Try IndirectSound.

Try changing the sampling rate of your sound card.

Thanks, I tried it, but no change. I also tried to disable Win10 audio enhancements and made sure that I have the latest sound driver. I'm not sure if this issue is on my PC only (but I have no sound problem with other games) or if it's the game bug.

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the sound to work properly! So maybe this will help anyone with the same problems. I think it isnt allowed to attach the needed files, so i will just link all the sources where these can be obtained. If this is against the rules too, please tell me. I will remove anything problematic then. I am running Windows 10 64bit.

HowTo:
0. Get the necessary files, see sources below. I would post a link with my collected files, but i think this would be against the rules.
1. Replace the MartinMystère.exe file in the game folder with the fixed one.
2. Set the compatability options in the preferences of the EXE-file. Set it to "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" and check the box to "execute as administrator".
3. Copy the DLL-files "d3drm.dll", "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" to the folders "C:/Windows/System32" and "C:/Windows/SysWOW64" (the folder SysWOW64 only exists in 64bit systems, so skip that if you run a 32bit OS. If the files are already there you dont need to overwrite).
4. Execute the file "MPEG4 (x32).reg" or "MPEG4 (x64).reg" according to your system type. If you have a 64bit system, choose the one with x64 in the name. This will register the DLL-files in the registry.
5. Play the game.
6. If you have a problem with the speech/dialougue/audio in game, meaning it will cut out after the beginning of longer sentences (audio stops playing), then overwrite the MP3-files located in the game folder under "..Media\Dialoghi\Mp3" with the fixed ones. (I converted these with variable bitrate and it somehow fixed the problem for me. Not sure why it works, i played around with several conversion settings and found a working method by trial and error.)

Sources:
1. I think it doesnt matter what version you will use. Search on archive.org, if you need an image.
Now for fixing the game to make it run + fixing the audio..
2. "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" can be obtained here (key for the mega-folder is "yVuKMpTrk2NjEd9fu5NB5g", subfolder is "MARTINM", download "MMFIX.zip"): https://web.archive.org/web/20210319125810/ht … ne-dorian-gray/
3. For the "d3drm.dll" you can check this thread for info (i used the link in the 10th post, dlldump.com/.. ): http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US … 92-c55fe278808d
4. For fixing the audio you have to convert the MP3s with the settings shown in the attached image and then replace the original ones. Make a backup first, in case it doesnt work. I used AIMP with the included AudioConverter: https://www.aimp.ru/?do=features

Good luck! Big thanks to Jiri!

draft wrote on 2022-08-23, 15:00:

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the s […]
Show full quote

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the sound to work properly! So maybe this will help anyone with the same problems. I think it isnt allowed to attach the needed files, so i will just link all the sources where these can be obtained. If this is against the rules too, please tell me. I will remove anything problematic then. I am running Windows 10 64bit.

HowTo:
0. Get the necessary files, see sources below. I would post a link with my collected files, but i think this would be against the rules.
1. Replace the MartinMystère.exe file in the game folder with the fixed one.
2. Set the compatability options in the preferences of the EXE-file. Set it to "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" and check the box to "execute as administrator".
3. Copy the DLL-files "d3drm.dll", "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" to the folders "C:/Windows/System32" and "C:/Windows/SysWOW64" (the folder SysWOW64 only exists in 64bit systems, so skip that if you run a 32bit OS. If the files are already there you dont need to overwrite).
4. Execute the file "MPEG4 (x32).reg" or "MPEG4 (x64).reg" according to your system type. If you have a 64bit system, choose the one with x64 in the name. This will register the DLL-files in the registry.
5. Play the game.
6. If you have a problem with the speech/dialougue/audio in game, meaning it will cut out after the beginning of longer sentences (audio stops playing), then overwrite the MP3-files located in the game folder under "..Media\Dialoghi\Mp3" with the fixed ones. (I converted these with variable bitrate and it somehow fixed the problem for me. Not sure why it works, i played around with several conversion settings and found a working method by trial and error.)

