UltraSound™ Plug & Play USER’SUSER’S GUIDEGUIDE How to Use this Guide Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics Book Topics Appendixes Click on a Topic or click on UltraSound Plug & Play the arrow at the bottom of 1 - Introduction A - Mega–Em the page to continue reading 2 - Sound for Games B - Full Duplex Capabilities through the book. 3 - WinDecks™ C - UltraSound Setup 4 - Windows Utilities D - Technical Specifications Throughout this book, you 5 - DOS Software E - RAM Software Installation can click on green-high- 6 - Digital Recording and Music F - GM Instruments lighted text to jump to a 7 - Game Port and Test Software G - Shareware related topic. 8 - Troubleshooting H - Warranty 9 - Technical Support To return, click the Back button in the tool bar. 10 - Upgrade Options Go to Bonus Software Guide UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 1 Book Topics Chapter 1 – IntroductionChapter 1 Chapter Topics Introduction Click on a Topic or click on Introduction the arrow at the bottom of the page to continue reading Where to Start through the book. Volume Control System Requirements UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 2 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics Introduction Click on green-highlighted Thank you for choosing the Gravis UltraSound™ Plug & Play. text to jump to a related UltraSound Plug & Play works transparently with Windows® 95. All topic in the book you have to do is plug it into your system, and you’re ready to experi- ence dynamic wavetable sound! To return, click the Back button in the tool bar at the Of course, UltraSound Plug & Play also works with DOS and Windows top of the page.. 3.1 systems. UltraSound Plug & Play is a full-featured 16-bit sound card, featuring: • A true wavetable music synthesizer with a 16-bit General MIDI sound set built in to the card. • Slots for 8 MB of optional RAM memory that allow you add UltraSound custom instrument and sound effect capabilities. • Seamless support for all Windows 95 games, UltraSound games (with optional RAM added) and software support for games written for Roland® MT-32, SCC-1, Adlib®, and Sound Blaster™. • Full duplex operation: simultaneous recording and playback for bi- directional communication in Internet applications. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 3 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics ...Introduction, cont’d. • Up to 32 simultaneous voices and 32 digital channels, with full mixing capabilities. • ADPCM, A-law, and µ-law sound compression. • IDE CD-ROM data interface, and 2 CD audio connectors UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 4 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics Where to Start UltraSound owners have a variety of sound needs. Use this guide to find the best way to use UltraSound for your own applications. Using UltraSound with Windows™ Try your UltraSound right away using the simple sound applets that come with Windows version 3.1 or later. Use Media Player to play sound files with your UltraSound. Or hook up a microphone and use Sound Recorder to record, mix, and play your own sounds. See the Windows manual for instructions. Open the UltraPnP Mixer to enable inputs and outputs and adjust volume levels. Once you have had a chance to explore your UltraSound‘s features with these simple applications, try the great bonus games and music programs on your UltraSound software CD. Using UltraSound with Music Applications Advanced Gravis has included several software applications for record- ing, playing, mixing, and composing with your new UltraSound. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 5 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics ...Where to Start, cont’d. WinDecks™. A Windows application with all the tools for sound recording, mixing, and playback, in an easy-to-use ”stereo component“ layout. Cakewalk Express™. A MIDI sequencing application for Windows. Sound Forge™. A full-featured sound editing program for Windows. Power Chords Debut™. An guitar-based music creation program. Play. A DOS command line-based program for playing sound files. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 6 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics Volume Control The most convenient way to control your UltraSound card’s output volume is to use the volume dial on your headphones, amplified speakers, or stereo. The UltraPnP Mixer in Windows lets you adjust the left and right channels of each input and output individually. Adjust wave and MIDI output volume levels; change line, CD, and microphone input levels; and mute inputs that you aren’t using (a good idea to reduce noise levels). See Chapter 2 for instructions. For games, you can still use the volume dial on your speakers or stereo, of course, but most games also include a volume control option in their Setup program. See the game’s Help file or manual for instruc- tions. