keropi wrote:

^ the OPL2LPT TSR needs a 386 cpu to redirect the AdLib commands to the LPT port so a 286 machine just won't work...
plus it would be really slow if it did, that command redirection does take cpu time.

That's right, of course. But what I wonder - Why using any re-direction at all ?
Can't these commands just be watched and duplicated (mirrored) instead (to make it work on a 286, for example) ? 😀
Writing data to port 388/389 shouldn't cause any harm even if there's no actual hardware to listen to it.

Another idea for an LPT sound card:

OPL3 chip with voices/SFX, Disney Sound Source, and Covox Speech Things All-in-One. As for a joystick/MIDI port, I don't know if there is a way to hook up a joystick/MIDI to an LPT sound card, but that'll be so cool. A computer enthusiast can dream, right?

I do have an OPL2 chipset (Yamaha YM3812) in a Yamaha PSS-460 with built-in rhythm, which sounds really cool.

bjwil1991 wrote:

Another idea for an LPT sound card:

OPL3 chip with voices/SFX, Disney Sound Source, and Covox Speech Things All-in-One.

It will be wonderful O-o.

If this would be possible, I would take out the ESS-SOLO1 and use the external LPT-SoundCard for Dos.
Win9x/2K could be done by the AC'97 codec/soundcard onboard. The other PCI slot can be used elsewhere.

Nice 😀

Jo22 wrote:

That's right, of course. But what I wonder - Why using any re-direction at all ? Can't these commands just be watched and duplic […]
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keropi wrote:

^ the OPL2LPT TSR needs a 386 cpu to redirect the AdLib commands to the LPT port so a 286 machine just won't work...
plus it would be really slow if it did, that command redirection does take cpu time.

That's right, of course. But what I wonder - Why using any re-direction at all ?
Can't these commands just be watched and duplicated (mirrored) instead (to make it work on a 286, for example) ? 😀
Writing data to port 388/389 shouldn't cause any harm even if there's no actual hardware to listen to it.

The 386 provides IO traps which is the thing that watches the IO writes to provide hardware virtualization, and when game happens to write port 388/389, a piece of TSR code is run and that is what in this case will then perform a physical write towards LPT port.

A 286 has no mechanism for that so it cannot redirect these writes in any way by itself. A game can write to any port and nobody cares except the actual hardware that was written.
Only way is to patch games to work with it, e.g. Sierra Adlib driver could be modified into OPL2LPT driver for direct support, or modifying the game binary itself.

Thanks for the explanation! 😀
So I assume it's not possible to write a software-based TSR that uses polling method to monitor
a given i/o port and then sends a copy of that data to another location ?

Jo22 wrote:

Thanks for the explanation! 😀
So I assume it's not possible to write a software-based TSR that uses polling method to monitor
a given i/o port and then sends a copy of that data to another location ?

There is no way to do that in software, especially on a 286 (or earlier). That's the reason every implementation of such software emulation, from the earliest attempts by Ad Lib and Gravis to the time DOS support ended, uses the same basic techniques that Jepael described, and all require at least a 386.

In another great explanation, Jepael also described the reasons that at least three writes to the parallel port are required to get the same result as one write to the same hardware on the ISA bus. So you have to be somewhat careful about the number of operations you perform in your TSR, otherwise you risk having too much of an effect on the timing, and making the game unusable.

I would like to have such a thing for the latest PC's or Laptops with real LPT-Ports, no need for that below that machines.
Everything with real ISA slots should get a real soundcard for adlib/sb/gus.

dr.zeissler wrote:

I would like to have such a thing for the latest PC's or Laptops with real LPT-Ports, no need for that below that machines.
Everything with real ISA slots should get a real soundcard for adlib/sb/gus.

I have 2 Laptops and 4 Desktops that have Parallel ports, 1 Laptop and 4 Desktops that have floppy drives & serial ports, and 2 Desktops with ISA slots.

Pretty soon, my K6-2 300 machine is going to get a major upgrade from the Pentium MMX era to a Pentium III era with integrated ports (PS/2 ports, Serial and Parallel, Sound, and USB), 1 AGP 1X/2X/4X slot (yes, backwards compatible), 5 PCI slots, AMR slot (Audio Modem Riser), and 1 ISA slot (my sound card is going to be installed in that slot).

How far away is the development of the multi-use LPT-soundcard ((stereo)-covox/OPL2LPT/DSS/TSS) from a buyable endproduct?
I think I need one or two S2 ? Thx Doc

dr.zeissler wrote:

How far away is the development of the multi-use LPT-soundcard ((stereo)-covox/OPL2LPT/DSS/TSS) from a buyable endproduct?
I think I need one or two S2 ? Thx Doc

very far, certainly not this year !!
next up is opl2lpt, this will be limited availability as it is an all through hole project.

if you need anything else, you may pm me
S

progress... kits available now -- early access for vogons members --
at this moment, solder kits only : 30 euro for component kits + PCB

pm me if interested

I'd love to get fast feedback on the soldering experience of the kit.
So I will give away one solder kit, to someone in Europe.

Let's say, I have a number in mind between 0 and 16.
If you are interested, post a number in this thread.

The first to get the right number, I will send you an OPL2LPT solder kit for free.

9

Eleanor1967 wrote:

9

sorry not 9

3

13

1

none of these
I give E hint

5?