keropi wrote on 2024-03-16, 09:18:

DOOM pretty much works out of the box if the card is configured with orphinit and ultrasnd.zip before running it inside ultrasnd […]
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Renaissance 2K wrote on 2024-03-15, 20:09:

Is there a foolproof DOS game you folks use for testing your GUS sound configuration? By "foolproof", I mean it works out of the box without any patching, manual configuration, etc. You just enter the game's SETUP program, pick "Gravis Ultrasound", and go.
[...]

DOOM pretty much works out of the box if the card is configured with orphinit and ultrasnd.zip before running it
inside ultrasnd.zip there are 2 TXT files: orpheus2.txt and games.txt , give them a read as they will explain how things work
the most you will have to do would be to run PREPGAME once before using Ultrasound option with an interwave/orpheus2 card
so for example if you want to run Jazz Jackrabbit with ultrasound you go to it's directory, run prepgame , run setup and select ultrasound and then run the game
game will be patched and you don't have to run prepgame patcher again in the future
some games even have their own GUS executable or instructions - you just follow these
and that's about it , assuming the card is fully initialized without issues then things will work like above

So, I missed the memo about a RAM module being required for some Gravis support. I ordered one from MemoryMasters like in LGR's video, popped it in, and the games that were silent before - OMF, Doom, etc. - are now working.

And they sound incredible...

Thanks for your help.

Hi everyone!

I am trying to install an Orpheus II on my Compaq Deskpro M computer (EISA) and would like to know if it would be possible to create an EISA config file for the Orpheus that would configure all the resources correctly.

Right now, my PC detects both a Sound Blaster and a Gravis Ultrasound and tries to put them in different slots (as the CFG files available are separate for each card).

For reference, I will copy here the content of both config files, in case it will help someone build a single file that would fit the Orpheus.

The config file for a Sound Blaster Pro (!ICU0190.CFG) contains the following information:

1BOARD
2     ID = "ICU0190"
3     NAME = "Sound Blaster Pro Multi-Media Adapter"
4     MFR = "Creative Labs"
5     CATEGORY = "OTH"
6     SLOT = ISA16
7     COMMENTS = "Sound Blaster Pro Multi-Media Adapter\n"
8     VERSION = 2.0
9
10JUMPER(5) = 3
11     NAME = "DRQ Channel Selection"
12     JTYPE = PAIRED
13     VERTICAL = NO
14     REVERSE = YES
15     LABEL = LOC(1 2 3) "DRQ0-JP5"
16                        "DRQ1-JP6"
17                        "DRQ3-JP7"
18     FACTORY = LOC(1 2 3) 010
19
20JUMPER(15) = 3
21     NAME = "DACK Channel Selection"
22     JTYPE = PAIRED
23     VERTICAL = NO
24     REVERSE = YES
25     LABEL = LOC(1 2 3) "DACK0-JP15"
26                        "DACK1-JP16"
27                        "DACK3-JP17"
28     FACTORY = LOC(1 2 3) 010
29
30JUMPER(11) = 1
31     NAME = "DMA Share"
32     JTYPE = TRIPOLE
33     VERTICAL = YES
34     LABEL = LOC(1) "DMACTL-JP11"
35     FACTORY = LOC(1) 0
36
37JUMPER(13) = 2
38     NAME = "I/O Base Address Selection"
39     JTYPE = PAIRED
40     VERTICAL = NO
41     REVERSE = YES
42     LABEL = LOC(1 2) "22X-JP13"
43                      "24X-JP14"
44     FACTORY = LOC(1 2) 10
45
46JUMPER(21) = 4
47     NAME = "Interrupt Select"
48     JTYPE = PAIRED
49     VERTICAL = NO
50     REVERSE = NO
51     LABEL = LOC(4-1) "IRQ2-JP21"
52                      "IRQ5-JP20"
53                      "IRQ7-JP19"
54                      "IRQ10-JP18"
55     FACTORY = LOC(4-1) 0100
56
57GROUP = "System Resources"
58TYPE = "OTH"
59FUNCTION = "Sound Blaster Pro"
60TYPE = "MMD"

61
62SUBFUNCTION = "Interrupt"
63     CHOICE = "IRQ 5"
64       FREE
65       IRQ = 5
66       INIT = JUMPER(21) LOC(4-1) 0100
67     CHOICE = "IRQ 2"
68       FREE
69       IRQ = 2
70       INIT = JUMPER(21) LOC(4-1) 1000
71     CHOICE = "IRQ 7"
72       FREE
73       IRQ = 7
74       INIT = JUMPER(21) LOC(4-1) 0010
75     CHOICE = "IRQ 10"
76       FREE
77       IRQ = 10
78       INIT = JUMPER(21) LOC(4-1) 0001
79
80SUBFUNCTION = "DMA Channel"
81     CHOICE = "DMA1 Not Shared"
82       FREE
83       DMA = 1
84       SHARE = NO
85       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 010
86       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 010
87       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 0
88     CHOICE = "DMA0 Not Shared"
89       FREE
90       DMA = 0
91       SHARE = NO
92       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 100
93       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 100
94       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 0
95     CHOICE = "DMA3 Not Shared"
96       FREE
97       DMA = 3
98       SHARE = NO
99       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 001
100       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 001
101       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 0
102     CHOICE = "DMA1 Shared"
103       FREE
104       DMA = 1
105       SHARE = YES
106       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 010
107       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 010
108       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 1
109     CHOICE = "DMA0 Shared"
110       FREE
111       DMA = 0
112       SHARE = YES
113       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 100
114       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 100
115       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 1
116     CHOICE = "DMA3 Shared"
117       FREE
118       DMA = 3
119       SHARE = YES
120       INIT = JUMPER(5) LOC(1 2 3) 001
121       INIT = JUMPER(15) LOC(1 2 3) 001
122       INIT = JUMPER(11) LOC(1) 1
123SUBFUNCTION = "I/O Port"
124     CHOICE = "22XH"
125       FREE
126       PORT = 220H-233H
127       INIT = JUMPER(13) LOC(1 2) 10
128     CHOICE = "24XH"
129       FREE
130       PORT = 240H-253H
131       INIT = JUMPER(13) LOC(1 2) 01
132
133SUBFUNCTION = "FM Synthesizer I/O Port"
134     CHOICE = "388H-389H"
135       FREE
136       PORT = 388H-389H
137
138FUNCTION = "Joystick Port"
139TYPE = "JOY"
140     CHOICE = "Enabled"
141       FREE
142       PORT = 200H-207H
143     CHOICE = "Disabled"
144	   DISABLE = YES
145
146ENDGROUP

The config file for a Gravis Ultraosund (!ICU01B0.CFG) contains the following information:

1BOARD
2     ID = "ICU01B0"
3     NAME = "Gravis Ultra Sound Multi-Media Adapter"
4     MFR = "Gravis"
5     CATEGORY = "OTH"
6     SLOT = ISA16
7     COMMENTS = "Gravis Ultra Sound Multi-Media Adapter\n"
8     VERSION = 3.0
9
10JUMPER(1) = 4
11     NAME = "JP1- I/O Base Address Selection"
12     JTYPE = PAIRED
13     VERTICAL = NO
14     REVERSE = YES
15     LABEL = LOC(1-4) "4"
16                      "5"
17                      "6"
18                      "7"
19     FACTORY = LOC(1-4) 1011
20
21JUMPER(2) = 1
22     NAME = "JP2-Game Port"
23     JTYPE = TRIPOLE
24     VERTICAL = YES
25     LABEL = LOC(1) " "
26     FACTORY = LOC(1) 0
27
28
29SOFTWARE(1) ="Use SETUP.EXE to set the following values:
30              \n ioa = I/O Address
31              \n (NOTE: I/O Address must also be set with JP1.)
32              \n dma = DMA Channel
33              \n ULTRAirq = UltraSound Interrupt
34              \n MIDIirq = MIDI Interrupt\n"
35
36FUNCTION = "Gravis Ultra Sound Adapter"
37TYPE = "MMD"
38SUBFUNCTION = "I/O Port Address"
39     CHOICE = "220H"
40       FREE
41         PORT = 220H  
42         PORT = 228H-22CH
43         PORT = 388H-389H
44         PORT = 320H-321H
45         PORT = 322H-327H
46         PORT = 22DH
47         PORT = 22EH
48     CHOICE = "210H"
49       FREE
50         PORT = 210H  
51         PORT = 218H-21CH
52         PORT = 388H-389H
53         PORT = 310H-311H
54         PORT = 312H-317H
55         PORT = 21DH
56         PORT = 21EH
57     CHOICE = "230H"
58       FREE
59         PORT = 230H  
60         PORT = 238H-23CH

