Bernie ][ The Rescue 2.6
application notes



About This Document

This document contains notes about popular applications you might be tempted to use with Bernie. We will try to elaborate on how get the best performance and functionality with application software running under Bernie ][ The Rescue. Each of these application are milestones in Apple IIgs software history.


Tips For Software Not Listed Here

The following hints are troubleshooting tips we give our customers frequently. All of the options mentioned below can be enabled/disabled from the Setup menu.

Can't Boot/See Disks: Disable Low-Level Disk Support

Bernie's "Low-Level Disk Support" option is a special operating mode that lets you run software requiring accurate emulation of the disk controller chip (IWM). This kind of emulation is slower and usually not needed. With Low-Level Disk Support active, you can only work with 800kB disks. Consequently, you can't boot from disk images of a different size, or install GS/OS onto a large disk image.

Mouse Pointer Doesn't Move: Enable Mouse Support

A lot of software requires very precise emulation of the mouse device. This includes many self-booting demos and games. Per default, low-level mouse support is disabled because it makes the mouse pointer in the Mac environment unavailable. 



ANSITerm

ANSITerm runs very well but if you have a slower Macintosh you might need to tweak the system for best performance:

 turn off virtual memory and disable third-party extensions
 use ROM 01
 MacOS 8.5.1 is marginally faster than MacOS 8.6
 use the AT+MS= command if your modem bases on a Rockwell chip set to set the modem
to intermediate baud rates (some comm programs only offer 2400 and 9600 baud)
 use ANSITerm's high-speed DSR handshake modem port driver

With the above in your mind, you can achieve connection speeds of around 9600 baud on even low-end systems (114 Mhz PowerBook). Many thanks to Don Zahniser for experimenting with the setup.


AppleWorks GS

AppleWorks GS' telecommunications module has been tested & approved. Hardware handshaking is not supported. Since this software is really pretty useless, consider acquiring a copy of ProTerm instead. ProTerm is still available as a commercial software from InTrec.


AppleWorks Classic and TimeOut Utilities

Bernie now fully supports TimeOut-enhanced AppleWorks Classic installations. Tip: you easily move graphs made with TimeOut to ClarisWorks or other Mac software by copying the video screen with the "Capture Video" command and then pasting it into your Mac application.
Note: AppleWorks Classic is incompatible with ViagRAM memory enhancer. You need to disable ViagRAM in the CPU preferences panel in order to work with AppleWorks. (Who needs a 14Mb AppleWorks desktop anyway? :)


Diversi-Tune/GS

More Information

http://www.magnet.ch/emutech/Bernie/DTune/

IMPORTANT: Although Bill Basham is still working on a very similar product - Diversi-Tune for Java - please note that the Apple IIgs version is no longer supported. If you have questions with Diversi-Tune, please contact F.E.Systems or post your questions on the TechTalk mailing list. You can let Bill know how much you like Diversi-Tune, but he does not have the time to support Diversi-Tune/GS anymore.


History

Bill Basham released in the late 80ies a number of applications and utilities such as Diversi-Copy, -Key, -Cache and most notably Diversi-Tune. Diversi-Tune is a MIDI recording and playback facility and predated SynthLab which also bases on MIDI-encoded sound data and ships on the GS/OS 6.0.1 system disks. Diversi-Tune, however, is the software that pioneered *good* music on the Apple IIgs thanks to its insanely great set of instruments and live-like recording capabilities, an inherent advantage of MIDI-style software. Since Diversi-Tune does not offer the full range of editing features found in today's killer MIDI apps (no quantization), the songs reveal the true talent of the musicians. Plus, this nifty little bouncing ball was maybe (?) only a small step for Bill but a giant step for the Apple IIgs user community - thousands of people have possibly been watching this bouncing ball and sung along to the tunes of "Rocky Top" and "Grand Old Flag".

Bill Basham worked as a recording engineer in '78 and '79. He met musician Nathen Page during this time and became friend with him. Diversi-Tune was Bill's attempt to capture with an Apple IIgs what he captured with his studio equipment, and well, when you're listening to Nathen  Page's live recording from Applefest in Boston you'll get the idea what that means. I have rarely been listening to songs of such a quality and on such low-end equipment (compared to songs played through dedicated hardware such as Korg M3R, SY-22 and you-name-it). What I personally like about Diversi-Tune so much is that it's a very spartanic software that dispenses with all those tricks of modern software but does just one task - perfectly: recording human music. This pretty much describes what makes Apple II computing so unique.

Back to Bernie

Diversi-Tune is the software that puts Bernie through its paces. It generates such a massively, insanely huge amount of interrupts that you REALLY need a very, very fast Macintosh. Not some 4 years old flagship but something with pressure on the line.

