Creative sound monthly 1
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CREATIVE SOUND MONTHLY
A Monthly Magazine For Sound Blaster and
Sound Blaster Pro Enthusiasts.
Edition 1
March 1992
Edited and Published By: Allan DibTable of contents
- From The Editors Desk
- All About The Sound Blaster Connection
- How To Contact Me
- Included Files
- Readers Questions and Comments
- Have You Written A New Product ?
- Music and Sound File Extensions
- Commercial Review- Tetra Compositor
- Shareware/Public Domain Review- ProMod
- Advertisements
- What's Wrong With My Sound Blaster Pro ?
- Sound Blaster Version 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and Pro
- That's All Folks
- Credits
- Rating and Comments Form
You may freely distribute/copy this and all the included files, to whomever you wish, as long as you don't profit from it, and that all files that have been included are distributed. You may not in anyway modify this text file or any accompanied files/programs. You may not in part or whole re-publish or include any part of this text file into your own work without permission of the editor (Allan Dib).
From The Editors Desk
Written By: Allan Dib
Hello and welcome to the very first edition of Creative Sound Monthly. To bring you this issue many, many hours of hard work and research have been done. Your probably thinking; Why is this guy putting out a Sound Blaster magazine when there are already a few good ones going round ? Well It's because of many reasons but the main ones being that I want to help people with problems and I want to share my knowledge of the Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro with other people.
Other reasons are because, other magazines (I will not any mention names) do not write much if any about the Sound Blaster Pro. Some of them (not all) were written in a very unprofessional format and the writer/editor/publisher didn't give his real name, address or phone number, therefore readers could not contact him. Another thing I didn't like about other magazines is that they didn't tell you very detailed information about what they were talking about, they just touched onto the surface making it obvious that they hadn't bothered to research the facts about the topic.
One other very successful Sound Blaster magazine is doing a very good job indeed, but if you want to send mail to the editor or ask a question it would take a very long time to get a reply because he lives in Canada, this makes it hard for all of you Australian users. Don't get me wrong I'm not in any way implying that you shouldn't read other Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro related information in fact I encourage you to, because that way you will have a broad range of opinions and facts. In short I'm just saying that in this magazine you will find a lot of valuable information and facts that you won't find anywhere else.
This magazine is in no way all written by myself, in fact to keep this magazine going YOU the user should contribute articles and information you think others should know about, without your input this magazine is going to be nothing. Most of the articles (not all) in this first issue are written by me to get the ball rolling but hopefully in the future your articles and information will be the main feature of this magazine.
I the editor of this magazine do not in any way expect you to subscribe or register this product. Although I'm doing this totally voluntarily a money, hardware or software (NOT pirated software of course) donation to encourage me will not be turned down, however if you decide not to donate you will not be in any way dis-advantaged, e.g. one Sound Blaster magazine available gives extra shareware products and sound files only if you subscribe, this is NOT the case with Creative Sound Monthly. With every issue of Creative Sound Monthly you will receive a few extra files, these may be sound files, a very good new shareware or public domain sound program or any other file I think should be included.
Thank You,
Allan Dib (Editor).
All About The Sound Blaster Connection
Written By: Craig Hart
Well, hello and welcome to the first of what may well turn out to be many, many articles in this new electronic magazine. The subject of this article is to introduce you all to the Sound Blaster connection; hence referred to as the SBC.
The SBC consists of a group of Bulletin Boards world-wide that communicate regularly on sound and Sound Blaster related topics. The SBC was originally created by the members of "UltraForce Software Development" (A programming group based in the Netherlands). The original idea of the SBC was to provide a forum of message areas for the sharing of new ideas, technical help, programming information, software releases and the like on their own local BBS systems.
Soon the SBC was becoming well known and international links were soon set-up. Today the SBC stretches as far as England, Switzerland, Spain, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Andalucia, Italy, Australia, Scandinavia and the USA.
Meanwhile, back here in Australia where I'm based, one very polite and wealthy<?> gentleman by the name of matthew Taylor having just secured the Australian host-ship set about sending every sound bulletin board he'd ever heard of (and plenty he hadn't) the application kit.. Soon connections flourished (well, plenty of haddles but I won't mention them) and today we can span the globe and talk directly to the members of Ultraforce, other people interested in SB material, SB programmers etc etc etc. In Australia the SBC has become recognized as THE network for Sound Material, and it is a credit to matthew that he has held things together through thick and thin to bring all of us what we have today.
Soon the growth of the SBC had far outsized even the most optimistic amongst our group, with many regular users from all over the world contributing to the messages as a whole. Soon more message areas were added as the SBC absorbed a couple of small networks, and things like the SB PRO ambled onto the scene. Today there are some 11 public message areas covering the following topics:
- CD ROM and Multimedia
- Games
- MIDI and MIDI related music
- Programming
- Sound Blaster PRO
- SB Software
Included in this list are three MultiNet message areas including the well known "sierra" area, taken for those game addicts to get help with their favourite Sierra adventure (And also to lighten the load on other game areas!).
Perhaps most importantly (well, to download addicts anyhow), the SBC now incorporates the FidoNet standard programs TICK and HATCH in a file network that again spans the globe, and ensures that the latest files that have just been released new to the world are distributed world wide and arrive at your local end promptly and with minimum cost to all. There are currently 4 file areas available, these being distribution areas for new Demo's, Programming files, Textual/informative files and of course the traditional Utilities area :-) The SBC file echo's make sure that you are always up to date.
Getting onto the SBC
So, I hear you all scream, how do I find this SBC? Very simple! All good Sound Blaster BBS's will most likely already be SBC Members. If they're not then you should get them to join! I'm sure a message or two on your favourite local BBS will turn up a place or two within your local call range....
