@bobjoe212x I'm just using an internal floppy drive and a USB Stick with DOS on it. I may get something that lets me use a soundblaster with PCI/USB/Serial (My current computer is the one being used as my DOS machine. The only thing that isn't maxed out on my PC is my RAM.....for now :D)
(last post for tonight): About the quality, practically it _can_ go even higher than the soundblaster [if you scrape the FIFO/buffer which caps the sound source at 7KHz (~38khz vs. 22khz)) BUT all sound has to be processed in software, causing a very high cpu load (considering PCs had 8-33Mhz back then) which even makes Wolf3d run slightly jerky on my DX2 (66MHz).
@1337Shockwav3 Yeah, as a computer engineer, I figured that it had to be done in software, and that that probably took up a good chunk of CPU time. Luckily, the CPU I have in this machine is a 133Mhz Pentium, so I didn't notice any slowdown.
Also ... covox lemmings doesn't work with the Sound Source because of the mentioned buffer thing, as the sound source needs a special bit series to be activated sent through the parallel port, which lemmings doesn't send, considering it's made for simple covox plugs ... it works great with the thunderboard by Mediavision tho (which is an ISA based soundblaster clone with a few additional features.)
Having built a stereo(!) covox previously I've started to attempt to rebuild such a Sound Source wrapper for covoxes ... but got bored in pretty early in the progress of soldering ... I guess I should pick that up again, as not only wolf3d supported it, but pretty much every apogee game (duke3d, shadow warrior) and niteraid by formgen/ID Software ... wolf3d prolly is the most popular one tho.
One more thing about the little box ... I've done a little research on that, funnily enough it does not only contain resistors for voltage adaption + a DAC chip, but also a FIFO (basically an 8byte buffer) allowing software to detect if the sound source is connected or not ... which is kinda annoying nowadays, since it makes software written for the SS incompatible with Covox plugs and no one has really figured out yet how it works exactly.
Since I collect old soundcards I own one as well, even tho I don't think they were ever marketed here (Germany that is). It's certainly a fun little gadget considering the part you plug into your parallel port has a variable condensator inside, setting the frequency of the sound output (which can cause some funny effects in games).
Sound Source just brought back audio for newer PCs, i'm building my own for my 2002 based laptop which has NO audio (besides MPXPlay) in DOS
bobjoe212x 4 months ago
@bobjoe212x I'm just using an internal floppy drive and a USB Stick with DOS on it. I may get something that lets me use a soundblaster with PCI/USB/Serial (My current computer is the one being used as my DOS machine. The only thing that isn't maxed out on my PC is my RAM.....for now :D)
Robloxian182 1 month ago
This thing would be good if you only had the Adlib original and couldn't afford a Soundblaster.
pHr33kAcHu 6 months ago
needz moar death incarnate mode.
kingcrimson234 7 months ago
Duke Nukem 3d & simcity supported the disney sound source
MegaJacob97 9 months ago
A Kart Racing game known as Wacky Wheels supported the Sound Source.
Scioneer 1 year ago
(last post for tonight): About the quality, practically it _can_ go even higher than the soundblaster [if you scrape the FIFO/buffer which caps the sound source at 7KHz (~38khz vs. 22khz)) BUT all sound has to be processed in software, causing a very high cpu load (considering PCs had 8-33Mhz back then) which even makes Wolf3d run slightly jerky on my DX2 (66MHz).
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago
@1337Shockwav3 Yeah, as a computer engineer, I figured that it had to be done in software, and that that probably took up a good chunk of CPU time. Luckily, the CPU I have in this machine is a 133Mhz Pentium, so I didn't notice any slowdown.
lilmul123 1 year ago
Also ... covox lemmings doesn't work with the Sound Source because of the mentioned buffer thing, as the sound source needs a special bit series to be activated sent through the parallel port, which lemmings doesn't send, considering it's made for simple covox plugs ... it works great with the thunderboard by Mediavision tho (which is an ISA based soundblaster clone with a few additional features.)
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago
@1337Shockwav3 Interesting, that would explain why I couldn't get it to work.
lilmul123 1 year ago
Having built a stereo(!) covox previously I've started to attempt to rebuild such a Sound Source wrapper for covoxes ... but got bored in pretty early in the progress of soldering ... I guess I should pick that up again, as not only wolf3d supported it, but pretty much every apogee game (duke3d, shadow warrior) and niteraid by formgen/ID Software ... wolf3d prolly is the most popular one tho.
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago
One more thing about the little box ... I've done a little research on that, funnily enough it does not only contain resistors for voltage adaption + a DAC chip, but also a FIFO (basically an 8byte buffer) allowing software to detect if the sound source is connected or not ... which is kinda annoying nowadays, since it makes software written for the SS incompatible with Covox plugs and no one has really figured out yet how it works exactly.
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago
@1337Shockwav3 Interesting tidbits. I've been thinking of cracking it open myself and checking it out. Maybe I'll check it out very soon.
lilmul123 1 year ago
@lilmul123 No need to ;)
bit . ly / hX5PbB
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago
Since I collect old soundcards I own one as well, even tho I don't think they were ever marketed here (Germany that is). It's certainly a fun little gadget considering the part you plug into your parallel port has a variable condensator inside, setting the frequency of the sound output (which can cause some funny effects in games).
1337Shockwav3 1 year ago