Re: SoundMeister

[irsman@iastate.edu (Ian Schmidt)]

In article <1993May29.144811.27171@nuchat.sccsi.com> glynnet@zero.cypher.com (Glynne Tolar) writes:
>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:
>>> * 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)
>
>Well, if that is your only problem with the card, go to Radio Shack (I can't
>believe I said that!) and buy and adaptor.

Hell, it is damn annoying to have to use adaptors, and adaptors tend to
introduce distortion.

>>>   20Hz - 20KHz  +/- 3dB (amplified)
>>>   20Hz - 11Khz  +/- 3dB (line)

The line output drops 9 Khz off the frequency response?  This is ludicrous!

>What filtering?  It connects (like many other sound cards) directly to the DOC

The DOC, like all digital audio generation systems, requires anti-aliasing 
filtering to reduce the digital alias noise and help make lower-quality
samples such as those used in MODs sound better.  Check out some books on
basic sampling theory.

>>>   0.15 % at 1Khz (amplified)
>>>   < 0.1 % at 1KHz (line)

Okay, this makes sense, but I'm still perplexed as to why the vastly lower
frequency response out the line output.

>>>   75 dB (amplified)
>>>   > 90 dB (line)

Not bad, since the DOC itself has a 48 dB dynamic range as rated.

>by providing simple amplifier and isolation circuitry.  Now the Pro version
>adds its own DOC and has ram for it so as to relieve the GS CPU to do other

Are you joking?  This sounds vaguely like suicide, since it will be
incompatible with a large library of no-longer-supported GS software (MCS,
TMS, DiversiTune, SoundSmith, Instant Music, etc) not to mention games.
It sounds to me like a ``unique fixer-upper opportunity'' indeed... gaak.


-- 
Ian Schmidt         | "Too many hands on my time    | Watch for the GS<>IRC
Two Meg Software US |  Too many feelings            | Musik Disk #2, coming 
irsman@iastate.edu  |  Too many things on my mind"  | sometime in 1993 :-)
At Home for Summer! |  Neil Peart, "The Analog Kid" | -- space for rent --