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Text File | 1997-10-17 | 27.7 KB | 766 lines

======================== Digital Vision DSP-150 release Shareware for Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 ======================== 1997 Damjan Vavpotic Email: damjan.vavpotic@kiss.uni-lj.si Homepage: http://www.kiss.uni-lj.si/~k4fe0244 INDEX ----- A. What is it? B. What is it not? C. Requirements D. Features of this version (What's new?) E. History F. Installation G. Usage H. Troubleshooter I. License and Registration J. About the author K. Disclaimer A. WHAT IS IT? -------------- - It is a REALTIME software "digital sound processor". - It can produce REALTIME echo effects, pitch changes, special effects. - You can use it on any outside source: CD-player, Line input, MIDI, Microphone,... - You can set the delay and repetition of echo. - You can set the pitch of a voice. - You can set other special effects like noise, break, swap and balance. - You can additionally amplify source. - In short: It makes your computer act like an expensive HIFI DSP component. B. WHAT IS IT NOT? ------------------ - You can't use it to add effects to sounds played by computer (e.g. wave files). - It is not a sound editor (e.g. Cool Edit). - It is not a realtime equaliser (at least in this version). - It doesn't contain sound surround system. C. REQUIREMENTS --------------- - Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 (never tested on 3.51, but might work if you have a full duplex driver) - Sound card: a) one STEREO, 16-BIT sound card capable of wave recording and wave playing at same time and at same frequency, MUST support FULL DUPLEX (e.g. SB16, SB32, AWE32,AWE64,...). Get new full duplex drivers from your sound card manufacturer's web-site. OR b) two STEREO, 16-BIT sound cards capable of wave recording and wave playing at same frequency rate (never tested, but should work) - at least fast 80486DX4 for use at 22 kHz - at least Cyrix 6x86 or Pentium for use at 44kHz - 16 MB RAM recommended - VGA card (recommended at least 800x600, LARGE FONTS, 65536 colours) - Sound source: a) CD-ROM capable of playing music CDs connected to sound card OR b) HIFI device connected to sound card input channel (LineIn) OR c) FM modulator/wave table on sound card (for playing MIDI files with echo) OR d) Microphone connected to sound card. D. FEATURES OF THIS VERSION (What's new?) ----------------------------------------- * COMMON features (OUTPUT/INPUT engine): - stereo sound - frequency rates up to 44kHz (or even 48kHz with custom setting) - predefined "sound spaces": Small Room, Medium Room, Concert Hall, Big Concert Hall, Church, OverDrive, MaxOverdrive, Room 3D, Room 3D deep, Robot, Distortion, Distortion 2, Indian, Cicle, Spokesman, Darth Vader, Fat Man, Child, Bugs Bunny, Out of tune, Spaceman, Space pigs and Martians. - latency time can be set to less than 1 sec on most computers! (depends on buffer size and frequency) - theoretical minimum of latency time in this program is 0.04 sec, but you would really need a very fast machine to handle so small buffers (I have not seen one yet :-) ) - memory consumption reduced even further - engines are more reliable - devices test and autoconfiguration - Synchro and AutoSynchro feature - Save and AutoSave configuration - Priority Class of the program can be changed - SysTray icon can be switched off/on - more engines can be used at same time to get new effects - new look! now program looks like hifi device * ECHO engine: - some of possible delay times: - delay up to 1000 ms with 1 repeat, 44kHz - delay up to 2000 ms with 1 repeat, 22kHz - delay up to 4000 ms with 1 repeat, 11kHz - delay up to 500 ms with 2 repeats, 44kHz - delay up to 1000 ms with 2 repeats, 22kHz - delay up to 2000 ms with 2 repeats, 11kHz - delay up to 200 ms with 5 repeats, 44kHz - delay up to 400 ms with 5 repeats, 22kHz - delay up to 800 ms with 5 repeats, 11kHz - 5 repeats max - fade out from 0% to 100% separately for Left and Right channel - can produce 3D effect (separated R and L channel) * AMPLIFY engine: - sound source can be amplified up to 2000% separately for Left and Right channel * PITCH engine: - pitch can be reduced to 10% of the original or increased up to 200% of the original separately for L and R channel * SPECIAL engine: - special effects: - noise (adds noise from 1% to 100%) - break - balance - swap E. HISTORY ---------- > 1994, "noname" - small program for DOS that produced echo (made on 486-66) - only worked with SoundBlaster 16 - sample rate: only 11kHz - only one repeat - poor sound quality - never released in public > 1995, Sb16Echo - for windows 3.1 - very unstable - never really worked - never released in public > 1996, Sb16Echo32 - for windows 95 - poor sound quality - not