http://turkeys4me.byethost4.com/programs/ENS137X2.ZIP
The audio driver for Windows 3.1/11

matti157 wrote on 2025-02-08, 14:53:

And why do you call this card Sound Blaster 128 when it should be called Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI? https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/model-index/

The pci 128 should be CT4700 or CT4750 or CT4751

So the drivers should be these: https://archive.org/search?query=creative+ensoniq+

Kindly do some research on the topic before posting things like that. This card was released under a bunch of different names.

My particular model was called Sound Blaster PCI 128. I know that because I bought it personally back in 2001. It's also what is written on the driver CD that came with my card, and in the PDF manual which shipped on that disc.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2025-02-08, 15:37:

matti157 wrote on 2025-02-08, 14:53:

And why do you call this card Sound Blaster 128 when it should be called Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI? https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/model-index/

The pci 128 should be CT4700 or CT4750 or CT4751

So the drivers should be these: https://archive.org/search?query=creative+ensoniq+

Kindly do some research on the topic before posting things like that. This card was released under a bunch of different names.

My particular model was called Sound Blaster PCI 128. I know that because I bought it personally back in 2001. It's also what is written on the driver CD that came with my card, and in the PDF manual which shipped on that disc.

The Ct4810 is actually Sb Vibra128 Pci, a variant of the Sb128 Pci

Lualb wrote on 2025-02-08, 15:45:

The Ct4810 is actually Sb Vibra128 Pci, a variant of the Sb128 Pci

Sigh.

Please re-read my post carefully and click on the supplied link to the driver CD. It has a picture of the disc and the contents of the DISK.ID file.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2025-02-08, 15:37:

matti157 wrote on 2025-02-08, 14:53:

And why do you call this card Sound Blaster 128 when it should be called Creative Ensoniq Audio PCI? https://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/model-index/

The pci 128 should be CT4700 or CT4750 or CT4751

So the drivers should be these: https://archive.org/search?query=creative+ensoniq+

Kindly do some research on the topic before posting things like that. This card was released under a bunch of different names.

My particular model was called Sound Blaster PCI 128. I know that because I bought it personally back in 2001. It's also what is written on the driver CD that came with my card, and in the PDF manual which shipped on that disc.

I have read everything, nice review, thank you.

At this point I'd just like to understand the differences between the chips CT5880 and CT2518

matti157 wrote on 2025-02-08, 17:51:

I have read everything, nice review, thank you.

At this point I'd just like to understand the differences between the chips CT5880 and CT2518

I don't know, but maybe you can ask some of the people in this thread: Different Versions of Ensoniq AudioPCI

I have a CT4810 installed on a Socket A motherboard w/VIA chipset, and for the most part I got everything working properly. Duke Nukem 3d works great with General MIDI, but games like Epic Pinball and Jazz Jackrabbit have audio that is significantly slower and lower pitched than normal. I found an old youtube video with gameplay that sounds the same as I'm hearing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9RWHVRBwmY

Jazz Jackrabbit is similarly terrible.

Any solutions for this? I see somebody earlier in this thread said Jazz Jackrabbit tested good on this card.

I am having issues with sending signal to sc55 in pure dos mode. My card is a soundblaster PCI128 (5507 - ES1370 ensoniq soundscape) In windows I can play midi files and sc55 picks up on it. In doom in the pure DOS expanded ram environment even thought I've setup port 330 for genereal midi or even sound canvas, the card uses the 8mb softsynth all the time. any tips on how to resolve this?
Autoexec:
SET SNDSCAPE=C:\SYS\EAPCI
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T2
@CALL C:\SYS\EAPCI\APINIT.COM

===
config.sys:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS NOVCPI
DOS=HIGH, UMB

===
sndscape.ini:
[sndscape.drv]

; Product ID
Product=Soundscape

; Ports - Base/MIDI, Wave, and Sound Blaster Device
Port=330
WavePort=534
SBPort=220

