First post, by static-
Hi all !
I'm wondering if you'd like to help me think through some sound card options for my SS7 K6-3+ retro boxen, aimed at playing a large range of DOS/WIN98 games.
I have a SS7 motherboard with:
* 2x ISA slots
* 5x PCI slots
I have the following sound card options
* ISA Resound OPL3
* ISA SB16 with genuine OPL (noisy signal)
* ISA HardMPU
* ISA AW64 Gold (has no hanging bug, clean signal)
* PCI SB Live
* PCI SB Audigy 2 ZS
I would say my audio priorities are
1) OPL2/3
2) MIDI for MT32/SC55 with no hanging note bug and Intelligent mode support
3) Digital Audio, cleanest possible signal/sound
Here are some options I'm considering
[ Option 1 ] -- Resound OPL3 + AWE64 (w/ SoftMPU) + Audigy 2 ZS
This gives the cleanest OPL3 sound, as well as no hanging bug (AWE64). However without the HardMPU for intelligent mode, SoftMPU must be used which forces EMS requirement and tiny 8K ram. I worry some games will not work in this configuration (like Ultima7, although it doesn't need Intelligent MPU).
[ Option 2 ] -- Resound OPL3 + HardMPU + Audigy 2 ZS
Here, I get the best Intelligent MPU support, but lose the AWE64 ISA for digital audio for DOS... however I'm wondering if I could use the Audigy 2 ZS in dos to provide a (potentially?) cleaner sound than the AWE64 gold? I've read a patch can be loaded that allows Audigy 2 to use the Audigy 1 DOS drivers.
[ Option 3 ] -- SB16 + HardMPU + Audigy 2 ZS
This keeps geniune OPL and Intelligent MPU, but the SB16 for DOS is noisier than the AWE64 for audio.
[ Option 4 ] -- ???
Some questions I have:
1) Does the Live! have better DOS drivers/support than the Audigy 2 ZS?
2) Can I expect any game incompatibilities for using PCI live/audigy card in DOS?
3) Are there other ISA or PCI cards that I don't own that you'd think could work better?
Please let me know if you have any thoughts or experience to share! My current vote would probably be option #1.. losing the HardMPU and sticking to SoftMPU
Cheers!