DOSBoxWiki - User contributions [en]

MIDI software devices

2013-05-24T18:39:03Z

Smartimp: /* VirtualMIDISynth */

DOSBOX currently does not provide emulation of general MIDI or the MT-32 Roland, instead passing the music data along to the MIDI device installed on your system. However, most modern PCs provide only very basic MIDI functionality, and therefore attempts to use general MIDI/MT-32 music under DOSBOX usually end up sounding rather poor.

Fortunately, at least for Windows users, there are a couple of free software projects that provide emulation of these MIDI devices, resulting in a great boost to music quality:

==Roland MT-32==

[http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/ Munt] is an open source project that aims to emulate the MT-32 hardware by way of a Windows XP WDM driver. Using it, however, requires a copy of the original ROM images from a Roland MT-32, and these are not included with the download. Installation notes are provided within the distribution archive.

==General MIDI==

[http://www.wg7.com/en/wgdl.html WinGroove] has apparently been abandoned mid-development, but is still an excellent sounding general MIDI synthesizer. The latest available version, 0.A4 Beta-2, can be freely obtained from the site.

Installation note: After downloading wg0a4_e.exe, run it in order to extract the installation files into a temporary directory. Then, from within that directory, go to START -> RUN and type "WGINSTLR.EXE FULLSET.LST". The rest of the process should be trouble free - but do not skip restarting Windows at the end.

==BASSMIDI GM/GS/XG SoundFont Compatible Driver==

The [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv BASSMIDI MIDI Synthesizer Driver] is a freeware SoundFont based Windows MIDI system driver (created by [http://kode54.foobar2000.org Kode54] and [http://www.mudlord.info MudLord]) for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

More information about the driver can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/XMPlay.htm#bassmididriver Here]. Detailed installation and usage instructions can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here].

Download the BASSMIDI Driver installer [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe Here], as well as a nice sounding General MIDI SoundFont to use with the driver [http://www.un4seen.com/download.php?extra/WeedsGM3 Here]. More information about the General MIDI SoundFont can be found [http://www.richnagel.net/#soundfonts Here], and additional discussion can be found in [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=24355 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

Discuss the BASSMIDI Driver in the [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=87639 Hydrogen Audio Forums], as well as [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=27975 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

==VirtualMIDISynth==
VirtualMIDISynth is a nice software General MIDI synthesizer based on BASSMIDI library, and it also uses soundfonts.
Visit [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth here] to get more information and download the [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/download/CoolSoft_VirtualMIDISynth_1.8.1.exe installer].
The page also has links to some free soundfonts. [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/FluidR3_GM.sfArk FluidR3] soundfonts or [http://www.geocities.jp/shansoundfont/ SGM-V2.01] soundfonts are recommended regarding the size and quality.
Additional programs are required to uncompress soundfonts file, check [http://woolyss.com/chipmusic-soundfonts.php#compressors here].
A large size soundfonts is also available at [http://www.synthfont.com/soundfonts.html www.sythfont.com], for example [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/Evanessence.sfpack Evanessence] soundfonts (which is 1.7 GB !!!). It has richer sound but may cause lag due to the large size.

==Using MIDI software devices under DOSBOX==

After installing any of these devices, you will need to make sure DOSBOX actually uses them. You can either edit the [MIDI] section in the .conf file (instruction are provided inside the file itself or in the README), or change the default MIDI device in Windows. To do the latter, Go to START -> SETTINGS -> CONTROL PANEL -> SOUND AND AUDIO DEVICES, select the "Audio" tab and choose the device you wish to use under the "Midi music playback" section.

MIDI software devices

2013-05-24T16:02:59Z

Smartimp: /* VirtualMIDISynth */

DOSBOX currently does not provide emulation of general MIDI or the MT-32 Roland, instead passing the music data along to the MIDI device installed on your system. However, most modern PCs provide only very basic MIDI functionality, and therefore attempts to use general MIDI/MT-32 music under DOSBOX usually end up sounding rather poor.

Fortunately, at least for Windows users, there are a couple of free software projects that provide emulation of these MIDI devices, resulting in a great boost to music quality:

==Roland MT-32==

[http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/ Munt] is an open source project that aims to emulate the MT-32 hardware by way of a Windows XP WDM driver. Using it, however, requires a copy of the original ROM images from a Roland MT-32, and these are not included with the download. Installation notes are provided within the distribution archive.

==General MIDI==

[http://www.wg7.com/en/wgdl.html WinGroove] has apparently been abandoned mid-development, but is still an excellent sounding general MIDI synthesizer. The latest available version, 0.A4 Beta-2, can be freely obtained from the site.

Installation note: After downloading wg0a4_e.exe, run it in order to extract the installation files into a temporary directory. Then, from within that directory, go to START -> RUN and type "WGINSTLR.EXE FULLSET.LST". The rest of the process should be trouble free - but do not skip restarting Windows at the end.

==BASSMIDI GM/GS/XG SoundFont Compatible Driver==

The [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv BASSMIDI MIDI Synthesizer Driver] is a freeware SoundFont based Windows MIDI system driver (created by [http://kode54.foobar2000.org Kode54] and [http://www.mudlord.info MudLord]) for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

More information about the driver can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/XMPlay.htm#bassmididriver Here]. Detailed installation and usage instructions can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here].

