ZX Format #03 29 февраля 1996

Железо     Звук

Iron - a new sound card: General Sound.

         GENERAL SOUND


 STUDIO X-TRADE '& HACER STINGER

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         Virtual reality


         should not only be


         visible, but audible ...



   We continue to acquaint readers ZX-Format with our joint 
development - music Card GENERAL SOUND.


   If the you have read the second edition
ZF, you probably have not remained indifferent to our first 
article and expressed in her thoughts. Your

reaction could be: "This
will be just great! "or this:
"I can not believe something." Although public opinion polls 
(among programmers) reaction in the vast majority was reduced 
to "That's cool." On this basis, The authors believe that the 
opinions of the users too optimistic. 

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   We now proceed to further
familiarity with "GS".


   As already mentioned, "GS"
a microprocessor system. Without too much thought has been 
selected MP Z80, as most programmers

Speccy well known assembler
only for the Z80. Having estimated the algorithm of the system, 
the authors concluded that complete work "GS", ie qualitative

sound plus the work of internal
programs require a high performance processor. Therefore, in 
the Z80 runs with a clock frequency of 10 MHz. Naturally, using 
the MP Z80H, use Z80B - called into question, and the use of 
fully Z80A excluded. All of the above

indicates that the qualitative reproduction of digitized music 
by Spectrum - It completely hopeless, as well as writing for

a corresponding soft'a type "DIGITAL ...", since 3.5
MHz will not give any chance
for high-quality sound. Add
distortions and uneven performance of Spectrum - from
This voobshe not be saved, turbirovanie computer more effort
uneven.

   Next.

   In the basic version of the "GS" under
music play 120 KB of RAM plus 32 KB of ROM on
inside the BIOS, and special
table to accelerate the work of the internal program. Provided
expandable memory up to
504 kB (you imagine -
almost 505 kb only the music !!!). Provides global
Volume Adjustment (64 levels). It is very important, since
low volumes the sound remains
the same quality as on
large. In COVOX, for example,
low volume will drown in
quantization noise (the noise is always present). So that the 
volume control significantly expand the dynamic range

digital music and FX-maintenance.

   In conclusion, adding that "GS"
is bi-directional interface
with a computer and is not excluded
ability to use "GS"
not for its intended purpose, but
For example, to store data
or to quickly calculate mathematical values, because the "GS"
has three times more performance than the SPECCY!
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