Video for Windows (VFW) stores motion video and wave audio in a single, standard computer file. The video portion can be played back without any additional hardware under Windows 3.1 or greater, while the sound is played back through an appropriate sound device (like an MPC-compatible sound board). Playing back motion video on today's personal computers presents two technical challenges.
The first challenge is one of storage. Motion video files are huge. To decrease their size, a complex compression method is needed. To play back compressed files, an equally complex decompression method must be used. The Video for Windows standard allows third-parties to develop their own compression/decompression methods. A new method can be added to your system simply by installing a new driver. When you play back a movie, Video for Windows automatically sends the file to the appropriate driver for decompressing.
The second challenge presented by motion video is one of speed. Data in a Video for Windows file must be read and displayed at very fast rates in order to simulate motion. CD-ROM drives, with their relatively slow data transfer rates, severely limit the performance of VFW movies. The minimum data transfer rate for acceptable performance using software-only decompression is 150 kilobytes per second (kps)--the MPC Level 1 standard for CD-ROM drives.
Other components on your system also affect performance. Video for Windows demands a fast processor (CPU). The Level 2 MPC specifications call for at least a 25 mHz 486SX CPU. That is probably the minimum CPU required for acceptable VFW performance. Video for Windows also requires a fast graphics display speed. When you first install the Video for Windows MCI driver, or whenever you attempt to play a movie file after changing color depths, VFW performs a brief graphics display test. If your computer's graphics performance is inadequate at that color depth, a message box appears immediately after the test informing you that you may experience performance problems.
When recording a Video for Windows movie, six important variables must be set:
the number of frames per second,
the size of the video frame,
the sampling rate of the audio,
the number of colors used,
the target data transfer rate,
the type of compression used.
Increasing the quality of any one of these variables typically increases the demand on the MPC that plays back the movie. VFW movie developers must, therefore, make compromises in quality. These compromises can be severe if the movie is meant to be played directly off of a CD-ROM drive, since most MPC-compatible drives on the market can only transfer data at a rate of 150 kilobytes per second (kps). If 150 kps is the maximum for your CD-ROM drive, you won't get adequate performance if you choose a 300 kps data transfer rate in the Data Rate box below.
When Video for Windows plays a movie, it tries to keep the video images in synch with the audio. But if it can't read the data from the movie file fast enough, or can't display the images fast enough, it "drops" video frames. This tends to make the video appear jerky. If the data transfer rate is too slow to play the audio without interruption, then the sound also breaks up.
About the Video for Windows Tests
The MPC Wizard CD contains several Video for Windows files recorded from a single video source, using three different compression methods at two data rates. Play each of the files, and see if you can discern the differences in quality between them. Even though your CD-ROM drive may not be capable of playing a 300 kps movie very well, you can copy the movie to your hard drive and try playing it through the Windows program Media Player (usually found in the Accessories program group). Hard drives typically have a much higher data-transfer rate than CD-ROM drives. The test files are in the \TESTVFW directory of the MPC Wizard, and have a .AVI extension.
The MPC Wizard tests your Video for Windows performance using three VFW-compatible compression methods. They are as follows:
Microsoft Video 1. This method provides good to average software-only compression for most video applications. The maximum size for acceptable CD-ROM playback (150K/sec.) is 160 x 120 pixels at 15 frames per second (fps). The MS Video 1 movies for these tests are in 8-bit color.
Intel Indeo. The Indeo method supports both software-only and hardware-assisted decompression. Adding additional hardware increases the size of the playback window and improves the general performance of the video. The maximum window size for acceptable CD-ROM playback (150 kps) without additional hardware is 160 x 120 pixels at 15 fps. The Intel Indeo movies for these tests are in 24-bit color. If you are running Windows in less than 24-bit color, the movie's color pallette will be automatically reduced at runtime to match the number of available colors.
SuperMatch Cinepak. Aris Entertainment believes that this compression method is the best one available on the market today for software-only playback. The maximum size for reliable CD-ROM playback (150K/sec.) is about 240 x 180 pixels at 15 frames per second--more than twice the window-size of the other two compressors. The SuperMatch Cinepak movies for these tests are in 24-bit color. As with the Intel Indeo movies, the color pallettes on these movies will be automatically reduced at runtime to match the number of colors available on your system.
Choose below the combination of Compression Method and Data Rate you wish by clicking the appropriate buttons.
Click the Play Video File button when you're ready to view the movie.
Click the Troubleshooting Tips button if you encounter a problem. appropriate buttons.
Click the Play Video File button when you're ready to view the movie.
Click the Troubleshooting Tips button if you encounter a problem..blem.oblem.m.oblem..blem.s button if you encounter a problem.r a problem.ton if you encounter a problem.
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Compression Methods
Microsoft Video 1
Intel Indeo
SuperMatch Cinepak
Data Rate
150 kps
300 kps
,ctrlID
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l-dlgInit
static tooBigText,s5,Running the 16-bit, 44.25 kHz stereo test requires copying the test file to your C: drive, which must have at least 4 megabytes of free space.
Click COPY to copy the file to your hard disc, space permitting. The test file will remain on your c: drive until you exit this session of the MPC Wizard.
Click CANCEL to skip the test.
,h12,
button 1,b13,TRUE
button cancel,b15,TRUE
Play Video File
go_videoTips
Troubleshooting Tips
enterbook
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keyDown
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putTestResults
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The latest test results have not been printed or saved
to disk, and will be lost when you exit.
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close waveFile
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ARIS ENTERTAINMENT'S MPC WIZARD TEST RESULTS
Date: ~d Time ~t Page ~p
columns
TEST PERFORMED
MPC SPECS
YOUR SYSTEM'S RESULTS
text of recordField
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clicking OK.
failedMsgBox
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Date:
Time:
YOUR SYSTEM'S RESULTS
YOUR SYSTEM'S RESULTS
MPC SPECS
TEST PERFORMED
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testingMotion
Testing MS Video for Windows playback (Microsoft Video 1 format).
PROBLEM: You get a message saying you should be hearing and seeing a movie, but you don't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output , and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input . That's not the control you want.
The wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is at 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the discs that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are up high enough.
PROBLEM: You are unable to play any videos.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never installed the Video for Windows drivers. Exit the MPC Wizard and go to the Windows Program Manager . Make sure that the MPC Wizard CD is in your CD-ROM drive. Choose the File menu, choose Run, then type
L:\VFWSETUP\SETUP
where L is the letter of your CD-ROM drive. This will start the Microsoft Video for Windows runtime installation program, which will load the Microsoft Video 1, Intel Indeo, and SuperMatch Cinepak CODECs.
The statement avi=AVIVideo is missing from the [mci extensions] section of yourWIN.INI file. This statement associates all files having a .avi file extension with the Video for Windows driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad ) to insert the statement.
PROBLEM: You are unable to play the SuperMac Cinepak movies, but the other movies work.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You previously installed the Microsoft and Intel Video for Windows drivers, but you now need to install the SuperMac Cinepak CODEC as well. Follow the directions above for installing the Video for Windows runtime. You should run this setup program even if you already have Video for Windows installed in your system, since it installs the SuperMatch Cinepak driver at the same time. It will not overwrite any Video for Windows drivers on your system if those drivers are a later version than the ones on the CD.
PROBLEM: Your videos are jerky and/or the sound breaks up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The data rate you chose is too fast for your CD-ROM drive. If your drive has an average data transfer rate of 150 KB per second but you select a movie data rate of 300, your MPC can't read the data off the MPC Wizard CD fast enough. In this case Video for Windows tries to play the audio without interruption, but "drops" video frames. This makes the video appear jerky. If Video for Windows can't keep up with the audio either, then the sound also breaks up.
Your graphics device has a performance problem. If Windows is running in greater than 256-color mode, try changing the display driver to 256 colors (i.e., 8-bit). Most graphics devices perform faster when they have to display fewer colors.
Your sound device has a performance problem running Video for Windows movies. Several sound device manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
There is a problem with your CD-ROM drive. Click MPC Tests, and run the CD-ROM Drive Tests . Also see Troubleshooting Tips in the CD-ROM Drive Tests section.
PROBLEM: When you first installed the Video for Windows drivers, or when you tried playing a movie after changing color depths, you got a message saying that you may encounter performance problems.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your computer's processor (CPU) is inadequate. Video for Windows demands a fast processor. The Level 2 MPC specifications call for at least a 25 mHz 486SX CPU. That is probably the minimum CPU required for acceptable VFW performance.
The bitmap display speed of your graphics device is inadequate. If Windows is running in greater than 256-color mode, try changing the display driver to 256 colors (i.e., 8-bit). Most graphics devices perform faster when they have to display fewer colors.
PROBLEM: You get the message The specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The MPC Wizard CD is not in your CD-ROM drive. Put the disc in the drive.
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go_MotionTests
Return to Video for Windows Tests
videoTips
no256
CD (Redbook) Audio
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--required.S
mainText
Look at the picture below (taken from Aris Entertainment's Wild Places CD). You've never seen a cactus like that before! All the pictures in Aris Entertainment's Media Clips programs were meant to be viewed with a graphics driver capable of displaying 256 colors at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. In order to use such a driver, your graphics device must have a minimum of 512K video RAM. If you're unsure whether or not it does, check the documentation that came with your graphics device. When you're sure that your device has this capability, click the Install Driver button on the left. you're sure that your card has this capability, click the Install Video Driver button.in the Main Menu...om the Options menu.
Click the down arrow located to the right of the listing for your current video driver.
If you see a 640 x 480 x 256-color driver listed that is compatible with your type of video card, select it. Then follow
the directions that Windows provides.
If you don't find a compatible driver listed, the driver you need may be among those provided on the Aris CD-ROM Sampler. Scroll through the list below and locate the manufacturer of your card's chipset. (This name may differ from the name of your board's manufacturer.) When you've located the manufacturer, note the directory name listed to the right of it. Then enter your CD-ROM's drive letter that as extensive collection of Original Equipment Manufacturers' video drivers. click Other display at the bottom of
the list. Put the Aris CD-ROM
Sampler into your drive, type the letter of that drive, and click OK.
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go_GraphicsTests
Return to Color Capability Test
Windows is Currently Running in Less than 256-Color Mode
no256
driver
InstallSound
driver
enterPage
enterPage
go_installGraphics
go_installGraphics
Install Driver
MIDI Audio
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--required.
mainText
Click the Graphics Driver, Sound Driver, or CD-ROM Driver button to learn how to install the appropriate driver for your type of graphics, sound, or CD-ROM device.und Driver button to learn how to install the appropriate driver for your type of sound device.
Click the CD-ROM Driver button to learn how to install the appropriate driver for your type of CD-ROM Drive...
