of symbols. This is complicated by gaps in the playing field, lasers, bombs, dynamite, doors, and a lot of other stuff. The sounds for this game are extensive. Every time you bump into something you hear a sound (which varies depending on what you bump into), it has an explosion sound for the bombs, when you fall off the playing field you hear a crunch when you die (after a delay), it has a sound for picking items from the main menu, it has a little tune it plays when you successfully complete a level, and lots of other sounds for other actions. The game only has one drawback, it requires a lot of RAM. To get the program to run in the VGA mode with the sound it requires 1.5 meg of extended/expanded ram. To get the program to run in the EGA mode with the sound it only requires 0.5 meg of extended/expanded ram. I have only enough ram in my system to run it in the EGA mode. (A friend of mine tested the VGA version and confirmed that it does work.)
PLAYBWC.ZIP by Kim Heino & Arttu Kontkanen
This program is a sound player. It only supports RAW, IFF, and VOC file formats.
PLAYER.EXE by The Untouchables
This program is another MOD player. It requires VGA and that the MOD files be unzipped. The VGA screen is setup to look like a rack CD stereo system. It features: a spectrum analyzer, a scope for each channel, pause, fast forward, really fast forward, program, repeat, shuffle selections, and mouse control.
SCREAM.ZIP by Sami Tammilehto
This program is another MOD player and editor. It supports MOD, STM, and STS formats.
SF2187.ZIP by Jung Young Dug
This program is a vga "arcade" game. It is supposedly based on Nintendo's Street Fighter II. It requires about 3.8 Mb of hard drive space. It has a few fight sounds that it outputs through the sound card. Unfortunately, there are several major problems in the program. The graphics are really flickery. The instructions are all in a foreign language and it isn't entirely clear what the objective is. As far as I can tell it really requires two players.
SHDEMO2.LZH by The SkyHawks
Compared to their Christmas '91 demo this one had to be an earlier release. The sound is typical, but the graphics are a bit lame. It has three different songs; one for each of its parts.
SPDEMO3.ZIP by The SpacePigs (TSP)
This is another VGA/sound demo. This one's colorful.
SPEAKTXT.ZIP by Stephen T. Neely
This program will actually read an ASCII text file. Yes, it speaks every word out through the sound card. After listening to it, I think it could use a little work. Interesting concept, though.
SPMEGA1.ZIP by The SpacePigs (TSP)
This is the SpacePigs' first and last mega demo. It has several different screens with several different songs. Unfortunately, it's only in EGA with some of the music playing through the PC speaker.
SPUTTER??? by Adrienne Cousins
I don't know where my archived copy of SPUTTER wound up. If you download this file from Exec-PC, all you have to do is Hyperscan for the phrase SPUT. It should come up with a list of all the versions of SPUTTER that have been uploaded by Adrienne Cousins. This is the play-all of sound players. So far I haven't found a sound file that it won't play, though you may have to specify a sound file type if the program can't find it in the sound file itself. The last I heard, Adrienne also offers a sound digitizing service, in case you have a sound on tape that you think your computer needs to make.
TSHX-MAS.ZIP by The SkyHawks
This is the first demo that I downloaded, and I only downloaded it because the file description said the graphics were a must see. You can imagine my surprise when the program suddenly asked me which parallel port my sound board was on. After I found this one, I started downloading every demo that mentioned anything about sound and didn't specifically mention SoundBlaster. This demo requires VGA and has three parts. This one will always be one of my favorites.
VICKY.ZIP by The SpacePigs (TSP)
This the SpacePigs most impressive VGA/sound demo. It's basically a vector demo with a surprise at the beginning. You won't want to miss this one.
This VGA/sound demo is interesting to watch, however, the sound gets a bit annoying after a while.
CDA-XM92.LZH by Cascada
This is another VGA/sound demo with a game. As far as demos go, this ones not great. The music is ok, but the graphics aren't all that complex. The game is nothing complex either (although I keep dying), but it is another good demonstration of what's actually possible if software programmers really wanted to produce software that was compatible with this sound board. The idea of the game is that you have to drop presents down the chimneys of houses that don't have fires in their fireplaces. Successfully doing this or shooting obstacles in your path earns you points. Dropping presents down chimneys with smoke coming from them or running into obstacles gets you killed. There is something curious about this demo; it has a Stereo-on-1 mode. However, I have tried both the V1.00 and V1.50 modes and it doesn't work with either. Hmmm, does this mean that there is another version of Stereo-on-1? Well, I'll just have to look into it. (I already have and idea how this one works, just haven't had time to try it.)
JAMP15.ZIP by Luis Crespo
This is another MOD player.
VP10.ZIP by Luis Crespo
This a little more than just another MOD player. It has five scopes (1 for each channel and 1 for the composite signal), spectrum analyzer with several bars (about twice as many as MODPLAY PRO), and the four standard volume bars. This is the first MOD player that I've come across that allows you to change the mixing speed and the output device while it is playing a MOD. This program will also allow you to shell to DOS as the MOD continues to play (like MODPLAY PRO). According to the DOC file the author intends to add Stereo-on-1 capability to his next version.
WOW201S.ZIP by Jan Ole Suhr
This is another MOD player. It requires VGA.
DSS COMPATIBILITY:
#1WOLF3D.ZIP by Id/Apogee Software
This program is one of the best VGA graphics games around. With sound, it is all that much better. Basically with sound, the guards yell at you in German, the gunshots sound real, and you can here the doors open and close.
This program allows you modify sound files. It supports: VOC, WAV, and SND file formats. It features: loop, mute, reverse, pitch, echo, volume, insert, mix, fade, pack/unpack, and copy. At this time, I don't think the author has any intention of making this program compatible with my sound board or anything other than SoundBlaster/Pro. Let's see if we can persuade him to.
SND2VOC.ZIP by Bailey Brown
This program just converts SND files to the VOC format.
STMTOMOD.ZIP by Mark Cox
This program converts STM files to MOD files. The only major limitation is that it requires that the converted MOD be played on MPLAY219 so that it will sound right. It cautions that playing the MOD file on other MOD players might result in the MOD sounding a little off pitch.
PCSTGIF.ZIP, PCSTSKD.ZIP, PCSTDXF.ZIP by Dave Boyd (Me)
If anyone should happen to know anyone that helped to distribute this earlier version, it would be much appreciated if you could get them to delete it from where ever they uploaded it. Those files contains some claims that I now know aren't true (like DSS compatibility) and I would rather that these older versions be obliterated and this new version be put in their place.
PCSTGIF1.ZIP by Dave Boyd
This release contains one minor bug in the schematic, and it would be appreciated if people that have distributed this file would upload/pass along PCSTGIF2.ZIP in its place.
Well, this is it for now. Even though this list is short, remember two things: (A) it'll most likely take you several years to acquire all of the MOD and sound files out there already, and (B) hopefully as this sound board type catches on more software programmers will try to market their programs toward us.
