lolo799 wrote:

Does the driver give any error message?
Could you try the sample config.sys file from the manual?
And maybe another game...

The driver reports that everything is OK and lists the resources that have been set up.

I just checked setups in GTA1 and Heroes2 (in Dosbox for now) - both ask to specify DMA channel. I'm really confused. There can be no DMA. 😀 What am I supposed to inpt there?

Kahenraz, looking forward to that!

I'll be happy to finally have a working WAVjammer. I've had it sitting around for a while now waiting for a dongle.

Bondi wrote:

The driver reports that everything is OK and lists the resources that have been set up.

I just checked setups in GTA1 and Heroes2 (in Dosbox for now) - both ask to specify DMA channel. I'm really confused. There can be no DMA. 😀 What am I supposed to inpt there?

Leave DMA at 0 if possible.
Does GTA audio setup recognize the card when set to automatically configure the card?
If not, put in another card and edit the dig.ini file yourself.

How much RAM does your laptop have?
Try the Screamer 2 demo from https://www.dosgamesarchive.com/download/screamer-2/

I found a way to get use of my Yamaha pcc10xg card (which is windows only MIDI card) in DOS games...in a way. It tuned out that there is Win9x port of VDMsound driver. And it works with Yamaha card in DOS session in Win98. Yet in some games music sounds strange/slow. I suspect it's due to CPU load. BTW It's also possible to use a software MIDI synthesizer.
In my case the irony is that FX sound stops working if VDMsound is loaded (but MIDI works), and vice versa, FX works without VDMsound.

Guys, to summit up. What's the best and easy to find sound card that works under pure DOS? Toshiba Tecra S3 is coming to me and I already own Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook, but that one is for Windows only, and I would like to use this laptop not only for old windows games but for DOS too.

vorob wrote on 2020-01-12, 06:01:

Guys, to summit up. What's the best and easy to find sound card that works under pure DOS? Toshiba Tecra S3 is coming to me and I already own Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook, but that one is for Windows only, and I would like to use this laptop not only for old windows games but for DOS too.

That laptop should be powerful enough to run Dosbox I think.
The Audigy 2 ZS Notebook doesn't work in Windows 9x, only 2k and XP.
Finding a PCMCIA sound card that works in DOS is a matter of luck and perseverance, there are a handful on ebay and yahoo auctions right now, like a really overpriced boxed Wavjammer or dongle less IBM 3D sound card and Roland scp-55, which would be useless if you can't either find the appropriate dongle or build them yourself...

Your laptop does have a parallel port according to the specs I found, getting one of dreamblaster's parallel port sound devices would be a decent alternative to finding a PCMCIA sound card:
CVX4
OPL2LPT
DreamBlaster S2P : Small form factor General MIDI on parallel port

First of all, thanks for the info!

overpriced boxed Wavjammer

Yeee, 300$... I thought 60$ for Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is too much 😀

Your laptop does have a parallel port according to the specs I found, getting one of dreamblaster's parallel port sound devices would be a decent alternative to finding a PCMCIA sound card

I thought covox thing works only with selected games and sound quality is bad. Don't get me wrong, between no sound, 300$ sound and covox I'll choose covox, but still... Or i'm missing smth?

That laptop should be powerful enough to run Dosbox I think.

Well, if we speak about emulation, I can use my 6 core + 2080 laptop 😀 The point of Toshiba Tecra S3 is to have as much as possible pure experience. At least I'm trying 😀

vorob wrote on 2020-01-12, 18:17:

First of all, thanks for the info! […]
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First of all, thanks for the info!

overpriced boxed Wavjammer

Yeee, 300$... I thought 60$ for Creative PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is too much 😀

Your laptop does have a parallel port according to the specs I found, getting one of dreamblaster's parallel port sound devices would be a decent alternative to finding a PCMCIA sound card

I thought covox thing works only with selected games and sound quality is bad. Don't get me wrong, between no sound, 300$ sound and covox I'll choose covox, but still... Or i'm missing smth?

That laptop should be powerful enough to run Dosbox I think.

Well, if we speak about emulation, I can use my 6 core + 2080 laptop 😀 The point of Toshiba Tecra S3 is to have as much as possible pure experience. At least I'm trying 😀

The Wavjammer is one of the 2 pcmcia cards that can do digital audio in DOS.
Covox works only with a good number of selected games, that's true, but the audio quality is better than the integrated pc speaker.
dreamblaster also make OPL2/3 and General Midi devices for the parallel port, look at those too.

lolo799 wrote on 2020-01-12, 13:48:

dongle less IBM 3D sound card and Roland scp-55, which would be useless if you can't either find the appropriate dongle or build them yourself...

There is such an agiotage around that card on ebay 😀
I think I've identified what kind of connector IBM card uses. But I need the pinout to make a dongle. At least for audio out.

Would be great if anyone, who has the dongle of IBM 3D sound card, could do some testing. It should not be too difficult.

