home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.
-
- Fax (604) 431-5155 BBS (604) 431-5927 V32bis
- Compuserve: GO PCVENB (71333,350) InterNET EMail: tech.support@gravis.com
- AOL: GravisTech
-
- MEGA-EM VERSION 3.06b (BETA) - 10/02/95
- USERS MANUAL
- Copyright (C) 1993-1995 by Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
- 0.0 Beta release information
- 1.0 Legal Information
- 2.0 Introduction
- 3.0 Installation
- 4.0 Setup
- 5.0 Mega-Em Usage
- 6.0 Compatibility Problems With Various Software
- 7.0 Solutions to Commonly Encountered Problems
- 8.0 Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
- 9.0 Credits
- 10.0 Mega-Em Revision History
-
-
- 0.0 BETA RELEASE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------
-
- Thank you for trying this Beta release of Mega-Em. Please report any
- problems you have via internet email to "justin.cooney@gravis.com",
- or via the Gravis BBS by leaving a message to "justin cooney".
-
- When reporting bugs, please include information about what kind of
- UltraSound you have (such as whether it is a MAX or ACE and if possible
- the board revision number), what memory manager you are using, what version
- of Mega-Em you are using, a brief description of your system and if possible
- copies of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.
-
-
- 1.0 LEGAL INFORMATION
- ----------------------
-
- This software and documentation are protected by copyright law,
- with all rights reserved. Copyright is held by:
-
- Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.
- #101, 3750 North Fraser Way
- Burnaby, B.C. V5J 5E9
- CANADA
-
- This software is provided as-is. Advanced Gravis makes no warranties,
- express or implied, and does not warrant that the software will be fit
- for any particular purpose. Advanced Gravis will in no event be liable
- for loss of profits, nor incidental or consequential damages. You use
- this software at your own risk.
-
- This software may not be modified, disassembled or reverse engineered
- in any way without written authorization from Advanced Gravis.
-
- Mega-Em may be distributed in unmodified form freely to all Gravis
- UltraSound owners, provided no charge is made for it, with the exclusion
- of BBS (Bulletin Board System) service charges.
-
- All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
- respective owners.
-
-
- 2.0 INTRODUCTION
- -----------------
-
- Mega-Em is a software program which allows you to use your Gravis UltraSound
- to emulate the following sound devices:
-
- * Roland MT-32/LAPC1
- * Roland Sound Canvas/General MIDI
- * Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface
- * Sound Blaster (Basic version only - not Sound Blaster Pro)
-
- In addition Mega-Em can also to replace the UltraMID TSR.
-
- Mega-Em effectively combines all previous UltraSound TSR programs - SBOS,
- UltraMID and older versions (2.xx) of Mega-Em.
-
- Mega-Em currently requires the following to function correctly:
-
- * A 386 or better AT class personal computer.
- * A hard drive.
- * A Gravis UltraSound/MAX/ACE card.
- * An Expanded Memory Manager, such as EMM386, QEMM386 or 386MAX.
- * Approximately 128k of free Expanded Memory (EMS).
- * DOS 3.3 or later (EMM386 must be from DOS 5.0 or later).
-
- Mega-Em will not work in an OS/2 or Windows DOS box.
-
-
- 3.0 INSTALLATION
- -----------------
-
- If Mega-Em was installed with the rest of your UltraSound software Mega-Em
- is already installed correctly and you do not read this chapter.
-
- If you downloaded Mega-Em from a BBS, FTP site etc., follow the following
- instructions:
-
- Step 1. Change to the directory where your UltraSound software is
- installed. For example, if your UltraSound software is installed
- in C:\ULTRASND, type the following:
-
- C: <ENTER>
- CD \ULTRASND <ENTER>
-
- Step 2. Unzip the Mega-Em distribution archive into this directory. For
- example if the archive is on a floppy disk in drive A:, you would
- type:
-
- PKUNZIP A:\MEGA* <ENTER>
-
- If you are prompted with a message asking if you want to
- overwrite an existing file, press 'y'. Note that you will most
- likely overwrite an older version of Mega-Em.
-
- Mega-Em is now installed and ready to use.
-
-
- 4.0 SETUP
- ----------
-
- Unlike old versions, Mega-Em now has an interactive setup program. You
- MUST set up Mega-Em before you can use it. If Mega-Em has not been set
- up properly and you run MEGAEM.EXE, you will be forced into the setup
- program. Alternatively you can run MESETUP.EXE to enter the setup.
-
- The setup is self explanatory and will only be dealt with lightly here:
-
- * Instructions on what keys to press are always listed at the bottom of
- the screen.