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go_InstallGraphics
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go_InstallSound
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go_InstallCDROM
played
InstallGraphics
tonUp
XactivateInstance
buttonUp
buttonDown
buttonUp
activateInstance
eatClicks
XactivateInstance
Windows Setup
FindWindow
SetWindowPos
vSetupHndl
buttonDown
driverList
XactivateInstance
Windows Setup
FindWindow
SetWindowPos
vSetupHndl
buttonDown
driverList
pDirs
ahead
chips
cirrus
diamond
everex
genoa
video7
maxon
orchid
paradise
sigma
tecmar
trident
tseng
pSelections
Ahead Systems
Avance Logic
Boca Research
Cardinal Technologies (ET4000)
Cardinal Technologies
Cirrus Logic
Chips & Technologies (452)
Chips & Technologies (453)
Chips & Technologies (64200)
Chips & Technologies (655xx)
Diamond Computer (Stealth)
Diamond Computer (SpeedStar)
Diamond Computer (SpeedStar 24-bit)
Everex (EV235, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV623, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV629, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV633, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV634, Windows 3.1)
Everex (EVGA, Windows 3.0, 16-color)
Genoa (6000 Series)
Genoa (7900 Series)
Genoa (8000 Series)
Matrox (Illuminator-16)
Matrox (Impression 1024)
Matrox (Impression)
Matrox (Impression Ultra)
Oak Technologies
Orchid Technology (ProDesigner II)
Paradise
Radius SVGA MultiView
Radius MultiView 24
Sigma Designs (SigmaVGA Legend II)
SixGraph
STB (Chips 480)
STB (AVGA1)
STB (PowerGraph)
STB (Evolution VGA)
STB (AVGA2)
STB (WIND/X)
SuperMatch (Thunder/24)
Trident (TVGA)
Trident (HiColor)
Tseng Labs (ET3000)
Tseng Labs (ET4000)
Video Seven
pDrivers
"Ahead Systems","1/2/93","all",std,"ahead"
"ATI","10/2/92","Wonder, Ultra","The ATI drivers can't be installed directly from the MPC Wizard CD. Instead, copy the files stored in the \WIZSETUP\ATI_W31\ directory to a floppy disk that can be read from drive A. Then read the README.TXT text file in the \WIZSETUP\ATI_W31\ directory on the MPC Wizard CD for further directions."
Install Graphics Driver
Microsoft Video for Windows (MS Video 1 method)
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--none.
wizPath
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s):d the drivers:
mainText
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the text box below labeled Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the manufacturers whose graphics drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. Scroll through the list and click on the company that made your graphics device. If your device's manufacturer isn't listed, exit Windows and run the program VGATEST.EXE, located in the \TESTMISC directory of the MPC Wizard CD. It should be able to identify the manufacturer of the graphics chipset on your device, which may be different than the company who made your device. In most cases you can use the generic driver made for your chipset. Check with the manufacturer of your graphics device to be certain. The name of the device you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). This directory contains a Windows 3.1 driver for your device, unless an earlier version of Windows is specifically mentioned in the Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer text box. You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run theWindows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. Copy the files stored in that directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
Have the floppy disks from which you originally installed Windows handy when you install your driver. You may be asked for one or more of them during the course of your setup.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
Users of Quarterdeck's QEMM386.SYS, Microsoft's EMM386.EXE, or another expanded memory manager may need to add an EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the program in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your VGA device when displaying more than 16 colors. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You can accomplish the same result (effective in Windows only) by adding the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file:
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
This statement prevents Windows from using the area of memory C400 to C7FF. C400 and C7FF are hexidecimal (base 16) numbers. To block a different area of memory, change the hexidecimal number range.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.e.
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Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer
Driver Version Date::w*
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buttonUp
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Actix Systems, Inc.
Ahead Systems
ATI Accelerated VGA
ATI Mach32 (Graphics Ultra Pro/Plus)
Avance Logic GUI-Ultra
Avance Logic GUI-Ultra (Windows 3.0)
Boca Research Super X Accelerator VGA
Boca Research SuperVGA
Cache Computers, Inc.
Cardinal ET4000-based Cards
Cardinal S3-based Cards
Chips and Technologies 452
Chips and Technologies 453
Chips and Technologies 481 + 450 + 404A
Chips and Technologies 481 + 64200 + 404A
Chips and Technologies 64200
Chips and Technologies 655XX
Cirrus Logic 5402/5420
Cirrus Logic 5422/5424
Cirrus Logic 5426
Cirrus Logic 642X
Diamond SpeedSTAR 24
Diamond Speedstar 24X
Diamond SpeedSTAR VGA
Diamond Stealth VRAM
Everex (EV235, Windows 3.0 beta)
Everex (EV623, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV629, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV633, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV634, Windows 3.1)
Genoa 1MB VGA
Genoa 6000 VGA
Genoa 7900 VGA
Genoa 8000 VGA
Genoa Multimedia VGA
Genoa Windows VGA 24
Hercules
Hercules Chrome
Hercules Graphite
Hercules Superstation 3D
Hercules Superstation XP
Matrox Illuminator-16
Matrox Impression
Matrox Impression 1024
Matrox Impression Ultra
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
NCR VGA
New Media Graphics Super VideoWindows
Oak Technology
Orchid Fahrenheit
Orchid ProDesigner II Series
Paradise / Western Digital
PC Logic V1000 (Windows 3.0)
PC Logic V2000
PC Logic VCOLOR
Radius Multiview 24
Radius SVGA MultiView
S3-based Generic 24-bit Driver
S3-based Generic Driver
Sierra HiCOLOR Oak
Sierra HiCOLOR S3
Sierra HiCOLOR Trident
Sierra HiCOLOR Tseng
Sierra HiCOLOR Western Digital
Sigma Designs L-View PC Classic
Sigma Designs Legend 24LX
Sigma Designs Legend GX
Sigma Designs Multimode 120
Sigma Designs Multimode 150
Sigma Designs SigmaVGA Legend I & II
Sigma Designs WinStorm
Sixgraph
STB Evolution VGA
STB Horizon
STB PowerGraph VGA
STB PowerGraph X24
STB PowerGraph/ERGO VGA
STB Wind/X
SuperMatch Spectrum (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (VESA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (VESA boards)
Trident TVGA
Tseng Labs ET3000
Tseng Labs ET4000 (16.7 million colors)
Tseng Labs ET4000 (all other modes)
Video 7
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
copyToClipBd
Copy Path to Clipboard
InstallGraphics
InstallSound
activateInstance
buttonUp
buttonDown
keyDown
buttonUp
activateInstance
eatClicks
activateInstance
Control Panel
FindWindow
SetWindowPos
vSetupHndl
buttonDown
driverList
keyDown
driverList
scrollText
scrollText
vNewLine
activateInstance
Control Panel
FindWindow
SetWindowPos
vSetupHndl
buttonDown
driverList
keyDown
driverList
scrollText
scrollText
vNewLine
pDirs
adgravis
atiaudio
cmpudyne
covox
sndblstr
proaudio
mediasonc
voyetra
pSelections
Aztech (Sound Galaxy)
Aztech (Sound Galaxy Pro)
Covox
Media Vision (AudioPort)
Media Vision (CDPC)
Media Vision (Pro Audio Spectrum 16)
Media Vision (Pro Audio Spectrum Plus)
Media Vision (ThunderBoard)
MediaSonic
Turtle Beach Systems (MultiSound)
Install Sound Driver
Microsoft Video for Windows (Intel Indeo method)M
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--none.
wizPath
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s):d the drivers:
mainText
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the text box below labeled Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the manufacturers whose sound drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. Scroll through the list and click on the company that made your sound device. If your device's manufacturer isn't listed, contact the manufacturer to find out if it's compatible with any of the drivers listed. The name of the device you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). This directory contains a Windows 3.1 driver for your device, unless an earlier version of Windows is specifically mentioned in the Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturer text box. You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run theWindows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. Copy the files stored in that directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.e.ticular purpose.luding merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose..cular purpose...ular purpose.ity and fitness for a particular purpose........warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.se.se.se..itness for a particular purpose. EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the program in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your VGA device. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You might also need to add the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
to block the use of this area of memory by Windows.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
The rights to the programs on this disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose..1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
The rights to the programs on this disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.]
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Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturern Date:Driver Version Date::5*
buttonDown
buttonUp
buttonDown
getDriver
buttonUp
buttonUp
selectDriver
activeMIDI
DRIVERNAME
no driver selectedtraSoundy Business Audio
driverList
tonUp
buttonDown
buttonUp
keyDown
buttonUp
putDriverStuff
buttonDown
keyDown
putDriverStuff
buttonDown
keyDown
putDriverStuff
Advanced Gravis UltraSound
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Business Audio
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy BX/NX
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy NX Pro 16
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Pro
Covox
Laser Digital
Media Vision Audioport
Media Vision CDPC
Media Vision CDPC XL
Media Vision Fusion CD 16
Media Vision Pro AudioSpectrum (original & Plus)
Media Vision Pro AudioSpectrum 16
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
Media Vision ThunderBoard
MediaSonic
Toptek Golden Sound
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
copyToClipBd
Copy Path to Clipboard
InstallCDROM
buttonDown
keyDown
buttonDown
driverList
keyDown
driverList
scrollText
scrollText
vNewLine
buttonDown
driverList
keyDown
driverList
scrollText
scrollText
vNewLine
Install CD-ROM Driver
Microsoft Video for Windows (SuperMatch Cinepak method)
playeda
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--none.
wizPath
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s):d the drivers:
mainText
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the text box below labeled CD-ROM Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the CD-ROM manufacturers whose drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. We apologize for the small number of drivers. Our intention is to increase the amount in future versions. Scroll through the list and click on the company that made your CD-ROM drive. The name of the drive you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run theWindows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. Copy the files stored in that directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.e.ve manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the expressed written permission of the manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose...s to the programs on the MPC Wizard disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the expressed written permission of the manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose...e.e. particular purpose..itness for a particular purpose. EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the program in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your VGA device. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You might also need to add the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
to block the use of this area of memory by Windows.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
The rights to the programs on this disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose..1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
The rights to the programs on this disc are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. These drivers are provided by Aris Entertainment as a public service. If you encounter any problems with them, please contact the specific manufacturer. Aris Entertainment disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.%
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CD-ROM Manufacturer
Driver Version Date:Driver Version Date::
buttonDown
buttonUp
buttonDown
getDriver
buttonUp
buttonUp
selectDriver
activeMIDI
DRIVERNAME
no driver selected and 535llion colors)4A
driverList
tonUp
buttonDown
buttonUp
keyDown
buttonUp
putDriverStuff
buttonDown
keyDown
putDriverStuff
buttonDown
keyDown
putDriverStuff
e:\wizsetup\chinon
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
copyToClipBd
Copy Path to Clipboard
Chinon, Models 435 and 535
Pioneer Multichanger
CDaudioTests
CD Audio Tests_
Wave Audio -- 11 kHz, 16-bit, stereo
Level 1 MPC--desirable; Level 2 MPC--required.
buttonDown
buttonUp
buttonDown
radiobutton
buttonUp
obutton
buttonUp
Stereo
Left Channel Only
Right Channel Only
Audio Outputls
playCD
Play CD Audio Track
go_CDaudioTips
Troubleshooting Tips
go_SoundTests
Return to Sound Tests
CD-ROM Drive Letter:
CD Audio Device Name:n:on:::::me:
Driver Version:
report
Information Reported by Your System:::::::
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mainText
About CD Audio
MPC Marketing Council specifications require all CD-ROM drives to play Red Book CD audio in addition to reading computer data. This means that with the right program (like Media Player, which comes with Windows 3.1), you should be able to pop your favorite music CD into your CD-ROM drive and play it from inside Windows.
