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Tropez ISA sound board FAQ |
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Archive-name: PCsoundcards/Tropez-faq
Comp-sys-ibm-pc-soundcard-misc-archive-name: Tropez-faq
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: Monday 22 July 1996
Version: 1.20
================================================================================
Turtle Beach Tropez (TM)
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Copyright 1995-1996 by Tow Wang
Version 1.20
Release date: Monday 22 July 1996
================================================================================
Contents
(I) Introduction
(A) What information was updated?
(B) Abbreviations
(C) How to obtain the latest release of this document.
(D) Additional sources of information
(II) Technical specifications
(III) Errata to the User's Guide
(IV) Software for the Tropez developed by TBS
(A) Utilities
(B) Drivers
(C) Other software
(V) Installation
(A) Tips
(B) Hardware checks
(C) Installation tips for 3-diskette set
(VI) Other questions
(VII) Software and firmware upgrades
(A) Not included but distributed
(B) FTP sites
(C) Module (".mod" file) players
(D) MIDI (".mid" file) players
(VIII) Operating system support
(A) OS/2
(B) Windows 3.x
(C) Windows 4.x (aka "Windows 95")
(D) Windows NT
(E) Linux
(IX) Programming information
(A) Software Development Kit
(B) Sound Blaster modes
(C) Windows Sound System mode
(D) CS4231A codec chip
(E) Components made by ICS
(F) FM synthesizer
(X) Unanswered questions
(XI) Credits
(XII) Disclaimer and permission to distribute
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I) Introduction
Tropez:
~ ~ ~ ~
Pronounced as "Tropa" ( 'o' as in toe, 'a' as in pay ).
Presumably named after the french island St. Tropez, famous for its
beautiful beaches.
In late 1994, Turtle Beach Systems of York, Pennsylvania, USA, began
distribution of the "Tropez" soundcard, which along with the "Monte Carlo"
card, marked the entry of Turtle Beach products into the entertainment
market of sound hardware for personal computers compatible with the Intel/ISA
architecture. Keeping up with a tradition of high-quality sound products, the
Tropez promises full game compatibility while delivering audio performance
comparable to that of compact discs and digital audio tapes.
The purpose of this document, referred to as "Tropez FAQ file" from hereon,
is two-fold:
1) To supplement the documentation provided with the Tropez package and aid
owners of this product in setting it up and troubleshooting it.
2) To inform the general public of the characteristics of the Tropez and
help assess the suitability of this product for the applications of
potential end-users.
(A) What information was updated?
Each update is to be found in the (sub)section indicated within parentheses.
The previous release of this document was version 1.11
********************************************************************************
Minor typographical modifications throughout this document. (many)
Clarification about initializing the WaveFront synthesizer. (IV.A)
Suggestion to remove "setupsnd.exe" from "autoexec.bat". (V.A)
Found MPU-401 driver for Windows NT (using archie). (VIII.D)
How to use generic MPU-401 drivers under most OS's. (VIII)
What does "oswf.mot" file enable? (IV.B)
Found MPU-401 driver for OS/2 "Presentation Manager". (VIII.A)
Put the "[business]" question in context. (VI)
Correction: Windows 4.x cannot have 32-bit sound drivers. (VIII.C)
Do not use the Maui driver that comes with Windows 4.0! (VIII.C)
"AWave" versions 2.7, 3.0 and 3.1 and released. (VII.A)
One less FTP distributor, one more WWW distributor. (I.C, XI)
Created sub-section: (VII.B.2)
Created section: (VII.E)
How to identify boards missing the microphone pre-amp. (V.B)
Created section: (IX.F)
Split chapter VIII and shifted all following chapters. (VIII, IX)
Created section: (IX.A)
Latest version of "Wave SE II" is 1.32 (IV.C)
The telephone number of "Norcomp" is 408 733 7707. (IX.D)
Native drivers for Windows 4.0 now available. (VIII.C)
Tropez officially discontinued. (VI)
********************************************************************************
(B) Abbreviations
Following is a list of abbreviations used throughout this document.