For those poor unfortunate loner boards out there, there is hope however! Joining the SBC is as simple as file requesting the "sbckit" from your local host BBS (Australia : Lake Macquarie, 15:4000/0, 3:622/497, +61-049-75-4120) and filling in the application form therein. After that, determine your closest host from the enclosed nodelist, make contact with same and send him your application. If he's a nice person he will onfoward it and in a short space of time you will be connected. From there organize as per usual polling times etc.
The only hard rules of the SBC are that you use your real name when writing messages (both for courtesy, and for international clarity) and that discussions of pirating or other such illegal activity be not conducted. There are no complex rules and regulations, cryptic warnings about "annoying behaviour" when all you're trying to do is work out Imail, cold shoulder tactics by hosts who have long lost interest or other ridged specifications to follow. The aim is to enjoy oneself, and to mutually benefit by "putting our heads together" so to speak.
The SBC Costs nothing to join (other than your telephone call to pick up and send the messages and files) and any sysop or who can successfully operate a fidonet compatible (read Frontdoor or d'bridge or similar) front end mailer / BBS software package is welcome.
This very magazine was originated by the input of several persons chatting together on the SBC about how nice it would be to have an Australian produced SB related newsletter... from concept to implementation to release, the SBC was fundamental in tying all the authors, all the programmers and most importantly all the distribution together. This file has probably reached you as a direct result of the work of the SBC!
What can SBC do for me?
The SBC has become THE place for serious SB users to meet and discuss their collective problems, share their thoughts and ideas, and of course any SBC supportive BBS has all the great files from not just your local area, but a World Wide catchnet!
If you are looking for technical help, programming information, latest release news or just a decent MOD file or demo, then the SBC has all this and more to offer. We have the backup of the experts at Ultraforce, the combined power of thousands of users on many BBS's in 11 countries world wide, and last of all, you can get hold of any of the authors of any articles you may see in this magazine from time to time, ask them questions, just have chat on the subject. You can ask advice or whatever else and know that there are others out there who can help.
In the future, authors of this magazine will be using the SBC to communicate together and submit articles; so if you think you have something worth telling others, then please set your fingers typing and submit something to us!! Contact Allan or Myself in the SBC for a prompt reply.
Well, that's about it for the SBC... To summarize: If you're into sound, then the SBC is THE place to be!
How To Contact Me
Written By: Allan Dib
Please feel free (even encouraged) to write me mail about queries or problems you have regarding your Sound Blaster or Sound Blaster Pro. The mail that I think should be published, will be in the following issue of Creative Sound Monthly under the "Readers Questions and Comments" section. ALL mail that is sent to me will be answered, but only the mail I think should be published, will be. You may send me mail, leave me a message at any of the Bulletin Boards listed in the text file NODELIST.TXT or ring me by voice.
Mailing Address:
CREATIVE SOUND MONTHLY
c/o Allan Dib
19 Ondine Drive, Mulgrave
Melbourne Vic 3170
Australia.
Telephone:
(61-3) 560-3963 - Outside Australia
(03) 560-3963 - Within Australia
Ask for Allan Dib.
NOTE: See the text file NODELIST.TXT for a full list if all the Bulletin boards in SBC net. Leave me a message at ANY one of those Bulletin boards of those Bulletin boards for a prompt answer (usually between 1-5 days).
Included Files
I have included the following files inside the archived file that this magazine came in.
NOTE: You may not distribute this magazine if all accompanied files aren't distributed with it, it must also be in it's original archive which is, CSM-001.??? Where ??? is ZIP, ARJ, PAK, ZOO, or ARC
CSM.001 - This magazines main text file (Your reading it !!!!).
VIEW.EXE - Views text files.
CSM-001.EXE - Views CSM.001 with VIEW.EXE.
NODELIST.TXT - This is a full list of all the Bulletin boards in SBC net. You may leave me mail at anyone of them for a reply taking 1-5 days.
PROMOD.ZIP - Contains: PROMOD.EXE and PROMOD.DOC
PROMOD.EXE - A .MOD file player for Sound Blaster Pro, to play ordinary .MOD files in full stereo.
PROMOD.DOC - Documentation for PROMOD.EXE.
DIB-MIX.ZIP - Contains: STMOD.EXE, DIB-MIX.STM and DIB-MIX.EXE
STMOD.EXE - Plays Scream Tracker modules (.STM) from the DOS prompt on a Sound Blaster, PC Speaker, or Covox.
DIB-MIX.STM - A very creative Scream Tracker module written by Wild Thing from The WAVE.
DIB-MIX.EXE - Will play DIB-MIX.STM using STMOD.EXE.
Readers Questions and Comments
Written By: You !!
This article is dedicated to all people having some kind of trouble with their Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro. All questions/comments sent to me will be answered but only ones I think should be published will be. Published answers will be put under this section (unless I decide to write a whole article on the topic), in the next possible issue of Creative Sound Monthly.
Obviously there is going to be nothing in this column this month because it is only the first issue of Creative Sound Monthly. Hopefully this will change in future issues.
Thank You,
Allan Dib (Editor).
Have You Written A New Product ?
Written By: Allan Dib
If you have written a new shareware or public domain Sound Blaster or Sound Blaster Pro related program and would like it reviewed and/or included with the next issue of Creative Sound Monthly (assuming it's not too big), please write to me or leave me a message at any of the many Bulletin boards In SBC Net. See the section "How To Contact Me".
Music and Sound File Extensions
Written By: Allan Dib
The following is a list of almost every available sound file extension available, also supplied is the details about it players and supported hardware.
