VOGONS


Vital MF002BR 8-bit sound card

Topic actions

First post, by Half-Saint

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Anyone know what it is? Can't find any info on the net.

b15z33-2.png
f425xp-6.png

Reply 1 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

http://www.pcang.com/vital.htm has some pics.

Filename
vital_soundcard.jpg
File size
180.21 KiB
Downloads
No downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
Filename
vital.jpg
File size
73.53 KiB
Downloads
No downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

8-bit ISA card.

Chips:

  • Intel P8051AH (PDIP-40) - Intel MCS51 8-Bit Control-Oriented Microcontroller with 4Kx8 internal program ROM and 128x8 data RAM
  • 12.000 MHz crystal (Clock)
  • MSI006 3522203VI (QFP-80) - Unknown
  • ST0612M6 (DIP-28) - SGS-Thomson 8-Bit HCMOS Microcontroller with A/D Converter *chip label looks like clone
  • MB4063 (DIP-16) - Fujitsu 6-Channel 8-Bit A/D Converter Subsystem *chip label looks like clone

Jumpers:
J1 - 22X (ON)
J2 - 24X
J3 - YEN (ON)
J4 - IRQ2
J5 - IRQ3
J6 - IRQ5
J7 - IRQ7 (ON)
J8 - CD-ROM?

USENET post:
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/pl.comp.os. … gAHE/discussion

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 2 of 28, by Half-Saint

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I found the site with the pics but that's of no help since I have the card 😉

I'd like to know how do I use the thing and if it's any good at all? 😁

b15z33-2.png
f425xp-6.png

Reply 3 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Well, I've never heard of it. Perhaps it will look familiar to someone.

The jumpers look pretty straight-forward (aside from the one marked "YEN" ?)

Just need to determine the manufacturer and/or what the MSI006 chip is.

I realize the images were easy to find - but putting this all into the thread, converting some of the image to ASCII text, can help others looking for info on the card later.

[EDIT] Emailed pcang.com asking if they have more info. They seem to also be collectors.

Are there any additional labels or printing on the back of the card, or on the card bracket?

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 4 of 28, by Stojke

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

There is one other sound card on that site from different manufacturer that looks exactly the same.
Might be a clone of something.

Also this page brings joy to me: http://www.pcang.com/guangzhou_2pc.htm

Note | LLSID | "Big boobs are important!"

Reply 5 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
Stojke wrote:

There is one other sound card on that site from different manufacturer that looks exactly the same.
Might be a clone of something.

Indeed:
http://www.pcang.com/ms1006.htm

I've had one suggestion so far from friends that it is Sound Blaster clone due to Intel MCS51 presence. Sound Blaster 1.0/1.5...

[EDIT] May I add, a QFP-80 chip on a SB-clone seems very anachronistic. Mfg. years later?

Stojke wrote:

Also this page brings joy to me: http://www.pcang.com/guangzhou_2pc.htm

Ugh! 🙁

But let's stay on target 😉

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 7 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

The other card shown says "AV202C" above the Intel MCS51 and FCC ID: J98MF-002 (398MF-002?)
and calls the chip "MS1006" instead of "MSI006"...
http://www.pcang.com/ms1006.htm

J98MF-002 is VERY helpful:
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&safe=of … %22J98MF-002%22

Zoltrix also has a card called "AV202"/"Audio Plus II" - an 8-bit mono sound card.
Might be a coincidence. If not... ftp://wow1.tv/zoltrix/ZoltrixUS_Backup/Multim … d.htm#WhatModel

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 8 of 28, by gerwin

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
Stiletto wrote:

Well, I've never heard of it. Perhaps it will look familiar to someone.

The card does not look familiar, but the chips do. Here is its larger brother with dual OPL2, called AV300:
ISA Sound Card not identified....been searching for a long time!

