LGR - AdLib Sound Card - Part 1: Unboxing, History, & Installing
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Date: 2022-04-14
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Comments and reviews: 10
Akselmo
Heh, I remember as a kid my parents had gotten this old Acer PC for me that only had MS-DOS and a few games, like Stunts, Hard day of a Knight and Lotus 3 I think.
Anyway, the Lotus game had all these AdLib, Soundblaster and other sound settings and I loved to switch between them and see how different the music got. I had no idea what I was doing though, so it's nice to learn the history and what that AdLib thing even was.
I've probably said this in your other videos and I'll say it again: Thanks for making these videos, I'm learning a lot from them!
PS. I wish I still had that old PC but my parents threw it away. :( I even installed Win 3. 1 on it when I found disks for it, and that computer was basically like my baby, lol.
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Heh, I remember as a kid my parents had gotten this old Acer PC for me that only had MS-DOS and a few games, like Stunts, Hard day of a Knight and Lotus 3 I think.
Anyway, the Lotus game had all these AdLib, Soundblaster and other sound settings and I loved to switch between them and see how different the music got. I had no idea what I was doing though, so it's nice to learn the history and what that AdLib thing even was.
I've probably said this in your other videos and I'll say it again: Thanks for making these videos, I'm learning a lot from them!
PS. I wish I still had that old PC but my parents threw it away. :( I even installed Win 3. 1 on it when I found disks for it, and that computer was basically like my baby, lol.
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nikoladd
My first sound card was something -AdLib 2 compatible- OPL2/3 card with PC speaker passthrough. That thing when supported by games was lots of fun. And by supported I mean nearly all games did support it for music, which was good but some actually did sound effects on the FM synthesizer too, which was AWESOME! As it was mono I didn't even bother adding external speakers.
I got this thing in 1993 for like $30.
Another notable thing was I found some mod tracker player that could use the FM synthesizer and it sounded great.
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My first sound card was something -AdLib 2 compatible- OPL2/3 card with PC speaker passthrough. That thing when supported by games was lots of fun. And by supported I mean nearly all games did support it for music, which was good but some actually did sound effects on the FM synthesizer too, which was AWESOME! As it was mono I didn't even bother adding external speakers.
I got this thing in 1993 for like $30.
Another notable thing was I found some mod tracker player that could use the FM synthesizer and it sounded great.
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Алексей
I remember days DOS 386 SX computer with Yamaha OPL Chip. I love timbres I had in Wolfenstain 3d game and Supaplex. Later I had installed MS Windows 3. 1 But I got different OPL midi tibres. I know that is uses 128 timbres Set but why they differs in games and music programms for the same card? Example: I couldnt get the same Nice Wolfenstein3d OPL Horn in music editor for Windows 3. 1
For example another another 128 timbred card -> AWE 32 has equal timbres sounds in all programs and games.
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I remember days DOS 386 SX computer with Yamaha OPL Chip. I love timbres I had in Wolfenstain 3d game and Supaplex. Later I had installed MS Windows 3. 1 But I got different OPL midi tibres. I know that is uses 128 timbres Set but why they differs in games and music programms for the same card? Example: I couldnt get the same Nice Wolfenstein3d OPL Horn in music editor for Windows 3. 1
For example another another 128 timbred card -> AWE 32 has equal timbres sounds in all programs and games.
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TheRetroDudeAbides
From what I've played with (as I've a Yamaha PSS-680 keyboard that has a built-in OPL2, the Adlib and later OPL3 used in many contemporary ISA sound cards were far more powerful than what was used in most arcade machines and the Sega Genesis. Part of the reason was from the fact the OPL series had more waveforms than sine, and also had some AM synthesis capability.
If I can learn how to make sounds and string some notes together, it would be sweet to hear what it can REALLY do.
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From what I've played with (as I've a Yamaha PSS-680 keyboard that has a built-in OPL2, the Adlib and later OPL3 used in many contemporary ISA sound cards were far more powerful than what was used in most arcade machines and the Sega Genesis. Part of the reason was from the fact the OPL series had more waveforms than sine, and also had some AM synthesis capability.
