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aMixer.doc Copyright (C)1997 Cornel Huth
release 1.5 8-Aug-1997
aMixer is a full-function mixer for Creative Labs Sound Blaster soundcards.
Controls include volume, balance, bass, treble, more levels and balances,
gain in and out, input and output connections, AGC switch, save/load mixer
settings, and SyncLock(tm) to automatically program the mixer with your
settings at regular intervals from one to 32 times per second, at idle
or normal priority (or only on demand).
aMixer is an OS/2 PM application (MMPM/2 is not required). Files included:
1. paradise.sys
2. amixer.exe
Optionally, if you are running Warp 3 or earlier:
3. clock01.sys (clock02.sys available by request, for MCA)
No other drivers are needed. MMPM/2 is not required (but is okay), nor
are any soundcard drivers. This package includes everything you need
to control your SB mixer. Specific mixers currently supported are the
1335 (SB2CD), 1345 (SB Pro), and the 1745 (SB16 and later).
For related files go to http://www.40th.com/ and look around the Paradise
section. If you are using an older version of the Paradise driver, be
sure to replace it with the driver in this package (version 1.52).
Installation
------------
Installation is simple if this document is read before using aMixer.
Also see amixer.faq for common questions.
Install the (two) SYS driver(s) in your boot drive's root directory and
include a reference for the paradise driver in your config.sys:
DEVICE=G:\PARADISE.SYS (optional -q for quiet install)
Paradise version 1.5 or later is required. 1.52+ is recommended.
CLOCK01.SYS, installed automatically by the boot process and so has no
reference in the config.sys file, is based on the Warp 4.0 driver. It
can be used in previous OS/2 versions, too. If you are using Warp 4.0,
your CLOCK driver already has the IDC hook, so you can use the one you
already have. The included CLOCK01.SYS driver is only for those running
Warp 3 or earlier.
If you have the old clock driver installed, paradise.sys will gracefully
tell you so, and not install itself. If you get this message at boot, use
the included clock01.sys.
Once you have the driver(s) installed, reboot.
Note: There is no need to remove any driver from config.sys. All you
need to do is add an entry for PARADISE.SYS, and possibly copy the
clock01.sys included in this package to boot:\. That's all there is
to it.
Using aMixer
------------
First, aMixer was designed primarily for the 1745 mixer (SB16 and later).
If you are using an SB Pro or SB2CD, then many of the controls do not
apply. They have not been disabled for aesthetic reasons. If you have
an SB Pro, be aware that your mixer (1345) does not have Bass, Treble,
Speaker, or Gain In/Out, nor does it have any output connections. You
can use the controls, but there won't be an effect. The SB2CD (1335)
has fewer controls, still (only volumes: main, wave, MIDI, CD).
The aMixer.ini File
When you first use aMixer a configuration menu is shown. Select your
base port, IRQ, DMA, and mixer (Auto is recommended). All that is needed
is the base port (usually 220h). In order for aMixer to be able to reset
the SB16, you need to supply the correct IRQ and DMA channel(s). This only
needs to be once, when you first use aMixer. You can later change these
settings by starting aMixer with the -config switch. aMixer stores this
information in the amixer.ini file, which is located in the same directory
as the directory from which amixer.exe is executed. If this directory is
not writable you cannot save any settings. If you delete the ini file
you will be presented with the configuration menu again,
If you ever have a problem with aMixer you may want to delete the amixer.ini
file and go again.
Main Control Panel
The main control panel of aMixer consists of the Master Volume and Balance,
Bass and Treble. Also on this panel are About and Detail buttons. Pushing
About pops up a box showing the current version, and other key information.
Pushing the Detail button brings up the Detail Control Panel.
Detail Control Panel
The title of this panel identifies the mixer (1335, 1345, or 1745). Like
the Main Control Panel, this panel has volumes and balances, and more
controls that set connections, and save/load/reset mixer settings. If you
are concerned about the way the control knobs jump around read the
Limitations section below (and also see it for how to increase Gain Out).
The Connections are for the input and output (I=In, O=Out) pathways. A check
next to the I indicates that that pathway is connected for input. If the O
is checked, then it indicates that that pathway is also connected to the
output. An input checked means that you can record from that pathway.
An output checked means that that pathway is connected to the output. For
example, if Mic output is checked, you can speak into the mic and have the
sound routed to the output -- a mini PA system. Controls without an I or O
option are not switchable (they are always connected).
Note: A connection check box is directly under its corresponding control
knobs. For example, MIDI In is directly under the MIDI volume/balance
knobs (there is no MIDI Out switch). Same for CD and Line. The Mic has
the last pair of I/O connect check boxes.
If AGC is check, the automatic gain control circuit is activated for mic
input. The AGC is a sort of limiter. This makes it easy to record sources
that vary widely in dynamic range, allowing you to capture low sound levels
and still not overload the recording circuits at high sound levels, even
without having to actively control the mic level. When AGC is unchecked,
the mic circuit is set to +20dB of gain. For less noise, I recommend that
the mic input and output be unchecked unless you are using them. This goes
for all connections, for that matter. Also set their levels to -0-.