Some computer programs issued on CD use CD audio to add narration or music. But when you put a mixed-mode CD into your CD-ROM drive and look at its file directory (perhaps through the Windows File Manager ), you won't see any sign of the CD audio tracks. That's because they're not computer files.
The sound quality of CD audio tracks on a mixed-mode CD is usually the same as your typical music CD
in other words, quite good. Each track contains two channels of information, usually referred to as the right and left channels. Multimedia publishers can use these tracks in two ways. They can use them to provide stereo sound, or they can store completely different audio information on each of them.
MPC specs require an output jack and volume control on the front panel of every MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive. This enables you to plug a set of headphones into your CD-ROM player
perhaps to enjoy some Bach while you're word processing at 2 a.m.
An MPC should provide the ability to mix a CD audio signal with wave and MIDI audio signals, and direct the output to a single stereo source line coming out of the back of your computer. Mixing capability is usually provided by a sound card that plugs into your computer's bus. The output jacks on the back of the CD-ROM are then connected to the sound card. The sound card mixes the combined audio signals and outputs them through a jack at the back of the card. You plug one end of a stereo cable into the jack, the other end into your amplifier and speaker system, and enjoy.
About the Information Reported by Your System
The CD-ROM Drive Letter is the letter that DOS has assigned the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard.
The CD Audio Device Name is the name that Windows assigned the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard when you first installed the driver [MCI] CD Audio for that drive. MCI stands for Media Control Interface . Through MCI, Windows provides a standard way for programs to easily control various types of media like CD, wave, and MIDI audio, digital video, videodiscs, etc. [MCI] CD Audio is installed via the Windows Control Panel .
About the CD Audio Tests
Click a button inside the Audio Output box to select the CD audio channel you wish to test. Click Stereo to play the CD audio track on the MPC Wizard through both channels. If your MPC is connected to a stereo system, you should clearly hear the stereo effect resulting from two distinct channels of audio information. Click Left Channel Only to hear the audio information recorded on the left channel. Click Right Channel Only to hear the audio information recorded on the right channel. Note that some CD-ROM players or audio mixers, when instructed to play one channel only, will send that channel through both of your speakers. Other CD-ROM players or audio mixers will play the left channel only through the left speaker, and the right channel only through the right speaker.
Click Play CD Audio Track to hear the CD audio recording on the MPC Wizard.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if you encounter a problem.
Click Return to Sound Tests to go back to the previous screen.n..
testingCDaudio
Testing your CD audio playback.
You should be hearing something!
Press Esc to abort test.
ayMidi
playPercLowEnd
leavePage
playPercHiEnd
cacheMelodicPatch
enterPage
cacheDrumPatch
playMidi
showSuccess
noMapper
sendMidiMsg
openMidi
translateFlag
wordVal
mciPlay
qmciPlay
checkMidiMsg
zmciPlay
ymciPlay
enterPage
pLastPatchNum
pLastKeyNum
playSound
svPatchNum
svKeyNum
svMidiEnteredBefore
leavePage
pLastPatchNum
pLastKeyNum
svPatchNum
svKeyNum
playMidi
openMidi
Failed
putTestResults
failed
driver
melodic
sendMidiMsg
checkMidiMsg
cacheMelodicPatch
uncache
cacheMelodicPatch
cache
sendMidiMsg
testingMidi
sendMidiMsg
checkMidiMsg
[cacheDrumPatch
uncache
[cacheDrumPatch
cache
checkForEsc
playPercLowEnd
AplayPercHiEnd
yieldApp
putTestResults
played
driver
testingMidi
MidiOutClose
melodic
bach.mid
mciPlay
failed
showSuccess
j:to1
vMIDIhandle
svPrevPatchCached
svPatchNum
svMidiTestedBefore
svPrevKeyCached
svKeyNum
fType
fInst
playPercLowEnd
sendMidiMsg
sendMidiMsg
sendMidiMsg
yieldApp
sendMidiMsg
fInst
fMIDIhandle
playPercHiEnd
sendMidiMsg
sendMidiMsg
sendMidiMsg
yieldApp
sendMidiMsg
fInst
fMIDIhandle
cacheMelodicPatch
getMemPointer
cache
midiOutCachePatches
midiOutCachePatches
freeMemory
vHandle
svPatchNum
svPrevPatchCached
fCache
fMIDIhandle
cacheDrumPatch
getMemPointer
cache
midiOutCacheDrumPatches
midiOutCacheDrumPatches
freeMemory
vHandle
svKeyNum
svPrevKeyCached
fCache
fMIDIhandle
showSuccess
The MIDI audio file played.
If you didn't hear it, or experienced any other problems, click the TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS button
after clicking OK.
NOTE: For your convenience, you will not see this message
again this session.
openMidi
globalAlloc
noGlobalMem
globalLock
midiOutOpen
failedMsgBox
Unable to open your MIDI device.
Problem
failedMsgBox
Unable to open your MIDI device.
Problem
There is no current MIDI map.
noMapper
A port in the current MIDI map doesn't exist.
noMapper
Failed
globalUnlock
globalFree
vReturn
vSuccess
lpStruct
hStruct
noMapper
Do you want to continue without the
MIDI mapper?
midiOutOpen
midiOutOpen
Failed
svNoMapper
fLpStruct
mciPlay
testingMidi
testsnd\
alias midiFile wait
tbkMCI
break midiFile on 27 wait
tbkMCI
play midiFile wait
tbkMCI
stop midiFile wait
tbkMCI
testingMidi
failed
failedMsgBox
tbkmmerrorstring
Click "Troubleshooting Tips" for possible causes after
clicking "OK."
played
close midiFile
tbkMCI
putTestResults
driver
vTestResult
vError
svCDdrive
fTestFile
checkMidiMsg
Specified device handle is invalid.
putTestResults
failed
driver
Error
The hardware is busy with other data.
Close other MIDI files, and try again.
putTestResults
failed
driver
Error
svCDdrive
fMsgRetValue
sendMidiMsg
globalAlloc
noGlobalMem
globalLock
midiOutShortMsg
globalUnlock
globalFree
vReturn
lpStruct
hStruct
fHiLo
fLoHi
fStatusByte
fMidiHandle
translateFlag
[no information available]
[no information available]
fUserPropVal
fValue
wordVal
[no information available]
fValue
qmciPlay
getMemPointer
midiOutGetID
failedMsgBox
Failed to obtain ID for MIDI output device.
failed
mciSendCommand
break sequencer on 27 wait
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
testsnd\
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
testsnd\
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
freeMemory
played
vTestResult
vDeviceID
vMIDIhandle
vHandle
svCDdrive
fTestFile
zmciPlay
getMemPointer
break sequencer on 27 wait
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
testsnd\
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
testsnd\
mciSendString
mciGetErrorString
freeMemory
played
vTestResult
vHandle
svCDdrive
fTestFile
ymciPlay
testingMidi
play fTestFile wait
tbkMCI
stop midiFile wait
tbkMCI
testingMidi
failed
failedMsgBox
tbkmmerrorstring
Click "Troubleshooting Tips" for possible causes after
clicking "OK."
played
putTestResults
driver
vTestResult
vError
svCDdrive
fTestFile
buttonUp
buttonUp
report
alias CDfile shareable wait
tbkMCI
right
set CDFile audio all off wait
tbkMCI
set CDFile audio
on wait
tbkMCI
set CDfile time format tmsf wait
tbkMCI
break CDfile on 27
tbkMCI
testingCDaudio
play CDfile from 2 wait
tbkMCI
stop CDfile wait
tbkMCI
testingCDaudio
failed
failedMsgBox
tbkmmerrorstring
Click TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS for possible causes after
MIDI is a standard computer language for electronic music synthesizers. It stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. There are some important advantages to storing music on MIDI files compared with either wave audio or CD audio. One advantage is that a MIDI file produced one day can be easily modified at a later date with the appropriate MIDI sequencer software. Another advantage, for both musicians and their audience, is the small amount of disc space that MIDI files take up compared with digitally-recorded music like wave or CD audio.
MPC specifications require that every MPC be equipped with a sequencer (music synthesizer) capable of playing back MIDI files authored according to a standard published by Microsoft. The standard, among other things, defines 128 musical instruments and 47 percussion instruments that every MIDI sequencer should try to support. This means, for example, that if a MIDI author writes a string quartet, every MPC should play that MIDI file using sounds designated as stringed
and not brass
instruments.
Instrument designations are based on the General MIDI Mode specification issued by the MIDI Manufacturers Association. Where support for all of these instruments is not feasible, a sequencer manufacturer should support at least one instrument from each of the sixteen "groups" of instruments detailed in the General MIDI Patch Assignments of the General MIDI Mode spec. The sequencer manufacturer can support these instruments and other requirements either at the hardware level, or by supplying its own "MIDI map" file that can be read by the MIDI Mapper included in Windows 3.1 or later.
About the MIDI Audio Tests
The MIDI audio tests let you know not only whether the MIDI sequencer portion of your MPC is working, but how good it is. The MPC Wizard CD contains a MIDI file that spans a four-octive range. By clicking the Select New Sound button in the Melodic Sounds & Sound Effects box, you can assign that MIDI file to any of the 128 standard musical instruments supported by your MPC. Instruments with a wide range (like pianos) will probably play all four octives well. Instruments with a more limited range will be low or silent during one part or another of the piece. Sequencers will vary in their ability to faithfully reproduce the 128 standard instruments. When you've selected the instrument you want to hear, its name will appear in the box. Click the Play Sound button to play the MIDI file.
You can also sample how well your MIDI sequencer reproduces the 47 percussive instruments by clicking the Select New Sound button in the Percussive Sounds box. When you've selected the instrument you want to hear, its name will appear in the box. Click the Play Sound button to play a short percussive sound.
Click the Troubleshooting Tips button if you encounter a problem.
Click the Return to Sound Tests button to choose another type of MPC-supported sound test.o Sound Tests button to choose another type of MPC-supported sound test.
