Massive OPL (FM) ISA Sound Card comparison

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
  • This is a comparison of ISA sound cards in DOS games, using just an FM synthesis. I've tested 13 sound cards with different OPL clone chips in different DOS games.
    If you want, you can support me on Patreon: / kitr
    or
    Join my discord server: / discord
    Playlist:
    DooM - E1M1:
    00:02:23 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:02:43 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:03:03 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:03:23 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:03:43 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:04:03 - ESS ES1868F
    00:04:23 - ESS ES1688F
    00:04:44 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:05:04 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:05:24 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:05:44 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:06:04 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:06:24 - DOSBox ECE
    Monkey Island 2 - Intro:
    00:06:44 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:07:04 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:07:24 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:07:44 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:08:04 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:08:24 - ESS ES1868F
    00:08:44 - ESS ES1688F
    00:09:04 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:09:25 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:09:45 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:10:05 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:10:25 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:10:45 - DOSBox ECE
    DooM 2 - Map 01:
    00:11:05 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:11:25 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:11:45 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:12:05 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:12:25 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:12:45 - ESS ES1868F
    00:13:05 - ESS ES1688F
    00:13:25 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:13:45 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:14:05 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:14:25 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:14:46 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:15:06 - DOSBox ECE
    Lemmings:
    00:15:26 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:15:46 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:16:06 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:16:26 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:16:46 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:17:06 - ESS ES1868F
    00:17:26 - ESS ES1688F
    00:17:46 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:18:06 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:18:26 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:18:46 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:19:06 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:19:26 - DOSBox ECE
    Duke 3D - Intro:
    00:19:46 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:20:06 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:20:26 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:20:46 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:21:07 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:21:27 - ESS ES1868F
    00:21:47 - ESS ES1688F
    00:22:07 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:22:27 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:22:47 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:23:07 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:23:27 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:23:47 - DOSBox ECE
    Rise Of The Triad - Map 01:
    00:24:07 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:24:27 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:24:47 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:25:07 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:25:27 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:25:47 - ESS ES1868F
    00:26:07 - ESS ES1688F
    00:26:27 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:26:47 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:27:08 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:27:28 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:27:48 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:28:08 - DOSBox ECE
    Space Quest 5:
    00:28:28 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:28:48 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:29:08 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:29:28 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:29:48 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:30:08 - ESS ES1868F
    00:30:28 - ESS ES1688F
    00:30:48 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:31:08 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:31:28 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:31:48 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:32:08 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:32:28 - DOSBox ECE
    Gabriel Knight:
    00:32:48 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:33:08 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:33:28 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:33:49 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:34:09 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:34:29 - ESS ES1868F
    00:34:49 - ESS ES1688F
    00:35:09 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:35:29 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:35:49 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:36:09 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:36:29 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:36:49 - DOSBox ECE
    Quest for Glory 4:
    00:37:09 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:37:29 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:37:49 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:38:09 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:38:29 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:38:49 - ESS ES1868F
    00:39:09 - ESS ES1688F
    00:39:29 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:39:49 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:40:09 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:40:29 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:40:49 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:41:09 - DOSBox ECE
    Warcraft 2:
    00:41:29 - Sound Blaster 16 (OPL3)
    00:41:49 - Aztech Sound Galaxy NX (OPL2)
    00:42:09 - Sound Blaster AWE64 (CQM)
    00:42:29 - Sound Blaster Vibra 16XV (CQM)
    00:42:50 - Terratec Maestro 32/96 (Crystal 4232)
    00:43:10 - ESS ES1868F
    00:43:30 - ESS ES1688F
    00:43:50 - Avance Logic ALS100 Plus
    00:44:10 - Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000
    00:44:30 - SoundPro HT1869V+
    00:44:50 - Aztech AZT2320
    00:45:10 - Anchor Media Concept 2.0
    00:45:30 - DOSBox ECE
    Check out my other channel with retro game MIDI music videos: / @kitrmusic6742

ความคิดเห็น • 153

  • @krz8888888
    @krz8888888 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    The soundscape is providing comic relief to this video

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It does sound a tad crappy :)

  • @Shmbler
    @Shmbler 4 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Outstandig comparison! I really like how you put the short samples together. Very helpful.

