still using the same VXD driver?

You'll have to check the adress and IRQ settings in Windows device manager. Check to see if they match the SET BLASTER environment in your autoexec.bat

Hezus wrote on 2022-11-19, 21:57:

You'll have to check the adress and IRQ settings in Windows device manager. Check to see if they match the SET BLASTER environment in your autoexec.bat

Replying both

It's a SET BLASTER A220 I5 D1 T4

Uses solo.sys 5.12.01.3047 and mmsevldr.vxd 4.10.1998

IRQ 5 in device manager, while I/O are PCI values: CC00-CC3F, ...

Oh now I see uninstalling the drivers didn't actually uninstalled them, so always ended with same winMe drivers

But With win98 drivers and legacy emulation device present, I only recovered FX, but General midi is silent

dontbugster wrote on 2022-11-20, 09:12:

But With win98 drivers and legacy emulation device present, I only recovered FX, but General midi is silent

The ESS Solo-1 doesn't have a built-in General MIDI wavetable. It only has FM synthesis (ESFM) and SBPro support. If you want General MIDI with VxD drivers on the Solo-1, you either need to connect a wavetable daughterboard or use an external MIDI device like a Roland Sound Canvas.

However, with WDM drivers only, the Solo-1's native ESFM mode can be used to emulate General MIDI. The results are kinda odd, but it does work.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2022-11-20, 09:20:

dontbugster wrote on 2022-11-20, 09:12:

But With win98 drivers and legacy emulation device present, I only recovered FX, but General midi is silent

The ESS Solo-1 doesn't have a built-in General MIDI wavetable. It only has FM synthesis (ESFM) and SBPro support. If you want General MIDI with VxD drivers on the Solo-1, you either need to connect a wavetable daughterboard or use an external MIDI device like a Roland Sound Canvas.

However, with WDM drivers only, the Solo-1's native ESFM mode can be used to emulate General MIDI. The results are kinda odd, but it does work.

Which ones work best? I had a zip with at least 8 versions of the drivers. Latest ones from winme lack dos support inside windows.

dontbugster wrote on 2022-11-20, 14:53:

Which ones work best? I had a zip with at least 8 versions of the drivers. Latest ones from winme lack dos support inside windows.

For DOS gaming, I had the best results with version 4.12.01.1165.

You can get it from Phil's website.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2022-11-20, 15:41:

dontbugster wrote on 2022-11-20, 14:53:

Which ones work best? I had a zip with at least 8 versions of the drivers. Latest ones from winme lack dos support inside windows.

For DOS gaming, I had the best results with version 4.12.01.1165.

You can get it from Phil's website.

I ended installing a Microsoft certified newer version because the win9x drivers were changing sound blaster port also for native DOS and kept failing on dos over windows...

It should be some combination for the BIOS that I had... The old times of plug and Pray I guess

The ESS Solo-1 does have Wavetable midi support in Windows but its a seperate installation, the driver I use is archived on my storage server http://storage.henk.tech/Drivers/ .
The card is picky with its IRQ's, I personally do not run the card at IRQ5 but at one of the higher IRQ's with IRQ5 and IRQ7 reserved for the PnP driver to claim by itself.
That way the card runs on an IRQ it likes, and the soundblaster emulation still runs on IRQ5. I basically just keep bumping the IRQ it runs on by one until I get something thats stable for all the games I use it with.

henk717 wrote on 2022-11-25, 15:28:

The ESS Solo-1 does have Wavetable midi support in Windows but its a seperate installation, the driver I use is archived on my storage server http://storage.henk.tech/Drivers/ .

Is that the one from Terratec or something else entirely?

I did try the Terratec softsynth at one point, and it sounded decent under Windows, but it could not be used for General MIDI music in DOS games.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2022-11-25, 15:45:

I did try the Terratec softsynth at one point, and it sounded decent under Windows, but it could not be used for General MIDI music in DOS games.

I usually use the Soundblaster Audigy inside Windows (I have both in the same system) so I had to double check, but you are right. Its a different unbranded version of the same driver it does not support software wavetable inside DOS applications, but it does have software wavetable in Windows. So compared to other softsynths that can be installed on any card its not more useful unfortunately.

In comparing it I did notice my driver have something the terratec driver and phil's driver do not have, which is AUDIO3D support from Sensaura. Haven't tried it out but that does look interesting. I was always under the impression this card didn't support it and didn't notice I actually had a rare driver that has that bundled.

henk717 wrote on 2022-11-25, 16:49:

In comparing it I did notice my driver have something the terratec driver and phil's driver do not have, which is AUDIO3D support from Sensaura. Haven't tried it out but that does look interesting. I was always under the impression this card didn't support it and didn't notice I actually had a rare driver that has that bundled.

That's pretty unique indeed.

You might want to ask one of the mods to mirror that version on Vogonsdrivers.com. If Sensaura does work with that driver, then having some form of A3D and EAX support would make the Solo-1 even more versatile for Win9x gaming.

henk717 wrote on 2022-11-25, 15:28:

The ESS Solo-1 does have Wavetable midi support in Windows but its a seperate installation, the driver I use is archived on my storage server http://storage.henk.tech/Drivers/ .
The card is picky with its IRQ's, I personally do not run the card at IRQ5 but at one of the higher IRQ's with IRQ5 and IRQ7 reserved for the PnP driver to claim by itself.
That way the card runs on an IRQ it likes, and the soundblaster emulation still runs on IRQ5. I basically just keep bumping the IRQ it runs on by one until I get something thats stable for all the games I use it with.

Did it gave wavetable or at least sound blaster emulation using Dos over windows?

I also have now nice wavetable under pure Windows and certified drivers by using es1938-46win2k. It says 2k but they work on win98

https://www.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=26673

I remember the BLASTER env will be overwritten by the DOS emulation driver in windows, usually it is the same values as in DOS. If not, you probably need to set it in devmgr - the resources tab. Otherwise the games will only have sounds in either DOS or windows but not both or you need reconfigure driver each time you switch the OS. set it to auto or manual and then reset the pc, the BLASTER env will probably change in windows.