That CT2290... unfortunately.

What would be a better card in this case?

@leileilol

You said unfortunately. What other card would be better? The addiction of the db50xg doesn't matter at all?

It's just classic leileilol dude, don't bother 😜
Your SB16 should be just fine and really good if you add the DB50xg. Have fun 😀

@F2bnp

Thanks.😀
So between SB16 or AWE32 is best to stick with SB16? Would an AWE64 Gold make any difference?

No, since the AWE cards are not GM compatible in Hardware you stick better to the DB50XG.
DB50XG has also a higher quality wavetable playback on average.

Ok, but considering i can put DB50XG in both (SB16 and AWE32) wich is the best combo?

All AWE32's and all SB16's later then the 17XX series have troubles with midi daughterboards. Try them all and see which one behaves best. You can use the games Hexen (Level 2) or Tie-Fighter as a stress test. Also Soundblasters with real OPL3 FM chips are more desirable then the ones with OPL3 clones. The AWE midi synth is only usefull when playing dos games from the windows 9X dos prompt, as only then it will allow for the usage of Soundfonts.

PS. are you the one that outbid my 3,5 british pounds for the AWE+XG a few days ago? 😉

Well, i must confess. It was me. 😉 So finding a good SB is like lottery... I can't find old stuff were i live (Portugal), so UK ebay is my first option. I'll try to find one card below CT17XX. Thanks.

We've had the debate about what's the absolute best sound card for a retro rig over and over and the answer is always the same. There is none. Period. There were too many competing standards then that were incompatible with each other that you'll never be able to have it all in one card. The best thing you can do is go through your retro game collection and determine which standards will be compatible with the games you play the most and try to find a card that supports as many of them as possible. Your ideal card could turn out to be very different from someone else's depending on what games/software you intend to use with it.

That is why i mentioned LucasArts games... I am currently using a SB 64 AWE Gold with a Roland SC-155, but Monkey Island 1, 2, Indiana Jones Fate of Atlantis (for example) do not sound right...

sprcorreia wrote:

That is why i mentioned LucasArts games... I am currently using a SB 64 AWE Gold with a Roland SC-155, but Monkey Island 1, 2, Indiana Jones Fate of Atlantis (for example) do not sound right...

Well that isn't surprising considering you have a Roland Sound Canvas (General Midi) whereas these games support Roland MT-32.

And the AWE64 Gold doesn't have a genuine Yamaha OPL chip.

So in a way your choice of sound card / midi module couldn't have been worse for these games 🤣

Your sound card / midi module is perfect for later generation DOS games. Basically anything that supports Roland Sound Canvas / General Midi + SB16 for speech / sound effects.

Also there is little point in obtaining that Yamaha module if you already own a Roland Sound Canvas. Unless you want another one General Midi module and are interested / prefer how it sounds.

For older games such as the Lucasarts games you mentioned I recommend a Roland MT-32 and a Soundblaster or compatible card with a genuine Yamaha OPL chip. I'm quite fond of the Soundblaster Pro 2.0 though a SB16 with genuine Yamaha OPL will also do.

I recently bought a Sound Blaster Pro 2. Still waiting for it.
I have a CT1740 SB16 with a real Yamaha OPL chip but has hanging notes bug.
As for the MT-32 i'm finding rather difficult to get one...
I do have a Roland RAP-10, but didn't do much testing yet and i think it's not better than SC-155.

I like the new avatar 😁

MT-32s pop up on eBay quite often. And sometimes other retro people sell or trade some of their goodies. It's just a matter of time!

Thanks. 😀

I have my eyes on a MT-100 selling here in Portugal, but the price makes it a little out of reach for me.