SOUND BLASTER DIGEST #12 in 1991

 

























                              SOUND BLASTER DIGEST 

 

                                    Number 12

                             November 1991 Edition. 

 

                   A newsletter for Sound Blaster Enthusiasts. 

 

                     Edited and Published by Brad Barclay. 

              Assistant Editors:  Todd Clayton and Karen O'Hearn. 


           Made possible by the contributions of Sound Blaster users. 

                                

                                   /\ 

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                            \    /      \      ________________________________ 

                             \  /        \    / 

                              \/          \  / 

                                           \/ 

          

                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   =================

          

                    Name:                                        Page:

                    ----                                         ----

          

                    From the Editor's Desk.........................1

                    From the Assistant Editor's Desk...............2

                    SBD's First Contest!...........................4

                    COMMERCIAL REVIEW:  RSP........................5

                    COMMERCIAL REVIEW:  WING COMMANDER II..........9

                    Special Offers................................11

                    Better Recordings on the SB #2................13

                    Subscriptions.................................15

                    Want-Ads......................................15

                    COMMERCIAL REVIEW:  PUZZNIC...................16

                    SHAREWARE REVIEW:  VOC_SHOW...................18

                    Want Ads......................................19

                    Included Files................................20

                    Contacting Us.................................21

                    Advertisements................................22

                    Wrapping it Up................................22

          

                                        FORMS:

          

                    Subscription Form.............................24

                    Advertisment Order Form.......................25

                    BBS Registration Form.........................26

                    SBD Demo Tape Order Form......................27

                    Best of the SBD Order Form....................28

                    Want-Ads......................................29

          

          

          The SOUND BLASTER DIGEST (SBD) Is Copyright (c) 1991 Brad Barclay.

          

          For Copyright information please contact Brad Barclay (see below).

          

          You may copy this file IN IT'S ENTIRETY to whomever you wish, as

          long as it is not for profit, and nothing in the SBD is changed or

          modified.  This copyright notice must not be modified or excluded.

         

                                                                 Page 1

          

          FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR:

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               Well, some have doubted the possibility (including myself at

          one time or another!), but the SOUND BLASTER DIGEST has made it to

          its first year issue!  I could sit here and talk about it nearly

          all day, but I'll leave the honour to our Assistant Editor Todd

          Clayton in the next article.

          

               What I'd like to talk about here this month is about a certain

          problem we've had this month here at SBD HQ.  A BBS user out of

          Chicago, Illinois USA has started TAENL:  "The Anti-Everything

          Newsletter".  It doesn't have any real worth to anything in the

          universe (then again, neither do C/MS chips anymore), and I would

          have probably overlooked it and would have not given it as much

          credit as to mention it here, except that it has been damaging to

          the SBD.  In the newsletter, the author of one of the columns left

          our phone number and requested everyone reading the magazine to

          crank call us.

          

               Well, nobody has, and the way I see it, nobody should.  If

          someone is going to be as nasty as to ask people to do such a

          thing, then they themselves should at least have the guts to do so. 

          We have received not one crank phone call in our year of existance,

          and we're all glad for it.  Many thanks to those who have had

          better judgement than to follow the requests of a complainer.

          

               Some good news from this month:  Roy Smith, President of

          Turtle Beach systems was good enough to send us a free copy of

          RECORDING STUDIO PROFFESIONAL, which I will personally  review this

          month.  Also, this month we'd like to annouce that we are taking

          orders for THE BEST OF THE SBD:  YEAR 1 diskette with many of our

          best articles, reprints of some of our best letters, the newest

          update of our ever popular World-Wide BBS list, all of our songs to

          date in .CMF format, and much, much more!  See the article below

          for more information on this special offer.

          

               And now for the best news of all:  our first Readers Survey

          has less than 2 months left, and we wish to thank everyone who has

          replied and sent in their filled surveys.  But we don't exactly

          have enough room to list them all!  So here's the scoop:  we're

          going to put everyone who has sent in an SBD Readers Survey into a

          draw for fabulous SBD prizes as our way of saying thanks to those

          who have taken the time to send them in!  Your survey must be

          postmarked BEFORE January 1st 1992 to be elegible for the draw, so

          if you haven't sent yours in yet, do so now!  Only one Survey per

          person please!

          

               Anyways, that's all I have to say for this month.  Keep On

          Blasting!

         

                                                                 Page 2

          

          FROM THE ASSISTANT EDITOR'S DESK.

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

          By Todd Clayton. 

           

               Well, it seems that not only have we hit that time of the

          month for me to babble at you again, but we've also hit that time

          of the year!  Yes!  It's our first issue anniversary!  One year ago

          this month, Brad Barclay set out on a tremendous undertaking.  He

          started the world's first and only monthly disk-periodical for the

          Sound Blaster sound card. 

           

               It all started one rainy day, well over a year ago, when Brad

          went out to buy some computer equipment. He came back with a new

          and innovative device.  The Sound Blaster.  A few weeks later, he

          called me over to his house and showed me all of the neat-o little

          tricks it could do.  I fell in love with it, and the Voxkit

          especailly.  Over a year later than that, Brad  came across a one

          issue publication, designed to inform the general computer user

          about the existance of the Sound Blaster. He liked it so much he

          bought the company! Ok, maybe not that, but it gave him an idea. 

          With most things to do with computers, Brad wasn't satisfied to

          know simply what it did, he wanted to know how it did it and why. 

          So, he delved into manuals and other reference material, and became

          quite an authority on the sound card. So, with word processor in

          hand and an idea in mind, he created the SOUND BLASTER DIGEST.

          Simply meant to be another single issue paper, it contained a lot

          of technical information, and a good jargon glossary for us laymen. 

          

          

               But of course, since the first issue was written so well, a

          lot of people decided that he wouldn't get off the hook so easily,

          and get away with writing just ONE issue.  So, SINGLE HANDEDLY he

          went on to the second issue, then the third, then the fourth, an so

          on.

           

               Many assistant editors came and went, Adam Thompson being the

          one that sticks out in my mind the most.  Of course, Karen O'Hearn

          (Who HASN'T heard of Karen?) took over for a while, and then began

          the most important job of all.  Correcting grammatical and spelling

          mistakes that the spell checker couldn't catch.  Karen, I do not

          envy you there.

