Re: MDIdeas SuperSonic

[Mitchell Spector <mitch2gs@hotmail.com>]

earnhardtfanpl@hotmail.com (Paul H. Lee) wrote:

>MDIdeas SuperSonic
>
>I have one of these cards and have no idea what it is for. 

    It's a stereo output card for the Apple IIgs, one of several brands that
were available. What is important to understand is it is not a general
purpose sound card, and does _not_ add new sound capabilities to 
the machine. 

    The Ensoniq synthesizer in all IIgs machines supported multi-channel
stereo sound and the ability to record (digitize) sound, though Apple in its
infinite wisdom wired *all* the stereo audio into one monaural signal, 
then mirrored that to both channels on the headphone jack. They also
left out any kind of direct input or microphone jack.

>Who can tell me what it is for, 

    Put simply, it allows you to hear the two-channel stereo audio which
virtually all IIgs software already uses. Think of it as a mono-to-stereo
adapter. 

>how to install

    Plug  the molex cable dangling off the card into the motherboard
(location 'J25', far right corner) then plug the card into any free slot.
Next, depending on the revision of SuperSonic card you have, you
either plug the speakers directly into the card or thread the soldered
in cable (with metal end) out the back and plug speakers into that.

    From memory MDIdeas cards that were blue had a 1/8" phono
plug on the card, while red ones had a 1/8" phono plug hanging
off a built-in cable.

>/configure

    There are 6 jumper pins (3 groups) labeled: 'LN', 'HI', 'LO'
My memory is a bit fuzzy here but I think that referred to line-level,
amplified, non-amplified. Choose a setting and then be sure to set 
both jumpers to match, i.e: LN+LN, HI+HI, LO+LO

    I remember "LN" (line level) being my own preference. The 
other settings picked up background noise from the machine, 
especially the floppy drives accessing.

>/and use it. 

    It works automatically, software won't even need to detect it.
You see, stereo audio is always being sent from the Ensoniq to 
the molex pins on the motherboard--this cards just taps into it
and lets you hear what is already playing.

    There was an expansion connector that accepted the 
MDIdeas SuperSonic Digitizer and Digitizer Professional,
which let you input/record sound. This is the only case
where slot settings and special software is required.

>Also - if there is any software I should get for it.

    The only software shipped with the card was a demo of
Music Construction Set GS. The stereo was so separated
on that it was a good way to test out the card and speakers.
Diversi-Tune, synthLAB, Soundsmith, BeatBox and shellPlay
were much more dynamic with stereo effects though (games
and demos also used stereo effects in interesting ways).

Mitchell Spector