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PC-Speaker background music in DOS?
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Harry Potter
Aug 27, 2016, 6:11:05 PM8/27/16
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Hi! I have a DOS laptop without a sound card and I want to be able to play background music through the PC speaker while I do my work. Where can I find a program to do that?
Computer Nerd Kev
Aug 27, 2016, 7:14:59 PM8/27/16
to
to trim out a lot of options. [or maybe you mean play background
music while you work on another computer]
Scream Tracker could output to the PC Speaker, though I doubt it
had a background playback option.
--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#
Harry Potter
Aug 28, 2016, 7:04:59 AM8/28/16
to
On Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 7:14:59 PM UTC-4, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> Running as a TSR _and_ playing through the PC speaker is likely
> to trim out a lot of options. [or maybe you mean play background
> music while you work on another computer]
>
Understood.
> Running as a TSR _and_ playing through the PC speaker is likely
> to trim out a lot of options. [or maybe you mean play background
> music while you work on another computer]
>
> Scream Tracker could output to the PC Speaker, though I doubt it
> had a background playback option.
>
Harry Potter
Aug 28, 2016, 8:30:50 AM8/28/16
to
Computer Nerd Kev
Aug 28, 2016, 6:42:33 PM8/28/16
to
supported it.
I know that some version did because I'm 99% sure that I've tried it
(results varied depending on the tune, audio quality wise).
Computer Nerd Kev
Aug 28, 2016, 7:16:42 PM8/28/16
to
http://www.opus.co.tt/dave/sound.htm
-DSS v3.-1 - MP3, WAV Player/recorder
http://reimagery.com/fsfd/sound.htm
-SBPlay - SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW Player
-MIDIplay - MIDI Player
-Midget II - MIDI Composer
-Inertia player - MOD Player
-Optical Player - MOD Player
You can tell your computer what to sing with this:
(tunefulness not expected)
http://vetusware.com/download/Tran%20Speech%20Synthesizer/?id=10354
A mirror if the old Garbo archive:
http://www.retroarchive.org/garbo/pc/sound/index.html
-Morgul - MOD/MTM/FAR/S3M/669/AMF/STM
(every module format you've never heard of) :)
-ModPlay Pro - "samples, FM files, and a lot of MOD formats"
-NCPLAY - WAV, VOC, RAW
-Norton Commander Extension - might be what you're after!
-plwav - WAV
-wmbzz - "Samples"
*SBPlay - SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW Player
*Inertia player - MOD Player
The harder you look for DOS software, the more you find.
Marcus Houlden
Aug 28, 2016, 11:51:11 PM8/28/16
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On Sun, 28 Aug 2016 05:30:48 -0700 (PDT), Harry Potter <rose.j...@yahoo.com>
wrote the following to comp.os.msdos.misc:
No big loss there. Internal PC speakers have all the acoustics of nails on a
blackboard. They're OK for the odd beep but that's about it.
mh.
--
http://www.nukesoft.co.uk
http://www.houlden.org
wrote the following to comp.os.msdos.misc:
blackboard. They're OK for the odd beep but that's about it.
mh.
--
http://www.nukesoft.co.uk
http://www.houlden.org
JJ
Aug 29, 2016, 2:30:10 AM8/29/16
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On Sun, 28 Aug 2016 23:16:37 +0000 (UTC), Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>
> The harder you look for DOS software, the more you find.
And more questions OP will have. XD
>
> The harder you look for DOS software, the more you find.
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 6:46:16 AM8/29/16
to
On Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 11:51:11 PM UTC-4, Marcus Houlden wrote:
> No big loss there. Internal PC speakers have all the acoustics of nails on a
> blackboard. They're OK for the odd beep but that's about it.
>
You're right, but that's all this particular computer has. :(
> No big loss there. Internal PC speakers have all the acoustics of nails on a
> blackboard. They're OK for the odd beep but that's about it.
