A clone of the AdLib
GOLD sound card
What is it?
GoldLib is a clone of the legendary AdLib GOLD sound card for
IBM PCs and Compatibles.
(Wikipedia link , specifications
document)
This is a hardware
clone of the original card - the only thing that is "modern"
is the re-creation
of the GOLD CTRL ASIC that was never available for purchase seperately.
Everything
else has been replicated and uses the same chips and components
as the original card: most
importantly the whole audio output section is the same using the
same DACs, OpAmps, mixing,
filtering stages and layout. A real AdLib GOLD card + Surround
module were used for developement
of the GoldLib card and the result is that it sounds and looks
as close as possible to the original.
The AdLib Gold Surround Module is also cloned and included with
every GoldLib card.
There is one difference from the original card since there was
no point to replicate : the proprietary
SCSI/Modem interfaces are removed and only recreated in the CTRL
up to the point where the original
drivers and card diagnostics do not complain about them missing.
There were no addons ever released for these interfaces and thus
it was decided to skip them.
Since the GoldLib is an exact hardware clone that uses the same
old chips as the original card it
also inherits the limitations of the original: the YAMAHA YMZ-263
"MMA" chip is a speed-sensitive
device and will not operate correctly on systems faster than a
medium-range 486. As a result the
whole card is what we now call "speed sensitive". Sadly
there is no workaround to this.
Remember that the original AdLib Gold card was a 1992 8-bit ISA
soundcard so it's target
systems were the 386DX and early 486DX systems of the era. Goldlib
is a "quiet" card - just like
the original - but it is still an early 90s piece of hardware
at it's core so expect some degree of noise.
Some new information was shared by user 640k!enough at VOGONS
forum. Back in the day
he contacted AdLib and the official responce was that depening
on hardware/software configuration
anything above a 486/33 can cause timing issues. You can read
more details HERE.
More interestingly there is software that can alter the card's
temporary configuration and after
exiting the next program will not behave correctly. A reboot will
restore the configuration
and normal operation. The above info also applies to GoldLib.
The GoldLib is not more or less compatible than the original card:
it still uses the same drivers
with the same features and software support - it's basically the
same thing as described above...
Whatever works with the oginal AdLib card will also work the same
way with the GoldLib.
Each card is sold fully assembled and tested with a Surround Module
and a bracket - ready for use!
Several of the chips on the board are old stock ones and not produced
anymore and as such
there can be some cosmetic issues from age/storage - this is unavoidable
almost 30 years later.
This is a limited run of cards , we are limited by the amount
of *good/real*
old chips we found , once these are depleted it is unlikely another
run of cards will ever be made.
Each card is fully hand soldered so minor assembly imperfections
can exist.
(click on pics for larger version)
Please check this VOGONS
thread for more pictures
and information.
Downloads:
AdLib Gold User's Guide:
download
here
Windows 3.1 driver guide: download
here
Driver & Software Package:
download
here
(driver package above mirrored
from trixter's site, contains latest versions of drivers, please
check notes.txt)
If you want to check
out the rest of the AdLib Gold bundled software like
Groove Key, MCS MusicRack, Studio Sonic 8, WowII Gold, Boombox
please
download them from archive.org from
this link
News:
02-11-22 : 1st batch of GoldLibs has neem shipped, work has started
for the 2nd and final batch, people in the queue will be contacted
as
cards are being completed.
20-10-2022 : Thank you for the overwhelming receipt of the GoldLib!
I am starting to ship the 1st batch of paid orders following the
queue.
Keep in mind that there is no receipt/confirmation on filling
the order
form: your interest is automatically recorded and when your turn
comes I will email you about purchasing. There is no pre-orders
here,
once a card is made it becomes available for purshace.
Thanks!
How to order:
Please fill the form linked HERE to enter the purchase queue.
Price for each card is 360eur shipped worldwide via registered
airmail.
Payment via PayPal or IBAN transfer. (please take care of any fees)
Each card comes fully assembled with a stainless steel bracket
and a
surround module.
Please allow up to
5 working days for shipping.
Page made purposefully to
work with very old systems/browsers. Last updated 19-10-2022.
Always a WIP :)
Please check out our other retropc projects: 
PCMIDI , 
Orpheus
soundcard and 
MegaCard
