-=> Quoting Roger Fingas to Lee Jackson <=-
 RF> As to music daughterboards, what about Yamaha's DB50XG?  I hear that's
 RF> supposed to be a good card.
I have one on the AWE32 at the office.  The GM patch set is not good, IMHO
- too many sounds that are inconsistent in volume (guitars, especially).
However, the sounds that you can access via the XG command set are good.
One thing I don't like is the bottom part of the standard drum set.
Instead of being identical to the ones used by Roland, Creative Labs,
Gravis, and just about everyone else, they made one rather irritating
change:  their Stick Click is swapped with a Rim Click.  Why!!!!!????
 LJ> MaxiSound Home Studio 64 and the MediaTrix line.
 RF> I've never seen one in a store.  What makes them special?
MediaTrix's AudioTrix Pro is a clean card with SB compatibility and the
ability to have lots of add-on features plugged in via daughtercards.  It
has a good reputation, although I don't have any first-hand experience with
the card.
The Home Studio 64 (HS64) is also SB compatible, and claims to be DLS
compatible as well.  You can add RAM to it using 72pin non-parity SIMMS.
It is also GS compatible, sounds better than an AWE32 for MIDI, and has two
methods of getting the sound out of the card:  via 1/8" mini phono jacks
connected to the ESS 1868 codec, or directly out through the Dream 9407
DSP via RCA plugs on a separate card (provided with the HS64) connected to
the HS64 by a ribbon cable.  It also has a surround sound 1/8" port for
4-speaker surround, and software to tune the surround effect.
Finally, it has one feature I haven't had time to test yet:  digital S/PDIF
input and output through a board that connects to the HS64 via a ribbon
cable.  As soon as I get the chance, I'm going to hook the Tascam DA-P1 DAT
up to this and see if I can do reliable transfers to and from these ports.
Drawbacks?  Well, the thing has an ESS chip, which doesn't have a real
high-quality reputation, but the Dream DSP sort of makes up for that.
Also, unless you're prepared to dig DEEP into the manuals to read about
MIDI NRPN commands, you will have to use the software they provide in order
to do S/PDIF digital transfers, since the digital side of the card is
turned off by default and can only be activated through their supplied
Quartz AudioMaster SE program or by sending special NRPN controller
messages to the card.  Finally, the jacks are rather flimsy on the main
card, which can cause problems if you're trying to plug high-quality 1/8"
plugs into them (like the heavy Neutrik plugs in our studio).
 RF> It's supposed to be a hot card, although you can't use it with
 RF> games in "pure DOS" mode.  Will it be supported for DNF?
Don't know.  Whatever the Quake II engine supports, we'll support.
    -Lee
... bl00p!  The M00se Illuminati strike!
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