Update: 13Dec04

[Ari]

General MIDI



The SPACE QUEST I: The Sarien Encounter soundtrack is now available for General MIDI.  Designed for optimal playback on Roland GM devices.

The 'What's New' and 'Complete Soundtrack' pages will be updated shortly. Meanwhile, this is an exclusive QS Forum presentation.

Enjoy!

[achile464]

Thank you

   

[Tom]

Yeah, thank's, Ari!  Nice work.

I should also mention...by next weekend, an enhanced digital version of this soundtrack will be available as well, based on Ari's previous recording of the MT-32 soundtrack.

[Kaminari]

[Alistair]

(Just a quick reply- hopefully if Tom's recording the digital score, he'll 'improve' on Ari's version- one or two missing themes, and I would suggest looping pieces rather than one 50 second loop and a 10 second fadeout, for example)

- Alistair

[Tom]

The digital soundtrack is based on Ari's previous recording of the Roland MT-32 soundtrack, but lacks a couple of the f/x only tracks.

[Ghost_Rider]

Sounds great, looking forward to the digital audio.

Are you still planning to do Quest for Glory 1 sometime down the road?  That's the one I'd really like to hear.  

I'll be patient  

[Tom]

As a matter of fact, that was next on my list.  I already have a lot of it done...but got very busy, put it on hold, and forgot about it.  

But the other day I thought that since I was already preparing the QFG2 VGA (AGDI remake) digital soundtrack for posting, I might as well finish up QFG1's soundtrack, too.

Sounds great, looking forward to the digital audio.

If you want a preview sample, I uploaded Track 1 of the SQ1 digital soundtrack today, SQ1 Introduction.  It's at:

  http://www.QuestStudios.com/digital/sq1cd/SQ1Track01.ogg

[Ari]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of trumpet did you use on this track?

[Alistair]

The digital soundtrack is based on Ari's previous recording of the Roland MT-32 soundtrack, but lacks a couple of the f/x only tracks.

Well, darn- because some of the missing tracks are nice.
And would be good to fill a CD as well.. rather than have tracks not going long enough.

And Ari- if you don't know, I'd probably guess an ED trumpet, variations 24 or 25 (Bright and Warm) [Haven't heard the preview, downloading now] because Tom's used them before and seems to like 'em. Not that I blame him! ED trumpets are some of my favourite ED instruments.

Last query for the night- Is it just me, or do I recall a Tom Lewandowski saying at my original original message board that someone sent you a Space Quest 1 VGA digital soundtrack?

- Alistair

[Ari]

I'll tell you what:
You give me a list of missing tracks and I'll see what I can do about recording them and adding them to the soundtrack. at least the original MT-32 version at this time.

btw, I see you have no gripes about the soundtrack (except for missing tracks). Can I assume it's that good?

[Tom]

I almost always use, 'Twin Trumpets' (variation 27) as I did in the SQ1 Intro, and added 'Trumpet 2', and 'Stereo Pop Brass'.  I also left the MT-32's 'Trumpet 2' track intact, but lowered the volume on it.  Don't know that I've ever used 'Warm Trumpet' very often for anything; once or twice, maybe.  'Bright Trumpet', a few times (when I want more volume from the Brass section.)

Yeah, if you let us know which tracks are missing from the soundtrack, I'll also record them and add those to the digital soundtrack (if there's room) as well.  I didn't notice anything missing from it, so I guess I've never heard the 'missing' music.  

Nobody sent me a SQ1 'digital' soundtrack; I have some MIDI files from the game sent to me by Cindy Vanous.  The only psuedo-complete digital soundtrack I have from Sierra is from a game that never got published, "Athyr."

[Alistair]

First question- has the SQ1Track01.ogg file been reuploaded? (ARVL fun..)

I'll tell you what:
You give me a list of missing tracks and I'll see what I can do about recording them and adding them to the soundtrack. at least the original MT-32 version at this time.

