Re: Dual cpu/core and windows 9X/ME
Posted on 2022-02-09, 13:08
I just wonder about this stuff. A single core is enough for everything that was designed for Win9x. What's so great about that OS that you want to use it for more things? 😁
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-02-07, 21:00
The Audigy produces the same music in the game regardless of SoundFont or lack thereof, regardless of which synths are selected or enabled in Multimedia settings. Before and after updating the (VxD) drivers, also. The SB Live! Value II (CT4830) is sounding great, however! Quite similar to the AWE64, …
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-02-07, 03:21
I’ll definitely check out how that SoundFont sounds. The game loads its original SoundFont when it’s working correctly. I think it has to recognize the card in order to access the synth properly; here it’s definitely not right. The Audigy must be too new. SB Live cards might work more as intended.
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-02-06, 21:59
Here's another in-game recording, using the Audigy Platinum sound card. Has its nice moments, but it's clearly not as polished polyphony wise as the AWE64 rendition. The 4MB GMGSMT SoundFont was the default with this install disc, if it's making any difference. (I don't think it does.) audigy_ingame …
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-02-04, 23:30
It was such a massive rabbit hole to set up an old version of EverQuest and record using the AWE64 Gold on my 98SE Tualatin. This is in the client, EverQuest Trilogy release version from 2001, and an emulated server. SPDIF out and all stock configuration, no external SoundFont. Happy with this as …
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-02-01, 15:18
Well, another thing is that the format in the game is XMI rather than MID and we don't know how this file was adapted. I'll probably attempt some comparisons.
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-01-30, 16:55
Decent GM compatibility in composition would certainly mean it didn't sound like crap on all three of SC-55, SC-88 and MU-50. 😀 No high-end MIDI synth, just the Creative hardware they composed it for. AWE32 magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwh7C4OzA5c
Re: Significant differences with certain MIDI files across Roland synthesizers
Posted on 2022-01-30, 13:48
They all sound bad, the composition just doesn't have good GM compatibility. It's probably intended for AWE64 & Live! and sounds the best like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyKIuB_bZKI
Re: Orpheus Soundcard: a new DOS soundcard with SPDIF/OPL3/MPU support
Posted on 2022-01-26, 16:56
Orpheus I v1.0j
Re: Are we opening sealed copies of old games?
Posted on 2022-01-26, 12:13
I don’t own anything for resale or show in a sealed retail package. Buying sealed sometimes just to know I get a complete item and maybe for the full experience of opening a fresh item.
Re: Orpheus Soundcard: a new DOS soundcard with SPDIF/OPL3/MPU support
Posted on 2022-01-25, 20:02
I received my Orpheus today! Thank you for delivering on a great retro sound card, guys. I'm excited to try it out with a bunch of other gear soon. It appears we have a new revision v1.0j with a surface mount MPU EEPROM. This package must be a lot easier to source. The card looks neater, although …
Re: YOUR favorate game era.
Posted on 2021-12-25, 16:14
It's definitely 1990-2003 for me; from the Super Nintendo and VGA graphics until the Xbox and PS2, I guess. GTA peaked with Vice City and The Elder Scrolls with Morrowind. Game design was limited by primitive technology in the 80's and, on this side of the era, I've been jaded to the flavor-of-the- …
Re: CRT Displays Choosing for DOS
Posted on 2021-12-21, 09:30
CRT's that were specifically designed for 50 or 60 Hz had slower decaying phosphor than PC displays. BIOS and DOS prompt modes default to 70 Hz; for Win9x 75-85 Hz was the norm, and there were options up to 120 Hz. You only saw 60 Hz desktops (past the mid-90's) due to misconfiguration, by my …
Re: CRT Displays Choosing for DOS
Posted on 2021-12-19, 14:45
I absolutely agree CRT flicker at 60Hz is obnoxious. 70Hz, just fine.
Re: Win98se Mechwarrior4 copy protection error running from DeamonTools
Posted on 2021-11-24, 16:06
Thanks, very good to know! I've tested more builds of Alcohol 120% today and it seems I have to correct myself on where it lost compatibility with DT 3.47. Version 1.9.6.5429 still works (under XP). The first version producing MDS files that wouldn't mount was 1.9.7.
Re: Win98se Mechwarrior4 copy protection error running from DeamonTools
Posted on 2021-11-24, 14:52
Seems promising. Virtual CloneDrive might be a freeware alternative to DT if you're creating images on modern systems. Appears they dropped pre-XP support in 5.5.1.0? Will have to check out how it works sometime.
Re: Win98se Mechwarrior4 copy protection error running from DeamonTools
Posted on 2021-11-23, 14:36
Thanks, firage, for the info. I got the Alcohol 120% 2.0 from Phil's Computer Lab, installed it on my main win7 PC, and ripped the 2 CDs for MW4. After transferring the new images to the Win98 PC DaemonTools can't read them. I quickly found that the last Alcohol for Win98 is a 1.9.5.x, so I found a …
Re: Win98se Mechwarrior4 copy protection error running from DeamonTools
Posted on 2021-11-21, 16:06
The program and its read settings can make a difference, but BIN + CUE just doesn't replicate advanced copy protection schemes such as Safedisc past a certain version. DT 3.47 supports the CloneCD (CCD + IMG + SUB) and Alcohol 120% (MDF + MDS v1) image formats that were the most popular for …
Re: Is there a VLB card that supports > Mode 3 or UDMA support?
Posted on 2021-11-07, 18:29
Well, I commend pshipkov’s disk controller benchmarking effort in his mega-thread: Re: 3 (+3 more) retro battle stations There’s a bunch of soft facts and very little good data on this area in general. It didn’t really matter for DOS or most 90’s era use cases.
Re: Is there a VLB card that supports > Mode 3 or UDMA support?
Posted on 2021-11-06, 10:20
I have both of these Promise cards and they’re not that super fast. It might be motherboard BIOS dependent, but the fastest configuration option using the EIDE2300Plus is MWDMA set via driver and I can just beat 11 MB/sec. Good enough. The onboard jumper selections are for pre-EIDE speed settings. I …
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