To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>
I have the new sbos 1.4b2 and have been messing around with the software
I have installed on my system. In some circumstances, with xwing, the
software finds the card, and uses it for a short time(sounds great) then
the computer hangs. Other times, the software deos not even find the GUS, and no sound is played. This happens whether I load the sys driver or not. As for
Ultima Underworld 2, The sound is definately there, buts its a mishmash of
awful clatter, and makes no sense to me. It doesnt sound like music at all!!!
I like the 1.23 release much better, it works almost perfectly with uu2,
but still lacks xwing support fully. I have talked with several people
about this problem, and some say the prog (1.4b2) works great! Whats the deal
here, there is not problem with my chipset, and the older sbos' seem to work
reasonably.
treason@gnu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 93 21:46:51 EST
From: pccmoddan@aol.com
Message-Id: <9303052146.tn19753@aol.com>
Subject: Sierra's BS
To: Ultrasound Daily Digest <ultrasound@dsd.es.com>
Here's more of the same old crap from Sierra Online. Boycott em if you want
support. Personally I think they've been going downhill since they made the
original Kings Quest I.
...quote begin....
Subj: Gravis Ultrasound Support
Date: 93-03-04 21:05:02 EST
From: Sierras
Posted on: America Online
The problem with supporting the Ultrasound isn't playing music, but
supporting the cards digitized sound features. You've missed the problem
completely! Our CD products require a DAC to playback the digitized voice and
sound samples and the Ultrsound card uses a different method (DSP) than the
Sound Blaster's
DAC. Through DOS we have to foot the bill for writing and testing these
drivers as well as including their drivers in to our games that are being
developed. If a sound card isn't established, then it doesn't make sense to
go out of the way to support it! Now the good news for you, the sound card
manufacturer writes the drivers for Windows, so you should be able to use
your card without problems.
Thanx,
Bill :})
....end.....
and now....
My message:
Bill -
The GUS has 32 channels. Use 16 for music support, and you've got two
free ones through which you can dump samples direct, without using the
onboard RAM. This has the same function as a "dumb" DAC such as the one on
the Soundblaster. If you need further convincing that the GUS does indeed
have DACs on board, look in the Hardware section of the GUS SDK manual, under
"Audio I/O (DAC & ADC)". Due to nondisclosure agreements, I cannot reprint
the text, but it is VERY obvious.
I think you've missed the point - Sierra's excuses might stand up to the
consumers, but anyone who is involved in the industry can see through all the
BS. I don't give a hoot whether you guys support the GUS or not - my games do
and that's all that concerns me. What should concern you is that thousands of
people out there with money in their pockets want games that support their
