VOGONS

Microsoft Windows Sound System standard support in DOS games

Topic actions

First post, by bristlehog

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Microsoft Windows Sound System (usually abbreviated to WSS) standard is supported by wide variety of DOS sound libraries, though its support is much rarer than Sound Blaster, Gravis and Roland series.

This is a standard for 16 bit PCM playback. Original Windows Sound System card has OPL3 chip onboard located at 388h address, thus it's a generic OPL3 card from the point of music. Other sound cards supporting WSS standard behave differently in music domain, from OPL3 bearing Yamaha OPL3SAx to monstrous Terratec EWS64XL offering MIDI daughterboards and loadable GM/GS patch banks for sample based synthesis.

Most popular late DOS sound libraries, Miles Sound System and HMI Sound Operating System, support WSS. Same with less popular Loudness Sound System, Digital Sound Interface Kit, Digital Sound & Music Interface and Junglevision Sound Drive.

Concerning earlier DOS epoch, WSS was supported by part of DIGPAK library games, and by some of Accolade and Sierra Online games.

Lands of Lore II (1997, Sound Operating System):

setup_wss.png

Warcraft II (1995, Miles Sound System):

setup_wss2.png

Tyrian 2000 (1999, Loudness Sound System):

setup_wss3.png

Earthworm Jim II (1995, Digital Sound Interface Kit)

setup_wss6.png

Tronic (1996, Digital Sound & Music Interface)

tronic_wss.png

Gloriana (1995, Junglevision Sound Drive)

setup_wss7.png

The 7th Guest (1993, DIGPAK):

install_wss.png

Unnecessary Roughness (1993, proprietary Accolade sound drivers):

setup_wss5.png

Space Quest V (1993, proprietary Sierra sound drivers):

install_wss2.png

Sadly, some of DOS sound libraries don't support WSS standard:

- Audio Interface Library, including protected mode AIL/32 and AIL/16 (TES: Arena, Ultima VII, Ultima VIII and many others)
- DMX (Doom, Heretic etc.)
- Apogee Sound System (Duke Nukem 3D, Blood etc.)
- Sound Images Sound Drivers (Mortal Kombat II, Ecstatica etc.)

Last edited by bristlehog on 2014-05-29, 17:56. Edited 1 time in total.

Here you can get fantastic wallpapers created by a friend of mine: patreon.com/Unpocodrillo

Reply 2 of 7, by bristlehog

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Any more appropriate place for this? Marvin maybe? I'm afraid the article will get lost there in a day.

Here you can get fantastic wallpapers created by a friend of mine: patreon.com/Unpocodrillo

Reply 3 of 7, by Dominus

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank DOSBox Moderator
Rank
DOSBox Moderator

Whatever, definitely not in Release Announcements. It's a forum, of course topics get lost...

So, any mod can move it please?

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 4 of 7, by leileilol

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

Some WSS cards have SB emulation TSRs however, though those tend to be very finicky. I know Diamond and Turtle Beach had WSS cards with such a TSR coming with their Opti/Crystal Semiconductor-based WSS cards, and therefore can cover Doom, Duke3D, etc..

apsosig.png
long live PCem

Reply 5 of 7, by Stiletto

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

Moved to Marvin.

Thanks, leilei, for help "steering" it to Marvin! 😁

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 6 of 7, by gerwin

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

The original WSS is the AD1848 codec with an OPL3 next to it. No other bus interacing logic. Does CD quality 16-bit at 48kHz.
Many other soundcards use the AD1848 chip or the superior Crystal equivalents CS4231/CS4248. But they do come with another bus interfacing chip in between. This interfacing chip can be of brands like OPTi, Aztech, Crystal, Yamaha, Ensoniq, C-media and Mediatrix. I have examples of all of these, except OPTi+Ensoniq. The ones I have are Sound Blaster Pro compatible in hardware, without TSR. They usually use the same interrupt for both WSS and SB-Pro. Sometimes they get stuck in SB-Pro mode, Crystal supplies a small DOS tool to reinitialize WSS mode.
Software support for WSS is mediocre, but allows for superior sound in Windows, MPXplay and some late DOS games (Miles Sound System). Games like tyrian expect the WSS to have its resources set to the classic configuration, like DMA 0 + 3 and IRQ 5. Allegro WSS support is listed but not working.
Protected mode 'Miles Sound System' games can have the WSS driver implanted, by replacing the SB16 one for example. I did this with System Shock.

The CMI8330 Sound Card is different then others, because it is compatible with WSS and SB16, with separated resources. Like two soundcards in one chip.

--> ISA Soundcard Overview // Doom MBF 2.04 // SetMul

Reply 7 of 7, by retrofanatic

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I'm so glad that there is more info on this card...it's a little difficult to find.

Thanks to bristlehog for starting this topic and to everyone for all the great information!

I have two of the Windows Sound System ISA cards and originally bought them to include in an exclusive Win 3.1 setup. I believe that I found the correct drivers but have not had the chance to try them out as I have not built my Win 3.1 system yet.

I know there are German version Compaq drivers on vogonsdrivers.com, but does anyone have the English version Windows 3.1 drivers? How about the original documentation scans as well? (I know that's asking a lot, but it doesn't hurt to ask).

Also, does anyone here have experience using the Windows Sound System card on Windows 3.1?? (not in DOS mode of course)

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to General Old Hardware
Close window
Close window