Wow, this is unprecedented from QuestStudios. Well, to be serious, we both (all three of us) want the same thing- the best quality and quantity of Sierra MIDI files to be out there. I always wince when a track is missing or incomplete.. that's why I love King's Quest 6 (MIDI/CD). I know Tom must've loved that game's music. Only one totally bizarre and not really relevant track absent. Eco Quest as well, for that matter. Nothing missing there either.

EDIT: Upon reflection, there's really only one musical track worth keeping missing (plenty of the cool Sci-Fi sfx stuff, but that's fine to leave out for a soundtrack CD).. one of the Hologram themes, and possibly some stuff earlier, I'd have to check, but nothing major- my bad!
My main concern would be the fact that a lot of tracks are not looped enough. I'd certainly feel unsatisfied with digital versions of these tracks if the Skimmer was a minute, Skeleton was a minute:11, Mystery Box Ride was 20 something seconds, etc..

On the whole, not a bad MIDI soundtrack. I assume there's panning and such. (See my next comment below for more..)

btw, I see you have no gripes about the soundtrack (except for missing tracks). Can I assume it's that good?

Assume nothing, Mr Stone.
I haven't actually listened to your MIDI score, either of them. But I know the soundtrack well enough that, if you panned properly, and if you looped those themes you'd have more than a fine effort. Well done.

SQ1 isn't one of my favourite scores, to say the least. Ken Allen did some good stuff, but obviously his heart wasn't in it when he had to do this score after SQ4.. some ripoffs of his old work and some quite boring music.. and a lack of music at that.
So don't take offence to me not listening, it's more bad memories with me and SQ1 from recent times.

- Alistair

[Ghost_Rider]

As a matter of fact, that was next on my list.

Awesome!        I can't wait to hear the QFG1 digital audio.

The SQ1 ogg file sounds great, the drums sound really good in it, and everything else is very clear too.  

In many of the older games, the drums sound horrible with SB; whether it be AWE64, or later.  Actually most music from older games sounds bad with SB, and the drums sound like someone playing on crumpled up wax paper.

[Tom]

My SoundBlaster's drums sound more like Tuperware bowls, filled with strawberries (fozen, of course.)  The cymbals remind me of the lid of an old, big perculating coffee maker I once had.

[Alistair]

MT and ED drums always. SC-55 can be OK sometimes.. I'm not thrilled with my default Yamaha drumkit either, but some XG ones are niiice.

Tom- my sources tell me you skipped a fair few tracks with your digital recordings, for example Orat Cave was in the first 10 tracks! Say it isn't so.

- Alistair

[Ari]

I usually loop themes twice 3 times tops. I won't loop it 5-6 times just because it was orginally a very short one. the "Rog-In-a-Box theme is very short and there's not all that much in it.
I find that most themes tend to become boring after the 2nd loop. Some even after the 1st loop.

I'd really like to hear what's your point in looping the theme for 3 minutes if there's nothing in it that justifies it.

And btw, I suggest you listen to the soundtrack before passing any judgement on it on the whole. I took some liberties with some of themes I converted. You may be quite familiar with the original soundtrack, but it's a little like criticizing a remake of a movie because you're "quite familiar" with the original version...

[Alistair]

I'm merely making a suggestion.. Space Quest 1 has hardly any music anyway, so not looping a track at all (fading on the 2nd loop for example) I wouldn't believe to be a good policy. But it's your call..

Liberties eh? Such as? I'm curious now!

- Alistair

[Ari]

I don't fade on the second loop. If I fade, I do it at the beginning of the third loop.

No major changes anywhere, but instrument choices, and one or two backup tracks, plus the total orchestration of some of the themes make for an interesting listening experience. It's your call...

[Alistair]

No major changes anywhere, but instrument choices, and one or two backup tracks, plus the total orchestration of some of the themes make for an interesting listening experience.

Sounds good, now that I've got the first 20-odd digital files I'd better have a listen.

Get back to you.

It's your call...

But no, not by phone. Israel would be a little expensive, I reckon..

- Alistair