Release notes for the EWS64 driver of OSS
=========================================

The Dream SAM9407 driver is a separately priced option to OSS. Please
remember to select the "DREAM" option when ordering the permanent OSS
license. Without this license only audio recording and playback
as well as mixer functionality is available (the DREAM option is
only required if you want to use MIDI (wave table) capabilities of the card.

For the time being not many features are supported.

Full duplex audio reccording and playback is possible using the "codec" audio device.
This device doesn't support the digital inputs and outputs (S/PDIF).

In addition the driver contains support for the MOD device. With it most applications
using the OSS "GUS" wave table API should work (some of them may require minor
modifications). Also MIDI playback (with limited sound quality) is possible for
example by using the mplay program included in the OSS package (this requires the
Midia or Gravis patchset to be installed in /dos/ultrasnd/midi".

With optional Simsoundlib4 library the MOD driver supports 3D positioning of sound
effects using 4 speakers. This makes EWS64 ideal for use in many kind of simulators.
Please contact sales@opensound.com for pricing and availability of Simsoundlib4.

Firmware version issues
-----------------------

The EWS64 driver requires that proper firmware file is loaded to the DSP
chip during soundon. This file (ews64_os.bin) is shipped with the windows
driver for the card. However recent versions of this file are not compatible
with OSS. You can download the right version from
ftp://ftp.4front-tech.com/ews64_os.bin.

Solving whining problems with EWS64XL (not applicable with EWS64S)
------------------------------------------------------------------

In some systems the default mixer settings may cause unbearable noise (whining
or some kind of feedback). This can probaby be solved by decreasing some mixer
settings using the ossmix program. The required commands are:

ossmix -d# out1.codecsend NN

and
oxxmix -d# out1.vol MM (if the above doesn't help).

In these commands the "#" is the mixer number of the "Dream SAM9407" device as
reported by "cat /dev/sndstat" (usually 1 if there are no other soundcards
installed).

NN is a value between 0 and 80. Try decreasing the value until the
noise fades away. However decreasing it too much will decrease volume of
audio playback (/dev/dsp and /dev/audio) below audible levels.

MM is a value less than 60.

Limitations of the EWS64 driver
-------------------------------

OSS doesn't support many advanced features of EWS64 including the
"General MIDI" and "streaming audio" devices. This means also that the
S/PDIF digital interface will not work. We don't currently have any plans
to implement support for these features in OSS.