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Best settings for audio on a Libretto (OPL3 chip)

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theancientone

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Feb 5, 2024
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As many people used things like the MT32, the MPU401 ended up being not that great for midi music; although the Libretto computers do not have a midi port so I guess it was the only way to get midi out.

Although from what I read, the Libretto can run MPU401 only if you start the application from Windows. I want to set up a Libretto with just DOS on it, and get the best sound it can give.

OPL3 is a FM chip, and I do not want to transform every midi in a FM version of it, but I also heard that there is no easy way to play DOS music on a Libretto using the OPL3, as it just emulate a SB in the end.

Is anyone here familiar with the chip and the computer and can advise what would be the best way to set up the Libretto under DOS? The manual says that audio does not need any setup as it is handled by the bios, but I get plenty of games like DN where I can hear the sound effects but not the music, even after trying different options for it.
 
Thanks! I didn't set that as I was told that the Libretto takes the settings from the bios directly. Got it to work with Prince of Persia; although the music was not the midi output but was using the FM synth. Also could not figure out how to change volume as there are no keys that would work in DOS to change volume... Do I need to install some software like the drivers you suggested? I have the original Toshiba image restored on this Libretto, so when I want to use DOS I quit windows and go in DOS, although would like to just run DOS most of the time
 
theancientone said:
As many people used things like the MT32, the MPU401 ended up being not that great for midi music; although the Libretto computers do not have a midi port so I guess it was the only way to get midi out.

Although from what I read, the Libretto can run MPU401 only if you start the application from Windows. I want to set up a Libretto with just DOS on it, and get the best sound it can give.

OPL3 is a FM chip, and I do not want to transform every midi in a FM version of it, but I also heard that there is no easy way to play DOS music on a Libretto using the OPL3, as it just emulate a SB in the end.

Is anyone here familiar with the chip and the computer and can advise what would be the best way to set up the Libretto under DOS? The manual says that audio does not need any setup as it is handled by the bios, but I get plenty of games like DN where I can hear the sound effects but not the music, even after trying different options for it.
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The actual MPU401 is a MIDI interface box; it does not produce any sound. You would connect an MPU401 to an external synth like the MT32, SC55, etc.

MPU401 has two modes, normal ("intelligent") and UART ("dumb"). Most games only need UART mode. Eventually sound cards integrated UART MPU401 support, so you did not need an actual MPU401 to use a MIDI synth. But you still needed an internal wavetable module, or external synth (connected via the gameport with a MIDI adapter).

Windows is able to trap the MPU401 port access and redirect it to the MIDI mapper. If you don't have a MIDI synth, Windows will use your FM synth for MIDI playback. Later on, "soft synths" were possible with faster computers.

As it relates to your Libretto, FM synth is going to be the best you can do in DOS without connecting an external MIDI synth. Select Adlib, SB, or OPL2/3 in your games.
 
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