.MOD
Description:
Originally from the Amiga converted to IBM format. This file format has only 4 channels, these 4 channels can contain speech, instruments and/or live sounds that have been recorded. This file is a module meaning that all the needed instrument files are inside the .MOD file. Instrument files inside the module can easily be extracted. This file format can either have 15 or 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
ModPlay, ModEd, BPT (B's Pro Tracker), Wow, ProMod, Trak Blaster, Scream Tracker, and Tetra Compositor.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Disney Sound Source, Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro.
.STM
Description:
Very very similar to the .MOD format, this file format also only has 4 channels and can easily be converted from the .MOD format. This is also a module with easily extractable instruments in it. This file format is either converted from a .MOD file or composed with Scream Tracker. This file format can have 15 or 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
Scream Tracker, BPT.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter) and Sound Blaster.
.STS
Description:
4 Channel music file, this can easily be converted from a .STM file, this unlike the .STM and .MOD format is not a module and does not contain the instruments inside it, it only contains the song information therefore it is considerably smaller (but you still have to have the instrument files). This file format can either have 15 or 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
Scream Tracker.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter) and Sound Blaster.
.NST
Description:
Originally from Amiga's noise tracker, it is in every way that I've seen exactly the same as the .MOD file format, simply rename the extension from .NST to .MOD and play it with a .MOD player, this file format can either have 15 or 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
ModPlay, ModEd, BPT (B's Pro Tracker), Wow, ProMod, Trak Blaster, Scream Tracker, Tetra Compositor and JM Player.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Disney Sound Source, Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro.
.JMS
Description:
Again a 4 channel module, this format is native to the JM Player, and as far as I have seen, it can not be played with anything else. This file format can have 15 or 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
JM Player.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster.
.SD2
Description:
This is another 4 channel file format, it is also a module and is from Noise Tracker, this format can only contain 15 instruments.
Players/Editors:
JM Player.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster.
.SD4
Description:
A 4 channel module which is from Noise Tracker, this format can contain only 31 instruments.
Players/Editors:
JM Player.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster.
.BPM
Description:
This, again is a 4 channel module, this is B's Pro Tracker's native format and is very similar to the .STM and .MOD format.
Players/Editors:
BPT (B's Pro Tracker)
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), and Sound Blaster.
.NOT
Description:
Very little is known about this format because it is so rare I have never seen one of these files or a player for it, but I'll keep searching. Anyone with any info about it please let me know.
Players/Editors:
Unknown.
Supported Hardware:
Unknown.
.ROL
Description:
This is a ROLand file and has 11 FM voices it requires you to have a separate instrument bank (.BNK).
Players/Editors:
Sputrol, FM Sound for Windows 3.0, Much Music.
Supported Hardware:
Adlib, Sound Blaster.
.CMF
Description:
CMF (Creative Music File) is nearly the same as the .ROL apart from the fact that it has all it's instruments inside which makes it slightly bigger. There is no problem in converting from a .ROL to a CMF. This can play 11 simultaneous FM voices. This format does not support the Adlib card as it is creative labs own format.
Players/Editors:
PlayCMF, SputCMF, and CMF Shell.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro.
.CMS
Description:
These are true stereo Sound Blaster music files and will only work on Sound blasters equipped with C/MS chips. This format has 12 stereo AM voices.
Players/Editors:
CMS Play
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster (Only ones with the C/MS chips).
.VOC
Description:
This format is one of the most popular formats for the Sound Blaster because it is so easy to edit and create. Although one major drawback of this format is it's size. .VOC files can either be 2 bit, 2.5 bit, 4 bit or 8 bit, the default is 8 bit.
Players/Editors:
Vplay, Vrec, Vedit, Vedit2, Blaster Master, Vox, Voc 386, See Vox, Vplus, Remac, Digiplay, Hifi, Srec, Play BWC, Sayint, CoPlay, Bytewise.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro.
.ST
Description:
This is just a .VOC file with it's header stripped. This format is used in Scream Tracker as the instrument files that go in modules. It's an 8 bit file.
Players/Editors:
Scream Tracker.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Sound Blaster.
.IFF
Description:
These are Amiga sound samples, and are not to be confused with the Amiga .IFF graphics format. This format is similar to the .VOC format with the exception that they have no header.
Players/Editors:
Vox, IFF2VOC.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Sound Blaster.
.SOU
Description:
Very, very similar to a .VOC file except has no header. This is an 8 bit sound file a is imported from the MAC.
Players/Editors:
Remac, Digiplay, Hifi, Srec, Play BWC, Sayint, CoPlay, Bytewise.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Sound Blaster.
.SND
Description:
This is also an 8 bit sound file from the MAC and from what I've seen it is exactly the same as the .SOU format. Simply rename the .SOU file to produce an .SND file.
Players/Editors:
Remac, Digiplay, Hifi, Srec, Play BWC, Sayint, CoPlay, Bytewise.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker, Covox (or D/A converter), Sound Blaster.
.SUN
Description:
This is a fairly old and pretty rare format, not much apart from that is known about it.
Players/Editors:
Sound Tool for Windows 3.0.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker.
.WAV
Description:
Very new format. Very little known about apart from the fact that it is very similar to the .VOC file and that it is easily converted to a from the .VOC file.
Players/Editors:
Unknown.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster Pro (I'm not sure if the ordinary Sound Blaster supports this format as it is very new and is for multimedia purposes).
.NXT
Description:
Very little is known about this one as I have never come across an .NXT file. This is a 16 bit sound file.
Players/Editors:
Sound Tool for Windows 3.0.