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 7 Book Topics Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter Topics System Requirements • IBM compatible 386 or greater. • MS DOS 5.0 or greater • VGA or SVGA monitor and video card • Hard disk drive (20 milliseconds or better seek time) • For Windows™ applications, Windows™ 3.1 in 386 Enhanced mode is required System Recommendations: • 386–25 MHz or greater, with at least 4 MB of RAM • MS DOS 6.0 or greater • Microsoft® compatible mouse • Gravis PC or Pro Joystick, PC GamePad, Phoenix, or Firebird (not required for sound) Note! The requirements for bonus software programs may vary from UltraSound’s basic system requirements. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 8 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound forChapter Games 2 Chapter Topics Sound for Games Click on green-highlighted Introduction text to jump to a related topic in the book Using UltraSound with Windows Programs and Games Using UltraSound with DOS Games To return, click the Back button in the tool bar at the top of the page.. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 1 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound for Games Chapter Topics Introduction In Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, of course, sound support is auto- matic. With DOS games, a variety of sound support options for games are available to you. ✳ Please remember, unless your UltraSound Plug & Play has at least 512K of RAM memory installed on it, you will hear no sound if you choose ”UltraSound“ support in most games. Read the following sections for the best sound support options. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 2 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound for Games Chapter Topics Using UltraSound with Windows Programs and Games Note: If you have been playing Windows 95 auto-detects the card; just run the program as usual. DOS games, make sure that IWSBOS is unloaded before you start Windows, or it may cause your Windows session to hang. Type: IWSBOSOFF at any DOS prompt. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 3 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound for Games Chapter Topics Using UltraSound with DOS Games Before you Play the Game For best results, always run your DOS games from your previous version of DOS or from Windows 95 MS-DOS Mode (by choosing Shutdown, then select- Run PREPGAME. From your ing Restart in MS-DOS Mode). Game performance and sound support may \ULTRAPNP directory, type: PREPGAME [path/game.exe] suffer if you try to run games from a Windows 95 DOS box. This utility prepares the sound If the program‘s list of supported sound cards includes UltraSound drivers in many games to work Plug & Play: with UltraSound Plug & Play. Select it, and play the game! You need run PREPGAME only Again, remember: Unless your card has RAM added, you will hear no once for each of your games. sound if you choose regular ”UltraSound“ in most games—select When PREPGAME finishes UltraSound Plug & Play or use Mega–Em or IWSBOS to emulate a running, it displays instructions for Roland or Sound Blaster card. setting up sound for the game. If the game’s sound drivers will not If the program’s does not support UltraSound Plug & Play: work with UltraSound Plug & Play, Use IWSBOS or Mega–Em to emulate another sound card. PREPGAME will instruct you to use IWSBOS or MEGA–EM. To run IWSBOS: 1. From a DOS prompt, type IWSBOS and press Enter. 2. Start the game. UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 4 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound for Games Chapter Topics ...Using UltraSound with DOS Games, cont‘d. IWINIT.EXE 3. If the game asks you to select a sound card, choose Sound Blaster™. It’s a good idea to run 4. Play the game as usual. IWINIT.EXE to reinitialize the sound card between games, 5. When you finish the game, type: IWSBOSOFF to unload IWSBOS. especially if you have used IWSBOS or Mega–Em for Make sure that IWSBOS is unloaded before you start Windows, or it may cause sound emulation. At any your Windows session to hang. Type: IWSBOSOFF at any DOS prompt. DOS prompt, type: IWINIT and press Enter. To use Mega–Em: 1. From a DOS prompt, type MEGAEM and press Enter. Mega–Em requires a memory manager such as EMM386, QEMM386, or 386MAX. 2. Start the game. 3. If the game asks you to select a sound device, choose one of these: Roland® Sound Canvas/SCC1 Roland MT-32* Sound Blaster™ Roland + Sound Blaster UltraSound Plug & Play User’s Guide 5 Book Topics Chapter 2 – Sound for Games Chapter Topics ...Using UltraSound with DOS Games, cont‘d. *To emulate the Roland MT-32, quit the game, type: MEGAEM -MT and press Enter, then re-start the game and select MT-32. 4. Play the game as usual. 5. When you finish the game, type: MEGAEM -F to unload Mega–Em.