Fantom XR version of SPACE QUEST IV

[the_doctor]

I'd love to hear SQ4 redone as a Fantom XR release ... that's my favorite gameset so far, and I'd love to hear how the Fantom can do it ...

[shad0wfax]

Hi! If you're interested in hearing more Fantom XR conversions, that means you're interested in my work, and I'm very grateful for it. This said, I must point out once more that making conversions is not a straightforward task, and it involves a long and hard work that has to be done mostly by hand, using editors and sequencers. That means that, given also that I haven't got much free time, I have to be really interested in the soundtrack I convert. This doesn't mean that I wouldn't do ever SQ4, but only that there are other ones that keep my interest by now: for instance, Laura Bow 2, Quest for glory IV, or even a complete rework of the LSL3 soundtrack. The LSL3 soundtrack was my first conversion, and I had virtually no experience with my Fantom XR. Now I'm convinced I would do better, since I've got more experience with this great piece of gear.

[the_doctor]

Well, the ones I've DLd so far (LSL3, LSL5 and parts of KQ6) all sound great ... I really like the original sound, seems more "accurate" because that's what it sounded like when I played it (Tandy 1000, memories ...)

The Fantom versions seem (to my ear) to be the best remakes (since I never heard them on MIDI or anything, I think of them that way) I've heard.

Keep up the fantastic work ...  

[Saurax]

Hi shad0wfax... listened to your LSL3 and PQ1 soundtracks.  Wow, that FantomXR is amazing.  One could easily mistake a lot of those MP3s for live bands.

Keep it up, ooh a QFG4 soundtrack on FantomXR would be so cool!  All those nice guitars especially!

Keep well,

Tirone

[the_doctor]

Hey shad0wfax ... if you find the time (he he, yeah right, like anybody has spare time just lying around), how about just a single track 'teaser' from SQ4 ... the "Magmethius Canteen" track (Track 37 in my list, but also it is part of Track 2 "Introduction") is my favorite track of the whole set ... I'd LOVE to hear how it sounds thru the Fantom  

(( i think I got my SQ4 from Spacequest.net, the version here doesnt have that many tracks in it ... I'll give my MP3 to prove what I'm referring to if necessary. ))

[shad0wfax]

Well, I'll try to find out some spare time for doing this "teaser". It's unlikely, though, that I'll have it before mid or late march. Thanks again for your interest in my work.

[Alistair]

Heh- Magmetheus Canteen is arguably the hardest track to convert properly from Roland MT->any other format. Well, anyway. (Check out Sierra's GM version, it's crap).

- Alistair

[shad0wfax]

The teaser is already available at http://queststudios.com/quest/mp3-4.html

[Ari]

It's quite a brave effort, Shad0wfax!  :wink:

I guess some things are simply impossible to convert accurately. Nevertheless, It's not half bad!  

[Alistair]

I don't like it AT ALL- you appear to have taken al lthe 'space' out of it, it just sounds bland and kinda like the dire GM version. (I don't like the brasses, mainly- why not synth brasses?)

But I think you'd be much better at the other more usual types of track in the score.

- Alistair

[the_doctor]

Thank you Shadowfax ... I appreciate the time you took and like it overall.

The only thing that seems out of place is the 'synthy' part that starts at 0:55 in ... i would have expected a real band-sounding trumpet or something ... the 'alien' instrument actually seems to detract from it a little bit, not as punchy or brassy as it sounds like the song needs.

Otherwise, good work ... thank you!

[MusicallyInspired]

That alien synth isn't too far off from what Ken Allen used on the MT-32 soundtrack. I actually think it's kinda cool. Though a little bit too big-bandish. I know that's what the original song is trying to do, but it just doesn't seem outer-spacey enough as Alistair suggested. I guess I'm just too used to the MT-32 version , though. All in all though I enjoy it!

[Tom]

I've always thought this song was a parody of the canteen in the Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope; a futuristic big-band.  I like the XR version, too.

[Alistair]

Yeah, they showed a A New Hope recently here, and you're right.. But, of course, the cantina in SQ4 is more a spoof and Allen used synthy instruments for it as opposed to the true big band feel. Though maybe that was because the MT-32 doen't figure well in orchestration.

- Alistair

[BlueMax]

It's very nice, but I agree that those "real" brass sounds should be made synthy!  

That would be neat!

[MusicallyInspired]

Heh, maybe he should make 2 versions to keep everyone happy lol.

Seriously, though. It's growing on me. It is a parody of the Star Wars canteen music, I just got used to the MT-32 version.

[Alistair]

Yep, Brandon's last opinion there is a better assesment of what I think.

- Alistair

[shad0wfax]

The point here is simple: if you want a "synthy" track, stick to MT-32's version. It's very cool and it can be hardly improved in "synthy" terms. I didn't even try to do it because I think it's pointless. The proof is that the MT-32 version is a lot better than Sierra's own GM version. So I cannot be blamed for not having done it "synthy" enough.

But also it seems to me quite evident that this track is a parody of Star War's canteen track, which uses real instruments. It's quite jazzy/big band (dixie, I would say), and SQ4's theme doesn't sound bad using them (it's a different flavour than the original). On the other hand, I agree with Alistair that this is one of the hardest tracks to convert to any synth other than the MT-32. I woudn't have chosen it, and if I've made the conversion it's been due to the kind request from the_doctor.

[the_doctor]

And I definitely thank you for taking that time ... go figure I choose one of the most complex tracks to request, eh?

[MusicallyInspired]

Yes, thank you so much, Shadowfax. Excellent work! Despite the slight disagreement here, you've really done the conversion well for what it is.