DOS Disk Operating System (TM)
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
GM General MIDI (TM)
ICS Integrated Circuit Systems, Inc.
MIDI Music Instrument Digital Interface
RWM read/write memory
SB Sound Blaster (TM)
SIMM Single In-line Memory Module
TBS Turtle Beach Systems, Inc.
WSS Windows Sound System (TM)
(C) How to obtain the latest release of this document.
By FTP from the InterNet sites listed in section VII.B and the following:
ftp.otol.fi /pub/music/TB/Maui/ (Finland access only)
rtfm.mit.edu /pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/comp/sys/ibm/pc/souncard/misc/
/pub/usenet-by-group/news.answers/PCsoundcards/
On the World-Wide Web:
www.wi.leidenuniv.nl/audio/
www.cs.colorado.edu/~mccreary/
rpinfo.its.rpi.edu/~hsiaoe/soundsite/
www.tbeach.com/faq/
support.aris.com.sg/
On the Andrew File System:
/afs/engin.umich.edu/u/t/o/towwang/Public
On UseNet:
Newsgroup "comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard.misc"
(D) Additional sources of information
1) Related information files:
- "Turtle Beach Maui FAQ file", available from ftp.hawaii.edu. READ THIS
FILE! Almost all the information in it is applicable to the Tropez! For
this release of this FAQ file, I have omitted some relevant information
already covered by the Maui FAQ file v3.1.
- "Turtle Beach Maui Software FAQ file", available from ftp.hawaii.edu.
- "The Tropez Tattler" by David Gasior. You may request a copy by sending
e-mail to its author: .
- "Turtle Beach FAQ file" by Kevin Dangoor (tazzzzz@eecs.umich.edu),
currently un-maintained.
- Gravis UltraSound FAQ files:
archive.epas.utoronto.ca /pub/pc/ultrasound/info
for information on instrument patches.
2) Mailing lists:
"Turtle Beach mailing list"
To subscribe, send a message to:
listproc@lists.colorado.edu
with subject and body:
SUBSCRIBE MULTISOUND
To unsubscribe, send to the preceding address (not to the mailing
list!) a message with subject and body:
UNSUBSCRIBE MULTISOUND
3) Independent commercial reviews:
PC Magazine, 28 March 1995.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(II) Technical specifications
The quoted information for this chapter (lines starting with '|') is
distributed by Turtle Beach Systems in the form of free promotional literature
and is also printed on the Tropez package. I have added some additional
comments and corrections for purposes of clarity.
Compatibility
The Tropez can emulate a Sound Blaster Pro card (revision 2.0 by Creative
Labs), including, but not limited to, DAC and mixer functions and FM music
synthesis. The Tropez is also compatible with the Windows Sound System 1.0
interface. However, only one mode (SB Pro xor WSS) is available to produce
digital audio at any time.
Software running under DOS that supports MIDI music synthesis, using the
General MIDI patch set and the Roland MPU-401 interface, will be able to
take advantage of the wavetable synthesis capabilities of the Tropez. This
capability for music synthesis is available independent of the setting for
digital audio. The Tropez incorporates almost all the hardware found on the
TBS Maui board, so with some subtle restrictions it can be considered as
"three boards in one":
Tropez = Maui + Sound Blaster Pro + Windows Sound System
| Digital Audio
|
| Sampling Rates Selectable between 4 KHz and 48 KHz
| Resolutions 16 or 8 bits per sample
| Audio channels Stereo or mono
| Audio converters A/D 64x oversampled sigma-delta, 16 bit
| D/A 8x interpolating filter
| 64x oversampled, 16 bit
| DMA mode Demand mode for increased performance
| Simultaneous record and play capability
A/D and D/A conversion is performed by a Crystal CS4231A coder/decoder chip.
