VOGONS

Search

Common searches

Best option for 486DX/2 Roland MT-32 *and* simultaneous joystick

Topic actions

First post, by Mu0n

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I'm trying to profit from both hardware worlds: using my Roland MT-32 and my newly acquired joysticks.

Goals:

-Use a Gravis Gamepad Pro with MT-32 in Zeliard
-Use an Advanced Gravis Joystick with MT-32 in Wing Commander 1 & 2

Here's my gear:

-486 DX/2 66 IBM Valuepoint (upgraded CPU)
-Sound Blaster 16 ct-2940
-Serdashop's DB15 to MIDI small PCB
-Roland MT-32
-Advanced Gravis Joystick, Advanced Gravis Joystick Pro and Gravis Gamepad pro (this one with a doubling DB15 connector)
-SoftMPU to replace needing a hardware MPU unit
-No other gameports in some kind of serial+parallel+gameport back slot combo thing

https://content.screencast.com/users/Mu0n729/ … R_Recording.png

The Serdashop interface works brilliantly at this killer price, but of course, ties up the only joystick port I have on this machine. Using the Gravis Gamepad Pro Y-connector makes both Roland Mt-32 and gamepad not work in Zeliard (I know there are several pinout configurations depending on how you want to decouple a stick + throttle, or use a simple 2-axis joystick with MIDI, etc).

Is there a ready made solution for this I can purchase and forget while I wait for it to get here, or do I need to whip out a breadboard with jump wires to make a working connection with what I have?

EDIT - I now have a working solution, using:
-Rewired DB15 to MIDI in + MIDI out + 2nd DB15 splitter cable from Aliexpress that had many missing wires, making several pins absolutely inactive (only MIDI out was supported in all that junk)
-Serdashop DB15MIDI adapter
I made a thread documenting the info: Bought a gameport joystick/MIDI cable splitter from aliexpress, had to redo

Last edited by Mu0n on 2021-04-22, 13:35. Edited 1 time in total.

1Bit Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9YYXWX1SxBhh1YB-feIPPw
DOS Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUn0Dp6PM8DBTF-5g0nvcw

Reply 1 of 5, by TimMer1981

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

ISA dual gameport expansion card(s) for the gamepad and joysticks?

"I will take your bones, still alive and in great pain, and make them into a chair. I will call it "My Screaming Chair". Every morning I will sit in it and listen to you scream. Any questions?"

Reply 2 of 5, by Mu0n

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Bought a gameport joystick/MIDI cable splitter from aliexpress, had to redo

I documented my solution there.

1Bit Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9YYXWX1SxBhh1YB-feIPPw
DOS Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUn0Dp6PM8DBTF-5g0nvcw

Reply 3 of 5, by cyclone3d

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Problem with most of the splitters when used on a single gameport is that would will only get 2 active buttons per joystick/gamepad. Same goes for the dual port cards.

And if you use a Y-splitter, you also need to make sure that your sound card supports dual controllers.

If you just want to switch between the controllers for different games, it would be better to just have a DB15 switch-box such as this:
2-way https://www.ebay.com/itm/233961699183
4-way https://www.ebay.com/itm/203228134342
4-way https://www.ebay.com/itm/232912143541

Yamaha modified setupds and drivers
Yamaha XG repository
YMF7x4 Guide
Aopen AW744L II SB-LINK

Reply 4 of 5, by Jo22

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Just get an old ISA multi-i/o card. .
These usually included serial port, parallel port and gameport (plain; no MIDI). Maybe FDC and IDE, too.
The not needed components can be disabled by jumpers.

Personally, I'd simply make my own cable. Or modify an existing one.
MIDI only needs four signals. RX/TX/GND/5v.

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_port

Edit: If your soundcard is not that expensive, you can just tap these four signals on the soldering side of the DE15 connector and route these 1:1 to a second DE15 connector (that's mounted on a spare bracket).
But beware, it might be necessary to disconnect the pins on the soundcard's own connector.
Because, the joystick may ground these pins, causing a short.
Edit: This might be an issue if both connectors have their devices attached to them at the same time.

Attachments

  • intrfaca.gif
    Filename
    intrfaca.gif
    File size
    13.55 KiB
    Views
    1226 views
    File comment
    http://midi.teragonaudio.com/hardware/pc_intfc.htm
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 5 of 5, by Mu0n

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I did use that schematic while completing my solution. I just ditched MIDI in, which I have no plans on using on a retro PC (as I can just do similar with a Roland SC-88ST plugged into my Mac SE/30 with cubase 1.0) and considered for a few moments if a 2nd joystick with 2 buttons was needed, and I rapidly came to the realization that I wouldn't need that. Removing these 2 needs made it very simple and the Serdashop split to 2x MIDI out adapter completely removed the need to get my own buffering components.

1Bit Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9YYXWX1SxBhh1YB-feIPPw
DOS Fever Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIUn0Dp6PM8DBTF-5g0nvcw

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to MT-32 General
Close window
Close window