Sound Canvas and Games

[Tom]

I'd have to agree completely with shad0wfax.  I much prefer the sound of my SC-8820 playing in it's default mode, over the SC-55...when I listen to Sierra GM soundtracks.  Even though there are subtle differences in the overall mix, I feel the sound is so much better from the 8820.  (And, I don't always care for Sierra's mixing abilities, anyway.)  But I don't feel it's a 'radical' difference than the SC-55, in terms of the mix.

Off hand, I can't think of any sound that I prefer on the SC-55 over the SC-8820...not even remotely.  I also notice a general overall warmth and depth in some sounds on the SCB-55 over the SC-55, which I also prefer over the original SC-55.  But from it's introduction, I've always loved all of the SC's organs, and I feel they've improved with each new SC model.

My only access to the original SC-55 is through my CM-500 --- which I believe is identical to the original SC-55 in output.

[Ari]

For what it's worth, the Dream64 wavetable card uses Roland's samples, but not Roland's GS engine (relying instead on one from "Dream", the French company who developed the card).

What do you mean by "not Roland's GS  engine"?

[Laust]

Well, there's two parts to a MIDI device (or these devices, anyway). The samples, and the engine that interprets the incoming MIDI and, well, does things with the samples based on that. As far as I know, Dream licensed the samples only.

For instance, taking the Roland samples and coupling them with a Creative AWE card/EMU engine would not give the equivalent of an SC-55, as Creative's MIDI implementation is somewhat lacking.  I'm not saying that Dream's is, just that it's not Roland's.

[Great Hierophant]

I believe the Dream module could be found on a Diamond Monster Sound MX200, which I had in an old PC until two months ago. I remember the midi quality as being very good, but the speakers I hooked up to the unit were generally poor.

[Ari]

I wish there was more information on the Dream 64 on the web. I don't even know exactly what kind of sound set it has.

One thing I have noticed about it, is that it responds diffrently to non GM/GS commands than an SC-55 or compatible. In that respect it acts more like an XG compatible device than an SC-55.
For example: when my SCB-55 encountars a patch number from a bank to which it has no sound assigned, it won't play anything.
The Dream 64 seems to revert back to the capital tones like my Yamaha SW60XG does.

[moturimi1]

For example: when my SCB-55 encountars a patch number from a bank to which it has no sound assigned, it won't play anything.
The Dream 64 seems to revert back to the capital tones like my Yamaha SW60XG does.

But the original SC-55 does play the capital instrument. Only the later SC-55 MKII, SC-55ST and SCB-55 are silent!

[Great Hierophant]

But the original SC-55 does play the capital instrument. Only the later SC-55 MKII, SC-55ST and SCB-55 are silent!

This makes it very difficult to determine whether the original song used an SC-55 or something more advanced like an SC-55mkII by judging by the sounds used.  If the SC-55 will default to the main patch in each of the 128 banks, then even if the song uses a variation patch you will still hear something close to the intended sound.  

Polyphony is key in this situation.

[Alistair]

I'd have to agree completely with shad0wfax. I much prefer the sound of my SC-8820 playing in it's default mode, over the SC-55...when I listen to Sierra GM soundtracks. Even though there are subtle differences in the overall mix, I feel the sound is so much better from the 8820. (And, I don't always care for Sierra's mixing abilities, anyway.) But I don't feel it's a 'radical' difference than the SC-55, in terms of the mix.

Off hand, I can't think of any sound that I prefer on the SC-55 over the SC-8820...not even remotely. I also notice a general overall warmth and depth in some sounds on the SCB-55 over the SC-55, which I also prefer over the original SC-55. But from it's introduction, I've always loved all of the SC's organs, and I feel they've improved with each new SC model.

Well, for Sierra GM games, I vastly prefer the 55. Space Quest 6 is a great example.

55 tones I prefer over the 8820? Saw Wave would be an obvious one, and Honkytonk, and probably a few scattered others. It all depends on the individual song file, anyway.

- Alistair