Re: Product Idea

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

In article neiderma@er7.rutgers.edu (Kid) writes...
>
>I have some older IIe and II+ software and was using them on my IIGS.  The
>programs have Mockingboard sound, and were neat when I had the Mocking-
>board.  But since they make no sound in the GS, how hard would it be
>for a guru to produce a software or hardware emulator or something?
>Isn't the GS sound better than what the Mockingboard can produce?

	If you still have your old Mockingboard (or compatible card), it
should function just fine inside your IIgs, just as it did with the Apple II+ 
or IIe. However, I should point out not all software is compatible with the
IIgs. My AE Phaser card (Mockingboard compatible) will not function at all
with certain programs when run on the IIgs. "Ultima V" is a good example..
Furthermore, AE's card won't even fit inside the IIgs with the cover-on,
so I've moved it over to my Apple //e. I've no idea how other sound cards fit
or function inside a IIgs, but I see little point in this. There were only
a few dozen 8-bit programs that ever supported the Mockingboard and/or
Phaser, and the IIgs already has built-in wavetable and digital sound
via the Ensoniq 5503 chip. (FYI: The Mockingboard/Phaser probably doesn't
even come up to par with the lowly FM-synthesis cards used in IBM's today, let
alone the GS. Although...it's much less annoying than any whiny AdLib or SB Pro
music cards I've had the displeasure of listening to! :)

	As for Mockingboard-emulation through the GS's Ensoniq chip, I think
it was discussed on the net before. It was decided it couldn't be done, but
anything is possible on the II, right guys...? ;-) Seriously though, with
enough work, I'm sure it could be done. Maybe even a C=64 SID chip emulator?
(Never thought much of SID sound, but it'd be an interesting project 
nevertheless!) :)

Mitchell Spector
spector@vax2.concordia.ca
sb_spec@pavo.concordia.ca