Last modified: June 2, 1997.
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THIS IS GUS PnP PAGE
| AND THIS IS ULTRASOUND | 
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20 months ago I have bought a GRAVIS ULTRASOUND PnP CARD.
It wasn't my first soundcard. Before GUS PnP I had two SoundBlaster compatible cards
(from Media Vison and Aztech Labs) & GUS MAX Soundcard. I can say, that GUS PnP is the best one
of them. I'm very serious Ultrasound FAN and I can recommend GRAVIS products to
every owner of IBM compatible computer. This card (GRAVIS ULTRASOUND PnP offers you
everything, what you may NEED !!! Link is placed at my Links Page.
In our country name Avanced Gravis Technologiesis not well known as
Creative Labs, but I've got experiences with both firms and I can recommend you the best
solution. But BE AWARE !! I'm GUS FAN now !!!
At this page I'll also inform you about my experiences with GUS and I'll offer you interesting software for this card.
One of the most powerful programs which enables you to utilize the GUS PnP power is MOD FOR WIN 2.40 BETA 16, which last betaversion you can download here. This is the best program for MS Windows (I think).
You can download also the last betaversion of MCI Demo BETA 13. It is very nice & useful if you like only Media Player.
Both previous players can't play ULT format, fortunatelly this format is directly supported by GRAVIS in GUS PnP 2.00 drivers ( and their BETAs, of course ).
Latest drivers for GUSes you can download from Gravis FTP Site. Latest version is 2.00.
GUS Digest archives you can download from Adrian Vesnaver's GUS PAGE. GUS Digest is mail conferency where people write their questions and other people answering.
Better is also Cubic Player and its last betaversion Cubic Player 2.00r++ has many good new possibilities.
There is MPEG audio support now, WOW !!!
My most popular tracker is Triton's FAST TRACKER II - version 2.07. This program unfortunatelly doesn't support GUS PnP and its 8MB of DRAM,
but 1MB to the every serious composer should be enough. Nevertheless, PnP support is missing :-(
You can visit also Fencer's page.
Questions & Answers :
Q: Why are game-drivers downloaded from AMD report: INTERWAVE HARDWARE NOT FOUND !! ??
A: It is because your GUS PnP is in GUS mode and not in INTERWAVE native mode. To switch GUS PnP to INTERWAVE simply load IWSBOS to memory and run game's setup again. In the setup option select INTERWAVE. It will work...
Q: Why my favourite games don't use effects ??
A: Because game's drivers were written to older UltraSound cards (Classic, Max..) and these cards haven't effect processor. Limitated is also GUS DRAM. Old UltraSounds could have max. 1 MB DRAM.
Q: Why some drums or basses are delayed when they are played first time in MIDI song ? It's not right, I thing. A: This is because you've not enough memory on your GUS (1 or 2MB DRAM) and patch-caching probably need more ( it depends on the size of patch set; AMDGM4M, UltraSound Canvas or GUS Pro II. are patch sets larger then 2MB). But if you play the song (which some instruments were delayed first time) again, it'll be played O.K. This is because needed patches are in PATCH-RAM and changing between PC's RAM and GUS's DRAM is much more faster than between HD and DRAM.
Q: Why the games based on HMI music drivers (and esp. MIDI music) don't work for me ??
A: Contemporary version of PREPGAME utility has the MIDI support unstable for HMI. So that on some systems it works and on some not. Unfortunatelly, it doesn't work for me too :-(
Q: Can my GUS-lover sound better ???
A: Yes, of course. Not every GM set is suitable to every MIDI file. The good way is playing the MIDI with more sets and one attempt will be surely better than other ones. Don't switch between GUS ROM and AMDGM 4MB set, because only the difference is quality of samples. All the GUS sets I know are: AMD 1MB and 4MB sets, GRAVIS classic set, GUSPRO I. , GUSPRO II. , PRO PATCHES 1,2,3 ,Pro Patches Lite 1.xx (the last release is 1.61 I think), Sound Canvas converted set, MEGABANK I. and UTOPIA patch set (still under development). Other sets aren't complete GM sets. Sets like GUSPRO or Pro Patches weren't made for GUS PnP, but through GIPC you can easily convert them to the IW format. Of course. If you want use them only under DOS, you needn't convert anything, but no effects and only 1MB of memory will be accessible. And you need also software for older GUSes. My most favorite sets are: UTOPIA beta, Sound Canvas, AMD 4MB and PRO PATCHES 3.
Attention !!! For UTOPIA 8MB memory is needed !!! So upgrade soon, UTOPIA is COMMING !!!!!!
Q: Will my favourite tracker - FAST TRACKER 2.xx - support the Interwave ?
A: Unfortunately, in the nearest time NO :-(
But maybe something about this will be soon said at www.frozenmoose.com. So that if you really need more than 1MB of memory try for example Real Tracker 2.
