Ask old hardware questions in Marvin. This forum is for DOS *games* on modern systems.

Are you looking for something like this?
DOS FM Synth Application for SoundBlaster Pro / OPL

Also not sure what you mean with the ps/2, but if you're looking to plug a midi controller into your computer, you're better off using the joystick port, with a joystick to midi adapter

No, I already have MIDI in / out and am using it to make music with my PS/2. I'm just looking for a program that would let me use my SoundBlaster more like a synthesizer than a sequencer.

Example of my current setup. I posted in my introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmNVsH-mp14

Are you looking for something like this?

Actually some really interesting links in that post. I'm going to see if I can get something working here...

Oh...he's looking for sequencing software for his IBM PS/2...

Actually no, sequencing software is easy to find. what I'm looking for is more along the line of a pure OPL synth for DOS with capability of being played externally on multiple channels.

so are you looking for an application which would take your midi signal in, and essentially turn your computer into a synth module?

If so, that is exactly what i'm looking for, too.

Have a look around at this project: http://fm801.kewl.org/app/about/ - I haven't had a chance to mess around with it. it also doesn't run in DOS, not sure if that was a requirement.

Also, check out this quote in that thread mentioned earlier, someone had some good advice, I haven't had a chance to mess around with this one yet either.

xjas wrote:

The original Adlib Visual Composer (1987) came with an application for creating custom patches (Instrument Maker) that could be played with a MIDI keyboard. Could give that a try.

Adlib Tracker II also has a "Midi Synth Mode" which sounds like it does what you want, but it's not in the current version so you have to download an older copy. Scroll down to get 2.3.52.

I ask these questions like a month ago and don't do anything with the advice people give me 🤣. but you put a baby for the night you've got a couple hours to mess around, then you're repeating the whole day all over again 😀

so are you looking for an application which would take your midi signal in, and essentially turn your computer into a synth module?

If so, that is exactly what i'm looking for, too.

Yes. that is exactly what I'm looking for. It seems like it wouldn't be that complicated, more people seem to be looking to route MIDI sounds back out and play them on higher quality sound modules which is understandable.

But I'm guessing you are like me and want to sequence that nice grainy FM Sound Blaster OPL sound externally.

A cool program called AudioSim basically turns a DOS machine into an analog synth, I tried it with MIDI in on my soundblaster and it works well, but it's too much like a vst and requires a decent amount of power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QdcRyhGwIU

I'd really prefer something that was more like a pure OPL3 or OPL2 FM synth with multi channel / multi voice capability. It also would need far less CPU power.

sean1978 wrote:

But I'm guessing you are like me and want to sequence that nice grainy FM Sound Blaster OPL sound externally.

Yes. I am fascinated but perplexed by the limitless possibilities of FM and I am looking for a solution that lets me plug a midi keyboard into my PC and make some really weird sounds for which I have realtime control over a bunch of parameters. Because of how stupidly complicated FM programming is traditionally, I don't even think people have scratched the surface of what can be done with FM in music. Listen to some of the sounds this Freq Monster 801 program makes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qmDY3P0WCY - not sure what sound card he's using in that video. here's the app he's using http://fm801.kewl.org/app/about/

I have a Yamaha DX7, and there's some great programs like Dexed which let you upload sounds to the board through sysex which people have made over the years. There's thousands of these patches out there. It's really awesome and there are some amazing sounds, but I want to modulate and do weird stuff in realtime. This is not really possible on the DX7.

These "Yamaha SoundBlaster Keyboards" as the 8 bit guy calls them (did you know his second cousin was Dimebag Darrell???) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLJSdNYcdpk look really cool, but I want real synth action, a sustain pedal, and even more control over the realtime parameters. So to me, plugging a keyboard into my PC and unlocking the full potential of an ISA OPL3 sound card sounds so appealing.

If you have any more progress on this, please do update this post or the other one DOS FM Synth Application for SoundBlaster Pro / OPL - I will be really interested to see what you find. One more thing:

sean1978 wrote:

A cool program called AudioSim basically turns a DOS machine into an analog synth, I tried it with MIDI in on my soundblaster and it works well, but it's too much like a vst and requires a decent amount of power:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QdcRyhGwIU
I'd really prefer something that was more like a pure OPL3 or OPL2 FM synth with multi channel / multi voice capability. It also would need far less CPU power.

That is awesome. It is a little VST like.. I'm assuming that's not using FM, but just kinda generating a tone and applying subtractive synthesis?

That is awesome. It is a little VST like.. I'm assuming that's not using FM, but just kinda generating a tone and applying subtractive synthesis?

Yeah I thought about it, it's not VST like, it's just a VST. A really early one.

It will work with the SoundBlaster in real time. I demo'd it in this video:

https://youtu.be/tlzcCtm8fko

I'll probably make a video and actually use it soon, it IS cool, but when you use things like this IMO you might as well use a newer setup.

You can play OPL FM sounds with Voyetra but it's all preset patches (maybe) no real time editing for sure though.

https://youtu.be/QL5_XgR4Cag