
                 Using SoundBlaster 2.0 clones 
       (such as the Media Vision ThunderBoard Card)
		       with OS/2 Warp
       ---------------------------------------------

(Resume: type "patch sbos2.fil /a")

Several sound cards claim to be SoundBlaster 2.0 compatible (8-bit)
but Warp does not work with them. These cards include the Media Vision
Thunderboard. My own card is a card which provides 16-bit sound
in "Windows Sound System" mode through the AD1848 chip and 8-bit
Sound Blaster 2.0 support (mainly for DOS games) through the MediaVision
Thunder chip. I get 16-bit sound under Warp with the "Business Audio
(AD1848)" driver, so there is no need for me to use the SB 2.0 mode.
Nevertheless, I managed to get the SB 2.0 mode to work under Warp!
Here's how. 

First, I found the file tbos2.zip on the net which contains the OS/2 2.1
driver made by Creative Labs and patched by MediaVision. This is what
MV writes:

   "As many of you know, Media Vision has perfected Sound Blaster compatibility
   and all of our sound cards that claim 100% Sound Blaster are, in fact,
   compatible at the hardware level.  
   
   Paradoxically, the SoundBlaster driver that ships with OS/2 2.1 (SBD2.SYS) 
   does not work with the Media Vision ThunderBoard nor the SoundBlaster 
   section of the Pro AudioSpectrum 16, even though the hardware is the same.
   
   Here's the reason why:  When Media Vision cloned the original Sound Blaster
   (calling our clone 'ThunderBoard'), we added some extra features. For 
   example, the ThunderBoard has the ability to record at up to 22KHz.  We 
   needed a way to check whether the card in the system was a Sound Blaster 
   or a ThunderBoard to determine whether or not to allow the enhanced 
   functionality.  
   
   The method we came up with was to have a 'hidden' version number.  The first
   time a program asks a ThunderBoard (TB) for its version number, the TB
   returns the same value the Sound Blaster returns.  The second time, the TB 
   returns its own version number (which is different from the Sound Blaster 
   version number.)
   
   The Sound Blaster people discovered our trick and now they put a _double_ 
   version check into their code to detect the ThunderBoard.  We think
   that's a fair and reasonable thing to do, as long as they don't crash the
   user's system or do anything else destructive.  Claims that the ThunderBoard
   isn't 100% compatible are obviously misleading.
   
   The OS/2 driver peforms a double version check and so it's possible to bypass
   the second check and allow the ThunderBoard to work.  All that is necessary
   is to change a single byte.  We're telling you which byte it is here so that
   you can verify the change or perform it yourself.  We've also supplied a
   patched version so that you can avoid the details and just start using the
   driver".

Unfortunately, the OS/2 2.1 driver does not work under Warp. So I compared
both the 2.1 driver and the Warp driver and found the spot which had to
be patched. And sure enough, it worked! Your mileage may vary though.
It depends on your sound card, if it's "compatible" enough with the
original SB 2.0... So, no guarantees, but the least you can do is give
it a try.

First, make sure you've installed the MMPM/2 SoundBlaster driver. I.e.,
startup Selective Install and choose "Sound Blaster (ISA and MCV)" under
the Multimedia part of the screen. Be sure to use enter the correct
IRQ, DMA and I/O port for your sound card.

When the Selective Install program has finished, go to an OS/2 command window
and perform these commands:

(assuming you've unzipped the contents of this archive to C:\TMP)

[C:\]cd \tmp
[C:\TMP]patch sbos2.fil /a

This will change one byte in the file SBD2.SYS.

Now reboot your computer and you should have sounds. If your sound card
does not use dipswitches for setting the IRQ, DMA and I/O port, you may
have to boot DOS and use the DOS utility supplied with your sound card.
That program will configure your sound card (they have to agree
with what you chose in the installation of the Warp driver). I can run
this DOS program even from a DOS box but you may have to boot to pure DOS.
If your sound card uses dipswitches, you may not have a DOS utility
to configure your card. You won't have to boot DOS then.

Jacco de Leeuw (leeuw@fwi.uva.nl)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES (copied from the Mediavision text):

   *  Digital audio appears to work fine.  

   *  FM synthesis (MIDI player) doesn't appear to work.  We don't know why.
      If you get it to work, let us know.

   *  In theory, this driver should work on the Sound Blaster section of the
      PAS 16.  This would allow you to have two Sound drivers working 
      at the same time in MMPM.  We have not tested this. If you get it
      to work, let us know.  If you can't get it to work, we don't want to 
      know.

   *  The ThunderBoard does not have a MIDI interface!  Do not waste your
      time or money trying to use a MIDI connector box.

   *  Since we have only patched this driver and don't have the ability to
      modify the original source code, do not expect any bug fixes or 
      changes to come from Media Vision.  

   *  Media Vision's Tech Support department will not be able to assist
      you with this driver.  If you have comments or questions about this
      driver send them to:
		Internet: 75300,2772@compuserve.com
		CompuServe: Media Vision [75300,2772]
		FAX: (510) 226-2582, Attn. OS/2 engineering	

   *  Many people have asked whether Media Vision will write a ThunderBoard
      driver for OS/2.  The answer is 'probably not'.  We recommend that our
      ThunderBoard customers upgrade to the Pro Audio Spectrum 16.  Prices
      in computer specialty stores have been as low as $139.  That's an 
      excellent price!  And the PAS 16 is fully supported under OS/2.  Even
      the SCSI interface.

  If you'd like to learn more about Media Vision's products, call our
  Sales department.

 Media Vision, Inc        Main:         (800) 348-7116 or (510) 770-8600                                   
 3815 LaurelView Ct.      Sales:        (800) 845-5870
 Fremont, CA 94539        FAX:          (510) 770-8648 or (510) 770-9592

     Customer Service and Tech Support: (800) 638-2807 or (510) 770-9905
     ISV Relations and Developer Assistance: (800) 472-6147

 BBS: (510) 770-0968 2400 
      (510) 770-0527 9600 

     There are a total of 8 lines and all lines support 
     8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, 300 - 14,400 bps


 CIS: GO MEDIAVISION or send CIS mail to 75300,2772

 European Customers:

                Media Vision Technology GMBH
                Raiffeisenalle 16
                8024 Munchen-Oberhaching
                Germany

                Main:                       89-61381-175        
                Tech Support:               89-61381-167
                FAX:                        89-61381-174        