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 95 11:52:16 +0200
From: Patrik Sandberg
> The ability to support simultaneous rec/play for stereo 16 bit 44.1 KHz
> audio depends on the ISA bus speed. In normal speed (8 MHz) SRP is
> supported for rates up to stereo 16 bit 32 KHz. When the ISA bus speed
> is >= 11 MHz then SRP is supported in 16 bit 44.1 KHz in enhanced
> duplex mode.
| Stereo mixer
|
| Inputs -- Synthesizer (FM and Wavetable),
| Microphone, Line, Auxiliar
| Supported interfaces
|
| MIDI interface (optional) Up to 2 MPU-401 compatible external
| interfaces using optional cables
| CD-ROM drive interface AT-API (Enhanced IDE)
| Joystick port
Both MIDI ports are MPU-401 compatible in dumb UART mode but not smart mode.
Reported by Martin Fay :
The pin-out of the second MIDI port (the two-row internal male connector)
is the same as that of the joystick port interface found on most I/O boards
and disk drive controllers.
The joystick port can be disabled by software to avoid an I/O conflict if
another such port is already enabled.
| Wavetable synthesizer
|
| General MIDI compatible Yes
| Simultaneous voices Maximum is 32
| Wavetable instruments 128 instruments in 2 MB ROM
| Sample Data Formats 16 bit, 8 bit and 8 bit u-law
Maximum simultaneous voices Sampling rate (KHz)
32 32
24 44.1
| Sample Store (TM)
|
| RAM size Upgradable to a maximum of 12 MB using
| standard SIMM chips
There are 3 SIMM slots on the Tropez. They all accept SIMMs with 30
contact-pads. Any slot can accept any of the following SIMM capacities at
any time: (TBS recommends an access time no slower than 70ns)
Rows Bits per row (parity not required)
256 * 1024 8 or 9
1024 * 1024 8 or 9
4096 * 1024 8 or 9
On Thu, 8 Jun 1995, John M. Meyers wrote:
> I'm currently using 3 1x8's in my Tropez, and things are fine. A friend
> is using 2 megs of the same in his Maui, and I've heard no complaints.
The Tropez package includes no RWM for Sample Store. SIMM's must be purchased
separately.
| FM Synthesizer
|
| Stereo FM Synthesizer (Yamaha OPL3)
| AdLib compatible
| 20 independent stereo voices of FM synthesized sounds
| 4 FM operators per voice
The OPL3 and the WaveFront synthesizers can play music simultaneously.
| Audio Performance
|
| Signal to noise ratio 89 dB (A weighted), 87 dB (unweighted)
(these values must be positive)
| Total Harmonic Distortion
| < 0.01 % (A weighted), < 0.02 % (unweighted)
| Phase response +/- 0.1 degrees
| Stereo Crosstalk -90 dBV at 100 Hz,
| -89 dBV at 1 KHz,
| -83 dBV at 10 KHz
| Intermodulation distortion < 0.1 %
| Frequency response 20 Hz - 22 KHz, +0/-1 dB
Note: these specifications for "audio performance" seem to be achievable
only under strictly-controlled laboratory environments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(III) Errata to the User's Guide
This chapter applies to the "User's Guide" (Manual) version 1.0, Copyright 1994
Turtle Beach Systems, Inc. You may want to note these errors in your manual
before starting installation.
P 14 What's in the box?
P 24
Turtle Beach currently ships FOUR 3+1/2 inch high-density floppy disks with
software and utilities.
The "Info Now" CD may have been substituted by a "Selectware System (tm)" CD.
P 17 Adjusting the jumper settings
All jumper sketches were printed upside down. I am providing the correct
ones below; my sketches are in the same order as they appear in the manual
but I have reordered the port numbers.
'c' means closed (a jumper connects the two pins at this position)
'o' means open (no connection between the two pins at this position)
o c o
o 330 c 230 c 300
o o c
c o c
o 290 o 338 c 210
o c c
o c
c 320 o 260
o c
P 30 DOS diagnostics
The "Sound Blaster music test" will play notes to the right audio channel
only.
P 32-34 WaveFront Diagnostics
"wfdiag.exe" is no longer included with any of the installation diskettes.
If "setupsnd.exe" executes without reporting any errors, then your
WaveFront synthesizer is most likely configured correctly. I have executed
"mauidiag.exe" on my Tropez and it passed all tests except the one which
requires a MIDI loop-back cable (which I did not have) and the WaveSample
memory test (I had not yet obtained any SIMM's when I did this). To obtain
"mauidiag.exe", see the FTP sites listed elsewhere in this
document.
