Gravis Ultrasound Drivers and Patches for DOSBox [Howto]

Huggybaby2 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:48 pm

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 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:49 pm

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.

Post by **dosraider** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:19 pm

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 wrote: 1. To Begin, Download <this>.

Your link isn't a link ......? Something went wrong there. ;)

*Edit
Do you think this is the right place to post this? Maybe you would better post such things on the Vogons site.... just a thought.
When you read the posts for help here from the average would-be dosgamers, I seriously doubt many will be able to understand what you wrote.
From the regulars I would say maybe 10 or 20...... will understand it.

Huggybaby2 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:35 pm

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.

Post by **dosraider** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:40 pm

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 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:41 pm

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

Post by **dosraider** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:43 pm

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 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:53 pm

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

Huggybaby2 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:03 pm

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

Post by **dosraider** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:24 am

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\

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

Post by **dosraider** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:56 am

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 · Post by **Gamer_V** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:55 am

No double posting Dosraider.

Huggybaby2 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:57 am

dosraider wrote: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.

Thank you!
It looks like the Vogons guys don't have any problems with a pre-done ULTRASND directory either...

I added a link to my procedure in the first post above.

Post by **dosraider** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:07 pm

[Shameless copycat mode on]
Those are the games that can benefit from GUS.
Copycat from Huggybaby2's post on Vogons ......

Code: Select all

         SOFTWARE TITLES DIRECTLY SUPPORTING GRAVIS ULTRASOUND/MAX
         ==========================================================
                             As of December 1994

Publisher               Title                        Retail Release
===================================================================
21st Century            Pinball Fantasies               Shipping
Access                  Under a Killing Moon            Shipping
Accolade                Star Control II                 Shipping
                        Hardball 4                      December
                        Brett Hull Hockey               February
Apogee                  Raptor&#58; The Shadow of Darkness  Shipping
                        Hocus Pocus                     Shipping
                        Wacky Wheels                    Shipping
                        Boppin                          Shipping
Bethesda                Delta V                         Shipping
                        Terminator&#58; Rampage             Shipping
                        The Arena                       Shipping
                        Road to the Final Four          Shipping
Crystal Dynamics        The Horde                       Shipping
Dynamix                 Alien Legacy                    Shipping
Electronic Arts         SSN-21 Sea Wolf                 Shipping
                        NHL Hockey CD                   Shipping
                        FIFA Soccer                     Shipping
                        Relentless                      Shipping
Epic MegaGames          Jazz Jack Rabbit                Shipping
                        Zone 66                         Shipping
                        Epic Pinball                    Shipping
                        One Must Fall 2097              Shipping
Flair Software          Paradox                         Shipping
Grandslam               Nick Faldo's Championship Golf  Shipping
                        Reunion                         Shipping
                        Seventh Sword of Mendor         Shipping
                        Football USA                    Shipping
                        Motor Mania                     Shipping
                        Assassin                        Shipping
Hollyware Entertainment Johnny Quest                    Shipping
Id Software             DOOM                            Shipping
                        DOOM II                         Shipping
Impressions             The Blue & The Grey             Shipping
Interplay               Star Reach                      December
                        Descent                         Shipping
                        Blackthorne                     Shipping
                        Creature Shock                  Shipping
Knowledge Adventure     Kid Zoo                         Shipping
                        Kid Zoo &#40;CD&#41;                    Shipping
                        Under Sea Adventure             Shipping
                        Dino 3D Adventure               Shipping
                        3-D Body Adventure              Shipping
                        American Adventure              Shipping
                        Bugs                            Shipping
                        Speed                           Shipping
                        Science Adventure               Shipping
Looking Glass Tech.     Flight Unlimited                January
Lucasfilm Games         Rebel Assault                   Shipping
Merit Software          Harvester                       February
                        Cyber Judas                     December
Microleague             Silver Ball                     Shipping
Microprose              UFO                             Shipping
Mirage                  Jack the Ripper                 Shipping
Musicware               Piano                           Shipping
New World Computing     Empire Deluxe                   Shipping
                        Inherit the Earth               Shipping
                        Zephyr                          Shipping
Ocean                   Inferno                         January                                             TFX CD              Shipping
Origin                  System Shock                    Shipping
                        Wing Commander III              Shipping
Psygnosis               Hexx                            Shipping
                        Ecstatica                       Shipping
                        Microcosm                       Shipping
                        Hired Guns                      Shipping
                        Theatre of Death                Shipping
QQP                     The Pure War                    Shipping
Sales Curve             The Lawnmower Man               Shipping
                        Cyber War                       Shipping
Sierra On-Line          Leisure Suit Larry VI           Shipping
Sir-Tech                Jagged Alliance                 January
                        Star Trail                      Shipping
Spectrum Holobyte       Star Trek&#58; TNG                  January
SSI                     Darksun                         Shipping
                        Archon Ultra                    Shipping
                        Alkadim - The Genie's Curse     Shipping
                        Serf City - Life is Feudal      Shipping
                        Great Naval Battles 2           Shipping
                        Tank Construction Set           Shipping
                        Alien Logic                     Shipping
                        Cyclones                        Shipping
                        Wake of the Ravager             Shipping
                        Panzer General                  Shipping
Twelve Tone Systems     Cake Walk Pro V2.x              Shipping
Virgin                  Voyeur                          Shipping
                        The 11th Hour                   February
------------------------------------------------------------------

