                         - User's Documentation for -
                               SBVol ver 0.92

SBVol, a memory resident utility to change the state of the Sound Blaster's
mixer controls easily.  (Written in 100% Assembler, of course.)

If you hate reading long docs, here is the quick-start:  Simply type SBVol
at the DOS prompt.  If it finds an SBPro and higher, it will go memory 
resident.  Now you can press Ctrl-Alt-U to increase the master volume or 
Ctrl-Alt-D to decrease the main volume.  Pretty nifty,eh?

SBVol was initially written to replace especially Creative Lab's SBPro
mixer utility, SBP-MIX.  This is because, in the first place, the name
is difficult to type.  Secondly, it cannot execute as a standalone program
(eg. the SB16's SB16SET), it HAS to go resident.  That would be OK, but
AFAIK it takes up a lot of memory.  And that is not relative.  You really
can't do anything else with it in system memory.  It is also too big to
fit into most UMB's.

Another perfectly valid reason is that even on the SB16, you have to exit
a program to adjust the volume (if you have one of the newer cards without
the volume control at the back.)  Or, you could of course load the resident
mixer and hope enough RAM is left.  Even then, it doesn't always handle
the screen correctly.

So I decided that SBVol should be born.  First of all, the name types
easily.  (For a touch typist, at least.)  Secondly, it takes up a neglegible
amount of RAM.  Thirdly, it has user support and possible future versions,
unlike some other mixer utilities I know (Hint, Hint: C.Labs?)

Well, I hope you find this little proggy useful.  I sure know that I do.
I will try to update it regularly, but it depends on whether I am in the
mood to program and also if I have time.  Anyone who wants to contact me,
my address is 

Jannie Hanekom
P.O. Box 40
P.A. Hamlet
6840
South Africa 

I'm currently working for a pretty nice company that has great Internet
access.  Therefore, you should have a pretty reliable way of accessing me
via e-mail at jhanekom@sasko.co.za.

All suggestions for future versions are welcome.  Also, if you want to
send me cash or disks or whatever, I'm game!  (Note:  All bomb-letters
will be returned.)

If the idiot you got this program from did not include the original source
code, and you want it, please mail me and I'll get it to you - it's really
not that big.

Revision history:
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.92  -  23 October 1995 - Compiled with TASM version 2.0

        Whew!  Rewrote the entire thing in an extremely short time.
        I needed to do it to give it in as a matric school project.
        Anyhow, you can now load it as a device driver as well. 
        Simply stick a DEVICE=SBVOL.EXE line into your CONFIG.SYS.
        I've removed a bug from the routine that scans for the SB.
        Also replaced the two different routines to handle SBPro/
        SB16 with one routine.  In theory it should work, but I
        can't find an SBPro to test it on.  Doesn't currently check
        for previous installations.  Waiting till I can come up
        with a decent way to do it.  EXE size = 1406 bytes, DOS
        size = 240 bytes, CONFIG.SYS size = 176 bytes!
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.91  -  18 April 1995 - Compiled with A86 shareware assembler.

        Added support for SBPro and AudioBlaster 2.5 upwards.
        New loading routine relocates the interrupt routine to 
        the end of the PSP, resulting in about 64 bytes less 
        resident.  Now detects at what address SB is situated.  
        Program size is currently 1266 bytes, resident size is 
        320 bytes in both SBPro and SB16 modes.
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.90  -  13 April 1995 - Compiled with A86 shareware assembler.
        
        Initial Release.  Currently supports only SB16 at 0220h.
        Finally works after 2 days.  Current file size is 949 
        bytes, resident size is 432 bytes.  Planned future features:
         - Standalone mode
         - Support for other cards
         - Better management of memory
         - Not only main volume set

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.00  -  12 April 1995 - Used some grey matter.

        Initial concept of idea.  My uncle didn't want to learn
        the intricacies of ANOTHER new sound card.  (He now has
        his third, an SB16 MultiCD).  Previously, he had a Pro-
        Audio Spectrum, on which you could just press Ctrl-Alt-U
        and Ctrl-Alt-D, so he would like it to use the new card
        in the same way.  Hmmm...

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