tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post1797860819077463311..comments2024-03-27T05:39:24.505-04:00Comments on Nerdly Pleasures: Unique PC Hardware & Game SupportGreat Hierophanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409413307024477304noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-16906160385978342982022-08-26T03:21:30.438-04:002022-08-26T03:21:30.438-04:00The AudioTrix Pro is not Adlib Gold compatible, it...The AudioTrix Pro is not Adlib Gold compatible, it just works with Dune, because I/O address overlap between the AudioTrix and Adlib Gold. The surround modules are also different and incompatible. There is a patch for Dune that allows usage of any OPL3 card, but it won't help with the surround effects.GL1zdAhttps://glizda.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-27550107743425696522019-05-19T19:22:05.358-04:002019-05-19T19:22:05.358-04:00Maybe you could direct me to the right info?Maybe you could direct me to the right info?Great Hierophanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409413307024477304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-37593068629124177622019-05-06T16:47:27.005-04:002019-05-06T16:47:27.005-04:00Your mt-540 info seems pretty wrongYour mt-540 info seems pretty wrongcheezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10747634070706640638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-68316871788680235232018-09-06T10:42:06.207-04:002018-09-06T10:42:06.207-04:00With respect to Capital Tone Fallback, you state:
...With respect to Capital Tone Fallback, you state:<br />This feature is present on all Roland MIDI modules and devices based on the Roland SC-55, including the CM-300, CM-500, JV-30 (Keyboard), SCC-1, and SC-155.<br /><br />This is not strictly correct as only the original SC-55 units with ROM 1.21 or lower support this feature.<br />Units with ROM 2.xx have been confirmed to behave like the mkII units for this feature.<br />Terence Powellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-20528147185308495122016-03-23T23:14:12.754-04:002016-03-23T23:14:12.754-04:00Finding games that actually use the 640x200 16 col...Finding games that actually use the 640x200 16 color mode of the Amstrad PC-1512 is something of a challenge. The PC-1512 has a built-in CGA with the ability to use 640x200x16 color mode. However, not all programs support this higher color/resolution mode. Regular CGA is only capable of 640x200 in 2 colors, one of which must be black. The PC-1512 is not the most compatible CGA around, so if it is advertised on the box, that could mean that the game is guaranteed to work in the PC-1512. It is not a guarantee that it will look better on the 1512 than a standard PC with CGA. Many games that advertised Tandy 1000 on their boxes and disk labels in the US did not take advantage of the superior graphical or sound features of that system over the IBM PC with CGA. <br /><br />DOSBox-X supports the Amstrad machine type, including the 640x200 16 color graphics mode. I used it with a game that indisputably supports this mode, Frank Bruno's Boxing. That game's graphics displayed appropriately. The only version of Iznogoud I could find still shows 4-color CGA graphics with DOSBox-X's Amstrad machine type. The game has a separate CGA and Hercules executable, and uses the CGA executable if you select CGA or Amstrad PC-1512. This would lead me to believe that the game does not support any better graphics on the Amstrad. <br /><br />You can find binary releases of relatively-current DOSBox-X here : https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases Great Hierophanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409413307024477304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-38361556277240331752016-03-22T01:40:32.198-04:002016-03-22T01:40:32.198-04:00I've been attempting to emulate the Amstrad PC...I've been attempting to emulate the Amstrad PC1512 for quite some time now, specifically for a game (Iznogoud) that takes advantage of the 16-color graphics mode. I've finally managed to boot a working emulation using PCem, but it doesn't seem to emulate the 16-color mode as far as I can tell yet.<br /><br />You mention that a DOSBox SVN release emulates a PC1512...which release would that be? I haven't been able to locate it so far. Does it actually do the 16-color mode?SKothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15817963987399986052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-29886518940778411282015-07-04T20:31:28.876-04:002015-07-04T20:31:28.876-04:00Strife,
That is the proper link for the patches.