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Stuff
enterPage
leavePage
putDriverStuff
DBerror
getDriver
deQuote
fillDisplayFields
getPath
XfillDisplayFields
padding
deQuote
fString
putDriverStuff
padding
findDBkey
<DBerror
driverName
wizPath
wizsetup\
fillDisplayFields
selectDriver
svCDdrive
svDBKeyWidth
svLastLine
fKeyName
enterPage
install
readingCD
drivbase\
openDBFile
<DBerror
setDBNavigateToDeleted
<DBerror
drivbase\
openDBIndexFile
<DBerror
getDBRecordCount
<DBerror
firstDBKey
<DBerror
DRIVERNAME
getDBFieldValue
driverList
nextDBKey
<DBerror
DRIVERNAME
getDBFieldValue
driverList
svDBkeyWidth
DRIVERNAME
getDBFieldWidth
firstDBKey
readingCD
selectDriver
vTotalRecords
vDBfileName
svDBKeyWidth
svBookPath
svCDdrive
leavePage
install
driverList
closeAllDBFiles
svDBKeyWidth
getPath
fTargetFile
fillDisplayFields
WIZPATH
getDBFieldValue
<DBerror
XfillDisplayFields
pDBfields
getDBFieldValue
<DBerror
INSTALLPRO
INSTALLPRO
Follow the standard MPC Wizard
driver installation procedure listed below.
INSTALLPRO
WIZPATH
vReturn
vField
vNames
padding
fString
DBerror
getDBErrorString
readingCD
An unknown error occured trying to accessing the database file.
PROBLEM: You get a message saying the wave audio file played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output , and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input . That's not the control you want.
The wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is at 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the discs that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are up high enough.
PROBLEM: Your wave audio device or device driver is not responding.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
No sound device is installed. A PC that conforms to MPC specifications must have a sound device. Microsoft makes available a driver called SPEAKER.DRV that plays back Windows system sounds through the PC's internal speaker without extra sound hardware. As of this writing, SPEAKER.DRV is not MPC-compatible and will not work with Aris Entertainment's MediaClips products.
You don't have an MPC-compatible sound device installed in your computer. Check to see whether your sound device's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible and supports waveform audio (.WAV) playback.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. Peripheral devices attached to a PC (like graphics boards, sound boards, and mice) usually can't share any of these settings. Some devices allow changing these settings via software, while others require you to re-set jumpers on the board itself. Unfortunately, many programs designed to detect which of these settings are in use on your system only detect devices that are active at the time the program is running. You might want to keep a list handy of the DMA, IRQ, and base I/O settings for each device on your system, so you can avoid headaches the next time you attempt to install a new peripheral device.
You must be particularly careful when setting sound devices, since many of them on the market use multiple IRQs, DMAs, or port I/O settings. For instance, one sound card on the market uses a special base I/O port for MIDI in addition to another, general one. In addition, some sound devices allow you to set a different DMA and IRQ for Windows and DOS.
You never installed the Windows sound driver for your sound device, or installed it incorrectly. A sound driver specifically for Windows and specifically for your brand of sound device must be installed, apart from any other installation you may have done to use your device in DOS. Installation procedures for these drivers vary from device to device. Check the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
You have the wrong Windows sound driver installed, or both the right and the wrong drivers installed. Remove the incorrect driver via the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Then, if need be, load the correct driver by following the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your sound device to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. Some Windows programs that incorporate sound don't use MCI, making it possible that you are able to hear some sounds in Windows (like system sounds) but not others (like the MPC Wizard's wave audio tests). To configure your sound device to work with MCI, follow these directions:
Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the Drivers icon. Click the Add button. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] Sound. Click OK to install it. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disc that contains the driver, so have your original Windows discs handy. Then shut down Windows, re-start it, run the MPC Wizard, and try the wave audio tests again.
You are missing the statement
WaveAudio=mciwave.drv
in the [MCI] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Type it on a new line.
You are missing the statement
wav=waveaudio
in the [MCI Extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. Type it on a new line.
You have other waveform sound programs running that are conflicting with the wave audio tests. There are several programs on the market that allow Windows users to attach specific sounds to specific Windows events. If a sound is attached to opening a file, and a wave file is being opened by MCI, the attached sound may clobber the sound file being opened. Some of these sound-attaching programs are clever enough to know not to play the attached sound when a wave file is being opened by MCI. Some are not so clever. If you are currently running one of these programs and are experiencing problems with the wave tests, exit the other program. You can load it again when you're finished using the MPC Wizard.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. See the discussion of this above.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
Microsoft makes available a driver called SPEAKER.DRV that plays back Windows system sounds through the PC's internal speaker without extra sound hardware. As of this writing, SPEAKER.DRV is not MPC-compatible and will NOT work with Aris MediaClips products. Some sound programs automatically install SPEAKER.DRV on your system if they fail to detect a sound device. This may have happened with your system if you installed such a program before you installed your sound device, or if your sound device was not set up correctly for use with Windows multimedia at the time you installed the program. To see whether SPEAKER.DRV is installed, run the Windows program called Control Panel , then double-click the Drivers icon. A list of currently-installed drivers will appear. Remove SPEAKER.DRV if you see it listed, re-start Windows, re-load the MPC Wizard, and try the wave audio tests again.
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
PROBLEM: You get the message Your sound device/driver does not support the options you've chosen .
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Not all sound devices support stereo in all the available sample rates and sizes. This message appears if you chose a combination of sample rate, size and output that your device or driver does not support.
PROBLEM: Wave audio sounds break up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your CD-ROM drive's data transfer rate is not compatible with the MPC standard. Find out by clicking the MPC Tests button on the left. Then click the CD-ROM Drive Tests button, and test your drive. An MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive should have a data-transfer rate of 150 kilobytes per second or greater without using more than 40% of your computer's CPU time.
You are testing the 16-bit, 44 kHz stereo file, and the hard disk that holds your Windows directory is fragmented. The 16-bit, 44 kHz stereo file was temporarily copied to your Windows directory when you first ran the test. A fragmented hard disk slows its effective data transfer rate. Run a disk defragmenting program (available with MS-DOS 6.0 and other third-party products), and try the test again.
The Windows sound driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
The amount of buffer memory that Windows allots for playing waveform audio is insufficient. Run the Windows program called Control Panel, then double-click the Drivers icon. Select the [MCI] Sound driver, then click the Setup button. Increase the buffer size to a point where the problem disappears.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive is insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE, increase its /M parameter to between 12 and 20. MSCDEX.EXE is probably loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, so go into the latter with a text editor (like Notepad) and make the change.
Your CD-ROM drive is defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: Wave audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing MIDI or CD audio sounds
not wave sounds
and there is a problem with your setup for MIDI or CD audio. Run the CD Audio and MIDI tests to see whether this is true.
The statement wav=waveaudio is missing from the [mci extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. This statement associates all files having a .wav file extension with the wave audio sound driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad ) to insert the statement.
PROBLEM: The quality of the sounds are poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. If a device's maximum playback rate is 8-bit, 11.025 kHz, the sound will never be as good as a commercial CD audio recording even if your sound system is superb. If your sound board produces 16-bit, 44.1 kHz sound but your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
You have a 16-bit device, but you are not using a 16-bit DMA channel. Devices that provide 16-bit sound usually allow you to set your device to one of the 16-bit DMA settings. The 16-bit DMA settings are 5, 6, and 7. Note that some PCs cannot use 16-bit DMA settings properly.
8:PHYSSIZE
<:PHYSSIZE
h=:PHYSSIZE
$>:PHYSSIZE
>:PHYSSIZE
d?:PHYSSIZE
go_WaveTest
Return to Wave Audio Test
waveTips
MIDItips
enterPage
enterPage
go_midiTest2
go_midiTest2
MIDI Troubleshooting Tips
Wave Audio -- 44 kHz, 8-bit, mono
Level 1 MPC--recommended; Level 2 MPC--required.
mainText
PROBLEM: You get a message saying the MIDI audio file played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output , and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input . That's not the control you want.
The MIDI sequencer or master volume control in your sound mixer is at 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the discs that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are up high enough.
Your MIDI sequencer doesn't support the instrument(s) you're trying to play. MPC-compatible MIDI sequencers are only required to support one instrument from each musical group in the General MIDI patch assignments. To see a list of these groups, click the Select New Sound button in the Melodic Sounds & Sound Effects box. There are no requirements for percussion instruments.
You are not using the MIDI map file that came with your sound device. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG , is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own. This replacement MIDIMAP.CFG file is usually copied to the /SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run the manufacturer's Windows installation program. Check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer to find out how to re-run their installation program.
You are using an Advanced Gravis UltraSound
sound board, or another sound board that caches MIDI patches. There is a known conflict between our method of playing a melodic sound or sound effect and the Advanced Gravis sound driver. Try playing a .MID file in the Microsoft Windows Media Player application that comes with Windows 3.1 (usually found in the Accessories program group of Program Manager). Do not use the BACH.MID file on the MPC Wizard CD, as this is a special MIDI file. If the file you selected plays in Media Player, then you know that the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI) is able to play a MIDI file.
Your MIDI Mapper settings are not correct. To change them, run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon. Read the on-line help instructions for the program, and try to correct your settings. Unless you know what you're doing, altering the settings could make matters worse. If you do attempt it, jot down your original settings in case you need to go back to them.
The volume in the MIDI Mapper is not set correctly. To find out whether this is the case, run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon. Click the Setups radio button, then click the Edit button. Look under the Patch Map Name column. If all the rows under the column say [None], then you are not using any patch maps, and MIDI Mapper volume is not your problem. In this case you can cancel out of the MIDI Mapper and the Control Panel programs.
If any of the rows under the Patch Map Name column indicate you are using patch maps, note the name of the patch map(s), and click the Cancel button to return to the previous window. Then click the Patch Maps radio button, click the down arrow button, choose one of the patch maps you are using, and click the Edit button. Look at the Volume % column. The default setting for all instruments is 100. If yours is less, try increasing the volume for each instrument. To do so, click the box that contains the number you wish to change. Then type in a new number or use the arrow buttons that appear. When you're finished, click the OK button. Repeat these instructions for every other patch map you are using, then exit the MIDI Mapper and the Control Panel.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
PROBLEM: The instruments don't sound like they should.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your sound device doesn't faithfully reproduce some or all instruments. There is no definition in the MPC specs of how an instrument should sound. Some sound devices will sound more realistic than others. Those that use sampled sounds to recreate instruments will generally sound better than those that don't. Sampled sounds, in this context, are digitized recordings of each instrument stored in the sound board's ROM (read-only memory) chip, or on your hard disk.
You are not using the MIDI map file that came with your sound device. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG , is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own. This replacement MIDIMAP.CFG file is usually copied to the /SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run the manufacturer's Windows installation program. Check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer to find out how to re-run their installation program.
Your MIDI Mapper settings are not correct. To change them, run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon. Read the on-line help instructions for the program, and try to correct your settings. Unless you know what you're doing, altering the settings could make matters worse. If you do attempt it, jot down your original settings in case you need to go back to them.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
PROBLEM: A message appears saying that the file may not play correctly with the default MIDI setup.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A standard MIDI file specifies what instrument(s) it wants the music to sound like. The test MIDI file on the MPC Wizard CD does not, and leaves that choice to you. This may cause a warning notice to appear on some systems. If the MIDI file plays after you click the OK button, click the Don't display this warning in future checkbox the next time you get this notice, and you will not see the message again this session. If the MIDI file doesn't play, see the other troubleshooting tips on this screen.