          

               Then just before the ninth issue, I finally got REALLY

          involved in the Digest. I took over as Assistant Editor, started

          writing this column and answering a bit of mail.  As you know, the

          rest is history. 

           

                                                       Page 3

          

               Now, to my knowlege, there are a few people out there who have

          helped us along immensely, and without their help, we would not

          have succeeded.  A warm thank-you to Gary Maddox, who uploads our

          publication to CompuServe every month.  To Jeff Woods who is just

          too cool for words to describe.  He set up our first SBD

          Conference, and has helped us with distribution. But, most of all,

          we'd like to thank YOU for picking us up, reading us, and

          subscribing to our little magazine.  Without you none of this

          would be possible. 

           

               With one final parting note, I must mention that if you

          haven't picked up a copy of the Sound Blaster Demo Tape yet, you

          should!  A lot of time and effort on both mine and Brad's part

          went into making a 90 minute tape chock full of digitized and

          synthesized music made by the Sound Blaster.  I might add, if you

          have and .ROL or .CMF music that you have transcribed over, please

          send us it, we'd love to review it and include it in our

          publication.  If you do send us .MOD or .NST's that you have done,

          it might be reviewed, but only subscribers will get a 

          chance to listen to it due to space limitations.  Anyways, at

          $7.50 Canadian, the SBD Demo Tape is a steal, and a GREAT stocking

          stuffer for that computer fanatic!  I might also mention that a

          subscription to the SBD also makes a great Christmas gift. So until

          next month...

           

                                                  A warm thank-you.  Todd. 

          

                                 --------------------                     

                                                                          

            

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                                                                 Page 4

          

          SBD'S FIRST EVER CONTEST!

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               Yes, you heard us correctly, a contest!  We are going to be

          awarding 10 major SBD prizes to some lucky people starting January

          1st.  Everyone who has sent in one of our Readers Surveys by then

          will be entered into a draw for these fabulous prizes!  And what

          are they you might ask?  Well, you could possibly win:

          

               Grand Prize:   1 Free Year's Subscription!

          

               1st Place:     1 of 4 free copies of "The Best of the SBD:  

                              Year 1"

          

               2nd Place:     1 of 5 free copies of THE SBD DEMO TAPE.

          

               So, if you haven't sent in your survey by yet, please do so

          and we'll enter you in the draw!  You only have until January 1st

          1992 to enter, so send in your survey form today!

          

               Due to Ontario law, prize winners will be required to answer a

          mathematical skill-testing question before they can receive their

          prize.  But I've never met anyone yet who hasn't won something

          because they couldn't answer the question:  it isn't tricky (hey,

          we want to give these to you!), it'll be really easy, and your

          great aunt could probably answer it with one brain tied behind her

          back, but it's something we have to do.

          

               Prize winners will be notified of their winning in advance,

          and will be required to sign a slight disclaimer allowing us to

          publish their names (but nothing else!) in a future edition of the

          SBD.  The Grand Prize and 1st place winners will also be required

          to tell us what diskette format they prefer for awarding their

          prize.

          

               So send in those surveys today!  Only one survey per address,

          please! (Yes, we will be checking!).

          

                                 ---------------------

          

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                                                       Page 5

          

          

          COMMERCIAL REVIEW:  RECORDING STUDIO PROFESSIONAL

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

          Designed by:   Turtle Beach Systems

                         P.O. Box 5074

                         York, PA

                         USA  17405

          

          Distributed by:     Brown/Wagh Publishing

          

          List Price:    $199.95 US.

          

          Reviewed by Brad Barclay.

          

               One of the greatest joys in having this job here is being

          able to experience first hand some of the new software available

          for the Sound Blaster cards.  And Recording Studio Professional

          was definitely a joy to use.

          

               Recording Studio Professional is a program designed for Sound

          Blaster users (and non-Sound Blaster users) to edit and manipulate

          .VOC files.  Everything that would be available in a professional

          recording studio is available here, and then some.  Not only does

          it have the utilities that nearly every other .VOC file editor has: 

          Play, Record, Cut and Paste, but it has many others, which can't be

          found elsewhere.

          

               Don't like the sound of something you've recorded?  There are

          numerous tools for improving and enhancing what you've recorded,

          such as the Graphic Equalizer Functions, Interpolating (which can

          improve the sound of really low sampled files), volume control

          (including a Normalizer to put the sample at maximum volume) or you

          can even slow down (or speed up) the sample without changing the

          pitch of the sample!  You can even distort your sounds, just like

          from a guitar amp if you want.

          

               Need to change your samples?  You can cut, trim (which

          deletes the opposite of Cut:  it deletes everything that you

          haven't marked), paste, zoom in and out to an incredible scale,

          and even draw in your own waveform patterns (to easily remove

          clicks, such as those from digitizing off of a scratched record). 

          The last function is particularity interesting: if you're drawing

          is fairly choppy, and has a few skips or anything in it, RSP

          automatically smoothes them out for you!

         

                                                       Page 6

          

               The loop editor built into RSP is excellent, and contains

          many useful features that take full advantage of the SB's

          capabilities in looping.  You can mark up to 8 loops in your

          sample and manipulate them in many ways.  This feature can be very

          complicated, and it took me a few hours to figure some of the

          features of this out.  A few times I even broke down and got out

          the Voice Editor for the SB Pro (from Creative Labs) to mark some

          loops.  The loop editor in RSP is very powerful (much more than the

          one in the Voice Editor), and probably much more than many people

          out there will ever need.  But for professional uses, it's surely a

          must.

          

               If you want to make loops with RSP but you can't handle the

          Loop Editor included, never fear:  it also has a function called

          FORCE LOOP TO SELECTED, which will loop the section of the sample

          that is currently selected in the window.

          

               Other interesting features and their uses include Pitch

          Shifting for changing the pitch of a sample, Mix to mix two sound

          samples, Merge to slowly fade out of one sample while fading into

          another, Fade/Scale for adjusting volume and fading samples, Mute

          to totally quiet a sample, Reverse to allow you to play a sample

          backwards, Crossfade Looping for improving loops that may click

          slightly, Animate to view how the sample would appear in real time

          in an oscilloscope, and Frequency Analysis which allows you to view

          a 3-D graph of frequency, time and amplitude (volume).  Many other

          more exotic features such as Invert are also available.

