Hi, just a major update on my forked OPL3 MIDI driver.  Still no config utility yet but certainly a ton of changes.

[17-JAN-2013]
* VGM Logging support (CC119=127 for ON, CC119=0 for OFF.  Saves to %TEMP%\opl3vgmlog.vgm for now)
* Fixed intermittent 4-op -> 2x2op/2op voice stealing issues
* Fixed voice-stealing problems on patch change (MS's oldest-by-patch policy was flawed)
* Tweaked Attack/Release range
* Portamento (CC5/CC65) support for both poly and mono.  Using EXP start-end time policy, and sustained pitch tracking.  100Hz update.
* Modulation wheel (CC1) support.  LFO policy is per-voice except for mono legato which follows on previous voice until silence. 100Hz update.
* Experimental linear pitch envelope support (currently possible with drum patch map only; see 2x2patchtest.h)  100Hz update.
* Channel Volume = 0 non-zero velocity should still allocate a voice.  (thanks DracoNihil)
* Changes to initialization code structure.
* Fixed project solution to spit out differentiating filenames depending on use for hardware or emu.

Win32 Binary: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … driver.rar
WinRT Binary: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … pl3emu.dll
Git repo/source: https://bitbucket.org/djtubig-malicex/opl3-synth-driver

EDIT:  this build is using khokh2001's OPL3 core, which has an EG retriggering bug.  if this is an issue please let me know.
Also, give this a listen with this build.  https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … ntest2.mid

EDIT2: Testing repo build vgm log output: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … stest3.vgm  (10 points if you can guess the game and song.  bonus points for naming the source of either the lead, organ, or bass patch)   CMI8738 output: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … mi8738.mp3

More test tracks:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … o2test.vgm  Puyo Puyo 2 again. Only less lame
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … tytest.vgm Sonic 3 Hydrocity Act 2

It should run on Win98 but you wouldn't need GiveIO.sys, it is necessary only on NT/2000/XP. I haven't tried it on Win98 so let us know how you fair.
Yogi

I'll give it a go on my Win 98 machine. bit confused on giveio.sys used along with this program.

SNAP! that sounds great. Definitely be watching your progress!
Yogi

You bet.  At the moment I'm storing patches in the same struct format MS stored their patches except I'm making use of the members they haven't bothered to use, so currently it requires some OPL register programming knowledge.

What I was thinking, since Freq Monster is basically feature-complete in terms of patch-making, I intend to support the modified .SBI format it uses where users can mix and match patches of their liking (with exception to the 3x2op or 4+2op patches which they will need to be separated, as well as some of the other mappings which will otherwise require modifying the patch structure), as well as supporting other known OPL patch register file formats. (I've already got BNK and IBK half-ready.).

Oh OK. XP is a pain with access to hardware. Porttalk or GiveIO helps but M$ didn't do any favors.

only win9x sorry

I know it's early on, but do you plan any instrument editing? Some what like Soundfonts?
Yogi

Yes, that's MIDI.  the recording is software though but so far I've only got one 4op patch in my test bank (2x2optest, #33 finger bass).  That will be changing over time as I make bugfixes and stuff.

Here are some MIDI files.  They should work with hardware just as well (tested with YMF724F-V and CMI8738)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … ptests.zip

WOW !!! That sounds GREAT! The sound file is midi playback? Was that HW or emu? This is too cool! I'll load this up in the next few days Thank you so much!
Yogi

Just thought I'd announce I've just finished getting OPL passthrough working with my fork of alexey's opl3 synth driver thing.
The motivation comes as I believe MIDI is more accessible of a platform for many musicians, but I find most of the tools for OPL2/3 music-making are biased towards trackers, and existing MIDI tools for OPL2/3 music are limited if not closed-source.

Git repository here: https://bitbucket.org/djtubig-malicex/opl3-synth-driver
Win32 Binary: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … driver.rar
WinRT Binary (software only, requires jailbreak): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … pl3emu.dll

Example (testing true 4-op mode bass patch among other things, Still a bit buggy): https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … ptest2.ogg

I'm slowly working away with adding enhancements to the MIDI playback handling.

