Re: Which Chips (Sound RAM) do I need to replace

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

no1inParticular wrote:
> 
> My System:
> ROM 01 IIgs, Transwarped, Ramfast, Quickie Scanner, not appleTalked, Audio
> Animator, Video Overlay.   8 Meg RAM.   IIGS SELF test reports SYSTEM GOOD
> EXPANSION RAM test reports NO errors.  TWGS self test Reports NO errors.
> 
> Original post describing my IIgs sound problems follows..   My IIGS is not
> "NO sound" (like *I* said.)  It is NO sound in Wolf 3d.  Wolf 3d is what I
> started this whole project of fixing the sound of MY iigs, because the game
> W/O sounds isn't as fun!
> ***The Problem Has NOTHING to do with Wolf 3D.***  My IIGS is the problem
> here.
> 
> A few Synthlab songs do the following: some
> instruments play, but others Click, buzz,
> and make other nasty noises.
> What you I end up with is NOISE, not music. I
> only encounter this problem when I try to use
> PreRecorded songs (Like the songs included on
> the SynthLab disk, and Songs I have downloaded
> from FTP sites.
> 
> A few NoiseTracker Songs do the same, and the
> SoundSmith INTRO screen does the same (music
> is loaded and played when the Screen is displayed)
> With Wolf 3D demo, the music clicked and buzzed.
> Now, I download Wolf 3d Final version. Clicks,
> buzzes, screeches...... I can hear what sounds
> like drums playing....And *part* of the music,
> I think it is the trombones playing. (I loaded
> The Music Files INto SynthLab, get the same
> problems)
> 
> During Game play (Wolf 3d), I may hear distortion of noise
> coming from my speakers, but no BAAANG of the gun.
> Also, I get nasty sound when I open doors, etc.
> I can hear partial music!!  I can HEAR Noises Sometimes
> Instead of SOUND EFFECTS.   Why can't I hear the
> rest? System 6.0 sounds work Great! I can
> digitize and play sounds with my Audio Animator
> no problem, Sound for Most other Games works good
> (*some* have the same NOISE) MOST SynthLab songs
> Sound good.
> ....
>
> PS I can load the NOISEY music (songs that dont
> sound good) IE    *.SEQ and They will play FINE
> through the MIDI port. This means no Ensoniq
> chip is used, and the *.SEQ data is being
> transmitted Flawlessly to my MIDI keyboard.
> The MUSIC I hear from this setup is GREAT, even
> though the music sounds like *crap* through
> the IIgs headphone port, the internal speaker,
> or the Audio Animator Stereo Output.
> Ok, I stayed up late enough to get Wolf.....
> Cool game...Good Graphics...Way smoother than
> the Demo.....
> But no Sound
> (((
>

     You've probably been told this before: It is hard to believe there
is anything wrong with your GS Sound IC's (not impossible, just hard). 
The fact that your Sys6 sounds and some other stuff sounds fine could
indicate that some registers or oscillators on your Sound DOC IC are
messing up or that some registers are bombing on your Sound GLU. (i.e.
Sounds that try to use certain oscillators come out glitchy or not at
all.)

     Mess-ups at the Sound IC's do not necessarily mean the IC's are
flawed. If one or more pins on the Sound DOC is making poor contact in
its socket, you could get the effects you describe. One fix try is to
scootch up the IC (UL-14) and re-socket it (with the GS turned OFF).
This should establish good contact and may eliminate the problem.

     Another thing to check for is a loose connection (e.g. a bad solder
connect at the DOC socket or a loose, 'sprung-up' pin at the Sound
GLU).  Try playing something that always sounds rotten and, while it's
playing, tap each Sound IC with a plastic rod. Also, try tapping around
on the motherboard. If the music suddenly improves, you'll know
something is loose.

     You mention that, when music, etc. sounds bad, it sounds bad from
your Stero card _and_ from the GS Sound output jack. This should
eliminate your Stereo card as a suspect. Even so, it is best to
eliminate any doubt. With the GS turned OFF, pull the card and
disconnect it's cable from the motherboard. If music still sounds bad at
the GS Sound output jack, you will _know_ that your Stereo card is not
the cause.

     It seems unlikely that your two Sound RAM IC's are involved
because, then, hardly anything would sound right.


     There are a few other possible problem sources. One is an INIT,
NDA, CDA, or Driver which is firing off interrupts at bad times. Some
games and other applications are better defended against interference of
this kind than others. If you install any screen savers or other known
trouble causers, try removing them. As for AppleTalk, make sure every
last vestige is ripped out of your SYSTEM/ folders.

     Check your Slots settings and make sure they are correct for the
boards you have.

     It is not impossible that certain System 6 components on your hard
disk have become corrupted. For example, some drivers in SYSTEM/Drivers,
some Tool files in SYSTEM/Tools, or the patch file (TS2 for ROM-01) in
SYSTEM/System.Setup could be screwed-up. If you notice that games, etc.
run from a booted diskette always seem to sound okay, then, for sure,
replacing some System 6 files with known-good copies from your System 6
source diskettes is a good idea.

     If you have not already tried it, with the GS OFF, pull the Video
Overlay and scanner boards and, for now, remove their drivers and any
associated NDA's, INITs, etc..

     Good luck!      


Rubywand