Supported Hardware:
PC Speaker
.POL
Description:
This format is so rare and so pathetic I didn't know if it was worth mentioning, but I did just for the record. It is a single voice PC Speaker music file which is made up of a series beeps and sound really, really terrible.
Players/Editors:
WinPlay for Windows.
Supported Hardware
PC Speaker.
.ORG
Description:
This format is for the program, FM Organ/Pro Organ that comes with your Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro. The file size is pretty small and it sounds pretty good.
Players/Editors:
FM Organ, Pro Organ.
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro.
.MUS
Description:
I know absolutely nothing about this format and have never seen a .MUS music file or player for it. Anyone with any info about it please let me contact me.
Players/Editors:
Unknown.
Supported Hardware:
Unknown.
.MID
Description:
This format is like a module, it has .SND instrument files in it. It is created using a MIDI interface and sounds pretty good.
Players/Editors:
Juke Box for Windows 3.0
Supported Hardware:
Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro.
Well that's about every single Sound/Music file I've ever seen or heard of if there are any that I have missed please let me know so I can include them in the next issue of CSM. Also if Possible send as much information about the format as possible.
Commercial Review- Tetra Compositor
Written By: Allan Dib
Well after a lot of fuss and talk about Tetra Compositor I finally decided to get it. Unfortunately I was very, very disappointed. From my point of view it has very good potential but as far as I'm concerned it is no where near finished. I liked the idea of .MOD compatibility (Which didn't work properly). I had problems with this program from start to finish. To start it off, the installation program crashed, I tried everything from disabling all memory resident drivers to rebooting with other DOS versions. Finally I decided it was useless and simply copied to the harddisk. NOT a good start at all. O.K. I finally had it going so I went to the online help which also failed, it kept saying TETRA.HLP not found when it was in the current directory, so I started modifying my path statement in my AUTOEXEC.BAT and put a path going to every directory of tetra. Still NO luck. By now I'm getting very aggro and was almost convinced that this program is absolutely useless. Tetra Compositor claims to be able to load and play .MOD files, sure it did a few .MOD files but about 9/10 didn't sound the way they were meant to. Another thing I was outraged about was that you either have to record your own samples or BUY them from Creative Technology. This get's very expensive for PC Speaker users or people unable to record samples on their Sound Blaster. The file formats it supports are .MOD .NST and .SD4. The ONLY things I liked about it is the EGA graphics and the Sampler. Although the sampler also had heaps of bugs it had many options that I haven't seen in other sound samplers (Including a nice EGA graphics interface). To summarize it, Tetra is really pathetic and I'd be ashamed to release it as a Public Domain or Shareware product. It crashed so many times that it's not even worth the bother. Why Creative Technology licensed something like this in the first place is beyond me. Tetra Compositor is a perfect example of how NOT to release a product.
Retail Price:
$150 (Australian)
Sound Capabilities:
PC Speaker, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro (NOTE: for Sound Blaster Pro support you need a totally separate executable file).
Graphics Capabilities:
CGA, EGA.
RATINGS
Sound Blaster Sound:
Obviously this depends on the sound file being played.
Graphics:
N/AGameplay:
N/AValue Out Of Ten:
************
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Creativity:
N/AOriginality Out Of Ten:
***************************
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10There aren't too many composing programs around and the ones that there are usually don't have a built in sampler.
Shareware/Public Domain Review- ProMod
Written By: Allan Dib
ProMod would easily have to be one of the best and most useful Public Domain products I have ever seen. It is exactly the type of thing I was looking for when I was scrolling through a few bbs's in SBC net. I think ProMod is brilliant and with me it has a perfect record. It has NEVER ever crashed with any one of my .MOD files, even when I had the beta version. The other day I played 20 meg worth of .MOD files and not a single one crashed !!! Like it says in the documentation it sounds great with headphones and even with speakers the effect is brilliant. I'm really looking forward to the next version as it will have:
- AdLib Gold support (if a donator gives a pair)
- Integrated samples manager.
- Convert Scream Tracker modules (.STM)
- Two Sound Blaster PRO support to listen to 2 channels in each one of them (if it works)
Now if you think that's good you ain't heard nothing until you play your favourite .MOD in full stereo using a ProMod.
Retail Price:
$0 (Australian) This is a Public Domain Product.
Sound Capabilities:
Sound Blaster Pro
Graphics Capabilities:
VGA only.
RATINGS
Sound Blaster Sound:
Obviously this depends on the .MOD file being played.
Graphics:
*********************************
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Although this is a sound file player it has a very nice VGA graphics interface.
Gameplay:
N/AValue Out Of Ten:
*****************************************
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10It's Free !!!!!!
Creativity:
N/AOriginality Out Of Ten:
**************************************
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10I've only seen one other thing that plays .MOD's in full stereo on the Sound Blaster Pro.
Advertisements
Written By: Anyone who wants to advertise
This section is provided for anyone wanting to advertise a bulletin board or hardware they want to sell (NOTE: all hardware for sale must be sound related, e.g. Sound Blaster Pro or Adlib card). Advertising doesn't cost anything, all you have to do is send me on disk or via modem your ad in ASCII (text) format. If your advertising a bulletin board, mention what you specialize in, phone number, maximum baud rate etc.
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Music Support BBS Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
61-3-749-5556 (24 Hours)
SBC 15:4100/204.0
AMF 21:300/10.0This new BBS has been introduced to support the music programmers, those of you who actually produce MOD, ROL and MIDI music files (or would like to be able to!).
There are also files areas for Radio Amateur Operators and Basic programmers.
Sound FX system hardware: 286-16
70Mb HDD (another one due soon!!)
