GS<>IRC ROM 06 Announcement

[irsman@iastate.edu (Ian Schmidt)]

GS<>IRC ROM 06 Specifications (rev E)
-------------------------------------
Designed by Ian Schmidt, Richard Wifall, and James Brookes.
Specification sheet written by Ian Schmidt.


Processing
----------
o 65C816/33 as main CPU.
o 80486DX/50 as coprocessor (fully PC-compatible).
o 40 Mhz 56001 DSP processor (shared by the 2 CPUs).

Memory
------
o SIMMs for up to 256 megs main RAM (first 8 megs for the GS, rest is shared
between a GS ramdisk and IBM main memory).
o 256k SRAM cache for the 486, separate 256k SRAM cache for the 816.
o 4 meg GS ROM, with System 6 tools built in, plus useful utilities like FAX
  software.
o 4 meg PC ROM with goodies (see below).
o MMU and virtual memory possible from the GS side, including multiple bank
  zeros (supported in GNO 4.0 and later).
o Standard BIOS ROM for the '486.
o Includes DMA controller chip, so all I/O can be optionally done using DMA on
  both CPUs.

Mass Storage
------------
o Built in 500 meg SCSI HD with caching controller; shared by the processors.
o Built-in BrainPort (tm), making it possible to use the unused 90% or so
  of your brain as a huge harddisk.
o 2.88meg HyperDrive standard, optional 1.2M 5.25" floppy for IBM.
o CD-ROM built-in, connected to caching SCSI controller.

I/O
---
o 4 high-speed serial ports (2 GS, 2 IBM).
o 1 bi-directional parallel port (shared)
o 7 Apple II slots, 7 EISA slots, 1 local-bus slot for shared video.
o 4 16-bit Ensoniq DOC chips for 128 voices of digital audio, with up to 16
  megs of DOCRAM using SIMMs, and built-in 8-channel (quad times 2!) outputs.
o Quad 16-bit ADC for sampling at rates up to 88.1 khz.
o DOCRAM can be accessed from programs on the DSP, allowing realtime audio
  waveform manipulation.  The DSP can also access the ADC.
o Built-in v.fast faxmodem (shared)
o Built-in Ethernet and FDDI fiber interfaces (shared).
o Built-in buffered MIDI port (in-out-thru) (shared).
o Ports for both ADB and IBM-style keyboards and mice.
o Local-bus video card (custom) with up to 2048x2048x64 bits displays.  Can
  emulate all the way down to Apple II lores.  Includes Windows accelerator
  for the IBM side, and full support for up to 16 scrolling playfields,
  up to 1024 sprites, and hardware scaling/rotation for both sides.  Also has
  built-in cable-compatible TV tuning, genlock, and video overlay.  Comes with
  VRAM for 1280x1024x24 bit initially, more colors/resolution can be added
  with additional SIMMs.
o 2 Apple II-style joystick ports, appears as PC joystick to IBM software.
o External SCSI port, connected to the aforementioned controller.
o SmartPort and PC-compatible floppy interfaces standard.
o BrainPort (tm) interface is discussed under 'Memory'.
o Port for included synthesizer console keyboard, includes 88 fullsize velocity
  sensitive keys with aftertouch, plus pitch and modulation wheels, and 8
  sliders.  In combination with the included GSynth software, this makes the
  GS<>IRC ROM 06 a powerful musical machine.
o Port for included color laser PostScript-compatible printer.

Software
--------
The GS<>IRC ROM 06 will ship with the following pieces of software in ROM:

o System 6.0.1, with enhancements.
o OS/2 2.1, with enhancements.
o GNO 4.0 with TCP/IP and virtual memory support.
o FAXplosion 3.1 for using the FAX part of the FAXmodem.
o TelCom III v1.6 and ProComm 6.0 for using the modem part of the FAXmodem.
o MasterTracks Pro+4 and Cakewalk Professional for MIDI sequencing.
o MegaTracker 4.2 for internal sequencing.
o GSynth 1.0 for utilizing the machine as a 16-bit programmable synthesizer.
o METAL-GS/FutureVision III so you can easily set up a powerful BBS using any
  of the ROM 6's communications abilities.

The harddisk will contain:
o A full General MIDI patch set for GSynth.
o Sample sequences and instruments for the other programs.
o Utilities for GNO.
o Surprise bonuses!

Price and Avalibility
---------------------

Availibility is expected once Abaddon gets his warehouse air-conditioned.

Price is expected to be under $2000 US dollars.

For additional information, contact us at:

rwifall@nmsu.edu
jamesb@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu
irsman@iastate.edu

Copyright (c) April 1, 1993 by the GS<>IRC.  All Rights Reserved.
-- 
        Ian Schmidt - Two Meg Software: irsman@{iastate.edu | aol.com}
"I will choose a path that's     | Author of AudioZap, MODZap, and more.
 clear: I will choose free will" | Co-author of SoundConvert and DeskTracker.
 - N. Peart, 1980                | Coder and Musician for the GS<>IRC.