shock__ wrote:

seeing how the 1MB ROM content is still copyrighted (and I'm not sure if the IW78C21M1 chips come factory pre-programmed), I will be able to offer kits or partially finished boards at most

So what you're saying is that you want to sell a kit to make your own GUS compatible sound card but you have to already own a GUS to pull a part off of to make it work? 🤣

sliderider wrote:

shock__ wrote:

seeing how the 1MB ROM content is still copyrighted (and I'm not sure if the IW78C21M1 chips come factory pre-programmed), I will be able to offer kits or partially finished boards at most

So what you're saying is that you want to sell a kit to make your own GUS compatible sound card but you have to already own a GUS to pull a part off of to make it work? 🤣

Yes ... now gimme all your GUSes so I can build mine! Or better read the rest of the thread, there's been a bit of development on that.
One being to possibly license the ROM content from the original creator (I've contacted them but didn't get a reply yet), provide people with a method on how to clone their ROMs (which they must have in their possession and would leave the card from which the ROM is cloned intact) or something else I don't want to disclose publically yet.

Negative attitude ftw 😀

shock__ wrote:

Yes ... now gimme all your GUSes so I can build mine!

Just can't help but post some [on|off]topic madskillz 😀

OMG ... that character is called "cats" and one of the project's QA managers is a cat (see blog) ... Internet confirmed.

sliderider wrote:

shock__ wrote:

seeing how the 1MB ROM content is still copyrighted (and I'm not sure if the IW78C21M1 chips come factory pre-programmed), I will be able to offer kits or partially finished boards at most

So what you're saying is that you want to sell a kit to make your own GUS compatible sound card but you have to already own a GUS to pull a part off of to make it work? 🤣

I doubt that would be the final solution, as nobody in their right might would scavenge parts off of a working GUS to put them on a GUS clone.

*shudders* Would they?

My GUS is staying put where it is, but I'd love a clone to use for a second system. 😀

As said ... we're working on a solution for that - but we won't spread around material that is still copyrighted, even when it's 20 year old stuff that might be considered "abandonware" by some, especially when the copyright holder still is in the business and hasn't given consent that their stuff may be copied to ones heart's content.

shock__ wrote:

As said ... we're working on a solution for that - but we won't spread around material that is still copyrighted, even when it's 20 year old stuff that might be considered "abandonware" by some, especially when the copyright holder still is in the business and hasn't given consent that their stuff may be copied to ones heart's content.

I totally understand that. I assume you have contacted Kensington Computer Products Group concerning this? Seeing as it's a product that hasn't been manufactured for more than 20 years, I would imagine it might be possible to get permission to use the ROM content for a fan project. I doubt there is any chance what so ever, that they will ever consider making new GUS cards themselves.

LunarG wrote:

shock__ wrote:

As said ... we're working on a solution for that - but we won't spread around material that is still copyrighted, even when it's 20 year old stuff that might be considered "abandonware" by some, especially when the copyright holder still is in the business and hasn't given consent that their stuff may be copied to ones heart's content.

I totally understand that. I assume you have contacted Kensington Computer Products Group concerning this? Seeing as it's a product that hasn't been manufactured for more than 20 years, I would imagine it might be possible to get permission to use the ROM content for a fan project. I doubt there is any chance what so ever, that they will ever consider making new GUS cards themselves.

I contacted Voice Crystal (http://www.voicecrystal.com/services.htm) since they designed the SoundBank and are still offering an upgraded version in SoundFont format these days for $15

EDIT: they replied and seem very cooperative 😀

shock__ wrote:

LunarG wrote:

shock__ wrote:

As said ... we're working on a solution for that - but we won't spread around material that is still copyrighted, even when it's 20 year old stuff that might be considered "abandonware" by some, especially when the copyright holder still is in the business and hasn't given consent that their stuff may be copied to ones heart's content.

I totally understand that. I assume you have contacted Kensington Computer Products Group concerning this? Seeing as it's a product that hasn't been manufactured for more than 20 years, I would imagine it might be possible to get permission to use the ROM content for a fan project. I doubt there is any chance what so ever, that they will ever consider making new GUS cards themselves.

