DOS Games Discussion

I'm building my "dream machine" (at least it would have been my dream machine back in the nineties) consisting of the following components:

-~486DX 100Mhz
-16 MB RAM
-plenty of hdd (depending on bios, possibly a flash module directly connected to ide)
-SB32 AWE (value/full)
-Roland MT-32 (preferably the CM-series)

I've always wanted to experience the real MT-32 "heaven", because back in the day the module/card cost wayy to much. It seems the LAPC-I/CM-32L are pretty expensive and LAPC-I is very hard to find. So my questions are:

If I get the CM-32L external module I loose my gameport, right? (the SB32 sends midi to CM-32L via gameport?)

If I get the LAPC-I I don't loose my gameport, right?

If it proves to be impossible to get the LAPC-I, can I have another gameport in addition to the one the SB has to be able to use a joystick?

Thanks in advance

Those kind of tech questions belong more@Vogons
http://www.vogons.org/index.php

You'll see those are already at least partially answered in several topics there.
And it's also @Vogons you'll find some real specialists (geeks ...?) in these matters.

Also, don't forget that games that used MT32 tended to stick to the capabilities of the original box. The upgrades from the later versions were really just used by musicians. That means you can get any of them, even the first one, and be set. That might help your price range or flexibility on gameports some!

I haven't played with it in a few years, but I've built a box with with the MPU401->MT32, and it brought back fun memories. As a teen I saved and saved all summer and got the original one - wow that made Space Quest III (?) rock! Hm, I wonder if it was a bundle I bought? It was definitely direct from Sierra, and came with a T-Shirt I still have, though it's basically cobwebs now.

dosraider wrote:Those kind of tech questions belong more@Vogons
http://www.vogons.org/index.php

You'll see those are already at least partially answered in several topics there.
And it's also @Vogons you'll find some real (geeks ...?) in these matters.

Ok, thanks for the tip I checked the website ,but it seems to be more? emulation oriented? Or have I totally missed something?

Also, don't forget that games that used MT32 tended to stick to the capabilities of the original box. The upgrades from the later versions were really just used by musicians. That means you can get any of them, even the first one, and be set. That might help your price range or flexibility on gameports some!

I understood that the CM-models/LAPC-I actually have some special fx (samples) that the original MT-32 does not and that a number of games actually use those samples.

emuola wrote:Ok, thanks for the tip I checked the website ,but it seems to be more? emulation oriented? Or have I totally missed something?

You missed a lot it seems ....
Better take a closer look I would say ......
Emulation is only half of that board.

dosraider wrote:

emuola wrote:Ok, thanks for the tip I checked the website ,but it seems to be more? emulation oriented? Or have I totally missed something?

You missed a lot it seems ....
Better take a closer look I would say ......
Emulation is only half of that board.

Sorry, checked the site via phone Thanks!

I have a LAPC-1, and it is ROM samples only, while I understand the MT-32 could load up some banks with samples, I never had an MT-32:s myself.

When you need external MIDI, used a splitter to separate the joystick port out from the midi in/out ports; normally you have two cables for the Midi devices.

Chaining Midi devices is possible, but introduces a slight delay in command processing.

There are some MT-32 emulators that might work for you on modern pc:s and can work with DosBox, like MUNT. simpler & cheaper than the actual hardware. http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/

(There was some games where the LAPC-1 sounded odd, compared to other midi devices I used at the time.)

The joystick portion of either the LAPC-1 or RAP-10 (I forget which) was quirky, it had a nonlinear quadrant, so I never used it; I disabled it with a jumper, what I recall.

I purchased my Roland LAPC-I, MCB-1, CM-32P, CS-10 and A-80 new around 1989, along with a number of U110 sound expansion cards, and have always used it in a smoke-free studio (while it's been years since I've used it). It's still installed in the original 386 system I used it in, and worked great the last time I fired it up.

I like how it provided full 64-note polyphony back then, by using both the LAPC-I and CM-32P, via the MCB-1, and could utilize the U110 expansion cards in the CM-32P.

Now I still have my U-220 in my rack, along with a great old E-MU e5000 Ultra, and the new INTEGRA-7 (which I had to make room for by selling my Fantom-XR and U-110). I also have a Roland VK-8M, which creates such great classic organ sounds.

That's sweet. Nice setup!

Yes, it's lots of fun, plus a whole host of other fun items which don't fit into the synth or keyboard category.

Have you recorded music you'd care to share? Or for sale somewhere?

Not yet. Thanks for the request.

I've worked on a number of studio projects over the years, and don't have the copyright to share or sell those myself, mostly for commercial accounts and artist projects.

When I've played piano at many different venues, from Caesar's Palace to Disneyland (or anywhere I find a piano to play), I've had people approach me and ask where they can buy my music, so it's something I really need to make the time to work on. I just wish it could be something I focus all of my efforts on, instead of having to "work" instead of play, for a living.

Way back I'd played in a number of primarily rock bands, but also Latin cumbia (sp?), and have been asked to compose for a symphony orchestra (which is slightly daunting). I've performed for crowds as big as 25,000, when we were the official band for a local radio station, and my last gig headlining on Hollyweird's Sunset Strip, over 30 years ago, had a (now) very big rock band opening up for us at a place called Gazzarri's.

Now I'm concentrating mostly on learning on controlling the nuances of the SuperNATURAL instruments in the INTEGRA-7 with my A-80 and mix of sliders and pedals, from guitars to woodwinds, strings, brass, etc. It's absolutely amazing what that thing can do, and how it can be altered during a performance easily with the A-80. Now I just have to make it passable for real orchestral instruments, and I'm pretty close.

I compose and arrange a wider variety of music now, from hard rock, easy rock, pop, and classically-based orchestral pieces. I've been honing my songwriting skills and been a member of TAXI for many years. I'll definitely share some when I get them mixed and mastered to my liking. Then register them through my ASCAP memberships for both Artist and Producer before disseminating.

If you're a member of TAXI already, that's great, if not, I recommend it, and would be happy to share my member info so we both get a referral discount.

:PianoManinSoCal" wrote:...instead of having to "work" instead of play, for a living...

Hear, hear! The details are different, but the feeling the same to the core.

Boy, that sounds great. Please feel free to share with us if the time comes! I hadn't heard of TAXI, nice to know about.