Commonly Asked Questions About the Use and Installation of the Turtle Beach MultiSound We at Turtle Beach Systems would like to thank you for purchasing the MultiSound board. We hope you enjoy the superior MIDI and hard disk recording capabilities of your card. Listed below are the questions most commonly asked of our technical support staff. If you still have questions, our customer support voice line is 717-843-6916 or fax 717- 854-8319. It is manned between the hours of 9AM-5PM EST. If you have a modem, you can also reach us via Compuserve, where Turtle Beach Systems maintains an on-line forum in the Multimedia Vendors section (GO MULTIVEN or GO TBMULTI). We also have our new Beachcomber BBS on line. The number is 717-845-4835. MSDR11.ZIP...Current 1.1 shipping version, in compressed form. Copy this file to a floppy, decompress it and run SETUP.EXE MSAPPS.ZIP...This is a compressed file of the applications as they would appear after installation. Use only if you have a problem installing the previous file. MSDR19.ZIP...New BETA Drivers and new Applications design for MS!!! Note: These files are also available on COMPUSERVE in Multimedia Vendors section. SECTION 1: INSTALLATION QUESTIONS Question 1: When I attempt to install my drivers from the Control Panel, I get the message "No OEMsetupinf". How do I set up my drivers? Answer: You probably have our MultiSound 1.1 driver disk which uses a different install procedure. The version number of the driver can be found at the bottom of the label on the MultiSound drivers and applications disk. To install the 1.1 version, simply run setup.exe from Windows File Manager. Question 2: When I go to reinstall the 1.1 drivers or to install them over my 1.0 drivers, I get the message "EMMExclude not as expected." What does this mean? Answer: When the 1.1 driver installs, it puts an EMMExclude statement into your Windows System.ini file. Because we don't want to interfere with any of your Windows setup, we check your System.ini to make sure that you are not installing the MultiSound in a memory slot already excluded by something else in Windows. What you may want to do before you re-install a driver is to edit your C:\Windows\System.ini file. Check the [386enh] section for a statement like EMMExclude=D000-D7FF (the default memory address of the MultiSound). If you do find an "EMMExclude=" statement, scroll down to the section labeled [Multisnd.drv]. Check the statement "RamAddr=". If it has the same address as the EMMExclude, you can erase the EMMExclude safely and continue with re-installing your MultiSound. Question 3: When I run my install and reboot the computer to start the MultiSound, my computer locks up. What should I do?! Answer: In this situation, the most likely problem is that you have a port address conflict. Our default Port address is 290. If your computer is locking up, shut it down, open it and switch all four of the dip switches on the little red box on the sound card to the OFF position. If you can enter Windows at this point, enter your Control Panel from your Main Window and double click on the Drivers icon. Highlight "Turtle Beach MultiSound Wave form, MIDI and Aux" and press Setup. In the setup's Port section choose address 3E0. At this time you will be prompted to restart Windows. After re-entering Windows, enter the MultiSound Window and double click on Diags. This will run the MultiSound Diagnostics. If you CAN'T enter windows after switching the dip switches, enter your DOS editor. Edit your C:\Windows\system.ini file. Erase the [Multisnd.drv] section. Also erase references to the Multisnd.drv in the [drivers] section. Scroll to the [386enh] section and erase the line EMMExclude=D000-D7FF. (Note: If you have changed the memory address of the MultiSound during your first installation, this statement will reflect the new memory address and not the default address of D000.) You should consult your computer's manual and the manuals for any other cards or devices you are using with your computer and make a list of their port, RAM and IRQ addresses. With this list in hand, you should be able to enter Windows and upon installation of the MultiSound's drivers and applications, change the MultiSound's addresses appropriately. Question 4: When I run diagnostics everything fails. Why? Answer: You most likely have a port conflict. Refer to the Answer to question 3. Question 5: After I install the MultiSound and open any MIDI device I get the message, "MultiSound MIDI driver not installed." Why is this? Answer: In this case, there are a few possibilities. We want to edit your System.ini file. If you are unfamiliar with Windows SysEdit application, you will want to exit Windows, get to your C prompt and type the line Edit c:\Windows\System.ini NOTE: There is another way to edit and stay within the Windows environment, there is a program called SYSEDIT.EXE. It is not normally loaded upon installing Windows. Go to your File Manager, click on the Windows directory, then the System sub-directory. Look for the above program, and double- click on it. This will bring up four windows, AUTOEXEC.BAT CONFIG.SYS SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI...you may edit here as easily as in DOS. Once you are in your System.ini, scroll to the section labeled [MCI]. Here you want to make sure that you have the line "Sequencer=MCISeq". If this statement is not