really usefull - never released in public > February 1997, Sb16Echo2 - for windows 95 - echo generation engine completely rewritten - first version that supported stereo sound - only one repeat - frequency rates up to 44kHz - never released in public > April 1997, renamed to Digital Vision DSP-80 v0.8b - for windows 95 - new user interface - added repeat setting - added setup menu - added support for more sound cards - added setting for different frequencies - added buffer setting - never released in public > April 1997, Digital Vision DSP-90 v0.9b - for windows 95 - added support for SysTray - added volume setting - added "clip" in echo engine - up to 10 repeats possible - never released in public > May 1997, Digital Vision DSP-100 v1.0b - preset "sound spaces" added - better SysTray support - frequency rates up to 48kHz - excellent sound quality - added thread support for echo engine - detects full duplex cards - added tips (help) - few bugs fixed > May 1997, Digital Vision DSP-100 v1.0r (release version) - maximum frequency rate reduced to 22kHz (compatibility issue) - maximum custom buffer size reduced to 220000 bytes - FIRST RELEASE VERSION > July 1997, Digital Vision DSP-101 - faster echo engine - never released > July 1997, Digital Vision DSP-102 - frequency corrections - even faster echo engine - never released > July 1997, Digital Vision DSP-103 - for Windows 95 or NT 4.0 - lower memory consumption - use of pointers - WaveIn BUG fixed?? > September 1997, Digital Vision DSP-103 release - for Windows 95 or NT 4.0 - RELEASE VERSION of Digital Vision DSP-103 > October 1997, Digital Vision DSP-150 beta - for Windows 95 or NT 4.0 - complete reconstruction of program's output/input engine (separate L and R support, faster, many bugs fixed) - echo for L and R channel separated - fade out can be set (individually for L and R channel) - amplify for L and R channel separated - new pitch engine added (can be set individually for L and R channel) - new special effects added - autoconfig and test added - autosynchro and synchro added - special effect engine added - custom frequency added - advanced settings added - priority class settings added - mute effects button added - HIFI device look > October 1997, Digital Vision DSP-150 release Shareware - for Windows 95 or NT 4.0 - shareware notices and registration code added - program costs 1 USD - RELEASE SHAREWARE VERSION of Digital Vision DSP-150 beta F. INSTALLATION --------------- * IMPORTANT!!! If you only have one sound card you MUST get FULL DUPLEX device drivers. You can get full duplex drivers for SoundBlaster on Creative Labs web site: http://www.creaf.com * Fast instructions (if you are familiar with Windows audio mixer control read this, otherwise read detailed instructions) - It is recommended to configure AUDIO MIXER (SNDVOL32.EXE) first. You should MUTE all sound sources in PLAYBACK MODE except for WAVE and VOLUME CONTROL. Then you should go to RECORD MODE and select only the sound source that you are going to use with Digital Vision DSP. - Run SETUP.EXE and install Digital Vision DSP. - Run the program and configure it. Follow the instructions program gives you. Read all messages carefully! * Detailed instructions - Step 1: Choose the sound source. Usually you will choose between CD-ROM or HIFI device connected to LineIn. Connect the sound source to sound card if needed (e.g. connect a tuner to the sound card). - Step 2: Start Windows 95/NT mixer (SNDVOL32.EXE). In PLAYBACK MODE set all sources to MUTE except for Volume control and Wave. Adjust the Volume control and wave to the right value (so that you can hear system sounds). - Step 3: Then go to RECORD MODE (in mixer) and SELECT the sound source that you are using (e.g. CD Audio for CD-ROM or LineIn for external device - tuner, tape,..). You should also adjust the volume of the selected source to the right value. If you set it too loud sound quality will be poor, if your setting is too silent you won't hear anything! - Step 4: Install Digital Vision DSP - run SETUP.EXE and follow instructions. - Step 5: Run Digital Vision DSP and configure it correctly. Read messages the program gives you carefully and follow the instructions. First you should select REAL input and output device (not DefaultWaveMapper). Then press "Test devices" button. - Step 6: If your computer passes the test, you are ready to use the program. G. USAGE -------- All buttons on DVDSP have hints. If you don't know what one of the buttons means leave mouse cursor on it for about 2 sec and hint message will show. * MAIN PANEL map: - Picture: _____________________________________________________________________________ | | Hide/ | _______________ ________________________ | | About | Exit | |Prev|Next|Apply| DISPLAY | PowerLed === | | |--------| |____|____|_____|________________________| | |-------| Synchro| | |-------|--------| ________ === AmpLed === PitchLed BusyLed === | | Power | Mute | |Advanced| === EchoLed === SpecialLed SyncLed === | |_______|________|___|________|_______________________________________________| - Buttons description: "About" - 'DVDSP icon' Gives information about program. You can also register program and print registration form. "Power" - '0/1 icon' With this button you start Digital Vision DSP. It begins to record the sound from sound source and play it directly to wave device. You have to wait for about a second (depends on configuration) before you can hear the sound. "Hide/Exit" - 'PLUG icon' When you press this button with left mouse button the application minimizes and when you press it with right mouse button the application exits. "Synchro" - '~ icon' If program for any reason gets out of synchronisation you should press this button. There is also an Auto Synchro option (program synchronises itself automatically). Program gets out of synchronisation when it begins to play in a loop or produce irregular sound effects. "Mute" - '--\/-- icon' You can mute only effect and leave application playing sound with this button. It is automatically deselected if you change sound effect. "Prev" - '< icon' and "Next" - '> icon' With this two buttons you can browse between different preset sound spaces. Names of effects will show on "DISPLAY". Use "Apply" to confirm your choice. If you don't confirm the choice after aprox. 3 sec the effect will go back to previously confirmed effect. "Apply" - 'check icon' With this button you confirm the effect you chose with "Prev" and "Next". You have to confirm it in about 3 sec. "Advanced" - ' \/ icon' Shows additional settings where you can create your own sound spaces and setup the program. - Leds description: "AmpLed", "PitchLed", "EchoLed", "SpecialLed" These leds show which effects are active. "PowerLed" Turns green after generator has been switched on with "Power" button "BusyLed" It goes green when effects are being produced. If it becomes yellow it means that CPU is still handling the data but is loaded heavily. If it goes red then the CPU is overcharged (you should reduce frequency rate or switch off some effects to reduce the load). You will probably also get overcharge message. "SyncLed" It turns on, when generator is being synchronised. That happens when you press "Synchro" button or if AutoSynchro turns it on itself. * ECHO PANEL - common: "Active" checkbox Activates echo effect. * ECHO PANEL - DELAY map: "Left Channel" bar It sets left channel delay of echo. Maximum setting depends on the available memory buffers. "Right Channel" bar It sets right channel delay of echo. Maximum setting depends on the available memory buffers. "Link" checkbox Link "Left and Right Channel" bar together * ECHO PANEL - REPEATS AND FALL map: "Repeats" bar With this setting you can change the number of repeats of echo. CPU load rises with number of repeats! "Link" checkbox Links "Left and Right Channel" bar together "Left Channel" bar It sets left channel fade out of echo. "Right Channel" bar It sets right channel fade out of echo. * AMPLIFY PANEL map: "Link" checkbox Links "Left and Right Channel" bar together "Left Channel" bar It sets left channel amplification. "Right Channel" bar It sets right channel amplification. "Active" checkbox Activates amplify effect. "Default" button Sets default value (100%) * PITCH PANEL map: "Link" checkbox Links "Left and Right Channel" bar together "Left Channel" bar It sets left channel pitch. "Right Channel" bar It sets right channel pitch. "Active" checkbox Activates amplify effect. "Default" button Sets default value (100%) "Splicing" bar Sets splicing buffer size. Has influence on sound quality when using pitch. You should set it correctly to achieve optimal quality. * SPECIAL PANEL map: "Noise" bar Sets amount of noise that will be produced on both channels. (1% to 100%) "Break" bar Sets breaks on both channels. You can set the speed of breaks. "Swap" bar Swaps the L and R channel. You can set the speed of swapping. "Balance" bar Switches between L and R balance. You can set the speed of balance changing. * SETTINGS PANEL - common: "Save settings" button Saves settings you made to a file. If AutoSave in advanced settings panel is checked the configuration is saved automatically after exiting the program. * SETTINGS PANEL - BUFFER: "Buffer" bar Sets the size of buffer the program will use. It influences the values shown below bar (latency time and maximum delay). If the buffer is too small Digital Vision DSP won't function correctly! * SETTINGS PANEL - DEVICE: "Output" box Selects sound output device. You should set this when