I contacted Voice Crystal (http://www.voicecrystal.com/services.htm) since they designed the SoundBank and are still offering an upgraded version in SoundFont format these days for $15

EDIT: they replied and seem very cooperative 😀

Ahh, right. Cool 😀

Got an extremely generous donation from a member of the German DOSForum, a P120 based test plattform, a Reveal WAVEextreme 32 (InterWave without RAM) and a MED3201 (InterWave LC without RAM).
Started testing the GUS PnP Pro with 8MB RAM, as that will be my first candidate for transplanting the newer AKC revision of the InterWave.

Here's what I tested:
Second Reality
Crystal Dream 2
Impulse Tracker & Fast Tracker 2 (1MB, 32 channel .xm)
Digital Player Pro & Inertia Player (.mod/.s3m)
Epic Pinball & Jazz Jackrabbit (prepgame)
Heretic & Doom2 (Ultrasound digital sound & Midis using the classic patches)
Duke3d & ROTT (same as above, but with the Ultrasound IRQ set to 5 [skips/hangs/rejects a higher IRQ])
Wolfenstein 3D with MegaEm (sounds terrible but works)
Windows 3.11 drivers

Anything else I should test before hand?

shock__ wrote:

Anything else I should test before hand?

more games and demoscene stuff 😉 For example, you can test prods using GUSPLAY\MXMPLAY\MIDAS\IMS music systems, for example:
show by majic 12(uses GusPlay)
Lasse Reinbøng by Cubic Team & $eeN (uses early version of MXMPLAY\IMS, as I know)
Outside by Melon Dezign (uses MIDAS)
...and anything else in MS-Dos/gus category on pouet 😀

wbc wrote:

...and anything else in MS-Dos/gus category on pouet 😀

That would be like ... 5000 demos? I think not 😉
But I'll try the 3 you named, even tho I'm not sure the system is strong enough to handle the last one.

I would also suggest a second block with Win95 drivers:
1. Some Win95 games, including those using DirectSound.
2. Some of the mentioned games and apps in DOS window while in Win95 with GSFULL4M.FFF patch set.
3. The same as above but with Utopia Sound Bank.

Apart from that I would recommend a resource containing some configuration issues (and covering both original GUS PnP Pro and STB/Compaq clone using the AKC revision): http://www.flaterco.com/kb/audio/ISA/index.html

show & lasse reinbong work, outside pauses right at the start "couldn't allocate a memory-block"

EDIT: used this one instead for a MIDAS demo
http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=58603

EDIT2: Z (Miles Sound System) also working nicely.
Since I can't install Win98 on this box and can't easily adapt the GUS PnP to 16MB (don't wanna solder 2 more sockets on there - which also would case the card to not fit my system anymore) I'll skip that for now.

So unless there's something incredibly important I forgot I'll get going to transplant the AKC variant in a few hours.

Star Control II works great with Ultrasound classic, but is known to be picky with the PnP setups that some late model cards used. You might want to give that a try to see how well it works. As a side bonus its some of the best tracker music in any game, so you will get to hear it at its best (if it works that is).

shock__ wrote:

So unless there's something incredibly important I forgot I'll get going to transplant the AKC variant in a few hours.

Good luck and may the force be with you!

Kodai wrote:

Star Control II works great with Ultrasound classic, but is known to be picky with the PnP setups that some late model cards used. You might want to give that a try to see how well it works. As a side bonus its some of the best tracker music in any game, so you will get to hear it at its best (if it works that is).

Confirmed as working ... had to change the GUS IRQ from 5 to 11 tho.

Sweet! Nice to know that demo's and classics like stuff from Epic Megagames and Star Control II work. Those are the main reasons I have for being into the Ultrasound. Rock on! \m/ 😄 \m/

i'd love to donate to this project, for some reason my PM's to Shock___ are not going through?

Indeed they aren't 😒
I've sent you a PM with my PayPal adress.