timur@seas.gwu.edu (The Time Traveler) (04/09/91)
I just called Creative Labs in California and ordered my MCA SoundBlaster at their pre-release price of $250 (not including $5 shipping). They are backordered, so I won't be getting it until May they said. When in May? Beats me. Their order number is 800-544-6146. Technical support is 408-982-9226. Here's is all the information I could get: There is no on-board amplifier. I was given two reasons for this: too much power drain and too complex to incorporate. I didn't ask, but this implies that board space was NOT a factor. Anyway, it doesn't matter much, because a friend of mine has the ISA SoundBlaster, and he says the amplifier is sucky anyway. I asked if they recommended an external amplifier, and they said that they don't have any recommendations. Any decent amplifier (e.g. a stereo amp) will do. This is the only difference between the MCA and ISA versions. It has a joystick adapter, but there is no switch for speed selection. I didn't bother to ask him how it works. As you may know, joysticks usually require a speed selector switch for different speed machines. I can only assume that the reference disk takes care of this. The CMS chips are NOT available. Someone posted something earlier that they were available for $30. The CMS chips make the SoundBlaster act as a GameBlaster card as well. Not too important, since you really don't need that compatibility. The MIDI expansion option is available, but I don't know anything about it. That's all I can remember. I don't know how long the pre-release special will last. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Time Traveler I used to love her a.k.a. Timur Tabi But I had to kill her Internet: timur@seas.gwu.edu I had to put her six feet under Bitnet: HE891C@GWUVM And I can still hear her complain - Guns 'n Roses
smsmith@hpuxa.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith) (04/09/91)
In article <3008@sparko.gwu.edu> timur@seas.gwu.edu () writes: > >There is no on-board amplifier. I was given two reasons for this: too >much power drain and too complex to incorporate. I didn't ask, but >this implies that board space was NOT a factor. Anyway, it doesn't >matter much, because a friend of mine has the ISA SoundBlaster, and he >says the amplifier is sucky anyway. I asked if they recommended an >external amplifier, and they said that they don't have any recommendations. >Any decent amplifier (e.g. a stereo amp) will do. The ISA SB has a mere 4 Watt amplifier. It works fine for me because I use headphones (which sound GREAT). If my computer were in a place where I could crank up the sound, I would certainly hook it into a stereo system. My ISA SB came with an adapter cord for hooking it directly into the back of a stereo amplifier. >It has a joystick adapter, but there is no switch for speed selection. >I didn't bother to ask him how it works. As you may know, joysticks >usually require a speed selector switch for different speed machines. >I can only assume that the reference disk takes care of this. I don't know anything about the speed selector switch you're talking about, but I HIGHLY recommend using the SB joystick port for your joystick instead of any other card. Numerous people on the net have remarked how good it is, and I have had absolutely no problem with mine (I have calibrated it and tested it lots of times too). If the MCA SB joystick port is as good, you will definitely like it. BTW, I use the CH Flightstick. It's more expensive than most, but it works great and feels great. I got it because people on the net recommended it, and I am not disappointed. You can get it for under $40 mail order; check Computer Shopper for competitive prices. Steve Smith smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu
ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) (04/09/91)
From article <3008@sparko.gwu.edu>, by timur@seas.gwu.edu (The Time Traveler): > It has a joystick adapter, but there is no switch for speed selection. > I didn't bother to ask him how it works. As you may know, joysticks > usually require a speed selector switch for different speed machines. > I can only assume that the reference disk takes care of this. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Do you know how a joystick works? The CPU speed difference can be compensated either thru hardware (the speed selector switch) or thru software. The software compensation is done by the game that uses the joystick. Most all games today compensate for different CPU speed all by itself. You don't need hardware compensation. Hardware compensation is only required for older games that do not compensate software-wise. Popular games like Wing Commander, Knights of the Sky, Battle of Britain, Stunt Driver, etc, all have software compensation. The joystick port on SB is as good as any other joystick port, with or without speed selector, when it comes to "modern" games.
