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1993-07-20
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PFOS2 V0.9b by Dave Mercier
---------------------------
INTRODUCTION
============
Why did I write this program which just looks like a clone of the
PLAYFILE utility included with the Gravis Ultrasound software?
Because PLAYFILE doesn't work under OS/2 (at least version 2.0).
So every time I wanted to play or record a digital file, I had to
reboot and load up DOS. Writing this program means that I have one
less reason to have to boot DOS. There had been a few other sample
players written which worked under OS/2, but these were all very
limited (No recording features, the length of the sample was limited
by the amount of DRAM on your Ultrasound, etc). As I was programming
this, I figured some other OS/2 users may benefit from it, so I decided
to release it.
The PFOS2 just means 'Play file for OS/2'. I couldn't think of anything
good to call it. Just remember that this is not an OS/2 program, it's
just a DOS program that won't crash the DOS box. I really would have
liked to make it an OS/2 program, but I lack the knowledge and resources
to make one (Maybe next year after I take some OS/2 programming courses).
SUMMARY OF FEATURES
===================
Here is a list of what functions of PLAYFILE that PFOS2 supports:
Options:
-v# Volume [0-4095]: 3500 is the default. The higher the setting
the louder the sound.
-f# Frequency [4000-44100]: Sets the frequency to play/record.
The default frequency setting is 22050Hz. Higher rates produce
a more accurate sample, but take more drive space. It is possible
to set a rate higher than 44100 or lower than 4000 when playing a
file. This will just make a file play faster or slower, there
will be no increase in quality.
-l# Loop [1-65535]: Loop (number of times the file will play). The
default is to play once. If you enter 0, the file will loop until
you press a key.
-b# Balance [0-15]: Like the balance on your stereo. The default
is 7, for equal sound distribution. Zero is the left
speaker only, 15 is the right speaker only. This setting currently
only works when playing mono files.
-s Stereo: Allows you to specify a stereo file. The default is mono.
-r Record: The default for PFOS2 is to play a digital file, but if
you want to record, add -r to the command line.
-n1/0 Enable or disable the line input.
-m1/0 Enable or disable the microphone input.
(Either 1, or both of these settings must be enabled to record
any sound at all. You can still use the for playback too.)
-o# Offset: Skip beginning portion of sound file by offset in bytes.
-t# Length: Specifies how many bytes of a sound file will be played.
At the moment there is no support for .WAV files or 16 bit sound. There
will never be any fancy looking interface that the new version of
PLAYFILE now has. Version 1.0 (if ever released) will support .WAV,
16 bit playback, and an improved recording technique.
The only difference between .WAV files and .SND files is the header.
You can always play a .WAV file by manually entering the frequency, etc.
The same pretty much goes for .VOC files. There are probably other types
of files that are similiar that I haven't tried. The moral of this is
don't be afraid to try playing different formats of files. The worst that
could happen is you would get a headache from a horrible sound.
TIPS ON USING PFOS2 (or PLAYFILE)
=================================
- Make sure your Hard Drive is defragmented if possible. On a fragmented
drive, the heads have to scramble around to find free blocks. Data may
be lost due to how long it takes the heads to find a free block.
- Make sure you have a few megs of Hard Drive space free when recording.
As you get to the end of free space on your drive, the blocks of free
space will get smaller and more scattered, causing the heads to take
longer to find a place to put the information.
- Don't run any disk compressors if possible. Disk compressors may slow
the process of writing or reading from the drive, causing loss of data.
- Use the fastest drive on your system, if possible. (Don't try and
record to your floppy =))
- Make sure you specify either -n1 or -m1 when recording. I've included
an idiot warning if you don't specify these. PLAYFILE didn't say
anything if you forgot. I can't begin to count how many times I recorded
silence because of this. I also saw a lot of messages with people
thinking that their gus couldn't record because they didn't realize
they had to include these options.
- You will probably get better sound recording with PLAYFILE under DOS
than using PFOS2. PFOS2's recording routines need to be fixed up to
remove the occasional 'pops' introduced.
- Rememeber that this is a DOS program, and is not tied to any OS/2
timers. PFOS2 will not get all the CPU time it needs, if you start
to do some heavy multitasking. This will cause some data to 'skip'
during playback and record. Your multitasking results will vary
from machine to machine. (I can do 14.4 d/l and word processing
while playing back a stereo 44.1khz file, with pretty much no problems)
- If you are getting screwy sound when trying to record in stereo, try
changing the recording DMA channel. When I had mine on channel 1, the
stereo seperation would get badly messed up, with both PFOS2, and
PLAYFILE, using both DOS and OS/2. I then changed the DMA channel to
3, and it worked great after that.
- Don't use a 16 bit DMA channel under OS/2 if you get SYSTEM crashes
when using PFOS2.
SOME COMMENTS ABOUT OS/2 2.0 (2.1?) AND THE GUS
===============================================
- Don't use a 16 bit DMA channel when using OS/2. This will cause
an entire system crash. This is how it is on my system, however
it may work on your system. (I can use 16 bit DMA under DOS).
- SBOS doesn't really work. I could only get version 1.22 or 1.23
working using adlib mode (-o3) on certain applications. (I had a
couple of games working well). The newer versions of SBOS don't
work at all.
- Playmidi, GUSMOD, and pretty much most of the other 3rd party GUS
software works under OS/2. MEGAEM won't and I get screwy things
happening with the Miles drivers. I hear of others being able to
use the Miles Drivers though (Maybe they are running 2.1?).
Well, that's about it for this document. Hope you people get some use
out of this.
If anyone has information about the .WAV header, or where I can get it
from an FTP site, please EMAIL it to me at my internet address.
If you find any bugs, or have any suggestions about anything else you
would like to see in this program, please EMAIL me. I'd appreciate any
comments on how this, or other software works under 2.1. I'd appreciate
a copy of OS/2 2.1 even more =).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet address: a1140338@bcit.bc.ca
(This will change in september to something else)
You can also reach me on the Gravis BBS network as Dave Mercier.
(I'm not affiliated with Gravis, so don't whine to them if my
program eats your computer.)
(By the way I won't be responsible if anything like that happens.)
If all else fails, or you want to send me a million dollars, or hire
me for a really lucrative job, you can snail mail me at:
105-3955 Smith Ave.
Burnaby, B.C.
Canada. V5G 2T8
I guess this program is Public Domain, but if you want to make it share
ware and send me lots of money I won't stop you =).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. - Look for something more interesting from me in the future.
Especially you musician types that are too poor to afford a
Multitrack.