DOS ain't dead - SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Japheth

Germany (South),
16.02.2023, 05:36

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage (Announce)

SBEMU, a project of "crazii" on VOGONs, emulates an SB on machines with a "modern" sound HW. It uses parts of MPXPLAY, DosBox, HX and Jemm. Very interesting for the ( few ) guys that still run DOS on real machines.

See this thread for details: https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=89304

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MS-DOS forever!

Zyzzle

16.02.2023, 07:04

@ Japheth

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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> SBEMU, a project of "crazii" on VOGONs, emulates an SB on machines with a
> "modern" sound HW. It uses parts of MPXPLAY, DosBox, HX and Jemm. Very
> interesting for the ( few ) guys that still run DOS on real machines.
>
> See this thread for details:
> https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=89304
Thanks very much for this announcement, which is excellent news. It seems to be a TSR "wrapper" which will provide SB-compatible emulation on bare metal modern DOS systems for modern PCI chipsets such as IDH, HDA, AC'97 etc.

I wonder if this wrapper also uses the libau audio libraries which support modern codecs on Mpxplay, special DOS compiles of Mplayer, Quake 1 / Quake 2 DOS, zDoom, etc. And Judas v 2.06y MODule also supports AC'97 and some early Intel chipsets, as we discussed here:
http://www.bttr-software.de/forum/board_entry.php?id=18068#p18072

Also, UNISOUND was mentioned in that thread, which seems to be a sort of wrapper like the new project of SBEMU, but I never could get UNISOUND to work with my modern core i3/i5/i7 systems on bare metal DOS, with modern PCI audio chipsets.

Japheth

Germany (South),
16.02.2023, 07:42

@ Zyzzle

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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> It seems to be a TSR "wrapper" which will provide SB-compatible emulation
> bare metal modern DOS systems for modern PCI chipsets such as IDH, HDA, AC'97

Actually, it IS a ( protected-mode ) TSR. The cool thing is: it provides SB emulation not just for protected-mode, but also for real-mode ( more exactly: v86-mode ). The thread title "OPL3 sound driver for <...>" is also misleading, because it doesn't just include a ( software ) OPL3-synthesizer, but has full digital sound ( SFX ) support.

> Also, UNISOUND was mentioned in that thread, which seems to be a sort of
> wrapper like the new project of SBEMU, but I never could get UNISOUND to
> work with my modern core i3/i5/i7 systems on bare metal DOS, with modern
> PCI audio chipsets.

I might be wrong, but AFAIK UNISOUND is supposed to generally initialize sound HW on legacy systems ( which may sometimes, in case of PnP, be pretty awkward ). I'm not aware that it provides anything for modern systems.

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MS-DOS forever!

Zyzzle

16.02.2023, 08:03

@ Japheth

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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> Actually, it IS a ( protected-mode ) TSR. The cool thing is: it provides SB
> emulation not just for protected-mode, but also for real-mode ( more
> exactly: v86-mode ). The thread title "OPL3 sound driver for <...>" is also
> misleading, because it doesn't just include a ( software )
> OPL3-synthesizer, but has full digital sound ( SFX ) support.
Thread title was very misleading, and the thread on VOGONS goes on for some 11 pages. I had gathered that SBEMU project was NOT an OPL3 synthesiszer, but what I failed to note is that it also claims to support real-mode, which is even more fantastic!

The binaries are on page 10 of the 11-page thread. I'll be testing it on protected mode AND real-mode stuff.

Rob

16.02.2023, 16:15
(edited by Rob, 16.02.2023, 16:59)

@ Zyzzle

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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Oh, Great :-D

I have tried sbemu with some games. It seems to detect my soundcard; but, then, I don't get any sound. I understand that sbemu is enough. I mean: a classic Soundblaster driver isn't necessary, is it?

Good bye.

> > Actually, it IS a ( protected-mode ) TSR. The cool thing is: it provides
> SB
> > emulation not just for protected-mode, but also for real-mode ( more
> > exactly: v86-mode ). The thread title "OPL3 sound driver for <...>" is
> also
> > misleading, because it doesn't just include a ( software )
> > OPL3-synthesizer, but has full digital sound ( SFX ) support.
> Thread title was very misleading, and the thread on VOGONS goes on for some
> 11 pages. I had gathered that SBEMU project was NOT an OPL3 synthesiszer,
> but what I failed to note is that it also claims to support real-mode,
> which is even more fantastic!
>
> The binaries are on page 10 of the 11-page thread. I'll be testing it on
> protected mode AND real-mode stuff.