DOS 5.0
Monochrome Monitor
Maestro XR Modem (300-1200-2400)
Sound FX system software: RemoteAccess
IMail
FrontDoorThe system is used solely for the BBS and is not used for any purpose other than that stated above.
-=<*>=-
I hope to develop the `How to do it' MOD, ROL and MIDI message areas with some assistance from experienced users and offer the inexperienced SB or MIDI users some help in their quest to make music.
If you are into MOD's, there are a few Music Man productions available from some of the Melbourne boards and more on the way too!!
If you are into music, give us call and see what we have to offer!! You may even have something to offer us.
.\\usic .\\an
What's Wrong With My Sound Blaster Pro ?
Written By: Allan Dib
This section is for all the people having technical difficulties with their Sound Blaster Pro. The following is a list of common problems/questions and answers to them. In some, even most cases there is more than one answer.
Problem:
Many of the new sierra games (e.g. LSL 5 and PQ 3), are having trouble detecting the Sound Blaster card, I have the correct line;
SET BLASTER=A2?0 I? D?
in my AUTOEXEC.BAT file and many programs work fine with it but when I run the installation program of a new Sierra game it gives me the following error message - Sound Blaster Board Failed initialisation.
Solution:
Download the replacement Sierra Sound Blaster Drivers from any good bulletin board in SBC net or contact me and I'd be only too happy to send them to you.
Problem:
Just after I record a sample or move the mouse in Vedit 2, it freezes up and I have to reboot my system, also many games do the same and this was not happening before I got my Sound Blaster Pro.
Solution 1:
Disable all memory resident drivers/utilities (e.g. HIMEM.SYS, MOUSE.COM, DOSKEY.COM etc.). Try the programs again with the drivers disabled. This should work (if it doesn't then refer to solution 2), if it does work enable each memory resident driver/utility one by one until you find out which one is conflicting with the Sound Blaster Pro card. When you find the culprit either disable it or find a similar (but compatible) substitute. NOTE: 90 % of the time the problem will be in your mouse driver. I've experimented a bit and found that Microsoft Mouse Driver Version 7.04 does not conflict with the Sound Blaster Pro.
Solution 2:
If the above solution didn't work and programs are still freezing/hanging/crashing the you'll have to open your computer remove all non essential cards (e.g. scanner cards, copy cards etc.), leaving only Disk/Fixed Disk controller cards and video board in the system, and obviously the Sound Blaster Pro card. Run the program that keeps on freezing up, this has to work unless the problem is in your machine or the actual program. One by one put back the cards to find the conflicting card when you find it you'll have to adjust it or remove it from the computer so as it doesn't conflict with the Sound Blaster Pro card.
NOTE: Most of the time the conflicting card will be a scanner card, unfortunately they are very incompatible with the Sound Blaster card and will have to be removed from the system (and put back in when they need to be used).
Problem:
I've connected my PC Speaker to the Sound Blaster Pro card but still no sound comes out.
Solution 1:
You have connected it the wrong way, try reversing the polarity and trying again.
Solution 2:
If the above solution didn't work then make sure that the wires going to the Sound Blaster Pro card are actually from the mother board and not from the PC Speaker (a very silly but easy mistake to make).
Recommendation:
If you use a lot of software/games that use PC Speaker sound don't connect it to the Sound Blaster Pro as it sounds terrible (especially if you have an amplifier connected to it).
Problem:
Many Sound Blaster shareware programs and demos come up with the following message and exit to DOS when executed - Sound Blaster Board Failed initialisation.
Solution 1:
You don't have a the following string in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file -
SET BLASTER=A2?0 I? D?This can either be created manually or done with the SB ENV program that comes with the Sound Blaster Pro.
Solution 2:
You need CT-VOICE.DRV in the same directory that you have your program/demo in.
Solution 3:
If you have CT-VOICE.DRV in the same directory as your program/demo and it still isn't working then you are probably not using your own copy of CT-VOICE.DRV. It is important that you use your own copy of the CT-VOICE driver and not just any one, because when you configure your Sound Blaster all the configuration is written into the file CT-VOICE.DRV, so replace the existing copy of the CT-VOICE driver file with one that you have configured (and hopefully worked).
Sound Blaster Version 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and Pro
Written By: Allan Dib
Sound Blaster Version 1.0
Not very much is known about this as I have not yet talked to a person who owns one. If anyone out there has one please contact me so I can publish information about it in the next issue of CSM.
Sound Blaster Version 1.5 (Older version)
This version of the Sound Blaster came with CMS chips already installed which has true stereo, 12 voice AM output (Game Blaster Compatible). It also has mono 12 voice FM output. The Sound Blaster is Adlib compatible, has digitized voice input/output, MIDI interface (via optional MIDI connector box), joy-stick port, and amplifier with volume control. Maximum sampling rate is 13 Khz. It only has one mono input (usually for a microphone), and one stereo output (stereo as in two speakers, not true stereo).
Sound Blaster Version 1.5 (Newer version)
With this version of the Sound Blaster the CMS chips were taken out which left only the mono 12 voice FM output. This version is not compatible with the Game Blaster card (unless you had CMS chips put into the 2 empty sockets, costing about $50). The Sound Blaster is Adlib compatible, has digitized voice input/output, MIDI interface (via optional MIDI connector box), joy-stick port, and amplifier with volume control. Maximum sampling rate is 13 Khz. It only has one mono input (usually for a microphone), and one stereo output (stereo as in two speakers, not true stereo).
