shock__ wrote:

Which is also an awesome source for fraud ... considering the last AdLib I've seen on eBay sold for 451€

Wow I didn't know they went for that much now...I got one boxed for $50 about 12 years ago.

I partly agree. When the creator first posted about these at VCF I questioned the need for it to be an "exact" clone down to the 1990 copyright. His response was that anyone could change the PCB, so it wouldn't stop scammers if he put "replica" on it. Which I guess is true. Anyway I've yet to see any of them show up on ebay.

Tiido wrote:

On read accesses there will be bus conflicts, if read accesses on one side can be disabled there will not be problems.

I would imagine most applications would exclusively write . At least those I have tried (Doom, Duke 3D) seem to work fine on my CQM AWE64 and my OPL3-SA based Mediatrix 3D-XG simultaneously .

Tiido wrote:

On read accesses there will be bus conflicts, if read accesses on one side can be disabled there will not be problems.

I don't think there will be, since you have the exact same chips.
The timings will be exactly the same, and all reads will be exactly the same as well.
It's worth a try.

darry wrote:

I would imagine most applications would exclusively write . At least those I have tried (Doom, Duke 3D) seem to work fine on my CQM AWE64 and my OPL3-SA based Mediatrix 3D-XG simultaneously .

For OPL2/OPL3 code it's very common to do dummy reads for delay. So they do read, they just don't do anything with the values.
Other than that, detecting OPL2 or OPL3 chips can be done by enabling the timer and reading it back.
But that probably will just work as well.

Two chips putting same data on the bus is less bad, there's far smaller fighting currents involved. It does work though, I have had a SB16 and YMF71x based card run side by side in past and it produced a nice chorus like effect due to real OPL3 on the SB16 and OPL3L in YMF71x having slightly different output sample rates. Ideally you still make one side read only especially since there will be timing uncertainites due to analog factors (propagation delays).
It is never a good practice to drive anything without a current sharing mechanism as far as TTL families (LS, ALS, F etc.) go which absolutely require current sharing mechanisms to prevent eventual damage (however long it might take to get to that point), CMOS (HC/AC/HCT/ACT etc.) families will be lot less fussy about it but still no competent design ever makes two devices outputs at the same time. in my software, I used reads to the OPL2/3 ports to set the necessary delays between accesses to prevent weird sounds so I'm pretty sure there are lot more software that does. Each read gives a semi predictable delay related to ISA clock and any wait states applied.

That reminds me of the YMF289, whose register's can be read. It's neither really related nor an issue, though.
Just reminded me of that chip. Wonder why that feature was implemented at all.

That's the OPL3L, and readback exists to support suspend and hibernation modes on laptops.

shock__ wrote:

Hate to hijack this topic, but where/how did you get those isa backplates made?

These guys have been making them for years: http://www.globebrackets.com/brackets

Quite a few of my ISA and MCA cards bear their markings.... and they are a local company to me.

Yuuker wrote:

lvader wrote:

It should make a great 2nd card to work with an AWE 64 Gold, Disable 388 on the AWE and feed the resound card through the lin-in on the AWE. I’m currently doing this with a SB Pro 2, but the resound should be a cleaner solution.

Is it even possible to disable the Adlib-port on Awe2/64 cards? I'l admit iv never messed around with any of them before, but iv seriously been considering doing a dedicated-OPL3 + AWE Card config myself (and from what iv seen, CQM Awe's tend to go far less then those with a genuine Yamaha so... 🤣 )

Yes you can completely disable port 388 on an AWE 64 and use another card to provide genuine OPL.
For game compatibility you still point the settings to the AWE. Normally FM would play on both cards but through the AWE configuration disable port 388 so fm sound only comes out of the 2nd card

lvader wrote:

Yes you can completely disable port 388 on an AWE 64 and use another card to provide genuine OPL.
For game compatibility you still point the settings to the AWE. Normally FM would play on both cards but through the AWE configuration disable port 388 so fm sound only comes out of the 2nd card

I can firm that. I think it was also possible with certain ISA PnP models of the SB16/SB32/AWE32 range.
IMHO it was about the only reason why I ever considered to use one these cards (as a seondary card for SB16 support).
I can't remember for sure though if the setting also affected the other FM addresses or just 388h.

Whats the benefit of this ? Why not just plug a CT1350 in ? or a other Card with Real OPL2/3 😁

matze79 wrote:

Whats the benefit of this ? Why not just plug a CT1350 in ? or a other Card with Real OPL2/3 😁

The benefit is:
1) This card is built to a very high standard, having very low noise and very clear OPL3 sound (unlike Sound Blasters and most clones).
2) This card allows you to use all 4 channels of the OPL3 chip, for surround sound.

matze79 wrote:

Whats the benefit of this ? Why not just plug a CT1350 in ? or a other Card with Real OPL2/3 😁

which one card sounds great, can do it all (digital, fm, midi out, gm ...) and is compatible with most 80’s, 90’s games. Even 2 cards aren't enough, I have 4 running at once.

lvader wrote:

which one card sounds great, can do it all (digital, fm, midi out, gm ...) and is compatible with most 80’s, 90’s games. Even 2 cards aren't enough, I have 4 running at once.

I still say the Gravis UltraSound Extreme comes closest 😀
The GUS part gives you a GF1, UART MPU-401 and Sound Canvas/MT-32 emulation.
The ESS AudioDrive gives you OPL3 and SB Pro compatibility.

But but but it's ESFM. (I actually don't mind ESFM one bit).

Also, the GUS Extreme is almost unobtainium these days.

shock__ wrote:

Hate to hijack this topic, but where/how did you get those isa backplates made?

We bought them from Mouser and drilled the holes with a drill press. Drilling the holes has proven to be a bit challenging but it's do-able.

I recommend a step drill bit if you're not using one already.

Where can I buy the card in Europe?

matze79 wrote:

Whats the benefit of this ? Why not just plug a CT1350 in ? or a other Card with Real OPL2/3 😁

I only have an 8-bit slot available in my T5200; I have an -8-bit CT1350 card... but the card is still too long to fit in the location. This card would fit just fine.

gdjacobs wrote:

But but but it's ESFM. (I actually don't mind ESFM one bit).

Yea, it's not perfect, but I don't think any other card is as all-round.

gdjacobs wrote:

Also, the GUS Extreme is almost unobtainium these days.

Good thing I bought a few when they were still dirt-cheap 😀
I have one of them that's never opened, box is still in shrinkwrap.