Re: Mysterious Sound Card

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article gt5460c@acmex.gatech.edu (Martin Tuck) writes...
> 
>        I recently bought gs#3 ($225 for a WOZ with a zip gsx) which came
>with a sound card of which I know nothing.  The sound card is a SuperSonic by
>MDIdeas.  It goes in one of the peripheral slots and has a wire that goes over
>to the J25 connector.  It also has a standard headphone/speaker out jack.
>There are a couple of jumpers too.  I've had it in my gs for about two months
>now, but haven't found a use for it.  I tried plugging my speakers into it but
>it wasn't even recognized (the sound went through the built in speaker
>instead). 

	The MDIdeas SuperSonic is a stereo output board, many companies
produced simular boards for the Apple IIgs over the years. It does not
add new sound capabilities, in fact it doesn't even produce a stereo 
signal. What it does do is "grab" the stereo signal already built-in
to the Ensoniq 5503 on the motherboard, plus add a bit of signal filtering
and amplification along the way I believe. The pins at J25 are the Ensoniq 
I/O molex connector, stereo-out and sound-in are available through here,
since Apple negelected to add proper port connectors in back of the GS. 
It's like a bridge that was only half-way completed, the stereo card acts 
as the other half of the bridge, really nothing more.

	You may have noticed an expansion connector on the SuperSonic.
This is for an optional piggyback board, the SuperSonic Digitizer. With
it you can use the sound-input to record digital samples. There was also
a 'Digitizer Pro' board, a full-sized slot board that also used the expansion
connector. As for the set of jumper pins (LN, HI, LO), those must be matched
to the same selection on either side. What you choose depends on the type
of speakers being used (amplified, non-amplified, headphone set?). There
are only three valid configurations, though you can try each and see which
sounds best (make sure to use: LN+LN, HI+HI, LO+LO, do not mix!)

>Does anybody have any experience with this sound card?  I've always
>been pleased with the gs's sound capability.  Does this card offer any real
>advantage over the built in capability?

	Native IIgs software will automatically make use of it, just connect 
up some speakers or headphones and you'll see. Music Construction Set GS is
a good example, notes on the top staff play through one channel, notes on the 
bottom play through the other. Or try some of the MOD players out there, such
as Beatbox or DeskPlay. You need not do anything special, virtually all 
GS music/game software outputs sound in stereo, so connecting speakers to
such a card lets you make use of a feature that's _already_ there. One thing
to note is that the 'Volume' control setting in Control Panel has no affect
on the stereo card (it only controls the internal speaker, which is actually
quite annoying when your trying to enjoy music through external speakers. :)

	IMO, all Apple IIgs's should have a stereo card. If you want to
take full advantage of the built-in sound capabilities, such a board is
essential. Your missing out on rich stereo sound otherwise, which many
programs make use of for special effects and whatnot. Why short change
yourself?

>                        -Martin Tuck
>                        -gt5460c@prism.gatech.edu
>                        -I ain't got no stinkin' .sig

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca