AWE64 MIDI setup for DOS games in windows \ VOGONS

AWE64 MIDI setup for DOS games in windows

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First post, by britain4

Posted on 2024-12-17, 10:44

britain4 Offline

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Hey all, struggling with setting up an AWE64 how I want it and thought someone here might know.

I had an SB Live card previously which wasn’t bad but couldn’t get general MIDI output and SB16 emulation running on it at the same time in Windows (WDM vs VXD drivers)

I’m wondering whether installing both cards would be a sensible idea - the AWE64 for DOS mode, SB Live for Windows games, and a combination of the two for DOS games in Windows - the Live handling MIDI and the AWE64 for SB16 sound?

The other option might be to try VDMsound

I wondered if anyone had any other solutions I could try or anything to add.

In Windows -

MIDI settings don’t apply to DOS games which always use the AWE32 compatible synth for general MIDI

Anyone have any pointers here? Looked at all the settings and my autoexec.bat and can’t find much that would help.

In DOS -

I can use AWEUTIL to switch between the AWE32 synth and the external port but can’t use any of the MIDI emulation modes as they crash or reboot the PC as soon as game is launched, anyone got a fix for this?

Last edited by britain4 on 2024-12-17, 13:29. Edited 2 times in total.

- 486DX2-66, SoundBlaster 16, Crystal VLB graphics
- P-MMX 200MHZ, PCChips M598LMR, Voodoo 1, AD1816
- PIII 933MHz, MSI MS6119, Voodoo3 3000, SB Live!
- PIII 1400MHz, ECS P6IPAT, Voodoo5 5500, SB Audigy

Reply 1 of 4, by Gmlb256

Posted on 2024-12-17, 13:24

Gmlb256 Offline

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Hello.

In Windows, selecting the MIDI device in the Multimedia Control Panel has no effect with DOS games and won't magically emulate the needed MPU-401 interface.

In DOS, AWEUTIL officially doesn't work with protected mode games. DOS32AWE might help you with the ones using the DOS/4GW extender.

P.S. AWE64's MPU-401 emulation thru the EMU8K in Windows is more capable. If you are able to increase the RAM capacity of the sound card, good SF2 SoundFonts can be used.

Reply 2 of 4, by britain4

Posted on 2024-12-17, 15:41

britain4 Offline

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Thanks for the reply there, that really clears things up. I’ll try DOS32AWE for the DOS mode.

If I wanted to use SoundFonts in that way, is it just a case of uploading one and it’ll work or is there any additional config needed? (I only have a Value with 512k of RAM so it’d be tricky to test it before I try and find a RAM upgrade for it)

Reply 3 of 4, by Gmlb256

Posted on 2024-12-17, 15:57

Gmlb256 Offline

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SoundFonts can be uploaded by thru the AWE Control Panel in the "Synth" tab without additional configuration. As for RAM upgrade on the AWE64 Value, the easiest way to get around this is with SIMMCONN Revival.

Reply 4 of 4, by britain4

Posted on 2024-12-20, 22:25

britain4 Offline

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Excellent - thank you. A SIMMCONN is on the list then. It is an awesome card for an early Windows build providing you can make use of the RAM.

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