weir@husc9.harvard.edu (Robert C. Weir) (04/09/91)
In article <3008@sparko.gwu.edu> timur@seas.gwu.edu () writes: >I just called Creative Labs in California and ordered my MCA SoundBlaster >at their pre-release price of $250 (not including $5 shipping). They >are backordered, so I won't be getting it until May they said. When >in May? Beats me. > >Their order number is 800-544-6146. Technical support is 408-982-9226. >Here's is all the information I could get Exactly what does a SoundBlaster do? Does it allow you to write polyphonic music? Does it come with software? Or is it more of a digital taperecorder with signal processing capabilities? Or does it allow games to use enhanced sound effects? Or, perhaps, does it do all of these things? I am interested in something that would allow me to enter 8-voice polyphonic music and play it. Is SoundBlaster the best, or are there others? Thanks, Rob :
timur@seas.gwu.edu (The Time Traveler) (04/10/91)
In article <1991Apr9.065127.17869@d.cs.okstate.edu> ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) writes: >From article <3008@sparko.gwu.edu>, by timur@seas.gwu.edu (The Time Traveler): >> It has a joystick adapter, but there is no switch for speed selection. >> I didn't bother to ask him how it works. As you may know, joysticks >> usually require a speed selector switch for different speed machines. >> I can only assume that the reference disk takes care of this. > >Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Do you know how a joystick works? >The CPU speed difference can be compensated either thru >hardware (the speed selector switch) or thru software. The software >compensation is done by the game that uses the joystick. Most all games >today compensate for different CPU speed all by itself. You don't need Yeah, I know how a joystick works. I just think it's stupid that you can only use one with "modern" games. Well, when I get it, I'll give it a shot and let you know how well it works. ----------------------------------------------------------- The Time Traveler I used to love her a.k.a. Timur Tabi But I had to kill her Internet: timur@seas.gwu.edu I had to put her six feet under Bitnet: HE891C@GWUVM And I can still hear her complain - Guns 'n Roses
ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) (04/10/91)
From article <1991Apr9.125612.464@husc3.harvard.edu>, by weir@husc9.harvard.edu (Robert C. Weir): > Exactly what does a SoundBlaster do? Does it allow you to write polyphonic > music? Does it come with software? Or is it more of a digital taperecorder > with signal processing capabilities? Or does it allow games to use enhanced > sound effects? Or, perhaps, does it do all of these things? It's got 11-voice FM music, and an optional 12-voice stereo CMS music ($20 extra). It also has a 8-bit DAC and a 8-bit ADC for input and output respectively, both using DMA (slow CPU by only 5%), input rate up to something like 12KHz and output 27KHz. It has a microphone jack that you can plug in an ordinary microphone from RadioShack (mine cost $10). It also has optional MIDI and a joystick port. The ISA version (that is standard PC/XT/AT) has 2x4watts amplifier onboard, making an external amplifier unnecessary if you are using headphone or mini-speakers.