  • @BrassicGamer
    @BrassicGamer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    "I had to include it, just to take the piss out of it" is EXACTLY what I want to hear at the beginning of an FM synthesis comparison video. This is the kind of video I've always wanted to make, but never got around to. I might still do it, as I have a few chips you haven't included. The post-OPL Creative synthesis is absolutely horrible - too metallic. I knew there was a reason I didn't like Crystal chips - there was one included in a Toshiba laptop I have and it never did a good job. The ESS, SoundPro & Aztech do pretty well, I thought (better than Creative) and that ALS card is *so* noisy. Thanks for the video.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I may make part 2 with the chips I've gathered since I've made the video.

    • @BrassicGamer
      @BrassicGamer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@KITR-UK nice. I'm guessing that would include the GUS Classic?

    • @Rickenbacker451
      @Rickenbacker451 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Looks like the ALS card has an amplifier on it but no jumpers to disable it. These cheap amplifiers cause a lot of noise. I don't know why they added amplifiers since most chips have better integrated (but lower power) amplifiers. Maybe these cards were intended for use with passive speakers?

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Rickenbacker451 More like headphones.

  • @Uta4ka
    @Uta4ka 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000 походу вообще живёт в своей параллельной вселенной

  • @coolie4u
    @coolie4u 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Amazing creation. I've wanted to hear this ever since these cards were made.
    My first card was a Sound Blaster v1.5 - CT1320C with Yamaha YM3812 OPL2 with CMS chips.
    Then later on I also got a GUS full length card.
    Good times indeed 🎶🎶🎶

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm still missing some cards that could make a difference in this comparison, but I need to find them, first.

    • @coolie4u
      @coolie4u 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@KITR-UK Maybe you can make an announcement video where you describe which cards and revisions you need and see if you can get some of them donated to you for this purpose. LGR seems to get tons of donations for the sake of showing them all for us which I think is great.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@coolie4u I may, I'll think about that. Cheers for the advice.

  • @stevenclark2188
    @stevenclark2188 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I get the impression either CQM was missing some low-pass filtering the other chips had or maybe it had some quantization problems introducing extra higher harmonics.

  • @ms-dosman7722
    @ms-dosman7722 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great work on getting all those recordings!

  • @audvidgeek
    @audvidgeek 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My vote goes to the TerraTec with the Crystal synth. it just sounds GOOD. completely different from the others, but just more polished and full. Ensoniq sounds good, but its MIDI patch is all out of wack!. Azetc cards came in Packard Bell computers and were a nightmare to get drivers straight with windows 95

  • @overdriver99
    @overdriver99 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    excellent video! I cannot imagine how many hours you spent for this video. thanks!
    Since I don't remember original sound from my old days I guess CQM(AWE64) sounds not bad and in some case it sounds better than OPL3! I thought CQM was terrible because I never heard direct comparison. and my Aztech sound card sounds same as SB 16 OPL3.. good!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Well, it took some time :)

    • @TheAdatto
      @TheAdatto 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Awe32 sounded much better. I still have 3 different AWE32's And a AWE64 Gold. But the native AWE32 ruled

  • @ching-chenhuang8119
    @ching-chenhuang8119 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I don't know what was on the minds of S-2000 developers, were they trying to fuck with us?
    What kind of music style is this?

    • @jotarokujo3395
      @jotarokujo3395 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Clown music

    • @Mani-aX
      @Mani-aX 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      that was for the Nintendo version HAHAHA!

  • @LaConan2027
    @LaConan2027 ปีที่แล้ว

    great video, i wish you could do MORE AND MORE cards hahaha, like PAS16, AWE32, OPTI cards, and of course a true yamaha isa card, etc.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      Cheers and don't worry, I've got like million of them lined up for a review :)

  • @ben_yeates
    @ben_yeates 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Policeman: Tell me where the Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000 touched you.

