Commander Keen - audio question \ VOGONS

Commander Keen - audio question

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First post, by retrosprite440

Posted on 2026-06-30, 00:33

retrosprite440 Offline

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Joined: 2025-09-18, 08:30

I setup Commander Keen 4-6 recently (I'm using Dosbox-X) and am trying to adjust the music volume independently, if there is a way. It's very low compared to the sfx. The music and sfx both have the Adlib/Soundblaster option checked and I've read that the music uses the Adlib and the sfx uses Soundblaster. Is this correct? Either way, I've tried to make adjustments to both the SB and FM independently through Dosbox-X's "mixer" utility. The sound mixer panel shows that the channels are being boosted, but I get no actual volume boost. The only time I get an actual volume boost is when I make adjustments to the master channel. Can I actually adjust the music volume independently for these 3 games? And am I correct in trying to adjust the FM channel for the music specifically?

Reply 1 of 3, by MagefromAntares

Posted on 2026-06-30, 00:49

MagefromAntares Online

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Joined: 2026-04-28, 00:23
Location: Hungary

Hi,

AFAIK Commander Keen 4-6 games engine uses the Adlib FM synth to create the SFX even on Sound Blaster cards, not the extra channel of the Sound Blaster. There is no way for Dosbox (or any other emulator) to distinguish between the Music and SFX data as both of them are played by the OPL2 chip.

"A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it." - Dune