Sources:
1. I think it doesnt matter what version you will use. Search on archive.org, if you need an image.
Now for fixing the game to make it run + fixing the audio..
2. "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" can be obtained here (key for the mega-folder is "yVuKMpTrk2NjEd9fu5NB5g", subfolder is "MARTINM", download "MMFIX.zip"): https://web.archive.org/web/20210319125810/ht … ne-dorian-gray/
3. For the "d3drm.dll" you can check this thread for info (i used the link in the 10th post, dlldump.com/.. ): http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US … 92-c55fe278808d
4. For fixing the audio you have to convert the MP3s with the settings shown in the attached image and then replace the original ones. Make a backup first, in case it doesnt work. I used AIMP with the included AudioConverter: https://www.aimp.ru/?do=features

Good luck! Big thanks to Jiri!

the link to MMFIX.zip is broken

Mirror: https://anonfiles.com/Y3a8H5U9y6/files_zip

I kind of regret that i put all this effort into making the game work. I did not really like it and stopped playing after a short amount of time. Also, it doesnt seem that my info helped anyone so far. I guess there is nobody who wamts to play it. Maybe some people would like to play it for the childhood memories, but nobody came forward to tell so. I had one inreraction with someone on reddit saying he would like to play it again. After i provided the instructions there was no response. After asking if he tried he said he didnt have the time and would try eventually. Never heard of that person again. I really hope the is someone out there that will benefit from this.

draft wrote on 2023-01-29, 12:27:

Mirror: https://anonfiles.com/Y3a8H5U9y6/files_zip

I kind of regret that i put all this effort into making the game work. I did not really like it and stopped playing after a short amount of time. Also, it doesnt seem that my info helped anyone so far. I guess there is nobody who wamts to play it. Maybe some people would like to play it for the childhood memories, but nobody came forward to tell so. I had one inreraction with someone on reddit saying he would like to play it again. After i provided the instructions there was no response. After asking if he tried he said he didnt have the time and would try eventually. Never heard of that person again. I really hope the is someone out there that will benefit from this.

Dont regret, there will always be someone maybe 5 years in the future looking for the same.

Also, about Direct3D Retained Mode: I am not aware if the game uses the Ramp or the HAL renderer, but if you encounter wrong colors on Windows 10 1809 or later, you shall need to copy paste the d3dim.dll from a windows version before Win10 1809 to the game folder. Ramp renderer is semi removed thus it may cause issues if it's used.

draft wrote on 2023-01-29, 12:27:

Mirror: https://anonfiles.com/Y3a8H5U9y6/files_zip

I kind of regret that i put all this effort into making the game work. I did not really like it and stopped playing after a short amount of time. Also, it doesnt seem that my info helped anyone so far. I guess there is nobody who wamts to play it. Maybe some people would like to play it for the childhood memories, but nobody came forward to tell so. I had one inreraction with someone on reddit saying he would like to play it again. After i provided the instructions there was no response. After asking if he tried he said he didnt have the time and would try eventually. Never heard of that person again. I really hope the is someone out there that will benefit from this.

man you don't know how much this game means to me and your efforts are not in vein, thank you for the hard work you have put in this because i had to go thru loops to get it working and on a vm it did work but not as it should so your work is needed

Thank you for replying. It makes me happy to know someone appreciates it!

I've finally tried draft's tutorial and can confirm that it solves the problem I had with the sound, so thanks for the helpful info. It was one of the last old point and click adventure games on my list that didn't run properly on a modern computer.
I agree with BEEN_Nath_58 that there will always be someone looking for the solution, so it is good to have it. Plus, finding a way to make an old unsupported game run on modern computers is also a sort of game. 😀

A few more tips to problems I've encountered during testing:
- if the subtitles look distorted, it may help to change the display resolution before starting the game (or change the high DPI settings in the game exe file parameters to scaling performed by system, but Windows always reset the settings when I quit the game). In my case it helped to switch the display to 1024x768 and it's also possible to use some of tools for quick resolution switching available on the net.
- the game works with a controller and custom Steam input configuration for it when it's added as a non-Steam game, but Steam must be run as an administrator

I've also uploaded the necessary files to another mirror:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/kudwy59sgedc3l … _files.zip/file

Hello draft, I have tested your method With Martin Mystère and it works perfectly.
Thank you :

These mediafire links go extinct of a sudden, a lot of mine did, so I better upload the file directly to Vogons:

Just in case - here's my permanent Google Drive link to the files : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VKD8Du-TRL7- … iew?usp=sharing

draft wrote on 2022-08-23, 15:00:

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the s […]
Show full quote

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the sound to work properly! So maybe this will help anyone with the same problems. I think it isnt allowed to attach the needed files, so i will just link all the sources where these can be obtained. If this is against the rules too, please tell me. I will remove anything problematic then. I am running Windows 10 64bit.

