RELEASE NOTES
+++++++++++++


 
This document includes last minute product information about     
GEAR 3.3 for OS/2 Warp. The information provided in this
document isn't available in the printed or online documentation.
(For specific information regarding version 3.31 see the file
 README.TXT in the root directory of this CD.)


GEAR 3.3 for OS/2 Warp
++++++++++++++++++++++

The following new features have been added to GEAR:

Support for the following new recorders:

		MITSUMI CDR2200
		MATSUSHITA CW-7501 (PANASONIC)
		RICOH 1420
		JVC 2010
		PINNACLE 5020/5040
	
GEAR now has an option to set the reading speed of a recorder. 
This option can be set in the Recording Setup dialog.

GEAR now supports a directory nesting level up to 24 levels (was 12 levels).
This option can be set in the CD-Generator setup dialog.

GEAR now supports file name lengths up to 64 characters (was 37 characters)
in case you decide not to translate file names to ISO compatible names.
This option can be set in the CD-Generator setup dialog.

It is possible to use Disc At Once writing when using the following recorders.
This option can be set in the Recording Setup dialog.

		IMS CDD522		(audio only)
		KODAK PCD225		(audio only)
		IMS CDD2000		(audio only)
		GRUNDIG CDR100IPW	(audio only)
		PLASMON CDR4220		(audio only)
		HP 4020i		(audio only)
		KODAK CDR-240		(audio only)
		YAMAHA CDR100
		YAMAHA CDR102
		MITSUMI CDR2200
		MATSUSHITA CW-7501	(not for XA images)
		SONY 920
		Olympus CDS615
		HIGHTECH CD-R1002
		OPTIMA CD-R 650

Jukeboxes
+++++++++

WARNING!	

When using a K&S CDJ-30, exported discs must always be removed.
GEAR can not detect a disc in the mailbox until a second export 
is executed. No error message is given but the operation is halted.


Known Problems
++++++++++++++
	
The JVC, Pinnacle and Ricoh 1060C recorders do not support the 
Verify-After-Write option for XA images.
The Matshushita CW-7501 and the Ricoh 1060 do not support the writing 
of mixed form data (mode2 form1 and mode2 form2 data in one track). 
This prevents you from writing most CD-i titles.

Installation

The installation utility of GEAR (setup.exe) occasionally hangs on
OS/2 machines with FixPak 17 installed. If you are experiencing this
problem you can run the batch installation program called install.cmd
instead of the setup.exe program. 
This program can be found on the GEAR distribution CD and on our BBS.

Temporary files

When GEAR is running, temporary files with the name *.CTN are created. 
In case the GEAR software is unexpectedly stopped, this file will remain. 
You can savely remove these files if GEAR is NOT running.


Compuserve support
++++++++++++++++++

Elektroson is of the CDROM Vendors B forum. Once on line users can
GO GEAR for the latest GEAR news and demo's, or to leave a message
for our support team. 


SCSI controllers
++++++++++++++++

Not all recorders on the market can work with the faster SCSI controllers 
like the VESA and PCI controllers. The Ricoh RS-9200CD, the Pinnacle CDR200
and RCD1000, the JVC XR-W1001 and JVC XR-W2001 all have problems with
faster controllers. This isn't caused by GEAR but a hardware incompatibility
between recorder and controller. In some case it might help to lower the
DMA speed and/or to disable disconnection on the SCSI controller
(refer to your SCSI controller manual).Depending on your firmware 
revision, the Philips CDD2000 also might have problems with faster 
controllers.


Audio	
+++++

Audio files on your hard disk must always fulfill the following requirements (the so called Red Book format):
	- sample frequency must have been 44.1 KHz
	- audio must be stereo
	- each sample must consist of 16 bits
	- the byte order should be the same as the byte order used on the 
          computer running GEAR. If this is not the case the option 
          'MSBAudio= ' in the [generic] section of the GEAR.INI can be 
          used  so that GEAR will swap the audio bytes for all tracks.
	
OS/2 Warp:	LSB audio default, with MSBAudio=TRUE each track will be
		swapped by GEAR.

You can also use the readtrack option of GEAR to copy a digital audio
track from CD to a file on hard disk. The readtrack option creates no 
header so the resulting file can be used directly. GEAR will store the 
audio read from the recorder in the same format as the default of the
system running GEAR (for OS/2 that is LSB).

Audio CD's with variable (or zero) pauses can be created with GEAR using
a so called Tracklist File. This is a simple ASCII text file which can be
created with any standard editor. Each line in the file contains the full
path to a RedBook compliant audio file. Each file will be loaded into
a separate track. Behind the name a number of options must be given. 
First the 'DA' option should be added to identify the track as an audio
track. The following option will describe the pause added to the track.
The syntax of this option is [+,-] P:xxx. The + ,- specifies whether 
the pause is included in the audio file. If so the + should be used. 
If not the - should be used and GEAR will generate the pause 
automaticaly. The xxx will specify the length of the pause in frames
(2 seconds = 150 frames). It is possible to specify a length of 0. 
If the pause option is not included a default pause of 150 frames 
is added.

examples:
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA		Default 150 frames pause is added
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA +P:150	A pause of 150 frames is included in the file
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA +P:225	A pause of 225 frames is included in the file
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA -P:0		No pause
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA +P:0		No pause
C:\TRACK1.AUD DA -P:225	A pause of 225 frames is added to the track.

