Re: SoundMeister

[sknkwrks@sonny-boy.cs.unlv.edu (Scott Alfter)]

In article <2C06C59C.22851@news.service.uci.edu> andrep@balboa.eng.uci.edu (Andre Prellwitz) writes:
>In article <1993May27.062345.27584@muug.mb.ca> jfenske@muug.mb.ca 
>(John Fenske) writes:
>>The second release from Genie
>>
>>ECON Announces the SoundMeister Stereo Amplifier/Digitizer for the Apple IIgs
>
>[stuff nuked]
>
>>Inputs/Outputs:
>> 
>> * 1/4" stereo phone jack for mic or line level inputs (software
>>   selectable).
>> * 1/4" stereo phone jack for amplified output (connect to
>>   speakers).
>> * 1/4" stereo phone jack for line level output (both line and
>>   amplified output can be used simultaneously).
>> 
>
>If these are _really_ 1/4" jacks, I have to question WHY??  Wouldn't it be
>better:
>RCA output jacks (line)
>1/4" output jack (amplified)
>1/8" input jack (mic or line)

Actually, they're 3/16" (Walkman-style) jacks...there's no such thing
as a 1/4" jack.  3/8" jacks (closest real size) would've been too big.
In any case, adapters are readily available from Radio Shack and
similar sources; I split the amplified output to two RCA jacks with an
adapter and I use a phone-plug-to-RCA cable for sampling stuff from
the VCR.

>>Technical Specifications:
>> 
>> * Frequency response:
>> 
>>   Outputs:
>>   20Hz - 20KHz  +/- 3dB (amplified)
>>   20Hz - 11Khz  +/- 3dB (line)
>
>Does this mean that the SM somehow bypasses the GS' internal filtering?  I
>thought the DOC was only capable of outputting ~26K samples/sec (~13KHz
>effective output) max, but filtered at just below that?  At any rate, unless
>the SM uses its D/A converters for input monitoring, it makes no sense.

The DOC can run considerably faster...consider, for instance, programs
such as Oversampler that spit out 88.2K (or more) samples per second.
Besides, doesn't the DOC output pin on the sound connector run
directly to the DOC, with no filtering?  Presumably the GS's built-in
filtering only applies to the internal speaker.

I bought a SoundMeister (regular, not Pro) about three weeks ago from
Resource Central.  The first card had a demultiplexing problem, so I
called Econ about it.  A new board arrived yesterday...the replacement
works flawlessly.  It sounds much better than the SuperSonic I had
borrowed from somebody.  (Now all I need to do is to call Econ to see
what they want me to do with the board that doesn't work right...)

  _/_   Scott Alfter                             Internet: sknkwrks@cs.unlv.edu
 / v \  Call the Skunk Works BBS today!           Ask me about SoftDAC--digital
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