Sound Blaster Version 2.0
CMS chips do not come with this version of the Sound Blaster, you have to buy them separately. NOTE: Version 2.0 of the Sound Blaster has three empty sockets for CMS chips instead of the ordinary two, meaning that you can't upgrade directly from a 1.5 with CMS. Why ? Because in order to implement full duplex MIDI some of the ports that used to be assigned to the CMS portion of the Sound Blaster were used. So the extra chip on the 2.0 is there to do some switching. This version of the Sound Blaster also has a much higher sampling rate 44.1 Khz (The sampling rate of a CD), of course this is only in mono. Another difference with the 2.0 is that it has two inputs and one output, it has a jack for the microphone and a line in, the previous version only had a microphone input. Lastly it is bundled with much better and improved software.
Sound Blaster Pro
At last a true stereo FM Sound Blaster card !! This is card is almost exactly the same as two Sound Blaster ver 2.0's put together (Only the Pro does NOT have CMS capabilities). It doesn't even have empty sockets to put CMS chips in. The Sound Blaster Pro has maximum sampling rate of 44.1 Khz in mono and 22.05 Khz in stereo. Personally I think it is a brilliant card and I haven't encountered any compatibility problems yet. It is bundled with a stereo version of FM Organ, SBFMDRV (Sound Blaster FM Driver), Juke Box for Windows 3.0 and Vedit (Vedit 2, which supports stereo). A lot of other software is also supplied but that is in mono. With the Sound Blaster Pro package you also get a free MIDI kit which you had to buy separately in previous versions of the Sound Blaster. The Sound Blaster Pro has two input jacks one and line in. The line in accepts a stereo input and will record in stereo, the other is a mono input and is usually for a microphone. The Sound Blaster has a true stereo output ("True Stereo", meaning that different sounds come out of each speaker/headphone).
That's All Folks
Written By: Allan Dib
Well that's it for this issue, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. All I ask in return for my hard work and effort is that you fill out the rating form and send it to me, this is so that I can know what you think of this magazine and how I can improve it. Also if you have some valuable information about the Sound Blaster, please, share it with the rest of the world by writing to me so I can publish it in the next possible issue of Creative Sound Monthly. Also any requests for articles or reviews will not be turned down (assuming that I have the program/game you would like me to review).
Credits
Craig Hart (Sysop of The Communications Barrier) - Without this dude you probably wouldn't be reading this (at least not for quite a while). I wanted to release the first issue of this magazine in April instead of March due to not enough support, but this guy encouraged me to release it earlier, he also volunteered to write an article and distribution of this magazine was done by Craig. Craig also provided me with the list of all bulletin boards in SBC net (NODELIST.TXT) and wrote the program to generate it. Thanx heaps dude !!
Angel Trigo and David Lopez - These are the guys responsible for the brilliant program, ProMod, which has been included in this months issue of CSM.
Wild Thing - Wild Thing wishes to remain anonymous and has specifically asked me not to reveal his real name. Wild Thing contributed a very creative Scream Tracker module, a nice addition to this first issue of Creative Sound Monthly :-).
Mah Hithgoda - Mah willingly provided me with very helpful information regarding the Sound Blaster version 1.5.
Bob Crockford (Sysop of Sound FX BBS) - Bob provided me with information regarding sound file extensions, he also put an ad into the advertisement section (some nice ASCII work).
Everyone in SBC net responsible for distribution - I'd like to give a special thanx to all the people in SBC net who put in many, many thankless hours to distribute programs and Sound Blaster related things such as this magazine.
You - And lastly but definitely not least YOU for reading this and giving it a chance (especially all the people who have taken time out to fill out the below rating and comments form and sent it to me).
Rating and Comments Form
Please take a few minutes to sit down and fill out the following form and send it to me, this is so I can improve the next issue of CSM for YOU. This all I ask in return for my hard efforts and hours of research.
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What did you especially like about this magazine and would like to see more of ?
___________________________________________________________________________
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Was there anything do disliked about this magazine and would like to see stopped ?
(please specify)
___________________________________________________________________________
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Do you feel Creative Sound Monthly could be improved ? If so how ?
___________________________________________________________________________
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General Comments/Requests -
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Did you find the information in this magazine helpful and/or informative ?
YES NO SOME OF IT MOST OF IT
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Would you like to Creative Monthly keep going ?
YES NO DON'T CARE
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Out of ten you would rate this magazine:
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After filling this out please send it to:
CREATIVE SOUND MONTHLY
c/o Allan Dib
19 Ondine Drive, Mulgrave
Melbourne Vic 3170
Australia.
Telephone:
(61-3) 560-3963 - Outside Australia
(03) 560-3963 - Within Australia
Ask for Allan Dib.PROMOD.DOC
ProMod v 1.1
(c) 1991, David López & Angel Trigo
Barcelona, Spain
FREEWARE
[For english doc read further on]
ProMod es un programa que permite escuchar módulos de sonido de Amiga (.MOD o .NST) con la tarjeta de sonido SoundBlaster PRO en STEREO.
Requisitos de Hardware:
- AT-286 10 MHz o superior (386SX, 386, 486)
- SoundBlaster PRO
- Tarjeta gr†fica VGA
ATENCION: No usar programas y drivers que gestionen memoria o que dejen al 386 en modo virtual (EMM386, QEMM, 386MAX, etc) ya que enlentecen el ordenador a la hora de procesar el sonido.
En la parte superior derecha de la pantalla se muestran indicadores de volumen para cada canal (aparte de indicar con los numeros 1, 2, 3, 4 los canales que hay activos).
Abajo aparecen indicadores de algunos volumenes del mixer de la SoundBlaster PRO (Master, Voc, Line-In, Mic). Cada uno con su canal izquierdo y derecho independiente (menos el MIC).
En la parte izquierda aparecen los nombres de los instrumentos y cuando est† sonando la canción, se pone un n£mero al lado del instrumento que est† sonando por cada canal.
