I suspect a gameport->midi cable problem, what do you use for this?

If you repeat the process on the same game twice, are the missing notes in the same places?

keropi wrote on 2023-08-07, 22:38:

I suspect a gameport->midi cable problem, what do you use for this?

Here's a look at the cable. It came still sealed in a bag that seemed legit. I bought it on eBay from someone who said it was new old stock, but I guess it's hard to know for sure.

If this is the problem, does it make any sense that it would work just fine on my PCI sound cards? That felt like a good reason to cross it off the potential suspect list, but I fully admit I don't know much about the inner workings of these things.

Ensign Nemo wrote on 2023-08-07, 22:39:

If you repeat the process on the same game twice, are the missing notes in the same places?

I went back through a couple of the cards and listened to them multiple times each. Both from just closing and re-opening the game. And also from a full power cycle of the system and the MT32-Pi. Sometimes they might sound similar between runs, but they would always deviate. My favorite example is I got a rendition of Doom E1M1 that turned into piano, and the next run sounded like xylophone. 😀 Just to be clear though, that was the most extreme example. It is more commonly hanging or missed notes, not always incorrect instruments.

In the case of Doom, be sure to only connect the PC's MIDI out cable to the module's MIDI in. Do not connect the module's MIDI out to PC MIDI in. This is a known issue with Doom.

SuperDeadite wrote on 2023-08-08, 03:20:

In the case of Doom, be sure to only connect the PC's MIDI out cable to the module's MIDI in. Do not connect the module's MIDI out to PC MIDI in. This is a known issue with Doom.

I've only got the MIDI out cable connected, but I appreciate the suggestion. I had no idea that was a problem with Doom.

maybe your gameport->midi cable is just straight wire connections without any components in between - it would explain why older cards have issues with it
sadly you cannot easily check since it's molded type of cable... several components are needed inside the cable to make it work reliably as shown here: http://midi.teragonaudio.com/hardware/pc_intfc.htm

I am sure that if you can test with something like a DB15MIDI things would work just fine.

MIDI port uses IRQ 2 = IRQ 9.
Try setting IRQ 9 as "Legacy ISA" in CMOS Setup, to make sure that no PCI/ISAPNP card uses that interrupt.

I reminded myself in another thread that I should post a conclusion to this. I ended up ordering the DB15MIDI and all my ISA cards seem to work great with it. It would seem that the cable was the problem.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Cheers.

What brand was the cable? Just curious so others can avoid it.

SuperDeadite wrote on 2023-08-08, 03:20:

In the case of Doom, be sure to only connect the PC's MIDI out cable to the module's MIDI in. Do not connect the module's MIDI out to PC MIDI in. This is a known issue with Doom.

Where can I find more info on this? I see some search hits here and there but no detailled information. It would kinda ruin a build I was planning.

midicollector wrote on 2023-10-04, 21:52:

What brand was the cable? Just curious so others can avoid it.

I bought it off eBay. It was still sealed in a clear plastic bag, but there was no brand. I was hoping it was some new old stock, but I guess not.

Rawit wrote on 2023-10-05, 13:13:

SuperDeadite wrote on 2023-08-08, 03:20:

In the case of Doom, be sure to only connect the PC's MIDI out cable to the module's MIDI in. Do not connect the module's MIDI out to PC MIDI in. This is a known issue with Doom.

Where can I find more info on this? I see some search hits here and there but no detailled information. It would kinda ruin a build I was planning.

Sorry, I don't know the technical details, but as your search results will show, Doom does strange things when module MIDI out is connected to PC MIDI in. Unplugging that cable has fixed external MIDI playback for several people. I would guess it's a bug in Doom's MIDI driver, but just a guess.

I’m using a gameport to midi adapter with both the midi out and midi in plugged into the sc55 and haven’t had a problem with Doom that I’ve noticed. I am using an older version of doom though.

Ok good to know. I've been searching and was hoping to see a pattern or explanation in used gear or software.

danieljm wrote on 2023-08-07, 22:00:

I'm using an MT32-Pi and my tests have been Monkey Island for MT-32 mode, and Doom for SC-55 mode.

Problems happen both in pure DOS7.1 with Unisound and SoftMPU, and in Windows 98.

Hello,

SoftMPU is for MPU intelligent mode or MPU emulation on non-mpu compatible interfaces. Your cards are UART MPU compatible and neither doom nor monkey island require intelligent mode. Try without it.

Greets.

.

fjardest wrote on 2023-10-06, 20:39:

Hello, […]
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danieljm wrote on 2023-08-07, 22:00:

I'm using an MT32-Pi and my tests have been Monkey Island for MT-32 mode, and Doom for SC-55 mode.

Problems happen both in pure DOS7.1 with Unisound and SoftMPU, and in Windows 98.

Hello,

SoftMPU is for MPU intelligent mode or MPU emulation on non-mpu compatible interfaces. Your cards are UART MPU compatible and neither doom nor monkey island require intelligent mode. Try without it.

Greets.

.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try without SoftMPU, but the results seemed even worse at the time, so I just assumed that it was at least helping somehow.

Since getting the DB15MIDI I haven't actually gone back and tried it without SoftMPU because it's just been working great, but I should probably tinker some more and figure out what's possible.

Cheers.