-
- * Entering the configuration screen from the Main Menu is not compulsory.
- If you are configuring Mega-Em for the first time and just select
- "Save and Exit" you will configured with the default options.
-
- * The default options will work for most users so don't change them
- unless you need to and understand what they do.
-
- 5.0 MEGA-EM USAGE
- ------------------
-
- 5.1 Overview
- 5.2 Command line options
- 5.3 Configuring Software For Use With Mega-Em
-
-
- 5.1 OVERVIEW
-
- Before you can use any Roland or Sound Blaster software you must load
- Mega-Em. You can do this from the command line by typing:
-
- MEGAEM <ENTER>
-
- If you like, you can edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so Mega-Em will be
- automatically load whenever you boot your computer. Just add the following
- line to the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT:
-
- MEGAEM
-
- If you wish to use any command line options, type them after MEGAEM:
-
- MEGAEM [options] <ENTER>
-
-
- Normally you can leave always leave Mega-Em loaded. Occasionally it may
- interfere with other UltraSound software or you may wish to use another
- UltraSound TSR (e.g. SBOS or UltraMID). If this happens, unload Mega-Em by
- typing:
-
- MEGAEM -U <ENTER>
-
- If you need to change Mega-Em's options just to run a particular piece of
- software (such as Roland MT-32 software) you can invoke the interactive
- menu by typing:
-
- MEGAEM -I <ENTER>
-
- Any options you change will stay in effect until you run Mega-Em again.
-
- If you run Windows in enhanced mode (usually this is the default mode)
- Mega-Em will be automatically uninstalled. When you exit Windows you must
- manually load Mega-Em again. Mega-Em will not be uninstalled if you run
- Windows in standard mode (type WIN /S <ENTER>) however the UltraSound
- Windows drivers will not work and you can NOT emulate a Roland or Sound
- Blaster under Windows.
-
-
- 5.2 COMMAND LINE OPTIONS
-
- Only a few of Mega-Em's options are configurable from the command line.
- The rest you must configure from the interactive menu (see the -I option).
-
- -? or -H Displays the Mega-Em help screen.
-
- -U or -F Turn off emulation and uninstall Mega-Em from memory.
-
- -SC or -GM Selects Sound Canvas/General MIDI emulation (as opposed to
- MT-32 emulation). This is the default mode of operation
- for Mega-Em.
-
- -MT Selects MT-32 emulation (as opposed to Sound Canvas/General
- MIDI emulation).
-
- -I or -ION Runs Mega-Em in interactive mode. This option does nothing
- if Mega-Em is configured for interactive mode.
-
- -IOFF Disables interactive mode so Mega-Em runs in command line
- mode. This option does nothing if Mega-Em is configured for
- command line mode.
-
- -Mxxx Set music volume level (relative to master volume level).
- xxx = 1-100. The default level for Mega-Em is 80.
-
- -Vxxx Set master volume level. xxx = 1-100. The default level for
- Mega-Em is 100.
-
- -L Enable the UltraSound line in. This option is only necessary
- for people with old UltraSound software which does not include
- Ultramix. Normally you should use Ultramix to set you line in
- setting.
-
- -M Enable the UltraSound mic in. This option is only necessary
- for people with old UltraSound software which does not include
- Ultramix. Normally you should use Ultramix to set you mic in
- setting.
-
-
- 5.3 CONFIGURING YOUR SOFTWARE FOR USE WITH MEGA-EM.
-
- Software programs are configured for different sound devices in many
- different ways. Some will attempt to auto-detect sound devices and use
- the best one it finds, others will prompt you during the running of the
- program. Most common is the use of a setup program, usually called SETUP,
- INSTALL or CONFIG. Others require you to delete a configuration file,
- after which you will be able to change the configuration. For the correct
- procedure for a specific program, you should consult the program's manual.
-
- Before configuring your software, you should make sure Mega-Em is loaded.
- If the program is of the type that auto-detects, just run it and it should
- detect the devices Mega-Em is emulating. If you are prompted to select
- one or more sound devices you should select them in the following order:
-
- UltraSound
- Sound Blaster (for Sound) and General MIDI (for Music)
- Sound Blaster (for Sound) and Roland MT-32 (for Music)
- Sound Blaster
- General MIDI
- Roland MT-32
- AdLib
-
- NOTES: 'Roland' without any model number usually refers to the MT-32.
-
- 'LAPC1' is equivalent to MT-32 when using Mega-Em.
-
- 'FM' refers to AdLib/Sound Blaster music.