By the way, "mauidiag.exe" is a diagnostics program for the Maui sound card,
which uses the same WaveFront synthesizer as the Tropez.
P 36 Tropez DOS utilities
P 43 Translation Utility
"tzsbmix.exe" is an utility for the (old) Monte Carlo sound card.
It was included by mistake with the Tropez package and it cannot work with
the Tropez. It will not add any more functionality because the Tropez is
already fully compatible with SB Pro.
P 50 setupsnd.exe utility
"oswfi.mot" is no longer included with the Tropez package. Just use
"oswf.mot" with "setupsnd.exe".
The parameter "/x" should be used only if you have an external synthesizer
connected to the Tropez's MIDI port.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(IV) Software for the Tropez developed by TBS
If you do not have the latest versions, refer to the FTP sites for updates.
(A) Utilities
"setupsnd.exe" v1.13
Configures the WaveFront synthesizer.
Loads operating system code to the firmware memory on the Tropez. This o.s.
code is executed by the Motorola 68000 processor to control the synthesizer.
"setupsnd.exe" takes about 20 seconds to load "oswf.mot" to the Tropez.
The duration of this process seems to be independent of system speed.
1) In most motherboards, if not all, you need to initialize the
synthesizer (i.e. upload its MIDI interpreter firmware), only once after
power up. No need to repeat this after warm boots.
2) Yes, it does take 20 seconds to initialize the synthesizer if you have
not entered Windows since power-up, but otherwise the latest Windows
driver will do the initialization (or check for initialization) in 6
seconds or less. The preceding paragraph applies here too.
"tzacmix.exe" v2.00
Command line utility to change all mixer volumes.
"tzhkmix.com" v2.00
TSR program to change mixer volumes with hot keys (hold down ALT and press
the gray keys Insert, Delete, End, Page Up, Page Down).
"tzmode.exe" v2.00
Initializes the CD drive interface on the Tropez, when executed as a device
driver within "config.sys".
Lets you select the digital audio mode of the Tropez under DOS.
"tzsetup.exe" v2.00
Lets you reconfigure all settings for the Tropez, except the primary
(external) MIDI port which requires jumper adjustment.
"tbcd.exe"
Audio-CD player. If you have problems using it, Mario Koeppen
provided this tip:
> ...look into your "system.ini" file for a line containing "CDAudio" as the
> right value of an equation. If there is any number after this (ie.
> "CDAudio_1") cut it off, leaving only "CDAudio".
This number is used for operating more than one CD drive. TBS tools can
only handle one. Warning: this change may render certain setups unusable.
Back up your "system.ini" before modifying it.
(B) Drivers
"oswf.mot" v1.15
The firmware code that is loaded to the Tropez by "setupsnd.exe" under DOS
and by "tropmidi.drv" under Windows 3.x. This code makes the WaveFront
synthesizer understand MIDI commands used by most sequencing and game
software.
"tropez.drv" v1.10
Digital audio driver for using the Tropez under Windows 3.x
This includes code to control the mixer on the Tropez.
"tropmidi.drv" v1.30
MIDI synthesis driver for using the Tropez under Windows 3.x
"tropmidi.drv" takes 6 seconds to load "oswf.mot" to the Tropez.
In your "system.ini" file for Windows, under the "[tropmidi.drv]" section,
you may specify where is the OS code file. For example:
OSCodeFile=c:\tropez\dosapps\oswf.mot
(C) Other software
From Turtle Beach's literature:
WavePatch (TM) Patch editor for wavetable synthesizer, v1.2
On Thu, 27 Apr 1995, Jean-Luc Piolain wrote:
> WavePatch has a few features designed specifically for the professional
> sound developer. In order to keep the average user from accessing these,
> they are only available if the following line is added to the [Preferences]
> section of WFPATCH.INI.
>
> [Preferences]
> Pro Version = 1
>
> When this line is added, the File menu will have two new items:
>
> Replace Internal Sample
> Pack ROM Files
Latest version is 1.3 "Release", file name "waveph13.zip" at FTP sites.