          

               All of the functions available in RSP can be performed on the

          entire sample, certain marked sections, or for some functions,

          certain marked loop areas.  RSP also does all of its calculations

          with true to life 16 bits, even though the SB's samples are only 8

          bits.  This not only helps increase speed some, but also improves

          the functions you run on your samples too.

          

               Most of the functions in RSP are heavily math intensive,

          having to run through complex equations to get the proper results. 

          Due to this fact, RSP does support math co-processors, if

          available.  Also, a high speed machine running at more than 20 Mhz

          would be necessary to run some of the more complex routines on

          larger sound files.  We ran our tests off of 2 8Mhz XT class

          systems with no math co-processor.  One test we ran involved

          downsampling a 2 second sample recorded at 22.05Khz down to 12Khz. 

          This process took about half an hour.  So depending on what you

          want to do with this software, you may have a long wait.

         

                                                       Page 7

          

               One of the greatest parts about this software is its ability

          to work with sound samples greater than the maximum free memory. 

          One of the samples we played with was nearly 1 Mb long, and RSP had

          no difficulty in handling it.  RSP even goes one step further and

          allows you to load two different samples!  This is perfect for

          clipping a part out of one sample and placing it into another. 

          These functions have their downside, though.  To make them

          possible, RSP uses intensive memory-swapping to and from your hard-

          disk.  Thus, if you wish to load a sample into memory, be sure that

          you have as much space free on your hard disk as you have space in

          the digitized file.  RSP won't run off of diskette for this reason.

          

               RSP supports all graphics standards from CGA to VGA.  I

          personally do not recommend using it on a CGA:  it only uses black

          and white high resolution mode.  Much is lost without colour.  But

          on an EGA or greater, RSP is beautiful to the eye.

          

               RSP is a GEM Desktop program that runs much as windows does,

          with a windowed display, pull down menus, click and drag boxes: 

          the works.  But due to this it is very hard to use without a

          mouse.  In our tests we tried using it without a mouse, and it

          seemed that it took just as long to select a function as it did to

          run it!  So if you don't have a mouse, be prepared to spend a lot

          of time trying to execute functions, and a lot more time trying to

          remember what keys to press while pointing at what to get them

          running!  But you don't need GEM to use RSP:  it comes with enough

          of the GEM software to get it running from DOS (and no more).

          

               RSP isn't all perfect.  As you don't actually need an SB card

          to make use of it (with the exception of Sampling), RSP uses the

          CPU to output voice data.  On the 8Mhz systems we tested on, this

          meant really bad playback while in RSP.  I preferred to save the

          sample, quit to DOS, and then listen to it for a true

          representation.  But the audition feature is good to make sure

          that you've selected the correct area when marking samples.

          

               Recording with RSP was also a problem.  No matter what we

          did, when we selected the Record icon, RSP would report a disk

          error and jam the entire system up.  Hopefully this will be

          corrected in a future version.

          

               RSP can only handle samples digitized at up to 23 Khz in

          mono, and is thus incapable of handling the higher sampling rates

          and stereo samples of the SB Pro card.  Also, it can only record

          at up to 12Khz (assuming you can get it to record), which is also

          limiting, and only accepts input from the microphone jack.  But

          for those SB Pro users out there:  don't worry.  I use Creative

          Lab's Voice Editor to record my samples, and then load them with

          RSP.  This way I can play with files sampled at up to 23Khz (in

          mono only still), as recorded from the Line In jack.

         

                                                       Page 8

          

               There is also an undocumented feature of RSP that we found. 

          When you load the program and it shows its title screen, it gives

          you a CONTINUE box to select to begin using the program.  It also

          shows some text boxes, and a little "swaying palm" symbol which is

          their trademark.  If you click on this symbol, you will be put into

          a sort of RSP technical mode, which will report on your computer's

          register status and other important factors while running the

          program.  We found this useful in viewing some of the problems in

          RSP, such as in making Recordings, and we presume that the authors

          left this debugging facility in the software to allow people

          reporting bugs to give them some important information for them to

          diagnose the problem.

          

          

               On the whole RSP is an excellent program for any SB user. 

          About its only limiting factor, besides needing a hard disk drive

          and a mouse, is its cost:  $200.  It's well worth the money without

          a doubt, but it is also well outside the range of the average

          user's software budget.  But if you can afford it, RSP is

          definately an addition for any serious SB user to consider.

          

                                 --------------------

          

          

          

 ÉËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËËÍËÍËÍÍÍÍÍËËËËÍÍËËËËËÍÍÍÍËÍËÍÍÍÍÍËËËËËËÍËËËËËËËËËËË»

 ÌÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÍÎÄÎÄÄÄÍÄÄ Ä  Ä   ØØØÎÎÎÎØØ       ÄÄÄÍÄÄÄÑÍÄÍÄÍÎÎÄÄÍÍÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎι±±

 ÌÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÍÄÐÍÐÄ ÄÄÄ Ä                              Ä ÄÄÄÄÄÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÄÐÍÍÎÎÎÎι±±

 ÌÎÎΠ                           FOR ALL YOU SOUNDBLASTER FILES.....   ÎÎι±±

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 Ì³     °°°      Ú                Voice 0860 891 893      0905-52536     ³¹±±

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 Ì³³    °°°  -Ú Ã¿Ú¿Ú¿Ú¿Ã         Crowds of CHATS !       0905-58042    ³³¹±±

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 ÌÎÎË        ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ        ( and Adult CHATS too !)                γ¹±±

 ÌÎËÎËÌËÌÑØÄ                                                           ÎÎι±±

 ÌÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎËÄÄÎÎÄÎÎËÎÄÄÄÄ ÄÄ Ä                   ÄÄ  ÄÄÄ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÎÄÄÍÎÎÎÎÎι±±

 ÌÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÍÎÎÎÍÎÍÎÍÎÍÎÍÍÍÍÄÄÄ             ÄÄ ÄÄÄÄÄÍÄÍÍÎÍÎÎÎÍÎÎÎÎÎÎι±±

 ÈÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÍÊÊÍÊÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÊÊÍÍÊÊÊÍÊÍÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊʼ±±

   ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±

         

                                                       Page 9

          

          COMMERCIAL REVIEW: WING COMMANDER II 

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

           

          Written by Dan Surratt 

           

          PC Supported: 286/386/486 

          Required: 640K/Hard Drive/12+ Mhz 

          Video Support: 256-colour VGA/MCGA; EGA 

          Sound Card Support: PC-Speaker/Roland/Ad Lib/Sound Blaster 

          Digitized Speech Support: Sound Blaster 

          Controls: Joystick/Mouse/Keyboard 

          Recommended: Expanded Memory/386-16 

           

               Origins has done it again by making the sequel to Wing

          Commander twice as good as the original.  Once again you are

          behind the stick of a star fighter, but in very poor favour.  