The Save button saves the current mixer state as known to aMixer to the
amixer.ini file. This is the only time, other than when it is first
created, that any settings are saved. At startup the amixer.ini is read
and the mixer settings in amixer.ini are programmed into the mixer. To
prevent this, use -noload (see Tips, below).
NOTE: You should also press SAVE after you configure SyncLock(tm).
The Load button loads the settings from the amixer.ini file and programs
the mixer using these settings. This includes all settings that aMixer
uses, including SyncLock settings, as they were last SAVEd.
The Startup button programs the mixer using the settings that were in force
at program startup. Unless the -noload was used, these settings are those
that were in the amixer.ini file when aMixer started.
The Reset button resets the DSP and programs the mixer to reset (to default
settings), if possible.
The SyncLock Config button brings up the configuration menu for SyncLock.
SyncLock(tm) Configuration Panel
The SyncLock feature of aMixer programs the mixer at a set rate, from once
a second up to 30+ times per second. This feature is useful if you are using
MMPM/2 since MMPM/2 resets the mixer each and every time it is used by an
app. Even system sounds will mess with your mixer volumes and settings, and
this is especially bothersome since it happens all the time.
Select the settings that you want to be SyncLock'ed, and the rate at which you
want aMixer to do this. To disable SyncLock, set the Sync Rate to -0-. The
minimum active rate is about 31ms (milliseconds), or about 32 times per second.
You may want to set the rate to something less frequent, like 1000ms, in which
case the mixer is restored to your settings once per second. The more
frequently aMixer restores the mixer then less likely you will notice MMPM/2
messing with your settings.
I prefer to check all volumes, and mic in and out, and leave the rest (the
other connections) unchecked. This way I control the levels at all times.
The settings here takes affect as soon as you press the OK button. To
save the settings to the ini file press SAVE in the Detail panel.
Limitations
-----------
To increase the Gain Out level you must hold down either Shift key, or the
left Control key. You can decrease this level without doing this. The Gain
knobs only have 4 discrete settings: unless you move the knob to at least
each setting (0,45,70,100), the knob will return to its previous position.
The 1745 connections are always programmed left-to-left, and right-to-right
(e.g., Line-In left always goes to the left channel, and Line-In right
always goes to the right channel).
A volume must be non-zero before its balance can be changed.
The gain controls are programmed to adjust both channels identically (e.g.,
setting gIn:50 sets both left and right gain-in channels to 50). Ditto
for the tone controls.
Volume levels are not continuous; when you move a control, it will jump to
the nearest level that your sound card mixer actually has. As an example,
the Gain Out control has only four positions, and it will jump from 0, to
40, to 70, to 100.
For the 1345 (SB Pro), when selecting the input source, you may need to
uncheck CD before you can select Line. Only one should be checked (only
one can be active at any time). If more than one is checked (mic, CD, line),
uncheck all and then check the one you want as the input source. Note that
the mic In can only be unchecked by selecting either CD or Line In; the
Mic will be the input by default when neither CD or Line is selected.
One instance per path\amixer.exe is allowed. If you ever have a need to
run more than one aMixer, use another path to locate the additional EXE(s).
It is not recommended to have two aMixers running against the same mixer,
at the same base port.
The Alarm feature is not supported.
Tips
----
The following optional switches may be used on the command line when starting
aMixer:
[G:\]aMixer -config -beep -reset -noload -min -nolp -nosp -wp3 -nofb
-config Brings up the configuration menu to select base port, IRQ,
DMA channel(s), and mixer. You may also get this by deleting
the amixer.ini file, located in the directory of amixer.exe;
this is automatic if no amixer.ini exists in the directory
of where the amixer.exe file resides.
-beep Beeps now and then, for audible feedback. Low frequency
(100Hz, 1 second long) indicates a problem (usually not
fatal). Short, high frequency beeps (1760Hz, 66ms) are
just feedback when some buttons are pushed (save/load,
etc.).
-reset When used, and when the IRQ and DMA channel(s) have been
provided, the SB DSP is reset at program start. This
also resets the mixer.
-noload To prevent the saved mixer settings in amixer.ini from
being programmed into the mixer at start, use this.
-min Start minimized. Can also [G:\]start /min amixer.exe.
-nolp Do not load Main and Detail window positions from ini file
at startup. Does not apply to LOAD/STARTUP from Detail.
-nosp Do no save Main and Detail window positions during SAVE.
-wp3 Use alternate knob type for Main volume, bass, treble
If the control knobs do not react as you expect, you probably do not have the
base port set correctly, or you do not have a mixer, or see next sentence.
To increase Gain Out, hold the left Control key down while moving the knob.
See the README file for more, especially changes made or other special
notices.
Cornel Huth XG DSP - DSP control for SW60XG/3D-XG
info@40th.com MIDI DB - The Ultimate MIDI player
http://40th.com/ aMixer - Mixer for all SB cards