Difference between revisions of "Ad Lib"
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{{Infobox Company | {{Infobox Company | ||
| Image = Ad Lib.png | | Image = Ad Lib.png | ||
| − | | Name = Ad Lib | + | | Name = Ad Lib Inc. |
| − | | Founded = | + | | Founded = 1986? |
| Closed = 1994 | | Closed = 1994 | ||
| Headquarters = Quebec City, Canada | | Headquarters = Quebec City, Canada | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''''Ad Lib | + | '''''Ad Lib Inc.''''' was a Canadian manufacturer of sound cards and other computer equipment. Their most popular sound card, the [[AdLib|Ad Lib Music Synthesizer Card]] became the first de facto standard for video game audio in the PC market thanks to [[Sierra Online]] popularizing it. However, the company was too slow to release a more advanced sound card and lost their market majority to the [[Sound Blaster]] by [[Creative Labs]]. By the time Ad Lib released their follow up sound card, the [[AdLib Gold 1000]], a better Sound Blaster was already out and at a cheaper price. |
Ad Lib was unable to compete and declared bankruptcy on May 1st, 1992. There were several bids for Ad Lib's assets, including from [[Mediatrix Peripherals]] who eventually hired some of the old Ad Lib staff. However, it was German conglomerate Binnenalster GmbH, who made the successful bid and created '''Ad Lib MultiMedia, Inc.''' | Ad Lib was unable to compete and declared bankruptcy on May 1st, 1992. There were several bids for Ad Lib's assets, including from [[Mediatrix Peripherals]] who eventually hired some of the old Ad Lib staff. However, it was German conglomerate Binnenalster GmbH, who made the successful bid and created '''Ad Lib MultiMedia, Inc.''' | ||
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==Audio Personnel== | ==Audio Personnel== | ||
Ad Lib sold various music disks that featured music arranged into the ROL format. This music was arranged by personnel at Ad Lib, though their identity has not yet been discovered. The 'Ad Lib Inc.' name has also appeared in some video games such as The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (DOS). | Ad Lib sold various music disks that featured music arranged into the ROL format. This music was arranged by personnel at Ad Lib, though their identity has not yet been discovered. The 'Ad Lib Inc.' name has also appeared in some video games such as The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (DOS). | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Marc Savary]] and [[Dale Glowinski]] are named in most source code files by Ad Lib Inc. | ||
==Hardware== | ==Hardware== | ||
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| [[Bank Manager]] | | [[Bank Manager]] | ||
| Command line [[BNK]] modifier. Included with later versions of bundled software and AdLib Visual Composer. | | Command line [[BNK]] modifier. Included with later versions of bundled software and AdLib Visual Composer. | ||
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| 1989-05-08 | | 1989-05-08 | ||
Revision as of 14:41, 7 August 2019
| Ad Lib Inc. | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1986? |
| Closed | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Quebec City, Canada |
Ad Lib Inc. was a Canadian manufacturer of sound cards and other computer equipment. Their most popular sound card, the Ad Lib Music Synthesizer Card became the first de facto standard for video game audio in the PC market thanks to Sierra Online popularizing it. However, the company was too slow to release a more advanced sound card and lost their market majority to the Sound Blaster by Creative Labs. By the time Ad Lib released their follow up sound card, the AdLib Gold 1000, a better Sound Blaster was already out and at a cheaper price.
Ad Lib was unable to compete and declared bankruptcy on May 1st, 1992. There were several bids for Ad Lib's assets, including from Mediatrix Peripherals who eventually hired some of the old Ad Lib staff. However, it was German conglomerate Binnenalster GmbH, who made the successful bid and created Ad Lib MultiMedia, Inc.
Ad Lib MultiMedia sold the remaining AdLib Gold 1000 cards and went on to produce two other sound cards to little fanfare prompting Binnenalster to sell AdLib Multimedia to Softworld Taiwan in 1994.
Contents
Games
These are the games that credit the music and/or sound to Ad Lib. This may be a possible alias of Derek Schofield.
| Released | Title | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1989-??-?? | The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge (DOS) | |
Music Development
Audio Formats
Ad Lib developed the following file formats to use with their sound cards:
| Released | Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987-??-?? | ROL, INS | With first release of AdLib Visual Composer |
| 1988-06-29 | MUS (AdLib), SND (AdLib) | To compile music from ROL & INS formats |
| 1989-01-?? | BNK | An update to AdLib Visual Composer v1.5 |
| 1989-05-08 | MDI | To compile music from ROL & BNK |
Audio Personnel
Ad Lib sold various music disks that featured music arranged into the ROL format. This music was arranged by personnel at Ad Lib, though their identity has not yet been discovered. The 'Ad Lib Inc.' name has also appeared in some video games such as The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (DOS).
Marc Savary and Dale Glowinski are named in most source code files by Ad Lib Inc.
Hardware
Sound Devices
| Released | Sound Card | Audio Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1987-??-?? | AdLib | YM3812 |
| 1992-??-?? | AdLib Gold 1000 | YMF262, 12-bit stereo DAC |
| 199?-??-?? | MSC 16/32 | QS1000, CS4236 |
| 199?-??-?? | ASB 32/64 | CS9233, CS4232, CS8905 |
Software
Ad Lib wrote the following programs to function with their sound cards:
| Released | Software | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987-??-?? | AdLib Juke Box | Bundled with the sound card. |
| 1987-??-?? | AdLib Visual Composer | First release of the ROL editor. |
| 1988-06-29 | AdLib Convert, AdLib Play | Converts ROL to MUS (AdLib) and plays MUS. |
| 1989-01-?? | AdLib Visual Composer v1.5 | Used new BNK format. |
| 1989-01-?? | Bank Manager | Command line BNK modifier. Included with later versions of bundled software and AdLib Visual Composer. |
| 1989-05-08 | ROL to MIDI, MIDI Play | Converts ROL to MDI and plays MDI. |
Links
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Lib,_Inc. - Wikipedia.
- queststudios.com/smf/index.php?topic=2885.0 - Some history.