there, you will want to load your MCI MIDI sequencer driver from the Windows Control Panel/Drivers application. If that driver is present, scroll down to [drivers]. In this section you should see the statement "MIDI=Multisnd.drv". If this statement is not present, refer to question 7. If both of the above statements are present and the MultiSound is still not responding to MIDI, you probably have a memory share error or a memory conflict. Refer to question 7. Question 6: Once I install the MultiSound and I enter the MultiSound drivers setup, the "MIDI Demo" button is greyed out. What does this mean? Answer: Refer to the answer to question 7. Question 7: When I run MultiSound's diagnostics I get a memory conflict or a memory share error. What does this mean? Answer: You need to either choose a new memory address or, in the case of a memory share error, properly exclude the memory address you have chosen. The MultiSound's default address is D000. If this address does not work for your computer and you have no idea what other memory space you have or what memory addresses are, try addresses E000, E800 and (If you don't have a super, duper, mondo video board) B000. Note that these are ZEROS not O's To change your memory address: 1.Enter your Main Program Group... 2.Open Control Panel... 3.Open Drivers... 4.Select Turtle Beach click SETUP.. 5.Change Mem Address.. 6.Yes to Restart. If you receive the message, "EMMExclude not as expected", edit your System.ini files [386Enh] section. Simply put a ; (Semicolon) in front of the "EMMExclude=" statement, save this change, and repeat steps 1 through 6. The last aspect of the memory error is the Share error. In order to avoid this error, your Config.sys must be set up correctly. If you are using a high memory manager like Quemm or Emm386, you must put an exclude statement in your Config.sys file. It would look something like this. Device=C:\Windows\Emm386.exe NOEMS X=D000-D7FF The excludes for the MultiSound are as follows: B000-B7FF C800-C7FF D000-D7FF D800-DFFF E000-E7FF E800-EFFF Make sure that the first number in the exclude matches the MultiSound's memory address. Consult your Memory manager's manual for the proper exclude statement for your memory manager. After making this change the computer needs to be rebooted for it to take effect. Question 8: When I run MultiSound's diagnostics, I get an IRQ error. Answer: Enter the Control Panel, double click on the drivers icon, select MultiSound Wave form, MIDI, and Aux. Click on Setup. In the Window labeled Interrupt, select another choice rather than the default of 10. We've found that in many machines IRQ 11 or IRQ 15 are good choices. SECTION 2: COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MULTISOUND Question 1: Does the MultiSound work in the DOS environment? Answer: No it does not. The MultiSound was designed specifically for use in the Windows 3.1 Multimedia PC environment. If you do desire to use a Sound Blaster or Media Vision card with your DOS applications, simply install it and do not install the Windows drivers for that card. With this configuration you will be able to play games in DOS and still have the best MPC card available for your more serious Windows applications. Question 2: Is the MultiSound Adlib or Sound Blaster compatible? Answer: No it is not. Again, the MultiSound was designed specifically for use with the Windows 3.1 Multimedia environment. The design of the MultiSound's hardware is very different from a Sound Blaster or Adlib compatible card. These differences are precisely what let the MultiSound provide you with superior MIDI and hard disk recording capabilities. In the future, more and more software developers will be using the MPC spec. for their games and other software which will allow you to further utilize the MultiSound's superior sound. Question 3: When using the MultiSound's multiple MIDI port capability with my sequencing software, I hear the Proteus when I am recording while sending data to my external MIDI port. Why is this? Answer: This is a hardware limitation within the MultiSound's design. Your sequences will play back correctly, yet during recording, all incoming data is routed through the Proteus first, then to the sequencing software. There are several simple work arounds to prevent this situation. One is to simply turn down the MIDI fader in the MultiSound Mixer applet when recording to external devices. Another is to record all tracks routed to external MIDI gear first. The last is to create all of your sequence using the Proteus, then routing the tracks to your external gear. Question 4: Sometimes, when I am using a MIDI application, I get the message "MIDI device in use." Answer: Check to see if you are using the MultiSound 1.0 drivers. You can check this by opening any of the MultiSound applications and clicking on the "About" box. If you are using the 1.0 drivers, you must be sure to only have one MIDI device open at a time. The usual mistake is to open the Media player to play a MIDI file while the MultiSound Front Panel is open. If you do not have the 1.1 drivers, you should either download the file MSDR11.zip from our BBS or call our Tech. Support line and request that we send you the new drivers. Both numbers are provided at the beginning of this document. Question 5: Why am I getting stuck MIDI notes? Answer: There are many possibilities here. The first is that