-
- The above order is occasionally not the best. If your selection
- sounds bad, try selecting a different sound device.
-
- If you have selected 'UltraSound' for one sound device, you MUST
- select 'UltraSound' or 'None' for any other sound devices. Mega-Em
- can NOT emulate sound devices while other UltraSound software is
- running.
-
- Sometimes you will be prompted to enter your sound card settings. For
- sound devices Mega-Em is emulating the settings are as follows:
-
- MIDI interface: Roland MPU-401.
- Roland base address: 330 (hex) unless you changed it to 300 (hex)
- in the Mega-Em Setup.
- Roland IRQ: 2/9
- OR
- UltraSound SB/MIDI IRQ if you are doing
- MIDI in with the UltraSound MIDI port
- OR
- Real MPU-401 IRQ setting if you are doing
- MIDI in with a real MPU-401
- Sound Blaster base address: The same as your UltraSound Base address
- (usually 220).
- Sound Blaster IRQ: The same as your UltraSound SB/MIDI IRQ.
- If you are unsure, type SET <ENTER> at the
- DOS prompt. The last number on the line
- starting with "ULTRASND=" is your Sound
- Blaster IRQ.
- Sound Blaster DMA channel: 1
-
- Your software should now be ready to run. The next time you run the software
- make sure Mega-Em is loaded since many programs crash when configured for a
- sound device that does not exist (or is not being emulated).
-
-
- 6.0 COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS SOFTWARE
- -------------------------------------------------
-
- 6.1 Software that requires 386 protected mode and can not run under a
- memory manager.
- 6.2 Software which is incompatible with Mega-Em.
- 6.2.1 Incompatibilities with all of Mega-Em's Emulations.
- 6.2.2 Incompatibilities with Roland Emulation
- 6.2.3 Incompatibilities with Sound Blaster DAC Emulation.
- 6.2.4 UltraSound software that will not run with Mega-Em loaded.
- 6.3 Specific software with known compatibility problems.
- 6.3.1 Harpoon (Roland)
- 6.3.2 Darkseed (Sound Blaster DAC)
- 6.3.3 Kings Quest I, Firehawk, Stellar 7 (Sound Blaster DAC)
- 6.3.4 Budokan (Roland).
- 6.3.5 Vectordemo (Sound Blaster DAC)
- 6.3.6 Netroom 3
- 6.3.7 Privateer
-
-
- 6.1 SOFTWARE THAT REQUIRES 386 PROTECTED MODE AND CAN NOT RUN UNDER A
- MEMORY MANAGER.
-
- Many high-end games use the 386 protected mode to achieve superior
- performance. A few of these require full control of the system and
- will not operate if the system is already in protected mode, such as when
- a memory manager is loaded (excluding HIMEM.SYS and several shareware
- EMMs).
-
- Mega-Em uses the power of 386 protected mode for its emulation, and hence
- the aforementioned games are not compatible with Mega-Em. Examples of
- known games which exhibit such problems are CYBER RACE, COMANCHE and ULTIMA 7.
-
- The only solution is to use SBOS to emulate a Sound Blaster.
-
-
- 6.2 SOFTWARE WHICH IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MEGA-EM.
-
- 6.2.1 INCOMPATIBILITIES WITH ALL OF MEGA-EM'S EMULATIONS.
-
- Software Title Reason Solution
-
- Comanche Protected mode conflict Use SBOS
- Cyberrace Protected mode conflict Use SBOS
- Ultima 7 Protected mode conflict Use SBOS
- Windows Protected mode conflict Use UltraSound
- Windows drivers
-
- 6.2.2 INCOMPATIBILITIES WITH ROLAND EMULATION.
-
- Software Title Reason Solution
-
- Most Legend Adventures Needs smart mode compatibility Configure for Sound
- Blaster Music
-
- 6.2.3 INCOMPATIBILITIES WITH SOUND BLASTER DAC EMULATION.
-
- Software Title Reason Solution
-
- Noctropolis Possibly buggy sound driver None
-
-
- 6.2.4 ULTRASOUND SOFTWARE THAT WILL NOT RUN WITH MEGA-EM LOADED.
-
- The following UltraSound software will not work correctly if Mega-Em
- is loaded. To make it work unload Mega-Em by typing MEGAEM U <ENTER>.
-
- Software Title Description of failure
-
- UltraSound Setup (SETGUS) NMI (SBOS Vector) test fails
-
-
- 6.3 SPECIFIC SOFTWARE WITH KNOWN INCOMPATIBILITIES.
-
- 6.3.1 HARPOON (Roland).
