How to Get an Ensoniq Soundscape Elite Working? \ VOGONS

How to Get an Ensoniq Soundscape Elite Working?

Topic actions

First post, by ultra_code

Posted on 2024-09-30, 23:40

ultra_code Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 569
Joined: 2017-10-09, 00:21

Recently I acquired a less-than-common Ensoniq Soundscape Elite (at least from what I've been told):

While I did verify it working in the original machine I acquired it from, I am having trouble getting to work at all on my Abit BF6 testbench. Running Windows 98SE and using the latest drivers from the VOGONS driver library, I get these wonderfully ~~not helpful~~ errors in Device Manager:

I've assigned various IRQs + DMAs via the BIOS, but... nothing. There's a Sndscape.ini file in the C:\Sndscape directory that has various settings, but am unsure whether or not those are for DOS games/DOS mode, or also apply to Windows.

If someone is familiar with how to get this card up and working in Windows, please let me know the play-by-play. I'm rusty when it comes to setting up ISA soundcards. Thanks!

Builds

Reply 1 of 3, by ultra_code

Posted on 2024-10-01, 18:02

ultra_code Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 569
Joined: 2017-10-09, 00:21

Alright, so I figured it out - time to share. 😀

To rule things out, I swapped my motherboard to an Asus P3B-F (a board I have used personally longer than my BF6) and enabled Plug'n'Play (I suppose disabling Plug'n'Play and manually setting the required IRQs/DMAs in-BIOS would work too). After more sanity checking of what I've already done before, I still got nowhere.

I then remembered how Windows would like to "install" default devices that would conflict with the actual device in Device Manager, so I tried uninstalling the "MS Windows Sound System Compatible" device and then changing the second Input/Output Range setting for the "Ensoniq Soundscape" device to address 0534 (supposedly the "codec address" as jumpered currently on the card), and... voila - Windows installed the Gameport device and the Soundscape suddenly became active in Windows!

After a restart, I played-back some music, and although my 600MHz Coppermine struggled to handle the playback of a full-fat .WAV file, the soundcard functioned without issue on its end.

Builds

Reply 2 of 3, by swaaye

Posted on 2024-10-01, 21:18

swaaye Offline

Rank l33t++

Rank: l33t++
Posts: 8320
Joined: 2002-07-22, 21:24

ultra_code wrote on 2024-09-30, 23:40:

Recently I acquired a less-than-common Ensoniq Soundscape Elite (at least from what I've been told)

It is missing the ESP effects daughtercard. It would be connected to the rows of pins at the sides of the Motorola CPU. I see there are jumpers on one of the rows. I believe this means it might be what was called a Soundscape II instead of an Elite. I think the only difference is the lack of ESP board. If it were an Elite with a missing ESP the jumpers would probably not be there and you wouldn't get sound from the wavetable hardware IIRC.

Reply 3 of 3, by ultra_code

Posted on 2024-10-01, 23:19

ultra_code Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 569
Joined: 2017-10-09, 00:21

swaaye wrote on 2024-10-01, 21:18:

It is missing the ESP effects daughtercard. It would be connected to the rows of pins at the sides of the Motorola CPU. I see there are jumpers on one of the rows. I believe this means it might be what was called a Soundscape II instead of an Elite. I think the only difference is the lack of ESP board. If it were an Elite with a missing ESP the jumpers would probably not be there and you wouldn't get sound from the wavetable hardware IIRC.

Yes. I read about that. 😁

Builds

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to Sound