installing the program. DefaultWaveMapper is not real device. It is Windows virtual device! You can't test it or show its capabilities. "Input" box Selects sound input device. You should set this when installing the program. DefaultWaveMapper is not real device. It is Windows virtual device! You can't test it or show its capabilities. "Output Capabilities" button Shows real output device's capabilities. "Input Capabilities" button Shows real input device's capabilities. "Test Devices" button Tests if selected devices are compatible with the program and saves configuration. You should use this setting when installing the program or after you have changed sound card or installed a new one. * SETTINGS PANEL - FREQUENCY: "Tested frequency" box Here you can choose only the frequencies that Windows approve. You will get frequencies list here only after you have tested the devices capabilities. That is done by pressing "Test Devices" button in device settings panel. If you change your sound hardware you should configure the program again. "Custom frequency" box THIS SETTING IS FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY! Here you can choose frequencies from 5kHz to 48kHz. It doesn't matter whether your sound hardware and drivers support such frequency or not. Digital Vision DSP will override all checks and try to use that frequency. If it doesn't succeed your computer might freeze! You should use only settings that you know your hardware supports! * SETTINGS PANEL - ADVANCED: "Use AutoSynchro" checkbox When this is checked program tries to synchronise itself whenever it falls out of synchronisation. It is recommended to use this option. "Use TrayIcon" checkbox You can select whether the program uses TrayIcon or not. "Save settings on exit" checkbox When checked the program always saves settings on exit. "Show busy indicator and overcharging warning" checkbox When checked, busy led is active. Deselect only if using small buffer size and the led is taking much of CPU time. Or if you have problems with overcharging warning. "Process user input while busy" checkbox If checked then user input is processed even if busy led is lit. Use only on very fast computer! * SETTINGS PANEL - PRIORITY: "Priority Class" bar THIS SETTING IS FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY! You can set the priority class of the program. HIGH is the BEST choice in most cases. If your computer is slow then you might try realtime, but beware: YOU COMPUTER COULD FREEZE! > IMPORTANT! This is realtime program and it uses most of CPU processing time. You should switch it OFF before loading a program or doing any other long operations with disk, CD-ROM, floppy,... You should also switch it off when using MS-DOS window. Otherwise the echo won't be produced correctly at that time and program might even freeze. H. TROUBLESHOOTER ----------------- For troubleshooting visit also DVLabs homepage and try to find the solution there! http://www.kiss.uni-lj.si/~k4fe0244 If you can't find the answer you can send me e-mail to: damjan.vavpotic@kiss.uni-lj.si * PROBLEM: You get the message: "At least one of selected devices is WaveMapper. You can test only real devices! WaveMapper is Windows virtual..." CAUSE: WaveMapper is only virtual device so its capabilities can not be tested. Anyway, you can use WaveMapper as your device and let Windows choose which device is best for you. In that case you will have to use Custom frequency. SOLUTION: You have to choose different device than WaveMapper to test its capabilities. * PROBLEM: You get the message: "Test encountered errors. You may not be able to run this program...." CAUSE: You probably have only one sound card that does not support full duplex or you have not configured the program correctly. SOLUTION: Install full duplex drivers for your sound card or get another sound card. Configure program correctly. * PROBLEM: "Power" button is on, but "Busy" led stays white and occasionally "Synchro" led goes red (or not..). You can't hear anything. CAUSE: Your program is not set correctly or your sound card doesn't support full duplex at set frequency, doesn't support stereo or doesn't support 16-bit sampling. SOLUTION: Try to configure program correctly in settings menu. If the sound card does not support stereo or 16-bit then you can't use this program. * PROBLEM: "Power" button is on, but "Busy" led stays white and occasionally "Synchro" led goes red (or not..). You can't hear anything, but the program worked just fine a few moments ago. CAUSE: When having troubles with computer speed and "Busy" led often turns red the program might have some troubles starting again for the first time. SOLUTION: Press "Power" button to switch off the program and then press it again to switch it back on