CandyMan

17.02.2023, 16:39

@ Rob

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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> I have tried sbemu with some games. It seems to detect my soundcard; but,
> then, I don't get any sound. I understand that sbemu is enough. I mean: a
> classic Soundblaster driver isn't necessary, is it?

Same with me. I tried SBEMU and it detected my sound card and showed information about settings (A220 I7 D1) but after starting one of the games there is no sound. In addition, the consequence of installing SBEMU is that IRQ interrupts in 32-bit programs that use dos extenders do not work and terminate.

Zyzzle

20.02.2023, 02:59

@ CandyMan

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Post reply

> > I have tried sbemu with some games. It seems to detect my soundcard;
> but,
> > then, I don't get any sound. I understand that sbemu is enough. I mean:
> a
> > classic Soundblaster driver isn't necessary, is it?
>
> Same with me. I tried SBEMU and it detected my sound card and showed
> information about settings (A220 I7 D1) but after starting one of the games
> there is no sound. In addition, the consequence of installing SBEMU is that
> IRQ interrupts in 32-bit programs that use dos extenders do not work and
> terminate.

I got it working in many games and real mode .MOD players. The card detects in these games as SB Pro, and will only play 8-bit samples in stereo up to 22 Khz. Quake, Raptor, Wolfenstein 3D, Descent, DMP MODule player v 3.01, MikMod 3.2.9, Open MPT123 player. But would not work in Need for Speed, Screamer 1 or 2. Detected fine, but no sound.

The key was the I had to manually SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1

And, initially used SBMIX to set volumes.

Also, the sound would play only through headphone jack on my "new" (core i5/i7) laptops with Intel HDA audio.

On one of my systems (Kaby Lake i5 8250u, with onboard Intel IHD audio, even MPXPLAY would not work in "normal" PCI-detection mode, but the SBEMU driver *did* work in getting sound in all of the games listed above, but strangely MPXplay itself gives no audio, even with -scc 1 and -scs options.

Japheth

Germany (South),
17.02.2023, 16:56

@ Rob

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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> Oh, Great :-D
>
> I have tried sbemu with some games. It seems to detect my soundcard; but,
> then, I don't get any sound. I understand that sbemu is enough. I mean: a
> classic Soundblaster driver isn't necessary, is it?

This is most likely the wrong place to ask questions about SBEMU.

Although I know how it works and also its current limitations, it's crazii's project and - since he/she is most likely not a member of this precious place - the correct place for replies is VOGONS.

If I may give a hint in case you have troubles: try to supply a "smart" bug report! :-D

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MS-DOS forever!

Rob

17.02.2023, 19:19
(edited by Rob, 17.02.2023, 20:01)

@ Japheth

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Post reply

> Although I know how it works and also its current limitations, it's
> crazii's project and - since he/she is most likely not a member of this
> precious place - the correct place for replies is VOGONS.

It's true.

> If I may give a hint in case you have troubles: try to supply a "smart" bug
> report! :-D

Well, before going ahead with a deeper report, I wanted to know a basic question (is a classic Soundblaster driver necessary also?). Maybe it looks trivial; but I am not a developer, I am a simple user.

Laaca

Czech republic,
17.02.2023, 23:05

@ Rob

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Post reply

> Well, before going ahead with a deeper report, I wanted to know a basic
> question (is a classic Soundblaster driver necessary also?). Maybe it looks
> trivial; but I am not a developer, I am a simple user.

Hi! DOS drivers for legacy soundblasters do exist (mainly ct-voice.drv) but they are used very very rarely because DOS software relies on the direct hardware access to soundlaster.

What you could try with SBEMU is some legacy utility for setting the soundblaster volume. (f.e. here.)

Then try not game but some music player with equalizer (like cubic player or "mpxplay -scs sbp"). Do the volume bars something do?

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DOS-u-akbar!