PROBLEM: Your sequencer device or device driver is not responding.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You don't have an MPC-compatible sound device installed in your computer. Check to see whether your sound device's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible and supports MIDI audio (.MID) playback.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. Peripheral devices attached to a PC (like graphics boards, sound boards, and mice) usually can't share any of these settings. Some devices allow changing these settings via software, while others require you to re-set jumpers on the board itself. Unfortunately, many programs designed to detect which of these settings are in use on your system only detect devices that are active at the time the program is running. You might want to keep a list handy of the DMA, IRQ, and base I/O settings for each device on your system, so you can avoid headaches the next time you attempt to install a new peripheral device.
You must be particularly careful when setting sound boards, since many of them on the market use multiple IRQs, DMAs, or port I/O settings. For instance, one sound card on the market uses a special base I/O port for MIDI in addition to another, general one. In addition, some sound devices allow you to set different DMAs and IRQs for Windows and DOS.
You never installed the Windows MIDI Sequencer driver for your sound device, or installed it incorrectly. A MIDI Sequencer driver specifically for Windows and specifically for your brand of sound device must be installed, apart from any other installation you may have done to use your device in DOS. Installation procedures for these drivers vary from device to device. Check the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
You have the wrong Windows MIDI Sequencer driver installed, or both the right and the wrong drivers installed. Remove the incorrect driver via the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Then, if need be, load the correct driver by following the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your MIDI sequencer device to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. Some Windows programs that incorporate MIDI sound don't use MCI. To configure your MIDI sequencer device to work with MCI, follow these directions:
Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the Drivers icon. Click the Add button. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] MIDI Sequencer. Click OK to install it. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disc that contains the driver, so have your original Windows discs handy. Then shut down Windows, re-start it, run the MPC Wizard, and try the MIDI audio tests again.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. See the discussion of this above.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disc directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: You get a message saying there is no current MIDI map, or there is a problem with your MIDI mapper.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never installed the MIDI Mapper driver. This driver is needed in addition to the device-specific MIDI driver and [MCI] MIDI Sequencer drivers mentioned above. Follow these directions to install it:
Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the Drivers icon. Click the Add button. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click MIDI Mapper. Click OK to install it. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disc that contains the driver, so have your original Windows discs handy. Then shut down Windows, re-start it, run the MPC Wizard, and try the MIDI audio tests again.
There is no MIDI map file for the MIDI Mapper to read, or the file is corrupt. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG , is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1 or greater. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own, and copy it to the /SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run their installation program. Check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer to find out how to re-run their installation program.
Your MIDI sequencer already complies with the Microsoft MIDI guidelines, and does not require a mapper. This may be the case if your MIDI sounds are acceptable in spite of the absence of the mapper.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
PROBLEM: MIDI audio sounds break up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your CD-ROM drive's data transfer rate is not compatible with the MPC standard. Find out by clicking the MPC Tests button on the left. Then click the CD-ROM Drive Tests button, and test your drive. An MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive should have a data-transfer rate of 150 kilobytes per second or greater without using more than 40% of your computer's CPU time.
The Windows MIDI sequencer driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the MIDI sequencer driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive is insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE, increase its /M parameter to between 12 and 20. MSCDEX.EXE is probably loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, so go into the latter with a text editor (like Notepad) and make the change.
Your CD-ROM drive is defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: Sound quality is poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. If you have an inexpensive MIDI sequencer, the sound will never be as good as a commercial CD audio recording of synthesized music even if your sound system is superb. If your MIDI sequencer is the finest money can buy but your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
You have a 16-bit device, but you are not using a 16-bit DMA channel. Devices that provide 16-bit sound usually allow you to set your device to one of the 16-bit DMA settings. The 16-bit DMA settings are 5, 6, and 7. Note that some PCs cannot use 16-bit DMA settings properly.
The Windows sound driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Install Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
PROBLEM: MIDI audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing wave or CD audio sounds
not MIDI sounds
and there is a problem with your setup for wave or CD audio. Run the CD Audio and wave tests to see whether this is true.
The statements mid=sequencer and rmi=sequencer are missing from the [mci extensions] section of yourWIN.INI file. These statements associate all files having .mid and .rmi file extensions with the MIDI audio sound driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad ) to insert the statements.statements.statements.ble Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing wave or CD audio sounds
not MIDI sounds
and there is a problem with your setup for wave or CD audio. Run the CD Audio and wave tests to see whether this is true.
The statements mid=sequencer and rmi=sequencer are missing from the [mci extensions] section of yourWIN.INI file. These statements associate all files having .mid and .rmi file extensions with the MIDI audio sound driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad ) to insert the statements.
PROBLEM: You get a message saying the CD audio track played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output , and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input . That's not the control you want.
The wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is at 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the discs that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are up high enough.
Your CD-ROM drive is not connected to your sound device, or not connected properly. To see whether this is the case, plug a pair of headphones into the appropriate jack on the front panel of your drive. Then try the CD Audio Tests again. If you hear what you're supposed to hear through your headphones, but not through your speakers, you've probably found your problem. Every MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive has one or more audio output jacks in back of it. Obtain the correct cable from the manufacturer or the dealer who sold you the drive. Then plug one end of the cable into the drive's jack, and the other end into the appropriate jack on your sound device.
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be fully compatible with the Windows multimedia interface.
PROBLEM: You get the message No CD audio devices are installed.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your CD-ROM drive to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. To do so, follow these directions:
Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the Drivers icon. Click the Add button. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] CD Audio. Click OK to install it. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disc that contains the driver, so have your original Windows discs handy. Then shut down Windows, re-start it, run the MPC Wizard, and come back to the CD Audio Test screen. The name that Windows assigned to your drive should be indicated in the appropriate area of the Information Reported by Your System box.
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
PROBLEM: You get the messageThe specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your CD-ROM drive to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. To do so, follow these directions:
Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager ). Double-click the Drivers icon. Click the Add button. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] CD Audio. Click OK to install it. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disc that contains the driver, so have your original Windows discs handy. Then shut down Windows, re-start it, run the MPC Wizard, and come back to the CD Audio Test screen. The name that Windows assigned to your drive should be indicated in the appropriate area of the Information Reported by Your System box.
The MCI CD Audio driver is not installed correctly. Playing CD audio through MCI requires a special statement in the [MCI] section of the Windows SYSTEM.INI file. The statement must follow the following format:
devicename=mcicda.drv int
where devicename stands for the name of the CD audio device assigned by Windows, mcicda.drv is the MCI CD Audio driver file, and int stands for an integer that appears only when a system has multiple CD-ROMs attached to it. The integer indicates the CD-ROM device to which the device name is referring. A CD audio statement that refers to the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard is missing, or not in a valid format. Re-install the MCI CD Audio driver as outlined in the previous solution.
PROBLEM: You get the message The MCI CD audio driver is not installed for drive __, or is not installed correctly.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The drive that the MPC Wizard was launched from is not configured to play CD Audio through the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI), although there is another CD-ROM drive on the system that is configured to do so. If this is the case, you have one of two choices.
You can run the MPC Wizard in the CD-ROM drive that is configured to play CD Audio through MCI. In this case just exit the MPC Wizard, put the CD in the configured drive, and re-run the Wizard.
You can also configure the drive that the Wizard is in to play CD Audio. To do this, run the Windows Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of the Program Manager ). Double-click on Drivers, select [MCI] CD Audio, and click Setup. You should be given the choice of two or more drives. Drive 0 represents the first CD-ROM drive letter installed on your system, drive 1 represents the second, etc. Choose the appropriate number, then click OK.
The MCI CD Audio driver is not installed correctly. The MPC Wizard looks in the [MCI] section of the Windows SYSTEM.INI file for information about the CD audio devices installed. A CD audio statement in the MCI section must follow the following format:
devicename=mcicda.drv int
where devicename stands for the name of the CD audio device assigned by Windows, mcicda.drv is the MCI CD Audio driver file, and int stands for an integer that appears only when a system has multiple CD-ROMs attached to it. The integer indicates the CD-ROM device to which the device name is referring. A CD audio statement that refers to one of your CD-ROM drives is not in a valid format. Re-install the MCI CD Audio driver as outlined in the previous problem.
PROBLEM: You get the message Drive __ is no longer valid .
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
You have an old version of MSCDEX.EXE. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROM discs, and is referred to as the MSDOS CD-ROM Extensions . You must be using version 2.2 or greater. If you are running Windows 3.1 or greater, then you should be using MSCDEX.EXE Version 2.21 or greater. The CD-ROM Drive Tests screen reports the version you are currently using. MSCDEX.EXE files that have a file date before February, 1992 are older than version 2.21. To update your version contact your drive manufacturer. You can also purchase MSDOS 6.0, which comes with MSCDEX.
You are using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater and you have the statement device=LANMAN10.386 in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Remove this statement. It is only needed with versions of MSCDEX.EXE earlier than 2.2.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive is insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE , increase its /M parameter (try somewhere between 12 and 20). If you load MSCDEX.EXE automatically from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so go into AUTOEXEC.BAT with a text editor (likeWindows Notepad ) and make the change.
The CD-ROM drive that contained the MPC Wizard disc when you opened this program has been disconnected. Exit this program, exit Windows, turn off your MPC, and reconnect the CD-ROM drive. Then re-enter Windows and run the MPC Wizard again.
Your CD-ROM drive is not installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
Your CD-ROM drive is defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: You get the message The device is already open, use the
shareable
flag with each
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A CD-ROM drive serves two purposes in an MPC. It serves as a very large, read-only disk drive, and it also serves as an audio device controlled by the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI). As an audio device, it can be opened for playback by any Windows program. When a program opens a CD audio device it can, if it prefers, maintain exclusive control of the device for audio playback purposes until it decides to relinquish that control. It can also allow the device to be shared by other applications.
Another Windows program has opened the CD-ROM drive that contains the MPC Wizard for audio playback purposes, and it is holding it exclusively. Close the other application(s), and re-try the test.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The MPC Wizard CD is not in the same CD-ROM drive that it was in when the program was launched. Put the CD into the original drive, and re-try the test.
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
See the causes/solutions listed under the problem Drive __ is no longer valid .
PROBLEM: CD audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing MIDI or wave audio sounds
not CD audio sounds
and there is a problem with your setup for MIDI or wave audio. Run the wave and MIDI tests to see whether this is true.
PROBLEM: The quality of the sounds are poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. The quality of sound reproduced by your CD-ROM drive should rival an audio-only CD player. But if your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art. your setup for MIDI or wave audio. Run the wave and MIDI tests to see whether this is true.
