You will need a dedicated mixer , there is no other better way that I know off. Forget internal pc stuff.
Here is an older pic of my setup:

Let me explain:
On the left (not entirely vissible) is an AUDIO SWITCH , that has 3 inputs that go to: CM-32L , MT-32 and SC-55. The output of the switch goes to the mixer in STEREO-IN-3 . So whatever device I chose from the switch it goes to the 4th slider (labeled camera/audio)

STEREO-IN-1 carries the Soundblaster audio.
STEREO-IN-2 carries the GUS audio.

So, I just open the sliders I need (pictured is GUS turned almost to full volume) and sound goes to the speakers. The setup is REALLY great since you can fine-tune volumes on the fly. You can mix all SB+GUS+MIDI inputs at once , really useful.

Hope this helps!

It helps amazingly! How are you switching between the midi connections to the PC? What are you running for an internal SC? What's the box sitting directly next to the 32L doing? Thanks!

EDIT - would it be fair to say that if you had a mixer with more inputs it would eliminate the need for a switch? Not a lot of those mixers on eBay it seems...

Sorry for not answering earlier. Also, good on you for signing up to VOGONS.

The AWE64, by default, doesn't mix through the line-in.

Under DOS, you need to run the mixer tool, I believe it's MIXERSET. What is important that two things are done:

1. On the left side, the line-in slider is not set to the left.
2. On the bottom right side, under output, L and R for line-in, and CD, if you're using an analogue CD-ROM audio cable, needs to be ticked.

Similar under Windows, make sure line-in is not muted under the output section.

I'm sure I've explained this in one of my videos, but don't ask me in which one 🤣

I have a similar setup to Keropi.

I have 4 MIDI devices, MT-32 (Old), CM-32L, SC-55 and MU80 going into a 4 to 1 switch box.

The 4 in 1 switch box goes into a Phone 4 Stereo channel mixer, together with AWE64 Gold (for digital sound effects) and CD-Audio (I built something to hook up the CD-Audio to the mixer). That way I have full control over everything.

This is the mixer that I have, or a similar model: http://www.phonic.com/en/am-240d.html

Important is that it has STEREO line-inputs. Not MONO inputs. So don't just go by "4 channel mixer", that could be for 4 microphone ports, all being MONO. Now you could go with a better mixer with more inputs, but prices ramp up fast. I would love to have a 10 channel mixer, but they cost quite a bit more.

I would ditch the GUS, it has a very special / niche use, but not needed if you have Roland or Yamaha MIDI gear already. It's also a resources night mare, not for the retro beginner 🤣

For MIDI, I used to use a MIDI hub, but that gave me hanging notes. Then I used to use MIDI-THRU to put all MIDI devices in series, but that means all of them need to be powered on if you're using the last one.

Now I just have 4 MIDI leads going near the computer, with labels, and I manually plug them into a MIDI joiner.

Thanks, Phil! I will check that for sure. Still, I definitely want to go the external route, but this is great in the interim.

This looks like a possibility:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321825831103?_trksid= … K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I imagine I'd want an active one. Would be nice to find one with a few more inputs though...

Regarding that little box next to the CM-32L , that's called a MPU-THRU box. It takes 1 midi input (from the MPU card in the PC) and has 5 outputs, each one guaranteed to be the same as the input signal. So basically all 5 modules in the picture get the pc midi signal simultaneously. That's how I "switch" midi connections 😉

Internal SC? I don't use one, I have a MPU-401AT sending out the midi signal to the MPU-THRU box.

You got that right, if you have a mixer with 8 inputs for example then you can control 8 devices without an audio switch. But since there is only need for only 1 midi device to be "live" (at a game for example, you don't want to hear both CM-32L and SC-55 sounds) a switch is a nice and cheap solution.

OK, that's making sense. Even at the low levels, if all Midi devices are getting the signal, there's some element of competition between them. I would think you could just only power up the one you were using though, no?

That MPU-THRU box is a must-have. I'll track one down. So how do you get away with no internal SC? Again, forgive me here as I'm green on this stuff, but don't a significant amt of games use both midi and digital sound?

The MPU-THRU box does just that: gives the same signal at the same time at all devices. Ofcourse you can power on the one you need, you just leave them all plugged and don't mess with midi cables.

By internal SC you mean internal Sound Canvas , right? Well the MPU-401 + SC-55 external module is the same as the SCC-1 card, instead of internal it's external.

Haha, no, sorry, meant Sound Card, but I got it. Regarding Phil's comment about having to have the Midi devices powered on if using the last one, that might play a factor for me. I guess I don't really mind having the cables laying right next to the CPU and switch as needed. But, would the other way mean that I could mix them, basically while in-game? That would be cool to instantly hear the difference.

Phil - the GUS was def at the back of my list. I likely won't be getting it anytime soon.

I think I know what I need now on the Midi front - really appreciate it guys!

Phil - on another note, my Bios has an option where I can select the boot HDD to either IDE or SCSI. So, I may just get a SCSI setup for windows and keep dos on the IDE drive. I can boot to either with a quick bios setting. This should eliminate any weird stuff with boot managers and will eliminate the need for the drive bays. I'll have to make sure I get the network going so I can xfer files though, otherwise, having them removable to move files would be a great convenience.

ah, sound card... I do have a SB16 CT2230 and a GUS Classic , and YES with a mixer you can change volumes whenever you like, REALLY useful!

bonus pic: the internals of the THRU box 🤣

and another one I own:

Awesome - thank you again! I'll probably chime back in once something doesn't work perfectly in a couple of weeks. 😀

Should the mixer definitely be active and not passive?

I notice you guys have LCD monitors. I picked up some higher end Viewsonic prof series ones. Any reason you guys don't go with CRTs other than the obvious size/space?

Depends on the quality of the mixer really, there are passive mixers costing 6 times what I payed for mine...
I use lcd only because of space issues...

This little guy looks like it would hold me over:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolls-Minimix-II-Ster … r-/321825831103?

If I use a switch, would only really need two of these inputs for a while...one for the AWE64 and one from the Midi switch. I like the headphone out right in front also.

If I ever needed to, is there any way to adapt to that channel 1 type input?

yes that mixer is nice 😀
forget input-1 , that's a mono input for microphones, pretend it doesn't exist. 🤣

This is interesting as it has discrete switches for each input...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Technica-AT8521 … =item25ab84f44d

This might be a more reliable choice though...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Midi-Solutions-Quadra … =item3a901a4e1e

The 2nd one doesn't work properly, Phil had one and tested it.
I can't comment on the 1st one, should be good as it's old 🤣

Thanks! Exactly why I wanted to mention them. Do you usually acquire your stuff from eBay? I'd like to get all this soon, but don't want to grab up the first stuff I see. Really appreciate your help guys!

Mainly eBay yeah... though I put an ad on a local forum for musicians and I got the KENTON midi-thru box . The midiman/mixer/switches were all eBay purchases.

... I want to move this thread to Marvin...

Yea, sorry. I couldn't decide initially which to open it in. I figured I'd get more relevant responses here as it was initially MT-32 related.