          While on a mission to destroy a Kilrathi Base you notice several

          enemy fighters that appear to vanish from your radar.  Not wanting

          to cause a commotion with your radar glitch, you move off to

          investigate.  Before you can return, the fighters reappear and

          destroy your mother ship, the Tiger's Claw.  Upon landing on the

          TCS Austin, you find your claim of stealth fighters dismissed and

          receive full blame for leaving your patrol route.  Due to lack of

          evidence during your court-martial, you are only demoted in rank

          and sent to patrol some back water base where you remain for 10

          years.  Here is where the story begins.  You must prove your worth

          and clear your name.  

           

               I use the word story because this game is very well

          constructed.  There is a definite plot throughout the game,

          complete with animated clips.  The game starts off with an

          animated 'Mini-Movie' with digitized speech.  Currently only the

          Sound Blaster has the option of digitized speech.  The digitized

          voices of the basic Wing Commander II game stop about half way

          through the opening animation.  With the purchase of the optional

          speech accessory kit, the voices are completed for the entire

          animation clip as well as a few select scenes that are presented

          during the game.  The accessory kit also brings your wingman's

          voice to life.  Your wingman now talks to you during combat and

          the enemy scream in agony as you blow them to bits.  While flying

          your lightning quick fighter or heavily armoured bomber you will

          be urged on by the fiery beat of the music.  This game features

          Origin's FX music system and features several original scores.  

         

                                                       Page 10

          

               Veteran players will be glad to here about the many

          improvements over the first version.  The best of these may be the

          shortcut keys.  These keys allow you to send a message to your

          wingman instantly at the touch of a key.  No more navigating

          through the communication screens.  The graphics are improved

          giving explosions a realistic look and pilots more detailed.  An

          interesting feature of the install program is the ability to

          configure the game to maximize game speed or minimize the space

          required on the hard drive.  

                

               On the down side, this game is a real memory hog.  The game

          as installed on my system takes just over 20 MB on the hard drive

          (VGA with speech accessory pack and installed for speed). 

          Minimizing for space still requires 12 MB in the simplest

          configuration.  You must also have 583K base memory free to even 

          run the game.  If you use EGA, you will need 618K free to use the

          game with speech.  Since the game will only use expanded memory

          (not extended) to speed up the game, it is almost mandatory to

          install a high memory driver such as HIMEM.SYS with EMM86 or QEMM. 

          

               Want a game that's full of action? A game that has

          spectacular graphics and superb Sound Blaster support? Then Wing

          Commander II is for you.  The intricate story and fabulous music

          transform this game into an adventure you will play again and

          again.  

           

          RATINGS: 

          ------- 

                                 [-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10] 

          Graphics:               ****************** 

          Sound Blaster Support:  ********************* 

          Playability:            **************** 

          Enjoyment:              ****************** 

          Originality:            **************** 

          Value:                  ****************** 

          Overall:                ****************** 

           

                                                       Page 11

          

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          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

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     \  / 

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     /||\                              3,500 megs (yes, three thousand 

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     ====       6 lines at (416)       (1300 meg) adult .GIF collection. 

    ======    724-6014 & 724-6018 

     ====                            1000's of Adlib/SB music files 

      ||    _______                    50 gaming doors online 

      ||   |       |  6 HST Duals!      7 mail nets, 1200 conferences 

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     Thanks for your support of The Musical Chair! 

          

         

                                                       Page 13

          

          BETTER RECORDINGS ON THE SB, PART 2

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

          Written by Brad Barclay

          

               Over the past year the SBD has published a few articles on

          improving your digitizing with special software and techniques. 

          This one is going to deal on some easy techniques that any SB user

          can use.  For a few of them, you will require some special

          software, such as Blaster Master by Gary Maddox, or Recording

          Studio Professional (see the review on RSP in this issue for more

          details).

          

               First off, an important idea in sampling:  The Nyquist

          Theorem.  Simply put, this mathematically proven idea states that

          you can't sample any frequency higher then half of your sampling

          rate.  Doing so usually causes major noise problems.  Luckily, the

          SB and SB Pro cards contain some chips for the purpose of "Anti-

          Aliasing", which strips all frequencies higher then the Nyquist

          rate.  This is important to remember when recording anything:  if

          it contains any high pitched sounds, sample at a higher rate.  As a

          guide, human hearing is generally between about 30 and 15000 Hz.

          

               The recording process is probably simple for most of our

          readers by now, but in case you need to know some of the specifics

          on how to physically make a sample, refer to your SB manual, the

          software manual for whatever software you're using to record with,

          and back issues of the SBD, some of which contain information on

          hooking up other audio equipment to a regular SB, and other

          recording information.

          

               Here is about the best procedure that I know for making great

          samples.  Sadly, most of our readers will not be able to use such

          functions due to hardware and software limitations.  But it is

          provided here as a reference on how it is possible to improve

          samples.  For our samples, we Use a Sound Blaster Pro with a Record

          player, CD Player, or Tape player hooked up for making the sample

          through the LINE IN input.  We record using Creative Lab's Voice

          Editor for the SB Pro at a rate of 22.05Khz, with a high pass

          filter turned on, in mono.  We manipulate the sample with Turtle

          Beach Systems RECORDING STUDIO PROFESSIONAL.

          

               First off, we chose what we want to sample.  Many times it is

          good to check how long your intended sample will be before you

          actually sample.  Next, we record the sample at 22.05Khz with 

          about 2 seconds of extra lead at both the beginning and the end. 

          We edit this out in the Voice Editor, so we only have the sample

          we want.  Saving this, we go into RSP where the fun (and longest

          parts) begin.

         

                                                       Page 14

          

               When we have the sample loaded in RSP, the first thing we do

          is to put it through the Bandpass Equalizer, with a midrange of 5

          Khz, a bandwidth of 3000Hz, and a Gain of 10 db (Decibels).  This

          function increases the volume of all frequencies between 3500Hz and

          6500 Hz by 10 db, and drops out all other frequencies.  While this

          is happening, we have a chance to get a glass of milk and turn on

          our favourite CD while we wait.

