VOGONS


My sound-machine retro build.

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First post, by Batyra

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Finally I've finished my first BIG sound project.

I'll focus on soundcards.

1. AWE32 CT2760 + 28MB + WaveBlaster I CT1900 = Port 300, IRQ 5
2. Ensoniq Soundscape Elite connected via game port to Roland SC-55mkII = Port 330, IRQ 2/9
3. Yamaha SW60XD = Port 320
4. Gravis Ultrasound ACE 1.1 = IRQ 7

All cards are connected to each other and I'm just choseing in game setup wether I wand GeneralMidi or AWE32 or Yamaha or Ultrasound etc.
Only Esnoniq need change in initiation program if it has internal (Ensoniq) or external (Roland) midi.
I don't have a external Mixer so all cards are connected in series - one Output to next one input. In the end main otput goes to Rolan input and from Roland to speakers.

I don't need to say that connecting all together and installig so all cards were working without a conflict was a tough thing.

Now I'll focus on newer build so far with Yamaha SW1000 and AWE64 CT4540 and SimmConn.

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 1 of 44, by dreamblaster

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Amazing !

Visit http://www.serdashop.com for retro sound cards, video converters, ...
DreamBlaster X2, S2, S2P, HDD Clicker, ... many projects !
New X2GS SE & X16GS sound card : https://www.serdashop.com/X2GS-SE ,
Thanks for your support !

Reply 2 of 44, by SaxxonPike

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Impressive! I couldn't imagine navigating the driver and IRQ minefield.

Sound device guides:
Sound Blaster
Aztech
OPL3-SA

Reply 3 of 44, by Batyra

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SaxxonPike wrote:

Impressive! I couldn't imagine navigating the driver and IRQ minefield.

Nice to hear you like it! Thanks!
Definitely it was a challenge. But more difficult than setitng IRQ's was order of instalizing cards and connecting tchem togeter... it doesn't work in random way.

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 5 of 44, by Batyra

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keropi wrote:

nicely done! all that is left now is to enjoy it 😁

Thanks, I really can't wait to finish work and go to my "cave" to test it and listen to games tracks.

But now I've found another goal to aim. It's building even more extreme build on my industrial super socket 7 mobo with more ISA 😎

(if it is possible)... But, yes now I'll tak a rest and enjoy this build 😀

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 6 of 44, by alexsydneynsw

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Great project! Really asking for a mixer though. How do you select between Ensoniq and SC-55?

Reply 7 of 44, by Batyra

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alexsydneynsw wrote:

Great project! Really asking for a mixer though. How do you select between Ensoniq and SC-55?

All cards are working without setting anything - you just have to choose in game setup if you preffer Ultrasound or port 300 (waveblaster) or port 320 (yamaha) etc.
Ensoniq is only exeption. To choose between ensoniq and SC-55 you have to set internal or external midi in ensoniq initiation program - thats all, so few clicks and done 😀

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 8 of 44, by oeuvre

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Hey, you sure you got enough sound cards in there?

HP Z420 Workstation Intel Xeon E5-1620, 32GB, RADEON HD7850 2GB, SSD + HD, XP/7
ws90Ts2.gif

Reply 9 of 44, by Batyra

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oeuvre wrote:

Hey, you sure you got enough sound cards in there?

I'm sure for now I don't have enough free ISA slots 😵
That's why I have to go further with this "have-more-ISA" motherboard...

And honestly I love it when I can listen to Duke on Yamaha and later listen to Doom on Roland and later DarkForces on Ensoniq... It's also easy way of showing someone whos not into retro soundcards what this is all about... I'm tellig - listen, all these cards sound really different, like the same piece of music played by different band 😀 - then they catch it 😀

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 10 of 44, by chinny22

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Part of me thinks your crazy, but the other part loves it!

Reply 11 of 44, by Batyra

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Now I'm going to upgrade this system with Korg NX5R with wavetable connector inside 😀 - will see if it works connected via pass through in roland.

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 12 of 44, by SuperDeadite

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Batyra wrote:

Now I'm going to upgrade this system with Korg NX5R with wavetable connector inside 😀 - will see if it works connected via pass through in roland.

Should work just fine. I currently have USB--->UW500--->MKS-900--->UM-550--->NS5R--->Dreamblaster X2, and it all works great.

But a warning, if you are going to experiment with other daughterboards in the NS5R/NX5R be mindful of the power. The Korg's internal PSU is quite weak compared to a PC supply. Power hungry daughterboards have been known to overheat and kill the entire module. Korg officially states +5V;300 mA, +/-12V:20ma as the limit.

Modules: CM-64, CM-500, SC-55MkII, SC-88 Pro, SY22, TG100, MU2000EX, PLG100-SG, PLG150-DR, PLG150-AN, SG01k, NS5R, GZ-50M, SN-U110-07, SN-U110-10, Pocket Studio 5, DreamBlaster S2, X2, McFly, E-Wave, QWave, CrystalBlaster C2, Yucatan FX, BeepBlaster

Reply 13 of 44, by Batyra

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Thanks for advice.
I'm planning to use Korg Ai20 or Dreamblaster X2... You think it shouldn't be a problem? where I can find how power consuming it is? (Korg, bacause AFAIK Dreamblaster does't need much power).
Roland SCB-55 is sensless as I have SC55-Mk2... Yamaha is sensless as I have SW60XG, Waveblaster is currently connected to AWE32... So I consider only Korg or Dreamblaster.

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 14 of 44, by SuperDeadite

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Korg made boards are officially supported, so no problem there.

Modules: CM-64, CM-500, SC-55MkII, SC-88 Pro, SY22, TG100, MU2000EX, PLG100-SG, PLG150-DR, PLG150-AN, SG01k, NS5R, GZ-50M, SN-U110-07, SN-U110-10, Pocket Studio 5, DreamBlaster S2, X2, McFly, E-Wave, QWave, CrystalBlaster C2, Yucatan FX, BeepBlaster

Reply 15 of 44, by lvader

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I love this idea, I have a similar setup in mind, my current system has a Roland LAPCI, SB AWE 64 Gold, Yamaha SW1000XG and I plan to and a proper OPL card probably a SB Pro 2.

Reply 16 of 44, by oeuvre

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It looks pretty...

sound

HP Z420 Workstation Intel Xeon E5-1620, 32GB, RADEON HD7850 2GB, SSD + HD, XP/7
ws90Ts2.gif

Reply 17 of 44, by Batyra

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Thanks guys!
@lvader - for newer cards like SW1000 and AWE64Gold I building second machine... so one will be for dos and win95 gaming and second for newer stuff.

Oh. and one more... right now I'm waiting for Korg NX5R to connect it to this build by "Pass tru" on Roland... and maybe yamaha MU80 will be next in line.

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl

Reply 18 of 44, by alexsydneynsw

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Yamaha MU80 sounds so good with Descent 2 and System Shock for me. It's nothing special really but it's cool because of how different it is. A really good one to add that techno feel to your 90s DOS tunes.

Reply 19 of 44, by Batyra

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alexsydneynsw wrote:

Yamaha MU80 sounds so good with Descent 2 and System Shock for me. It's nothing special really but it's cool because of how different it is. A really good one to add that techno feel to your 90s DOS tunes.

It sound different - so it is special 😀

Visit my website: http://www.collection.batyra.pl