LAPC-I, SCC-1, SB AWE32

[Shadow Lord]

Sorry, not quite sure where to post this but I was wondering if anyone has successfully ran a LAPC-I a SCC-1 and SB AWE 32 in one system? I know the Awe32 and LAPC-I is easy and I assume the same would be true for AWE and SCC but what about all three? Also, would this then provide gaming music nirvana (i.e. you have digital effects, LA, GS and GM). Or would it be better to get a yamaha daughter card for the AWE32 that does GS,GM and XG?

Thank you!

[endre1952]

I guess it's possible, but I'm quite sure there are some games that use the MPU-401 interface only at the factory setting, P330 and I2. So it isn't a perfect solution for sure.

However, you can use the LAPC-I's breakout box to connect an SC-55 external module. No conflicts this way. The SCC-1 is an SC-55 on a card.

[Shadow Lord]

Thanks for the info. I unfortunately do not have the breakout box for the LAPC-I. I had thought about the external route (e.g. SC-55). Out of curiosity how would this work? i.e. how would you have a game address LAPC-I in one instance and the SC-55 in another? TIA!

p.s. Just as an aside,if you own a SC-55, dose it display the wacky sierra messages like I have seen pictures of the MT-32 do (e.g. "insert buckazoid"?) TIA!

[Shadow Lord]

Another question would it be possible to use a SCB-55 or SCD-15 (as I understand it they are exactly the smae) w/ the AWE32 as a wavetable add on card? Would that then resolve the issues w/out the need for an external module?

Based on this thread it seems possible: http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php?topic=2785.0

[endre1952]

If you connect an SC-55, both the LAPC-I and the SC-55 would play music simultaneously. Either you can use a mixer/audio switcher, or you can mute the LAPC-I or the SC-55 with midi sysex you execute before running a game.

No, SC-55 does not display the MT-32 messages.

I think those daugherboard cards would work with the AWE32. Only some games might not work with the AWE32's midi interface. Though I'm not sure there are any such games from the General Midi era.

[Shadow Lord]

Thanks for the info!

If you connect an SC-55, both the LAPC-I and the SC-55 would play music simultaneously. Either you can use a mixer/audio switcher, or you can mute the LAPC-I or the SC-55 with midi sysex you execute before running a game.

So if I am reading this correctly the game would be set to use the LAPC-I (through port address 330). The messages would be sent to both the LAPC/MT-32 circuitry and through the breakout box to the connected MIDI device at the same time, correct? The need for an external mixer is annoying but do able.

No, SC-55 does not display the MT-32 messages.

That's too bad. I always thought those were kinda cool.

I think those daugherboard cards would work with the AWE32. Only some games might not work with the AWE32's midi interface. Though I'm not sure there are any such games from the General Midi era.

Well reading up on it there seems to be dissenting opinion and it really depends on what revision AWE32 you have. Some people have no problem others never get it to work! I wonder if then the DB would be addressed through the AWE32 port? Which would again make it  a non-standard port (i.e. the std port is being used by the LAPC-I).

[endre1952]

Yes, the game would use the LAPC-I's midi interface, which also passes on the midi data to the external module.

You don't really need an external mixer. The SC-55 accepts an analog stereo input, and can mix the two sources together. It's possible to mute the SC-55's output using the front panel. However, you can only mute the LAPC-I's output by executing sysex before loading a game.

[Shadow Lord]

Thanks for all the great info. I am going to have to keep an eye out and see what shows up on the aftermarket scene.

[menkau_ra]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. Try to use P330 I2 on LAPC, for games that use SCC it is not that important to use P330 and I2, you can put something else like P320 I3 etc. After hat Awe32 would find automatically free resources.

[endre1952]

There is no port or irq selection in Sierra games supporting general midi. There is no way to autodetect the difference between an LAPC-I and an SCC-1. Autodetection only sees an MPU-401 interface.

A game like Space Quest 5, if it works at all, would likely use only the card with the default settings, which, is this case, would be the LAPC-I. SQ5 sounds a lot better with an SCC-1 (or an SC-55).

[Shadow Lord]

Yeah, that is the problem I forsee. For games like Tyrian it is fine because you can define a port but not in Sierra Games. I am not sure how you could work around it in the sierra games. I have never seen a patch or what not to change the default address port in the game.

[NewRisingSUn]

Just open GENMIDI.DRV with a hex editor, search for the bytes BA 30 03 (machine language instruction "MOV DX,330") and BA 31 03, respectively (MIDI uses two ports, base+0 and base+1). Replace all instances accordingly, i.e. to use i/o port address 320h, replace BA 31 03 with BA 21 03 and BA 30 03 with BA 20 03. IRQ doesn't matter for games, as it's only required when receiving data.