Just to give you an idea, Diversi-Tune is generating around 1500 interrupts per second. This gives each interrupt about 700 microseconds to be dealt with, not counting regular code to be emulated. Plus, it has to synthesize in software (the Apple IIgs has dedicated hardware for that) all the 32 voices Diversi-Tune can play. Ouch. That is the reason why it might bring your Bernie down onto its knees. We have spent hours getting the most bang out of the code, and the author of Diversi-Tune agreed that it is "quite an accomplishment if you got it working."

Luckily, there are means of giving up some fidelity for improved performance if your Mac can't handle this kind of workload.


If You Own A Reeeeeeally Fast Mac

Be sure all bells & whistles are in place. In particular you need to...

 set Bernie to "Hifi-Sound 44Khz" (Sound control panel)
 choose Stereo playback (Sound control panel)
 launch Diversi-Tune. From the main menu, choose "Configuration" and set the number of active oscillators to 32. 

If you need just a little bit more processing power, consider switching to Mono playback and/or decrease the number of oscillators by 4 or 6.


If You're Running Out Of Horsepower - Tips For Slo-Mo Macs

 choose Mono playback
 be sure Bernie's Video window is entirely visible on a monitor set to 256 colors
 launch Diversi-Tune. From the main menu, choose "Configuration" and start decrementing the number of active oscillators. Experiment a little bit until you found the best setting that sounds ok and gives your Mac room to breathe. 
 disable "Hifi-Sound 44kHz". You might experience strange sounding audio (just a wee bit off...), but you'll gain a lot of CPU attention.

Generally, you should first try to reduce the number of active oscillators. 20 oscillators is usually a good compromise. The less oscillators (voices) Diversi-Tune has the less fantastic do the Diversi Tune instruments sound. With 32 oscillators it's completely amazing - certainly a good reason to buy a faster Mac.


Marinetti 2

Marinetti 2 has been tested & approved. Hangup freezer fixed in Bernie 2.0.1.


ProTerm

ProTerm v2.2 has been tested & approved. ProTerm 3 requires "more compatible" in the Communications panel in order to work properly. 


ReadyLink

ReadyLink has been tested & approved.


Spectrum 2.2

Spectrum has been tested & approved. Disable "more compatible" in the Communications panel for best performance. Spectrum is the communications software we recommend for use with Bernie.


The Tinies

The Tinies work perfectly. Be sure to enable Mouse Support. Between episodes you will see splash screens with strange colors - these images are in 3200 colors which is not supported.


History

Wolfy is a milestone in Apple IIgs entertainment history. Wolfenstein was one of the first 3D real-time adventures, released around the time of Pathways into Darkness if my memory serves me right. The graphics in the Mac version are very simple and could not keep up with what appeared soon after Wolfy 3D was released, namely blockbusters like Marathon & Co., but that's business as usual in the software industry. Wolfenstein loosely bases on the ancient "Castle Wolfenstein" featuring about the same plot (opinions on the story line differ, you can get mine in private e-mail) but of course with a radically different front-end. Wolfenstein 3D was a product developed by id software and Logicware, and one of the real computer wizards, Mr. Burger Bill (or Bill Heineman), happened to work for the latter company. Bill, who has already written quite some classics, started porting Wolfy 3D to the Apple IIgs. Eventually you remember that Bill had already made our day with "Out Of This World", a 2D action game with polygon rendering. So, Bill started writing Wolfy 3D for the IIgs, but since he's a busy family man Wolfy evolved only very slowly into something playable. A demo was uploaded and the crowd was drooling over it.
Bill sometime realized that Wolfy 3D was not about to get ready before the millenium was over so he handed it over to Sheppy who engaged the after-burner and finished Wolfy. Sheppy reads Eric Shepherd on his mailbox, is known for numerous utilities for the apple IIgs. Two years after the demo became available, Wolfy 3D was going final on February 14, 1998 - Valentine's Day!
While Wolfy's fame on the Mac lasted only for a short time, Wolfy 3D for the IIgs is supposed to mark the current state of the art in Apple II entertainment. Brilliant graphics, smooth rendering and a very polished software make this game a must have. Wolfenstein for Macs or whatever may be nothing to write home about, but Wolfy for the IIgs shows where clever programming on rather limited hardware can take you!

Back to Bernie

For best control, we recommend you using the mouse. Keyboard control does not deliver yet because Bernie does loose key-up events when you're starting holding down several keys. Using the mouse is a good workaround. We are brainstorming about addressing the technical difficulties.

Wolfy 3D has been written by Eric Shepherd and "Burger Bill". It is freeware and can be download in Bernie-ready disk image format from the official Wolfenstein homepage. A link is on Bernie's web site: http://www.magnet.ch/emutech/Bernie/Wolfy/.

Be sure to enable "Mouse Support" (F6) when playing Wolfy. Sound quality can be improved by setting the sampling frequency to 44kHz. You do this by enabling "HiFi Sound" in the Sound Preferences.





 1998-2000 F.E.Systems Emulation Technologies