Changes from the standard MSOPL implementation:

• Pitch bend range extension + tuning fixes (yes you can go beyond -/+24 semitones, screw General MIDI limitations)

• Completed support for 2x2op and 4-op patches.  (still a few bugs for some)

• Experimental support for CC72-74 controllers (GM-2 and XG-compliant Release, Attack, and "Brightness"--locked to op0 TL)

• Expression support (CC11)

• Sustain note long-release behavior fixed

• Mono/legato and Poly mode switching (CC126/127)

• XG-compliant Drum channel bank switch (except ch10 is hardcoded.  May change once SysEx handling is complete)

• Choose between Software and Hardware (requires inpout32.dll, included) playback

• Different banks available.  (hopefully i will complete a configuration utility to facilitate bank switching)

What's to come:

• VGM Logging

• More banks/patches

• More MIDI control mappings

• Configuration utility (less DLLs to manage)

• ...bugfixes of course

Special thanks to ValleyBell (current maintainer of the VGM format spec and related tools) for sharing source code to which I have borrowed and adapted.

Please, if anyone with a real OPL3-compatible card could try this out (atm the OPLHW builds are hardcoded to 0x388. Let me know if you require a different port) and let me know of any issues.   Likewise, feature requests and bug reports come at me.  Preferably post them here:
https://bitbucket.org/djtubig-malicex/o … ver/issues

NB: Use at your own risk. I'm not responsible for you installing this driver and your computer deciding to explode into a million pieces.  You have been warned.

PS: For anyone wondering why I didn't just use a kernel driver instead, it's because kernel drivers are more difficult to write and there's already a simple way to access the OPL write register by means of an open-source third-party interface (which in itself contains a kernel driver).  By the time I get the configuration utility happening, switching to hardware playback will be a matter of a configuration flag, and eventually you won't need all these DLLs with a hardcoded bank.

On the discussion for OPL3 MIDI "front ends", this appeared on VOGONS last week:

http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=36667

Someone's finally made an installable software-bound Windows driver to play back the old classic MSOPL/WinFM/whatever you call it, MIDI playback.

Well, WELCOME! dj.tuBIG/MaliceX
Lucky YOU, with a SW1000XG! I was hunting for one but settled on a Labway WaveForce clone. So far I'm very happy with it, the XG midi really sounds GOOD. In combination with the OPL core it's like having two cards
Thanks for your links. Was not aware of the hardware OPL support in Taewoong's Daum build; but I see he has included Gulikoza code, seems tailored to running Win9x under DOSBox(?) 
I had found a thread:

So this looked very promising for Adlib Tracker ][ but yet to try it out.
On Taewoong's page there are links to other VOGONS threads, how-tos for installing Win9x. This got me thinking about a complicated work around: running DOSBox/Win98SE/AdlibTracker][@DOS Prompt. Probability a wacky idea
Would like to hear ForteMedia examples, I had been considering buying one just to have it ( but grabbing a second Labway/Yammy card seems a better choice).
Yogi

Hi, just registered to respond to this topic.

Yeah, FM801 is great.  I've got two YMF724F-V cards here, one on my desktop machine (dual boot 7 and XP, the latter to support the Yamaha SW1000XG card too).  It's nice that PowerYMF reenables the native mode support under XP since Yamaha's WDM drivers disables it for some reason considering the default Microsoft drivers while doesn't enable the inbuilt XG synth, it enables the FM driver for MIDI playback.

quick and dirty test: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128 … 01test.mp3

For OPL passthrough, there are two known programs that also work, both requiring porttalk.sys (different to giveio.sys but essentially does the same thing):

1. DOSBOX SVN-DAUM (best SVN build of DOSBOX since official release. I'm aware of Megabuild but that's outdated).  Configure via dosbox.conf set oplmode to hardware.
http://ykhwong.x-y.net/

2. VGMPlay 0.40.3 (ini file must be configured to do so.  Will passthrough YM3526, YM3812, YMF262, YM2413 and Y8950 to hardware OPL3.  SN76489 vgm's can also be used via OPL3 card; periodic noise/bass is not correct however)
http://vgm.mdscene.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=112

You can get porttalk here (make sure you RTFM; install to %WINDIR%\system32\drivers and apply registry file.):
http://retired.beyondlogic.org/porttalk/porttalk.htm

HTH

PS: I've also tried this with the actual ForteMedia 801 card as well.  That thing is TERRIBLE.  Remind me to upload recorded examples.

Added install instruction to the first post. Enjoy:)