I'm still waiting on the 3.5mm stereo to 6.35mm cable but I'm thinking I can plug the 2x mono plugs into the MT-32, and the other end into the 'line in' of the SB Pro, then the line out of the SB Pro into my amp; effectivley using the SB as a mixer.

But will this work?

Yes, I was doing this with my 386, MT32 and SB Pro. You'll probably want to fiddle with the volumes with SBP-MIX.exe

And will I need any drivers installed to use the Soundscape's MIDI port? I have it jumpered to 330, and I'm hoping that's enough. I don't think that conflicts with the SB Pro in any way?

I believe the Soundscape uses a software emulation of the intelligent mode MUP401 so I'd say that you would need the driver. I've not used one so I can't say for sure. In any case the SB pro doesn't have a MIDI port so it won't clash with IO port 330. SB16 and later you either need to disable the MIDI port or reassign it.

OK thanks, I'll have a look around for SBP-MIX, I don't have it by default in my SB drivers.

Right then I'll just have to suck it and see with the soundscape. Anyone have any tips for getting my hands on an actual MPU401 interface card? I've been watching eBay like a hawk for months now and the one or 2 I've seen listed are all ~200 bucks, which just doesn't seem right.

I love how every MT-32 has the same wear marks around the volume knob, stupid stubby thing it is.

Edit: Forget eBay, try Vintage Computer Forum or AmiBay. Most of those people aren't trying to get 'eBay Prices(TM)' for their gear, they'd prefer it went to the hands of someone who's appreciate it.

OK thanks, I'll have a look around for SBP-MIX, I don't have it by default in my SB drivers.

Really? I thought it was part of the default SB PRO drivers. I got them from Creative's website, but this is going back a while now since I built my 386.

DonutKing wrote:

Really? I thought it was part of the default SB PRO drivers. I got them from Creative's website, but this is going back a while now since I built my 386.

The 'sb2up.exe' package I got from creative's website didn't include them, just 'diagnose.exe' and some bare bones drivers. I ended up using the disk images from the vogons drivers site, these required some messing around with labelling floppies correctly to get the installer to run but I got there in the end.

Then I had to install Windows 3.11 to allow me to install the Ensoniq DOS drivers, which are included in the Windows only installer.

Then, after fiddling around with SBP-SET to un-mute the line in (SBP-MIX takes up heaps of memory?), and messing around with the Ensoniq software to direct MIDI to the external port... nothing happened.

I finally swapped the 'in' and 'out' cables into the MT-32 and finally I got some action - not a quality product, that cable. Only cost 7 bucks though so I can't really complain.

Dune2 works well and a few other games I tried, but NOT Frederik Pohl's Gateway, which is one of the main games I wanted to play on this setup.

I run the game with the 'gate.exe MT32' command, and it doesn't throw any errors. The MT-32 lights up with 'GATEWAY' on the LCD and all looks good, but I just don't get any music.

So I guess the Soundscape's "intelligent mode" isn't quite up to the task. I've read in another thread that the AudioPCI doesn't work with Gateway either, but I was hoping that the Soundscape would.

Am I missing something? Or does my search for a proper MPU-401 interface continue?

Gateway is one of the games that will only work with a fully compatible MPU401 interface. Same with Wing Commander and quite a few others.

BTW, Both myself and Mau1wurf1977 have recordings of Gateway running on actual MT-32 hardware:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZPX1jtk3-M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMVcqwD94dU

Just wondering why would you want to connect it back into a soundblaster? Surely it would be better to mix the signals separately away from the card due to how damn hissy old soundblasters are? Maybe it's just me but with that much signal degradation I'd never pump sound back through to it 😜

megatron-uk wrote:

Gateway is one of the games that will only work with a fully compatible MPU401 interface. Same with Wing Commander and quite a few others.

Yes Gateway is very very picky and does even cause issues on my Midiman MM401 card.

This game really is the ultimate MPU401 test 😀

Thing is MPU401 cards aren't getting cheaper. If you see one buy it. The SCC-1 comes with a MPU401 interface as well, so if you see this card just buy it.

In a few years these cards will cost a LOT more.

Mau1wurf1977 wrote:

In a few years these cards will cost a LOT more.

Well, this certainly shouldn't be the case, in my opinion, but you can thank the guys who are in the business of buying things cheaply and then re-listing for exorbitant prices (oldschoolgamerusa/Menkau_ra) for helping to create that perception...

RichB93 wrote:

Just wondering why would you want to connect it back into a soundblaster? Surely it would be better to mix the signals separately away from the card due to how damn hissy old soundblasters are? Maybe it's just me but with that much signal degradation I'd never pump sound back through to it 😜

It sounds fine to me and it's the easiest option. 😉

oldschoolgamerusa has a nice looking MIDIMAN listed currently for 200 USD. And there are some SCC-1's going for b/w 150 and 200USD, but they don't appear to have the relevant cables, etc. Paying big bucks for stuff takes the fun out of all IMO, so I'll make do with my Soundscape until something else turns up.

Thanks for the replies.

Too bad this one is US only.... 😢

http://www.ebay.com/itm/320954867428

Are those MPU-401 cards over rated? I mean you could buy an SB32/AWE64 or a number of other cards that provide functional MPU-401 interface without the stupid price tag.

dirkmirk wrote:

Are those MPU-401 cards over rated? I mean you could buy an SB32/AWE64 or a number of other cards that provide functional MPU-401 interface without the stupid price tag.

SoundBlaster MIDI ports aren't intelligent, they're just glorified serial ports.

I hook my MT-32 up to an Audigy 2 ZS via the joystick/game port. I've got the same wear marks around the volume knob as well! 😀 Gotta love Roland, though. I'll never go back to PC Speaker in the "Quest" series by Sierra again.

They do work, and they're great if you use DOSBox in Windows, but a real DOS machine needs an intelligent MPU401 interface. Some games absolutely require it, while some can be patched to use the SoundBlaster UART MIDI port.

Would there be any real advantage to using the strictly MPU401 card? I have a CT-3990 in my real Dos machine. (AWE32) I think I have some free ISA slots left, but I'd have to check. I may be using the "spare" with the Gravis Ultrasound. I haven't played around with real mode DOS on my Optiplex for a while as I've been gaming on Win98.

I need to print out a high quality sticker for that machine's case. IRQ Hell indeed! 😁 I think I'll call it that from now on.

The only advantage is that games requiring a real MPU401 will work, where they simply won't work with SoundBlaster MIDI ports.

There are also some MPU401 clones, like the MidiMan MM401 or the Music Quest PC MIDI card.

There's no difference in the output though, so if you can patch the games to use the SoundBlaster MIDI port, they will sound identical.

Gotcha, so there's no real difference in sound quality, even if one is an audiophile. (Not that I obsess over it, I just hate hanging notes and crackle on my headphones.) I'll have to experiment, see if there's a Dos game I have with broken sound in that setup. This may prove interesting. I probably shouldn't be loading any more cards in that with a stock power supply and a Pentium 233.

jmrydholm wrote:

Gotcha, so there's no real difference in sound quality, even if one is an audiophile. (Not that I obsess over it, I just hate hanging notes and crackle on my headphones.) I'll have to experiment, see if there's a Dos game I have with broken sound in that setup. This may prove interesting. I probably shouldn't be loading any more cards in that with a stock power supply and a Pentium 233.

Nope, no difference in sound quality - the interface between the sound card and MT32 is purely data, not audio.

As long as the soundcard transmits the correct data to the MT32, it will sound correct.... of course, that's where the non-MPU401 devices sometimes break down, as some games do require the additional functionality of a true MPU401 interface.