HowTo:
0. Get the necessary files, see sources below. I would post a link with my collected files, but i think this would be against the rules.
1. Replace the MartinMystère.exe file in the game folder with the fixed one.
2. Set the compatability options in the preferences of the EXE-file. Set it to "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" and check the box to "execute as administrator".
3. Copy the DLL-files "d3drm.dll", "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" to the folders "C:/Windows/System32" and "C:/Windows/SysWOW64" (the folder SysWOW64 only exists in 64bit systems, so skip that if you run a 32bit OS. If the files are already there you dont need to overwrite).
4. Execute the file "MPEG4 (x32).reg" or "MPEG4 (x64).reg" according to your system type. If you have a 64bit system, choose the one with x64 in the name. This will register the DLL-files in the registry.
5. Play the game.
6. If you have a problem with the speech/dialougue/audio in game, meaning it will cut out after the beginning of longer sentences (audio stops playing), then overwrite the MP3-files located in the game folder under "..Media\Dialoghi\Mp3" with the fixed ones. (I converted these with variable bitrate and it somehow fixed the problem for me. Not sure why it works, i played around with several conversion settings and found a working method by trial and error.)

Sources:
1. I think it doesnt matter what version you will use. Search on archive.org, if you need an image.
Now for fixing the game to make it run + fixing the audio..
2. "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" can be obtained here (key for the mega-folder is "yVuKMpTrk2NjEd9fu5NB5g", subfolder is "MARTINM", download "MMFIX.zip"): https://web.archive.org/web/20210319125810/ht … ne-dorian-gray/
3. For the "d3drm.dll" you can check this thread for info (i used the link in the 10th post, dlldump.com/.. ): http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US … 92-c55fe278808d
4. For fixing the audio you have to convert the MP3s with the settings shown in the attached image and then replace the original ones. Make a backup first, in case it doesnt work. I used AIMP with the included AudioConverter: https://www.aimp.ru/?do=features

Good luck! Big thanks to Jiri!

Hi, friend!

Thank you very much! I’ve been digging through the internet trying to launch this game, and only here did I find a solution—thanks, it worked!

Unfortunately, though, your method didn’t solve the sound issue. I followed your instructions and converted the .mp3 files according to your parameters as well as many others, but nothing helps. The sound still cuts out during dialogues.

My_Blood wrote on 2025-02-06, 07:48:

Hi, friend! […]
Show full quote

draft wrote on 2022-08-23, 15:00:

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the s […]
Show full quote

I just registered because Jiri's post helped me to finally get this game working after days of trial and error. I even got the sound to work properly! So maybe this will help anyone with the same problems. I think it isnt allowed to attach the needed files, so i will just link all the sources where these can be obtained. If this is against the rules too, please tell me. I will remove anything problematic then. I am running Windows 10 64bit.

HowTo:
0. Get the necessary files, see sources below. I would post a link with my collected files, but i think this would be against the rules.
1. Replace the MartinMystère.exe file in the game folder with the fixed one.
2. Set the compatability options in the preferences of the EXE-file. Set it to "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" and check the box to "execute as administrator".
3. Copy the DLL-files "d3drm.dll", "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" to the folders "C:/Windows/System32" and "C:/Windows/SysWOW64" (the folder SysWOW64 only exists in 64bit systems, so skip that if you run a 32bit OS. If the files are already there you dont need to overwrite).
4. Execute the file "MPEG4 (x32).reg" or "MPEG4 (x64).reg" according to your system type. If you have a 64bit system, choose the one with x64 in the name. This will register the DLL-files in the registry.
5. Play the game.
6. If you have a problem with the speech/dialougue/audio in game, meaning it will cut out after the beginning of longer sentences (audio stops playing), then overwrite the MP3-files located in the game folder under "..Media\Dialoghi\Mp3" with the fixed ones. (I converted these with variable bitrate and it somehow fixed the problem for me. Not sure why it works, i played around with several conversion settings and found a working method by trial and error.)