          

               Once finished, we then continue on to downsample our new

          recording down to 12000Hz, thus saving us a lot of space (nearly

          50%) without any noticeable sound quality change (note:  according

          to the Nyquist Theorem, we really should be downsampling to 13Khz

          instead of 12Khz, as after the Bandpass we have frequencies of up

          to 6500Hz, and at 12Khz the maximum is only 6000Hz, but RSP takes

          care of this small detail for us).  This function takes a really

          long time, even on a very very small sound file.  So we usually go

          and have a meal, watch some TV, play chess or discuss the meaning

          of life while it's working.

          

               Lastly, through these functions our sample volume has overall

          decreased.  Thus, we Normalize the sample.  Normalizing will put

          the sample up to its maximum volume before any distortion occurs. 

          We then save this finished sample.

          

               Next, it's on back to the Voice Editor, where, if we so wish,

          we compress the sample, and then audition it.Saving this, we have

          our finished product.

          

               I have personally tested this myself, and it works great.  I

          have taken some samples off of a record, put it through this

          process (with one extra step near the beginning, where I edit out

          any pops due to small scratches in the record), and it comes out

          sounding like it was straight off of a CD.

          

               I realize that many people out there don't have the

          facilities to use such a process as I do, so here's some

          suggestions.  If you don't have RSP or the Voice Editor, try using

          the Shareware utility Blaster Master for many of the functions

          described.  If you don't have an SB Pro, but you have a fast 386 or

          better, try using Blaster Master's High Sample feature for sampling

          at up to 23Khz.  If you don't have a fast enough system, then make

          your original recording at 12Khz and skip the downsampling process. 

          If you wish to normalize and you don't have RSP, use any volume

          increaser and estimate how much of an increase you need, or try

          recording at a louder volume.

         

                                                       Page 15

          

               I have included a sample digitized off of a record in this

          month's SBD for you to listen to and play with.The song's title is

          "Diamonds and Rust (Extended Version)", by The Stormtroopers of

          Death, and has to be one of the shortest songs I've ever

          encountered, at a measly 2 seconds.  So play around with it to see

          what sort of sound you can get.  And even though it was recorded on

          a Pro card, it is playable on the original SB also.

          

               Happy Digitizing!

          

                                 --------------------

          

          SUBSCRIPTIONS:

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               Having a hard time finding the newest copy of the SBD on your

          favorite local BBS?  Why not consider a SBD subscription?  A

          subscription entitles you to 12 great issues, one a month, packed

          full of SB and SB Pro news and reviews.  Subscribers also get

          special bonus files not available anywhere else, plus special

          offers on software and support!  Nowhere else can you find this

          sort of deal for your Sound Blaster needs.

          

               Subscriptions make great gifts also!  If you'd like to send a

          gift subscription with a special 'First Issue' message, just send

          that message along with your subscription form filled out to the

          reciever of the subscription, and it will be sent along with their

          first disk!

          

               Simply fill out the attached form, and enclose the required

          ammount...it's that easy!

          

                                 --------------------

          WANT-ADS:

          =-=-=-=-=

          

               Interested in meeting or getting to know other Sound Blaster

          users in your area?  Wanting to trade Shareware and PD software

          abroad?  Then why not try a WANT-AD in the SBD?  It's only $1 CDN

          per month, and at that sort of price everyone can afford to buy

          one!

          

               Just fill out the included WANT-ADS form, and include a cheque

          or money order for the correct number of months you wish to have

          your want-ad published, and mail it to us!

          

               Advertisements for new software, hardware, or BBS's are exempt

          from using the WANT-ADS:  please use one of our other services for

          these.  The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse any want-

          ad.

         

                                                       Page 16

          

          COMMERCIAL REVIEW:  PUZZNIC

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

                   RATINGS:

                   -------

                                            [-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10]

          

                   Graphics:                ***************

                   Sound Blaster Support:   *******************

                   Playability:             ******************

                   Enjoyment:               ***************

                   Originality:             **********************

                   Value:                   *****************

                   Overall:                 ******************

          

               Puzznic supports all graphics modes up to EGA (320x200

          resolution).  The Sound Blaster support is very good.  The game

          utilizes the Sound Blaster for good background music, as well as

          sound effects.  Made by Taito, the sounds are typically the kind

          you find in an Arcade Game. Puzznic supports the keyboard as its

          input device.  Mouse and Joystick are not supported, although the

          use of either as a better input device is a debatable topic.

          

              Puzznic is a very original game that combines difficult

          puzzles with a touch of reflexes and skill.  You are faced with a

          myriad of puzzles, each more difficult than the one before it.  In

          each puzzle, you are given a set of blocks in a closed area.  The

          game works in three dimensions: height, width and time.  To clear

          the puzzle, you must eliminate each and every block on the screen. 

          This is no simple task. There are eight different block types, and

          each block may only be eliminated by touching it to another block

          of similar type.  The simple, low level puzzles have blocks set up

          in pairs on the screen, so it's an elementary matter of pulling and

          pushing the blocks until they touch and presto, the level is

          cleared.  There is a time limit to clear  the puzzle, so you can't

          sit and think forever:  you receive 1 minute at level one, a minute

          and thirty seconds at level two, and progressively more time as the

          puzzles get harder and harder.  An element of gravity is added, so

          you can't pull blocks "upward" if you make the mistake of letting

          it drop into an place where it's inaccessible by another block of

          the same type (a deadly predicament, since you can't solve the

          puzzle without eliminating the block in question).  At later

          levels, elevator blocks and conveyor blocks are introduced:  these

          move up/down and side to side respectively.  By cleverly moving the

          blocks onto these, you can get them from one side of the screen to

          the next (which is almost always required to solve the puzzle if a

          conveyor block is used), or from the bottom of the screen    to the

          top.  Bonus points are scored if you eliminate multiple blocks

                                                       Page 17

          

           (more than two) at the same time.  Although eliminating blocks is

          easy if given blocks in multiples of two (all you need to do is

          pair them together, and the puzzle is solved), difficulties arise

          as you are given an odd number of blocks, as you will have to (at

          least once) eliminate a three-some of blocks, which is a skill that

          needs to be developed to pass the final stages of the game.  At

          harder levels, quarters get cramped, so one wrong move and you're

          forced to retry the puzzle from the start.

