VOGONS


First post, by 9646gt

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I have a 386 SX 20 Gateway PC with a Yamaha OPL Sax or whatever PNP ISA soundcard. I have a MT32 McCake installed on it . Best I can figure it works properly because I followed Phil's Computer Lab setup video for it and when I boot to a Windows 3.11 I can play a MIDI file and you can tell it's using the McCake because the music is definitely not coming from the FM part of the car and the notes sound weird because they aren't playing on a general MIDI device.

But I can't seem to get Wing Commander to work. I've attached pics of where I been trying to tweak my auto exec.bat and config.sys (using Gemini AI because I never was good with this stuff) and it's gotten me far but no sound when Wing Commander boots. I haven't went past the copy protection part because I figure that wouldn't change anything.

I've attached screenshots of all my config.

Reply 1 of 13, by megatron-uk

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Have you configured Wing Commander to use Roland sound?

My collection database and technical wiki:
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Reply 2 of 13, by Rwolf

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I don't know about the softmpu program, but some programs need the MPU interrupt to be set as 2 or 9 (depending on PC type XT or AT), so you could try using irq9 for the midi interrupt parameter.

Reply 3 of 13, by wierd_w

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Wing Commander needs full intelligent mode, because it uses sysex messages to load samples into the mt32.

Your emulated device needs to support that.

(Also, the mpu401 interface on many soundblasters and clones dont like intelligent mode.)

Reply 5 of 13, by 9646gt

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Rwolf wrote on 2025-10-27, 15:44:

I don't know about the softmpu program, but some programs need the MPU interrupt to be set as 2 or 9 (depending on PC type XT or AT), so you could try using irq9 for the midi interrupt parameter.

Thank you I will try that!

Reply 6 of 13, by 9646gt

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wierd_w wrote on 2025-10-27, 18:35:

Wing Commander needs full intelligent mode, because it uses sysex messages to load samples into the mt32.

Your emulated device needs to support that.

(Also, the mpu401 interface on many soundblasters and clones dont like intelligent mode.)

Correct me if wrong but I thought the MT32 McCake and SoftMPU do support that

Reply 7 of 13, by 9646gt

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Rwolf wrote on 2025-10-27, 15:44:

I don't know about the softmpu program, but some programs need the MPU interrupt to be set as 2 or 9 (depending on PC type XT or AT), so you could try using irq9 for the midi interrupt parameter.

Adding /IRQ:9 to auto exec bat line for softmpu after /mpu:330 didn't help. Softmpu loads with no complaints and still says mpu detected at 330

Reply 8 of 13, by 9646gt

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I've verified too thatusing the mt-32 control program in dos I can change modes and ROMS for the mt32-pi so I don't know what's going on.

Reply 9 of 13, by 9646gt

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I also get no sound blaster sound effects

Reply 10 of 13, by megatron-uk

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9646gt wrote on Yesterday, 01:02:

I also get no sound blaster sound effects

You won't.

The attachment wc1.png is no longer available

Wing Commander 1 is either Roland MT-32 or Adlib/Soundblaster. You cannot configure MT-32 and Soundblaster at the same time; effect noises will be made using instruments on the MT-32. At least, this is the only possibility using the vanilla game.

Wing Commander 2 does allow you to have MT-32 and Soundblaster, but in a specific configuration that uses MT-32 for music/effects and Soundblaster for sampled voices (e.g. with the speech pack add on).

My collection database and technical wiki:
https://www.target-earth.net

Reply 11 of 13, by 9646gt

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megatron-uk wrote on Yesterday, 08:02:
You won't. […]
Show full quote
9646gt wrote on Yesterday, 01:02:

I also get no sound blaster sound effects

You won't.

The attachment wc1.png is no longer available

Wing Commander 1 is either Roland MT-32 or Adlib/Soundblaster. You cannot configure MT-32 and Soundblaster at the same time; effect noises will be made using instruments on the MT-32. At least, this is the only possibility using the vanilla game.

Wing Commander 2 does allow you to have MT-32 and Soundblaster, but in a specific configuration that uses MT-32 for music/effects and Soundblaster for sampled voices (e.g. with the speech pack add on).

So is my sound card interfering here or something? I can't figure out how in the world to get the sound working and I really want to play this for the first time

Reply 13 of 13, by 9646gt

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SScorpio wrote on Yesterday, 19:58:

I recommend trying out a different game that requires MT32 intelligent mode as see if that works or not. It'll let you know if it's a system issue or something with Wingcommander.

https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/List_of_ … _PC_compatibles

Tried installing Gods since I also always wanted to play that one and can fit on a single floppy for easy testing but the installer is only giving me the option of adlib or PC speaker. Does this indicate a problem with my setup? I did configure the McCake for cm32l even to test it.

What's another one of the compatible games I should try and test with the requires intelligent mode but will fit on a single floppy and be easy to find online?