
                    PcGenerator 1.43 sept 15 1996  Demo version

What it is and what it does
---------------------------
PcGenerator [PG] uses the Adlib(compatible) synthesizer which is standard
on almost any Soundcard,to turn your PC into a low frequency signal generator.
the Soundblaster (compatible) A/D converter is used to do measurements
in combination with the generator.
PG has all features of a full blown Sine signal generator and more:

      *frequency range from 0.5.......25000 Hz
      *precise frequency adjustment in 7 ranges
      *lots of sweep options
      *burst with selectable on/off times
      *output level attenuation in 0.75 dB steps
      *graphical representation of frequency characteristics measurements
      *mouse cursor measurements
      *scope function
      *graphs can be printed
      *user friendly GUI
      *clearly readable 7-segment displays
      *7-segment displays sizeable from small to full screen
      *all functions selectable with mouse and keyboard
      *measurements can be saved and loaded
      *graphs can be exported as PCX's

System requirements
-------------------
  + 286+ PC
  + VGA monitor
  + Soundblaster(compatible) soundcard

Installation
------------
in fact there is no installation needed :
PG uses the Adlibsynthesizer address 388h,which is standard on almost
all soundcards.the DSP(A/D convertor) address is 220h which is also
standard.no interrupt is used.
the printer should be Epson compatible.

Soundcard setup and connection
------------------------------
in principle all SB compatible cards can be used,but some are more
suitable than others.
PG works ok with the SB 2.0 and 100% clones,the SB Pro and clones,the
SB 16 and many others.

some cards have a loudness option,this should be switched off.

as generator output both the line-out(when available) and speaker-out
can be used.when the speakerout is used,no monitor speakers should be
connected:this can weaken and distort the output,especially with low
frequencies.

as measurement input only the line-in should be used:most mike inputs
have a bad frequency responce and some have a buildin compressor.

with stereo card one channel must be used as generator,the other as
measurement input.on most cards this must be set up with a utility
program.setup example:
Left  synthesizer 100% line-in 0%.
Right synthesizer 0%  line-in 100%.
as input line-in should be selected of course.

functions and keys
------------------

function         key               displaycolor         discription
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ON               ENTER                RED               Generator on.
OFF              ENTER                GREEN             Generator off.
FreqUp           Uparrow                                freq. one step up
Freqdown         Downarrow                              freq. one step down
FS 1..100        Left/Rightarrow                        Freq. step size
Help             F1                                     Help
SweepStart       F2                   LIGHTBLUE         Sweep start freq.
SweepStop        F3                   DARKBLUE          Sweep stop freq
SweepGo          F4                                     begin Sweep
SweepGoShFr      F5                   LIGHTBLUE         begin Sweep with display
P                F6                                     print Grafiek
                 F7                                     REFsweep
                 AltF                 WHITE             REFfrequentie
Cor On/Off       F8                                     correction on/off
Z                F9                                     Open Grafiek window
SweepGraf        F10                                    Measurement Sweep
SweepMul         ALTM                                   Multi Meas. Sweep
                 ALTS                                   Reset Multi Sweep
Scope            ALTO                                   Scope
Burst                                 YELLOW            begin Burst
Multipl. 0.5..6  ~..6                                   freq. multiplier
BurstOn  5ms..5s                                        Burst On time
BurstOff 5ms..5s                                        Burst Off time
Sweeptime                                               Sweep time
Sweeptimex                                              Sweeptime multiplier
log/lin                                                 liniair/log Sweep
level -          -                    GREY              level down
level +          +                    GREY              level up
-                esc                                    close window
stop             AltX                                   stop PG
-----------------------graph window buttons---------------------------------
G                                                       Grid on/off
T                                                       Graph title text
C                                                       Cursor measurement on/off
R                                                       Redraw graph
S                                                       Save graph
L                                                       Load graph
X                                                       Save graph as PCX
O                                                       Scope

short explanation
-----------------
PG uses a GUI with windows (NOT MS-Windows) and the mouse.
every computer user should be familiar with this kind of user interface
now a day.some remarks on this subject:
windows can be moved and sized.don't make windows larger then necessary,
close windows you don't need.don't put large windows over smaller one's.
all this will slow down PG.

most functions will be clear or become clear soon for the intended user
(sound techician,electronic technician,etc).below a short explanation.

the most important function of PG -apart from it's use as a normal
signal generator-is SweepGraph.this function sweeps through a certain
frequency range and the frequency response is being measured at the
same time.
after the Start and Stop frequencies have been set and the system to be
measured has been connected,the measurement starts with SweepGraph or
F10.Sweeping goes on continuously and the input becomes visible in the
SweepGraph window.the proces can be stopped at any point after which
the Graph can be made visible with Z or F9.the frequency scale is
adjusted automatically.a Graph title can be chosen and the Graph can be
printed or exported as PCX.

with the mousecursor cursor measurement can be done in the Graph window:
the cursor is to be moved over the Graph and a small magenta line becomes
visible,the exact frequency at that point can be read from the Frequency
window.the left mouse button can be used to put frequency readings in the
Graph.

Multisweep works almost the same way as Sweepgraph,but now a total of 7
measurements can be done in one Graph.the proces cannot be stopped in
between: sweeping stops at the end of the selected frequency range,after
which a new measurement can be started.
ALT-S can be used to reset Multisweep,to start a new serie.

the 'X' button exports a Graph as PCX,the generation of the PCX file may
take one or two seconds,the mousecursor returns after completion.
not all Viewers can read this PCX's correctly,the reason for this is not
clear to me.Neopaint (3.0) reads them ok,so you can use this program
to convert if necessary.
the ".pcx" extension is added automatically.

the Scope function is not a full blown oscilloscope for serious
measuring purposes.Low frequency program material such as speech
and music can be made visible fairly good though.
experiment with the delay and display rate setings these are
hardware dependent

measurements can be saved with 'S' and loaded with 'L'.
a saved MultiSweep can be compared with a new measurement: the new
measurement is simple done as the next Sweep.
the ".gen" extension is added automatically.

printing only works with Graph window opened:printing is done with a
screendump.printing can be interrupted with ESC.

Demo Version
------------
the Demo version has some limitations and a Demo message is shown
at the start and end of the program.
the complete version is fl. 35.- ( US $ 20.-) per user licence.
to order the order form must be send by E-mail or mail.
after payment has been received,the complete version will be send
to you by E-mail or mail(3.5 disk add US $ 5.- for P&P).
the complete version will be personalised:your name will be shown at the
start of the program.
registered users can call me for telefonic support.update releases
will be send to you free (E-mail only).

  The Registered Version of this program can be purchased and received
  immediately on the Internet at Albert's Ambry.  Registration at Albert's
  also eliminates shipping and handling costs.  Please go to:

      http://www.alberts.com

  Search on: >>PG143.zip<<

  Click on the "Buy It" Hotlink to register this software.

  Thank you for registering this program.

this program can be freely distributed.

 Willem Kloosterhuis

 E-mail waklos@bos.nl
 website:www.bos.nl/homes/waklos/
 tel:31(0)318-653068

rev. history
1.00     20-3-95    first release
1.01     14-4-95    some minor bugs,diverse docs added.
1.2      12-1-96    some bugs.7-segments display improved
1.3      15-4-96    MultiSweep en Cursor measurement added.
1.31     16-4-96    bugfix update.multisweep corrected
1.40     15-5-96    Save,Load en PCX Save added.
1.41     25-5-96    some improvements of Save,Load en PCX Save added.
1.41c    15-7-96    PCX save improved (most viewers read correct now)
1.42     15-8-96    Screensaver added
1.43     15-9-96    Scope function added