Wave SE 1.23 (TM) .WAV audio and sample editing program with
Loop Editor
"Wave SE II" version 1.32 can be purchased from TBS. This software has
more features than "Wave SE".
MicroWave (TM) OLE compatible .WAV recorder/editor for
business applications
Stratos (TM) MIDI song writing software
Sierra (TM) Audio Rack Featuring stealth mode
MousePlayer MIDI controller
The "SelectWare System (TM)" CD contains dozens of demonstration programs for
commercial software, and five free products:
Corridor 7 (TM) by Capstone
MegaMaze (TM) by Axis Interactive and CapDisc
LINKS: The Challenge of Golf(TM) by Access Software
Darklands (TM) by MicroProse Software
Freakin' Funky Fuzzballs (TM) by Sir-Tech Software
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(V) Installation
(A) Tips
The following tips are applicable to the set of 4 installation diskettes (3.5"
high density) included in the Tropez package. This section should be most
useful if you read it along with the "User's Guide" (version 1.0) while you
install the Tropez.
Note:
All references to installation information, such as directory paths, are
exemplified using default settings.
BIOS settings
From: Roeder Sascha
> If you use a Asus SP3G Motherboard with an Award bios, try to
> switch off the "ISA GAT MODE" in the bios setup. I dont know, what this
> mode is for but it interfered with my Tropez during recording.
The Tropez may not install correctly if "Plug and Play" is enabled.
If you are experiencing problems with the digital audio performance of the
Tropez, check that your bus speed is set to 8 or 8+1/3 MHz.
If your recordings to SCSI hard disks get mixed with disk noise, try shadowing
the ROM BIOS of your host adapter. Make sure you select the correct address
block corresponding to the adapter's BIOS.
P 17 Adjusting the jumper settings
Most games require that the MPU-401 interface be at port 330h. To have this
setting, you may leave JP4 at the default setting (none of the pairs of pins
should be shorted by a jumper).
P 26 Running the DOS setup
Your "autoexec.bat" file should have at least one trailing blank line.
Otherwise, the last character of your "autoexec.bat" will be overwritten by
"install.exe" if you let it make automatic modifications for you.
You may want to remove the execution of "setupsnd.exe" from your
"autoexec.bat" file if you tend to do warm reboots often.
Each time you choose one of two the installation options in "install.exe",
this program will overwrite any Tropez files that were previously installed
in "?:\tropez\dosapps\"
P 27
If you are connecting a CD drive to the enhanced IDE interface of the Tropez,
make sure that the line
DEVICE=?:\tropez\dosapps\tzmode.exe
in your "config.sys" file precedes the line that loads the device driver for
your CD drive. This is because "tzmode.exe" must be executed first to
initialize the Tropez so that the other device driver can detect the CD
drive interfaced with the Tropez.
If you still have problems using the Tropez's CD drive interface, try
executing ("loading") "tzmode.exe" in the very first line of your
"config.sys". Note: this execution must take place before loading QEMM, if
you use this memory manager.
From Rob Geraghty :
The internal audio connector has the following configuration:
--o left signal
--o left earth
--o right signal
--o right earth
P 27 (Windows setup)
The command "win.com" to start up Windows must reside in a directory included
in the "PATH" environment variable. "install.exe" will try to execute the
command
win.com setup.exe
before installing any Windows applications. If "install.exe" does not
find "win.com", it will prompt erratically for you to insert a diskette. In
this situation, you may press 'Esc' to exit the program. Include the Windows
directory in the 'PATH' variable and rerun "install.exe".
Side note: as "setup.exe" prepares to install the Windows applications for
the Tropez, it will probe all available logical drives for the presence of
the installation diskettes. If for example you have the installation
diskettes in drive "b:", "setup.exe" may get stuck when probing an empty disk
drive "a:". In this case, simply insert any irrelevant (but formatted)
diskette in drive "a:" and let "setup.exe" move on to drive "b:"
P 28 Windows setup
Paraphrasing Rob Geraghty :
>Hidden in a confirmation screen during the install process (in windoze) the
>Tropez defaults to using IRQ15 for OS download. This can be changed - I used
>IRQ9, the same IRQ I used for Tropez MIDI.
