Missing instrument in CM-500

[HondaSiR]

This may sound strange but when I played the intro theme from Codename: Iceman on the CM-500, I swear that there's a reverse cymbal (or similar instrument) missing right after the final submarine ping sound. The MT-32 plays that instrument but the CM-500 doesn't. How come? This happens around 48 seconds from the start of the song (I'm playing MIDI files on WinAmp).

[Alkarion]

Could you post a link to the midi file?

[Cloudschatze]

I hear it from both the MT-32, and CM-500, so I'm not sure what to tell you.

[HondaSiR]

Alkarion: I used the complete Codename: Iceman soundtrack from Tom: http://www.queststudios.com/quest/soundtrk.html

Cloudschatze: That's really weird...everytime I play it on my CM, that sound is not present. Did you play it through another MIDI player and used Tom's soundtrack?

[Zemus]

The sound's there, but the track it's in (track 3) has a sysex message being sent at almost the same time which mutes the cymbal. It also mutes the rising sound on track 9. When I removed that sysex string, it played fine, and I'm using a CM-500 too.
The string is: F0 41 10 16 12 10 00 00 4A 00 05 05 03 04 04 03 03 03 03 03 06 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 64 6B F7
I wonder if it's anything important...

[HondaSiR]

So a sysex message has something to do with it. Wonder what its for? And how come the CM and MT react differently to it?  :?:

Another question is why Cloudschatze's CM-500 appears to play the sound anyway.

[Zemus]

Not sure which MIDI player he uses, but I don't think all of them supports sysex.

[Cloudschatze]

Actually, I loaded up the game...

[Laust]

From what I've been told, the CM-500 is a bit dodgy in intelligent mode (where it splits the channels between the appropriate synth engines)

If you put the CM-500 in A(?) mode where input isn't filtered and mute the GS channels via SysEx, does it then play the notes correctly?

[HondaSiR]

If you put the CM-500 in A(?) mode where input isn't filtered and mute the GS channels via SysEx, does it then play the notes correctly?

I put the CM in mode A, turned the power off then on, then played the partsoff sysex. CNI played the instruments wrong (in Winamp) but the sound in question is there, only in a different instrument.

Cloudschatze: At least we know the CM plays the theme faithfully within the game. I don't have the game with me right now, that's why I relied on the soundtrack. It is worth noting though that there are differences when played within the game and through a MIDI player.

[Cloudschatze]

From what I've been told, the CM-500 is a bit dodgy in intelligent mode

I'm not sure that this is true at all...

The only issues I've ever experienced in Mode B had to do with Sierra's MT-32 driver. Did I miss a conversation where other issues were discussed?

[Zemus]

I haven't had any issues with Sierra's MT-32 driver either.

If you just played it in Mode A, each track will be played through both the MT-32 and SC-55 part so the cymbal part will be played on at least one of them.

[NewRisingSUn]

First: when comparing the MT-32 to any other module, make sure you post your MT-32's ROM revision. MT-32's ROM versions 2.xx are much closer to the CM modules than the 1.xx ROMs.

he string is: F0 41 10 16 12 10 00 00 4A 00 05 05 03 04 04 03 03 03 03 03 06 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 64 6B F7
I wonder if it's anything important...

That message sets all general settings, including reverb, voice reserve, channel assignment and main volume, at the same time.

From what I've been told, the CM-500 is a bit dodgy in intelligent mode

The CM-500 has an "intelligent mode"? I thought only MPUs had an "intelligent mode"...

It is worth noting though that there are differences when played within the game and through a MIDI player.

That's hardly a function of "game" vs. "MIDI player" --- the game's sound routine is a MIDI player as well --- but of Tom embedding SysEx messages in his MIDI files.

[HondaSiR]

First: when comparing the MT-32 to any other module, make sure you post your MT-32's ROM revision. MT-32's ROM versions 2.xx are much closer to the CM modules than the 1.xx ROMs.

I don't know what my MT-32's ROM versions are. How do you find out anyway? The board assembly number is 01.

That's hardly a function of "game" vs. "MIDI player" --- the game's sound routine is a MIDI player as well --- but of Tom embedding SysEx messages in his MIDI files.

Ok, so how come my MT-32 and CM-500 plays the same song differently on the same MIDI player (WinAmp)? Difference in the ROM version?

[Cloudschatze]

I don't know what my MT-32's ROM versions are. How do you find out anyway? The board assembly number is 01.

Press and hold the Part 4, Rhythm, and Master Volume buttons, while turning on the power.

Your MT-32 contains one of the "old-type" 01 boards, which include none of the functional changes made to the "new-type" 01 board. I suspect your ROM version to be 1.07.

I tested using a ROM 2.07 MT-32, which, as NewRisingSun states, is more similar to the CM modules than the 1.xx versions are.

Edit: I downloaded the complete soundtrack, and here's what I found.

ROM 1.04 MT-32 - Does produce the sound.
ROM 2.07 MT-32 - Does not produce the sound.
CM-500, Mode B - Does not produce the sound.

My opinion?

The older MT-32 is unable to process the DT1 SYSEX string quickly enough (I get a buffer overflow, in fact), whereas the new units can, and thereby produce no sound immediately afterward.

From Tom's readme file:
"The preceding measure of each individual song file contains reset
    controller and SysEx data."

It sounds like the SYSEX string is misplaced, that's all.

[HondaSiR]

Your MT-32 contains one of the "old-type" 01 boards, which include none of the functional changes made to the "new-type" 01 board. I suspect your ROM version to be 1.07.

Yup, you're right on the money...my ROM version is 1.07. Out of curiosity, what ROM version comes with the CM-500?

[Cloudschatze]

GS CM-500 units contain ROM version 1.00. GS/GM units contain ROM version 1.02.

[HondaSiR]

ROM 1.04 MT-32 - Does produce the sound.
ROM 2.07 MT-32 - Does not produce the sound.
CM-500, Mode B - Does not produce the sound.

My opinion?

The older MT-32 is unable to process the DT1 SYSEX string quickly enough (I get a buffer overflow, in fact), whereas the new units can, and thereby produce no sound immediately afterward.

From Tom's readme file:
"The preceding measure of each individual song file contains reset
    controller and SysEx data."

It sounds like the SYSEX string is misplaced, that's all.

Hmm, sounds like a good explanation for whats happening. However I don't experience buffer overflows on my MT-32 using WinAmp. It does overflow when I use Media Player though.

Regarding the CM-500 ROMS, I was unaware there are two kinds of CM-500s. How can I tell which one I have?

[Cloudschatze]

I was unaware there are two kinds of CM-500s. How can I tell which one I have?

One features both GS and General MIDI logos on the front, while the other has just the GS logo.

The former will recognize a GM System ON command, while the latter interprets these as GS Resets.

Is this a big deal? Not really.

[HondaSiR]

My unit has the GS logo only, the first version of the CM-500 perhaps. Yep, no big deal as long as its able to fully reproduce LA/GM/GS MIDI files.