EWS64XL (auto-)muting problems

[enigma]

Hello,

I recently aquired a EWS64XL.
The primary configuration of the card was quite simple and it runs in DOS / Win9x and NT4.

Overall it consists of a Crystal 4236 Codec and the Dream SAM9407 with some additional chips to switch internal card signal routing.
I also attached a Roland Sound Canvas to the wavetable connector.

The standard routing for DOS is:
external Wavetable connects to the Crystal internal device called MPU-401 with corresponding analog input 'CD In/Synth2'.
In my configuration this is 330/9.

Dream connects to Crystal internal device called Logical Device 5 with corresponding analog input 'Synth'.
In my configuration this is 300/11.

Now the problem is, if I choose Soundblaster in any game it mutes CD-In/Synth2 and thus the Roland Sound Canvas as external Music Source.
This also happens in a Win9x DOS Box.
If I choose No Sound for digital again, switch to Win9x, reload the EWS Mixer setting I can hear the Sound Canvas again playing instantaneously.
If I do this while SB is still active, it stays muted.

There is no muting problem with the Dream on Input Synth.

I already tried the default Crystalware PnP initialization program for CS42xx but same thing happens.
Just for Illustration, let's take setup of Tyrian. Digital is set to No Sound and Music to Port 330. When setup starts up, I can hear Music playing.
If I enable Soundblaster for digital the Music gets muted (it does not complain that the Midi device at 330 vanishes, it is still playing).
This applies to any game I have tested.


Just for curiosity:
I also own a Guillemot Maxisound 64 Home Studio, that is quite similar with Crystal 4236 and Dream SAM9407.
One difference is that in the maxisound card the Dream is connected to the Crystals MPU-401 Input physical 'CD-In/Synth2'.
This corresponds to the Roland Sound Canvas connection in the EWS64XL.
But with the Maxisound the Dream does not mute if I choose SB for digital in a DOS game.

So any EWS64 expert available?

[Alistair]

Are the devices perhaps on the same port and conflicting? I had the same problem with a SB AWE32, couldn't play games with the SC-55 and AWE32 OPL/Adlib sound for speech simultaneously.

- Alistair

[enigma]

Well I think I tested every thinkable and unthinkable resource configuration and there seems to be no way.

Today I found a CT1600 Soundblaster Pro 2 on the trash (coincidence?).
Well I just thought if you can't get the SB Part of the EWS64XL to work with unmuted Midi-2 In then just plug in an extra SB...

So I added to the GUS and EWS64XL an SB Pro 2.
Just if someone is interested in configuration of such setup:
GUS at 240,7,7,7,7 (works if you don't want to full duplex)
SB Pro 2 at A220 I4 D1 T4
now I routed all through the EWS64XL using Line In 1 for GUS and Line In 2 for SB Pro.
For mixer functionality this means I have to enable and configure still the Codec Part of the EWS64XL (i.e. Crystal 4236).
The main problem was, that there is exactly one IRQ more needed than available (IRQ 12 is used by PS/2).
So there is 9 and 11 free.
So EWS64 went to this resources:
Codec at:
WSS 104
IRQ 11
Play DMA 0
Rec DMA 3
FM at 388
SB Pro 260 (this is the one from the Crystal)

Control Port at 538
Digital Control at 100
Midi-2 at 330, IRQ 9 (This is the external Wavetable at the Crystals MPU-401 Input)
Midi-1 at 300, no IRQ (This is the Dream at the Crystals Logical Input 4)

This works now.
There is only a small drawback, some games require that Midi has an IRQ. There I can not use the Dream at 300. (f.e. Tyrian).

Still the Problem with the EWS64 remains. Anyone with a external Wavetable on a EWS64 who can check this?


Some maybe interesting addition: If I start Tyrian in a Win9x Dosbox it does not require an IRQ for the Dream at Port 300h. In plain DOS it does.

[Rhizome]

There I can not use the Dream at 300. (f.e. Tyrian).

I wouldn't bother using a wavetable with Tyrian, it sounds best through an OPL chip as that's what it was composed for

[enigma]

Beside of this the setup of Tyrian is quite comfortable switching soundcards for tests.

Oh and someone has a recommendation for a Dream based soundfont suitable for the classic DOS games?
The ones that come with the Maxisound and EWS sound a bit weak in my opinion especially regarding the drumkit.