1. gus-max-win9x-driver-v02.zip Driver
2. README.TXT File Contents

README.TXT Driver File Contents (gus-max-win9x-driver-v02.zip)

GUS MAX CoDec driver "hack" v0.2 for Windows 95/98
--------------------------------------------------

This is small hack which uses a Windows Sound System driver which comes
with Windows 98 for getting WAVE out- and input and even more important,
DirectSound support on GUS MAX cards. The hack is a combination of
version 2.31 of ultrinit (used to initialise your GUS MAX) and some minor
changes in a setup file. I've been unable to verify this driver on GUS MAX
rev 1.7/1.8 cards which have a slightly different CoDec than my rev 2.1 GUS
MAX card so I can't guarantee that it'll work on these cards.

So what does this "hack" give me ?
----------------------------------

This hack gives you excellent half-duplex (you cannot record and playback
samples at the same time) wave playback and recording support on your
GUS MAX card. Additionally the driver will emulate the digital (wave) part
of a SoundBlaster v1.0 card when you are in a DOS box which can be usefull
for playing some old games. Of course you can also use your joystick if
you install the "gameport joystick" device (you can only do this if you
pre-initialise your GUS MAX before starting windows with the switch -ej)
You should note though, that there is no MIDI in/out or GF1 support when
you're running Windows 95/98 while using this driver (if you have manually
added the GUS MIDI port driver to your system.ini file you'll have to
remove it !). So if you want to run a program with real GUS support (like
FastTracker II, Death Rally, etc.) you'll have to leave Windows and go to
"real DOS" for using your GUS MAX card. In other words, this is a driver
for "gamers" and not for musicians right now. I'm planning to add
full-duplex (simultaneous recording and playback of samples) and GF1/MIDI
support but this will take considerable more time. Since I've got more
projects right now and I normally don't use the GUS MAX card I can't say
whether a more advanced driver/hack will follow soon.

Below is a small list of programs/games with a description how it performed
with this driver:

WinAMP MP3 playback using:
            - WaveMapper    : Excellent
            - DirectSound   : Excellent
ActiveMovie MPEG playback   : Excellent
StarCraft                   : Excellent
Quake 2                     : Excellent !! ;-)
                              Small note: change ' set s_primary "1" ' to
                                                 ' set s_primary "0" ' in
                                                   the config.cfg file.
Need For Speed 3            : Excellent
Halflife                    : Sometimes garbage sound. Didn't investigate
                              further yet.
Incoming                    : Slightly breaking up sound and sometimes
                              loud short garbage sound..
TombRaider 3                : Terrible
Age of Empires              : Excellent
Settlers 3                  : Excellent
Curse of Monkey Island      : Excellent
Total Annihilation          : Good. Sometimes a short burst of garbage sound.

As you can see, it's not perfect but quite an improvement.

How to install
--------------

(The below assumes some knowledge about editing text-files and soundcard
basics/DMA/IRQ basics.)

First, you'll have to make sure that there is nothing left in your Windows
installation of the previous GUS MAX driver (the best way is to re-install
Windows 98 is don't know how to do this). Now copy the files in the archive
to C:\GUSMAX (or another directory to your choice).

Second, you have to initialise your GUS MAX card before entering Windows
95/98. The best way to do this is by adding a small part to your autoexec.bat
file in the root directory of your 'C:' drive (e.g. with the help of EDIT or
NOTEPAD). When doing this you need to use 'ultrinit v2.31' which is included
in this package. Below is an example of how you need to add the
initialisation part to your autoexec.bat:

- add the below -
rem Windows 98 GUS MAX driver initialisation part
set ultrasnd=220,1,1,11,7
set ultra16=36c,0,0,1,11
C:\gusmax\ultrinit -ej
rem End of initialisation part
- add the above -

So what does the above mean. Well 'ultrasnd' and 'ultra16' are environment
settings which the ultrinit program uses to configure your ultrasound card.
Let's start with 'ultrasnd'. The values used mean the following:

set ultrasnd=base, dma1, dma2, irq1, irq2
- base = the base adress of your GUS card (e.g. 220, 240, 260)
- dma1 = the playback DMA channel which is also used for uploading samples
         to your card. I'd suggest to chose '1' here which will always work
         , unless used by another card. If you plan to do some "full duplex"
         things in DOS you need to use another value than '1'.
- dma2 = the recording DMA channel. This DMA has to be the same as the
         CoDec (the chip which is used to playback samples in Windows 98)
         and has to be '1' !!! If you've got another card at DMA channel 1
         put it to 3, 5 or 7 (or others if available) !
- irq1 = The irq used by the GUS for native GUS applications. This irq has to
         be the same as the CoDec irq !! If not it won't work !
- irq2 = Used for things like SoundBlaster emulation. If you don't need
         SoundBlaster emulation use the same irq as you used for irq1

Now for the 'ultra16' (values represent use with the current version of
ultrinit) :

set ultrasnd=codecbase, cdrombase, nothing, playback/recording dma, irq
- codecbase = the base adress of the CoDec on your GUS MAX. This has to be
              one of the following values (32c, 33c, 34c, 35c, 36c)
- cdrombase = the base adress of the cdrom controller on your card. normally
              you won't use it and thus simply set it to '0'
- nothing   = set to '0'.. In full duplex mode (v1.0 of this driver) this will
              be the playback DMA channel while the other dma entry will be
              for recording.
- playba... = dma channel used for playback and recording of sound. this HAS
              to be '1'
- irq       = irq used by the CoDec. This has to be the same value as irq1
              in the 'ultrasnd' environment setting !

(The below assumes an english version of Windows 98. In other versions of
 Windows the procedure might be slightly different)

* If you have done this right, reboot your PC and start windows.
* Go to the 'Control Panel'
* Go to 'Add New Hardware'
* Select: next (twice)
* Select: No, the device isn't in my list + next
* Select: No, I want to select the hardware from a list + next
* Select: Sound, Video and game controllers + next
* Select: Have Disk
* Refer to the directory you've placed the files in this archive, select
  the directory matching your version of Windows (Win95 or Win98) and
  press 'OK'.

After installing you might have to enter the correct values in the 'Gravis
UltraSound MAX CoDec' driver under the device manager (I assume you know how
to do this). Now restart your computer and Windows 98 will detect
the 'Gravis UltraSound MAX SB v1.0 Emulation" device and install it for you.

Now you can adjust the mixer settings if you like and fine-tune the switches
used with 'ultrinit' in your autoexec.bat (like muting the mic/line/cd input
as default or for that sake for disabling the gameport. for more info on
the use of ultrinit enter 'ultrinit -?').

Now HAVE FUN !

Hey this doesn't work.. Help me !!
----------------------------------
I don't have much free time and thus would prefer that you would ask these
kind of questions in the GUS Digest where there are many GUS users that might
be able to help you. I also read the messages posted there and reply when
I have the time to do so. Below is some info regarding the GUS digest:

The GUS Digest is a "daily" mailing list for which GUS users. In it you
can ask questions to other GUS users.

To (un)subscribe or get help mail to:
gus-general-digest-request@mail.GAIANET.NET

To post to tomorrow's digest mail to:
gus-general@mail.GAIANET.NET

To contact a human (last resort) mail to:
gus-general-digest-owner@mail.GAIANET.NET


If you want to send "thank you messages" or "money" you are free to email me
at rdewit@a1.nl though :)

All I can say now is that I hope that this hack/driver makes your old GUS MAX
card (with extremely clean sound !) to some use in Windows again.

---
Roel / Utopia Sound Division
http://utopia.a1.nl