{"product_id":"hardmpu-wt-mpu-401-midi-isa-card","title":"HardMPU-WT MPU-401 MIDI ISA Card","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat is it?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardMPU-WT\u003c\/strong\u003e is an 8-bit ISA expansion card that re-creates the original \u003cstrong\u003eRoland MPU-401\u003c\/strong\u003e interface in both of its historical modes: \u003cstrong\u003eUART\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eIntelligent\u003c\/strong\u003e. Hand-assembled on a matte-black, gold-plated PCB, it gives any XT\/AT\/486\/Pentium DOS machine a hardware-accurate MIDI port that software recognizes as \"MPU-401\" at the classic \u003cstrong\u003e330h address\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA standard \u003cstrong\u003e5-pin DIN OUT\/THRU\u003c\/strong\u003e plus jumper-selectable I\/O and IRQ let you run it beside or instead of the MPU emulation found on common Sound Blaster cards.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy Was It Made?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVintage DOS titles such as \u003cstrong\u003ePrincess Maker 1 \u0026amp; 2\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eUltima VI\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eWing Commander\u003c\/strong\u003e, and a long list of Sierra\/LucasArts adventures query the MPU-401's command register and will remain \u003cem\u003esilent\u003c\/em\u003e if they see only the dumbed-down UART mode that most 1990s sound cards provide. Modern USB-MIDI adapters do not speak Intelligent mode either.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollectors were forced to hunt rare, expensive Roland \"Music Interface\" cards or entire LAPC\/CM modules. HardMPU-WT is an affordable, open-hardware solution that can be built today, shipped worldwide, and dropped into any retro PC without cannibalizing an original Roland part.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Makes It Special?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFull Intelligent-mode logic:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6801-class microcontroller core coded to answer every MPU-401 status\/command handshake that DOS games expect — 100% compatibility with titles that need it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDual-mode jumper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slide one shunt and the card behaves like a plain UART interface for Windows or trackers that don't need Intelligent overhead\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardware conflict freedom:\u003c\/strong\u003e All I\/O (300\/330\/332\/334h) and IRQ (2\/9\/5\/7) settings via DIP headers — disable the MPU port on your SB16\/AWE\/ESS and keep audio playback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISA-friendly power-up:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powers from 5V only, generates its own ±12V for true RS-232-level MIDI current loops. Works in 8-bit slots back to the IBM 5150\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHand-crafted quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Matte-black solder mask, ENIG (gold) finish, visually inspected, programmed, loopback tested, shipped in anti-static bag with quick-start sheet and bracket screws\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThrough-hole construction:\u003c\/strong\u003e No surface-mount mystery — fully repairable for decades\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterface:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8-bit ISA (compatible with XT\/AT\/486\/Pentium)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intelligent (MPU-401) + UART (jumper selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eI\/O Address:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300h \/ 330h \/ 332h \/ 334h (DIP selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIRQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 \/ 9 \/ 5 \/ 7 (DIP selectable)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMIDI:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-pin DIN OUT + THRU\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5V from ISA bus, onboard ±12V generation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCB:\u003c\/strong\u003e Matte black, ENIG gold-plated, through-hole\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e IBM 5150 and later, all DOS-era PCs with 8-bit ISA slot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompatible Software\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny DOS game or application that uses MPU-401 Intelligent mode, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrincess Maker 1 \u0026amp; 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUltima VI and later Ultima titles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWing Commander series\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSierra On-Line adventures (King's Quest, Space Quest, etc.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLucasArts adventures (Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, etc.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd hundreds more DOS titles with MT-32 \/ General MIDI output\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Denjhang's Retro Hardware","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46182306480325,"sku":null,"price":139.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0777\/8507\/1813\/files\/04_27a52f5d-6608-4a84-8718-d8ba3992460c.jpg?v=1778071465","url":"https:\/\/denjhang.myshopify.com\/products\/hardmpu-wt-mpu-401-midi-isa-card","provider":"Denjhang's Retro Hardware","version":"1.0","type":"link"}