(58)    Mon 23 Sep 91 15:38
By: Kenneth McVay
To: All
Re: SOUND: Frequently Asked Questions
St:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@PTH 89:81/2.0@imex
From: root@oneb.wimsey.bc.ca (Kenneth McVay)
Path: oneb!root

FAQL (Frequently Asked Questions List)
--------------------------------------

The sound letter receives a fair amount of questions so we have
decided to produce this frequently asked questions list to
provide a good start for those entering the sound field.

1)  What are the various types of sound files available?

    a) SND : These are 8-bit sound samples usually generated by
             Macintosh computers. It can be easily ported to
             other environments such as the IBM.
    b) MOD : These are sound samples usually generated by Amiga
             computers. It is not compatible with other
             formats.
    c) STM : These are Scream Tracker files used by the Scream
             Tracker Program (IBM). Instruments are stored inside
             the same.
    d) ROL : These are Roland files to be used with Roland
             compatible equipment. AdLib users will be able to
             play these files with the files with the help of the
             AdLib/Rol sound driver. Sound Blaster users should
             use the PLAYROL driver.
    e) MUS : These are a Sound Blaster MUSic files to used with
             the PLAY program. Instruments are stored in a SND
             file which is not compatible with the SND format
             commonly used by the Macintosh.
    f) VOC : These are Sound Blaster VOiCe files which is pseudo-
             compatible with SND files, except the header must be
             stripped off and the sample converted to a standard
             sampling rate.
    g) CMF : Creative Music Format used by Soundblaster cards. This
             comes with the Soundblaster but is not in wide use.

    h) AU  : Sun uLaw file.  These play on the Sun work stations and
             with sun2voc you can converte it to soundblaster VOC format.

2.  What are the various sound program I can use on my PC and what types
    of sound files do they play?

       a) REmac/Playmac : These programs are the first in the field
       of sound technology and can play SND files. The heart of
       the sound player is REmac with Playmac providing an easy
       point-and-shoot shell.  These are Shareware
       filenames: remac.zip, playmac2.zip
       Contact: dchun@aludra.usc.edu or davek@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu

    b) Playbwc : A technological leap from Playmac. Playbwc now
       incorporates B's Wave Center to play SND files.  It also
       supports SoundBlaster and AdLib boards as well as the JDAC
       box. BWC also provides a powerful editor to mix sound
       samples/alter waves, create echo's and much more.
       The Playmac interface is Freeware and BWC is Shareware
       filename: playbwc.zip
       Contact: (bwc) Kim.Heino@f151.n222.z2.FIDONET.ORG
                (playmac) see (a)

    c) Scream Tracker: This program is from Finland and will play
       STM files. Instead of using sound samples, the STM format
       plays samples from an instrument bank. This allows for
       longer samples with less space.  Shareware
       filename: stm221.zip
       contact: No internet address

    d) Modplay: This program will play MOD files though the PC
       speaker as well as the SoundBlaster. It provides several
       features not readily available with other MOD packages.
       This includes the ability to fastforward though files.
       This program is Freeware
       filename: mp116e.zip
       contact: m.j.h.cox@bradford.ac.uk

    e) Play 4.0 : This program will play SND files through the
       PC speaker with an easy to use interface.
       filename: play4.zip
       contact: m.j.h.cox@bradford.ac.uk

    f) FM Sound: This is a Windows ROL player designed to play
       ROL files in the Windows 3.0 Environment. Windows 3.0 is
       required with this program and supports a more
       sophisticated instrument bank file. Best ROL player for
       Windows 3.0 users.  This is Shareware
       filename: ???
       contact: ???

    g) Track blaster: This programs only works with the Sound
       Blaster and will be able to play MOD files. Best program
       for MOD files for Sound Blaster users.  This is Shareware.
       filename: tblast20.zip
       contact: ???

    h) ModEdit :  This program will allow you to edit MOD files.
       (see info in this sound newsletter)
       filename: moded110.zip
       contact : norlin@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu


    i) DigiPlay :

    j) Adplay:

    k) PCsound:


3)  What sort of Sound cards are available?
    a) Soundblaster/Soundblaster Pro
    b) Adlib/Adlib Gold
    c) JDAC

4)  What is multimedia?

5)  What are these FTP sites I always here of?

    FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. The FTP utility is a
    program used to receive files from a remote system. FTP sites
    contain archives of programs and those listed at the bottom
    of the newsletter.

6)  How else can I obtain sound files?

    Also listed below is a partial list of bulletin boards (BBS)
    that carry the sound letter as well as various sound files.
    If you have a modem you can connect to these boards and
    download the files to your computer. The Sound Newsletter may
    in the future also have disks available via mail.


7)  How can I convert the sound blaster format to a SND?

    There is a utility called voc2snd that is avaiable which will
    convert the files for you.

8)  How can I convert the SUN format to a VOC file.

    Use the utility called sun2voc.

9)  How can I play files on a Mac?

    Mac users can tread SND files as a sound resourse file similiar
    to those provided for Macintosh.

10) How can I play files on a Sun?

11) How can I play files on an Amiga?
--
--- SCO XENIX 2.3.2 GT

--- Fred-Uf 1.8h[BETA]
 * Origin: FredMail Gateway -- You have it, we'll gate it. (89:81/2.0)

@PID: FredMail 1.8-BETA
@PATH: 681/9300 9000 0 204 81/7