Midi functionality & Win-98 in virtual machine

[Nomen]

Looking for a solution where win-98 can run in a virtual machine (under XP on i7 hardware) that is emulating AC-97 audio - with a functional midi interface. Seems that most emulators only provide SB-16 sound device - which does not have a midi player.

Looking for known solutions or hard information, not "did you try this" or "did you try that".

[submix8c]

"Virtual Machine" really doesn't say WHICH VM software. Could you specify?

Look here -

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213966

Found via Google

midi "virtual pc"

Here's another reference to VM's and Midi Playback -

http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?p=213314

[Nomen]

"Virtual Machine" really doesn't say WHICH VM software. Could you specify?

That's the thing - I'm asking which VM gives good audio support to win-98 running as a guest.

As your links indicate, other people have asked, and haven't found workable solutions when it comes to midi support (as far as I could find).

[bphlpt]

From submix8c's link:

Here's another reference to VM's and Midi Playback -

http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?p=213314

I'm running Windows 98 SE in Virtual PC 2007 with Windows 7 as host.

...

Anyway, a bit of searching turns up http://forums.scummvm.org/viewtopic.php?t=6303.

...

I'm now using rgc:audio sfz with SAVIHost, as detailed by the ScummVM link and now have wonderful background music.

Seems like a "workable solutions when it comes to midi support" to me. But you are really going to have to try some things yourself and see. We can't always give everyone ready-made solutions to every problem.

Cheers and Regards

Edited February 24, 2013 by bphlpt

[submix8c]

I have no clue whether SBW9XUP will work or not (found here) -

http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&prodID=1850&prodName=Sound%20Blaster%20AWE64%20Gold&CatName=Sound+Blaster

[loblo]

If you just want to play midi files than I'd go for xmplay which has got a good midi plugin using soundfonts.

If it's for sequencing then virtual midi cable such as hubbis loopback or midiyoke and a vst soundfont player in a micro host such as savihost.

[Nomen]

There apparently does not exist a sound font that simulates the SB-16 (FM synthesis, aka "OPL3") sound-cards that existed prior to wave-table synthesis used in AC-97 sound cards or integrated sound devices. If such a sound font did exist, then it could be used by software like Fluidsynth (or vlc) to play old midi files such that they would sound *exactly* they way they did 10 - 15 years ago (when they were created).

[loblo]

You didn't look hard enough did you?

http://woolyss.com/chipmusic/chipmusic-soundfonts/OPL-3_FM_128M.zip

Those standalone players might be of interest too:

http://www.pokipoki.org/dsa/index.php?EMU%20de%20MIDI

http://milkpot.sakura.ne.jp/fmmidi/

http://www.pokipoki.org/dsa/index.php?EMU%20de%20MIDI

There is Timidity also of course and you'll probably find some more stuff by digging those links:

http://www3.telus.net/anapan8/oldscardemu.htm

http://soundshock.se/phpBB2/index.php

Try to do better homework next time, it's not so hard using a search engine such as google, is it?

[Damnation]

You can get Windows 98 with MIDI through the latest DOSBOX

found here

http://ykhwong.x-y.net/

It's not a simple task getting windows 98 installed in DOSBOX though.

I can help you with it if you have the patience

[reboot12]

I found a way for MIDI communication between the Win98 guest system in the MS VPC 2007 virtual machine and the MIDI music keyboard via the WinXP SP2 x86 host system:

We connect the MIDI In port on our instrument to the MIDI Out port on the PC.

Actions on WinXP Host:

• we install Virtual Serial Port Kit (FabulaTech) and add a pair of COM3, COM4 ports on the default settings:
  
• we install Roland Serial MIDI Driver 3.2 for WinXP and set the COM3 port in it, disable Use multiple ports and enable the Activate CTS/RTS Flow Control option:
  
• we install the Bome's Mouse Keyboard program, set the MIDI ports IN and OUT and leave the program turned on:
  set MIDI In to Roland Serial MIDI Input
  set MIDI Out to output port MIDI e.g. my Creative PCI card has this port Creative Sound Blaster MPU-401
  Instead of Bome's, you can use another program that has MIDI In and MIDI Out settings, e.g. MIDI-OX
• in the Win98 virtual machine options in the COM1 port settings we select COM4:
  

Actions on Win98 Guest:

• we install the same Serial MIDI driver but Win9x version -
  Roland Serial MIDI Driver 3.2 for Win9x and configure the same as on WinXP but set COM1 port:
  
• in the Control Panel Win98 set the default MIDI Roland Serial MIDI Out A device and/or use a MIDI player/sequencer in which you can select this port directly, e.g. Cubase, Winamp

Edited April 21, 2020 by reboot12