If I can learn how to make sounds and string some notes together, it would be sweet to hear what it can REALLY do.
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LGR
-Alexander Brandon Okay, the fact that you're commenting here is blowing me away, haha. You're one of my computer game composing heroes along with Bobby Prince, and Tyrian remains one of my favorite soundtracks ever. I actually was just going on about your awesome music in my Jazz Jackrabbit 2 review recently! So thank you for many years of earworms and amazing tracker tunes: D
But anyway, the music in the background is from Jerry Martin's excellent soundtrack to SimCity 3000!
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-Alexander Brandon Okay, the fact that you're commenting here is blowing me away, haha. You're one of my computer game composing heroes along with Bobby Prince, and Tyrian remains one of my favorite soundtracks ever. I actually was just going on about your awesome music in my Jazz Jackrabbit 2 review recently! So thank you for many years of earworms and amazing tracker tunes: D
But anyway, the music in the background is from Jerry Martin's excellent soundtrack to SimCity 3000!
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JoeBee9
What's funny is I never really liked how a lot of music sounded through the Adlib in many cases but now those same songs sound incredible. I wonder if modern sound hardware is what REALLY breathes new life into Adlib music/midis whereas before it was dampened by background hissing and other distortions due to old technology. Even recordings from actual Adlib cards (such as what is heard in this video series) are GREATLY improved from what I remember.
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What's funny is I never really liked how a lot of music sounded through the Adlib in many cases but now those same songs sound incredible. I wonder if modern sound hardware is what REALLY breathes new life into Adlib music/midis whereas before it was dampened by background hissing and other distortions due to old technology. Even recordings from actual Adlib cards (such as what is heard in this video series) are GREATLY improved from what I remember.
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johneygd
For what i do know DOOM also supported the adlib soundcard for music, but since the. Adlib sound does NOT support PCM sound, it has to simulate pcm sound by using clever trickery software, but the adlib 1000 gold dit support -12bit pcm sound,
Pcm sound could even be faked on a pc speaker by again using clevery software tricks.
Either wat, fm sound can be dound like warm.
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For what i do know DOOM also supported the adlib soundcard for music, but since the. Adlib sound does NOT support PCM sound, it has to simulate pcm sound by using clever trickery software, but the adlib 1000 gold dit support -12bit pcm sound,
Pcm sound could even be faked on a pc speaker by again using clevery software tricks.
Either wat, fm sound can be dound like warm.
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Alexander
Okay so first, this is a great retrospective. Thanks for doing it. Second, I wrote many tunes on the Ad Lib and Tyrian was perhaps the most well known game to use Ad Lib tunes, super powered by the Loudness sound system which really tweaked the OPL chip to its max potential. I only have one question: that's cool music you're playing in the background, what is it? :)
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Okay so first, this is a great retrospective. Thanks for doing it. Second, I wrote many tunes on the Ad Lib and Tyrian was perhaps the most well known game to use Ad Lib tunes, super powered by the Loudness sound system which really tweaked the OPL chip to its max potential. I only have one question: that's cool music you're playing in the background, what is it? :)
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LGR
-Chaniyth Absolutely! The SNES just sounds -canned- so often, but with FM the potential is virtually limitless.
Unfortunately, so many audio designers took the easy way out with FM synthesis, and in turn many people were turned off to it before long. And then some just hate the sound of FM, but I can't for the life of me understand it.
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-Chaniyth Absolutely! The SNES just sounds -canned- so often, but with FM the potential is virtually limitless.
Unfortunately, so many audio designers took the easy way out with FM synthesis, and in turn many people were turned off to it before long. And then some just hate the sound of FM, but I can't for the life of me understand it.
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Agelu
I liked somehow the fact that you were making the video as you were unwrapping the whole thing. Makes me feel like we are actually joining in this whole thing. -
I like MIDI myself because it's so precise that you can hear every little exact detail. Aaaand. nice music for the video. Very classy and fitting.
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I liked somehow the fact that you were making the video as you were unwrapping the whole thing. Makes me feel like we are actually joining in this whole thing. -
I like MIDI myself because it's so precise that you can hear every little exact detail. Aaaand. nice music for the video. Very classy and fitting.
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