61         PORT = 388H-389H
62         PORT = 330H-331H
63         PORT = 332H-337H
64         PORT = 23DH
65         PORT = 23EH
66     CHOICE = "240H"
67       FREE
68         PORT = 240H  
69         PORT = 248H-24CH
70         PORT = 388H-389H
71         PORT = 340H-341H
72         PORT = 342H-347H
73         PORT = 23DH
74         PORT = 23EH
75     CHOICE = "250H"
76       FREE
77         PORT = 250H  
78         PORT = 258H-25CH
79         PORT = 388H-389H
80         PORT = 350H-351H
81         PORT = 352H-357H
82         PORT = 25DH
83         PORT = 25EH
84     CHOICE = "260H"
85       FREE
86         PORT = 260H  
87         PORT = 268H-26CH
88         PORT = 388H-389H
89         PORT = 360H-361H
90         PORT = 362H-367H
91         PORT = 26DH
92         PORT = 26EH
93
94SUBFUNCTION = "DMA Channel"
95     CHOICE = "DMA 1"
96       FREE
97       DMA = 1
98       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "dma=1"
99     CHOICE = "DMA 3"
100       FREE
101       DMA = 3
102       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "dma=3"
103     CHOICE = "DMA 5"
104       FREE
105       DMA = 5
106       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "dma=5"
107     CHOICE = "DMA 6"
108       FREE
109       DMA = 6
110       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "dma=6"
111     CHOICE = "DMA 7"
112       FREE
113       DMA = 7
114       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "dma=7"
115
116SUBFUNCTION = "Ultra Interrupt"
117     CHOICE = "IRQ 11"
118       FREE
119       IRQ = 11
120       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=11"
121     CHOICE = "IRQ 2"
122       FREE
123       IRQ = 2
124       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=2"
125     CHOICE = "IRQ 3"
126       FREE
127       IRQ = 3
128       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=3"
129     CHOICE = "IRQ 5"
130       FREE
131       IRQ = 5
132       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=5"
133     CHOICE = "IRQ 7"
134       FREE
135       IRQ = 7
136       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=7"
137     CHOICE = "IRQ 12"
138       FREE
139       IRQ = 12
140       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=12"
141     CHOICE = "IRQ 15"
142       FREE
143       IRQ = 15
144       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "ULTRAirq=15"
145
146SUBFUNCTION = "MIDI Interrupt"
147     CHOICE = "IRQ 5"
148       FREE
149       IRQ = 5
150       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=5"
151     CHOICE = "IRQ 2"
152       FREE
153       IRQ = 2
154       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=2"
155     CHOICE = "IRQ 3"
156       FREE
157       IRQ = 3
158       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=3"
159     CHOICE = "IRQ 7"
160       FREE
161       IRQ = 7
162       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=7"
163     CHOICE = "IRQ 11"
164       FREE
165       IRQ = 11
166       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=11"
167     CHOICE = "IRQ 12"
168       FREE
169       IRQ = 12
170       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=12"
171     CHOICE = "IRQ 15"
172       FREE
173       IRQ = 15
174       INIT = SOFTWARE(1) "MIDIirq=15"
175
176FUNCTION = "Joystick"
177TYPE = "JOY"
178     CHOICE = "Enabled"
179       FREE
180       PORT = 200H | 201H
181       INIT = JUMPER(2) LOC(1) 0
182     CHOICE = "Disabled"
183       DISABLE = YES
184       FREE
185       INIT = JUMPER(2) LOC(1) 1

It does not seem to be too complicated to merge somehow, but I am terrified of getting it wrong and screwing the PC or the Orpheus.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

I am sorry, I have no experience at all with EISA systems - never owned one , never saw one in person...
can't you just use these config files one after another? the orpheus2 is a single PCB but in essence 3in1 : cs4237 + interwave gus pnp + pcmidi
also I am not sure if cs4237 will work with a config for a sbpro ... orphinit sends a bunch of programming info to 4237 to make it work the way it is supposed to work on the orpheus2 pcb
if you don't use orphinit you will most likely lose the YMF262 opl3 usage and only the internal CSFM will be used

You don't need to mess with the EISA configuration at all to use an ISA soundcard. I haven't put the Orpheus in the EISA VLB system yet, but I have an AWE32 CT2760 (the pre-PnP soft config one) in there now and it works fine.