PROBLEM: The quality of the sounds are poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. The quality of sound reproduced by your CD-ROM drive should rival an audio-only CD player. But if your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
x/F-s/J
testCD
CD-ROM Drive Testsc
CD-ROM Drive Transfer Rate (40% CPU Time)
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--150 kb/second.
mainText
About the Information Reported by Your System
The CD-ROM Drive Letter is the letter that DOS has assigned the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard.
Version of MSCDEX reports the version of the file MSCDEX.EXE you are currently using. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROM discs. It is sometimes referred to as the MSDOS CD-ROM Extensions. For your computer to be MPC-compatible, it must be running version 2.2 or greater of these extensions.
About the CD-ROM Drive Tests
1/3-Stroke Average Seek Time. MPC Level 1 specifications state that a CD-ROM drive must have an average seek time of 1000 milliseconds (1 second) or less. The standard for MPC Level 2 is 400 milliseconds or less. A drive's seek time is the time it takes its read head to move to a specific location on the disc. The 1/3-stroke seek test is the traditional seek test for disc drives, and the one used most often by CD drive manufacturers to rate their drives. The test performs a series of seeks that are equivalent to 1/3 the distance across the disc. The first seek starts at the beginning of the disc. The next seek starts a set increment after the beginning of the last seek. This pattern continues until the starting position equals the CD's half-way point, at which point the seek times are averaged.
Data Transfer Rate (100%). This is the rate at which your drive reads data off of a CD. Because your CPU (the "brains" of your computer) is allowed to devote 100% of its spare time to this test, the results are "best-case." Level 2-compatible drives must perform at 300 kilobytes per second or greater. There is no specification for Level 1 drives at 100% of CPU time. The data is read in 16-kilobyte sequential chunks.
Data Transfer Rate (40 & 60%). These tests are similar to the previous one, except that they force your CPU to devote only part of its time to reading data off of the CD. Two tests are performed in succession. The first one allows your CPU to spend 40% of its time reading data from the MPC Wizard CD. In order for your CD-ROM drive to be Level 1 MPC-compatible, it should read at least 150 kilobytes of data per second directly off of a CD for a sustained period of time while using 40% of your CPU's time. Drives with a significantly lower rate than 150 kilobytes/second will probably cause sound, motion video, and animation to "break up" when you play such files directly off of a CD.
The second test allows your CPU to spend 60% of its time reading data off of the MPC Wizard CD. Level 2 MPC specifications require that your CD-ROM drive be able to read data at a sustained rate of 300 kilobytes per second. However, they only recommend that it do this given a maximum of 60% of the CPU's time.
Please note:
Test results are approximate.
The faster your drive, the shorter the tests. Slow drives may take
several minutes to perform one or more tests.
Your mouse cursor will disappear while the tests are performed.
Click the appropriate button below to run a test.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if your drive doesn't perform adequately.y... your CPU to spend 60% of its time reading data off of the MPC Wizard CD. Level 2 MPC specifications require that your CD-ROM drive be able to read data at a sustained rate of 300 kilobytes per second. However, they only recommend that it do this given a maximum of 60% of the CPU's time.
Please note:
Test results are approximate.
The faster your drive, the shorter the tests. Slow drives may take
several minutes to perform one or more tests.
Your mouse cursor will disappear while the tests are performed.
Click the appropriate button below to run a test.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if your drive doesn't perform adequately.appear while the tests are performed.
Click the appropriate button below to run a test.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if your drive doesn't perform adequately.m adequately.
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
CD-ROM Drive Letter:
Version of MSCDEX:
XA-Compatible Driver:
Supports Interleaving:-CD Compatible:
report
CD-ROM Drive Information Reported by Your System:ng information:
Average Seek Time Tests
buttonUp
buttonUp
3seek
testCD
putTestResults
firstPage
1/3-STROKE SEEK TIME TEST COMPLETED
MPC LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENT:
1000 ms or less
MPC LEVEL 2 REQUIREMENT:
400 ms or less
YOUR DRIVE'S RESULT:
Please note: Test results are approximate.
(tTestResults
firstPage
1/3-STROKE SEEK TIME TEST COMPLETED
MPC LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENT:
1000 ms or less
MPC LEVEL 2 REQUIREMENT:
400 ms or less
YOUR DRIVE'S RESULT:
Please note: Test results are approximate.
1/3-Stroke
go_CDROMtips
Troubleshooting Tips
Data Transfer Rate Tests
buttonUp
buttonUp
tranRate100
testCD
putTestResults
kb/sec
whatsMPC
DATA TRANSFER RATE TEST (100% OF CPU TIME) COMPLETED
MPC Level 1 Requirement:
150 kb/sec.
MPC Level 2 Requirement:
300 kb/sec.
Your drive's result:
kb/sec.
Please note: Test results are approximate.
#F-esults
kb/sec
whatsMPC
DATA TRANSFER RATE TEST (100% OF CPU TIME) COMPLETED
MPC Level 1 Requirement:
150 kb/sec.
MPC Level 2 Requirement:
300 kb/sec.
Your drive's result:
kb/sec.
Please note: Test results are approximate.
buttonUp
buttonUp
tranRate40
testCD
tranRate60
testCD
putTestResults
kb/sec
testCD
putTestResults
kb/sec
MPCtests
DATA TRANSFER RATE TEST (40 AND 60% OF CPU TIME) COMPLETED
MPC LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS:
150 kilobytes/second or greater,
using 40% of CPU time.
MPC LEVEL 2 RECOMMENDATIONS:
300 kilobytes/second or greater,
using 60% of CPU time.
YOUR DRIVE'S RESULTS:
kilobytes/second, using 40% of CPU time.
kilobytes/second, using 60% of CPU time.
Please note: Test results are approximate.
vTranRate60
vTranRate40
DATA TRANSFER RATE TEST (40 AND 60% OF CPU TIME) COMPLETED
PROBLEM: Your drive isn't up to spec on either the 1/3-Stroke Average Seek Time Test or the MPC Data Transfer Rate Test.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your CD-ROM drive may not be MPC-compatible. This is likely if you purchased your drive prior to 1992. Check to see whether your CD-ROM drive's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible. Also check what the manufacturer claims is the average access time and data transfer rate for the drive.
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or with a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. A CD-ROM drive that is mechanically capable of meeting or exceeding MPC specifications may nonetheless perform poorly because of an inadequate or old driver. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
You may have an old version of MSCDEX.EXE. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROM discs, and is referred to as the MSDOS CD-ROM Extensions . You must be using version 2.2 or greater. If you are running Windows 3.1 or greater, then you should be using MSCDEX.EXE Version 2.21 or greater. The CD-ROM drive Tests screen reports the version you are currently using. MSCDEX.EXE files that have a file date before February, 1992 are older than version 2.21. To update your version, contact your drive manufacturer.
You are using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater and you have the statement device=LANMAN10.386 in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Remove the statement. It is only needed with versions of MSCDEX.EXE earlier than 2.2.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive may be insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE, increase its /M: parameter. The higher the number, the larger the buffer (and the more memory you use up). Usually a number between 12 and 20 is sufficient. Since you probably load MSCDEX.EXE automatically from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, go into AUTOEXEC.BAT with a text editor (like Notepad ) and make the change.
Your CD-ROM controller card may be inadequate. CD-ROM drives are typically connected to PCs through either a SCSI card or a proprietary card supplied by the drive manufacturer. The quality of these cards can have a significant impact on the performance of your CD-ROM drive. Unfortunately, there is probably no solution to the problem of an inadequate controller card except to replace it with a better one. Note however that if your controller card is proprietary, you may not even have this option. In all cases, if you suspect your controller card, call your drive or computer dealer to enquire about possible replacements or ROM updates before you purchase a new card.
Your MPC Wizard CD may be dirty or damaged. Examine the side of the disc that has no printing on it. If it is dirty, clean it and try the tests again.
You can also try using another CD-ROM disc with the data transfer rate tests ONLY (the seek time test requires the MPC Wizard disc). To ensure that test results are accurate, make sure the disc you choose has at least 500 mb of data on it.
Your CD-ROM drive may be defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: The CD-ROM tests never end!
Possible Causes/Solutions:
"Old," non-MPC-compatible CD-ROM drives (typically those made prior to 1992) often have very slow access times and transfer rates, making the tests seem interminable.
You have an old or bad copy of either MSCDEX.EXE or your CD-ROM driver. See the discussion of MSCDEX.EXE and CD-ROM drivers above.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
Your CD-ROM drive may be defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you...... you.
Level 1 MPC--350,000 pixels/second recommended.U time recommended
mainText
About the Color Capability Test
Click the Color Capability button to find out how many colors you can display on your screen simultaneously. Even though your computer system may be capable of displaying more than 16 colors, the Windows display driver that you're using may not be taking advantage of this capability.
Level 1 MPC specifications require a minimum screen resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and 16 simultaneous colors. 256 simultaneous colors at the same resolution is recommended. All the pictures in Aris Entertainment's Media Clips programs were meant to be viewed with a graphics display driver capable of displaying at least 256 simultaneous colors at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Level 2 MPC specifications require 640 x 480 pixels and 65,536 simultaneous colors.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if you experience any difficulties.
adequate. can display bitmapped graphic images on your screen. The test loads eighteen 256-color bitmap files into RAM, then times your system as it displays one image after another as rapidly as possible using 100% of your CPU's time. The MPC Marketing Council recommends that 256-color VGA adapters in Level 1 MPC computers write at least 350,000 pixels to your screen per second given 100% of CPU time, and 140,000 pixels per second given 40% of CPU time. The recommended bitmap display speed for 256-color VGA adaptors in Level 2 MPC computers is 1,200,000 pixels per second, given 40% of CPU time.
Click Troubleshooting Tips if your graphics performance isn't
adequate.ate.s performance isn't
adequate..
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
colorTest
Color Capability
go_Graphicstips
Troubleshooting Tips
buttonUp
buttonUp
displaybitsperpixel
failedMsgBox
Unable to determine the color depth
of your Windows graphics driver.
Problem
test failed
displayColorPlanes
less than 256
putTestResults
colors
CDROMtips
no256
The Windows graphics driver currently installed can display
either 32,768 or 65,536 colors on your screen simultaneously.
