Speedup Mortal Kombat MS-DOS MT-32 \ VOGONS

Speedup Mortal Kombat MS-DOS MT-32

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First post, by Stretch

Posted on 2026-06-12, 18:11

Stretch Offline

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Edited post

I fixed the MT-32 checksum error and matched the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver.

If you play the Ultratech MK1 floppy release, you can try the values in the Ultratech column for Roland. No change needed in the Adlib driver.

If you play the Virgin MK1 floppy release, you can try the values in the Virgin column if you want the Adlib and Roland music to sound closer to the Ultratech release.

More info on how to determine which version you have Mortal Kombat 1 PC DOS Version Comparison

Roland

1-----------------------------------------------------------------
2                           ROLAND.DRV
3-----------------------------------------------------------------
4 Offset | Original | Ultratech |  Virgin  |        Remark
5-----------------------------------------------------------------
6 0x0D1  |    CA    |          DA          |
7------------------------------------------- Patch Data Offset
8 0x0D2  |    1B    |          1C          | 
9-----------------------------------------------------------------
10 0x4D8  |    08    |          07          |
11------------------------------------------- Prevent Accordion SFX
12 0x587  |    08    |          07          |
13-----------------------------------------------------------------
14 0x8EE  |    1E    |    28     |    25    | Music 1
15-----------------------------------------------------------------
16 0x8FF  |    20    |    2A     |    26    | Music 2
17-----------------------------------------------------------------
18 0x910  |    21    |    2C     |    28    | Music 3
19-----------------------------------------------------------------
20 0x921  |    21    |    2C     |    28    | Music 4
21-----------------------------------------------------------------
22 0x932  |    1E    |    28     |    25    | Music 5
23-----------------------------------------------------------------
24 0x943  |    1E    |    28     |    25    | Music 6
25-----------------------------------------------------------------
26 0x954  |    1E    |    28     |    25    | Music 7
27-----------------------------------------------------------------
28 0x965  |    1E    |    28     |    25    | Music 8
29-----------------------------------------------------------------
30 0x976  |    20    |    2A     |    26    | Music 9
31-----------------------------------------------------------------
32 0x987  |    20    |    2A     |    26    | Music 10
33-----------------------------------------------------------------

Adlib

1------------------------------------------
2                 ADLIB.DRV
3------------------------------------------
4 Offset  | Ultratech |  Virgin  |  Remark
5------------------------------------------
6 0x1235  |    28     |    25    | Music 1
7------------------------------------------
8 0x1244  |    2A     |    26    | Music 2
9------------------------------------------
10 0x1253  |    2C     |    28    | Music 3
11------------------------------------------
12 0x1262  |    2C     |    28    | Music 4
13------------------------------------------
14 0x1271  |    28     |    25    | Music 5
15------------------------------------------
16 0x1280  |    28     |    25    | Music 6
17------------------------------------------
18 0x128F  |    28     |    25    | Music 7
19------------------------------------------
20 0x129E  |    28     |    25    | Music 8
21------------------------------------------
22 0x12AD  |    2A     |    26    | Music 9
23------------------------------------------
24 0x12BC  |    2A     |    26    | Music 10
25------------------------------------------

Last edited by Stretch on 2026-06-26, 15:38. Edited 1 time in total.

Win 11 - Intel i7-1360p - 32 GB - Intel Iris Xe - ESI Maya22 USB

Reply 1 of 11, by theelf

Posted on 2026-06-12, 18:39

theelf Offline

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Posts: 1410
Joined: 2011-09-25, 19:39

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:11:
I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT- […]
Show full quote

I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT-32 checksum error.
I only tested the fix with Dosbox and Munt because my MT-100 is in storage. Maybe someone can test it with a real MT-32?
The ROLAND.DRV file needs to be edited in a hex editor with the code below.
1fc /b ROLAND.bak ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.bak and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000008EE: 1E 28
6000008FF: 20 2A
700000910: 21 2B
800000921: 21 2B
900000932: 1E 28
1000000943: 1E 28
1100000954: 1E 28
1200000965: 1E 28
1300000976: 20 2A
1400000987: 20 2A

Hi, can you explain what the problem of MK1 with MT-32 in DOS?

thanks

Reply 2 of 11, by Stretch

Posted on 2026-06-12, 18:59

Stretch Offline

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Posts: 566
Joined: 2013-11-16, 00:57

theelf wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:39:
Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:11:
I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT- […]
Show full quote