          

              With mediocre graphics and good sounds, Puzznic is a

          challenging, puzzle-type game that will amuse you for hours on end

          if you enjoy a good brain-twister now and then.

          

                                 --------------------

          

                    SOUND BLASTER CARD in support of

          ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿

          ³±±±±±±±±±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±±±±±±±±±±²²±²²±±±±±±°³   S

        úÞ³±²±²±²±²±±°°°°°±°°°°°±°°°°°±°°°°°²²±²²±²²±±°°±°°þþþþ±°³   U

          ³±²°²°²°²°²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²°²²°²²°²²±²²±²±²±±°³   P

      ú  þݱ±°±°±°±°±°°°°°±°°°°°±°°°°°±°°°°°±°°±°°±°°±°°±°°±°±°±°³   E

         þݱ²±²±²±²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²²²²±²²±²²±²±±²²±²²±²±²±±°³   R

       ú  À°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°Ù

      þú SONIC..úúþ                           ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ    S

         Sound and Optics Net for IBM Computers úúúúúú               O

      úúúOFFICIAL S/BLASTER DISTRIBUTIONúúúúúúú 1-(416)-225-8942     N

     þ                         ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» I

       úúþ   úúúúúÞ úúúúúúú    ºÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ Brian & Brent Bourne º C

              úú ÞÝÞÞ    þúúúúúº³ÝÝÝÝÝÛÛÛÛÛÛ³úúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúúº

     ú ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÞÄÄÄÞ ÄÄÄÄÄÄ  º³ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ³ ÜÜÜÜÜ  SUPER   Ü     º B

       ÄÄÄþÄÄÄÄÄÄÞÝÄþÄÞ ÄÄÄÄÄÄ º³ÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÜܳ ÛÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ Ü ÜÜÜ  º B

      úúÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÞÝÄÄÄÞ ÄÄÄþÄÄ º³ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ³ ÜÜÜÜÛ ÛÜÛ Û Û Û ÛÜÜ  º S

         ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÞÝÄÄÞÝþ ÄÄÄÄ  ºÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙúúúúúúúúúúúBBSúúúúúúúúº

        úÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÜÞÝÄ ÝÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ

      úúúú ÜÛÛÛÛ°ÞÝ  ßþþþ úúú  ULTRA LIST DISTRIBUTION SITE

       þ   ÛÛÛÛ²°Þ  úúúúú      FIDO NET

        þ  ß°°°°ß       þ      HOME OF THE SONIC NET

                            þ  SPECIALIZING IN ADLIB/BLASTER FILES

                               OFFICIAL SBD DISTRIBUTION SITE!

                                                       Page 18

           

          SHAREWARE REVIEW: VOC_SHOW by Tom Moran 

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 

          

          Written by Robert Simpson

          

               I recently downloaded a number of Sound Blaster-related files

          from CompuServe.  I was looking for a program or sample C/C++ code

          which I could use to add voice to a program I am currently working

          on.  Instead I found VOC_SHOW, which impressed me enough that I

          wanted to spread the word with my first attempt at a publicly

          distributed  review.

          

               VOC_SHOW by Tom Moran allows you to play .VOC files through

          the PC speaker.  Okay, Okay, I hear your objections, but please

          read on.  First, although it does not use the Sound Blaster card

          itself, it can be very useful to Sound Blaster owners.  Second,

          you're  right, it doesn't sound as good as voice played through

          the  Sound Blaster, but it is the best I've heard from the speaker

          yet.

          

               VOC_SHOW can be used to play .VOC from the DOS command line,

          from batch files, or from a call to DOS (system("voc_show ...") in

          C) within a program.  Software authors can record voice files

          using their Sound Blaster and include them in programs which can

          be run on systems which have only the PC speaker.  Better still,

          you can test for the presence of a Sound Blaster resulting in

          programs which take advantage of the enhanced sound capability

          when available but will run on any system.

          

               Source code is included in the .ZIP file which is

          distributed.  However, since it is written in ADA and JASM86, it

          will probably require some time to convert the source code for use

          in your own programs, unless you have access to the ADA compiler

          and assembler.

          

               The documentation which is included is a poorly formatted

          single screen listing of the files which are included in the .ZIP

          file.  It indicates that this is an "early" version of the

          program.  The author's address is also included.  With a little

          encouragement from some positive feedback, I'm sure this will turn

          into a high quality and well documented shareware product.   

                                                       Page 19

          

               The quality of sound from the PC speaker is limited by the 

          hardware.  Also, the program loads the .VOC files 20K at a time 

          resulting in noticeable pauses every two to four seconds.  As a 

          result, VOC_SHOW will not be acceptable for applications which 

          require high quality voice output.  The program I am currently 

          working on will produce personalized "MY VISIT WITH SANTA" books 

          in under 5 minutes for children visiting Santa in the local malls. 

          When the book's author, my friend/client, heard the Sound Blaster,

          he wanted voice output from the program to help attract attention. 

          (Eventually, there may be a graphic of Santa talking!)  We wanted 

          a higher quality output than VOC_SHOW provides, so we will probably 

          be buying a Sound Blaster for each system installed in the malls. 

          In this case, since there is a limited number of systems and we

          have control of their configuration, the Sound Blaster is the

          appropriate choice.  But if you are producing a program for

          widespread and/or general distribution, VOC_SHOW is highly

          recommended.

          

                                 --------------------

          

          

          WANT-ADS:

          =-=-=-=-=

          

          ------------------------------------------------------------------

          

          Sound Blaster contacts to swap/create files

          Call 0905 754151 BBS, 0860 891893 Voice, 0905

          755017 (Fax) or write/mail disk to Jon Brooks

          39 Tetbury Drive, Warndon, Worcester, WR4 9LG

          England

          

          ------------------------------------------------------------------

          

         

                                                       Page 20

          

          INCLUDED FILES:

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               This month we have included a few different files for your

          enjoyment:

          

                    D&REV.VOC:     "Diamonds and Rust (Extended Version)".

                                   Originally recorded by The Stormtroopers

                                   of Death.  This is an 8 bit uncompressed

                                   file, with a sampling rate of about

                                   12000 Hz.  This was recorded using the

                                   method explained in our above article on

                                   better recording.

          

                    SURVEY.FRM:    Our Readers Survey Form and Envelope!

                                   Fill this out today to be eligible for

                                   our contest!

