Reply 40 of 44, by theelf
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ElectroSoldier wrote on Yesterday, 20:40:mkarcher wrote on Yesterday, 17:16:Actually, an ISA sound card is both what you think and also what you found when looking for MIDI devices. A typical ISA sound ca […]
ElectroSoldier wrote on Yesterday, 14:46:an old ISA sound card isnt what I thought it was, that a MIDI device has its own sounds built into it and the signal sent from a game is more of a que to the sound card to play its own sounds.
Actually, an ISA sound card is both what you think and also what you found when looking for MIDI devices. A typical ISA sound card in a 90s game uses both capabilities. Sound effects in the game are usually made from pre-recorded samples that are played as-is by the sound card. On the other hand, old computers were not powerful enough to calculate background music in real-time, so for music playback, the sound card is instructed to generate "its own sounds" as you say. The Soundblaster 16 you are buying can do both, so no need to worry. The main issue about the music generation of the Soundblaster 16 is that it uses a quite simple mathematical model to "create its own sounds", while professional music synthesizer cards use recorded samples of physical instruments as "their own sounds".
Actually, the Soundblaster 16 can do three things:
- It can play pre-recorded samples (but only one at a time)
- It can calculate music using a simple mathematical model (FM synthesis)
- It can send queued music data (in MIDI format) to a professional MIDI synthesizer
The "hanging note bug" of the Soundblaster cards affects only the third capability: Sending data to a professional MIDI-based music synthesizer. Most gamers in the 90s did not own a MIDI-based music synthesizer, so all games are perfectly able to play back sound and game music using the first two capabilities, and they work (mostly) fine on the CT2890. If you want "more realistic" music than the Soundblaster 16 can calculate (which you generally do not need to enjoy 486 games), you would need to purchase a MIDI synthesizer as well. MIDI synthesizers for the Soundblaster 16 come in two shapes: As a plug-in board you can add to your sound card. These plug-in cards are called Wave Blaster (compatible) cards, because that's the name Creative Labs used for them. There are also external synthesizers, like the Sound Canvas or a competing Yamaha model. These synthesizers can be connected to the Game Port of the Soundblaster 16.
As long as you don't choose MPU-401/GM/MIDI as music playback method, but use "AdLib", "OPL2", "OPL3", "Soundblaster", "Soundblaster Pro" or "Soundblaster 16" as music playback method, you do not need a dedicated MIDI synthesizer. This also means you do not need to worry about hanging notes. Most likely, your gaming experience will be fine with that card.
I never realised there was so much to it all.
I think Ill pick up the Sound Blaster 16 I mentioned in my first post and see how it goes. If it puts out SNES style music Ill be happy with that.
snes style music is "midi " a wavetable, SB16 is megadrive style, a OPL FM synth
