Configuring Aztech Sound Cards

MORE INFORMATION

To configure your Aztech sound card to work with the ActiMates PC Pack Transmitter and the Microsoft ActiMates software, or the joystick, make Sure you have the latest sound card drivers available from Aztech.

Some Aztech sound cards such as the Multimedia Pro AB and the 3D Stereo are often shipped with the MIDI port disabled. To enable the MPU-401 MIDI port you must run their DOS-based configuration utility. This program should be on the floppy disk supplied with your sound card; it can also be downloaded from Aztech's Web site. This is a real mode MS-DOS based program and you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode to run it. Follow the instructions provided with your sound card for using this program and setting up the external MIDI port (MPU-401) functionality.

Sound Galaxy Waverider 32/3D

You may need to change the settings on this sound card for ActiMates products or the joystick to work properly. Specifically, your sound card's external MIDI port must be enabled.

Use the following steps to make sure your external MIDI port is enabled:

1. Shut down all unnecessary programs running on your computer.
2. Click Start and then click Shut Down.
3. Click Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, and then click Yes.
4. Insert the installation or setup disk that came with your sound card.
5. At the command prompt, change to your floppy disk drive, and then type the following and press ENTER:

   config.exe

6. Follow the on-screen instructions and make a note of ALL settings. If the MPU-401 MIDI port is disabled, enable it. Be sure to write down the Input/Output (I/O) address and Interrupt that is being used by the MIDI port. Make sure this Interrupt is not being used by another part of the sound card.
   
   NOTE: If your sound card is not Plug and Play, these settings will also have to match the on-board jumper settings for the sound card.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to exit and save any changes. Remove the floppy disk from the floppy disk drive, and then type EXIT at the command prompt.
8. When Windows restarts, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
9. Double-click Multimedia.
10. On the Advanced or Devices tab, double-click MIDI Devices And Instruments to display the list of MIDI devices connected to your computer.
11. Click the MIDI For MPU-401 Port device. (If this device is not listed, click Cancel, and then skip to Step 15.)
    
    NOTE: If you have two external MIDI devices listed, for example both MIDI for External MIDI Port and MIDI for MPU-401, then your computer has two external MIDI ports. If you enable one of the external MIDI ports and the device still does not work properly, then enable the second external MIDI port and try using the device again.
12. Click Properties.
13. On the General tab, make sure Use MIDI Features On This Device is selected.
14. Click OK.
15. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then click System.
16. On the Device Manager tab, click View Devices By Type.
17. Double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers. You should see the following drivers listed:

    2316R Device
    MPU401 Device
    Gameport Joystick

18. If any other drivers are listed, they do not correspond to this sound card. Either you have a second audio or MIDI port on the computer, or the drivers are improperly loaded.
    
    The important driver is the MPU-401 Device driver. This driver controls both the audio and the external MIDI, and must use an Input/Output (I/O) address range of 300-301, 310-311, 320-321, or 330-331. If none of these I/O ranges are in use, then you must change the Basic Configuration until one of these I/O ranges is present. If none of the Basic Configurations use this resource, it is likely that another sound card in the system is already using this range. The conflicting sound card may or may not be listed in Device Manager.
    
    The Gameport Joystick driver only controls the joystick, and is not needed for ActiMates products.
19. Double-click the MPU-401 driver in the list.
    
    NOTE: If the MPU-401 driver is not listed, you will need to add it.
    
    To add the MPU-401 driver, use the following steps.
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Add New Hardware.
    3. Click Next.
       
       NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, click Next, and then click Next.
    4. When the Add New Hardware Wizard asks if you want Windows to search for your new hardware, click No, and then click Next.
    5. Click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then click Next.
    6. From the Manufacturers list, click Microsoft and from the Models list click MPU-401 Compatible. Click Next.
    7. Click Finish to install the driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
    8. When prompted to restart Windows, click Yes.
20. On the Resources tab, locate the listing for Input/Output Range in the Resources Settings area. There may be more than one entry. For the external MIDI port to operate correctly, one of the Resource types must have one of the following Setting values.

    0300 - 0301
    0310 - 0311
    0320 - 0321
    0330 - 0331

21. If none of these I/O ranges are in use, then you must change the Basic Configuration until one of these I/O ranges is present. You may have to clear the Use Automatic Settings check box to change the Basic Configuration. If none of the Basic Configurations use one the required Input/Output ranges, it is likely that another sound card in the computer is already using this range. The conflicting sound card may or may not be listed in Device Manager.
22. Restart Windows.

The device should now function properly on this computer.