>
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 6:50:26 AM8/29/16
to
On Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 7:16:42 PM UTC-4, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> http://www.opus.co.tt/dave/sound.htm
> -DSS v3.-1 - MP3, WAV Player/recorder
>
> http://reimagery.com/fsfd/sound.htm
> -SBPlay - SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW Player
> -MIDIplay - MIDI Player
> -Midget II - MIDI Composer
> -Inertia player - MOD Player
> -Optical Player - MOD Player
>
I actually remember downloading MIDIPlay. Maybe I'll look for it and try it out now. :)
> http://www.opus.co.tt/dave/sound.htm
> -DSS v3.-1 - MP3, WAV Player/recorder
>
> http://reimagery.com/fsfd/sound.htm
> -SBPlay - SND, VOC, WAV, AIF, IFF, RAW Player
> -MIDIplay - MIDI Player
> -Midget II - MIDI Composer
> -Inertia player - MOD Player
> -Optical Player - MOD Player
>
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 7:03:49 AM8/29/16
to
On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 6:50:26 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
> I actually remember downloading MIDIPlay. Maybe I'll look for it and try it out now. :)
I tried it. It did everything except play in the background. :(
> I actually remember downloading MIDIPlay. Maybe I'll look for it and try it out now. :)
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 7:07:24 AM8/29/16
to
R.Wieser
Aug 29, 2016, 7:26:02 AM8/29/16
to
Harry,
> It did everything except play in the background. :(
And you probably won't find one.
What you seem to forget is that the processor needs to work with the
PC-speaker *constantly* to create an anywhere decent waveform (meaning:
using a costly puls-pause variations approach), which it cannot hand off to
hardware (which simply isn't there), and needs to do that at least 40.000
times a second (and probably much more often, to be able to generate more
complex waveforms). And *ANY* disruption in that timing will be audible
(yes, your ears are *very* finicky in that regard).
Now imagine a DOS computer not being able to "do its PC-speaker thing"
because its held up some/anywhere else (screen updates, reading/writing a
file, DMA access, etc) ... I think you get the picture.
Nope,I'm afraid that for anything over the PC speaker but for the most basic
*beep* tones that do not need any particular rithm you're not going to be
able to use anything "background" like.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
P.s.
If you think it should work for the current, *much* faster computers: it
won't. The same problems apply.
-- Origional message:
Harry Potter <rose.j...@yahoo.com> schreef in berichtnieuws
5b5121d4-0ca7-45c9...@googlegroups.com...
> It did everything except play in the background. :(
What you seem to forget is that the processor needs to work with the
PC-speaker *constantly* to create an anywhere decent waveform (meaning:
using a costly puls-pause variations approach), which it cannot hand off to
hardware (which simply isn't there), and needs to do that at least 40.000
times a second (and probably much more often, to be able to generate more
complex waveforms). And *ANY* disruption in that timing will be audible
(yes, your ears are *very* finicky in that regard).
Now imagine a DOS computer not being able to "do its PC-speaker thing"
because its held up some/anywhere else (screen updates, reading/writing a
file, DMA access, etc) ... I think you get the picture.
Nope,I'm afraid that for anything over the PC speaker but for the most basic
*beep* tones that do not need any particular rithm you're not going to be
able to use anything "background" like.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
P.s.
If you think it should work for the current, *much* faster computers: it
won't. The same problems apply.
-- Origional message:
Harry Potter <rose.j...@yahoo.com> schreef in berichtnieuws
5b5121d4-0ca7-45c9...@googlegroups.com...
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 7:28:10 AM8/29/16
to
On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 7:07:24 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs. :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker. I have Melody26. Can *it* play music in the background?
I just looked at its docs., and it seems to include a device driver that seems to do what I want it to do. :) I plan to install it when I can access the DOS laptop again. :)
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs. :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker. I have Melody26. Can *it* play music in the background?
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 9:53:46 AM8/29/16
to
On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 7:07:24 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs. :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker. I have Melody26. Can *it* play music in the background?
I thank you fr your help. :) I checked the docs to Melody26 and found that it includes a driver that play PC speaker in the background. I can use that. :)
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs. :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker. I have Melody26. Can *it* play music in the background?
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 10:01:22 AM8/29/16
to
On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 7:26:02 AM UTC-4, R.Wieser wrote:
> Harry,
>
> > It did everything except play in the background. :(
>
> And you probably won't find one.
>
> What you seem to forget is that the processor needs to work with the
> PC-speaker *constantly* to create an anywhere decent waveform (meaning:
> using a costly puls-pause variations approach), which it cannot hand off to
> hardware (which simply isn't there), and needs to do that at least 40.000
> times a second (and probably much more often, to be able to generate more
> complex waveforms). And *ANY* disruption in that timing will be audible
> (yes, your ears are *very* finicky in that regard).