Variable pause recording can only be used with disc-at-once recording.


GEAR for Backup
+++++++++++++++

GEAR can be extremely useful for CD-R backups. Two special options in GEAR
give you all the functionality to do backup on CD-R. The Generator setup
contains the items Archives Only and Archives Reset. When the Archives
Reset check box is enabled GEAR will reset the archive bit for each file
that is loaded in to the image. When the Archives Only check box is enabled
GEAR will only load files with the archive bit set and then after loading
reset the archive bit (Note: The Archive bit of a file is set by the OS when
a file has been modified).
These powerful features can be used in the following way
	1. Enable the Archives Reset feature
	2. Create a new CD-Image
	3. Load all files in to this new image. All archive bits will be
           reset.
	4. Write the CD-Image to CD-R in multi session format. Your files
           are now all saved on CD-R.
To update your backup on this CD you can do the following
	1. Enable the Archives only feature
	2. Put the CD back in the Recorder and choose Append Next Session
	3. Load all files in to the next session. Only modified files will 
           be loaded because only the modified files will have the archive 
           bit set by the OS.
	4. Write the CD-R. The modified files will be saved on CD-R. 
           The CD will now contain 2 sessions, together forming the 
           complete backup!

You can repeat this as long as there is space left on your CD!


GEAR for Automated image generation
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GEAR has new options which allow you to create images completely 
unattended! The GEAR batch programs can now run in unattended mode. 
In this mode all user dialogs will be automatically handled by GEAR. 
The default value for each dialog will be selected. Error dialogs 
will always appear to assure the high data integrity of GEAR. 
The automated option can also be used if GEAR is called from within 
another program by using:

	GEAROS2 [<batch file>] [/A]

When the /A is specified, GEAR will run in automated mode.


GEAR for CD-Enhanced
++++++++++++++++++++

GEAR has new options for creating CD-Enhanced discs. CD-Enhanced discs 
allow you to 'hide' the audio from the data and vice versa. 
CD-Enhanced discs are multisession discs with multiple audio tracks
in the first session and data in the other sessions. CD Audio players 
will only 'see' the first session and thus only play the audio. 
Multi session CD ROM players will automatically present the last 
session on the disc and thus only show the data. CD-Enhanced discs 
can be created as follows:
	1) Create a new GEAR CD-image with a number of audio tracks.
	2) Write the image to CD-R and make sure multi session is enabled.
	3) Choose Append Next Session and use the last track on the CD-R
           as starting point for the next session.
	4) Enter the name and type of the data part of the CD-R.
	5) A new session will be created and you can add data as with 
           any other image
	6) Write the session to CD-R and your CD-Enhanced disc is ready!


GEAR for Video-CD
+++++++++++++++++

GEAR has the possibility to write video-CD images to CD-R disc. GEAR 
has no direct video-CD formatting support, but GEAR can write any 
video-CD image to CD-R. Video CD images can be written via the foreign 
image options as follows.
	1) Select the 'Open' dialog from the file menu.
	2) Select 'External image files' for the 'Show Files of Type' option.
	3) Select your video CD image file and click on 'OK'.
	4) The dialog for 'External image parameters' appears.
	5) Select the correct image type. Most video CD images are of type
	   'CD-ROM XA sector size 2336'. Refer to the documentation of the 
           tools you created the image with, in case you are not sure about
           the image type.
	6) Select 'OK', the GEAR status bar will show the selected 
           image type.
	7) Write the image like any other image using the 'Write' menu.


Prechecks before calling Tech support
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- Does the power LED of the recorder light up?
- Is the SCSI bus terminated correctly?
- Is the SCSI ID set correctly?
- Are the SCSI cables less than 1 meter in length?
- Are the other SCSI devices on the bus working correctly?
- Is the software driver installed correctly?
- Have you tried to burn with only the recorder active on the SCSI bus?


Placing a service call
++++++++++++++++++++++

Please contact your supplier. The following information is required:

- Registration number
- Version and date of GEAR (see the about box), and the 
  installation type (Mac OS only)
- Recorder brand
- SCSI controller brand
- software driver used for SCSI controller
- Operating system version
- general system information (computer mainboard, hard drive, memory)
- GEAR.INI information (UNIX: .gearrc)
- Exact error message with the additional sense code if given
- The way to produce the failure
- LOG file and WORESULT.TXT file
- Discinfo dialog
- Please be in front of your computer with GEAR running when you call!

For more information contact your dealer or:

Elektroson Europe		Elektroson USA
PO Box 2436			2105 South Bascom Avenue, Suite 160
5600CK EINDHOVEN		Campbell, CA 95008
The Netherlands			USA
Tel: +31 40 2515 065		Tel: +1 408 371 4800
Fax: +31 40 2514 920		Fax: +1 408 371 4895
As from September 1996:
Tel: +31 40 2514 489
Fax: +31 40 2514 432


Compuserve
++++++++++
GO GEAR

World Wide Web
++++++++++++++
www.elektroson.com