Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!ptimtc!nntp-server.caltech.edu!toddpw
From: toddpw@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: IIgs ROM revisions -- Esoniq
Message-ID: <1991Apr1.001048.3880@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 1 Apr 91 00:10:48 GMT
References: <8311@crash.cts.com>
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 33

aford@pro-mansion.cts.com (Adam Ford) writes:

>Couldn't the ROM just have an extra card like a ZIP Chip or Transwarp in a
>slot or something?

Yeah, but that's a package deal, not an upgrade or motherboard revision.

>As far as Stereo, the IIgs has LEFT & RIGHT speakers.

Oh? where are they? Many of us feel that there should be stereo decoding
hardware for the earphone jack. The circuit is not much more than what's
already on the motherboard; look in the hardware ref at the end of the chapter
on the ensoniq.

Apple's original plan had been to include Mockingboard-style sound chips on
the motherboard, with real stereo. After the board area budget and most of 
the layout had been done, somebody thought of including the ensoniq, and
they scrambled to fit it in. Unfortunately for us, the extra interface and
RAM required by the ensoniq stole too much board area from the sound output
section to keep the real stereo.

>If you buy a Sonic Blaster from AE, you get software for
>THAT and it uses ALL it's features.

Oh joy. Does this include the 'excessive noise' feature?

The ensoniq's built in digitizer is just not that great unless it is
surrounded by a much cleaner analog design than is possible on a single
motherboard PC. I would like to see a real digitizer in a slot or as a
serial port peripheral like the MacRecorder.

Todd Whitesel
toddpw @ tybalt.caltech.edu