The difficult part here, is that you can't just listen to what other people say in regards to what is best and so on, as it's a highly subjective thing. Back in the 90's, I didn't know a single person who liked the typical OPL2/OPL3 FM synthesis sound, but today, it's become a cult thing. Lots of people go on about how cool it sounds. In my opinion it stunk back then and it still stinks. An example would be the music in Transport Tycoon Deluxe (I think that game has a great sound track). It sounds like shit on FM synthesis, but it sounds pretty decent on an SB AWE32/64 or GUS. Never tried it on a Roland unit, but I expect it would sound really good.
But then again, ask 10 other people, and you'll get 10 different answers.
What I can say about MIDI standards though, completely independent of game specifics, is that from what I've heard, Yamaha XG tends to offer the best sounding midi playback, assuming the music is made specifically to take advantage of the larger sound library and additional effects that XG offer over GM/GS. But this tends to be irrelevant for DOS games, as I doubt many (if any?) could take full advantage of XG.

If you've got lots of money to burn, buy lots of nice Roland sound modules and a proper MPU-401 interface, but if you got limited budget, I think an SB16 (CT2230) with a wavetable daughterboard would be a great compromise. It would give you genuine OPL3 if you like that, and it would give you wavetable based General Midi in games that have more "natural sounding" music (i.e. non-electronica type music).

Personal preference would be SB16 (for compatibility) + GUS of course, as the GUS just has that "cool" factor that no other DOS era sound card had. At least for us who used to be into "The Scene" 😉

LunarG wrote:

Personal preference would be SB16 (for compatibility) + GUS of course, as the GUS just has that "cool" factor that no other DOS era sound card had. At least for us who used to be into "The Scene" 😉

DOS sound cards - the eternal debate 😜

I like the SB16 option too but remember that in addition to the hanging note thing (not a big deal IMHO), creative cards also have issues with some games (TIE Fighter, Duke3D, etc) when both FX and MIDI are used, described here as 'slow down'.

My favourite clone is the ESS Audiodrive if a wavetable header is required.

Indeed. It's good that people have different preferences though, makes it a bit interesting. I fully admit that emotions and nostalgia play a big factor in my choices of hardware.
Never noticed slowdowns with either Tie Fighter of Duke3D though, but I'm not sure I've ever played either of those with SB16. In the past I played Tie Fighter on an Aztech Sound Galaxy of some flavour, which afaik didn't have any issues, and Duke I played on SB AWE64 Value back then, and GUS now.

IMO GUS is a waste of time: virtually no compatibility with games (except very late in the DOS era). For early games: MT-32 & CM-32L, later games: SC-7 & SC-55(MKII). 😀 Nothing less: nothing more.

I'm heavily biased and recommend Creative and Roland gear. Can't go wrong 😀

PeterLI wrote:

IMO GUS is a waste of time: virtually no compatibility with games (except very late in the DOS era). For early games: MT-32 & CM-32L, later games: SC-7 & SC-55(MKII). 😀 Nothing less: nothing more.

I disagree somewhat. GUS can be used solely for midi music, while sounding fantastic as well. Even the late AMD interwave models without RAM sound fantastic. Used to use a Philips AMD Interwave OEM card (no ram) for this purpose, along with an AWE64 card in dual soundcard setup; after getting around the repeating drum issue, I had the best sfx, and arguably the best midi with ultrapplt161 patset (and others). Worked great! And I could use the interwave card for both sfx and midi where I could (best sound I heard from an ISA soundcard; it had high compatibility with sound blaster mono). Of course, DosBox, Linux and timidity++ is a much cheaper alternative hehe 😀. IMO, pat sets and GUS provide some of the best midi, and are extremely underrated.

I agree about having an mt-32, cm32-l, or sc-55; but only if they're cheap enough.

bjt wrote:

The SB Live is a poor choice for DOS though. I'd stick with an ISA sound card for DOS games.

I totally agree with you there. Unless you're running 98SE on an AM3 piledriver setup muahaha 😈 !

For "no hassle" turn on the machine and play games and play GM / GS MIDI I still believe Roland is the way to go (LA & GM/GS). All other solutions are highly complex / convoluted. Obviously sticking other DBs on a SB16 (or compatible) is an alternative but IMO Roland still sounds the best. I am not talking about semi professional / heavy enthusiast MIDI stuff obviously (demos and very late DOS era games): other sound cards / sound banks may very well be better. I also do not understand the obsession with "cheap". IMO a hobby can cost some $. A few hundred / thousand $ is not a big deal in the context of other hobbies where people spend far more (skiing, scuba diving, sculptures, fishing, quads, motorbikes, collecting books and the list goes on and on).

PeterLI wrote:

I also do not understand the obsession with "cheap". IMO a hobby can cost some $. A few hundred / thousand $ is not a big deal in the context of other hobbies where people spend far more (skiing, scuba diving, sculptures, fishing, quads, motorbikes, collecting books and the list goes on and on).

Right. Traveling is another really expensive hobby, as well as drugs, crime and prostitution (stay out of trouble my friends). I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't get ripped off. Seriously, I've seen single Voodoo 2's go for $400.00+ on eBay; no joke! For instance, look at this rip-off http://www.ebay.com/itm/251235515060.

PeterLI wrote:

I also do not understand the obsession with "cheap". IMO a hobby can cost some $. A few hundred / thousand $ is not a big deal in the context of other hobbies where people spend far more (skiing, scuba diving, sculptures, fishing, quads, motorbikes, collecting books and the list goes on and on).

It all depends on how much money you have. Some people don't have hobbies like scuba diving, quads, collecting exotic books and such. Some people have hobbies that cost virtually nothing, because they might not be able to spend much. What seems cheap to one person could be very expensive to another. I personally think that paying hundreds of dollars on a midi device that "only works with ancient era" DOS games is a luxury. If money was no object, I'd say buy a few of everything, but too many people have limited budgets. 😀

I guess. I doubt that though. Most people here live in the first world.

PeterLI wrote:

I guess. I doubt that though. Most people here live in the first world.

Lol. Yeah, makes no difference. I know very few people who can afford to spend whatever they feel like on hobbies, and I live in one of the richest countries in the world.

I lived in Norway and found that between the hytter, båter og feriehuser in Spain there was a lot of NOK going around. 😀

A device such as a Roland MIDI unit might cost a bit, but you'll have it for a very long time. When I look around I see a lot of people aren't aware of their spending habits when it comes to small, regular purchases.

Items such as alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, take-away food. But for some reasons people are hesitant to purchase items that are more expensive but are one-off and which they can enjoy for longer. I do the opposite, save on the little things but don't hold back on more expensive items. I got a few Voodoo 2 cards from Russia and they cost over $200. Sure it's a lot of money, but I will have them for a very long time and they will likely also go up in price. I wouldn't have any issues in just selling them again for the same price, if not more.

I'm not arguing again spending money on these things btw, I'm just saying that there are plenty of people who actually can't easily afford to make purchases of $200+ without careful planning and deliberation, without necessarily being "poor" or "third world". Single people in good jobs, no problem what so ever. People in relationships, with kids for example... Between kindergarten fees, mortgage repayments, after school activities for the kids and so on, which are very realistic expenses for most people, I have no problem seeing why people are so "hung up on cheap" as was criticized earlier. I honestly got the impression somebody was just out to "show off" how "well off" he is and sneer at not everybody being able to afford the same things. But perhaps it's just a case of "internet forums lack intonation of voice and facial expressions" as so often is the case.

I do not intend to give that impression. And as a parent with all the above I can symphatize but still believe that a few $100 is not that excessive in the first world. I could be wrong of course.