          

                    

                    SHEBOP.CMF

                    SHADOWS.CMF

                    WHITEWED.CMF:  Three songs as transcribed by Dan

                                   Surratt.  Many thanks for the songs,

                                   Dan!

          

                    SBDBBS.TXT:    The SBD's Official BBS list!

          

                    SUBSCR.TXT:    Volume 2 of our Subscribers Newsletter!

                                   This only includes special subscriber-

                                   only offers!  No reviews or other Sound

                                   Blaster related material included!

                                   (subscribers only).

          

                    APS.VOC

                    HENDRIX.VOC

                    HEYGORDY.VOC:  More incredibly short digitized songs by

                                   The Stormtroopers of Death.

                                   (subscribers only).

         

                                                       Page 21

          

          HOW TO CONTACT THE SBD:

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               Now there's more ways then ever to get in contact with the

          SBD!

          

               If you wish to write to us by mail, please address you're

          package/envelope to:

          

                               THE SOUND BLASTER DIGEST

                                   c/o Brad Barclay

                                    36 Sutter Ave.

                                   Brampton, Ontario

                                   CANADA  L6Z 1G7.

          

               Or you can phone between 17:30 and 22:00 any day of the week

          by dialing:

          

                                Phone:  (416)846-5599.

          

               If you're calling long-distance, from Canada and the US simply

          dial 1 and then the above number.  From all other areas, please

          consult your local telephone directory, or contact your local

          telephone operator.

          

               If you'd like to leave us E-Mail, you can contact us through

          the following conferences:

          

                         RelayNet's Sound Cards Conference.

                         SONIC Net's Sound Blaster Conference.

                         The Musical Chair's SBD (23) Conference.

          

               If you wish to quickly download the newest issue of the SBD

          quickly, call THE MUSICAL CHAIR BBS at (416)724-6018 and log-on

          using the name SB DIGEST and the password MUSICAL.  TMC supports up

          to 38400bps.

          

               If you wish to quickly download ANY issue of the SBD and/or

          leave us a quick note, call SUPER SONIC BBS at (416)225-8942 and

          log-on using the name SB DIGEST and the password SONIC.  SUPER

          SONIC supports up to 2400bps.

          

               We hope to hear from you soon!

         

                                                       Page 22

          

          ADVERTISEMENTS:

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                    

               Do you run a BBS?  Have you written a piece of software?  Do

          you write custom music?  If so, you may be interested in an

          advertisement in the SBD.  Thousands of SOUND BLASTER users read

          the SBD every month, and many even have it delivered right to

          their door.  So if you give some sort of special support to those

          people who use the SOUND BLASTER, advertising in the SBD would be

          the logical choice!

                              

                              

                Number of lines:                                Cost:

                ---------------                                 ----

                    

                     0 - 5                                   $3 / Month

                     6 - 10                                  $5 / Month

                    11 - 20                                  $7 / Month

                    21 - 40                                 $10 / Month

                    41 - 60                                 $15 / Month

                    

               Lines are limited to a maximum of 80 columns.  All costs are

          in Canadian dollars.

          

                                 --------------------

          

          WRAPPING IT UP...

          =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

          

               Well, it's been a very interesting year for us here at the

          SBD.  We hope you have enjoyed our publication, and have found it

          useful to you in using your SB or SB Pro card.

          

               There are many people I would like to thank for their help in

          the past year:  but there are too many names to list (much less

          remember!).  So thanks to all our subscribers, to those who have

          sent in articles, for those who have sent us hardware and other

          donations, to those who have sent in their SB software for review,

          and for those who have been faithfully reading us every month since

          we started.  But we wish to especially thank those of you who are

          passing the SBD around to every BBS you can!

          

               Some specific thanks...many thanks to Todd Clayton and Karen

          O'Hearn, without whom I would not be able to continue the SBD at

          such a size!  Also thanks to Jeff Woods and Brian Bourne, two great

          Sysops whose help is appreciated.  Also thanks to Gary Maddox who

          is full of ideas and helps send our publication to CompuServe (at

          least until we can afford to do so ourselves!).  All of you have

          been here for me this past year helping the SBD to improve. 

          Without you the SBD would not have lasted this long!

         

                                                       Page 23

          

               And finally, many thanks to Karen O'Hearn, the great woman

          behind the man who publishes this publication each and every month: 

          it's a full time job, and without you I would have quit out of

          frustration numerous times.  but you've always been there behind

          me, and I thank you for it.  I love you Karen, no doubt about that.

          

               Thanks for reading!

         

                                                       Page 24

          

                       SOUND BLASTER DIGEST SUBSCRIPTION FORM 

                       ====================================== 

           

            Please enclose a cheque or money order (sorry, I don't accept 

          any major or minor credit cards) for $25 CDN for Canadian orders,

          or $25 US for American orders.  Overseas enclose $30 Canadian 

          funds, payable on a Canadian bank.  Please fill out all the 

          spaces provided (except where marked optional), and mail it to 

          the address below.  MAKE CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO BRAD

          BARCLAY!

           

           

            NAME:_____________________________ 

           

            

            MAILING ADDRESS:  Street address:_____________________________  

          

                              City, Province/State:_______________________  

          

                              Country, Postal/ZIP Code:___________________ 

           

            PHONE NUMBER (don't forget the area code!):___________________ 

           

            DISKETTE TYPE:  (check one): 

                              _                         _ 

                             [_]  5.25"                [_]  3.5" 

           

           

            OPTIONAL:  Please fill this out if possible. 

           

               Age:____________    Sound Blaster version:_______________ 

           

               Occupation:________________ 

           

               Most frequently called BBS (name only):__________________ 

           

           

            COMMENTS:  Please fill this out also! 

           

            How would you rate THE SOUND BLASTER DIGEST (circle one): 

           

                     POOR       FAIR       GOOD       EXCELLENT 

           

                     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10 

           

            Please mail this form, along with any additional comments to: 

           

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST 

                                  c/o Brad Barclay 

                                   36 Sutter ave. 

                                  Brampton, Ontario 

                                  CANADA.  L6Z 1G7

                                                       Page 25

          

                    SOUND BLASTER DIGEST ADVERTISEMENT ORDER FORM 

                    ============================================= 

           

            Please fill out this form, and mail it, along with a cheque for

          $5 (in US funds for American orders, and in Canadian funds for 

          Canadian orders), along with an ASCII only, typed copy of your 

          ad, and mail it to the address below.  PLEASE MAKE CHEQUE/MONEY

          ORDER PAYABLE TO BRAD BARCLAY!

