Adlib OPL2 synthesizer sound on parallel port
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OPL2LPT is available as kit or presoldered board, here.
The soldering guide is available here
A video says more than a 1000 words... so ..
Here's a video by the 8 bit guy, it is a great introduction :
It shows how to solder the kit, and how to use the driver and patcher for games.
Here's a video review by Lazy Game Reviews :
Here's a video review by Phil's computerlab, using the OPL2LPT on a core i7 :
OPL2LPT sound card : New demo and assembly video by 'the Sound Card database'
Vincent Bernat has been using OPL2LPT under linux
He wrote a great article on this, click here.
And he also recorded a comparison demo of OPL2LPT :
OPL2LPT playing the music for the DOS game Indiana Jones and the fate of atlantis
Here's a review/demo by Steve's tech shed
Here's some music from the adlib jukebox, playing on OPL2LPT using the adlipt TSR driver.
So on this modern core i7 Windows 7 PC, we want to use OPL2LPT
This PC has no parallel port, only PCI Express slots.
So I add a 5$ PCI EXPRESS parallel port to the system :
got his one from ebay:
https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Parallel-Port-DB25-25Pin-LPT-Printer-to-PCI-E-Express-Card-Converter-Adapter-1pc/141973277356
Plug OPL2LPT on your parallel port and make sure it is powered. (from USB, or for a cleaner sound, from a 5V usb battery pack)
Check that the windows parallel port driver is correctly configured :
Create an MSDOS virtual box image, install MSDOS or FreeDOS on it.
Copy opl2test.exe to your dos drive (you can load it from a floppy image an copy to c: drive)
Now shut down the virtual machine.
In the windows command line, run following commands to configure your windows LPT3 as DOS LPT1 port
C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage modifyvm "DOSLPT" --lptmode1 LPT3
C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage modifyvm "DOSLPT" --lpt1 0x378 7
Now startup again.
You can now run opl2test, MUSIC THROUGH A REAL OPL2 CHIP!!
This is a quick test with MSDOS 6.22
I then also tried the same with FreeDos :
Simply boot you virtualbox system from the standard installer image from http://www.freedos.org/download/, install the base installer packets, and you are good to go.
Copy the needed utilities from https://github.com/pdewacht/adlipt/releases/latest
And copy some games or applications to test… (from disk images)
For freedos, you can load the adlipt driver using Jload
Then run some game or music program, like adlib jukebox…
Real OPL2 sound through OPL2LPT parallel port adapter !!
The new adlipt TSR version 0.6 is available here
The TSR is now much faster. This will especially be noticed by owners of 386 systems.
(Sadly, MOD players seem to be confused by this chance. If you have problems, you can use the parameter NOPATCH to get the old behavior.)
OPL2LPT is an FM synthesizer board for parallel port.
The kit uses all 80’s style classic through hole components.
No SMD soldering skills required
After approx. 40 minutes of soldering pleasure, you should end up with this beauty : The OPL2LPT !
Parts List :
For LD1, C2,C3,C4,C5, C6, C9, C11 : take care to respect the polarity.
The negative side is marked with - on the PCB.
Starting from the blank PCB, gradually populate the board with components.
At this stage you can already test if the 5V power works fine : if there are no shorts , the green led should burn when you plug the board on an usb cable to your 5V power source. If this works, add the remaining components.
For the potentiometer, straighten the legs, and mount it as shown here :
Now also place the Yamaha chips in the sockets. Make sure you insert them with the right orientation. If all went well, your board should look like this :
Plug your board in your DOS pc’s parallel port. Connect a 5V power source (this could be a battery pack, an usb port, a ps/2 to usb converter, …) to the board, using a mini USB cable.
Also connect your speakers or headphones to the 3.5mm jack.
Now using the test program ‘opl2test’, you should hear some music. Adjust the potentiometer until you hear a suitable volume.
that's cheating, wasn't there when I asked :p was pleased to see your module on LGR and read in the comments you were very happy when you saw that he ordered one :)
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Where's the LGR video? :)