; IRQs - MIDI and Wave/SoundBlaster emulation
IRQ=5
SBIRQ=5

; DMA Channel Wave/SoundBlaster emulation
DMA=1

; Switches - SoundBlaster/Soundscape emulation enable, Joystick enable
SBEnable=true
JSEnable=true
CDDAEnable=true

; Mixer Settings - Wave, Synth, and CD volumes
WaveVol=20
SynthVol=20
CDVol=127

; Waveset - path and file name of current waveset
SynthFile=C:\SYS\EAPCI\Eapci8m.ecw

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 17:34:

I am having issues with sending signal to sc55 in pure dos mode. My card is a soundblaster PCI128 (5507 - ES1370 ensoniq soundscape) In windows I can play midi files and sc55 picks up on it.

Unfortunately, Audio PCI cards can't do that in pure DOS. It's the same for SBLive and Audigy cards.

As far as I know, external MIDI playback will only work from within Windows, and only when using native Windows applications.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2025-06-05, 17:43:

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 17:34:

I am having issues with sending signal to sc55 in pure dos mode. My card is a soundblaster PCI128 (5507 - ES1370 ensoniq soundscape) In windows I can play midi files and sc55 picks up on it.

Unfortunately, Audio PCI cards can't do that in pure DOS. It's the same for SBLive and Audigy cards.

As far as I know, external MIDI playback will only work from within Windows, and only when using native Windows applications.

oh, thanks for the heads up. i'll have to dig out my aureal vortex 2 in that case. dont know how it will be like to compare it to the CDDAudio feature of the PCI128

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2025-06-05, 17:43:

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 17:34:

I am having issues with sending signal to sc55 in pure dos mode. My card is a soundblaster PCI128 (5507 - ES1370 ensoniq soundscape) In windows I can play midi files and sc55 picks up on it.

Unfortunately, Audio PCI cards can't do that in pure DOS. It's the same for SBLive and Audigy cards.

As far as I know, external MIDI playback will only work from within Windows, and only when using native Windows applications.

hmmm, from how you've worded it, it seems that all audio pci cards in general cant send signal to sc55 under pure dos mode? if thats the case then i will have to build around a pentium 166 mmx, soyo sy5ssm (w/ onboard es1869s solo-1), matrox millenium ii 8mb pci and picogus. I w'm looking to solve the speed sensitive games issue and REMOVED provides really nice bin cues for cd's to test. the soyo originally came with the matrox and k6-2 350mhz, dont know if its worthwhile going with the k6-2 350 or going with p166 mmx where setmul can be used easily against phils 136-in-1 table

//Removed mention of so called "abandonware"

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 18:54:

oh, thanks for the heads up. i'll have to dig out my aureal vortex 2 in that case. dont know how it will be like to compare it to the CDDAudio feature of the PCI128

The Vortex 2's drivers add an option that lets you choose the MIDI output device for DOS windows. So you can choose the MPU401 on a SB Live to get external MIDI support. I've used it to drive a MIDI module off a Live Drive for a DOS game under Windows. So no you can't do it from pure DOS mode, but it is still possible to have DOS games output to external modules.

All that said, if you are messing with speed sensitive games, I really recommend a system with ISA support. The PicoGUS you mentioned makes for a great MPU401 device. I have a McCake on my PicoGUS's MIDI daughter board header which gives internal MT32 support along with soundfonts which handles most MIDI needs while allowing external modules to be used if you want a certain sound or access to SC or XG extended MIDI.

SScorpio wrote on 2025-06-06, 13:07:

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 18:54:

oh, thanks for the heads up. i'll have to dig out my aureal vortex 2 in that case. dont know how it will be like to compare it to the CDDAudio feature of the PCI128

The Vortex 2's drivers add an option that lets you choose the MIDI output device for DOS windows. So you can choose the MPU401 on a SB Live to get external MIDI support. I've used it to drive a MIDI module off a Live Drive for a DOS game under Windows. So no you can't do it from pure DOS mode, but it is still possible to have DOS games output to external modules.