you have a MIDI loop in the MultiSound's MIDI Patch Bay. This application can be found in the MultiSound group. Many Windows sequencing applications have the ability to access the MultiSound's MIDI ports directly from their MIDI setup. If this is the case, we suggest avoiding the patch bay and using your software to set up your MIDI paths. In some programs, the software will only refer to the "Windows MIDI driver" or something of that nature in its MIDI setup. In this case, your MultiSound MIDI patch bay should be configured as in the diagram below. |--------------------------------------------------------------| ||External Connector| | || | | ||-IN---------------| | ||| _ Proteus/1 In || | ||| X Windows In || |--Windows---------| | ||| X External Thru|| | | |----Proteus/1-----|| ||------------------| |-IN---------------| | || ||-Out--------------| || _ Proteus/1 Out|| |-In---------------|| ||| 0 Proteus/1 Out|| || 0 External In || || 0 Windows Out ||| ||| _ Windows Out || |------------------| || _ External In| ||| ||------------------| |-Out--------------| |------------------|| ||-Thru-------------| || X Proteus/1 In || |-Out--------------|| ||| _ Windows Out || || _ External Out || || _ Window In ||| ||| 0 External In || || _ External Thru|| || X External Out ||| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| |--------------------------------------------------------------| You can also check your external MIDI patch bay, if you are using one, to make sure that you have no MIDI loops in the configuration. The easiest way to determine if this is the culprit is to disconnect your external controlling device from the patch bay and connect it directly to the MultiSound MIDI In. If the stuck notes go away, you know that you have a loop set up in your external patch bay. If you are running the MultiSound Out or Thru to your external controller, make sure that you are not echoing your incoming MIDI data to the MIDI out of the controller. This will create a MIDI loop. If your software does recognize multiple MIDI ports, make sure you only have EXTERNAL IN selected as your record source. Question 6: How can I access sounds above 128 when my sequencing software only shows 128 presets. Answer: The MPC specification only allows any Windows MIDI device to access 128 presets at one time. The only way to access the sounds above 128 is to remap them into the lower 128 presets. If you have the 1.1 Proteus drivers, you will be able to program the Proteus using the Proteus front panel and save these changes as user presets. The Proteus front panel is found in the MultiSound group as the Proteus icon. After you open this application, perform the following steps. 1. Press the Master Button. 2. Press the right Data arrow until MIDI Prog->Preset with 000->000 appears in the Proteus Windows. 3. Press the Button that says cursor. This will position you under the left set of zeros. 4. Use your data slider's arrows to change the Windows preset number. 5. When you have selected the Preset that you want to change, press your cursor button again. This will position your cursor under the right set of 0's. These represent the total list of patches available in the Proteus. 6. Use the data slider's arrows to choose the Proteus Patch number you would like to assign to the Windows Preset. 7. After you have changed all of the Presets you would like, simply press the Proteus presets button and press the "Save User Presets" button. (**NOTE** This function is only available with the MultiSound 1.1 drivers.) Another way that you can change presets and save them for particular sequences is by following the previous method to step 6. Then, instead of saving the changed patches to |--------------------------------------------------------------| ||External Connector| | || | | ||-IN---------------| | ||| _ Proteus/1 In || | ||| _ Windows In || |--Windows---------| | ||| _ External Thru|| | | |----Proteus/1-----|| ||------------------| |-IN---------------| | || ||-Out--------------| || 0 Proteus/1 Out|| |-In---------------|| ||| _ Proteus/1 Out|| || _ External In || || 0 Windows Out ||| ||| 0 Windows Out || |------------------| || _ External In| ||| ||------------------| |-Out--------------| |------------------|| ||-Thru-------------| || X Proteus/1 In || |-Out--------------|| ||| 0 Windows Out || || X External Out || || X Window In ||| ||| _ External In || || X External Thru|| || _ External Out ||| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| |--------------------------------------------------------------| your Proteus User Patches, save them to your sequence using your sequencer's System Exclusive function. For System Exclusive to work properly, you will have to reconfigure your MultiSound Patch Bay to the settings used in the figure shown above. For more information about System Exclusive messages, refer to your sequencer manual. Question 7: How can I save my modified Proteus Presets? Answer: As outlined in the previous answer, you can save your changed presets directly from the Proteus Front Panel. Press "Presets" on the Proteus Front Panel. You will get a dialogue titled "Proteus Preset File Load & Save". This will save your user presets. If you would like to use these presets as your default sound, simply press "Save" and this will save your presets as your boot up presets for the Proteus. Question 8: I can hear my record source (CD-ROM, tape deck, external CD player, etc.) but it does not record. What's wrong? Answer: Check your input. If you have an internal CD ROM and you want to record with the MultiSound, you should be connected to JP2 internally (this is the four pin jumper between the IN and the AUX jack) or externally to the IN input. The MultiSound is designed to record only from the IN and uses the AUX as an audio thru hack. This configuration has many uses when using the MultiSound in complex multimedia applications. Question 9: Why can't I hear my record source through the MultiSound? Answer: Check your mixer application and make sure your MASTER and your IN are not muted and are turned up sufficiently. Question 10: Why can't I get a good level with my microphone plugged into the MultiSound's IN input? Answer: The MultiSound is designed to work with a line level input. A mic has an output significantly below this level. What you may do is run your mic through a mixer with line level outputs, through a microphone pre-amp, or even through a tape deck with microphone inputs and a line level output. Question 11 Why can't I audition my Proteus sound with my external keyboard? Answer: First off, make sure you are using the MIDI connector from Turtle Beach designed specifically for the MultiSound. Using any other MIDI connector can cause severe difficulties with your MIDI setup. Secondly, Make sure that your patch bay is set up like the figure shown below. |--------------------------------------------------------------| ||External Connector| | || | | ||-IN---------------| | ||| X Proteus/1 In || | ||| X Windows In || |--Windows---------| | ||| _ External Thru|| | | |----Proteus/1-----|| ||------------------| |-IN---------------| | || ||-Out--------------| || _ Proteus/1 Out|| |-In---------------|| ||| _ Proteus/1 Out|| || 0 External In || || _ Windows Out ||| ||| 0 Windows Out || |------------------| || 0 External In| ||| ||------------------| |-Out--------------| |------------------|| ||-Thru-------------| || _ Proteus/1 In || |-Out--------------|| ||| 0 Windows Out || || X External Out || || _ Window In ||| ||| _ External In || || X External Thru|| || _ External Out ||| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| ||------------------| |------------------| |------------------|| |--------------------------------------------------------------| Question 12: Why can't I hear any MIDI through my sequencer? Answer: There are many possible answers to this question. First of all, make sure that your sequencer is an MPC compliant Windows 3.1 application. (If your MIDI setup only allows you to choose an MPU-401, your program is not an MPC program.) Also check the MultiSound Mixer to make sure that your MIDI volume is not muted and is turned up. If your sequencer has a Thru option, enable it. This will allow you to hear notes triggered by your controller even when you are not recording or playing. There are two basic styles of Windows MPC sequencers. MULTI PORT SEQUENCERS AND THE MULTISOUND Many MPC compliant sequencers are now supporting a multiple MIDI port format. This allows you to use the MultiSound's MIDI Out and Thru as separate MIDI out ports for your external MIDI devices. You should configure your software as follows. 1-Enter the MIDI setup of your sequencer. 2-Choose "MultiSound External In " as your "MIDI IN" or "Record Port". 3-Choose Midimapper (for general MIDI) or Proteus as your A port. Choose MultiSound Out and/or MultiSound Thru as your out ports to your external gear. SINGLE PORT MPC SEQUENCER AND MULTISOUND Some Windows sequencers only access one port in and one port out. In the MIDI Setup for these programs you should choose "Extended Level Setup (Channels 1 through 10)" as your synth setup. Because you have only one selection for your MIDI port, you must use the MultiSound's MIDI Patch Bay (found in the MultiSound group) to configure your MIDI IN and MIDI Out. Configure the patch bay as in the figure in Question 5. We have discovered a quirk that some sequencers of this type exhibit. If you cannot record with your external keyboard or play MIDI files, even when your configured correctly, this is how to fix the problem. 1. Run your sequencer and minimize it. 2. Enter the MIDI patch bay and click on "External In" in the Windows In section. 3. You will get a dialogue saying, "Requested setting may conflict with current application setting. Do you wish to activate the new setting? Choose "Yes". 4. Enter your sequencer again and you will be able to function normally. The reason this is a problem with some sequencers is due to the fact that MultiSound has multiple MIDI ports. One of these ports will have priority when your software boots up. Due to a Windows convention, we cannot assure that the Patch Bay will be the priority port. By following the steps above, you will be initializing the MultiSound Patch Bay as the primary MIDI port for your sequencer during this session. Turtle Beach Technical Support is committed to providing you with the best customer support possible. If your questions have not been addressed in this document, feel free to call Turtle Beach Tech. Support at 717-843-6916 from 9 AM to 6 PM (EST) Monday through Friday. We also would like to encourage you to log on to our BBS (717-845- 4835) to leave messages and get the latest news and driver updates. We thank you for choosing Turtle Beach Systems.