Para ordenadores lentos se puede poner un parametro (-N) para que el Sampling Rate se reduzca a la mitad y asi poder oir los módulos decentemente (bajando el sampling rate la calidad de sonido empeora, pero es mejor que cuando se escucha con High Sampling Rate en ordenadores lentos).
Hemos a§adido una opción para poder escuchar grupos de canciones automaticamente (albumes). Los albumes se hacen escribiendo en ficheros de texto, los nombres de los módulos que queremos oir tal como lo escribiriamos en la linea de ordenes del DOS (es decir podemos poner el path o trayectoria del fichero). Se pueden poner varios titulos en una linea o cada uno en una linea, siempre y cuando esten separados por espacios.
Ejemplo de album:
Si suponemos que el fichero (el album) se llama FAVORITO.ALB, lo editamos con cualquier editor de texto ASCII y escribimos lo siguiente, por ejemplo:
\mod\get.mod alphavil
d:\songs\echoing.nstEl programa interpretar°a los 3 módulos: GET.MOD, ALPHAVIL.MOD y ECHOING.NST cuando lo ejecutasemos con:
PROMOD @favorito.albo bien, si el album estuviese en otro directorio u otra unidad de disco, por ejemplo en C:\MOD\ALBUMES
PROMOD @c:\mod\albumes\favorito.albEl fichero de texto donde escribimos el album no puede ocupar m†s de 32000 bytes.
Una manera r†pida de hacer un album, es meter en un directorio los módulos que queremos oir y hacer
DIR > album.albcon lo que tenemos en el fichero ALBUM.ALB todos los nombres ya escritos. Ahora hace falta editar dicho fichero y borrar en cada linea la información de tama§o y fecha de los ficheros.
Luego basta hacer
PROMOD @album.alby ya est†.
Para poder terminar un album en medio de cualquier canción pulsar CTRL-ESC.
Tambien hemos a§adido la opción de escuchar los módulos de sonido en Mono (para notar la diferencia...) Cuando se elige modo Mono, el programa puede funcionar con una SoundBlaster normal (no probado todavia!).
Para los que quieran los mensajes en ingles, usar el parametro
/E o -ELa frecuencia usada es la m†xima que permite la SoundBlaster PRO en stereo (22050 Hz).
El programa ha sido realizado en 100% puro Assembler y ha sido probado en AT-12 Mhz, 386SX-16 MHz, 386-25 MHz, 386-33 MHz cache.
FORMA DE USO
Se ejecuta mediante
PROMOD [nombre_fichero] [@nombre_album] [-M] [-N] [-E]Donde nombre_fichero es cualquier nombre de fichero v†lido en MS-DOS (puede incluir trayectoria si es necesario). La extensión no es obligatoria. Por defecto se usa la extensión .MOD. Si el módulo tiene otra extensión es necesario escribirla (p.ej: .NST)
nombre_album es cualquier nombre de fichero v†lido (puede incluir trayectoria si es necesario).
El parametro -M (o /M) sirve para oir el módulo de sonido en Mono.
El parametro -N sirve para bajar el Sampling Rate a la mitad, es decir, para poder oir los módulos en ordenadores lentos (AT de 10 o 12 MHz).
El parametro -E sirve para mostrar los mensajes del programa en ingles.
Una vez est† sonando el módulo podemos pulsar
ESC - Para salir al DOS
CTRL-ESC - Para salir al DOS en medio de un album
Cursor IZQUIERDA y DERECHA - Para avanzar o retroceder a la siguiente pista
1,2,3,4 - Para activar/desactivar los canales 1,2,3 y 4
(Nota: Los canales 1,4 corresponden al canal Izquierdo del stereo y los canales 2,3 al canal derecho)
Q,A - Subir y bajar el volumen MASTER del mixer de la SB PRO
W,S - Subir y bajar el volumen del DAC (sonido digitalizado) del mixer de la SB PRO
E,D - Subir y bajar el volumen del LINE-IN (entrada auxiliar de sonido en stereo) del mixer de la SB PRO
R,F - Subir y bajar el volumen del MIC (microfono en mono) del mixer de la SB PRO
(Todas estas teclas suben y bajan el volumen del canal izquierdo y derecho juntos. Para poder acceder a cada canal por separado, pulsar a la vez CTRL para el canal izquierdo y ALT para el canal derecho. Por ejemplo, pulsando ALT-A se baja el volumen del canal derecho del MASTER, y pulsando CTRL-Q se sube el volumen del canal izquierdo del MASTER)
Agradeceriamos que nos comunicaseis cualquier posible fallo del programa, o sugerencias y comentarios.
Para contactar con los autores por correo electronico, dejar mensajes a nombre de Angel Trigo en
PARADISE_BCN BBS (93)4501803 Barcelona
o bien por FidoNet en 2:343/107.242 (Angel Trigo)
HISTORIA DE LAS REVISIONES
0.1· (28-11-91) Primera versión del programa que lograba tocar en stereo y diferenciar los sonidos de cada canal (lo m°nimo, no?) Eso si, crujia y hacia muchos ruidos raros. Para uso interno y beta-testers (gracias Joker!!)
0.2·(3-12-91) Slides correctos. Eliminados ruidos y distorsión. Mayor gama de notas soportadas. OOOPPPS!! Left y Right al reves... Posibilidad de encender y apagar cada canal.