Sources:
1. I think it doesnt matter what version you will use. Search on archive.org, if you need an image.
Now for fixing the game to make it run + fixing the audio..
2. "APmpg4v1.dll" and "MPG4C32.dll" can be obtained here (key for the mega-folder is "yVuKMpTrk2NjEd9fu5NB5g", subfolder is "MARTINM", download "MMFIX.zip"): https://web.archive.org/web/20210319125810/ht … ne-dorian-gray/
3. For the "d3drm.dll" you can check this thread for info (i used the link in the 10th post, dlldump.com/.. ): http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US … 92-c55fe278808d
4. For fixing the audio you have to convert the MP3s with the settings shown in the attached image and then replace the original ones. Make a backup first, in case it doesnt work. I used AIMP with the included AudioConverter: https://www.aimp.ru/?do=features

Good luck! Big thanks to Jiri!

Hi, friend!

Thank you very much! I’ve been digging through the internet trying to launch this game, and only here did I find a solution—thanks, it worked!

Unfortunately, though, your method didn’t solve the sound issue. I followed your instructions and converted the .mp3 files according to your parameters as well as many others, but nothing helps. The sound still cuts out during dialogues.

The problem was solved with the following conversion parameters:

Hi draft, thanks for sharing your method to make this game work. Maybe is not a great game, but it is always good to see old games come back to life on modern hardware and operating systems.

I made some simplifications and optimizations to your method. I would like to share my findings just in case there are more people interested in this game.

• The d3drm.dll file is not needed, as this game does not use Direct3D Retained Mode at all (I don't know where this information came in first place, but is wrong). Direct3D Retained Mode is a prehistoric thing, from the DirectX 3.0 era. This game uses Direct3D 9, which is very modern in comparison with Direct3D Retained Mode. There is, indeed, a reference to d3drm.dll inside XLoaderrNT.dll, but the game never loads this file.
• There is no need to use a patched executable, the original one from the CD works fine, at least for the spanish version. I don't know if other regional versions have different executables.
• To fix the crash to desktop when launching the game, the full Windows XP compatibility mode is overkill, enabling the FaultTolerantHeap compatibility shim is enough. I made a SDB compatibility database to enable this shim for the game. It can be installed with the "sdbinst.exe" command as administrator. This allows to run the game without administrator rights, and enabling the least required number of compatibility shims is always good to prevent further issues.
• To fix the black screen when the intro video should be played, only the MPG4C32.DLL codec is needed, the other one, APmpg4v1.dll, is not required. The DLL file on 64 bits systems only needs to be copied to SysWOW64, copying it to System32 is not necessary, as this is a 32 bits game. For the 64 bits REG file, the non WOW6432Node entries are also not necessary. Finally, only the "vidc.mp42" entry is required, the other three can be removed.
• Alternatively to the previous point, FFDShow can be used instead of MPG4C32.DLL. After installing it, run the VFW Interface configuration program and enable the MP42 codec. I prefer this method, as having FFDShow installed is handy for fixing other games that may require old and outdated codecs (like Indeo, for example).
• The MP3 re-encoding trick didn't work for me. I tried several encoding methods and bitrates, with no success. Maybe I did something wrong, as I used FFMPEG instead of the program you mentioned. Anyway, I discovered the following:
  • Running the game with single core affinity (with "start /affinity 0x01") makes a huge improvement, but there are still some dialogues missing.
  • Running the game trough a Direct3D 9 wrapper seems to somehow get rid of the issue (but I only played for a short while). I tested dgVoodoo, DXVK and WineD3D.
• dgVoodoo can also be used to improve the rendering of the 3D models, by enabling Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic Filtering. To use dgVoodoo in this game, it must be configured in borderless fullscreen mode, by enabling the "Fake" checkbox on the GeneralExt tab.

I attach a pack that contains the SDB compatibility fix, the FFDShow version I use and a batch script to run the game in single core affinity. The readme inside is in spanish, but is the same I exposed on this post. I hope someone finds it useful.