           

            

            NAME:_____________________________  

            

            

            

            MAILING ADDRESS:  Street address:_____________________________  

            

                              City, Province/State:_______________________  

            

                              Country, Postal/ZIP Code:___________________  

           

            PHONE NUMBER (don't forget the area code!):___________________ 

           

            BEST TIMES AVAILABLE:_________________________________________ 

           

            

            Please mail this form, along with your cheque and a copy of the

          ad as described above, along with any other comments to: 

            

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST  

                                  c/o Brad Barclay  

                                   36 Sutter ave.  

                                  Brampton, Ontario  

                                  CANADA.  L6Z 1G7  

         

                                                       Page 26

          

                        SOUND BLASTER DIGEST BBS REGISTRATION  

                        =====================================  

            

            This is a free service of THE SOUND BLASTER DIGEST, intended to 

          allow greater access to Sound Blaster files.  Please fill out all 

          blanks (except where marked optional), and send to the address  

          below:  

            

            LIST INFORMATION:  

            

               Name of BBS:____________________________________________  

                 

               Sysop's Name:___________________________________________  

            

               City, Province/State:___________________________________  

            

               Phone Number (remember the area code!):_________________  

            

               Min/Max Transmission speed:_____________________________  

            

            

            OTHER INFORMATION:  

            

            Although not included in the BBS listing, this information is  

          important for our records.  

            

            How long has the BBS been running:_________________________  

            

            Do you have a Music/Sound Card conference, message area, or    

           

            file area set aside?:______________________________________  

            

            Does your BBS support and Sound Blaster files?:____________  

            

            Anything else you can think of to say that would show off your 

            BBS, please write it down here:  

            

            ______________________________________________________________ 

           

            ______________________________________________________________ 

           

            ______________________________________________________________ 

           

            ______________________________________________________________ 

           

            ______________________________________________________________ 

             

           

            Mail this form, along with any extra comments to:  

            

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST  

                                  c/o Brad Barclay  

                                   36 Sutter Ave.  

                                  Brampton, Ontario  

                                  CANADA.  L6Z 1G7  

         

                                                       Page 27

          

                    ORDER FORM:  THE SOUND BLASTER DIGEST DEMO TAPE

                    ===============================================

          

           

            Please enclose a cheque or money order (sorry, I don't accept 

          any major or minor credit cards) for $7.50 CDN for Canadian

          orders, or $7.50 US for American orders.  Overseas enclose $10

          Canadian funds, payable on a Canadian bank.  Please fill out all

          the spaces provided (except where marked optional), and mail it to

          the address below.  MAKE CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO BRAD

          BARCLAY!

           

           

            NAME:_____________________________ 

           

            

            MAILING ADDRESS:  Street address:_____________________________  

                              City, Province/State:_______________________  

                              Country, Postal/ZIP Code:___________________ 

           

            PHONE NUMBER (don't forget the area code!):___________________ 

           

            DISKETTE TYPE:  (check one): 

                              _                         _ 

                             [_]  5.25"                [_]  3.5" 

          

            MUSIC FORMAT:  In which Sound Blaster music file format are you

                           the most interested?  (Circle all of interest).

           

                  .CMF   .JMP   .MID   .MOD   .NST   .ORG   .ROL   .VOC   

          

          

            Please mail this form, along with any additional comments to: 

           

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST 

                                  c/o Brad Barclay 

                                   36 Sutter ave. 

                                  Brampton, Ontario 

                                  CANADA.  L6Z 1G7 

         

                                                       Page 28

          

                       ORDER FORM:  THE BEST OF THE SBD:  YEAR 1

                       =========================================

           

            Please enclose a cheque or money order (sorry, I don't accept 

          any major or minor credit cards) for $7.50 CDN for Canadian

          orders, or $7.50 US for American orders.  Overseas enclose $10

          Canadian funds, payable on a Canadian bank.  Please fill out all

          the spaces provided (except where marked optional), and mail it to

          the address below.  MAKE CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO BRAD

          BARCLAY!

           

           

            NAME:_____________________________ 

           

            

            MAILING ADDRESS:  Street address:_____________________________  


                              City, Province/State:_______________________  


                              Country, Postal/ZIP Code:___________________ 

           

            PHONE NUMBER (don't forget the area code!):___________________ 

           

            DISKETTE TYPE:  (check one): 

                              _                         _ 

                             <_>  5.25"                <_>  3.5" 

          

            PAST ISSUES:  Which issues of the SBD have you read?

                          (Circle one):

          

          

               1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10   11   12

          

          

            Please mail this form, along with any additional comments to: 

           

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST 

                                  c/o Brad Barclay 

                                   36 Sutter ave. 

                                  Brampton, Ontario 

                                  CANADA.  L6Z 1G7 

         

                                                       Page 29


                      SOUND BLASTER DIGEST WANT-ADS ORDER FORM  

                      ========================================  

            

               Please fill out this form and enclose a cheque or money  

          order payable on a Canadian bank for $1 CDN per month of  

          publication, and mail it to the address below.  BE SURE TO MAKE  

          THE CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO BRAD BARCLAY!  

            

             

            NAME:_____________________________   

             

              

            MAILING ADDRESS:  Street address:_____________________________ 

           

             

                              City, Province/State:_______________________ 

           

             

                              Country, Postal/ZIP Code:___________________ 

           

                       

            PHONE NUMBER (don't forget the area code!):___________________ 

           

                     

            YOUR WANT-AD: 

                     

               Please write what you'd like your ad to read in the lines 

           below.  No more then 80 characters (including spaces) per line, 5 

           lines maximum.  Letter, numerical and punctuation marks only.  

           Uppercase and lower case will be in the SBD as you write them 

           below.  English only, and please print! 

           

            _______________________________________________________________ 

                     

            _______________________________________________________________ 

           

            _______________________________________________________________ 

           

            _______________________________________________________________ 

           

            _______________________________________________________________ 

           

                     

            Please mail this form, along with any additional comments to: 

           

                                SOUND BLASTER DIGEST 

                                   c/o Brad Barclay 

                                    36 Sutter Ave. 

                                   Brampton, Ontario 

                                    CANADA  L6Z 1G7 

            

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