    • @razorsz195
      @razorsz195 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Right in the feels :( i feel violated officer D:

  • @7hny854
    @7hny854 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What can I say, after all this years, Terratec Maestro is standing out!

  • @UXXV
    @UXXV 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sounds like one of the cards had one output channel inverted? And the Ensoniq is running in derp mode!

  • @Rouxenator
    @Rouxenator 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    ESS 1688F, my first soundcard and it does produce a good FM synth sound

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I've just got a very special card with ESS 1688 chip, and I can't wait to test it out. It is GUS Extreme.

    • @AR-ff8th
      @AR-ff8th 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have had Genius Sound Maker 16 IE with ESS 1688 chip it was my first sound card

  • @deanster3435
    @deanster3435 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ngl this should be archived for everyone wanting to build dos gaming rigs and looking for their preferred opl audio setup

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I am not going to delete the video any time soon :)

    • @deanster3435
      @deanster3435 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK I just meant in general, I didn't think you were gonna delete it lol

  • @pentiummmx2294
    @pentiummmx2294 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    the terratec actually uses the dream sam9233 for the FM synth

  • @GreySectoid
    @GreySectoid ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome work!

  • @weepingscorpion8739
    @weepingscorpion8739 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    OK, no wonder why I've always thought the OPL2 and OPL3 versions sounded weird: I've never had a card which uses these chips. My first sound card was an ESS card, I don't know which one but the 1688 sounded very similar to it but it could've been an older card (the 688, maybe?). Anyway, I later upgraded it to an AWE 64 Gold which is still my favourite sound card.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Check out my GUS Extreme review, it uses 1688.

  • @aquaferme1346
    @aquaferme1346 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    hahahahah "cheap card with a cheap chip"... best expression

  • @KeyReel-fiddler
    @KeyReel-fiddler 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hm! Why Terratec is using effects like Reverb and chorus? That's kinda cool! As far as I remember all of OPLx synth inside the cards without that option.

    • @ozzyp97
      @ozzyp97 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      AWE32s with integrated OPL3 in the CT1747 chip are the only cards capable of adding FX to a genuine OPL, as fars I know. My CT2760 can do it, and at least one of the later C3XXX cards can as well.

  • @Runslik3Wind
    @Runslik3Wind 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    terratec maestro hits different

  • @paolodangelo2981
    @paolodangelo2981 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice channel and video! Entertaining...

  • @FAYZER0
    @FAYZER0 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Also never played Rise of the Triad, but man did I love that track!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The game itself is terrible, but it's got an excellent music :)

  • @jguo
    @jguo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks a lot for this comparison! I will just stick with my SC-55 without spending money trying more sound cards...

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      SC-55 is pretty good. I will do a review some time in the future.

  • @josephfrye7342
    @josephfrye7342 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    good thing soundblaster 16 opl-3 went first well as for sound blaster pro 2.0 the revised version had opl-3 but the 1.0 has two opl-2 chips

  • @FAYZER0
    @FAYZER0 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Soundscape for the win! lol

  • @tetsujin_144
    @tetsujin_144 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Man what's with that Crystal 4232? Most of the pseudo-OPLs seem to be pretty decent but the Maestro card and the Soundscape card are just way off...

    • @pentiummmx2294
      @pentiummmx2294 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      it uses a dream sam9233, not the 4232

  • @railsrust
    @railsrust 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Could you try running through some of these cards with Ultima VI and/or the Japenese DOS game Rusty?
    Ultima VI has beautiful music in the intro, and the whole soundtrack of Rusty is probably the best soundtrack for DOS FM.
    You could also do music from a game called Cybersphere. It's a game that uses only OPL3 and will push the card with OPL3 to their limits.
    Only the best cards can play these songs well.
    Also see if you can get a hold of a Yamaha YMF718 or YMF719 based card. They're usually fairly cheap and have real OPL3.

  • @ThailogXanatos
    @ThailogXanatos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Cool comparison man! One nitpick, looks like you used the Duke 3D theme song from the sound setup menu.
    That version is crap and sounds different from the one that plays in the actual game.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      That's something I haven't realised. I may even reupload the video because of that.

    • @fungo6631
      @fungo6631 ปีที่แล้ว

      It actually sounds better on the Ensoniq!

  • @wfp9378
    @wfp9378 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I bought the Ensoniq to pair with a SBPro. Turned off the SB emulation as it is pretty bad so I was fine as I knew how I was going to use it. If it was your only card you would not be happy. Its GM though...woot! Monkey Island music is to die for.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      What Ensoniq card you bought?

  • @jodyjohnson265
    @jodyjohnson265 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I wish I was an early 90s kid the early 2000s where great too.

  • @hyznth
    @hyznth 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great comparison! I'm surprised how good the ALS100 holds up. The SoundPro HT1869V+ though - it sounds really odd on my speakers (for exaple at 5:25). Is it possible it has inverted phase internally?

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You're not the first one that's asking about it. I thought the SoundPro sounded alright, but I reckon I have to check it out once again.

  • @YuriyKrivosheyev
    @YuriyKrivosheyev 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks! Good job done

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      No problem.

  • @u263a3
    @u263a3 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    If you had wave table synthesis, you'd rather use that over OPL

  • @SANPARR1
    @SANPARR1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Crystal 4232 - Very good

  • @Marsandrey
    @Marsandrey 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    On Timecodes and you are talking about ESS ES1688F, but on picture ES1869! So, where is truth??? Thanks!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      What's the exact timecode?

    • @Marsandrey
      @Marsandrey 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@KITR-UK 1:21. Where is a picture of ESS1668F? Thanks

  • @retrocompaq5212
    @retrocompaq5212 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i just bought a 486 pc with a ess audiodrive 1868f and im surprised how well it sounds but btw i own a ct2900 with a different opl3 chip, is there any difference between the twos?

  • @darkowl9
    @darkowl9 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is E1M1 even optimised for OPL3 though? From memory Doom doesn't use much of the OPL3's capabilities, so it's maybe not the best to really show off what the chipset could do...

  • @TheFellerHasAChannelGodDamnIt
    @TheFellerHasAChannelGodDamnIt 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The Virgin Sound Blaster 16 Users VS. The Chad Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000 Listeners

  • @vermillion57
    @vermillion57 ปีที่แล้ว

    For the best results, it would have been much better using only the DOOM intro music from the game's title screen as there's a HUGE difference between an ESS ES1868F AudioDrive and a SoundBlaster Pro 16. They do NOT sound the same like shown on the E1M1 music here and that's why I prefer the former for my ISA audio card. It also depends on the game version used: I used v1.2 of DOOM and not the one with updated "MUS" files in the main game's IWAD.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      You may be right, but I wanted to use something, let's say, more musical for the comparison. And I also used Doom 1.2.

  • @agevenisse3252
    @agevenisse3252 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always thought Ensoniq AudioPCI had the worst OPL emulation, but Soundscape is even worse... ;)

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Soundscape is the worst :)

  • @m1srok293
    @m1srok293 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Я раньше не понимал, за что все поливают дерьмом cqm, но теперь понял - звук бьет по ушам. Просто долбит, как ножом по стеклу. И это при том, что на копеечных ess звук был великолепным.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I didn't find CQM that horrible, but it's evidently unbearable for some people :)

  • @mjmonjure
    @mjmonjure ปีที่แล้ว

    I think both Aztech's and the Vibra sounded the best. A little disappointed with the awe 64, while it sounds good, it almost seems to the clip the end of each note or something weird. I think the Ensoniq could have been much better with a different sound font, at least on Doom.

  • @Paar86
    @Paar86 ปีที่แล้ว

    Maestro card does its FM synthesis through a Dream chip. It sound different but is not bad.
    EDIT: Ok, listened to more songs and its bad :D. Not as bad as Ensoniq though.

  • @aquaferme1346
    @aquaferme1346 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    terratec maestro is ... suprising... I cannot say it's bad, but... it is defenitively in its own little world.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Too bad I didn't have more cards like that to test. Maybe I will....for the second part.

    • @Paar86
      @Paar86 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@KITR-UK Just for information, the FM synthesis on that card is done through Dream 9233 chip, not Crystal 4232.

    • @Beus38
      @Beus38 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Paar86 Thank you for clarification....that's why I was so surprised how bad it sounds for a CrystalFM. Being a DreamFM, it explains how it sounds, and it does pretty much how I remember this SAM9233 to sound on any recording I heard.

  • @zaphod77
    @zaphod77 ปีที่แล้ว

    Please test tempest 2000. all the tunes. :) Mind's Eye is a particularly godo test tune from the game, btu the enmtire tune has to be played.

  • @krz8888888
    @krz8888888 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh man the ensonic cho-choing monkey island's theme

  • @RetroComputerRestaurationGroup
    @RetroComputerRestaurationGroup ปีที่แล้ว

    ALS100 best bang for a buck!

  • @x_voxelle_x
    @x_voxelle_x 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Was that SoundPro at 5:24 even doing anything? It sounds like the chip is just completely dead.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I must try another card with SoundPro chip to make sure it's working alright.

  • @Voidsworn
    @Voidsworn 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dukenukem3D on ensoniq soundscape? What the heck even was that?

  • @tuomollo
    @tuomollo ปีที่แล้ว

    I feel bad for those who bought Ensoniq back in the days.

  • @jeffbrownstain
    @jeffbrownstain 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm trying to decide on a soundcard to replicate (or buy) for making chiptune music on.
    I want something crisp but with fat chonky bass.
    Currently pondering between the AWE64 and the AZT2320.
    Any better recommendations?

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What about AWE32 or ESS1868F?

    • @jeffbrownstain
      @jeffbrownstain 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK did you show the awe32?
      I do like the highs on the ess1868, could get some really punchy melodies out of it.
      Thanks for the recommendations, I'll see if I can find where they fit in my highly processed noise.

    • @bbuggediffy
      @bbuggediffy ปีที่แล้ว

      For chip you should buy a soundboard with an actual SID chip on it!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      Next time :)

  • @ratix98
    @ratix98 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember Crystal fm synthesis sounding better then that! But crystal fm had to have a few revisions as I remember dell having it on board their dimension pcs.
    Are you aware of the doom modification that is usable in heretic and I think hexen? It requires a card with an opl3 chip. It's called "dmxopl enhanced ymf262 fm patch"

    • @thomasr.5443
      @thomasr.5443 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's not a patch but a commandline parameter

    • @ratix98
      @ratix98 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thomasr.5443 its both. If you don't use the "set dmxoption=-opl3" and you have your own custom patch bank consisting of opl2 waveforms it will still work.

    • @thomasr.5443
      @thomasr.5443 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ratix98 cool, I did not know that. Thank you for the information.

    • @pentiummmx2294
      @pentiummmx2294 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      it is actually the dream sam9233 doing the fm, not the crystal 4232

  • @Baoran
    @Baoran 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    It isn't just about the chip. Not all cards with opl3 sound the same for example. What kind of filters are used on the board also affect the sound too. You should compare original sound blaster to a SB16 card for example.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sure, you're right, but that's why I named the video "ISA sound cards comparison".

    • @Baoran
      @Baoran 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK I was just thinking that out of sound blaster cards that SB16 really doesn't have the best fm sound out of them in my opinion probably because of the filtering on the card. Something like CT1320C or CT1600 would have been a better example of what sound blasters and opl3 can do.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Baoran I wish I had these. When I get them, I'll do Part 2 with all other sound cards I've got since I've uploaded this video.

  • @pentiummmx2294
    @pentiummmx2294 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the Sound Galaxy NX sounds too muffled compared to the SB16.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You're right. It's an old card with an old chip. Unfortunately, I don't have another card with OPL2 chip to test whether it's the card's or the chip's fault.

    • @pentiummmx2294
      @pentiummmx2294 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I just got myself a ESS ES1868F and its a great card

  • @matthewwijsma9978
    @matthewwijsma9978 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow... the Soundscape S-2000 hahahah, yeah it is laughably bad.

  • @rhuwyn
    @rhuwyn 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    WTF is with that Ensoniq soundscape. It doesn't sound good in anything.....

    • @BEXYSPC
      @BEXYSPC 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It doesn’t have an FM synth it tries to emulate FM with it’s onboard samples, really poorly lol

  • @cyklop1977
    @cyklop1977 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    for me good card is AZTECH AZT2320 , ALS100 is very cheap and sounds good...ess is ok

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm working on another video with more cards. Maybe you'll like them even more...

    • @cyklop1977
      @cyklop1977 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK it is great .You can make also test the music cards , how they make slow down game speed ( same like vga cards) .

    • @pentiummmx2294
      @pentiummmx2294 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      the Aztech seems to use a real OPL3 that is integrated in the main ASIC

  • @Autumn_Able
    @Autumn_Able 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Might've used the wrong version of grabbag for the Duke3D test. The one used in the sound setup sounds too generic compared to the actual title screen's version.

  • @mat-mat101
    @mat-mat101 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The Ensoniq one does not sound too great with the instrument imp,ementations though they are of great quslity by comparison.
    The Terratec Maestro 32/96 feels like an orchestra due to the reverb.
    The SoundPro HT1869V+ is not that good thanks to its poorly-executed surround sound implementation.

  • @ubza1234
    @ubza1234 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What's going on with that second doom track? It's dropping notes? Was that just me? 13:17 13:18 13:19

    • @ubza1234
      @ubza1234 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      And I could be wrong, but I "think" the Aztec has one of the channels wired out of phase to the other channel? I could be wrong, but if you played a midi sine wave into both speakers at once, recorded it, and then looked at the wave form in audacity or whatever, you'd see if they where out of phase pretty easily.
      One sign that this is the case, is that when listening on a set of half decent speakers, if one phase is reversed to the other, there will be no sound or very little sound playing between the speakers. What they call the "phantom center". When you your mind processes the audio coming from your ears, your mind will say the in no sound coming from this "phantom center." if they are in phase, they will be sound coming from the center, when the sound is played in equal volume in both left and right. This effect is more obvious with mid range and lower frequencies rather than higher notes. Finally, it also tends to sound a little wider. That is to say, it may almost sound like sound is emanating from a little left of where the left speaker, and a little right of the left speaker. As in it might sound like sound is emanating from where there technically is no speaker. Like a phantom wide channel in Dolby atmos terms. Kinda like the sound has been squeezed from the center, and out part the speakers a little.
      It's just something that stood out to me, but I totally accept I'd I'm trippin 😂

    • @ubza1234
      @ubza1234 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      this first rise of the triad track is a good example of what I'm talking about because it's for a lot of that lower and mid range frequency stuff going on. The higher frequency stuff tries to be in the center, but not quite there.. In hi-fi wanker speak, we'd say it has a "wondering center image".
      27:29
      I think the Soundpro has some weird phase issues too, but they aren't as obvious as the Aztec. Again, you need speakers for this to be obvious. I'm not sure how obvious it would be with headphones.

    • @ubza1234
      @ubza1234 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Is the terratec reverb hardwired or selectable? It actually causes some quotes effects. I don't like it 😂

  • @fenixlolnope361
    @fenixlolnope361 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ensoniq soundscape is cursed

  • @gmergmer2606
    @gmergmer2606 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    а профессиональные карты на ИСА есть ? Студийные как бы ?

  • @abdulazizaltalhi7866
    @abdulazizaltalhi7866 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ensonic soundscape

  • @thomasr.5443
    @thomasr.5443 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi there! Why ist there no sound on the cmi? Forgot to init?

    • @thomasr.5443
      @thomasr.5443 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ok, after all this time I can hear a sound on the CMI (soundpro) but let me tell you there is definitely something wrong with your card. I have that exact same chip onboard one of my retro boards and it sounds darn close to the real thing, believe me.

  • @Alianger
    @Alianger 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow CQM is pretty bad.
    Terratec sounds like the feedback level or operator 1 volume of all instruments is brought down by half or so (except for the bass in the lemmings track? wtf), but it also adds some echo/reverb and stereo. It's oddly kind of nice to me.
    Ensoniq doesn't even sound like fm (oh it isn't, right lol)
    The soundpro seems to be splitting the sound into a weird stereo mix that sounds really annoying and cramped in headphones, someone's comment about inverted soundwaves for one of the speakers might be correct.

  • @Le_Grand_Rigatoni
    @Le_Grand_Rigatoni 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yeah, that soundpro card is definitely broken, it sounds like when you don't plug in your headphones correctly.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      Bloody hell, I really need to get another Soundpro card and redo the test.

    • @Le_Grand_Rigatoni
      @Le_Grand_Rigatoni ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK Or maybe the connector is just dirty/oxydized.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      I cleaned all the connectors before the test, so I reckon the card's actually broken.

  • @YarisTex
    @YarisTex 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    What's wrong with the CMI clone card? The FM is all garbled

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I don't reckon there's anything wrong with the card, it's just the way it sounds. (I hope)

  • @new_weegeegos
    @new_weegeegos 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    2:23 3:23

  • @Simon-jh1hf
    @Simon-jh1hf 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    9:30 ensonic Soundscape S-2000 WTF this even does not sound like monkey island lol totally dismembered

  • @oliverlane3705
    @oliverlane3705 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    whats up with ur human sound card sounds fucked, nah joking bro thanks for this vid.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Doesn't it? :)

  • @krz8888888
    @krz8888888 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can't believe how bad creative did with CQM, most of the other clones sound great on e1m1. Maybe they infriged on Yamaha patents...

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, not the best FM chip...

  • @jimbab101
    @jimbab101 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Not a big fan for CQM

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not too many people are... Well, more like everybody hates it.

  • @vadimtaranov3041
    @vadimtaranov3041 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    You obviously configured the game wrong.
    At first you have to declare a variable before you run Doom.
    set dmxoption=-opl3
    Then DosBox was also configured wrong, both audio mixer and opl mix rate must be exactly at 49716 with a "Nuked" as the emulator.

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Well, set dmxoption=-opl3 option just enables OPL3's stereo mode, which could sound better, but I wanted to keep everything as generic as possible. The same goes for DOSBox.

    • @vadimtaranov3041
      @vadimtaranov3041 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@KITR-UK imagine testing RTX 3090 (SB) in 720p (opl2).

  • @kn0wname552
    @kn0wname552 ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh dear, most of them sounds awful. nothing can't be compared with the genuine FM synth :(

    • @RavageReeves
      @RavageReeves ปีที่แล้ว

      What cards would you recommend for best isa card ? I am thinking to buy a aztech 2316 or yamaha 71X isa card

    • @kn0wname552
      @kn0wname552 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@RavageReeves To be honest, I don't have any ideas with aztech 2316 so I'd prefer yamaha 71X isa card I guess :) If aztech also uses yamaha fm chip, both will be a good selection I presume!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      If it were up to me, I'd get Sound Blaster 16 CT2890.

    • @RavageReeves
      @RavageReeves ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KITR-UK why? Have you compared them? SB16 is a horrible and buggy card (all of them) for DOS gaming. YMF718/719/724/71X - real OPL3, perfect SB compatibility, clean sound.. Yamaha 71x is still king of the SBPro clones. AZT-2316 chipset). Aztects
      have less noise and have excellent compatibility.. and the ability of fit a standard size Wavetable daughterboard (or connect an external sound module) with no MIDI hanging note bugs..
      AWE64 uses higher quality lowpass filtering so will have superior sound then any other isa card ..

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RavageReeves I have, actually. Check out this video: th-cam.com/video/xSFNaUKvl4c/w-d-xo.html

  • @mkolt
    @mkolt 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    do the next video in english!

    • @KITR-UK
      @KITR-UK  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Sure, I'll try it next time.

    • @BrassicGamer
      @BrassicGamer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Can you do your next comment in 'non-asshole'?