SB16 ISA Soundcard In Dos Mame

[NickS]

Hello,

I was hoping somebody out there would be able to help me.

I am in the process of setting up the software for my PC. So far I everything has gone well. I am hoping to run Dos Mame launched via Advancemenu. I have dos 6.22 installed and also Win 98SE installed to help with instaliing the software. I will boot directly into dos.

While researching what soundcard to use I found a number of recommendations for SB16 ISA. The opinion seemed to be that it was very simple to setup. I am having great difficultly in setting it up though.

When I bought it off ebay it did not come with any drivers. I downloaded all the drivers for sb16 in dos and tried to install them. I have spent some time now trying to get sound when running mame from msdos but no luck. The odd thing is that when I launch mame from the MS Dos prompt in Win 98 I do get sound. This led me to believe I had installed the drivers correctly but why can't I get sound launching directly from Dos?.

I was hoping that someone here is using Dos Mame and a SB16 ISA soundcard and could educate me as to how they were able to get sound. In the mame config file I have soundcard = 1 and volume =1.

[SirPeale]

Hello,

I was hoping somebody out there would be able to help me.

I am in the process of setting up the software for my PC. So far I everything has gone well. I am hoping to run Dos Mame launched via Advancemenu. I have dos 6.22 installed and also Win 98SE installed to help with instaliing the software. I will boot directly into dos.

While researching what soundcard to use I found a number of recommendations for SB16 ISA. The opinion seemed to be that it was very simple to setup. I am having great difficultly in setting it up though.

When I bought it off ebay it did not come with any drivers. I downloaded all the drivers for sb16 in dos and tried to install them. I have spent some time now trying to get sound when running mame from msdos but no luck. The odd thing is that when I launch mame from the MS Dos prompt in Win 98 I do get sound. This led me to believe I had installed the drivers correctly but why can't I get sound launching directly from Dos?.

I was hoping that someone here is using Dos Mame and a SB16 ISA soundcard and could educate me as to how they were able to get sound. In the mame config file I have soundcard = 1 and volume =1.

Are you sure that the drivers are installed for DOS correctly?  Have you seen any errors on boot?  

Windows will use it's own drivers with a DOS window, that's why you're getting sound there.

At least you're getting sound somewhere.  That way you can rule out a broken card.

[NickS]

Are you sure that the drivers are installed for DOS correctly?  Have you seen any errors on boot?  

Windows will use it's own drivers with a DOS window, that's why you're getting sound there.

At least you're getting sound somewhere.  That way you can rule out a broken card.

I have not seen any errors on boot up. I do suspect that the drivers are not correctly installed. I have re-installed them several times now and no luck but I must be doing something wrong.

I guess I need an "Idiots Guide" to installing dos drivers for a SB16 ISA Soundcard.

[Superdude]

I am an idiot so maybe I can help you.  

Okay the ISA drivers are a bit different than PCI.  I have a SB PRO that is ISA and had to use the CTCM drivers to run in dos with advance mame/reg mame.  I can check to see what I have for the autoexec and config.sys if you need more help.  Check google with SB DOS DRIVER ISA CTCM

[ntjedi]

Make sure that your drivers are loading during the boot process (config.sys and autoexec.bat).  This will be the key.  Press F8 when the computer says 'starting windows 98' during boot up and choose the option to go through startup line by line.  This will help to dianose the issue.  

[SirPeale]

Yes, post your config.sys and autoexec.bat text here, please.

Also, do a boot into straight DOS by hitting 'F8' during boot, and selecting 'MS-DOS' and not 'MS-DOS Safe Mode' and see what it says.

[JustMichael]

If I remember correctly from when I had dos on my cab, I had to have the drivers run twice before it would work right.  Why?  I don't know but they worked the second time they were loaded.  I have an ISA AWE64 card.  I have since gone to windows.

[NickS]

Thanks for all your replies.

The pc is in a different location so I will post the autoexec and config files later.

The drivers that I downloaded were from the following link. Are they the same as ones you used?. I am becoming convinced that I am either using the wrong driver or it is not installing properly.

http://www.americas.creative.com/support/files/download2.asp?centric=11&maincat=11&os=15&subcat=19

I found the following advice on mameworld.net and tried this yesterday.