--> ISA Soundcard Overview // Doom MBF 2.04 // SetMul

Reply 9 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

It seems Vital MF002BR is clone of:

Anchor Electronics MF-002 (J98MF-002) - Sound Blaster 2.0 clone.
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php?topic=3060.0
VOGONS: Who knows what type of soundcard this is?

Official Anchor Electronics Drivers (may be virus infected, see ratings discussion):
http://www.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=13754
http://www.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php? … &action=ratings

Other Links:
http://mypcstory.stweb.jp/hakubutsukan/etc/j98mf002.htm

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 10 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
gerwin wrote:
Stiletto wrote:

Well, I've never heard of it. Perhaps it will look familiar to someone.

The card does not look familiar, but the chips do. Here is its larger brother with dual OPL2, called AV300:
ISA Sound Card not identified....been searching for a long time!

Zoltrix again, though that _still_ may be a coincidence.

If it is Zoltrix Audio Plus II AV202 clone:
ftp://wow1.tv/zoltrix/ZoltrixUS_Backup/Multim … ound/APLUS2.HTM
http://allcot-reif.blogspot.com/2009/04/zoltr … ice-driver.html
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search? … n&ct=clnk&gl=us
https://www.google.com/search?q=ZOLTRIX ... I%22|AV202

Anyhow, I think I'm done with this fun for now, if anyone else wants to step up... 😀

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 11 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

BTW, this came up while looking for Zoltrix info - it should be on the wiki 😉
Re: Sound cards - from best to worst

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 12 of 28, by Stojke

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Found my clone card with MSI005 (MS1006?).
It is an sound blaster clone with OPL2 clone chip named 74LS631.

It also has sockets for Game Blaster CMS chips.

Filename
20042014006.jpg
File size
1.53 MiB
Downloads
No downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception
Filename
20042014005.jpg
File size
1.43 MiB
Downloads
No downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Note | LLSID | "Big boobs are important!"

Reply 14 of 28, by vetz

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
Half-Saint wrote:

Nice detective work Stiletto 😀

Stiletto's web detective skills continues to impress 😀

3D Accelerated Games List (Proprietary APIs - No 3DFX/Direct3D)
3D Acceleration Comparison Episodes

Reply 15 of 28, by Stiletto

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
vetz wrote:
Half-Saint wrote:

Nice detective work Stiletto 😀

Stiletto's web detective skills continues to impress 😀

Thanks guys! It's something I'm very good at, no doubt. If only there was a way to make it part of a career. 😉

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 16 of 28, by Half-Saint

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Finally tested the card with my XT clone today. I ran Police Quest 2 configured for Ad Lib and it worked! I could hear music and everything 😀

What really bothers me is the level of noise this card has. It's like it's picking up everything that's going on in the PC. If you type dir, you get more noise. Any way to reduce it?

Or maybe it's just my fancy headphones and I should try it with external speakers...

All in all, not a bad thing to have for an XT machine.

EDIT: it's the same with external speakers, if not worse. The buzzing or whatever you call it, is not affected by the volume knob on the card itself.

b15z33-2.png
f425xp-6.png

Reply 17 of 28, by Half-Saint

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

After some googling I came to the conclusion that I'm dealing with a ground loop hum here. I'll order a ground loop isolator and see, if that helps.

b15z33-2.png
f425xp-6.png

Reply 18 of 28, by Half-Saint

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Well, just got the ground loop isolator in the mail today and while it is a bit better, I can't say the problem is solved:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/0-6m-Phono-RCA-Ground … 872.m2749.l2649

If I turn up the card volume to MAX and receiver volume to 1/4, then the hum is barely noticable. Any other suggestions? Could it be that the PSU itself is to blame?

b15z33-2.png
f425xp-6.png

Reply 19 of 28, by Ozzuneoj

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

Ground loop isolators shouldn't usually be needed for most setups, even old noisy sound cards. I'd test the card in another system first. If it does it there too, test it on a board outside a case (no metal contact). If it still does it, it may be defective or need cleaning.

Now for some blitting from the back buffer.