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README.TXT
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1993-02-20
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2.0.0 Sound Board Operating System Notes.
=========================================
2.1 Installing SBOS
2.2 SBOS V1.22
2.3 SBOS options for specific games
2.1.0 Installing SBOS
---------------------
================================================================
UltraSound and SBOS do a very good job of emulating the
Sound Blaster audio card. However, since it is a software
solution to a hardware problem, the emulation is not perfect.
The UltraSound WILL NOT sound EXACTLY like an Ad Lib or a
Sound Blaster. Very rarely will the results be
unacceptable. Most commercially available applications,
including those directly from Creative Labs, will run OK.
Most 'shareware' type applications will also be OK, but it
is much more difficult to test them, so there might be a
higher percentage that do not operate properly. If possible,
we will attempt to fix any of these problems in future releases
of the SBOS software. See the readme.txt file in the SBOS
directory for more information.
================================================================
Many applications do not use Direct Memory Access (DMA) to do their
digital audio. They may either use polled I/O or the PC's timer
to do their output timing. Both are VERY taxing on
the PC and can severely degrade the performance of SBOS. A
16 MHz 386 or better PC may be necessary to get decent performance.
Applications that were ported from the AMIGA and use the 'modplay'
method of playing digital audio MIGHT have performance problems.
Removing any expanded/extended memory drivers (if possible) may
also improve performance.
There are several applications that require SBOS (Sound Board
Operating System) to run in a non-default mode to correctly
emulate other sound boards. This is because these particular
applications implemented the audio in slightly different ways.
The vast majority of applications run in the default mode
perfectly. Here is a list of the known applications that
require a different option to run correctly.
2.2.0 SBOS V1.30
----------------
2.2.1 Installation notes
2.2.2 About this new SBOS version...
2.2.3 A Note on SBOSDRV.SYS...
2.2.1 Installation notes
First make a backup copy of the current version of SBOS
software on your system. it can be found in your
\ULTRASND\SBOS directory. Copy these files to a floppy
disk or to another subdirectory.
Copy or extract the new files for the SBOS program to
your \ULTRASND\SBOS directory. This will overwrite all
the files that need to be updated.
*** IMPORTANT *** also delete SBOS.BAT, SBOSDRV.EXE and LOADSBOS.EXE
from your \ULTRASND directory if copies are present there, and replace
with the new versions from this update.
2.2.2 About this new SBOS version...
This new SBOS V1.30 maintenance update replaces all
previous version SBOS. Testing on various software
confirms improvements in digital sound and fewer
configuration difficulties, plus the benefits of a .SYS driver
for use with some CD ROM software or memory configurations.
2.2.3 A Note on SBOSDRV.SYS...
The new sbosdrv.sys driver (v1.30) is loaded from the config.sys file
and uses the entire untrasnd environment string as its parameter.
eg:
device=sbosdrv.sys ultrasnd=220,7,7,11,7
where 220 is the base port.
7 and 7 are the DMA channel (in/out)
7 is the P.C.M. (MIDI) IRQ
11 is the GF1 IRQ
The user should remember to type SBOS at the DOS prompt to re-load the
driver for any audio to be heard.
2.3.0 SBOS options for specific games
-------------------------------------
2.3.1 Option #1 (-o1)
2.3.2 Option #2 (-o2)
2.3.3 Option #3 (-o3)
2.3.4 Option X3 (-x3)
2.3.5 Option X2 (-x2)
2.3.6 CD ROM Applications
2.3.7 Vectdemo
2.3.8 AST computers.
2.3.9 GX2 (Galactix)
2.3.10 Unsupported applications:
2.3.11 New parameter:
2.3.1 Option #1 (-o1)
- Prince of Persia
- Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego?
- Leather Godesses of Phobos II
- Links386
2.3.2 Option #2 (-o2)
- Pga Golf
The following games need -o2 ONLY for versions of SBOS
prior to version 1.20
- Any Ibis Software applications
- Castle Von Wolfenstein (Wolfenstein 3-D)
- Dune
- Kings Quest 5 (CD-ROM & EMS versions)
- Earl Weaver Baseball II
2.3.3 Option #3 (-o3)
- F-15 Strike Eagle II
2.3.4 Option X3 (-x3)
- Siege
- Blaster Master (bmaster)
2.3.5 Option X2 (-x2)
- Links 386 (and turn off background sounds)
Links386 also requires option -o1
2.3.6 CD ROM Applications
- Strange Deadfellows requires the GF1 and MIDI interupts
to be the same. To do this rerun the SETUP program.
- Lemmings - use Lemmings' -x mode when choosing the PC type.
2.3.7 Vectdemo
Requires that IRQ #2 is used. Make sure that the last parameter
in ULTRASND is 2. Make sure that BLASTER uses IRQ 2 also.
This must be done BEFORE sbos is loaded. If
SBOS is already loaded with an incorrect IRQ, unloadit & re-load
it with IRQ2. After loading the demo, you MUST go thru its
install. There is an uninitialized pointer that blows SBOS out
of the water if you do not go thru the install. All you need to do
is select a type of computer and the go run the demo.
2.3.8 AST computers.
SOME, not all, AST computers have a problem with our SBOS
emulation. If SBOS does not run on yours, try running the
game(s) with the -o2 option.
2.3.9 GX2 (Galactix)
Use option -o3. This will only work for the FM stuff. No
digital audio will work.
2.3.10 Unsupported applications:
(Both of these options corrupt PC memory in such a way that
SBOS is unable to run. Maybe these problems will be fixed
future releases of these applications and the SBOS will work.)
- Hare Raising Havoc (Roger Rabbit)
- JetFighter II
Some computers have their DRAM parity disabled. SBOS will not
work properly with this. Re-enable the parity check in you
BIOS setup.
2.3.11 New parameters:
-p Turns OFF the "SBOS installed" audio message when loadsbos is
run.
-Cxx This allows your to specify a different control vector
to be specified. Some applications require 7E which is the
default for sbosdrv & loadsbos. The range is from 7A to 7F.
The 'SBOS installed' message can be customized by specifying a
file to play followed by the playback rate, in the sbos.cfg file.
SBOS supports Sound Blaster's compressed data (ADPCM) formats.
No drivers from Creative Labs (such as ct-voice.drv) or Ad Lib
(such as sound.exe) are supplied with the UltraSound card. If
an application requires any and you do not already have them,
the application will NOT run. You must obtain them from some
other source.
Even though it is not usually necessary, it may be a good idea
to re-load SBOS before you run each Sound Blaster game. It would
be very easy to do this with a batch file.
IF an application runs that uses the UltraSound, SBOS will re-load
its patches as the application exits. This means that you should
be able to run SoundBlaster compatible programs and real
UltraSound applications without having to re-load SBOS.