Sound Problems
A lot of people are experiencing sound problems in DOS. Usually the reason is either that the sound card is not properly installed, or that the actual settings of the sound card are not adopted by DOS the way they are supposed to.

First of all many emulators do not work with sound by default. It is therefore necessary to switch to sound on. Refer to the readme text to find the appropriate command. If this is not the case, verify the following;

1) Making sure that your sound card is properly installed: in your Windows directory (c:\windows) you will find a file called: autoexec.bat. By right clicking on this file and choosing edit you can view the content of this file. It should contain a line which looks something like this: SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6 (this particular line is for the Sound Blaster)

This indicates that your sound card has been installed. If this line is missing, use the software that came with your card to install it properly.

2) If you do find this line, or a similar one, but you still cannot hear any sound when playing your emulators in DOS the problem might be, that DOS is not properly applying the settings it should. In your Windows directory (c:\windows) there should be a file called ctcm.exe. You can run this from DOS by changing to the Windows directory, typing ctcm and pressing enter. This should make DOS use the appropriate settings for your sound card.

This command should be run automatically every time you start DOS. You can achieve this by editing your autoexec.bat. Just insert a line like this: c:\windows\ctcm.exe and saving before exiting.

I did follow it but unfortunately it was not successful.  I did wonder whether I am installing one driver over another and that might be reason for my problem.

I did see one error during boot up using the above method.

Error Bad Serial ID Checksum (Vendor ID 9d360000) Expected=39 Actual=f6

I is caused somehow by the ctcm.exe file.

Any ideas.

[Superdude]

What chip set for the SB ISA card do you have?

[JLR2000]

Just guessing but like posted above, it sounds like you don't load the right sound driver in autoexec.bat.  

Once you post that and config.sys I think it will become apparent what the problem is.  Here is an excellent resource on this subject:

http://www.mameworld.net/dosmame/dossound.php

Make sure you have everything as it states there.

Good Luck.

[NickS]

Hello,

I have posted the following files.

Autoexec.bat

SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E

REM ---  By HiSpeed CD-ROM Drive installation program.  9/19/103  ---
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000
C:\WINDOWS\CTCM.EXE
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6

mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi)
mode con codepage select=850
keyb uk,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys

Config.sys
FILES=40
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\setver.exe
device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
Country=044,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys

REM ---  By HiSpeed CD-ROM Drive installation program.  9/19/103  ---
LASTDRIVE=Z
DEVICE = C:\HXCD-ROM\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD000

Mame.cfg

emulate_three = no
[directory]
rompath = roms
samplepath = samples
cfg = cfg
nvram = nvram
memcard = memcard
inp = inp
hi = hi
sta = sta
artwork = artwork
snap = snap
diff = diff
ctrlr_directory = ctrlr

[config]
scanlines = no
stretch = yes
artwork = no
use_backdrops = no
use_overlays = no
use_bezels = no
artwork_crop = no
artwork_resolution = auto
samples = yes
vsync = no
waitvsync = no
triplebuffer = no
tweak = no
vesamode = vesa3
mmx = auto
dirty = auto
antialias = yes
translucency = yes
vgafreq = -1
alwayssynced = no
depth = auto
skiplines = -1
skipcolumns = -1
beam = 1.000000
flicker = 0.000000
intensity = 1.500000
gamma = 1.000000
brightness = 1.000000
frameskip = auto
throttle = yes
norotate = no
ror = no
rol = no
autoror = no
autorol = no
flipx = no
flipy = no
keepaspect = yes
screen_aspect = 4:3
soundcard = 1
sound = yes
samplerate = 44100
stereo = yes
volume = 1
sampleratedetect = yes
resamplefilter = yes
mouse = yes
joystick = auto
steadykey = yes
keyboard_leds = yes
ctrlr = standard
cheat = yes
cheatfile = CHEAT.DAT
historyfile = HISTORY.DAT
mameinfofile = MAMEINFO.DAT
resolution = auto
vectorres = auto
debug_resolution = auto
language = english
monitor = standard
centerx = 0
centery = 0
waitinterlace = no
zvg = 0
pause_brightness = 0.650000
skip_disclaimer = yes
skip_gameinfo = yes
crconly = no
bios = default
maxlogsize = 0