I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT-32 checksum error.
I only tested the fix with Dosbox and Munt because my MT-100 is in storage. Maybe someone can test it with a real MT-32?
The ROLAND.DRV file needs to be edited in a hex editor with the code below.
1fc /b ROLAND.bak ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.bak and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000008EE: 1E 28
6000008FF: 20 2A
700000910: 21 2B
800000921: 21 2B
900000932: 1E 28
1000000943: 1E 28
1100000954: 1E 28
1200000965: 1E 28
1300000976: 20 2A
1400000987: 20 2A
Hi, can you explain what the problem of MK1 with MT-32 in DOS?

thanks

Yes, the music tempo is much slower with Roland compared to Adlib.

Win 11 - Intel i7-1360p - 32 GB - Intel Iris Xe - ESI Maya22 USB

Reply 3 of 11, by theelf

Posted on 2026-06-12, 20:03

theelf Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1410
Joined: 2011-09-25, 19:39

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:59:
theelf wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:39:
Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:11:
I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT- […]
Show full quote

I found out how to match the speed of the Roland driver with the Adlib driver in Mortal Kombat 1 MS-DOS and I also fixed the MT-32 checksum error.
I only tested the fix with Dosbox and Munt because my MT-100 is in storage. Maybe someone can test it with a real MT-32?
The ROLAND.DRV file needs to be edited in a hex editor with the code below.
1fc /b ROLAND.bak ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.bak and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000008EE: 1E 28
6000008FF: 20 2A
700000910: 21 2B
800000921: 21 2B
900000932: 1E 28
1000000943: 1E 28
1100000954: 1E 28
1200000965: 1E 28
1300000976: 20 2A
1400000987: 20 2A
Hi, can you explain what the problem of MK1 with MT-32 in DOS?

thanks
Yes, the music tempo is much slower with Roland compared to Adlib.

thanks, i did not notice because really... MT-32 music in mortal kombat really sucks, only SB sound good

Anyways, i tried your patch, 486DLC33, real MT-32, and i did not notice any speed up, i attach the patched drv i made

Maybe you MK is different version, there is soo much versions of MK

Last edited by theelf on 2026-06-12, 20:25. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 4 of 11, by Stretch

Posted on 2026-06-12, 20:14

Stretch Offline

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Posts: 566
Joined: 2013-11-16, 00:57

theelf wrote on 2026-06-12, 20:03:
thanks, i did not notice because really... MT-32 music in mortal kombat really sucks, only SB sound good […]
Show full quote

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:59:

theelf wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:39:

Hi, can you explain what the problem of MK1 with MT-32 in DOS?

thanks

Yes, the music tempo is much slower with Roland compared to Adlib.

thanks, i did not notice because really... MT-32 music in mortal kombat really sucks, only SB sound good

Anyways, i tried your patch, 486DLC33, real MT-32, and i did not notice any speed up, i attach the patched drv i made

Maybe you MK is different version, there is soo much versions of MK

Thanks for testing the patch. However, the file you attached is the original unpatched file.

I play with Ultratech v2 from the original 3 floppies I bought from ebay.

Win 11 - Intel i7-1360p - 32 GB - Intel Iris Xe - ESI Maya22 USB

Reply 5 of 11, by theelf

Posted on 2026-06-12, 20:27

theelf Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1410
Joined: 2011-09-25, 19:39

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 20:14:

theelf wrote on 2026-06-12, 20:03:
thanks, i did not notice because really... MT-32 music in mortal kombat really sucks, only SB sound good […]
Show full quote

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-12, 18:59:

Yes, the music tempo is much slower with Roland compared to Adlib.

thanks, i did not notice because really... MT-32 music in mortal kombat really sucks, only SB sound good

Anyways, i tried your patch, 486DLC33, real MT-32, and i did not notice any speed up, i attach the patched drv i made

Maybe you MK is different version, there is soo much versions of MK

Thanks for testing the patch. However, the file you attached is the original unpatched file.

I play with Ultratech v2 from the original 3 floppies I bought from ebay.

