VOGONS


First post, by k0SH

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Hi.

I´ve build a retro gaming PC for playing old and beloved games.
Since I´ve games which uses both, Soundblaster for effects and MT-32 for music, I tried to set up my system in such a way.
I´ve heard that the Soundblaster mixer isn´t the best - quality-wise - but I don´t want to have that discussion right now 😀

What I have:
-486DX40
-MT-32 (1st gen)
-Roland MPU-401/AT (ISA, jumper sets 330)
-Soundblaster AWE64 Gold (ISA)
-DOS 6.22
-Div. MT-32 able (Sierra) games

What I did:
-Connect MPU-401 (out) with MT-32 (in), midi cabel
-Connect MT-32 (out) with AWE64 (line-in), two 6,3mm one 3,5mm plug cable
-Connect AWE64 (out) with Speakers (in), cinch cable
-Install Soundblaster DOS drivers which modified autoexec.bat and config.sys
-Use Soundblaster DOS mixer to see if line-in is checked and volume not muted
-Install games, choose MT-32 for music and AWE64 for sound

Problem:
Playing Doom I get effects from my Soundblaster but no music from my MT-32.
Playing an early Sierra game which supports MT-32 I didn´t get any music.
I see on the MT-32 display that it gets the signal and if I plug in my headphone into one of the 6,3mm out I can hear it.
So the problem is that the AWE64 doesn´t hand over the music from the line-in to the speakers?!
Any suggestions where the error source is?
What can I check/ try/ do/ re-install/ modify?
I know that an external hardware mixer would solve the problem easily but... that´s to easy 😎

Big thanks in advance!

Reply 1 of 15, by Dominus

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That should work. Since you can hear with your headset we know that it really is an issue of passing through the AWE line-in to to its line-out.
In the mixer is there any pass through option or so?

Oh, have you checked your cable (spk out mt32 to line in AWE)? Can you connect it to any other player/stereo?

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Reply 2 of 15, by keropi

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On the sb's driver directory there is a program that lets you mess with it's mixer, it's called MIXERSET.
Just run it and enable LINE-IN iput, most likely it is disabled...

here is a video by Mau1wurf1977 with driver installation for an AWE64 in DOS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TWI1DUg74 , mixerset is at 17:17

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Reply 4 of 15, by k0SH

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In the mixer is there any pass through option or so?

Haven´t seen one but will double check tonight.
Just saw a volume switch and check boxes for the line-in.

Oh, have you checked your cable (spk out mt32 to line in AWE)? Can you connect it to any other player/stereo?

No.
Have no other device where I can plug in and test a 6,3mm cable..
Maybe it is the cable an I´ve to try a second one.

On the sb's driver directory there is a program that lets you mess with it's mixer, it's called MIXERSET.
Just run it and enable LINE-IN iput, most likely it is disabled...

As said in my first post I´ve checked that and it was activated by default.
Deactivated and activated it again to see if it changes something without success.

I guess it shouldn´t be a problem since the MT-32 gets the signal and sends music to the output but could it be something with the settings like IRQ or so? Could that prevent the AWE64 to pass through a signal?
E.g. Soundblaster was on 330 as well as my MPU-401, changed the SB to 300.

Reply 5 of 15, by Dominus

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I doubt it's the port number.
Do you hear "normal" music, e.g. when you configure the game for SB 16/pro instead of mt32? Just checking all angles 😉
Do you have anything else you can connect to the line-in (smartphone with a different cable)?

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Reply 6 of 15, by k0SH

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Do you hear "normal" music, e.g. when you configure the game for SB 16/pro instead of mt32?
Do you have anything else you can connect to the line-in (smartphone with a different cable)?

Will try both tonight 😀

Thanks a lot for all ideas so far!

Reply 7 of 15, by k0SH

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It´s working!!!!
Checked the SB mixer tool again and missed a second area where you´ve to activate the line-in out too 😎
So it´s not enough to enable the line-in in 😎

Thanks a lot!
Enjoying and playing Larry 2 now 😀

Reply 9 of 15, by k0SH

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Yeah, thanks 😎

Still didn´t find out the right mixerset command for the autoexec.bat.
C:\SB16\MIXERSET /P /Q was standard.
After a reboot the line out is deactivated again and I´ve always to activate it manually.
mixerset /? says
/OPS sets output sources, LIR+ and LIL+ is for line out
So I changed it to C:\SB16\MIXERSET /Q /OPS:LIR+,LIL+
Which worked after rebooting. Woot woot!
BUT when I switch off the PC and turn it on again the settings are messed up.
Five settings have changed:
- CD and line volume are on minimum
- Treble and bass have changed
- Input: MIDI left right is deactivated
- Input: Mic is activated
- Output: Mic is activated

So until I didn´t find the right command I´ll change it back to the standard which means I´ve to activate the line out manually before playing anything..

Reply 11 of 15, by Mau1wurf1977

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Either re-install the SB drivers (deltree CTCM and SB16 folders) or create your own batch file (mine is called AWE64.BAT) and run that each time. I use batch files in my system now and find that works best for me.

Also check your file permissions. Type attrib in the folder and see if they are read-only (r).

Video showing you how to get the latest drivers and install them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GSYgarPs4

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Reply 12 of 15, by k0SH

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CTMIX.CFG is not write-protected

Japp. There it WAS!
Thanks 😎

Reply 14 of 15, by k0SH

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Just regular setup.
Dunno why it was write protected but it solved my problem 😀