[tweaked]
224x288_h = 95
224x288_v = 84
240x256_h = 103
240x256_v = 35
256x240_h = 85
256x240_v = 67
256x256_h = 108
256x256_v = 35
256x256_hor_h = 85
256x256_hor_v = 96
288x224_h = 95
288x224_v = 12
240x320_h = 90
240x320_v = 140
320x240_h = 95
320x240_v = 12
336x240_h = 95
336x240_v = 12
384x224_h = 108
384x224_v = 12
384x240_h = 108
384x240_v = 12
384x256_h = 108
384x256_v = 35
224x288arc_h = 93
224x288arc_v = 56
288x224arc_h = 93
288x224arc_v = 9
256x240arc_h = 93
256x240arc_v = 9
256x256arc_h = 93
256x256arc_v = 23
320x240arc_h = 105
320x240arc_v = 9
320x256arc_h = 105
320x256arc_v = 23
352x240arc_h = 106
352x240arc_v = 9
352x256arc_h = 106
352x256arc_v = 23
368x224arc_h = 106
368x224arc_v = 9
368x240arc_h = 106
368x240arc_v = 9
368x256arc_h = 106
368x256arc_v = 23
512x224arc_h = 191
512x224arc_v = 9
512x256arc_h = 191
512x256arc_v = 23
512x448arc_h = 191
512x448arc_v = 9
512x512arc_h = 191
512x512arc_v = 23
640x480arc_h = 193
640x480arc_v = 9

I am sure that with all the attempts to install and re-install the various sb drivers I have created a situation where the files are conflicting with each other. I think I am going to re-install dos and windows98 and start again. I have been trying to get the sound drivers to work for 5 days now and it is extremely annoying.

Before I start again I would be grateful if someone who has been successfull with a sb16 isa soundcard and dos mame could tell me which of the drivers they used. A link is shown below.

http://www.americas.creative.com/support/files/download2.asp?centric=11&maincat=11&os=15&subcat=19


I would be grateful if you could also tell me what lines you have in your autoexec and config files that relate to the sb16.

This is the first time I have installed a soundcard and I just assumed that the jumpers on the card were all set up correctly in some sort of default mode. I wonder if this could be part of the cause of the problem. I will look into it when I get a chance.

[SirPeale]

Autoexec.bat

SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E

REM ---  By HiSpeed CD-ROM Drive installation program.  9/19/103  ---
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000
C:\WINDOWS\CTCM.EXE
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6

mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi)
mode con codepage select=850
keyb uk,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys

Okay, the only line I see in there regarding the sound card is this:

C:\WINDOWS\CTCM.EXE

It's for the Creative Mixer.  Try running this from a straight DOS prompt and see what happens.  I don't think it'll work, but I would like to see it's output.

Config.sys
FILES=40
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\setver.exe
device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
Country=044,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys

REM ---  By HiSpeed CD-ROM Drive installation program.  9/19/103  ---
LASTDRIVE=Z
DEVICE = C:\HXCD-ROM\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD000

I don't see anything related to the sound card in there at all.  I see the DOS CD drivers, and something to do with your display.

I would be grateful if you could also tell me what lines you have in your autoexec and config files that relate to the sb16.

This is the first time I have installed a soundcard and I just assumed that the jumpers on the card were all set up correctly in some sort of default mode. I wonder if this could be part of the cause of the problem. I will look into it when I get a chance.

This is the page I believe you want:

http://www.americas.creative.com/support/files/download2.asp?centric=11&maincat=11&os=15&subcat=19

which is the link that you posted.  You may want to get the drivers for Windows 3.1.  Even though you're running 98, the 3.1 drivers were more or less DOS drivers.  That's how I had to find drivers for my ISA sound card, by using 3.1 drivers.

Edit: I thought the CTCM was the mixer - it's not.  Here's what I got from the README.TXT file from the DOS drivers:

3. If your audio card is a Plug and Play audio card

   If your audio card is a Plug and Play audio card, you need to
   install a Plug and Play Configuration Manager before you proceed
   with the software installation.

    * If you do not have a Configuration Manager, please download the
      Creative PnP Configuration Manager (CTCM) from the Creative Labs
      FTP site or World Wide Web site.

So, you've got that part, but not the drivers part in your startup files.

[Totallyout2lunch]

To get drivers you might want to look at www.driversguide.com.

Every time I have gone there, I have found the driver that I want, yet to be disapointed.