Re: A2 Music and Sound FAQ v1.2

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

In article philip@utstat.toronto.edu (Philip McDunnough) writes...
>In article <1APR199408204596@vax2.concordia.ca> spector@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) writes:
> 
>>	This table is a little misleading the way you use the term "Wavetable 
>>voices". I think adding a column for "Digital voices" would be more correct.
>>As you know, those above IBM boards use only FM-synthesis, but have the ability
>>to playback/record/manipulate "real-word" sound -- digital sound/voice/music
>>samples, or plainly put, "digitized sound". The SoundBlaster ASP has an add-on
>>WaveBlaster option for real Wavetable support, though like the GUS, has very
>>little support.
> 
>There are lot's of PC's sound cards that make use of DSP's, digital sampling,
>etc...I have the SB16ASP+WB you refer to. You are incorrect when you state
>there is little support. Any Windows' program will support it. It is true
>that DOS ones largely stick to the basic sound cards, but the sound situation
>on the PC has improved quite a bit, and certainly beats the 4 voice sound 
>found on the vast majority of Mac's for example.
> 
>Incidentally, you do not need the ASP part of the SB16 in order to add the WB.
>Also, there is a new SB which has the WB built in ( Roland also has one...).
>All these cards are supported under Windows.

	I think you missed my point, I was referring to support in native-mode.
The majority of games, multi-media and educational software for IBM machines 
_still_ continue to rely on FM-synthesis. If any advanced features of these new
board are used, I've found it's only digital-sound (Last I checked, only three
games supported the GUS card, and "support" meaning multiple digitized sound
channels. That is, more than 1-2 digitized sound being played like on most FM
cards. Amiga MOD players seem to be a popular use for these cards, but still
no wavetable music!). All current IBM software I've seen doesn't even list
Waveblaster, Gravis UltraSound, ASP, etc for sound support, expect in those
cases I mentioned for playback of digital sound or MODs. If you know of IBM
applications which are supporting Wavetable music (simular to the IIgs), I'd
really be interested in hearing about it...
	
	FM-synthesis is the current standard on IBM machines, like it or not.
This is just one of the many reasons I plan on upgrading my Apple IIgs rather
than spend that money towards an IBM or Mac system.

>Philip McDunnough
>University of Toronto
>philip@utstat.toronto.edu
>[Where sheep may safely graze...]                                             

Mitchell Spector
sb_spec@pavo.concordia.ca