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Help connect AWE64 and EWS64XL via MIDI cable

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First post, by H_Rush

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Greetings, retro sound and music fans!

I was trying to combine my AWE64 (in first PC) with Terratec EWS64XL (in second PC) via MIDI<->Gameport cable, but failed.
Here is the cable: https://overminers.ru/pic/images/v5DJ.jpg
It has an opto-isolator on MIDI-IN.

So, I connected MIDI-IN end of the cable to MIDI_1-OUT port on the Terratec's front panel:
http://vccollection.ru/wp-content/uploads/201 … 64_xl-block.jpg
... and plugged Gameport end to AWE64's Gameport.

Next I ran Win98 on both computers, installed all the drivers, selected EWS64XL MIDI-1 in "Control Panel -> Multimedia" for Terratec and AWE64 MIDI Synth [620] for AWE64. Then lauched Winamp on Terratec to play some MIDI music. I plugged my headphones to AWE's Line-Out, but heard nothing after all. Actually, I tried different combinations, but nothing worked.

That's why I have a question - how it supposed to work? 😀 Should I just hear a music from AWE64 on the desktop, or is there any specific player for MIDI coming from Gameport? Or maybe I just did something wrong? Never used it before.

Here is my EWS64XL: http://vccollection.ru/?page_id=5832
And my AWE64: http://vccollection.ru/?page_id=4814

Reply 1 of 4, by Kamerat

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You need to use software like FSMP or MIDI-OX on the PC you're running the synth on. It will act like a bridge between the MIDI in port and the synth.

DOS Sound Blaster compatibility: PCI sound cards vs. PCI chipsets
YouTube channel

Reply 3 of 4, by H_Rush

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MIDI-OX helped a bit. Now I'm rest assured my sound cards work and cable is good.
Screenshot
I installed it on both PCs. Now I can initialize MIDI INs and OUTs, send beeps from Terratec and see (and hear) them coming to AWE. Unfortunately, Win98 doesn't like MIDI signals transmission. It fails, stucks and even BSODs on both PCs during the process... 🙁

So I moved my AWE64 PC to clear DOS 6.22. Configured it fine, so I can play Doom with sound and music, but again I can't hear signal from Terratec. AWEUTIL /S doen't help.

Reply 4 of 4, by Kamerat

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H_Rush wrote:

MIDI-OX helped a bit. Now I'm rest assured my sound cards work and cable is good.
Screenshot
I installed it on both PCs. Now I can initialize MIDI INs and OUTs, send beeps from Terratec and see (and hear) them coming to AWE. Unfortunately, Win98 doesn't like MIDI signals transmission. It fails, stucks and even BSODs on both PCs during the process... 🙁

Remember having some stability issues myself when using the synth of my Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and MIDI in at the same time in Windows 98SE, don't think I found a solution (perhaps WDM drivers would have worked instead of the VxD ones?).

H_Rush wrote:

So I moved my AWE64 PC to clear DOS 6.22. Configured it fine, so I can play Doom with sound and music, but again I can't hear signal from Terratec. AWEUTIL /S doen't help.

Remember to select General MIDI in the setup of Doom, you won't hear any music from the AWE64 but it should send out the MIDI signals. If you have a game like Duke Nukem 3D installed then try it's setup program, it should be able to detect the presence of a MPU-401 interface.

DOS Sound Blaster compatibility: PCI sound cards vs. PCI chipsets
YouTube channel

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