Forgetting to make this change may let the Tropez take up two IRQs: one
which you specified in DOS using "setupsnd.exe", and this other one
allocated by Windows. Needless to say, this is a common source of conflicts.
(Discussed in the TBS mailing list)
If you have problems operating the Tropez in full-duplex mode, edit your
"system.ini" file: under the section "[sndsys.drv]" there may be the
setting "SingleModeDMA=1". Change the right hand value to "2".
On Tue, 11 Jul 1995, Miro Wikgren wrote:
> FYI, the Windows installation of the Tropez card programs can be run
> separately from the DOS istallation. The trick is to start the setup
> program by starting Windows (from DOS, of course) with the command:
> win a:~dutf.exe
...or you can run "~dutf.exe" from your Windows shell. Be warned however,
that incremental installations of the Tropez software for Windows may cause
useful settings and files to be overwritten. It is safest to install all
the software at once and then delete the unwanted applets with the
information in the "tropez.log" file.
Note: you should definitely install the Tropez mixer at least.
Message from David Gasior :
> The Mixer for Windows can have its settings
> saved when you close it by adding the line
> SaveSettingsOnExit=ON
> under the heading [DRIVER] at the top of the TROPEZ.INI file found in the
> Windows directory.
"setup.exe" only maps MIDI channels 1 through 10 to the "Tropez Sample
Player" initially; you may want to map the remaining 6 channels to it or to
the OPL3 driver using "MIDI Mapper".
P 36 Hot key sound mixer utility
The "tzhkmix.com" TSR might not work with games that run in Intel protected-
mode. For instance, it has no effect within "Doom" (TM).
P 41 Using the command line sound mixer
If you omit the optional channel selector ( [L|R] ), the volume setting will
apply to both audio channels.
P 50 "setupsnd.exe" utility
"setupsnd.exe" always tries to access one IRQ line and one I/O address
(actually one block of I/O addresses). If either one (or both) was set up
incorrectly, the program will report that you have an "IRQ conflict".
Additional documentation
Do not forget to read the "*.wri" files that were installed to "?:\tropez\".
They contain updated information that was not available when the User's Guide
was printed. You can read them using the "Write" word processor included with
Windows.
"tzsetup.exe" utility (not documented in manual)
The "MPU-401 MIDI" option in "MIDI Setup" refers to the second MIDI port on
the Tropez (the one that is next to the CD drive interface). Unless you
purchased an adapter cable to use this second port, you should leave it as
disabled.
(B) Hardware checks
As should be the case whenever you purchase computer hardware, you are
advised to test all the features of your merchandise as soon as possible
after you receive it. For the Tropez in particular, you should test the
following:
1) Microphone recording: plug in an UNbiased microphone, UN-mute the
microphone input and set its level high enough. You should be able to get
from the output of the Tropez the sounds that are being picked up by the
microphone.
This check is advised because some boards "escaped" from the factory
without the microphone pre-amplifier. TBS disclosed that boards with this
problem can be identified as follows:
"Look on the face of the card just below the CD Audio connector (J1).
There will be a set of capacitors running down the side by the jacks.
At the top, there are two marked C10 and C6. If they have a capacitor
on them (most likely beige, black, or pale green in color) then you
have a pre amp. If not - if it is just bare metal - then..."
2) Plug SIMM's into all the memory slots on the Tropez and test its Sample
Store capabilities using Wave Patch. Also, "setupsnd.exe" should
report the correct amount of memory installed on the Tropez.
If you cannot afford memory, you would do just fine by borrowing one
SIMM and performing this test three times, with the SIMM plugged into
a different slot each time.
Tip from and Allan Lester
, 13 Nov. 1995:
If you plug an external mixer into the Tropez, you may want to power the
mixer from the same wall outlet that powers your computer in order to avoid
a ground loop (which causes noise).