Advanced Gravis also maintains and updates a patch library.  For games that
were previously released without UltraSound native support, consumers can
either download or contact Advanced Gravis to obtain a file that will
provide native support.  These games include&#58;

Gabriel Knights, Police Quest 4, Quest for Glory 3, Leisure Suit Larry 6
Ultima 8 - Pagan, IndyCar Racing, The 7th Guest, Sim City, Sim Farm,
Sim City 2000, Masters of Orion, Dark Legions

[/shameless copycat mode off]

Think that's an usefull list for those who wants to try GUS out.
Is it worth it?
Yes, certainly.

Huggybaby2 · Post by **Huggybaby2** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:21 pm

You made my day dosraider.

I have updated the download link in my first post, plus some text and the topic title (since it's not an install guide anymore.)

Now you will download the Pro Patches Lite 1.61 updated version (which was up there before) AND the factory stock 4.11 version. The download is almost the same size as before due to all the shared files.

Point DOSBox to one folder then the other, listening to mididemo.bat in between. Some songs are changed quite a bit.

Notice how the insturment balances can get thrown off, because some of the PPL patches seem louder than the originals. This can cause game irritations too, throwing off the balance between a bird chirp and a trumpet, causing you to miss a door opening because the other sounds were too loud---well, that's an imaginary example, but you understand I'm sure.

So, now you can listen to the stock version too if that is a problem. I'm not sure how DOSBox sounds compared to a real GUS card, but it's cool nonetheless!

Huggybaby

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:49 pm

can somebody honestly walk me through getting GUS to work on say, Heretic, or Ultimate DOOM, STEAM installs?

Brand new steam installs, and have downloaded the pack in the first post.

Now what?

(I think I got it all to work, but either the difference in sound from SB16 for sound + General Midi for music is very small, or it's defaulting to those things somehow and I'm not doing it right)

I'm not sure what to do exactly with the downloaded files, and beyond that, I'm sure there is osmething I need to do with the games' .cfg files AND .conf files.

Post by **dosraider** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:08 am

Can you run the game installer/soundconfig with STEAM stuffs?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:01 pm

Thanks Huggybaby2, your file pack was a life saver!

mauirixxx · Post by **mauirixxx** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:48 pm

Used your instructions to get Gravis sound working in X-COM ... and holy crap what a difference it made! Thanks for taking the time to figure this all out

Digging up all my old DOS games to see how different they sound now

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:27 pm

Can someone explain to me what does it mean "point DOSBox to folder"? Does it mean "install DOSBox into this folder" or "install DOSBox next to this folder" or what? English isn't my native language and even translator isn't very helpful with this