Windows Sound System
Introduction
Microsoft launched the Windows Sound System (WSS) specification in 1992. It was designed to work with Windows 3.1, and as such was seen as a 'business audio' solution rather than something to be used by gamers. This meant that when in Windows 3.1 you could use it to take voice annotations, do voice recognition, and play audio CDs.
To get their new PC audio specification popularised, Microsoft released the Windows Sound System hardware, which comprised the WSS card, microphone, headphones, and a software package, all for the sum of $289.
Utility Software
Music Box was used to play audio CDs and is compatible with other sound cards. Volume Control provided individual volume and balance controls for each of the audio inputs. Recording Control was the same but for recording levels. Sound Finder allowed you to playback a number of different audio formats including Apple, NEXT, and Sound Blaster. SoundScapes was an audio screensaver. Quick Recorder catered for recording up to 4-bit, 8-bit or 16-bit sample sizes in 11 kHz, 22 kHz or 44 kHz sample rates. It saved recordings in .WAV format, and also came with a few editing tools and effects. Proofreader produced an audible female voice output in some applications like Microsoft Excel. It recognised about 170 terms but you could add to this with your own recorded words to the dictionary. Finally, Voice Pilot was the speech recognition tool, able to work with about 15 Windows applications including Word for Windows, Aldus PageMaker, and WordPerfect for Windows.
Hardware
The Windows Sound System card was based around the Analog Devices AD1848, plus a Yamaha YMF262-M for Ad Lib and Sound Blaster support, which were the most popular sound standards at the time. At odds with other sound cards in 1992, the WSS card came with high-quality phono (RCA) jacks for analogue audio output to headphones, but kept the more common 3.5mm audio jacks for mono mic-in, stereo line-in, and stereo line-out that could be connected to an external amplifier or self-powered speakers.
One omission from the card was a means of connecting your CD-ROM's audio output to the card - this had to be done by connecting it to one of the input ports on the back of the card.
Drivers
There were three distinct versions of the Windows Sound System: 1.0, 1.0a, and 2.0.
The version 1.0a Windows Sound System drivers were released in February 1993, adding support for DOS games with a special system disk, single mode DMA, Ad Lib and Sound Blaster support. Up to and including this version, only the Microsoft Windows Sound System card was supported. A new 'Games Configuration' icon was added under the Windows Sound System group.
The version 2.0 drivers followed in October of that same year, adding support for third-party cards from MediaVision, Creative Labs and ESS Technology. These drivers also added an improved DOS driver (WSSXLAT.EXE) that provided Sound Blaster 16 compatibility, had keyboard shortcuts to control volume in DOS games (Ctrl-Alt-PgUp/PgDn).
From Windows 95 onwards, the drivers for WSS were built-in. For DOS there are no drivers needed for games that natively support WSS, but you will need drivers for Sound Blaster emulation in DOS. You can download these here.
You can download the Microsoft drivers for WSS here. These are the same versions you will find on archive.org:
Windows Sound System Drivers
Contains the Windows 3.1 driver and utility software. For use only with the Microsoft Windows Sound System card. |
Windows Sound System Drivers
Setup and Help files are in German. Contains the Windows 3.1 driver and utility software. For use only with the Microsoft Windows Sound System card. |
Windows Sound System Drivers
Contains the Windows 3.1 driver and utility software. For use with any card compatible with Windows Sound System. |