Add or Update the Sound Card Driver

To install the Sound Galaxy Waverider sound card, open the folder containing the Aztech version 2.10 drivers located on the installation disk supplied with the sound card and then run the Setup.exe file found inside this folder. Follow the instructions on the screen, and then restart Windows when you are prompted.

This card uses an integrated wavetable that can be enabled by using the following steps:

NOTE: These steps are not necessary for ActiMates products to work properly.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Multimedia.
3. On the MIDI tab, click MPU401 Compatible in the Single Instrument box, and then click Custom Configuration if available.

To disable the integrated wavetable, click Internal OPL2/OPL3 FM Synthesis in the Single Instrument box.

Do not install the Full Duplex drivers.

Sound Galaxy Pro 16III-D PnP

This is a Plug and Play sound card and Windows automatically installs the correct drivers. Restart the computer when you are prompted. If Windows does not detect all of the devices, run the Setup.exe file located on the drivers disk supplied with the sound card. Follow the on-screen instructions, and restart Windows when you are prompted.

To enable the MPU-401 MIDI port you must run their DOS-based configuration utility. This program should be on the floppy disk supplied with your sound card; it can also be downloaded from Aztech's Web site. This is a real mode MS-DOS based program and you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode to run it. Follow the instructions provided with your sound card for using this program and setting up the external MIDI port (MPU-401) functionality.

NOTE: Using the joystick, you may encounter problems with loss of position during game play when using this sound card. To resolve these problems, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. On the Device Manager tab, double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers.
4. Click the 2320 Audio Device, and then click Properties.
5. On the Settings tab, click the Allow Single Mode DMA check box to select it.
6. Click OK or Close until you return to Windows.
7. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Waverider Pro 32/3D PnP

This is a Plug and Play sound card and Windows automatically installs the correct drivers. Restart the computer when you are prompted to. If Windows does not detect all of the devices, run the Setup.exe file located on the drivers disk supplied with the sound card. Follow the on-screen instructions, and restart Windows when you are prompted.

To enable the MPU-401 MIDI port you must run their DOS-based configuration utility. This program should be on the floppy disk supplied with your sound card; it can also be downloaded from Aztech's Web site. This is a real mode MS-DOS based program and you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode to run it. Follow the instructions provided with your sound card for using this program and setting up the external MIDI port (MPU-401) functionality.

This card uses an integrated wavetable that can be enabled by using the following steps:

NOTE: These steps are not necessary for ActiMates products to work properly.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Multimedia.
3. On the MIDI tab, click MPU401 Compatible in the Single Instrument box, and then click Custom Configuration if available.

To disable the integrated wavetable, click Internal OPL2/OPL3 FM Synthesis in the Single Instrument box.

Audio Telephony 2000

This is a Plug and Play sound card and Windows automatically installs the correct drivers. Restart the computer when you are prompted to. If Windows does not detect all of the devices, run the Setup.exe file located on the drivers disk supplied with the sound card. Follow the on-screen instructions, and restart Windows when you are prompted.

To enable the MPU-401 MIDI port you must run their DOS-based configuration utility. This program should be on the floppy disk supplied with your sound card; it can also be downloaded from Aztech's Web site. This is a real mode MS-DOS based program and you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode to run it. Follow the instructions provided with your sound card for using this program and setting up the external MIDI port (MPU-401) functionality.

This card uses an integrated wavetable that can be enabled by using the following steps:

NOTE: These steps are not necessary for ActiMates products to work properly.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Multimedia.
3. On the MIDI tab, click MPU401 Compatible in the Single Instrument box, and then click Custom Configuration if available.

To disable the integrated wavetable, click Internal OPL2/OPL3 FM Synthesis in the Single Instrument box.

Audio Telephony 3500

This is a Plug and Play sound card and Windows automatically installs the correct drivers. Restart the computer when you are prompted, and then run the Setup.exe file located on the drivers disk supplied with the sound card.

To enable the MPU-401 MIDI port you must run their DOS-based configuration utility. This program should be on the floppy disk supplied with your sound card; it can also be downloaded from Aztech's Web site. This is a real mode MS-DOS based program and you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode to run it. Follow the instructions provided with your sound card for using this program and setting up the external MIDI port (MPU-401) functionality.

Aztech A/B

The Aztech 16 A/B sound card is incompatible with ActiMates characters and The PC Pack Transmitter. If you are using an Aztech 16 A/B sound card, you Will need to purchase a new sound card before you can use ActiMates characters and the PC Pack Transmitter with your computer.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.