The main reason to create dummy .CFG files is to prevent the EISA configuration tool from grabbing those hardware resources for other cards when doing an auto configuration. It is the equivalent to setting DMAs and IRQs in newer BIOS from "PnP" to "Legacy". When configuring your EISA cards, do it manually and be mindful of your soundcard's resource ranges. Let the Orpheus tools handle the rest.

The sample files you have above aren't even from any EISA tool. They were taken from Intel's Plug-n-Play Configuration Utility for DOS that happens to use the same file format.

keropi wrote on 2024-03-22, 19:01:

I am sorry, I have no experience at all with EISA systems - never owned one , never saw one in person... can't you just use the […]
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I am sorry, I have no experience at all with EISA systems - never owned one , never saw one in person...
can't you just use these config files one after another? the orpheus2 is a single PCB but in essence 3in1 : cs4237 + interwave gus pnp + pcmidi
also I am not sure if cs4237 will work with a config for a sbpro ... orphinit sends a bunch of programming info to 4237 to make it work the way it is supposed to work on the orpheus2 pcb
if you don't use orphinit you will most likely lose the YMF262 opl3 usage and only the internal CSFM will be used

I think I can still use orphinit despite using these cfg files. As mentioned by NJRoadfan, they are used to help avoid system resource conflicts.

What would be the right Soundblaster config to merge into a potential Orpheus II cfg file? The one for Sound Blaster 16? Sound Blaster 16 ASP?

NJRoadfan wrote on 2024-03-23, 04:14:

You don't need to mess with the EISA configuration at all to use an ISA soundcard. I haven't put the Orpheus in the EISA VLB system yet, but I have an AWE32 CT2760 (the pre-PnP soft config one) in there now and it works fine.

The main reason to create dummy .CFG files is to prevent the EISA configuration tool from grabbing those hardware resources for other cards when doing an auto configuration. It is the equivalent to setting DMAs and IRQs in newer BIOS from "PnP" to "Legacy". When configuring your EISA cards, do it manually and be mindful of your soundcard's resource ranges. Let the Orpheus tools handle the rest.

The thing is that when going into the BIOS, my Compaq system always looks for this additional "file" because it keeps detecting the Orpheus as two separate cards. Then it tries to asign them to two different slots, and that's where the problem comes from... I assume it tries to route the SB sound through the ISA port that is free and it does not work properly.

NJRoadfan wrote on 2024-03-23, 04:14:

The sample files you have above aren't even from any EISA tool. They were taken from Intel's Plug-n-Play Configuration Utility for DOS that happens to use the same file format.

I got these files from a Compaq EISA config file repository, but I guess it does not make a difference then? (didn't know they were format compatible)

NightShadowPT wrote on 2024-03-23, 06:14:

[...]
What would be the right Soundblaster config to merge into a potential Orpheus II cfg file? The one for Sound Blaster 16? Sound Blaster 16 ASP?
[...]

if all that is needed is to reserve resources then the sbpro config will be fine - all you really need is to reserve A200 I5 D1 - then orphinit needs to be ran with the same resources to initialize the card

I'm guessing this is a later DeskPro with a Pentium and/or PCI slots? The EISA BIOS shouldn't be able to "see" installed ISA cards, only installed EISA cards. EISA is similar to PCI in that it has a configuration space where all installed cards report their IDs to the BIOS. Some ISA cards can be soft-configured to do this (ex: 3Com 3c509 NIC like you have installed), but those are pretty rare.

If it is a later PnP BIOS, its possible that Compaq's configuration tools try to manage detected PnP cards for some silly reason. The BIOS should be getting the resource configuration from the card's EEPROM if that is the case.

