Re: What's this GS stuff?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

mdwright@aol.com (Mdwright) wrote:

>Seeking advice and opinions about my first GS:
>My new yard sale GS is a ROM 3 model with no expansion cards,
>AppleColor RGB monitor, 5 1/4 drive, two 3 1/2 drives (one works),
>system disk rev 4, system tools disk, AWGS 1.1, some games,
>no docs (I have read the CSA2 FAQ).

Didn't you read the information I sent you?

System Software 4.0 is WAY too old.  You can find System
Software 6.0.1 (a set of six or seven disks) on the Apple II
AOL Forum.  

Type in this keyword to get to the forum:

aol://4344:1264.a2main.10029531.514525857

Then click on "Apple Computers" to get to Apple Computer's
A2 System Software archive.  Download the complete
System 6.0.1 set.  You should also probably download the
six disks that make up HyperCard for the Apple IIGS.
Thus, you are looking to download 12 to 13 disks, each
800k (3.5").

>From another yard sale I acquired some other goodies. Any 
>experience-based comments or advice would be appreciated:
>
>"Apple 2GS Memory Expansion" card. Would this card add to the memory
>of the ROM 3 GS, or is it for an earlier model?

A 1MB expansion card.  Works in ROM 0, ROM 01, or
ROM 3.  Since you have 1MB on the ROM 3 motherboard,
plug this card in to get 2MB.  That should at least be
enough to get you going initially.  You should really plan
to get at least 4MB if you want to use the machine for
word processing.  Use AWGS and try to print to an ink
jet printer using the Harmonie drivers with 2MB and see
what happens...OUT OF MEMORY for a moderately
sized document.

Read the IIGS specs I sent you.  They tell a lot and answer
a lot of your questions.

>Applied Engineering Sonic Blaster for GS, with no software.

It is an amplifier card.  The Apple IIGS already has
an Ensoniq 5503 built in, so the card contains no sound chip.
Thus, the IIGS is born with a 32 channel wavetable synthesis
chip.

     See this link for more information:

     http://www.ensoniq.com/multimedia/semi_html/index.htm

But the headphone port is not powerful enough to drive
unamplified speakers to good volume.  The Sonic Blaster
is a stereo amplifier that fixes this, but it is not needed if
you have amplified speakers.  The Sonic Blaster also
provides stereo INPUT, though, so you should install it
if you want to record stereo sounds.

>Sonus midi interface card for the A2C, 2+, GS. Midi cables, but no
>	docs, no software. Is GS a serious Midi machine?

I would pull this card and replace it with an external MIDI
interface for Macintosh.  These also work on the IIGS and
the System Software is geared to work with these Mac serial
port MIDI boxes.  I have such a box and regularly hook up
a MIDI keyboard to the IIGS via the box.

Is the GS a serious MIDI machine?  Well, it is as serious as
an Atari ST, which is looked upon highly by musicians
because it has a MIDI port.  The IIGS can do the same things
with a MIDI interface.  UNLIKE the Atari ST, however, the
IIGS goes a step further.  The built in Ensoniq 5503 was once
the heart of two powerful professional synths/samplers of the
late 1980s, namely the ESQ1 synth and the Mirage sampler.
You can play MIDI songs with it.  If you need more voices
than this chip provides, you can play the internal sound
chip and an external keyboard simultaneously.

The IIGS is pre-GS/GM MIDI, but if you are just playing
music that the ESQ1 was capable of playing, it is fine.

I would also look up a copy of Pyware Music Writer,
currently only available used, to work with sheet music.
Also, a copy of Master Tracks.  Also, synthLAB and
Music Composer for playing the internal synth.

See the Ensoniq web site I posted above for more info.

>A 24-pin DIP labeled GSPLD1B-I with a note from Applied Engineering
>giving instructions for replacing chip in an unnamed peripheral board.
Whazzit?

Dunno.

By far the easiest way to get NEW System Software and
some freewares and sharewares right away is to install
a hard drive.  http://www.allelec.com/ Alltech Electronics
sells one for $59.  Worth investigating and will save you
download time.