All that said, if you are messing with speed sensitive games, I really recommend a system with ISA support. The PicoGUS you mentioned makes for a great MPU401 device. I have a McCake on my PicoGUS's MIDI daughter board header which gives internal MT32 support along with soundfonts which handles most MIDI needs while allowing external modules to be used if you want a certain sound or access to SC or XG extended MIDI.

thanks, i've always tended to run dos apps and feed the sc55 in windows 98 environment, so hadnt picked up on the fact that pci cards cannot feed to external midi in pure dos modes unless they have SB-link which my slot 1 pentium 3 700mhz system does have paired with ymf 744, but its too fast and the yamaha card is noisy. my socket 462 build is stretching the legs of the agp voodoo 3. looks like i'll have to build a dedicated dos build with proper support

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-06, 14:20:

thanks, i've always tended to run dos apps and feed the sc55 in windows 98 environment, so hadnt picked up on the fact that pci cards cannot feed to external midi in pure dos modes unless they have SB-link

It's not related to SB-Link, that's just how Audio PCI/SBLive/Audigy cards work.

The ESS Solo-1 doesn't have that problem. Neither does the Aureal Vortex 2, nor the Yamaha YMF744.

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-06, 14:20:

SScorpio wrote on 2025-06-06, 13:07:

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-05, 18:54:

oh, thanks for the heads up. i'll have to dig out my aureal vortex 2 in that case. dont know how it will be like to compare it to the CDDAudio feature of the PCI128

The Vortex 2's drivers add an option that lets you choose the MIDI output device for DOS windows. So you can choose the MPU401 on a SB Live to get external MIDI support. I've used it to drive a MIDI module off a Live Drive for a DOS game under Windows. So no you can't do it from pure DOS mode, but it is still possible to have DOS games output to external modules.

All that said, if you are messing with speed sensitive games, I really recommend a system with ISA support. The PicoGUS you mentioned makes for a great MPU401 device. I have a McCake on my PicoGUS's MIDI daughter board header which gives internal MT32 support along with soundfonts which handles most MIDI needs while allowing external modules to be used if you want a certain sound or access to SC or XG extended MIDI.

thanks, i've always tended to run dos apps and feed the sc55 in windows 98 environment, so hadnt picked up on the fact that pci cards cannot feed to external midi in pure dos modes unless they have SB-link which my slot 1 pentium 3 700mhz system does have paired with ymf 744, but its too fast and the yamaha card is noisy. my socket 462 build is stretching the legs of the agp voodoo 3. looks like i'll have to build a dedicated dos build with proper support

Just to be clear, a Vortex 2 should work great on it's own in pure DOS, including the MPU-401 interface (gameport or waveblaster header), though it may require DOS 7.1.

Re: Use Vortex2 without Windows?

In this case boxpressed was able to get the MPU-401 interface working with just a DOS 7.1 boot disk and AU30DOS.com.

There is also an improved DOS mixer application for the Vortex 2 called AU30MIX made by ZanQuance here on Vogons:
Release -New Aureal DOS Mixer Util-

The Vortex 2 is arguably the best PCI sound card for pure DOS if you aren't looking for FM music. The driver is lightweight and doesn't require EMM386, and you don't have to worry about DDMA, SB-Link headers, etc. On that note, SB-Link is in a bit of a strange position, because the vast majority of boards that have that header also have ISA slots, and it's definitely easier\cheaper to find any random Aztech, Yamaha, Sound Blaster or other card with OPL3 and good native DOS support than to track down an ESS Solo-1 or Yamaha XG PCI card.

Because of this and A3D 2.0, I put the Vortex 2 as basically the ultimate sound card for late DOS + Windows 9x builds where FM synth is probably less important.

EDIT: To be clear, there are probably situations where cards with DDMA or SB-Link work better. Not saying the Vortex 2 is always the best choice... it just offers a very well rounded blend of features, compatibility and ease of use for late DOS + 9x builds.

