On the SB16's that I have here: 'Waveblaster Connector Midi' and 'Joystick Connector Midi' are the exact same midi signal. There is just one MPU-401 midi interface, and a poor one too.

Which means that if you connect both at the same time, only the wavetable header will function and the gameport will be ignored. I tried the same on awe32 😀

Hmm.. any suggestions on how this can be achieved without a MPU401/AT card? Perhaps a second sound card just for the DB?

Yup you basically found out the reason why a lot of people on here use more than one sound card 😀

Some soundcards (Terratec EWS64, Maestro32/96) have two physical MIDI interfaces, but these cards also consume many resources (IRQ, DMA,...).

elfuego wrote:

Which means that if you connect both at the same time, only the wavetable header will function and the gameport will be ignored. I tried the same on awe32 😀

On my AWE32, both wavetable header and joystick port work at the same time (carrying the same signal).

Yes that's my experience too- they both work at once. It's just a matter of connecting the output if the device you wish to use. If you want to use the external midi with digital sound from the SB card you will get the wave table DB as well.

I may look into doing two soundcards -- I have a ESS card (not sure what type) with a midi header on it that would accept the Yamaha clone. I also have a Roland RAP-10, but I don't remember if it has a header...

The easiest solution (maybe not the cheapest) will be to get a stereo mixer, which receives input from 2 or more sources.

1. Connect the output of the sound card (Line-Out or Speaker-Out) to an input on the mixer.

2. Connect the output from the MKII to another input on the mixer.

3. COnnect the output from the mixer to your speaker-set / headphones.

To hear from the Yamaha-clone daughterboard, keep the MKII off.

To hear from the MKII, turn it on, and mute the input from the sound card on the mixer.

I'm using this mixer :

It's up for bids/sale at at ebay for USD25/40 respectively (used).

Heres another question if I decide to go with the dual sound card route:

Would this be the way to install everything?

2nd sound card with Yamaha clone on MPU-401 header to output to SB16 input with Y adapter

SB external MPU-401= output to MKII midi input

MKII RCA output to SB16 line in with Y adapter

SB16 line out/speaker out to receiver

Whatever midi module I want to use would depend on the port chosen with selecting a game.

Malik wrote:

The easiest solution (maybe not the cheapest) will be to get a stereo mixer, which receives input from 2 or more sources. […]
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The easiest solution (maybe not the cheapest) will be to get a stereo mixer, which receives input from 2 or more sources.

1. Connect the output of the sound card (Line-Out or Speaker-Out) to an input on the mixer.

2. Connect the output from the MKII to another input on the mixer.

3. COnnect the output from the mixer to your speaker-set / headphones.

To hear from the Yamaha-clone daughterboard, keep the MKII off.

To hear from the MKII, turn it on, and mute the input from the sound card on the mixer.

I'm using this mixer :

It's up for bids/sale at at ebay for USD25/40 respectively (used).

Thank you -- I kinda understand, but have a question: if the line out/speaker out from the sound card is transmitting digital sound from the SB16 and midi from the DB and I mute that channel to hear the MKII, then how do I hear the digital sound from the SB?

::Edit:: After getting my second wind, I think I understand better now -- are you saying this solution would be easiest with a dual sound card setup?

3rd option would be is to just get a Yamaha external unit and sell the Yamaha clone DB. Choices, choices! 🤣!

For a single card solution and using a mixer, to hear the MIDI music only from the MKII AND the Sound Blaster digital fx sounds, go to the volume panel in the SB's software mixer and turn the MIDI channel's volume all the way down to 0.

Since the MKII unit is independent from the software control of the Sound Blaster's software mixer, you can still hear the MKII, since the MIDI signals from the Joystick port still goes to the Sound Canvas unit, and the sounds are produced and sent to the mixer instead.

Instead of using a mixer, you can also route the output from the MKII back to the LINE-IN of your sound card.

I'm using the above mixer with one of my desktop systems, with inputs from the PC, MT-32 and the SC MKII.

For individual MIDI port assignment, going dual sound cards (with or without the now-difficult -to-get MIDI card) is a better solution.

I've decided to ditch the DB and get a Yamaha MU-80; now its going to be a SB16 (with OPL CT1747), Roland SC-55 mkII and Yamaha MU-80. Now all I need is a MT-32!