Alright, got it to work using the inbuilt CFG file creator in the BIOS. 😀

Now, I am facing a weird bug (?)

I don't seem to be getting any sound from the right channel for digital soundFX - the music seems to come out of both speakers without any issue.

What's even weirder is that in Duke3D's setup, when I select "Test Sound Fx Card", the "Center Channel" test plays on both speakers, but when it comes to the right speaker, I get silence.
Also, If I use the option to reverse stereo in the same setup, the right speaker works, but not the left.

Lastly, this happens both when I select Sound Blaster Pro or GUS.

Am I missing any configuration?

I'll go out on a limb and say you are trying to use it as a SB16 instead of an SB Pro..

appiah4 wrote on 2024-03-28, 05:37:

I'll go out on a limb and say you are trying to use it as a SB16 instead of an SB Pro..

No, I wish it was that simple... I am selecting SB Pro from the menu... but the same is happening when I use the GUS, so the problem seems to be elsewhere (?)

I actually cannot think why this could happen if you don't select SB16 or something...
if it was a hardware fault then the output channel would not move L<->R depending on "stereo reverse" option
can you try on a normal ISA system?

keropi wrote on 2024-03-28, 16:09:

I actually cannot think why this could happen if you don't select SB16 or something...
if it was a hardware fault then the output channel would not move L<->R depending on "stereo reverse" option
can you try on a normal ISA system?

Yeah, I agree... it is strange.

Unfortunately I do not have an ISA system to test, this is my only retro PC.

Is there any mixer software I can use in MS-DOS to check the volumes?

I'll continue testing and reporting here.

You can try with the original crystal cwdmix but it's only for testing - orphinit mixer settings are the way to go for full support+results

NightShadowPT wrote on 2024-03-28, 13:59:

appiah4 wrote on 2024-03-28, 05:37:

I'll go out on a limb and say you are trying to use it as a SB16 instead of an SB Pro..

No, I wish it was that simple... I am selecting SB Pro from the menu... but the same is happening when I use the GUS, so the problem seems to be elsewhere (?)

What is your SET BLASTER line in AUTOEXEC.BAT? If it is T6 then that might be the problem. (T6 = SB16)

And now, for a plot twist...

After much troubleshooting on the PC, config changes and countless reboots, I decided to "follow the cables"... and although the cables were all good and well connected, that led me to the mixer I have on my desk, and I noticed it was set to mono (must have been the cleaning lady and I never noticed it).

It now seems obvious that I should have checked that, but I never in my life touched the Mono button in the mixer, and it never crossed my mind this could have been changed. Well... I feel stupid now 😁

Thanks for the support guys and apologies for the confusion.

All seems to be working well now.

Cheers,

I am a mixer enthusiast so your sins are absolved 🤣
I consider having an external mixer a must for any dos system with more than one sound outputs
now if only Serdashop would work on releasing an 5.25" mixer .... 😉

An external mixer would do nothing to alleviate the issue of the *software* mixer getting mucked with.

I've mentioned it before, but my trick is to use a dedicated card just for OPL, so that I can amplify and control it exclusively with the line-in slider of the software mixer. It's so frustrating how quiet FM synthesis can be at max volume, compared to digital sound, and it can be difficulty it is to get it well balanced with the rest of the environment. Sometimes it's also tied to the GM synthesizer volume, so you can't easily swap between the two without having to enter the mixer or change volume levels. Very frustrating!

keropi wrote on 2024-03-29, 11:37:

I am a mixer enthusiast so your sins are absolved 🤣
I consider having an external mixer a must for any dos system with more than one sound outputs
now if only Serdashop would work on releasing an 5.25" mixer .... 😉

I agree. I could not live without my Mixer (I'm using a MAMX 1 from Moukey)... I have 4 sources from the same PC covering 6 different standards:

• Adlib / Soundblaster / GUS
• Roland MT-32
• Roland SC-55
• Covox

That covers most of the options of my favorite era.

Any chance you can post the black lt firmware update i lost the file on my computer but the email link dont work anymore

Xargon321 wrote on 2024-04-01, 04:13:

Any chance you can post the black lt firmware update i lost the file on my computer but the email link dont work anymore

I have sent you a PM with the needed information