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2025-06-06, 15:10:

Just to be clear, a Vortex 2 should work great on it's own in pure DOS, including the MPU-401 interface (gameport or waveblaster […]
Show full quote

gmaverick2k wrote on 2025-06-06, 14:20:

SScorpio wrote on 2025-06-06, 13:07:

The Vortex 2's drivers add an option that lets you choose the MIDI output device for DOS windows. So you can choose the MPU401 on a SB Live to get external MIDI support. I've used it to drive a MIDI module off a Live Drive for a DOS game under Windows. So no you can't do it from pure DOS mode, but it is still possible to have DOS games output to external modules.

All that said, if you are messing with speed sensitive games, I really recommend a system with ISA support. The PicoGUS you mentioned makes for a great MPU401 device. I have a McCake on my PicoGUS's MIDI daughter board header which gives internal MT32 support along with soundfonts which handles most MIDI needs while allowing external modules to be used if you want a certain sound or access to SC or XG extended MIDI.

thanks, i've always tended to run dos apps and feed the sc55 in windows 98 environment, so hadnt picked up on the fact that pci cards cannot feed to external midi in pure dos modes unless they have SB-link which my slot 1 pentium 3 700mhz system does have paired with ymf 744, but its too fast and the yamaha card is noisy. my socket 462 build is stretching the legs of the agp voodoo 3. looks like i'll have to build a dedicated dos build with proper support

Just to be clear, a Vortex 2 should work great on it's own in pure DOS, including the MPU-401 interface (gameport or waveblaster header), though it may require DOS 7.1.

Re: Use Vortex2 without Windows?

In this case boxpressed was able to get the MPU-401 interface working with just a DOS 7.1 boot disk and AU30DOS.com.

There is also an improved DOS mixer application for the Vortex 2 called AU30MIX made by ZanQuance here on Vogons:
Release -New Aureal DOS Mixer Util-

The Vortex 2 is arguably the best PCI sound card for pure DOS if you aren't looking for FM music. The driver is lightweight and doesn't require EMM386, and you don't have to worry about DDMA, SB-Link headers, etc. On that note, SB-Link is in a bit of a strange position, because the vast majority of boards that have that header also have ISA slots, and it's definitely easier\cheaper to find any random Aztech, Yamaha, Sound Blaster or other card with OPL3 and good native DOS support than to track down an ESS Solo-1 or Yamaha XG PCI card.

Because of this and A3D 2.0, I put the Vortex 2 as basically the ultimate sound card for late DOS + Windows 9x builds where FM synth is probably less important.

EDIT: To be clear, there are probably situations where cards with DDMA or SB-Link work better. Not saying the Vortex 2 is always the best choice... it just offers a very well rounded blend of features, compatibility and ease of use for late DOS + 9x builds.

mission accepted, before the missus finds out i've been rummaging in the garage for a pc part 😒
edit: found a turtle beach in a cellowrapped win98 rocket build, b75 x8x0 of some osrt and ax1200i
edit2: thanks all, midi in pure dos achieved and PCI128 replaced, although sc55 doesnt manually turn on when connected to gameport. powersup when pc send midi signal to it

Calling the Vortex-2 the best PCI sound card for DOS is quite a stretch IMO. It is certainly a fair bit worse than YMF724/744, Solo-1, and FM801, as far as I am concerned.

appiah4 wrote on 2025-06-11, 08:40:

Calling the Vortex-2 the best PCI sound card for DOS is quite a stretch IMO. It is certainly a fair bit worse than YMF724/744, Solo-1, and FM801, as far as I am concerned.

Thankfully, that isn't what I said. 😀

I said for DOS + Windows 9x. If you want to play some DOS games (with a wavetable module of some kind, which gmaverick has) and some A3D 2.0 games on the same system, it can do both and likely do it without much of a worry about specific motherboard features.

For pure DOS, a card with a decent OPL3 and some additional ISA compatibility features would help. No argument there. 😀