>
I was not looking for full stereophonic sound. Now, I *do* know at least some of the problems with the PC speaker. It's just that I want to make the DOS laptop more usable. :)
> Harry,
>
> > It did everything except play in the background. :(
>
> And you probably won't find one.
>
> What you seem to forget is that the processor needs to work with the
> PC-speaker *constantly* to create an anywhere decent waveform (meaning:
> using a costly puls-pause variations approach), which it cannot hand off to
> hardware (which simply isn't there), and needs to do that at least 40.000
> times a second (and probably much more often, to be able to generate more
> complex waveforms). And *ANY* disruption in that timing will be audible
> (yes, your ears are *very* finicky in that regard).
>
> Now imagine a DOS computer not being able to "do its PC-speaker thing"
> because its held up some/anywhere else (screen updates, reading/writing a
> file, DMA access, etc) ... I think you get the picture.
>
> Nope,I'm afraid that for anything over the PC speaker but for the most basic
> *beep* tones that do not need any particular rithm you're not going to be
> able to use anything "background" like.
>
R.Wieser
Aug 29, 2016, 12:04:01 PM8/29/16
to
Harry,
> I was not looking for full stereophonic sound.
Duh! PC-speakers only come in quantities of *one*, so anything more than
mono is out-of-the-question.
But tell me/us, what do you think others understood from your "I want to be
able to play background music through the PC speaker" question ?
Take Kev for instance. He understood pretty-much the same thing I did: You
want to be able to play a common music file (perhaps containing the latest
of that bieber fellow) over your PC's beeper, and be able to continue
working on it too.
> Now, I *do* know at least some of the problems with the PC speaker.
You are picking the wrong method for your discovery I'm afraid. You are
wasting our efforts to help you as well as our time.
Also, if you would have done even the *tiniest* bit of googeling in regard
to your question (just plugging the full subjectline into it) you would
already have gotten your answers.
> Well, it seems that Melody26 includes a device driver for playing
> PC speaker music in the background. :)
Melody Master v2.6 ? I would double-check that if I where you.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
P.s.
Please do not again apologize. As you keep making the same mistakes*
over-and-over that has lost its value.
*unspecific/overbroad questions and not googeling before asking here.
b7c86b09-85ad-4b24...@googlegroups.com...
> I was not looking for full stereophonic sound.
mono is out-of-the-question.
But tell me/us, what do you think others understood from your "I want to be
able to play background music through the PC speaker" question ?
Take Kev for instance. He understood pretty-much the same thing I did: You
want to be able to play a common music file (perhaps containing the latest
of that bieber fellow) over your PC's beeper, and be able to continue
working on it too.
> Now, I *do* know at least some of the problems with the PC speaker.
wasting our efforts to help you as well as our time.
Also, if you would have done even the *tiniest* bit of googeling in regard
to your question (just plugging the full subjectline into it) you would
already have gotten your answers.
> Well, it seems that Melody26 includes a device driver for playing
> PC speaker music in the background. :)
Regards,
Rudy Wieser
P.s.
Please do not again apologize. As you keep making the same mistakes*
over-and-over that has lost its value.
*unspecific/overbroad questions and not googeling before asking here.
b7c86b09-85ad-4b24...@googlegroups.com...
Computer Nerd Kev
Aug 29, 2016, 7:13:02 PM8/29/16
to
Computer Nerd Kev
Aug 29, 2016, 7:20:56 PM8/29/16
to
Harry Potter <rose.j...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 7:03:49 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
>> On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 6:50:26 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
>> > I actually remember downloading MIDIPlay. Maybe I'll look for it and try it out now. :)
>>
>> I tried it. It did everything except play in the background. :(
>
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs.
> :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker.
It would have been nice if you'd mentioned this requirement earlier.
> On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 7:03:49 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
>> On Monday, August 29, 2016 at 6:50:26 AM UTC-4, Harry Potter wrote:
>> > I actually remember downloading MIDIPlay. Maybe I'll look for it and try it out now. :)
>>
>> I tried it. It did everything except play in the background. :(
>
> BTW, the other programs you mentioned don't appear to match my needs.
> :( I want either MIDI music or music specifically for the PC speaker.
Harry Potter
Aug 29, 2016, 7:32:14 PM8/29/16
to
I thank all of you for trying to help. Now, Melody Master 2.6 has the item for which I was looking: a device driver that can play music on the PC speaker in the background while I'm doing other things on the laptop. BTW, I think the laptop *does* have a PCMCIA slot. :)
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