Seeking drivers and possibly software for 16-bit sound card

[alejack12001]

I have acquired a sound card for my 286 machine. The sound card is an Acer S30 16-bit sound card. I found that Stason website has details on the card configuration. However I don’t know if the Sound Blaster DOS or windows software will work with this card as the main chipset is a Vibrant 16 CT2501-1DQ. I wanted to ask the forum is anyone might know where I could find the drivers for this card.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

It looks like it's just a rebadged SB Vibra 16, I can't think of a particularly good reason why the normal driver set wouldn't work. Of course I follow that with a shrug because I do remember how Creative made those weird OEM versions of the Soundblaster Live! for Dell in the early 'aughts that don't work with the normal drivers, anything is possible.

 

[alejack12001]

It looks like it's just a rebadged SB Vibra 16, I can't think of a particularly good reason why the normal driver set wouldn't work. Of course I follow that with a shrug because I do remember how Creative made those weird OEM versions of the Soundblaster Live! for Dell in the early 'aughts that don't work with the normal drivers, anything is possible.

Okay, thank you. I just wanted to explore all possibilities.

 

[twolazy]

Just remember this about the card... the sides for stereo are swapped. In SB Pro mode it works correct, but in SB16 mode the L+R are swapped, The vibras were opposite, were SB Pro mode was swapped. Guess Acer figured SB Pro mode was more important.

 

[dhau]

I really like unisound. You still need to set up BLASTER variable though.

 

[Timo W.]

Since it was installed in a 286 and should hence pre-date Plug&Play, you should not need any drivers. Just set the BLASTER variable according to how the card is jumpered and you are good to go. Actually, even the BLASTER variable is not really needed. It only exists to help games finding the card more easily without freezing the system when trying to auto-detect.

Just remember this about the card... the sides for stereo are swapped. In SB Pro mode it works correct, but in SB16 mode the L+R are swapped, The vibras were opposite, were SB Pro mode was swapped. Guess Acer figured SB Pro mode was more important.

Sorry to say, but that's bullshit. Like any other SB16 card, the Vibra DOES NOT DO STEREO in SB Pro mode. It's mono and therefore nothing can get swapped. You only post do raise your post count, don't you?

 

[twolazy]

Feel free to educate yourself Timo, yet again...

Here's a thread on Vogons about it. And I know FIRST HAND because I owned one. I have a VERY sizeable soundcard collection.

Acer Magic S30 ISA sound card - what's with this thing? \ VOGONS

www.vogons.org

With the CT2940 (Vibra CT2502) Duke Nukem 3D tests as follows:
- SB16/AWE32 selected: Stereo OK
- SBPro Old selected: Mono
- SBPro 2.0 New selected: Reversed stereo (but stereo!)

Now Acer when they made the card reversed the L+R compared to the CT2940. Its the same Vibra Chip. So SB 16 is backward. SB Pro 2.0 does INDEED play in stereo! Now please stop treating people like a jerk. Thank you.

 

[FreddyV]

I have acquired a sound card for my 286 machine. The sound card is an Acer S30 16-bit sound card. I found that Stason website has details on the card configuration. However I don’t know if the Sound Blaster DOS or windows software will work with this card as the main chipset is a Vibrant 16 CT2501-1DQ. I wanted to ask the forum is anyone might know where I could find the drivers for this card.

On a 286, you will not find a lot of games and applications needing an OPL3.

Dune, Dune2, Day of the tentacle, Alone in the dark use OPL2

So everything should work fine.
You can also try my .MOD Player, Mod Master

 

[twolazy]

Wolf3d, a few Kings Quests (know the VGA version of 5 does), Space Quest (VGA remake) Monkey Island, Leisure Suit Larry 1+2 (Vga Remakes), Lemmings, Golden Axe, Prince of Persia,... all the ones off top of my head. Some of these are technically dual OPL2 support, but OPL3 works fine.

 

[Svenska]

Since it was installed in a 286 and should hence pre-date Plug&Play, you should not need any drivers. Just set the BLASTER variable according to how the card is jumpered and you are good to go. Actually, even the BLASTER variable is not really needed. It only exists to help games finding the card more easily without freezing the system when trying to auto-detect.

The 286 does not care about PnP, but the card is still a PnP card. Therefore, it has no jumpers and must be configured by software.
UNISOUND uses the BLASTER variable to set the configuration. Many games use it to read the configuration.