Windows 3.1 MIDI Setup
Posted: 3. Jan 2010, 06:09
Hello,
I have searched the forums and have found some threads regarding Windows 3.1 but only a few about sound and even fewer about MIDI.
I am going to use Windows 3.1 because I want to set up a classic video game OS and I want all of the sound configurations to work.
I'm pretty sure users of VirtualBox have heard about QEMU. The one thing about this VM is that it has a Yamaha OPL2 card which is missing from VirtualBox. All other VMs I've used (I haven't used VM Ware) have Sound Blaster 16 (some have PnP).
In QEMU, I have the MT32 and LAPC-1 patch maps when the AdLib and the Sound Blaster 1.5 drivers are installed. However, I desire 16-bit audio quality coming from my headset which the 1.5 driver does not supply. 8-bit does sound better on my speakers but I can hear silent noise on my headphones. I will make it clear that I am not paying for any cards for the host computer. I cannot put any more PCI cards on my motherboard, and there are no ISA slots.
When I use the Sound Blaster 16 drivers, there are no patch maps or key maps available. There are only settings for FM synthesis (I believe) which, by the way, sound horrible, and a MIDI setting. The FM synthesis will only successfully play in VPC 2004, not VirtualBox. I cannot use the MIDI settings in any VM, and the reason I'm guessing is because the Sound Blaster 16 is not MIDI compatible without some kind of daughter-board or other card.
As you can see, I've performed many unsuccessful combinations with this flunky operating system on three different VMs: VBox, QEMU, and VPC 2004. However, with my huge lack of MIDI knowledge, I'm about to resort to DOS games only.
If anyone is generous enough to help with configuration of MIDI for a Sound Blaster 16 sound card, I ask that my MIDI quality sounds close to or at MT32 quality, because I like the sounds of the instruments on it. Again, I cannot pay for an old computer right now, I have to use Windows 3.1 with a VM. I do not want to use DOSBox yet. . . Thanks to whoever offers to help.
A big, HUGE help to whoever can direct me or create a plug-in for an OPL sound card to use with a virtual machine or a 16-bit "MIDI emulator" for Windows 3.1.
I am using a Windows XP host, and the latest version of VBox. My DOS version is 7.10, and if you need my autoexec.bat and config.sys, please ask.
I have searched the forums and have found some threads regarding Windows 3.1 but only a few about sound and even fewer about MIDI.
I am going to use Windows 3.1 because I want to set up a classic video game OS and I want all of the sound configurations to work.
I'm pretty sure users of VirtualBox have heard about QEMU. The one thing about this VM is that it has a Yamaha OPL2 card which is missing from VirtualBox. All other VMs I've used (I haven't used VM Ware) have Sound Blaster 16 (some have PnP).
In QEMU, I have the MT32 and LAPC-1 patch maps when the AdLib and the Sound Blaster 1.5 drivers are installed. However, I desire 16-bit audio quality coming from my headset which the 1.5 driver does not supply. 8-bit does sound better on my speakers but I can hear silent noise on my headphones. I will make it clear that I am not paying for any cards for the host computer. I cannot put any more PCI cards on my motherboard, and there are no ISA slots.
When I use the Sound Blaster 16 drivers, there are no patch maps or key maps available. There are only settings for FM synthesis (I believe) which, by the way, sound horrible, and a MIDI setting. The FM synthesis will only successfully play in VPC 2004, not VirtualBox. I cannot use the MIDI settings in any VM, and the reason I'm guessing is because the Sound Blaster 16 is not MIDI compatible without some kind of daughter-board or other card.
As you can see, I've performed many unsuccessful combinations with this flunky operating system on three different VMs: VBox, QEMU, and VPC 2004. However, with my huge lack of MIDI knowledge, I'm about to resort to DOS games only.
If anyone is generous enough to help with configuration of MIDI for a Sound Blaster 16 sound card, I ask that my MIDI quality sounds close to or at MT32 quality, because I like the sounds of the instruments on it. Again, I cannot pay for an old computer right now, I have to use Windows 3.1 with a VM. I do not want to use DOSBox yet. . . Thanks to whoever offers to help.
A big, HUGE help to whoever can direct me or create a plug-in for an OPL sound card to use with a virtual machine or a 16-bit "MIDI emulator" for Windows 3.1.
I am using a Windows XP host, and the latest version of VBox. My DOS version is 7.10, and if you need my autoexec.bat and config.sys, please ask.