OS/2 FAQ List: User's Edition (4 Apr 94)

(3.6) Multimedia (MMPM/2)

What do I need for OS/2 multimedia applications?

OS/2 2.1 includes both the Win-OS/2 multimedia extensions and MMPM/2, the 
OS/2 multimedia extensions, at no extra charge.  OS/2 2.1's MMPM/2 
includes software motion video support for both IBM Ultimotion and Intel 
Indeo files.  Software motion video provides playback of video clips in a 
window under OS/2.  (Video for Windows will operate correctly under 
Win-OS/2, but Ultimotion is far more capable than Video for Windows. 
 Ultimotion supports higher frame rates, larger image sizes, better 
synchronization of video and audio, and, often, simultaneous playback of 
two or more video clips, even with background tasks running.)  An 
accelerated display adapter and a fast processor can help improve the 
quality of software motion video.

Drivers for the Creative Labs SoundBlaster series, MediaVision ProAudio 
series, and IBM M-Audio Capture and Playback Adapter are provided with 
MMPM/2.  Other drivers, {{ including one for the popular Gravis Ultrasound 
card, }} should be available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources, or 
contact your adapter vendor for information on OS/2 driver support.  (The 
original SoundBlaster and certain ATI SoundBlaster clones may require a 
low cost upgrade from the manufacturer to work with MMPM/2.)  A driver for 
the PC speaker has been released by IBM, but this driver demands a huge 
amount of processor attention and does not provide the fidelity that audio 
adapters do.

Note that the MediaVision ProAudio Spectrum Plus operates correctly when 
using the built-in MMPM/2 ProAudio Spectrum 16 driver.  However, to obtain 
full functionality you must change the PARAMSTRING line in the 
[ibmwavepas1601] section of the file \MMOS2\MMPM2.INI after installation 
of MMPM/2.  Using a text editor (like the OS/2 System Editor), change the 
line so that BPS=8 instead of BPS=16.  This change causes MMPM/2 to 
default to 8-bit audio (since the ProAudio Spectrum Plus does not support 
16-bit audio).

The MMPM/2 driver for the original SoundBlaster supplied with OS/2 2.1 
contains a special check which may render it inoperable with SoundBlaster 
clones (like the MediaVision Thunderboard).  Advanced users may patch the 
driver using the following commands:

CD \MMOS2
COPY SBD2.SYS SBD2.OLD
DEBUG SBD2.SYS
-e 3fd8 00 
-w
-q

MMPM/2 drivers should also be available for Digitan and Omni sound 
adapters, directly from their manufacturers.  VideoLogic's (phone 
617-494-0530) DVA-4000 supports video capture and video display in OS/2 
windows as does New Media Graphics's (phone 508-663-0666) Super 
VideoWindows.  Tecmar (phone 800-624-8560 or 216-349-1009, or FAX 
216-349-0851) offers various OS/2 multimedia products, including the 
ProSound audio adapter.

REXX programs [see (5.11) REXX] can be used to play, record, and 
manipulate MMPM/2 audio and video files.  For more information on REXX and 
MMPM/2, consult the online Multimedia with REXX document (located in the 
Multimedia folder).

More information on IBM's OS/2 multimedia extensions (MMPM/2) and tools, 
Ultimotion, multimedia hardware, and IBM multimedia titles (e.g. 
Illuminated Manuscript) is available through IBM's Multimedia Office 
(phone 800-426-9402 ext. 150).

To install a Windows sound driver under Win-OS/2, make sure that the line 
drivers=mmsystem.dll appears in the file \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM.INI under 
the [boot] section.  In some cases an installation bug prevents this line 
from being set up properly.

Related information:

(1.3)  DOS and Windows Compatibility 
(2.5)  Specific Hardware Recommendations 
(3.2)  Shareware and Freeware Sources 
(4.5)  Technical Support 
(5.11) REXX

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