What a dummy.

The Function keys with volume control work in dos. 🤣

Would you mind giving me some instructions about how can I configure my 600x for sound?
So far, I'm completely out of luck...

No problem.

You need the CS4624 drivers, which work for Win3.1/95/98, but also include a DOS initialisation part.

However, if you don't install them via Windows, then a crucial initialisation data file is NOT generated and the DSP won't work.
Fortunately, some clever guy (https://flaterco.com/kb/audio/PCI/index.html#CS4624) worked out that the this data file contains only 6 bytes of data, and I recreated it with a hex editor.

The main drivers (of which you only use 3 small files for DOS) are in an archive named "PV2885.zip". You should be able to find it easily enough.

The missing data file I will add as an attachment. Then all you need to do, from the directory you unpack the archive and drop the data file from your autoexec.bat is:

1REM ############### CIRRUS AUDIO #############
2LH C:\DRIVERS\CIRRUS\CWCDOS /P
3SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4

In the example above, you need to have the data file CWCAUDIO.WCM that I'll include below.

Here's the hexeditor created data file. My guess is that it's either some basic bootstrap code for the DSP, or something like the 'SEGA' cartridge unlock code.

Incidentally, the CS4624 DSP has quite a reasonable sounding wavetable soft synth part in Windows included as part of the basic driver pack (PV2885.zip). It's not exactly up to the virtual Roland synth or anything like that, but if you've got nothing else, it isn't bad.

Alas, hit a bit of an issue.

I can either enable the PCMCIA services and the SCP-55, or I can initialise the CS4624 audio. As soon as the Cardsoft services are loaded the cwcaudio.exe utility refuses to load and just hangs.

Damn, there goes my idea for SC/GM and SB support 🙁

Okay, confirmed. Regardless of UMB status, devices loaded high or low, as soon as the cardsoft "CS.SYS" is loaded, the cs4624 tool no longer runs.

Every other cardsoft driver can be loaded, but that particular one (the main card services driver) stops it dead in its tracks. What a huge blow, and it means that this laptop is pretty much useless to me now.

megatron-uk wrote:

Here's the hexeditor created data file. My guess is that it's either some basic bootstrap code for the DSP, or something like the 'SEGA' cartridge unlock code.

Amazing! Thank you for the support. Now I can finally play DOOM and GODS with sound.
As for gods, not close to the Amiga, but, way better than the PC Speaker.

*PS* What do you mean by "enabling the pcmcia services"?

All the Best,

I have a Roland SCP-55; it's a Sound Canvas midi module on a PCMCIA card. There are DOS drivers for both the PCMCIA sockets on the 600X, as well as the SCP-55.

I can load the drivers for the PCMCIA and the Roland card works (with glorious sounding music), but at that point the CS4624 will no longer initialise; therefore no effects and Adblib/FM in games.

Since I bought the 600X as a mobile DOS gaming platform, that choice (FM+SB Pro _OR_ GM/Sound Canvas) leaves me with a system that doesn't do what I wanted it to do 🙁

I can't remember if the SCP-55 need sCard Services loaded or if it works with only the Socket Serices driver...
Could you post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat files?

megatron-uk wrote on 2018-09-10, 10:34:

I have a Roland SCP-55; it's a Sound Canvas midi module on a PCMCIA card. There are DOS drivers for both the PCMCIA sockets on the 600X, as well as the SCP-55.

I can load the drivers for the PCMCIA and the Roland card works (with glorious sounding music), but at that point the CS4624 will no longer initialise; therefore no effects and Adblib/FM in games.

Since I bought the 600X as a mobile DOS gaming platform, that choice (FM+SB Pro _OR_ GM/Sound Canvas) leaves me with a system that doesn't do what I wanted it to do 🙁

Do you have solve this problem, same story for me but with a joystick PCMCIA card, I suspect the Crystal 4624 TSR in DOS reserve the PORT 201 for internal joystick but it's crazy because it's a laptop and it haven't any midi port inside on my A22p, and I haven't find any INFORMATION or command line for disable midi/gameport internal loaded by the TSR of Crystal. Aaaaahhh IBM......

Wow, blast from the past.

No. I was never able to get pcmcia and the crystal audio device to work at the same time. Meaning I was left with either SB Pro audio OR GM/GS midi, but not both at the same time.

I still have the 600x and the scp-55, but they haven't been tested for some time.

Guigui59210 wrote on 2024-04-05, 19:50:

megatron-uk wrote on 2018-09-10, 10:34:

I have a Roland SCP-55; it's a Sound Canvas midi module on a PCMCIA card. There are DOS drivers for both the PCMCIA sockets on the 600X, as well as the SCP-55.

I can load the drivers for the PCMCIA and the Roland card works (with glorious sounding music), but at that point the CS4624 will no longer initialise; therefore no effects and Adblib/FM in games.

Since I bought the 600X as a mobile DOS gaming platform, that choice (FM+SB Pro _OR_ GM/Sound Canvas) leaves me with a system that doesn't do what I wanted it to do 🙁

Do you have solve this problem, same story for me but with a joystick PCMCIA card, I suspect the Crystal 4624 TSR in DOS reserve the PORT 201 for internal joystick but it's crazy because it's a laptop and it haven't any midi port inside on my A22p, and I haven't find any INFORMATION or command line for disable midi/gameport internal loaded by the TSR of Crystal. Aaaaahhh IBM......

There is a way to exclude certain ports so that they are not reserved by pcmcia drivers.
Maybe this helps Roland SCP-55 SCPENA.EXE clobbers joystick port