-
- While Harpoon does appear to have an MT-32 sound option, it does not
- appear to use the Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface. Almost all other
- software which supports Roland sound devices uses the MPU-401 interface.
- Hence this is what Mega-Em uses for its emulation, and unfortunately is
- not compatible with Harpoon.
-
- 6.3.2 DARKSEED (Sound Blaster DAC)
-
- You may find Mega-Em gives unstable performance with Darkseed. The Sound
- Blaster DAC drivers appear to be buggy. There is an update patch available
- for Darkseed and this should correct any problems.
-
- 6.3.3 KINGS QUEST I, FIREHAWK, STELLAR 7 (Sound Blaster DAC)
-
- These games are hard coded to use an IRQ of 7. If your Sound Blaster/MIDI
- IRQ is not 7 they will not work.
-
- 6.3.4 BUDOKAN (Roland).
-
- To use Budokan successfully with Mega-Em, you should load it by typing
- BUDO Mt32 <ENTER>. If you choose Roland sound from within the game, you
- may get no sound output, and the system may crash.
-
- 6.3.5 VECTORDEMO (Sound Blaster DAC)
-
- This program may not always detect the Sound Blaster IRQ correctly. To
- overcome the problem, you should always run the install section of the
- demo before executing the demo.
-
- 6.3.6 NETROOM 3
-
- Mega-Em is not compatible with Netroom's cloaking features. To disable
- these features run CUSTOMIZ, select CUSTOM SETUP and turn off system and
- video cloaking in the custom setup menu. Note that the cloaked utilities
- (DPMI server, disk cache e.t.c.) supplied with Netroom can not be used
- with Mega-Em.
-
- 6.3.7 PRIVATEER
-
- If you configure Privateer to use Sound Blaster and General MIDI
- (or Waveblaster) you can not use IRQ 7 for your Sound Blaster IRQ. This
- appears to be a bug in the game.
-
-
- 7.0 SOLUTIONS TO COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS
- -----------------------------------------------
-
- PROBLEM: When using Mega-Em, the sound is choppy or there is a lot of
- static and clicks.
-
- SOLUTION: Many systems allow the ISA bus clock speed to be increased
- beyond the standard speed of 8 MHz. The Gravis UltraSound is
- designed to conform to the standard, and will not work reliably
- on systems with high bus clock speeds. You should be able to
- reduce the bus clock speed in one of your CMOS setup menus. The
- CMOS setup is usually accessible by rebooting your computer.
-
- Just because your other UltraSound software seems to be working
- correctly, this does not mean your bus speed is correct. However
- if you reduce your bus speed and this does not correct any
- problems, then feel free to put it back to its original setting.
-
-
- PROBLEM: Mega-Em fails to build its patch set (bank) with BUILDPATS. It
- complains that it is out of memory.
-
- SOLUTION: Either you do not have enough free DOS memory or you have replaced
- some of your original patches with custom ones. First try typing
- BUILDPAT AUTO <ENTER>. This will will give BUILDPATS more DOS
- memory. If this fails backup your UltraSound MIDI directory and
- ULTRASND.INI, then reinstall your UltraSound software. Now
- BUILDPATS will work correctly so after running Mega-Em you can
- restore your UltraSound MIDI directory and ULTRASND.INI.
- Alternatively the patch bank files are available for download in
- the files MEBNK011.ZIP-MEBNK014.ZIP for 256k to 1024k respectively.
-
-
- PROBLEM: Mega-Em gives a warning about the system's NMI not working
- correctly. The NMI is required or else protected mode software
- will not work correctly.
-
- SOLUTION1: Your system requires parity checking to be enabled for the NMI
- to work. Reboot you computer and turn on parity checking in the
- CMOS setup.
-
- SOLUTION2: You have upgraded your CPU and have not changed the CPU selection
- jumpers on your motherboard. This problem is common with 486SX to
- 486DX upgrades. Check your motherboard manual to make sure the
- jumpers are set correctly.
-
- SOLUTION3: Your system has been shipped with either the CPU selection jumpers
- set incorrectly (most common on 486 motherboards) or the parity
- checking/NMI jumper has been removed. Check your motherboard
- manual to make sure the jumpers are set correctly.
-
- SOLUTION4: You may be unfortunate and have a non-IBM compatible motherboard
- which does not have a working NMI. This is most common on cut rate
- 486 motherboards. You should have your vendor replace it with an
- IBM compatible motherboard.
-
-
- PROBLEM: Mega-Em is using the UltraSound MIDI port to provide MIDI in
- services and it is losing midi data causing problems such as
- stuck notes.
