KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q155311: Choosing Sound System for MIDI Enables MIDI on All Sound Cards

Article: Q155311
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbmm kbsound
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to play MIDI sound on a computer with a Windows Sound System
sound card and a Sound Blaster 16 card installed, MIDI sound is played
simultaneously from both sound cards if "Windows Sound System MIDI" is selected
as the default MIDI device. Selecting "Sound Blaster FM Synthesis" as the
default MIDI device plays sound only from the Sound Blaster card.

CAUSE
=====

This problem is caused by the OPL3 chip implementation on the Windows Sound
System sound card.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, select the Sound Blaster 16 sound card as the default
MIDI playback device in Windows NT. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Multimedia.

2. Click the MIDI tab.

3. In the Single Instrument box, click Sound Blaster FM Synthesis.

4. Click OK.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The OPL3 MIDI chip design implementation calls for all OPL3 chips installed in
the system to play simultaneously. However, the Sound Blaster sound card works
around this problem and plays MIDI sound by itself.

Additional query words: prodnt

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbmm kbsound 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.