Download the BASSMIDI Driver installer [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe Here], as well as a nice sounding General MIDI SoundFont to use with the driver [http://www.un4seen.com/download.php?extra/WeedsGM3 Here]. More information about the General MIDI SoundFont can be found [http://www.richnagel.net/#soundfonts Here], and additional discussion can be found in [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=24355 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

Discuss the BASSMIDI Driver in the [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=87639 Hydrogen Audio Forums], as well as [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=27975 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

==VirtualMIDISynth==
VirtualMIDISynth is a nice software General MIDI synthesizer based on BASSMIDI driver, and it also uses soundfonts.
Visit [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth here] to get more information and download the [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/download/CoolSoft_VirtualMIDISynth_1.8.1.exe installer].
The page also has links to some free soundfonts. [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/FluidR3_GM.sfArk FluidR3] soundfonts or [http://www.geocities.jp/shansoundfont/ SGM-V2.01] soundfonts are recommended regarding the size and quality.
Additional programs are required to uncompress soundfonts file, check [http://woolyss.com/chipmusic-soundfonts.php#compressors here].
A large size soundfonts is also available at [http://www.synthfont.com/soundfonts.html www.sythfont.com], for example [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/Evanessence.sfpack Evanessence] soundfonts (which is 1.7 GB !!!). It has richer sound but may cause lag due to the large size.

==Using MIDI software devices under DOSBOX==

After installing any of these devices, you will need to make sure DOSBOX actually uses them. You can either edit the [MIDI] section in the .conf file (instruction are provided inside the file itself or in the README), or change the default MIDI device in Windows. To do the latter, Go to START -> SETTINGS -> CONTROL PANEL -> SOUND AND AUDIO DEVICES, select the "Audio" tab and choose the device you wish to use under the "Midi music playback" section.

MIDI software devices

2013-05-24T15:57:15Z

Smartimp:

DOSBOX currently does not provide emulation of general MIDI or the MT-32 Roland, instead passing the music data along to the MIDI device installed on your system. However, most modern PCs provide only very basic MIDI functionality, and therefore attempts to use general MIDI/MT-32 music under DOSBOX usually end up sounding rather poor.

Fortunately, at least for Windows users, there are a couple of free software projects that provide emulation of these MIDI devices, resulting in a great boost to music quality:

==Roland MT-32==

[http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/ Munt] is an open source project that aims to emulate the MT-32 hardware by way of a Windows XP WDM driver. Using it, however, requires a copy of the original ROM images from a Roland MT-32, and these are not included with the download. Installation notes are provided within the distribution archive.

==General MIDI==

[http://www.wg7.com/en/wgdl.html WinGroove] has apparently been abandoned mid-development, but is still an excellent sounding general MIDI synthesizer. The latest available version, 0.A4 Beta-2, can be freely obtained from the site.

Installation note: After downloading wg0a4_e.exe, run it in order to extract the installation files into a temporary directory. Then, from within that directory, go to START -> RUN and type "WGINSTLR.EXE FULLSET.LST". The rest of the process should be trouble free - but do not skip restarting Windows at the end.

==BASSMIDI GM/GS/XG SoundFont Compatible Driver==

The [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv BASSMIDI MIDI Synthesizer Driver] is a freeware SoundFont based Windows MIDI system driver (created by [http://kode54.foobar2000.org Kode54] and [http://www.mudlord.info MudLord]) for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

More information about the driver can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/XMPlay.htm#bassmididriver Here]. Detailed installation and usage instructions can be found [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here] or [http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm Here].

Download the BASSMIDI Driver installer [http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe Here], as well as a nice sounding General MIDI SoundFont to use with the driver [http://www.un4seen.com/download.php?extra/WeedsGM3 Here]. More information about the General MIDI SoundFont can be found [http://www.richnagel.net/#soundfonts Here], and additional discussion can be found in [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=24355 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

Discuss the BASSMIDI Driver in the [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=87639 Hydrogen Audio Forums], as well as [http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=27975 This Message Thread] in the VOGONS forums.

==VirtualMIDISynth==
VirtualMIDISynth is a nice software General MIDI synthesizer based on BASSMIDI driver, and it also uses soundfonts.
Visit [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth here] to get more information and download the [http://coolsoft.altervista.org/download/CoolSoft_VirtualMIDISynth_1.8.1.exe installer].
The page also has links to some free soundfonts. I would suggest [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/FluidR3_GM.sfArk FluidR3] soundfonts or [http://www.geocities.jp/shansoundfont/ SGM-V2.01] soundfonts regarding the size and quality.
You will need additional programs to uncompress soundfonts file, check [http://woolyss.com/chipmusic-soundfonts.php#compressors here].
You can also get a large soundfonts from [http://www.synthfont.com/soundfonts.html www.sythfont.com], for example [http://www.synthfont.com/SoundFonts/Evanessence.sfpack Evanessence] soundfonts (which is 1.7 GB !!!). It has richer sound but may cause lag due to the large size.

==Using MIDI software devices under DOSBOX==

After installing any of these devices, you will need to make sure DOSBOX actually uses them. You can either edit the [MIDI] section in the .conf file (instruction are provided inside the file itself or in the README), or change the default MIDI device in Windows. To do the latter, Go to START -> SETTINGS -> CONTROL PANEL -> SOUND AND AUDIO DEVICES, select the "Audio" tab and choose the device you wish to use under the "Midi music playback" section.