If the problems are identical with and without VDMSound (I'll assume you're using XP) you are probably having it auto-detect and it is finding WinXP's default crappy emulation instead of VDMSound. (VDMSound is on IRQ7, XP on IRQ5).

Gah!
Estatica
Annoying, but true.
Can find precious little info on it either...

From time to time , tried to tell me that the CD wasn't in the drive (it was) forcing a re-install. Found only way to get correct sampling rate was to force use of SoundBlaster 1.x

Try editing your VDMS.INI file in your VDMSound directory.

Find the line that says:
;; forceSampleRate = 22050
and delete the two semi-colons and the empty space in the front, then save. Make sure it's set to 22050 when you save.

Now open up a command prompt at the game's directory. Make it full-screen (Alt+Enter), type DOSDRV, press Enter. Then start the game. Hopefully, it play at the adjusted rate. Note this will NOT work for the GUI Launchpad.

OR

You can simply place "forceSampleRate = 22050" (withOUT the quotes) into the GUI LaunchPad's Custom Configuration box.

On your .VLP file, right-click and choose "Properties", click the "Advanced" button, the "Troubleshooting" tab, then type into the open box area. Click OK, then OK again.

*erroneus text deleted*.

The following fixed the problem (VDMS.ini):

[SB Controller.config]
version = 2.01 ; (or greater)
port = 0x220
IRQ = 5
DMA8 = 1
DMA16 = 5

forceSampleRate = 22050

The only minor problem remaining is occasional sound skips.
For the best MIDI music I recommend using Roland VSC88 software synthesizer (and select Roland SCC1 & SoundBlaser in Ecstatica sound config)

Thank you,
Gustavs

Nicht Sehr Gut wrote:

You can simply place "forceSampleRate = 22050" (with the quotes) into the GUI LaunchPad's Custom Configuration box.

Nope. In LaunchPad's Custom Configuration box you would have to type/paste (without any quotes!!!):

1[SBController.config]
2forceSampleRate = 22050

Originally posted by vladr In LaunchPad's Custom Configuration box you would have to type/paste (without any quotes!!!):

Vlad, I SWEAR I typed WITHOUT. It was late at night, but the whole reason I brought up the quotes was so he wouldn't use them. Don't know how the "out" came up missing.

By the way, yes I forgot the needed header (or whatever you call it), that's what was causing the parsing errors.

Originally posted by Unregistered For the best MIDI music I recommend using Roland VSC88 software synthesizer (and select Roland SCC1 & SoundBlaser in Ecstatica sound config)

I got all kinds of "interesting" responses for the music selection. AdLib/FM frequently fails to work, General MIDI works (but it's a little "over-bearing", and occasionally gets "stuck notes"). Will try the Roland...

Also, get rid of the various settings after "forcesamplerate". I suspect something's gone wrong as the audio should be pretty "smooth" if you're actually using VDMSound (it is for me...now).

The one mystery for me is why it seems to occasionally demand the CD...that it already has. It's not a "low-level support/SAPUCDEX" issue, just seems to pop up out of the blue.

BTW, forceSampleRate = 22050 alone didn't fix the problem, I also had to change

[SB Controller.config]
version = 2.01 ; (or greater)
IRQ = 5

The audio is very smooth now, but sometimes the samples get skipped, when many are played at once.

Roland synth has much better sound that Audigy2 General MIDI, also when playing .mid files.

Gustavs

Originally posted by Unregistered BTW, forceSampleRate = 22050 alone didn't fix the problem, I also had to change [SB Controll […]
Show full quote

Originally posted by Unregistered BTW, forceSampleRate = 22050 alone didn't fix the problem, I also had to change

[SB Controller.config]
version = 2.01 ; (or greater)
IRQ = 5

Hrrmm, no, something's wrong. I'm using SB16 and the only reason you would need to use IRQ 5 is if you're using XP's built-in emulation, which by the way, is limited to v2 of the SoundBlaster.