-
- SOLUTION: This MIDI in feature requires a fairly fast CPU (fast 386/slow 486)
- to work correctly. In addition setting your GF1 IRQ to a number
- as small as possible and below your SB/MIDI IRQ can improve
- performance.
-
-
- PROBLEM: The systems hangs while the message "Testing NMI..." is
- displayed on the screen.
-
- SOLUTION: Run MESETUP, set the "User Level" to "Advanced", then set
- "Disable NMI" to "Yes". This will stop Mega-Em from using the
- system NMI. Note that most protected mode software will not
- work with Mega-Em if the NMI is disabled.
-
-
- 8.0 ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- ----------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Could Mega-Em be modified so it does not require a 386 memory
- manager, and hence work with software such as Comanche,
- Ultima 7 etc. ?
-
- ANSWER: No. Mega-Em requires 386 protected mode for it's emulation to
- operate. It uses the memory manager as a means of entering
- protected mode, while still remaining compatible with a wide
- variety of software. Mega-Em can not work with the above
- mentioned software because they can not coexist with other
- protected mode software.
-
-
- QUESTION: Well how come SBOS works with the above mentioned games?
-
- ANSWER: While SBOS is indeed a software emulator, it is hardware
- assisted by specific features built into the UltraSound card and
- makes no use of any protected mode features of the processor.
-
-
- QUESTION: Can I have the source code?
-
- ANSWER: No.
-
-
- QUESTION: Why doesn't Mega-Em support OS/2?
-
- ANSWER: Mega-Em requires operating system privileges to function. OS/2,
- like many multitasking operating systems will not allow DOS
- programs to gain these. Most DOS memory managers will. In addition
- OS/2 does not allow the systems NMI (non maskable interrupt) to be
- used, making it impossible for any DOS based software to emulate
- sound devices.
-
-
- QUESTION: Mega-Em gives me a warning saying I have a pre 3.xx UltraSound
- board and Roland emulation will not work with most protected mode
- software. What gives?
-
- ANSWER: Mega-Em is supporting your UltraSound card as best in can. However
- the early revisions of the UltraSound were never meant to emulate
- Roland sound devices and do not have the necessary logic to
- provide protected mode emulation. Despite this Mega-Em will
- still give Roland emulation for real mode software.
-
-
- 9.0 CREDITS
- ------------
-
- Jayeson Lee-Steere: Main concept, design and programming, setup program and
- documentation.
-
- David Mercier: Buildpats.
-
- Lee Ingram: Optimized patch set.
-
- David Mercier,
- Curtis Patzer,
- Darren Schueller: Internal development tools.
-
- Forte Technologies: UltraMID digital and MIDI sound engine.
-
-
- 10.0 MEGA-EM REVISION HISTORY
- -----------------------------
-
- VERSION 3.06b (Beta)
-
- * Revamped AdLib/Sound Blaster FM emulation.
-
- * Buildpats is no longer required.
-
- VERSION 3.05b (Beta)
-
- * Added AdLib/Sound Blaster FM emulation.
-
- VERSION 3.04b (Beta)
-
- * Fixed a bug in protected mode Roland emulation which was preventing
- certain LucasArts products from working properly.
-
- * Improved DOS4GW auto-patching.
-
- * Fixed a bug in the Sound Blaster emulation. Now Magic Carpet and
- other games work better.
-
- * Added check to make sure emulation is working correctly to catch any
- hardware conflicts.
-
- * Added -L (enable line in) and -M (enable mic in) for people who don't
- have Ultramix.
-
- * Fixed a bug in the UltraMID emulation which caused some applications
- to crash when playing back 8 bit samples.
-
- * Fixed some small bugs in BUILDPATS.
-
- * SBOS and old versions of Mega-Em can no longer be run with Mega-Em
- loaded.
-
- * Volume controls now work properly.
-
- VERSION 3.03b (Beta)
-
- * First release of the all-new, rewritten Mega-Em. Emulates Roland
- Sound Canvas/General MIDI/MT-32, Sound Blaster and UltraMID. Improvements
- over older (2.xx) versions of Mega-Em include compatibility with most
- protected mode software, interactive setup, single executable, better
- sounding patch set, faster loading time, allows UltraSound software to
- run at the same time as Mega-Em, automatic reloading of patch set when
- necessary, automatically unloads when Windows is run and automatically
- takes advantage of extra hardware (the 16 bit record/playback CODEC) on
- the UltraSound MAX. Sound Blaster music (FM) support is not included.
-
- -- END OF FILE --
-