kluge@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE (Oliver Kluge) (04/12/91)
In article <1991Apr10.064142.2900@d.cs.okstate.edu> ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG) writes: >It's got 11-voice FM music, and an optional 12-voice stereo CMS music ($20 >extra). It also has a 8-bit DAC and a 8-bit ADC for input and output >respectively, both using DMA (slow CPU by only 5%), input rate up to >something like 12KHz and output 27KHz. It has a microphone jack that you >can plug in an ordinary microphone from RadioShack (mine cost $10). It >also has optional MIDI and a joystick port. The ISA version (that is >standard PC/XT/AT) has 2x4watts amplifier onboard, making an external >amplifier unnecessary if you are using headphone or mini-speakers. Hi! Yesterday I have got my MCA soundblaster. I would like to make some comments on it. First of all, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL CMS CAPABILITY. There isn't even a free socket on the board. The board is not SMD, in fact, it even is no multilayer board. Not that it would be necessary, but it would have provided denser packing to make space for the CMS... It also lacks the blue plastic retainers and card holders common to MCA cards. This means that the card and the MCA connector on the main board get physically stressed and I think on the long run damage to the connector is inevitable. So get one of those retainers and attach it to the board (the drill holes necessary are already there. I checked with my distributor - These retainers REALLY aren't missing - Creative Lab thinks they are not necessary. Bad. ) But the worst thing is: While all audio-related parts of the card work wonderfully in my IBM PS/2 Model 80 (16 MHz 386, 1 wait state), the joystick interface chokes! I debugged the board with an oscilloscope, finding that the IO interface circuitry on the Soundblaster are too slow to follow a 16 MHz CPU!!!!! Creative Lab provided a jumper J5 to initiate a Card Channel Ready (CD CHREADY) signal to the bus signalling to the bus that the card will take some more time to process the operation. This really works and makes the joystick interface work flawlessly. However, the Soundblaster fails to release this line timely to not disturb basic system operations, so unpredictable system crashes occur randomly within 0-3 minutes! This malfunction probably stems from the fact that CL eqipped the joystick interface part (not the audio part!) with Low-Power Schottky (LS) TTLs that might be too slow, especially if your machine is faster than my 16 MHz 1 wait. As any other MCA board manufacturer does, CL is best advised to use only Advanced Low-Power Schottky (ALS) or Fast (F) in the future. Perhaps the PCB layout needs better design. So, as a conclusion: I will recommend the Soundblaster MCV (Its offficial name) to anyone wanting the SOUND. If you need the JOYSTICK interface, wait until Creative Labs gets its circuitry design straightened out. Oliver Kluge -- +----- kluge%informatik.tu-muenchen.de@relay.cs.net || @unido.uucp -----+ | Munich Institute of Technology, Mathematics and Computer Sciences SAB | | Parallel Computing Laboratory, Arcisstr. 21, W8000 Munich 2, Germany | <>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>= SUPPORT INDIAN RESISTANCE =<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>
kluge@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE (Oliver Kluge) (04/13/91)
Hi out there! I have now found the solution to the problems with the Soundblaster Micro Channel Version. I you have read my previous article on the issue, the Soundblaster MCV is incapable of correctly operating the joystick interface on a machine with 16 MHz or faster. The culprit for this is a simple OR gate (74LS32) on the board. It is seemingly much too slow to follow a Micro Channel IO Write command. This is obviously a design fault by the Creative Lab EE designers. This has to be considered a serious bug in the ciruitry of the board. Obviously they have failed to recognize that a Micro Channel runs at much higher clock speeds than normal AT busses and failed to use the proper TTL IC family for this task (Low Power Schottky (LS) is just not fast enough, compared to Advanced Low Power Schottky (ALS) Advanced Schottky or Fast (AS or F). I am sending a fax to Creative Lab suggesting them to stop delivery of the board until the bug is fixed. I strongly suggest to all who want to buy Soundblaster MCV and want to use the joystick interface (the audio parts all work well) look at the following chip: U23 (this is the second from the left and the second from the bottom, just directly above the jumper J1). If a 74 LS 32 is soldered in there, reject the board or DEMAND a test in YOUR OWN MACHINE from your dealer. If there are 74 ALS 32, 74 F 32 or 74 AS 32, the board should run o.k. And here is how to solve the proble if you already bought one, it does not run the joystick AND IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN HANDLING TTL IC !!! Apply all the usual precautions against static electricity. Carefully de-solder U23 (74 LS 32) using a vacuum solder pump. Solder in a 74 F 32 or 74 ALS 32. This should be it. WARNING: DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU REALLY ARE EXPERIENCED IN THIS. OTHERWISE, YOU LOSE YOUR WARRANTY AND DAMAGE TO THE BOARD AND YOUR COMPUTER MIGHT OCCUR. So, enjoy your Soundblaster MCV! It really is a great thing to have in a PS/2 (if they remove the bug...) Oliver Kluge