You right, my apologies, i moddify the roland file, but copy again the original file by mistake

I can confirm your patch work fine in real hardware!! thanks

Still i will use SB for this game, but nice to have the option of proper roland sound

Reply 6 of 11, by dr_st

Posted on 2026-06-17, 18:40

dr_st Offline

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Posts: 3816
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Stretch's account is banned. I was asked off-forum to post the following update:

There is a better patch, changing a few additional offsets:

1fc /b ROLAND.BAK ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.BAK and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000004D8: 08 07
600000587: 08 07
7000008EE: 1E 28
8000008FF: 20 2A
900000910: 21 2C
1000000921: 21 2C
1100000932: 1E 28
1200000943: 1E 28
1300000954: 1E 28
1400000965: 1E 28
1500000976: 20 2A
1600000987: 20 2A

MD5 checksum of the new ROLAND.DRV is 8C1E59D92EDCCA2A7D4E2F8B39F8177C

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Reply 7 of 11, by theelf

Posted on 2026-06-17, 19:40

theelf Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1410
Joined: 2011-09-25, 19:39

dr_st wrote on 2026-06-17, 18:40:
Stretch's account is banned. I was asked off-forum to post the following update: […]
Show full quote

Stretch's account is banned. I was asked off-forum to post the following update:

There is a better patch, changing a few additional offsets:
1fc /b ROLAND.BAK ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.BAK and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000004D8: 08 07
600000587: 08 07
7000008EE: 1E 28
8000008FF: 20 2A
900000910: 21 2C
1000000921: 21 2C
1100000932: 1E 28
1200000943: 1E 28
1300000954: 1E 28
1400000965: 1E 28
1500000976: 20 2A
1600000987: 20 2A
MD5 checksum of the new ROLAND.DRV is 8C1E59D92EDCCA2A7D4E2F8B39F8177C

thanks i will test later!

why is banned?

Reply 8 of 11, by Riikcakirds

Posted on 2026-06-18, 16:33

Riikcakirds Offline

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Rank: Member
Posts: 307
Joined: 2020-11-02, 18:18

dr_st wrote on 2026-06-17, 18:40:
Stretch's account is banned. I was asked off-forum to post the following update: […]
Show full quote

Stretch's account is banned. I was asked off-forum to post the following update:

There is a better patch, changing a few additional offsets:
1fc /b ROLAND.BAK ROLAND.DRV
2Comparing files ROLAND.BAK and ROLAND.DRV
3000000D1: CA DA
4000000D2: 1B 1C
5000004D8: 08 07
600000587: 08 07
7000008EE: 1E 28
8000008FF: 20 2A
900000910: 21 2C
1000000921: 21 2C
1100000932: 1E 28
1200000943: 1E 28
1300000954: 1E 28
1400000965: 1E 28
1500000976: 20 2A
1600000987: 20 2A
MD5 checksum of the new ROLAND.DRV is 8C1E59D92EDCCA2A7D4E2F8B39F8177C

Hi, what's different versus the original patch.

Reply 9 of 11, by MAZter

Posted on 2026-06-19, 01:27

MAZter Offline

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Patch works good, not only with MT-32, but with any Roland synthesizer, for example with SC-55 works too. Thanks!

Doom is what you want (c) MAZter

Reply 10 of 11, by Stretch

Posted on 2026-06-26, 14:00

Stretch Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 566
Joined: 2013-11-16, 00:57

Thanks Vogons for reactivating my account.

dr_st thanks for posting the corrected patch. I tried responding in your blog but my replies wouldn't post. I found the offsets by converting Lemmings Music Player to Lemmings 2 and Mortal Kombat. Then I ran Dosbox debugger to log the cpu to text file.

I also made another patch for the MK Virgin floppy release so that the Adlib and Roland music play closer in speed to the Ultratech. The Ultratech timer runs at 49.9992 Hz and Virgin timer at 54.6204 Hz according to the Dosbox debugger.

I will update the main post with a table or attachment with the values.

Win 11 - Intel i7-1360p - 32 GB - Intel Iris Xe - ESI Maya22 USB

Reply 11 of 11, by dr_st

Posted on 2026-06-26, 20:49

dr_st Offline

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Stretch wrote on 2026-06-26, 14:00:

Thanks Vogons for reactivating my account.

Glad you got this sorted out. 😀

Stretch wrote on 2026-06-26, 14:00:
dr_st thanks for posting the corrected patch. I tried responding in your blog but my replies wouldn't post.

For some reason, your comment was caught by the spam filter and was rejected without sending me a notification as it normally does. Possibly it didn't like the link. I approved it now.

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