32,768 or 65,536
The Windows graphics driver currently installed can display
up to
colors on your screen simultaneously.
putTestResults
colors
CDROMtips
eatClicks
vResult
tDLLs
checkDLL
startUp
killMenus
enterPage
noMME
getDefaultPaths
startDLLs
checkWinVersion
isNewTBKfile
pathErrorMsgs
setDefaultTargetPath
enterPage
ZstartUp
svBookEntered
startUp
killMenus
startDLLs
tbkmmloadextensions
tbkmmerrorstring
screenFromPage
getDefaultPaths
checkWinVersion
SetCallerWindow
vOffset
svTextFile
s_mmdevices
svWinSize
startDLLs
kernel
getDriveType
SetErrorMode
GetPrivateProfileString
WritePrivateProfileString
GetPrivateProfileInt
GetTempDrive
GetTempFileName
GetWindowsDirectory
GetVersion
globalAlloc
globalFree
globalLock
globalUnlock
McheckDLL
kernel
IsIconic
IsZoomed
SetWindowPos
FindWindow
GetWindowWord
PeekMessage
GetClientRect
MessageBeep
MessageBox
McheckDLL
mmsystem.dll
TimeGetTime
waveOutGetDevCaps
midiOutGetDevCaps
midiOutGetNumDevs
midiOutCacheDrumPatches
midiOutGetID
midiOutShortMsg
midiOutOpen
midiOutClose
mciSendCommand
noMME
tbkmm.dll
tbkmmloadextensions
tbkmmversion
tbkmmerrorstring
tbkMCI
tbkTimerStart
tbkTimerStop
tbkTimerCapability
MilliSecFromMSF
MilliSecFromHMS
MilliSecFromSMPTE
MSFFromMilliSec
HMSFromMilliSec
SMPTEFromMilliSec
McheckDLL
tbkmm.dll
tbkwin.dll
YieldApp
xUnitsFromPixels
yUnitsFromPixels
screenFromPage
clientFromPage
displayBitsPerPixel
popMenu
displayColorPlanes
McheckDLL
tbkwin.dll
tbkfile.dll
getDriveList
getCurrentDrive
fileExists
getCurrentDirectory
removeFile
copyFile
getFreeDiskSpace
getFileList
getFileSize
McheckDLL
tbkfile.dll
tbkdlg.dll
dialog
setValue
getValue
McheckDLL
tbkdlg.dll
tbkdb3.dll
openDBFile
findDBkey
setDBNavigateToDeleted
openDBIndexFile
getDBFieldValue
getDBErrorString
closeAllDBfiles
getDBRecordCount
getDBFieldValue
nextDBKey
firstDBKey
getDBFieldWidth
getDBKeyValue
McheckDLL
tbkdb3.dll
save.dll
SaveAsDialog
McheckDLL
save.dll
aris.dll
mscdexVer
textToClipboard
getLoWord
getHiWord
getLoByte
getHiByte
McheckDLL
aris.dll
cdtest.dll
TestRawThrough
TestMPCThrough
TestMPCThrough2
ReadDiscStartEnd
SetCallerWindow
EnableProgressWin
ReadDriveStatus
NameProgressWin
TestThirdSeek
McheckDLL
cdtest.dll
checkDLL
The file "
" can't be found.
Copy it either to the hard disk directory where this program resides,
or to any directory on the DOS path, and try running "The MPC Wizard" again.
killMenus
File,Edit,Text,Page,Object,Draw,Window,Help
File,Edit,Text,Page,Help
vReaderList
vAuthorList
noMME
The Multimedia Extensions to Windows are not installed, or not
installed properly.
"The MPC Wizard" can't run without them.
getDefaultPaths
SetErrorMode
getBookPath
isNewTBKfile
getDriveList
isCDDrive
getDriveType
getDriveType
:\wizard.tbk
fileExists
fileExists
SetErrorMode
pathErrorMsgs
pathErrorMsgs
Retry
getDefaultPaths
setDefaultTargetPath
pathErrorMsgs
vDrive
vDriveList
vFirstFixedDisk
vIsCD
svCDdrive
svDefaultTargetPath
svBookPath
svTextFile
checkWinVersion
GetVersion
getLoWord
getLoByte
getHiByte
You are running in Windows
, but this
program was designed to be run in Windows 3.1.
You may experience problems if you decide to continue.
What do you want to do?
Continue
Continue
vLoWord
isNewTBKfile
tbkfile.dll
isCDDrive
getCDDriveList
pathErrorMsgs
An older version of the file TBKFILE.DLL is in directory
, or elsewhere in your path.
Replace your old TBKFILE.DLL file with the newer one on "
" CD, and run "
" again.
The "
" CD is not in your CD-ROM drive.
Put the CD into your drive and click "Retry," or click "Exit"
to leave this program.
Retry
An older version of the file TBKFILE.DLL is in directory
, or elsewhere in your path.
When you are finished using "
," replace your old
TBKFILE.DLL file with the newer one on "
" CD.
vBook
svBookPath
fWhich
setDefaultTargetPath
getCurrentDrive
getCurrentDirectory
vSlash
svCDdrive
fFirstFixedDisk
graphicsTests
graphicsTips
enterPage
enterPage
go_graphicsTests
go_graphicsTests
Color Troubleshooting Tipsips
Wave Audio -- 11 kHz, 8-bit, mono
passed
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--required.
mainText
PROBLEM: The color capability test reports that Windows can only display 16 colors simultaneously.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your graphics device doesn't support more than 16 colors in VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution. Devices that can support 256 colors in VGA resolution must have at least 512KB of video RAM (as opposed to system RAM). Devices with 256KB of RAM can display 256 colors only in MCGA mode, which has a resolution of 320 x 200 pixels. Many DOS programs use this mode to display photographs. However, because of its low resolution, MCGA mode is not MPC-compatible. Some devices support a non-standard resolution of 640 x 400 pixels in 256 colors. This mode is also not up to MPC specs. Many graphics devices that have only 256KB of video RAM can be upgraded to 512KB or more. Check your documentation to see if this is possible, or ask the retailer who sold you the device.
You are using the standard Windows 16-color graphics display driver. Windows 3.0 and 3.1 don't come with 256-color drivers for most graphics devices. When you first install one of these versions of Windows on a computer with VGA graphics capability, the Setup program defaults to the standard 16-color VGA driver. All the pictures in Aris Entertainment's Media Clips programs, however, were meant to be viewed with a graphics driver capable of displaying at least 256 colors at VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution. If you're sure that your device is capable of displaying at this resolution and color depth, click the Install Driver button on the left to locate and install the appropriate graphics driver.
PROBLEM: You get Windows System Errors or General Protection Faults when you run in 256 colors or more.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your graphics driver isn't the right one for the version of Windows you are running. Make sure that if you're running Windows 3.1, you are using a driver specifically written for Windows 3.1. Many 3.0 drivers are highly unstable when used with version 3.1, and should not be run with it. The MPC Wizard contains graphics drivers for most of the major graphics devices on the market today. Click the Install Driver button on the left to locate and install the appropriate graphics driver for your device.
Your graphics driver is defective. See if the MPC Wizard has an appropriate driver that's later than the one you are using. Click the Install Driver button on the left, and go to the Graphics Drivers screen.
You are using Quarterdeck's QEMM386.SYS, Microsoft's EMM386.EXE, or another expanded memory manager, and your graphics device is conflicting with it. Add an EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the memory manager in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your VGA device. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You can accomplish the same result (effective in Windows only) by adding the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file:
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
This statement prevents Windows from using the area of memory C400 to C7FF. C400 and C7FF are hexidecimal (base 16) numbers. To block a different area of memory, change the hexidecimal number range.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete the color capability test.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation... graphics device is usually a card that plugs into your computer's bus, but increasingly the device is being built right on the motherboard.
All other factors being equal, the faster your CPU (the "brains" of your computer), the faster your graphics performance. A 386 33mHz CPU is faster than a 386 25mHz CPU. A 486 33mHz CPU is faster than a 386 33mHz CPU.
All other factors being equal, a graphics device that is connected to your computer via the standard AT 8mhz, 16-bit wide ISA bus will be slower than a version of that device made expressly for computers that have a 32-bit wide EISA bus. Similarly, a version of that graphics device connected to the local bus of your computer would out-perform the other two devices, since the local bus runs near or at the speed and data width of your CPU.
All other factors being equal, a graphics device that relieves the CPU of some of its work placing bitmapped pictures on the screen will out-perform one that doesn't. Many devices that are meant to accelerate Windows screen-drawing may not perform any better on the Bitmap Display Speed Test than a non-accelerated device. This is probably because the Windows accelerator device only speeds the drawing of vector graphics, not bitmapped graphics. Vector graphics are screen objects like windows, dialog boxes, buttons, etc. These objects are stored in files as mathematical relationships. Bitmap files (like those containing photographs) store the color of each pixel of the image. Since many multimedia applications display bitmapped images (including Aris Entertainment's MediaClips series), this test is included.
Poor graphics performance can also be caused by using a graphics driver that is inappropriate for the version of Windows you are running. Make sure that if you're running Windows 3.1, you are using a driver specifically written for Windows 3.1. Some drivers written for version 3.0 work, but work poorly on version 3.1. Many are highly unstable, and should not be run at all. The MPC Wizard contains graphics drivers for most of the major graphics devices on the market today. Click the Install Driver button on the left to locate and install the appropriate graphics driver for your device.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.ion.n.default installation................
:PHYSSIZE
#:PHYSSIZE
#:PHYSSIZE
X$:PHYSSIZE
%:PHYSSIZE
%:PHYSSIZE
go_GraphicsTests
Return to Color Capability Test
graphicsTips
soundTests
enterPage
enterPage
go_CDaudioTests
go_CDaudioTests
Sound Tests
Wave Audio -- 11 kHz, 8-bit, stereo
mainText
A multimedia PC must be capable of playing back sounds
stored in three different audio formats. Find out whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications by clicking one of the
following buttons below.
CD Audio Tests. You're probably familiar with this format
it's standard CD audio (known in the trade as Red Book audio ). The MPC Wizard is a mixed-mode CD, meaning that one section of it contains computer data, and another contains a Red Book CD audio track. See if your system is set up to play the CD audio portion of this disc.
Wave Audio Tests. Like Red Book CD audio, wave audio sounds are stored digitally. Unlike CD audio however, wave audio sounds are stored as standard computer files. This means they can be copied, moved, and erased just like your spreadsheet or word-processor files. The sound device in your MPC (usually a sound card) should allow you to play back wave audio sounds in varying degrees of quality inside of Windows. Can you?
MIDI Audio Tests. CD audio tracks and wave audio files are sound recordings. A MIDI audio file, on the other hand, is like a piece of sheet music. The music synthesizer inside of every MPC "reads" a MIDI file (stored as a standard computer file), then trys to play back that file using one of its built-in "instuments." Make sure you can play MIDI files, and hear how each of those built-in instruments sound. It's fun! Try it!
t s#e
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
go_CDaudioTests
CD Audio Tests
go_WaveTest
Wave Audio Tests
go_MIDItest2
MIDI Audio Tests
Level 1 MPC--optional; Level 2 MPC--required.
played
soundTests
waveTest
pWaveFormats
3,5,7,videoTips
3,5,6,motionTests
3,4,7,CDaudioTips
3,4,6,MIDItips
2,5,7,waveTips
2,5,6,noSound
2,4,7,MIDItest2
2,4,6,MIDItest1
1,5,7,CDaudioTests
1,5,6,waveTest
1,4,7,soundTests
1,4,6,graphicsTips
Wave Audio Tests
Wave Audio -- 11 kHz, 16-bit, mono
Level 1 & Level 2 MPC--required.c
mainText
About Wave Audio Sound
Wave audio is a convenient format for storing high-quality sound recordings. But not all wave files are created equal. The higher the sample rate and sample size of a recording, the higher the quality. An 8-bit, 22.05 kHz recording, for example, will sound better than an 8-bit, 11.025 kHz recording (assuming the rest of your sound equipment lets you hear the difference). A 16-bit, 44.1 kHz wave file is the same quality as a standard CD audio recording.