Does anyone have experience with the HP 100LX/200LX and the Roland SCP-55? I'm a big fan of these palmtops and was wondering how well the SCP-55 works on them. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

maestro wrote on 2020-02-01, 20:10:

Does anyone have experience with the HP 100LX/200LX and the Roland SCP-55? I'm a big fan of these palmtops and was wondering how well the SCP-55 works on them. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have used the SCP-55 on my 200LX with the 3rd party enabler listed on the first page.
That link is down sadly, but you can still find the file at https://www.vector.co.jp/download/file/dos/ut … l/fh026698.html
I'll also attach it here:

There's one issue with the card, it draws a lot more current than what the 200LX can provide, check the readme below for details.
One solution to this would be to use a pcmcia extender or port doubler with its own power supply I suppose.
Or you could use a MIDI device with a serial port cable, such as the Roland PMA-5 or a Yamaha MU5 if you need a small device that works on battery, or a regular SC-55 if you don't mind being stuck to a desk...
Apart from that small power problem, it works perfectly fine at port 330h and you can use it with any software you want (that will run on the palmtop).
What do you want to use it for?

My intent was to use it for playback only. The LX is my travel companion and having MIDI playback would be a dream come true.

The readme suggests that the LX provides overcurrent using the AC adapter, perhaps leading to a screen fading issue. Any experience trying the SCP-55 on AC alone?

Do you think this driver would also work with the early Omnibooks (300, 425, 430)? I can look up the specs later, but right now my GF is nagging me to leave. 😉

Thank you very much for the download!

I don't have an pcmcia port extender or a port doubler to try it with, I know they exist, I have a handful of references somewhere.
The screen fades while the 200LX is using the AC adapter, so you can't play music for too long.
On battery it's not even worth a try.
The small external midi modules such as the ones I listed with the proper serial cable would give you a longer playback time, no screen issues, you'll need more batteries though...
I had an Omnibook 300 (maybe) at some point, but I'm not sure if I already had the scp-55 then...I don't remember to be honest.
You already own a SCP-55?

Unfortunately I don't own the SCP-55. I am watching an ebay auction which is currently going cheap but I expect it will balloon to the ludicrous range closer to the end of the auction. The last time I saw one on ebay it sold for $500 US as a buy it now, so I fully expect the same for this one too. Despite the price, securing the driver has made the prospect of owning one of these much more realistic.

Discrete General MIDI on the Omnibook (or palmtop) is the dream. I've tried a few solutions on the Omnibook with mixed success:

1. Boxed Wavjammer - Yes, I bought one of those ludicrous priced Wavjammers. Thank goodness I didn't pay the full price, although I'm still too embarrassed to say how much I paid. I had hoped there might be some compatibility with HP products because of the pointed interest shown by the palmtop community during product development. Being one of the first PCMCIA sound cards, I had also thought it might have the best chance at working but alas the card cannot initialize due to the Omnibook's socket services version being too low/unique. I'm still hopeful and on the lookout for a solution, it could be as simple as spoofing the version check.

2. Digispeech Plus - This is the best solution for digital audio but it has a few quirks. The bulkiness of the product is matched by a quagmire of drivers used to enable various functions, which invokes a sense of it being an evolved platform where modules of functionality were bolted together. I've successfully used digital audio in DOS and Windows but I couldn't get SBFM working, and I'm more into music than games. It's also requires external power (outside the laptop's AC) and it's quite bulky, which makes it less than ideal for me.

3. Serdaco Parallel Port Bundle - These are really nice and quite specialized in what the do. My only complain is that they're not internal cards and require an external power source but otherwise they're top quality products and ideal for my needs. I also get to support a community project from like-minded individuals and that's quite valuable to me as well.

So that's where I'm at, chasing my dreams...

The Wavjammer won't lose its value over time i think, so you may still resell it at some point.

I had a Digispeech Portable Plus, it was bulky indeed...
The Serdaco devices sure look useful with old laptops and the relative scarcity of pcmcia sound cards.

Check Yahoo auctions too, the scp-55 pop up from time to time there.
And take a look at the Roland PMA-5 or Yamaha MU5, they're usually quite cheap and might be what you're looking for, you'll just need the proper serial midi cable and a serial adapter for the LX.

I recall that Omnibook early Socket services, it's the same issue with the LX palmtops that prevents most of the pcmcia cards working on it.

Tried my Panasonic KXL-D745. In DOS it plays Adlib fine, but crashes when attempting to play digital sound (Wolf3D).
But in Windows 95's DOS session it actually plays digital sound in Wolf3D. One can hear door opening sound and soldiers saying "mein Leben" 😀 Yet FX souund does not work in Doom, for instance.
I'm now wondering why, and what type of digital sound this is. Direct DAC SB (no DMA) mode? Or it is because Wolf3D is a real mode game? Not sure I understand how it all relates.

I'm sorry I'm no help Bondi, but your question made me realize I also have a similar one - I have a Panasonic KXL-D20 that I got a while ago, but haven't ever been able to get to work. I have two questions here -
1 - do I need a sound/CD-ROM card, instead of this CD-ROM card that it came with? I suspect I may have been screwed on eBay years ago.
2 - do I need the KXL-720 CD player as well?

Thanks for anyone that may know 😁

You do need the Sound/CDROM card. You shouldn't have to have the CDROM drive itself.

Damn, I'm guessing those Sound/CDROM cards are unobtanium, based on what I've seen looking for the complete set on eBay 😐... thanks for the info!

I see the cards pop up on eBay every once in a while. Save searches for:
panasonic pcmcia
panasonic kxl

I might have an extra one but not sure.