(C) Installation tips for 3-diskette set
TBS is also distributing a new set of 3 compressed archives which expand out as
3 replacement installation diskettes, available at their company FTP site
(listed elsewhere in this document). The filenames for this set of installation
files are "tropmk2?.zip". If you choose to install from this set, you MUST
expand the ".zip" files to floppy disks.
On Thu, 25 Jan 1996, Pierre Meindre wrote:
> There's a file named DISK.ID on the third disk that seems to be incorrect :
> Tropez
> 1.1
> Disk #3
> I edit the file to change "1.1" to "1.2" and I've been able to install the
> three disks without problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(VI) Other questions
Q. [AIL] Where can I get AIL and MIDPAK drivers for the Tropez?
A. You will probably want the WSS AIL drivers. Refer to section VII.B .
The file "t7gfix3.zip" (a patch for "The 7th Guest") has the MIDPAK
drivers. The latter is available from ftp.cdrom.com .
Q. [business] Is Turtle Beach going out of business?
A. This rumor, rampant during late 1995, turns out to be untrue. Marko Otto,
"Quad" project manager at TBS, posted a statement containing the
following fragment:
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 95 13:13:54
From: marko
> FACT: Turtle Beach and Value Media will be merging to form one company
> called Turtle Beach Systems. The intent of the new TBS is to form a
> company based around the Diamond or Creative business model. This
> means that you'll see CD-ROM kits, modem/faxernet/Internet kits, and
> of course sound cards.
Q. [buy] Where can I buy the Tropez?
A. Sometime in the spring of 1996 TBS officially discontinued production of the
Tropez. It is being replaced with the "Tropez Plus" board. By the time this
document is published, finding the Tropez in stores will be nearly
impossible; if you really need one, try to contact TBS.
Q. [effects]
Is there a processor for effects such as reverb and chorus on the Tropez?
A. No.
Q. [Hurricane] Does the Tropez feature Hurricane Architecture?
A. No. It requires at least one DMA channel for digital audio functionality.
Q. [MT-32] Can the Tropez emulate a Roland MT-32 or LAPC1 for games?
A. Partially. You can load a MT-32 patch bank to the memory of the Tropez and
have it play music correctly under games that DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PRODUCE
SOUND EFFECTS (i.e. that do not attempt to alter the patches).
Check file "mauimt32.zip", created by Jimmy Wan , at
FTP sites. You will also need the DOS bank loader "Set Maui".
The Tropez does not support MT-32 system-exclusive messages; lock-ups are
possible if your game tries to send such messages to the Tropez.
Q. [operating systems]
What operating systems are supported by the Tropez package?
A. DOS and Windows support is included in the package. Refer to chapter
VIII for support for other OSs.
Q. [Plus] What is the Tropez Plus?
A. Read about it from the web page "www.tbeach.com/products/tropplus.htm".
I am also going to publish a FAQ file for the Tropez Plus. Look for it in
the same distribution sites that carry this document (but if it is not there
then I have not finished it).
Q. [Quad] Can I use the TBS "Quad" software with the Tropez?
A. No.
Q. [revisions]
What differences are there between the various revisions of the Tropez?
A. On 5 Apr 1995 Alexander_H._Neustadter@BOPS.VOA.GOV wrote:
> Version 1.3 has the channels reversed. This has been my experience with
> more than one board. (I note that the WaveFront chip is also much
> thinner on this board.) Version 2.0 has the channels wired correctly,
> but makes a nasty pop on the left channel when starting & stopping the
> playing of .wav files.
I own a rev. 2.0 board and have tested it on a few motherboards; the
following suggests that the 'pop' is a rare defect in some Tropez boards:
AIR 486UL No audible pop at end of .wav playback.
486 UMC Inconclusive: a faint click which may have been caused by
external noise.
Dell OptiPlex XM590
No audible pop at end of .wav playback.
Opti 486WB No audible pop at end of .wav playback, even with bus at 11 MHz.
Q. [Sound Blaster 16] Is the Tropez compatible with the Sound Blaster 16?
A. No, and the Tropez does not have a WaveBlaster connector.
Q. [TBS] How do I contact TBS?
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