I've attached a sample from my PC using VDMSound (with the DiskWriter option). That's what it should sound like (MIDI background audio is not there):

I get the same sound with my config. Please post your config file.

Attached is my .ini file and the .bat file to run the game using it.

Gustavs

Originally posted by Unregistered I get the same sound with my config.

But I thought you said "sometimes the samples get skipped". I think you expect to hear more digital audio than is actually there. IOW, I think the gap between the audio samples is normal.

Please post your config file.

Attached is my .ini file and the .bat file to run the game using it.

I'm starting to regret suggesting editing the INI file. You're working far too hard on this. Just use the GUI Launchpad to create a .VLP shortcut for the ECST8MEG.EXE file.

On your .VLP file, right-click and choose "Properties", click the "Advanced" button, the "Troubleshooting" tab, then type:
[SBController.config]
forceSampleRate = 22050
into the open box area. Click OK, then OK again.

I'm not using the .INI file as I forgot that the "Custom Configuration" box on the shortcut will work, and it only applies to that one game (using the .INI file applies to anything that is run with VDMSound). The GUI will override whatever is placed in the INI file so it's not attached.

Thanks, it now works with just forceSampleRate = 22050.
I needed to remove the
set BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 P330 T6
environment variable from the bat file.
No more sound skips. It was not frequent and occured only in some occasions.

I don't know why I cannot use 'Run with VDMS' on shortcuts to DOS exe files, only on shortcuts to Windows exes and .bat files. There is no such choice when I right click.

Gustavs

Originally posted by Unregistered No more sound skips. It was not frequent and occured only in some occasions.

Good to hear.

I don't know why I cannot use 'Run with VDMS' on shortcuts to DOS exe files, only on shortcuts to Windows exes and .bat files. There is no such choice when I right click.

Hold on, are you using Windows 2000?

>Hold on, are you using Windows 2000?

Windows XP Professional. I remember I could do that a long time ago, I still have one such shortcut, but something has happened, I cannot even modify it (Error: "Cound not commit to all disk changes made to C:\.....vlp: Access is denied. (0x80070005).)
Reregistering LaunchPad.dll didn't help.

Gustavs

Full pathnames are useful in analysing problems, heh.

>Full pathnames are useful in analysing problems, heh.

E:\Documents and Settings\Gus\Desktop\Shortcut to GFISHEXE.vlp

(I do not have a C drive)

Still sometimes the sound is skipping. Try going in the room with bear, then upstairs, save there and take the diary (green book). Sometimes he says "Oh (skip...) January", sometimes "Oh, a diary! January". If it's working OK, try going upstairs to the kitchen and then return to take the book again.

Gustavs

Originally posted by Unregistered Windows XP Professional.

Ok, should've confirmed that back at the start. However, I misread your post. You shouldn't see a "Run with VDMS" option on shortcuts. You should see it for .EXE and .BAT files.

You don't need to run it on shortcuts anyway, just run it on the original .EXE or .BAT file. You can then create a shortcut to the .VLP file if you need one for your Start Menu or your Desktop.

Hnn, he shouldn't see it for Win32 executables, either...

Thanks, I now know how to create VDMS shortcuts. However, I needed to drag&drop the .vlp file to the desktop, shortcut to it didn't work.

Gustavs

Originally posted by Snover Hnn, he shouldn't see it for Win32 executables, either...

Well, the command line version shows on mine, just not the GUI version (no "little musical note").

Originally posted by Unregistered Thanks, I now know how to create VDMS shortcuts. However, I needed to drag&drop the .vlp file to the desktop, shortcut to it didn't work.

My goof, the shortcut to the VLP should work, but just copying the VLP is easier.

>My goof, the shortcut to the VLP should work, but just copying the VLP is easier.

I just found it works with 'right click on .vlp file->Send To->Desktop (create shortcut)', but not with 'right click on desktop->New->Shortcut...'

Gustavs