***************************************************************************** Important Suggestions to the Marc 2 Driver Version 2.06 ***************************************************************************** Contents: 1. The first installation of the Marc 2 and related drivers 2. Update from older drivers to this driver version 3. What's new ? 4. Notes: Digital Device Usage 5. Notes: Windows System Sounds 6. Notes: Multicard Users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. The first installation of the Marc 2 an related drivers * If you want to install a Marc 2 for the first time, then go ahead as follows: - Switch off your computer and open the cover. - Put one or more (max. 4) Marc 2's into free PCI slots. - Close the cover and switch on you computer. - Start Windows95/98 amd follow the instructions on the screen. - First, the Windows operation system may not find a driver, because it doesn't exists at the root directory of you installaton disk. - Search for the language directory of you choice und click "Ok." - Under Windows95b/c it may happens, that you have to choose the correct installation directory once again. - After you have installed the drivers, the Marc 2 Sound System is ready for action. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Update from older drivers to this driver version * If you have installed one ore more Marc 2(s) and related drivers so go ahead as follows: - Start Windows and remove the Marc 2 entry from device managers device list. (recommend for users with one card only) O R - Start Windows in SAFE MODE (recommend for users with more than one card) - Start the Marc 2 Deinstaller (MARC2UI.EXE), which is located in root directory of you installation disc and (after a successful installation) in windows system directory. - Restart your Windows and follow the instuctions on screen. (see also "1. The first installation of the Marc 2 an related drivers") ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. What's new ? Version 2.06: * Non-Audio digital format added in "Marc 2 Manager | Digital Output". (useful e.g. for streaming AC3 audio to an external AC3 decoder) Version 2.05: * ASIO: performance improved when used with more than one card * ASIO/GSIF: When using an ASIO/GSIF application, the driver overrides user's clock and start/stop synchronization settings with appropriate values. (these user settings are applicable for MME/DirectSound applications only). Now, the driver restores the user settings again, when the last ASIO/GSIF application has finished. * Marc 2 Manager Software now uses the registry branch "HKCU" (User related) to store it's settings. * Start/Stop Synchronization of record and playback assured * MME: synchronous buffer return improved * Buf fixed: input/output volumes restored after windows restart * Checked: automatic monitoring with Samplitude v6.03 Version 2.01: * GSIF Support for NemeSys GigaSampler/GigaStudio - Use the options in "MARC 2 Manager | Settings | DirectSound/GSIF" to optmize playback latency and playback stability for your computer system. * Improved ASIO - Performance/Stability - Driver takes full control of Clock and Monitor Settings (see MARC 2 Manager) The appropriate user settings will be partial overwritten, when an ASIO/GSIF application is running and restored, when an ASIO/GSIF session has finished. - The Driver checks the availability of the activated ASIO devices, when a ASIO application starts the driver. If another application uses activated ASIO devices, the driver pops up the ASIO setup dialog to gives you the opportunity to deactivate such used devices. - Uninstaller (marc2ui.exe) now removes ASIO application related driver settings. (activated devices, buffersize, streaming priority) * DAT Marker Support * Samplesrates down to 8kHz for Analog I/O * 32 Bit Audio Data Transfer Format for MME applications * Problem with trucated error messages solved. Now these messages can be read completely. Version 1.02: * Record 8 Bit Stereo Format problem solved. Version 1.01: * ASIO 2.0 Support * Please note: - Do not use more than one card with ASIO. (The system doesn't run stable yet) - Do not record in 8 Bit Stereo Format. There is a bug yet. We will do our best to solve this with one of the next driver versions. Version 1.0: * All. ;-) * Please note: - First remove a possible existing Prodif 24 Driver, because this driver causes conflicts during the Marc 2 installation process. (\windows\system.ini ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Notes: Digital Device Usage - ASIO User: Please note, that if you choose the "Digital Input" Device as active record device within the ASIO setup, then take care that your external digital device is connected, switched on and outputs a valid S/PDIF signal. The clock of this will be taken as reference clock for all active ASIO devices. If there is no clock present, you will not hear anything. - Please note the following cases: 1. If a digital record session is activ or 2. If the "Marc 2 Digital Input Window" is open or 3. If the Digital Input Signal is monitored at the Analog Output then - Digital Playback is running with the clock/samplerate of the Digital Input - The monitoring of analog sources is NOT possible with digital out. - Please note the following cases: 1. If an analog record session is activ or 2. If the "Marc 2 Analog Input Window" is open or 3. If the Analog Input Signal is monitored at the Digital Output then - The monitoring of digital sources is NOT possible with analog out. - If Digital Playback is running(!), a start(!) of digital record is NOT possible. If you open the "Marc 2 Digital Input Window" and a Digital Playback is running, the Peakmeters will not work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Notes: Windows System Sounds * After the first installtion of an audio device driver, Windows switchs on the Windows System Sounds per default. The system will playback these sound if a message box appears or a windows will be minimized or maxminized. The use of this system sounds may cause some problems in conjunction with running audio applications. * Per default the driver takes care of a synchron start and stop of all devices of the Marc 2. This is a really important feature for each multichannel harddiskrecording program but it may cause conflicts with the windows system sounds. If a running playback- or recording session will be interrupted by a system sound (because of a message box or window actions) the playback- or recording session will STOP too and the related audio application will hang (under specific circumstances) in a undefined state. You can solve this behavior by switching off the system sounds (Control Panel->Sounds) or by deactivating the Start/Stop Synchronization Option of the Marc 2 driver. (see Marc 2 Manager - Settings - Synchronization) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Notes: Multicard Users * If you get an error message at windows start which shows an harware initialization error, please remove ALL card from you computer and test each card alone. This is the only safe way to find out the defect card! Please request your hardware dealer to Exchange of the defect card against a new one. * NEVER disable or remove a Marc 2 entry from windows device manager's list! This may cause problems in interaction with the Marc 2 Manager and Driver. System crashs may be the consequence. This problem will be solved in the next driver update. * Please install a driver update ONLY like described under 2. Leipzig 09-23-2003