MediaVision Pro Audio Spectrum

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-ISA-Pro- … =item2328f0f7b1

What's so special about it?

I've also not heard of the Mockingboard or Innovation SSI-2001, although these cards may have been prominent before my time (I started around the 486 days). What makes these cards desirable?

How about the Audiotrix 3DXG?

Kahenraz wrote:

MediaVision Pro Audio Spectrum

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-ISA-Pro- … =item2328f0f7b1

What's so special about it?

This is MediaVision Pro Audio Spectrum 16 - a later card that is partially compatible with original Pro Audio Spectrum. They are ubiquitous.

Original 8-bit PAS is so special because it carries two OPL2 chips, much like SB Pro CT1330, but they are incompatible with each other.

Kahenraz wrote:

I've also not heard of the Mockingboard or Innovation SSI-2001, although these cards may have been prominent before my time (I started around the 486 days). What makes these cards desirable?

They were never prominent, just obscure (and hence desirable). :D

The Mockingboard was more common for the Apple II - the PC version was sold as the 'Bank Street Music Writer Card' and IIRC only supported by (and available with) the.. Bank Street Music Writer software from Mindscape; more info here.

The Innovation SSI-2001 was a simply a SID-based card for the PC, though unfortunately the games supporting it could be counted on both hands. Search these forums for more information - one of these cards passed between several members here and there's been some effort towards emulating and reverse-engineering it.

I rarely see or hear anything about the IBM Music Feature card, but I'm not very knowledgeable about retro hardware beyond what I have experience with. Still, just thought I'd throw that one in the mix to see if anyone can comment on it. :)

EDIT: Err... wait, Bristle already mentioned it. Speed-reading has failed me again! XD

The AWE64 PCI variant is pretty hard to find and I haven't seen the original Windows Sound System for a while...

Windows Sound System cards are ubiquitous: here, here and here, and it's just fifteen seconds spent to search.

There's even loads of WSS compatible sound cards that aren't marketed as such.

jwt27 wrote:

How about the Audiotrix 3DXG?

Is it some suspicious hybrid of OPL3SA and SW60XG?

bristlehog wrote:

jwt27 wrote:

How about the Audiotrix 3DXG?

Is it some suspicious hybrid of OPL3SA and SW60XG?

It is just a YMF71x (OPL3-SAx) card with DB60XG daughterboard. The difference is that the YMF output signal is routed through the DB60XG effects processor. As far as I know, this is the only card that ever used the analog inputs on the DB60XG.

jwt27 wrote:

It is just a YMF71x (OPL3-SAx) card with DB60XG daughterboard. The difference is that the YMF output signal is routed through the DB60XG effects processor. As far as I know, this is the only card that ever used the analog inputs on the DB60XG.

Well then, if someone sticks line output of OPL3SAx into line input of SW60XG, would it be the same?

If I'm not mistaken, yes.

I believe Cloudschatze owns one, he should know more about it.

I would LOVE to get my hands on an AdLib Gold, preferably with the module. I am pretty convinced that i'll never touch one in my entire life.

bristlehog wrote:

Well then, if someone sticks line output of OPL3SAx into line input of SW60XG, would it be the same?

Refer to my "Ad Lib Legacy" post over at QuestStudios, mainly for the AudioTriX 3D-XG manual. Routing another card's output into an SW60XG is roughly equivalent, but the 3D-XG solution ties things together in a much better manner, from a software/control perspective.

Here are a few other "rarities" that I'm personally after, not all of which are gaming-related, and some of which were unreleased (but somehow escaped into the wild):

Ad Lib MSC Microchannel
AVM Apex
Covox Sound Master
Creative AWE64 Gold II
Creative Port Blaster
MicroProse's "The Entertainer" (Assuming it ever existed...)
Oksori Professional 2.00
Tecmar Music Synthesis System / Music Magic Synthesizer

AVM Apex, oh yes, I had the oportunity to buy it when it was new, I bought something else instead, I still regret it.

I would add to the list the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage PCMCIA.

vmunix wrote:

I would add to the list the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage PCMCIA.

I bought this one recently as NOS. It's quite interesting in that it uses software synthesis with loadable sound banks instead of an FM chip.

I've been trying to get an Audiotrix 3DXG for 5 years. I never seen one for sale.

Kahenraz wrote:

vmunix wrote:

I would add to the list the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage PCMCIA.

I bought this one recently as NOS. It's quite interesting in that it uses software synthesis with loadable sound banks instead of an FM chip.

That's interesting indeed, I always thought it was a Hurricane chipset based (Digital I/O only) + midi controller but no synth. Do you have picture of the whole thing? A couple of years ago I saw it NOS on ebay but a very high price.

The table linked in that SNR thread named a bunch of weird ones. The LynxTwo? The Aardvark Direct Pro? The Event Darla?

But then, these might be professional studio hardware that isn't even compatible with standard DOS games.