DOS Games Discussion

[Huggybaby2]

Is Your Gravis Ultrasound Emulation Really Working?
If you're not sure, or only "think so", then you should
Download the archive HERE!
Extract it with WinRar or 7-Zip or something.

Inside you will find two folders, ULTRASND411 and ULTRASNDPPL161.
Just point DOSBox to one of them! (411 is the factory version, and PPL161 is the souped up version.) Read more about the differences here.

Although not many games support it, DOSBox DOES emulate Gravis Ultrasound, which is considered by aficionados to sound much better than SoundBlaster. Here is a partial list of games that work with Gravis Ultrasound.

The only problem is that Gravis Ultrasound emulation MAY NOT work with the stock DOSBox. Your game will just play SoundBlaster sound unless you point DOSBox to a directory that has the proper GUS files in it, since THEY DON'T COME WITH DOSBOX.

Creating an updated directory of these files from the original installers is a process long and involved, so to make it easy for you I created an ULTRASND directory that has every file in it possible, and it's updated thru Pro Patches Lite 1.61. (Pro Patches Lite is a third party update set that is more current than, and considered superior to, the originals.)

This may be the first time you have ever heard Ultrasound working.

This is the first and only download like it on the internet, or else I would have not had to make one!

To see how I did it, you can learn to install GUS from scratch HERE.

[Huggybaby2]

I couldn't find a good install procedure anywhere. Most said "ignore the error messages" or advised unnecessary steps.

Plus, I would get different error messages doing the same thing. After several days it's all sorted, so here it is, the only comprehensive procedure for GUS anywhere. And it installs ALL the files this way.

I'll be adding screenies.

[dosraider]

I'm always open to improvement, but ................
[Little annoying voice]

Why do you need those installed???
Dosbox already has the needed basic GUS support.
And as stated on VOGONS, you're really better off with the SB emulation, dosbox has been optimalized for use with SB.
That's what the dosbox developpers say, if you can't believe them......

In other words: what's the advantage?
And ... D.O.G 1.54 beta 5 is not 100% games compatible ... better off without frontends for dosbox, really.

[/Little annoying voice]

[Huggybaby2]

The link is coming, doing my pics now.

DOSBox does support Gravis, in fact I think they turn it on by default.

BUT!!

Imagine my chagrin when I discovered that it doesn't work...unless you have it pointed to a proper ULTRASND folder.

That's what my procedure gives you. Nobody includes these files for licensing reasons. I think you're supposed to actually own a GUS card to use these, but the files are available on the gravis ftp site...

<edit> I used DOG but I don't think I included any DOG specific info.
My download will help folks who can't follow the procedure, it will have a pre done folder in it.

I'm not sure VOGONS is the best place either. I'll pull this if you want, I'll understand. I could try VOGONS.

[dosraider]

Fair enough.
As I said, the GUS support in dosbox is basic, maybe for some games it can be an improvement.

Now, some of us will benefit from your howto.
THX for the effort, please don't think it's not appreciated.


*Edit
Vogons is the home of the dosbox devs, I'm pretty sure they would be interested.

[Huggybaby2]

I could post at VOGONS and leave my file here if it's even allowable...

[dosraider]

It's allowable in my humble opinion, aslong as it's freely downloadable on a ftpsite.

The last word about that is of course to the admins.

[Huggybaby2]

OK. I'll spiff it up and let the chips fall.

[Huggybaby2]

OK, going over it again, the procedure was certainly a bit much when I can just give you a link to the final result.

I've changed my first post, it now contains just a link and an explanation of why you might want it.

If you're really into DOSBox, I'm posting the detailed procedure later at vogons.

Thanks,

Huggybaby

[dosraider]

Nice, saw your post at Vogons. Good done, really.

Works fine.
Nice sound too.

*Edit
Tested under Vista (32-64)
Vista users
If you're on Vista:
http://www.dosgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10437
(Use this EVEN if you're running Vista on a admin account, will avoid you a lot of problems and error messages)

Use as folder to extract the GUS files:
c:\users\your_name\dosgames\ultrasnd\

In dosboxconfig alter under header [gus]
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND
to
ultradir=c:\users\your_name\dosgames\ultrasnd\
Correction:Leave this ultradir=C:\ULTRASND in dosboxconfig.

Will avoid you getting error messages as Vista is really nitpicking about a lot of things, and Vista doesn't like you to use c:\ to store things.

If you want to test the GUS possibilities:
run dosbox, input

cd ultrasnd
mididemo

[dosraider]

double post yay!

For those who want to know what all the fuzz is about:
Try it with Doom, set your sound and midi to gravis, OUTSTANDING !!!!




PS: Again congrats, Huggybaby2, works flawless.

[Gamer_V]

No double posting Dosraider.

[MiniMax]

[dosraider]

Indeed, that was a mistake.
Corrected.
THX.

[Huggybaby2]