for the second time. * PROBLEM: "Power" button is on, "Busy" led blinks, but you can't hear anything. CAUSE: Windows 95/NT mixer is not configured correctly. SOLUTION: Read chapter F, step 2 and step 3. * PROBLEM: "Power" button is on, echo is enabled, "Busy" led blinks, you can hear sound, but quality is poor. CAUSE: Windows 95/NT mixer is not configured correctly. Probably recording volume of the selected source is set to loud. SOLUTION: Read chapter F, step 2 and step 3 and reduce recording volume. * PROBLEM: There is a delay before the program starts to produce sound and there is also delay while the program is producing sound! Will this delay disapear if I use faster computer? CAUSE: DSP-150 needs a usually about 1-2 sec (latency time) before it begins to play the sound and this delay continues also while program is producing sound. This delay depends only on buffer size setting (not on speed of your computer). Though you can set smaller buffer size if you have faster computer and get shorter delay. SOLUTION: If you really need shorter delay go to Settings.Buffer and DECREASE buffer size. Be careful! If you decrease buffer size too much program might end up in a loop! Theoretical minimum of latency time at 44 kHz is 0.04 s, but that is really only theoretical. * PROBLEM: You get the message: "This effect is not available until you increase buffer size! Go to Settings.Buffer and INCREASE buffer size to use this effect" CAUSE: You will get this message only when using sound spaces with long echo delay (e.g. Church). The maximum delay of echo effect depends on buffer size, so if the buffer is to small the effect can not be used. SOLUTION: Do what the message says: "Go to Settings.Buffer and increase buffer to use this effect." * PROBLEM: The echo effects are weird while you're using disk, DOS window or some other applications. And "Synchro" light blinks often (only when using AutoSynchro) CAUSE: This is realtime program and it uses most of CPU processing time. You should switch it OFF before loading a program or doing any other long operations with disk, CD-ROM, floppy,... You should also switch it off when using MS-DOS window. Otherwise the echo won't be produced correctly at that time and program might even freeze. SOLUTION: Press "Power" button to switch off the program when using DOS window, disk or any other time consuming applications. Or even better do not use such applications while running Digital Vision DSP-150. If you REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, you might also try changing program's priority, but that probably won't help much. I. LICENSE AND REGISTRATION --------------------------- This version of program is SHAREWARE. After evaluation you have to send me 1 USD (yes, one United States Dollar) or remove the program from your computer. You can assume that I won't get rich if you send me one dollar. I just want to get some response from you so that I will know how many people use my program and of course I also want that 1 dollar. ;-) If you register you will get instant access to additional features: - new sound spaces - custom pitch settings - custom special settings To register print the registration form, enclose 1 USD and send it to the following address: Damjan Vavpotic Neubergerjeva ulica 3 1000 Ljubljana Slovenija Europe You can use any type of mailing you want, but you should know that the RISK IS ENTIRELY ON YOUR SIDE! If I don't get your mail I WILL NOT send you the password to unlock the program. Of course the risk is very small and if you use some special types of mailing the risk is almost none. And you should also consider sending mail by air if you want to get the password faster... When I receive your registration form I will send you the password to unlock the program's additional features and you will also be able to use it legally. **** IMPORTANT ********************************************************* * Be sure to fill in the order form correctly, especially the e-mail * * address so that I will be able to send you the password back. * * And again the RISK IS ENTIRELY ON YOUR SIDE! * ************************************************************************ J. ABOUT THE AUTHOR --------------- S-Mail: Damjan Vavpotic Neubergerjeva ulica 3 1000 Ljubljana Slovenija Europe E-Mail: damjan.vavpotic@kiss.uni-lj.si Homepage: http://www.kiss.uni-lj.si/~k4fe0244 K. DISCLAIMER ------------- Digital Vision DSP-150 is supplied as is. There are NO warranties. The author assumes no liability for any damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of Digital Vision DSP-150. Products mentioned in this file are mentioned for identification purposes only. Product names appearing in this file may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies.