CMS Game Blaster MP3 Demonstration

[jbltecnicspro]

There are other rare items like for instance the original Adlib. But a card that rare is really a treasure.

I obtained one of these in a bulk auction of miscellaneous cards. I noticed it in the pictured lot, and placed the winning bid of one cent.

I've actually seen a few Adlib cards on eBay though, so keep an eye out. I auctioned mine off not too long ago.

You might watch the Japanese markets as well. I've won CM-500 modules for $5.00 each, and just recently, a CM-64 for $0.87. No kidding.

Oh, and from what I've read, the IMF did not include any software. Yamaha produced a program called PlayRec though, which was geared for IMF use.

Could you link me to Japanese markets?  I'm in the marketplace for a Sound Canvas or any other cool Roland synth, and the US markets are a little dry at the moment.  Thanks  

-jbltecnicspro

[Tom]

There's a few SC-55's on Ebay right now, all for under $100.  (One for under $50, with an hour left in the bidding.)

[Cloudschatze]

By the way, if anyone would like to hear additional recordings from the Game Blaster, please request away.

[Alkarion]

Well I'd like to hear more. Perhaps some tunes from Monkey Island or Indiana Jones. Full tracks would be nice.

So far the Times of Lore music is definitely the best I've heard to come out of the game blaster.

Silpheed would be interesting, too. I read it had rather good support for the Gameblaster.

[Cloudschatze]

I've added one Monkey Island track to the parent post. I suppose I'll actually have to play the game in order to record more.

The Game Blaster came with Silpheed, so this is do-able. Restore points would be great, if anyone has them.


I've also been wondering, since the CMS was released in Singapore, August of 1987, shouldn't some foreign game support exist?

[Cloudschatze]

Added some additional recordings to the parent post...

[Alkarion]

Very nice tunes. I like the stereo effects in the Sipheed credits. And yes, the Atari reminiscence couldn't be stronger. I remember playing on a Vectrex console which made the same noises.

[Alkarion]

I've recorded some more of the demo tunes from the two sound disks with my CT1320a. Also, I learned that composer WH Sim is actually the Creative Technology founder!

In 1981, W.H. Sim founded Creative Technology in Singapore with only $6,000 in start-up capital.

Here are the recordings:
1351 theme W.H. Sim going nuts... note the arpeggios

Evening Composed by the "Creative Music Team"

The Trout I certainly like the original with violin and piano better

Jingle Bells A bit strange, especially in the beginning.

So much for the moment. You can consider yourselves lucky I didn't record Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. Like NewRisingSun once put it... it's optimized for the deaf.

[Cloudschatze]

You can consider yourselves lucky...

You must not have seen the "Dancing Bunnies" demonstration yet...

[Alkarion]

You mean DBUNNY, the Hungarian Dance adaption? The demo is also quite funny, seems like WH Sim's English skills were not that good.

[NewRisingSUn]

Like NewRisingSun once put it... it's optimized for the deaf.

I actually do like the Game Blaster's sound. More than the C-64's .

Hmph.

[Alkarion]

I wasn't referring to the Gameblaster as a whole. I think some of the tunes are pretty good. I like almost any early PC sound device. Back in the day, I even recorded the Monkey Island songs played through the PC speaker on cassette. I guess partly I'm trying to compensate the fact that I did not have a sound card until pretty late (late '93 - and that was a crappy Adlib clone).

But contrary to you NRS, I have become enamored with C64 music as well - though I never had one. I think it is among the most virtuosic music created on a computer in the 80s.

[Great Hierophant]

It is a shame that no game composed for the Game Blaster natively.  I think it could have put out some memorable tunes when it was not forced into being a substitute for a PC Speaker, an Adlib, Tandy or Roland.

[NewRisingSUn]

The arcade game "Gyruss" would have been perfect for the Game Blaster.

[BlueMax]

I always loved how Silpheed L1 sounded on Game Blaster.  Used it on school amps with reverb..... love that square-wave DEEP bass!  

WING COMMANDER!  Do Wing Commander!  


I remember going to a computer shop where they were demoing the SB v1.0 and playing games in CMS mode.  I asked them WHY when the Adlib mode sounds so much nicer?

The snide reply:  "Game Blaster is STEREO!"

[Great Hierophant]

Jim Leonard, aka "Trixter" graciously provided me with the CMS software (from which most of the above recordings were made), and I've been told to pass it on. Download here.

How well does the software on these disks work, if at all, on a Sound Blaster 1.0 or 2.0 with CMS chips installed?  If the software is merely trying to detect the CMS-301/Phillips SAA-1099 chips, it should work correctly (the software doesn't work in DosBox because it can't detect a Game Blaster)  If on the other hand, it is trying to detect the mysterious CT-1302A chip, then it would not work.

[Cloudschatze]

Jim Leonard, aka "Trixter" graciously provided me with the CMS software (from which most of the above recordings were made), and I've been told to pass it on. Download here.

How well does the software on these disks work, if at all, on a Sound Blaster 1.0 or 2.0 with CMS chips installed?  If the software is merely trying to detect the CMS-301/Phillips SAA-1099 chips, it should work correctly (the software doesn't work in DosBox because it can't detect a Game Blaster)  If on the other hand, it is trying to detect the mysterious CT-1302A chip, then it would not work.

Well, Alkarion used it to record some pieces with his CT1320a, whereas I couldn't get the CMS driver to load with a CT1350b.

So, assuming you get the SAA chips, you should be fine.

[Great Hierophant]

In order for anything on the Music System or Game Blaster disks to work, the CMSDRV.COM driver must be loaded.  Dosbox won't load it, even with the sb1 and cms designated.  Why wouldn't it work on the SB 2.0?  The chips are the same, only the interface would be different.  My Sound Blaster is a 1320c, and it has a v2.00 DSP, instead of a v1.00 DSP.  I wonder if it will work on myne, because $50 is alot to buy only disappointment.

[Cloudschatze]

In order for anything on the Music System or Game Blaster disks to work, the CMSDRV.COM driver must be loaded.  Dosbox won't load it, even with the sb1 and cms designated.  Why wouldn't it work on the SB 2.0?  The chips are the same, only the interface would be different.  My Sound Blaster is a 1320c, and it has a v2.00 DSP, instead of a v1.00 DSP.  I wonder if it will work on myne, because $50 is alot to buy only disappointment.

Well, again, Alkarion got it to work with his 1320c. I'd be willing buy the chips off of you if it doesn't work.

[BlueMax]

I would still LOVE to hear Wing Commander on CMS!