1.00·(5-12-91) Primera versión oficial del programa para distribuir libremente a todo el mundo. Sigue siendo Beta porque con las prisas de sacarlo no ha sido probado en muchos tipos de PC. (Primera BBS de distribución en Espa§a: PARADISE_BCN, 93-4501803 Barcelona)
1.1(27-12-91) Opción de High-Normal Sampling Rate para ordenadores lentos. Indicadores de volumen para los 4 canales. Indicadores del instrumento de cada canal. Nombre de fichero y album en pantalla. Tocar grupos de canciones (albumes). Controles de volumenes del mixer de la SB PRO (left y right independientes) MASTER, VOC, LINE, MIC
En próximas versiones ...
- Soporte de AdLib Gold (si alguien nos proporciona un par de ellas...)
- Gestor de samples integrado.
- Conversión de módulos Scream Tracker (.STM)
- Uso de dos Sound Blaster PRO a la vez para sacar dos de los cuatro canales por cada una de ellas (si se puede...)
(Un consejo: escuchad los módulos con auriculares... Es ALUCINANTE!)
COPYRIGHT/LICENCIA/GARANTIA
Los ficheros PROMOD.EXE y PROMOD.DOC ("el software") son copyright de los autores. Dichos autores permiten: usar el software, hacer copias del programa y la documentación, dar dichas copias a cualquiera y distribuir el software por medios electrónicos.
Esta prohibido cobrar, o pedir donaciones por una copia o copias del programa, y por distribuir el software y/o documentación con productos comerciales sin contrato escrito.
Ninguna copia del programa puede ser distribuida sin este documento, ni puede ser alterado su contenido de ninguna forma.
No hay garantia de ningun tipo, y los propietarios del copyright no se hacen responsables de da§os de ningun tipo. Al usar este software gratuito, usted est† de acuerdo con todo lo citado arriba.
El software y la documentación son Copyright (C) 1991, David Lopez, Angel Trigo
--------
ProMod is a Mod-Player (Amiga 4 channel music) for SoundBlaster PRO featuring true stereo sound.
Hardware requirements:
- AT-286 10 MHz or faster (386SX, 386, 486)
- SoundBlaster PRO
- VGA graphics adapter
WARNING: Don't use programs or drivers that use the virtual mode VM86 (QEMM, 386MAX, etc). These utilities slow down the PC.
You can make your own albums writing the names of the modules in a text file. For example,
\mod\get.mod alphavil
d:\songs\echoing.nstThe program will play the modules GET.MOD, ALPHAVIL.MOD and ECHOING.NST when executing
PROMOD @album.albwhere ALBUM.ALB is the name of the text file.
The size of the file text can't exceed 32000 bytes. If you want to finish an album, press CTRL-ESC.
ProMod is written entirely in assembler.
USING PROMOD
At the DOS prompt, just type:
PROMOD [filename] [@album_name] [-M] [-N] [-E]where filename is any valid name of file in MS-DOS. The default extension is .MOD
album_name is any valid name of file in MS-DOS.
Use parameter -M if you want to listen the module in Mono mode.
Use parameter -N if you have a slow computer, to reduce the sampling rate.
Use parameter -E to read the messages in english.
While playing the module you can use the following keys:
ESC - Exit to DOS
CTRL-ESC - Exit to DOS (when playing an album)
LEFT & RIGHT - Jumps back one track. Skip to the next track.
1, 2, 3, 4 - Toggle channel 1, 2, 3, 4 on/off
(Note: The channels 1, 4 are LEFT and 2, 3 are RIGHT)
Q,A - Increase, decrease the MASTER volume of the SB PRO
W,S - Increase, decrease the VOC (digitized sound) volume
E,D - Increase, decrease the LINE (line-in stereo) volume
R,F - Increase, decrease the MIC (microphone) volume
Press CTRL to increase or decrease the Left channel
Press ALT to increase or decrease the Right channel
Example:
- ALT-A decreases the Right-MASTER volume
- CTRL-E increases the Left-LINE volume
We would appreciate any suggestions, comments or questions about the program.
To contact the authors via electronic mail, send a message to Angel Trigo in
PARADISE_BCN BBS (93)4501803 Barcelona, Spain or, via FidoNet at 2:343/107.242 (Angel Trigo)
REVISION HISTORY
- 0.1 (28-11-91) First stereo sounds in SoundBlaster PRO. Too much noise and distortion. For internal use and beta-testers (Thanx Joker!!)
- 0.2 (3-12-91) Correct slides. Noise and distortion removed. Increment of the notes table for better support. OOOPPPS!! Left & Right reversed. Toggle channels on/off.
- 1.00 (5-12-91) First official version of ProMod for public release. Still Beta because not tested in a wide range of machines.
- 1.1 (27-12-91) High-Normal sampling rate option for slow computers. Volume meter (4 channels). Number indicating the instruments of the channels. Name of the file and the album. Play albums. Mixer volumes control for MASTER, VOC, LINE and MIC.
In future releases...
- AdLib Gold support (if a donator gives us a pair...)
- Integrated samples manager.
- Convert Scream Tracker modules (.STM)
- Two SoundBlaster PRO support to listen 2 channel in each one of them (if it works...)
(Hey! Listen ProMod with earphones, is terrific!)
COPYRIGHT/LICENSE/WARRANTY
The files PROMOD.EXE and PROMOD.DOC ("the software") are copyrighted by the authors. The copyright owner hereby licenses you to: use the software; make as many copies of the program and documentation as you wish; give such copies to anyone; and distribute the software and documentation via electronic means.
You are specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or documentation with commercial products without written contract.
No Copy Of The Software May Be Distributed Or Given Away Without This Document; And Neither The Program Or Document May Be Altered In Any Way, Or Reverse-Engineered By Disassembly Or Other Method.
There is no warranty of any kind, and the copyright owner is not liable for damages of any kind. By using this free software, you agree to this.
The software and documentation are Copyright (C) 1991, David Lopez, Angel Trigo