Unfortunately, you pay a price for high-quality wave files. The higher the sample size and sample rate of a file, the more disc space the file takes up. This is also true with stereo versus mono wave files--stereo takes up about twice the disc space that mono does.
Wave audio sound capability is usually provided by a sound card connected to a PC's bus, but increasingly the device is being built right on the motherboard. Wave audio file names usually have the .WAV extension. MPC Level 1 specifications require that an MPC be able to play back and record 8-bit sound at 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, using no more than 10% of your computer's CPU time.
MPC Level 2 specifications require, in addition to the Level 1 specs, 16-bit wave audio at 44.1kHz, 22.05 kHz, and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, in mono and stereo. No more than 10% of your Level 2 computer's CPU time should be taken up playing 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sounds. Level 2 specifications also recommend that no more than 15% of CPU time be taken up playing 44.1kHz audio.
About the Information Reported by Your System
The Product Name is the name of the wave device as reported by the device driver installed in your system. It may or may not match the name of your sound device. If it doesn't, it's probably because the manufacturer of your sound device licensed the computer chipset or driver it uses from another manufacturer.
The Driver Version is the version of the wave device driver installed in your system. After you've tested your wave audio device, you may want to see whether the MPC Wizard has a newer version of your driver. To do so, click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the Sound Drivers button to bring you to a list of all the available sound drivers on the MPC Wizard CD.
About the Wave Audio Tests
The wave audio tests let you know not only whether the wave audio portion of your MPC is working, but how good it is. On the MPC Wizard CD are wave files recorded from a single sound source at many different sample sizes and sample rates, in both mono and stereo. Play each of the files, and see if you can discern the differences in sound quality between them.
Choose below any combination of sample size, sample rate, and output you wish by clicking the appropriate buttons. If a choice is grayed out, your wave audio device and/or driver doesn't support that feature.
Click the Play Wave File button when you're ready to hear the recording.
Click the Troubleshooting Tips button if you encounter a problem.
Click the Return to Sound Tests button to go back to the previous screen.blem.
Click the Return to Sound Tests button to go back to the previous screen.
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
:PHYSSIZE
Sample Rate
11.025 kHz
22.05 kHz
44.1 kHz
Sample Size
8-bit
16-bit
Outpututputls
Stereo
dlgInit
static tooBigText,s5,Running the 16-bit, 44.25 kHz stereo test requires copying the test file to your C: drive, which must have at least 4 megabytes of free space.
Click COPY to copy the file to your hard disc, space permitting. The test file will remain on your c: drive until you exit this session of the MPC Wizard.
Click CANCEL to skip the test.
,h12,
button 1,b13,TRUE
button cancel,b15,TRUE
dlgBox
524480,4,100,60,224,140,,,The MPC Wizard,8,Helv,tooBigText,37.90,10.67,177.33,86.03,5,1342177280,130,Running the 16-bit,0,,9.18,41.44,18.29,19.69,12,1342177283,130,question,0,1,46.93,101.13,57.87,16.08,13,1342242817,128,Copy,0,cancel,121.60,101.13,57.87,16.08,15,1342242816,128,Cancel,0
ctrlID
Play Wave File
go_WaveTips
Troubleshooting Tips
go_SoundTests
Return to Sound Tests
Product Name:
Driver Version:::
Driver Version:::::me:
Driver Version:
report
Wave Audio Information Reported by Your System:wing information:
testingWave
Testing your wave audio playback.
You should be hearing something!
Press Esc to abort test.
copying
Copying the test file.
Please wait.....
terPage
noInfo
enterPage
quitIt
dCDfile
testCD
readCDfile
xreadCDfile
callTestDll
enterPage
testCD
ReadDriveStatus
binary
mscdexVer
[pre-2.0]
report
noInfo
noInfo
testCD
vreport
svCDdrive
noInfo
[No information available]
report
testCD
callTestDll
&quitIt
vResult
svCDdrive
fTest
xreadCDfile
getCurrentDrive
getCurrentDirectory
setCurrentDrive
setCurrentDirectory
getFileList
setCurrentDrive
setCurrentDirectory
vReturn
vFile
vOldDirectory
vOldDrive
svCDdrive
readCDfile
vFile
svCDdrive
svTextFile
quitIt
failedMsgBox
A problem occurred.
This test cannot continue.
Problem
eatClicks
fWhat
callTestDll
globalAlloc
globalLock
globalAlloc
globalLock
ReadDiscStartEnd
GlobalUnlock
GlobalFree
GlobalUnlock
GlobalFree
EnableProgressWin
checkForEsc
3Seek
Testing 1/3-Stroke Avg. Seek Time...
NameProgressWin
TestThirdSeek
Testing True Avg. Seek Time...
NameProgressWin
TestAvgSeek
tranRate100
Testing Data Transfer Rate (100%)...
NameProgressWin
TestRawThrough
tranRate40
Testing Data Transfer Rate (40%)...
NameProgressWin
TestMPCThrough
tranRate60
Testing Data Transfer Rate (60%)...
NameProgressWin
TestMPCThrough2
EnableProgressWin
YieldApp
vResult
vStart
vEndPtr
vMemEnd
vStartPtr
vMemStart
vDriveNum
vResults
svCDdrive
testType
showSuccess
buttonUp
noDiskSpace
cantCopy
showBigFileBox
tooFastFile
copyFileTemp
buttonUp
whichFormatLineNum
tooFastFile
testsnd\wave
type waveaudio alias waveFile wait
tbkMCI
testingWave
break waveFile on 27 wait
tbkMCI
play waveFile wait
tbkMCI
stop waveFile wait
tbkMCI
testingWave
failed
failedMsgBox
tbkmmerrorstring
Click "Troubleshooting Tips" for possible causes after
clicking "OK."
played
close waveFile
tbkMCI
putTestResults
pWaveFormats
played
showSuccess
eatClicks
vTestResult
vError
vFileName
vFormatLineNum
vChannel
svCDdrive
svBookPath
showSuccess
The wave audio file played.
If you experienced any problems, click the TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS button
after clicking OK.
showBigFileBox
testsnd\wave1.wav
getFileSize
copying
failedMsgBox
Can't access file WAVE1.WAV.
This test cannot continue.
Problem
GetTempDrive
Running the 16-bit, 44.25 kHz stereo test requires copying the
test file to your
drive, which must have at least
bytes of free space.
Click COPY to copy the file
to your hard disc, space permitting. The test file will remain on
drive until you exit this session of the MPC Wizard.
MPC stands for Multimedia Personal Computer. The Windows
versions of Aris Entertainment's MediaClips
series of software were
designed to run only on MPC-compatible computers. Your computer is
considered MPC-compatible if it conforms to the minimum hardware and
software requirements of theMultimedia PC Marketing Council. The
Council has defined two sets of specifications for MPCs, known as
Level 1 and Level 2.
Level 1 is the base level, and includes the following minimum
requirements:
Computer with a 386SX or compatible microprocessor (CPU);
2 megabytes of RAM;
3.5" floppy drive, 1.44 MB capacity;
30 megabyte hard drive;
2-button mouse;
101-key keyboard;
Serial, parallel, MIDI I/O, and joystick ports;
Windows 3.0 with the Multimedia Extensions, or Windows 3.1or higher;
MSCDEX driver, version 2.2 or greater;
CD-ROM drive capable of transferring data at a sustained rate of 150 kilobytes per second without taking up more than 40% of your computer's CPU time, an average seek time of 1 second or less, CD digital (Red Book) audio outputs, and front-panel volume control;
8-bit wave audio (digitized sound) at 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, using no more than 10% of your computer's CPU time;
MIDI (music synthesizer) with the ability to play back multi-voice, multi-timbral sounds, 6 melody notes simultaneously, and 2 percussive notes simultaneously;
On-board ability to mix CD audio (Red Book), synthesizer, and wave sounds into one stereo line source out of the computer's back panel;
VGA-compatible display adapter and monitor with a 640 x 480 pixel resolution. Although 16 colors is the minimum requirement for MPC machines, the photos displayed in Aris's MediaClips programs were meant to be viewed in 256 colors or greater. 640 x 480 pixels with 256 colors is recommended by the MPC Marketing Council, and strongly recommended by Aris Entertainment.
Level 2 includes all of the specifications for Level 1 mentioned above,
and adds the following minimum requirements:
Computer with a 486SX or compatible microprocessor (CPU) running at 25 mHz;
4 megabytes of RAM (8 megabytes recommended);
160 megabyte hard drive;
CD-ROM drive with a sustained data rate of 300 kilobytes per second. It is recommended that the drive accomplish this without taking up more than 60% of your computer's CPU time. The average seek time must be 400 milliseconds or less. The drive must be XA-ready and multisession capable . XA is a method of storing data on a CD that allows for the near simultaneous playback of audio and graphics. Multisession capability is the ability to read information that was added to the original information on the CD.
16-bit wave audio (digitized sound) at 44.1kHz, 22.05 kHz, and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, in mono and stereo. No more than 10% of your computer's CPU time should be taken up playing 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sounds. It is recommended that no more than 15% of CPU time be taken up playing 44.1kHz audio;
VGA-compatible display adapter and monitor with a 640 x 480 pixel resolution in 65,536 (16-bit) colors.
The MPC Wizard tests your system for several of the above-mentioned
requirements. These tests will assist you in determining whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications.ations.quirements. These tests will assist you in determining whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications.uirements. These tests will assist you in determining whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications..cations.. tests your system for several of the above-mentioned
requirements. These tests will assist you in determining whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications. will assist you in determining whether your
system conforms to MPC specifications.s to MPC specifications.
Click the CD-ROM Drive Tests button to make sure that your drive is performing up to speed.
Click the Color Capability Test button to find out how many colors you can display in Windows.
Click the Sound Tests button to insure that your Multimedia PC is capable of playing standard CD audio tracks, wave audio files, and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files.
Click the Video for Windows
Tests button to see whether your system can play back digital motion video files compressed in the Microsoft Video 1, Intel Indeo
, and SuperMatch Cinepak
formats.
In most cases, test results are reported immediately after each test
concludes.
Click the Test Results button on the left to view, print, or save to a text
file the cumulative results of tests performed in this MPC Wizard session.. session.n....eshooting advice.
Test results are reported immediately after each test concludes.
Click the Test Results button on the left to view, print, or save to a text file the
cumulative results of tests performed..o a text file the