[menkau_ra]

Then I would buy MT-32 in your case:
1. Use SCC-1 as MIDI and MPU, it is much smaller then LAPC-I, saves some space inside a tower.
2. MT-32 costs less than SC-55.
3. MT-32 has nice LCD screen.

[Shadow Lord]

Just open GENMIDI.DRV with a hex editor, search for the bytes BA 30 03 (machine language instruction "MOV DX,330") and BA 31 03, respectively (MIDI uses two ports, base+0 and base+1). Replace all instances accordingly, i.e. to use i/o port address 320h, replace BA 31 03 with BA 21 03 and BA 30 03 with BA 20 03. IRQ doesn't matter for games, as it's only required when receiving data.

Thank you for that! Does this work for all Sierra games? If so is the genmidi.drv universal (i.e. once I edit one can I just copy it into all the other games and replace the genmidi.drv in the directory?) Finally, would it be safe to assume that if the game setup routine has SCC-1 in the sound options vs. only lapc-i/mt-32 I am better off redirecting to the port for the SCD-15?

Now I need to brush up on hex editing. You would think that someone would have made a utility by now to do this editing automatically... I am sure I am not the only one in this situation...

[Shadow Lord]

Then I would buy MT-32 in your case:
1. Use SCC-1 as MIDI and MPU, it is much smaller then LAPC-I, saves some space inside a tower.
2. MT-32 costs less than SC-55.
3. MT-32 has nice LCD screen.

1. Ehhh... I call that wash. Honestly, outside of sound card and video what else would you put in a retro gaming PC? Maybe a NIC?...
2. True that, and is easier to find...
3. Definitely a bonus!

Now why I didn't do it:


1. I did not have a MPU-401 card so I could not use external unit without more costs
2. MT-32 required more setup and more desk space
3. I was trying to build an all in one tower that had everything in it I couldn't afford back in the day!

Honestly I was very torn on the mt-32 vs. LAPC-I. And I wish I had the LCD screen to see the cool messages. But in the end LAPC-I was easier to manage and came at an excellent price. The same reasoning applies to why I am looking for an SCD-14/SCC-1 vs. a SC-55 MkII..

[endre1952]

The MT-32 does not work all that well with many post-1990 games made by companies other than Sierra. It's missing the 33 extra sound effects that the LAPC-I has. There are lots of games that utilize that.

[Cloudschatze]

Now I need to brush up on hex editing. You would think that someone would have made a utility by now to do this editing automatically... I am sure I am not the only one in this situation...

Sierra MIDI Port Changer

[Shadow Lord]

Thanks for the linkage. I had previously seen that on the utilities page but not had put two and two together! BTW: I know I can use the midi mapper in windows to switch the output device. But is there anyway to automate this? e.g. command line switches?

[Cloudschatze]

BTW: I know I can use the midi mapper in windows to switch the output device. But is there anyway to automate this? e.g. command line switches?

Just export HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\MIDIMap for each device you'd like to be selectable (apply the device, export, repeat). The resulting REG files can then be silently imported, via command-line, or through some sort of variable-based batch file, etc.

For the two software synths on my laptop, I have the following REG files:

gm.reg

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\MIDIMap]
"szPname"="Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth"
"RelativeIndex"=dword:00000000
"DeviceInterface"="\\\\?\\hdaudio#func_01&ven_8384&dev_76a0&subsys_102801fe&rev_1002#4&2358bd64&0&0001#{6994ad04-93ef-11d0-a3cc-00a0c9223196}\\rearwave"
"SetupPreferredAudioDevicesCount"=dword:00000004

vsc.reg

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\MIDIMap]
"szPname"="Roland VSC"
"RelativeIndex"=dword:00000000
"DeviceInterface"=""
"SetupPreferredAudioDevicesCount"=dword:00000004

Here's an example of a pretty basic batch file to switch between the two:

midi.cmd

Code:

if %1==gm goto gm
if %1==vsc goto vsc
:gm
regedit /s gm.reg
exit
:vsc
regedit /s vsc.reg
exit

So, "midi gm" switches to the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, and "midi vsc" switches to the Roland Virtual SoundCanvas. Throw the REG and CMD files into a path directory (e.g., C:\Windows), and you're all set.

There may be some gotchas with USB devices and the DeviceInterface value, perhaps differing for each port. I don't have one with me to test with, so you're on your own.

[jharris01]

That's a useful tip. Do you happen to know what registry branch for the sound playback device? I was wondering if the same was possible for selecting from multiple soundcards.