SB 16 and SB 16 ASP Setting for Compressed Audio Playback
PSS ID Number: Q107624
Article last modified on 11-30-1993
PSS database name: MMTitles



WINDOWS


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The information in this article applies to:
 - Microsoft SoundBits version 1.0
 - Microsoft Bookshelf for Windows, 1993 edition
 - Microsoft Dinosaurs for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.0a
 - Microsoft Musical Instruments for Windows, version 1.0
 - Microsoft Cinemania, 1992 and 1994 editions
 - Microsoft Encarta, 1992 and 1993 editions
 - Microsoft Art Gallery version 1.0
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SYMPTOMS
========

If the Sound Blaster 16 Wave (waveform) and MIDI driver (or the Sound
Blaster 16 ASP Wave and MIDI driver) is not set up correctly, you will be
unable to play compressed audio segments.

RESOLUTION
==========

To play compressed audio segments with either the Sound Blaster 16 or the
Sound Blaster 16 ASP, the HDMA setting for the Wave and MIDI driver must be
set to DMA.

To change the HDMA setting:

1. Open the Control Panel. Double-click the Drivers icon to display
   the installed drivers dialog.

2. Select the Sound Blaster 16 Wave And MIDI or Sound Blaster 16
   ASP Wave and MIDI driver and press the Setup button.

3. Under the HDMA setting, set the selection to DMA.

4. Choose OK and choose do not restart now.

5. Exit Windows.

6. Run SBCONFIG.EXE from the SB16 directory.

7. This program will help you select and test each of the variables below.
   Make the following selections in the program:

      Variable             Select
      --------             ------

      Base I/O port        Autoscan
      MidiPort address     Autoscan
      DMA interrupt        Current 8 bit DMA
      Current 16 bit DMA   Use 8 bit DMA

The SBCONFIG application will then restart the machine.

8. Restart Windows. All compressed audio will now work as expected.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Sound Blaster 16 or Sound Blaster 16 ASP sound cards use two DMAs: one for
8-bit audio (referred to as DMA) and one for 16-bit audio (referred to as
High DMA or HDMA). Some machines using these cards do not properly pass
through 16-bit audio. 16-bit audio is enabled when the Microsoft Audio
Compression Manager (MSACM) streams the audio to the waveform driver in the
16-bit format. Because of the described problem, the system cannot properly
play back the 16-bit audio it has received, and simply fails to play the
sound. The above procedure will not cause sound quality to be affected
audibly.

For further information on enabling 16-bit audio, contact the computer
manufacturer or Creative Labs.

Additional reference words: compressed audio sound blaster 16 ASP multi
media multimedia multi-media sound bits dinos dino winmm sbpro soundblaster
16asp

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.