Rob 18.02.2023, 08:47 @ Laaca	SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage Post reply
	> Hi! DOS drivers for legacy soundblasters do exist (mainly ct-voice.drv) but > they are used very very rarely because DOS software relies on the direct > hardware access to soundlaster. > I remember that when I had a computer with a Soundblaster 16 and other one with Soundblaster 128 (I am talking about 30-20 years ago), I always loaded a driver in my autoexec.bat and config.sys

RayeR

CZ,
10.03.2023, 06:39
(edited by RayeR, 10.03.2023, 07:11)

@ Japheth

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Post reply

Cool, we are waiting for this for more than 15 years or so. I remmeber it was discused here some times if JEMM/JLM could do also SB emulation. I also mentioned some years ago that my PCI Yamaha YMF724 (and Aureal Vortex) can emulate SB by its special DOS driver even for PMode games. So now maybe I could pull out one of 2 soundcards and leave only Audigy to play under DOS too. Going to try it...

EDIT:
Oh no, it doesn't work for me.
It detected PCI device SB Audigy but after messages that "RM and PM support: enabled" it beeped from speaker and ended with "Internal stack overflow, System halted" message and push HW reset button was necessary. So keep going with both Audigy and YMF724...
BTW I can see it uses parts of JEMM 5.84 - some unofficial, not released yet version by Japheth or author of SBemu?

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DOS gives me freedom to unlimited HW access.

Zyzzle

11.03.2023, 03:10

@ RayeR

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

Post reply

> Oh no, it doesn't work for me.
> It detected PCI device SB Audigy but after messages that "RM and PM
> support: enabled" it beeped from speaker and ended with "Internal stack
> overflow, System halted" message and push HW reset button was necessary. So
> keep going with both Audigy and YMF724...
> BTW I can see it uses parts of JEMM 5.84 - some unofficial, not released
> yet version by Japheth or author of SBemu?
Do the obvious, increase STACKS setting in CONFIG.SYS. Try disabling real mode if you don't need it in SBEMU (/rm0). For protected mode programs, boot only with an extended manager loaded, not any EMS manager or pageframe.

(You need JEMMEX loaded for EMS / pageframe) if you're using SBEMU in real mode games. Even then, I still turn off its protected mode compatiblity (/pm0) when playing real mode games.

I hope you can get it working with SB Audigy.

RayeR

CZ,
16.03.2023, 00:40

@ Zyzzle

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS about to enter beta stage

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I already tried to disable RM part by not loading the JLM but any change.
It seems there's known issue with code order of enabling interrupt and installing ISR (and also the solution suggested by Japheth), author of SBEMU is informed about it and I'm waiting for new version where he will implement the fix.

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DOS gives me freedom to unlimited HW access.

RayeR

CZ,
19.03.2023, 18:13

@ RayeR

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS - SBA IRQ bug fixed, new beta

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There was just released a new beta including SBL/SBA IRQ fix
https://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=160136
Now it loads successfully. Just a quick test in Doom - it works well, SFX without stuttering/pops/etc, OPL music not much exciting to real chip/MIDI but usable. Dynablaster and Boost demo didn't just output any sound. Later I will continue with testing and filling the comapat. matrix...

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DOS gives me freedom to unlimited HW access.

fritz.mueller

Munich, Germany,
05.01.2024, 20:49

@ RayeR

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS - SBA IRQ bug fixed, new beta

Post reply

> There was just released a new beta including SBL/SBA IRQ fix
> https://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=160136
> Now it loads successfully. Just a quick test in Doom - it works well, SFX
> without stuttering/pops/etc, OPL music not much exciting to real chip/MIDI
> but usable. Dynablaster and Boost demo didn't just output any sound. Later
> I will continue with testing and filling the comapat. matrix...

There seem to be several User builds of sbemu (not tested by me) here:
https://github.com/crazii/SBEMU

RayeR

CZ,
30.01.2024, 22:42

@ fritz.mueller

SBEMU - SB emulation in DOS - SBA IRQ bug fixed, new beta

Post reply

Yes, crazii returned to development and makes new releases quite often. Dynablaster issue was solved many months ago. Current changes seems to be rather adding new HW drivers and improving HW compatability than improving issues with old games/demos. Currently I finished my LPC2ISA project so I have native ISA soundcard in the system again that gives better compatability but still interested and watching over SBEMU...

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DOS gives me freedom to unlimited HW access.