...Strife,<br /><br />That is the proper link for the patches.<br /><br />Fixed<br /><br />Partial or voice reserve refers to the number of partials or voices the module can play at any one time. For SC-55 devices and its line, its 24 voices/partials, for the SC-55mkII and its line, its 28. Therefore, the SC-55mkII can play more instruments at the same time, and the older module line is apparently choking on the complexity of QFG4's MIDI tunes.Great Hierophanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409413307024477304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-2390931258976748042015-07-04T19:13:02.507-04:002015-07-04T19:13:02.507-04:00In the Roland GS section (Feature: Special Drum Ki...In the Roland GS section (Feature: Special Drum Kits) you mention some "patches" without any further reference, I suppose they are these ones: http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=35811&sid=33a51e563b35508fb6337ba304d20952<br /><br />In the last paragraph, Fl. Key Click program number should read #122 instead of #121.<br /><br />I just read an old post at VOGONS where someone recommends using a SC-55 MkII for Quest for Glory IV as it will not sound right on the original SC-55 due to "insufficient partial reserve", I wonder if you have any idea what that means (see post here: http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=250223#p250223).Strifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06537587620076286954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-57207238911641958722015-07-04T07:28:13.112-04:002015-07-04T07:28:13.112-04:00I'll just add that..
you have to fix the GUS ...I'll just add that..<br /><br />you have to fix the GUS in dosbox yourself as there's no compiled fix available yet afaik. I posted the pan fix in vogons dosbox-x thread. <br /><br />Before the fix the dosbox GUS sounds worse than emulated SB pro. I think this is because the phase cancellation that happens when the pan table is incorrect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-25096221071365603062015-07-04T07:22:03.266-04:002015-07-04T07:22:03.266-04:00I'm not sure what you mean by "native&quo...I'm not sure what you mean by "native" GUS support.<br />GUS has both basic PCM out, which always in every case sounds better than any Creative Labs product ever.. Just try and see. Funny enough this even holds in DOSBOX. The reasons are likely in the analog components and the pan table used. GUS had "balls" and clarity, and very "stereophonic" sound compared to Creative cards. Creative probably used simple linear pan table so no matter what the composers did, it just didn't sound "surround" in headphones.<br /><br />Then it had actual hybrid hardware and software rompler. Some examples where this was used: Settlers 1/2, Transport Tycoon Deluxe atleast. The GUS sounds better than Roland SCC1 there because you couldn't upload customized patches from professional synths into SCC1. AWE also has something similar but Creative Labs were never favored by musicians, I haven't heard a single professional use creative labs products. AWE has/had lot of fanboys, which comes with lots of marketing bucks. <br /><br />Just go ask what real composers had in their PCs, and having the same stuff is the only thing that matters when it comes to getting the sound as the composer had intended. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-471177147458968022014-02-05T17:19:23.927-05:002014-02-05T17:19:23.927-05:00You are right, the Amstrad Joystick for either the...You are right, the Amstrad Joystick for either the PC1512 and 1640, according to their technical references, returns the standard keycodes for Cursor Up, Cursor Down, Cursor Left and Cursor Right. The freely remappable buttons do make it an extremely useful feature. Great Hierophanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409413307024477304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-9660836137313645382014-02-05T10:36:22.041-05:002014-02-05T10:36:22.041-05:00Regarding "Since the scancodes selected are n...Regarding "Since the scancodes selected are not usually used on IBM keyboards, the game had to have specific support for the Amstrad joystick interface."<br /><br />That's not quite right. On a PC1640 the joystick movement was mapped to the cursor buttons, and the joystick buttons could be mapped to arbitrary keyboard keys using the NVR setup program. Worked fine, even with booters like Winter Games. I suppose the PC1512 was no different. Very useful feature.idspispopdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869350823378550040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6993165553021868648.post-35125097302662285242012-09-21T01:00:30.980-04:002012-09-21T01:00:30.980-04:00I recall that Wizball, and some bananaware games a...I recall that Wizball, and some bananaware games also support digital joysticks. Wizball mentions amstrad by name, while the others might be a custom circuit. I believe the other games are Renegade and Sky Shark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com