Author Topic: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control  (Read 2847 times)

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Offline doomlazer

MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« on: February 27, 2022, 01:41:24 AM »
When MTBLAST.DRV or MT32.DRV are used with Space Quest III game version 1.018, the menu options for toggling sound on/off and changing volume are enabled, but they have no effect on the game audio. It always stays on and at constant volume. Switch back to SNDBLAST.DRV and the sound controls work fine.

Is there an updated interpreter or sound driver that would make the controls work? Seems odd that MT-32 would be supported, but the menu options are non-functional. If it's expected behavior I'd just like to know.

Also, the music I'm getting through MUNT doesn't sound as good as some of the youtube SQ3 MT-32 videos I'm comparing against. Is there anything I can do to get better results? Ideally, I'd like to keep the digital audio sample from the intro cutscene working as well.



Offline ZvikaZ

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2022, 11:52:44 AM »
1. Have you tried with ScummVM?
2. MUNT simulation is pretty CPU intensive. If it doesn't get enough CPU cycles, it will sound bad. Try running with a stronger computer, with less processes running in the background, and see if it sounds better.

Offline Kawa

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2022, 01:20:40 PM »
1. Have you tried with ScummVM?
That'd be cheating.

Offline doomlazer

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2022, 01:50:51 PM »
I probably should have mentioned this question was on behalf of Threepwang's SQ3 French translation. He's managed to suss out most of the bugs in 1.018 and would now like to dial in the best audio settings possible for both ScummVM and DOSBox. I believe all is well in ScummVM, but he'd like to get the volume controls working in DOSBox with MTBLAST.DRV.

Offline Threepwang

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2022, 07:04:28 PM »
MTBLAST.DRV or MT32.DRV or GNRCSND.DRV or any other drivers with MT-32 sound. I don't care which one as long as it works well. This is my last problem to solve!

RESOURCE.CFG: https://i.ibb.co/rmsxPzw/2022-02-28-075451.png
VIDEO: https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/DjSEeENV/file.html

Thanks for your help, doomlazer.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2022, 07:40:39 PM by Threepwang »

Offline doomlazer

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2022, 01:02:09 AM »
Threep, I think we both have MUNT misconfigured. Can you try adding this to your SQ3 DOSBox config:

Code: [Select]
[midi]
midiconfig=1

You can check which midiconfig number you need for MUNT in dosbox using mixer /listmidi.
Code: [Select]
Z:/>mixer /listmidi
  0            "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth:
  1            "MT-32 Synth Emulator"

No wonder it sounded so horrible. I don't believe you can capture MT-32 audio in dosbox with CTL+ALT+F5.

Offline Threepwang

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2022, 01:56:02 AM »
Yes it works Doom! You solved the problem!  ;D
https://www4.zippyshare.com/v/kms9uas1/file.html
I'm so happy, thank you very much!

Offline Collector

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2022, 08:00:22 AM »
I suspect that the game was not finding Munt or its ROMs. Why don't you just use a Munt enabled build of DOSBox like the ECE DOSBox? its dosbox.conf has a setting for the path to the ROMs No need to find your MIDI devices Just add the MT-32 ROMs.

https://yesterplay.net/dosboxece/

If you have any doubts on how to set it up you could just use one of my Munt installers. Look at the bottom of the first post in this thread. http://sierrahelp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3925

On a side note, I am curious as to where you got that RESOURCE.CFG since you have a "CD=" setting since SCIV.EXE does not have such a flag. The interpreter will simply ignore that setting so it does not hurt anything, but how did it get there?
KQII Remake Pic

Offline doomlazer

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2022, 12:29:35 PM »
Thank you Collector; those links are very helpful. ECE was the search term I was missing when trying to find the munt version of DOSBox.

I'm not sure where Threep got the RESOURCE.CFG, but I can tell you it's like that in the steam Space Quest Collection. Just look at this mess:

Code: [Select]
videoDrv  = MCGA320.DRV
 soundDrv  = SNDBLAST.DRV
 joyDrv    = NO
 kbdDrv    = IBMKBD.DRV
 mouseDrv  = STDMOUSE.DRV
 memoryDrv = ARM.DRV
 CD = yes
 mode = real
 minHunk   = 206K
 directory = .\

MCGA320.DRV prevents screenshake from working which is a major bummer on Ortega. You can change it to EGA320.DRV, but how many steam users would know to do that?

I'm not sure about the GOG version of SQ3, but the GOG KQ4 is the same way with MCGA320.DRV and "CD = yes". In GOGs' defense, I think they assume people will use ScummVM, but how hard would it be for Steam and GOG to update this file?

Edit: Your SQ3 with MUNT installer worked great, once I changed my MT-32 roms to match these names (mine came with version numbers in the name and didn't work at first):
MT32_PCM.ROM
MT32_CONTROL.ROM

Is there much difference between those and CM32L_CONTROL.ROM/CM32L_PCM.ROM?
« Last Edit: February 28, 2022, 12:53:01 PM by doomlazer »

Offline Collector

Re: MTBLAST.DRV and SQ3 volume control
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2022, 09:37:30 PM »
Threep probably started with a Steam copy. I just checked, and GOG's RESOURCE.CFG is:

Code: [Select]
videoDrv  = MCGA320.DRV
 soundDrv  = SNDBLAST.DRV
 joyDrv    = NO
 kbdDrv    = IBMKBD.DRV
 mouseDrv  = STDMOUSE.DRV
 memoryDrv = ARM.DRV
 CD = yes
 mode = real
 minHunk   = 206K
 directory = .\

The GOG patcher that I wrote to fix the GOG blunders a few years back simply uses a correct RESOURCE.CFG. When I wrote them I didn't even bother to check each game's CFG. Most of them were so badly done and I already had good ones.

I am not sure about the ROMs, but both are required. If you copy the ROMs and installer to same folder as the game files it will automatically set the configuration correctly as it will copy them to the ECE DOSBox folder. When I get some time I am planning on simply including them in the installers. I am not worried that Roland will com after me at this point. Then the user would only have to provide the game files.
KQII Remake Pic


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