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| The Pro Audio Spectrum Frequently Asked Questions List |
| Version 1.0 |
| August 1992 |
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1) What are the PAS/+/16?
2) What are the specs for the PAS-16?
3) Are the PAS cards Soundblaster and Adlib compatible?
4) How does the PAS-16 compare to the Soundblaster Pro?
5) How does the PAS-16 compare to the Gravis Ultrasound?
6) Will I have problems using a PAS card with a fast computer (486)?
7) Will OS/2 drivers be available for the PAS cards?
8) What software comes with the PAS-16?
9) Is setting up a PAS+ or PAS-16 hard?
10) I have installed my PAS+ or PAS-16, but the sound from games is
very low and hard to hear. What's wrong?
11) Is there a development kit available for the PAS cards?
12) How can Media Vision, the maker of the PAS cards, be reached?
13) How good is the quality of various sampling rates?
14) How much memory does the PAS-16's MVSOUND driver take up?
15) Where can I purchase a PAS-16 or PAS+ card?
16) What is the Media Vision Pro-16 Multimedia System package and what
does it contain?
17) What SCSI CD-ROM drives are supported by the PAS-16 and PAS+?
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1) What are the PAS, PAS+, and the PAS-16?
The PAS was the original PAS card. It is capable of FM synthesizing,
and digital sound. It can do 8 bit digital sampling and 8 bit digital
playback (I don't know at what rate). The PAS has shielding built
into it that eliminates background noise that can be created by many
of the components of computer systems (hard drives for example).
The PAS+ is the new version of the old PAS. I don't believe the PAS
is for sale anymore, as the PAS+ has probably replaced it. The PAS+
is capable of FM synthesizing, and digital sound. It has the
shielding that the original PAS had. It can do 8 bit digital
sampling and 16 bit digital playback.
The PAS-16 is currently the most advanced sound card in the Pro Audio
Spectrum line. It is capable of FM synthesizing, and digital sound.
It can do 16 bit digital sampling and 16 bit digital playback. It
has the shielding that was present in the original PAS.
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2) What are the specs for the PAS-16?
Here are the specs for the PAS-16. I understand that the specs for
the PAS+ are identical, except that the PAS+ can only do 8 bit
sampling, and requires you to specify when you want SB compatibility
mode on or off.
(Sorry, I don't have specs for the original PAS.)
Compatible with the following sound standards:
SoundBlaster (version 1.5--currently fine for any software)
Adlib
Thunderboard
Pro Audio Spectrum
MPC
Windows with Multimedia
Windows 3.1
True 16 bit stereo sound
--16 bit stereo playback and recording (16 bit linear DAC)
--Sampling/playback at 8, 12, and 16 bit PCM 4kHz-44kHz in stereo
--Dynamic filtering 2Hz-22kHz programmable
--ADPCM compression (2:1) and decompression (2:1, 3:1, 4:1) mono mode
--Microphone, external line-in, and CD-audio inputs (enables you to
make CD-quality 16-bit recordings from a variety of sources)
--Shielded circuitry and dynamic filtering for low noise and clear
sound
Advanced 20 Voice Stereo Synthesizer
--Yamaha YM262 (OPL-3) synthesizer
--4 operator FM synthesized sound for true stereo
--16 bit FM DAC
--General MIDI compatible
Audio Mixing
--Internal synthesizer (stereo)
--Digital audio (stereo)
--CD audio (stereo)
--External line-in (stereo)
--Microphone
--PC speaker
--10 channels with stereo enhance
Volume Control
--Master volume: 0 to -62dB (1 dB/step)
--Input mixer +1 to -60dB (2dB/step)
Signal quality (1 V p-p reference)
Dynamic range and signal to noise
--Synthesized and mixed audio: 85 dB
--Sampled audio PCM: 90 dB
--Total harmonic distortion: 0.05%
Frequency Response
--30 Hz - 20 kHz (+- 3 dB)
Audio Outputs
--Drive level: 11.5 V (p-p)
--Power: 4 watts per channel (software controllable volume, bass, and
treble)
--Load impedance: will drive 4 or 8 ohm speakers
--Output connections: stereo mini jacks (1/8 inch)
(same with line in)
16 bit PC Interface
--16 bit DMA
--Selectable IRQ (2-7, 10-15)
--Selectable DMA (0-3, 5-7)
--Software selectable DMA and IRQ settings with auto configuration
MIDI Interface (Requires Optional MIDI Mate)
--Full duplex MIDI port (can record and playback at the same time)
IBM Standard Joystick Port
High Performance SCSI Interface (Requires Optional SCSI Cable Kit)
--Supports CD-ROM drives, SCSI hard drives, removable/erasable optical
drives or removable cartridge drives
--690 kB per second
Connectors
--Internal CD-Audio Connector at J5 is a 5-pin header connector,
0.100" space header, pin 1=ground, 2=right in, 3=ground, 4=left in,
5=ground.
--The MIDI/Joystick Port is a D-15S connector type. The pinouts are:
1 +5VDC
2 JOYSTICK 1 FIRE 1
3 JOYSTICK 1 X
4 GROUND
5 GROUND
6 JOYSTICK 1 Y
7 JOYSTICK 1 FIRE 2
8 +5VDC
9 +5VDC
10 JOYSTICK 2 FIRE 1
11 JOYSTICK 2 X
12 MIDI OUT (GROUND on MIDI Mate and Thunder Board)
13 JOYSTICK 2 Y
14 JOYSTICK 2 FIRE 2
15 MIDI IN (+5VDC on MIDI Mate and Thunder Board)
System Requirements
--IBM PC, AT, 80286, 80386, 80486, or 100% compatible
--640k RAM memory
--DOS 3.1 or higher
--Hard disk with 6 MB free space
--16 bit slot (card measures 7 7/8" by 3 7/8")
--External speakers (4 to 8 ohm)
Optional
--Headphones: 1/8 inch stereo phone plug
--Microphone: 1/8 inch mono plug, supports 600 to 10K ohm dynamic
--External amplified speakers
3 Year Limited Warranty
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12) How can Media Vision, the maker of the PAS cards, be reached?
Contact Media Vision Technical Support for technical assistance on:
Stereo Studio F/X, SP Spectrum, Software Controlled Mixer (PAS.EXE),
TrakBlaster Pro, Monologue v3.0 for DOS, Music and Sound Effects
Library, AudioMate, Windows Drivers and Pocket Tools.
If you need a software update, a Return Material Authorization (RMA)
number for a defective product, RMA status, or have any non-technical
customer-related issues, contact Customer Service.
Media Vision, Inc.
47221 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
Main: (800) 348-7116 or (510) 770-8600
Sales: (800) 845-5870
Tech Support &
Customer Service: (800) 638-2807 or (510) 770-9905
FAX: (510) 770-8648 or (510) 770-9592
BBS: (510) 770-0968 2400 baud (8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit)
(510) 770-1661 2400 baud (8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit)
(510) 770-0527 9600 baud (8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit)
Assign your own account name and password.
Compuserve: GO MEDIA VISION or send mail to 75300.2722@Compuserve.Com.
Upgrade information: (800) 283-1596 extension 100