Leisure Suit Larry 3 soundtrack (version 3)

[shad0wfax]

Hi all,

After quite a long time since the last time, some months ago I started to make in my spare times another version (not an "enhancement") of the LSL3 soundtrack, one of my favourites. As this is the third time I make my version of this excellent soundtrack, it's called LSL3 sountrack version 3 

The reasons for "revisiting" the soundtrack are, in the first place, that I love the soundtrack, and secondly, that I now have got quite a lot of gear, and all of them have their strong and weak points, so I could benefit from the good aspects of each synth. This is a quite "acoustic" soundtrack (as opposed to a more "electronic" or "synthy" one), so it can benefit from the greater rom sample memory and better sound quality of current synthesizers.

For the first time, I made a different approach when working on the soundtrack. Instead of working 100% midi and then recording the output as a single audio file, I worked on each indivitual track (e.g. piano, drums, bass...), then recorded them as audio files, and finally did the mixing and mastering in Cubase. I've found this method more convenient and flexible, although also slower. I stand quite close to the original in terms of instrument selection and so on, but in some tracks the adaptation is more free.

This is the equipment used:

Synthesizer / MIDI:

- Roland Fantom XR
- Yamaha Motif XS Rack
- Roland RD-700GX
- Roland SD-50
- SRX Boards: 01 Dynamic Drum Kits; 03 Studio SRX; 04 Symphonic Strings; 06 Complete Orchestra; 07 Ultimate Keyboards; 09 World Collection; 10 Big Brass Ensemble
- Roland K-RD700GX1 SuperNATURAL piano expansion board for the RD-700GX

Sound Card:

- M-Audio Audiophile 192 (PCI)

Software:

- Audacity
- Cubase
- Fantom X Editor, Yamaha XS Editor

You can find the audio files here: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/lsl3_v3/. Here you'll find the individual 320kbps .mp3 files (I use .mp3 because this way I can listen to it in my car and with my portable audio player), and also a .rar file with the complete soundtrack.

Have fun!

[jharris01]

I just started listening and liking it so far. Some patch choices I really like, for example the instruments for percussion, the guitar patch in "Girl in the Binoculars" and the synths in the Police Quest Theme. It's very refreshing to listen to this soundtrack with the new sounds. Good job!

[endre1952]

Great job, I'm enjoying it!

[shad0wfax]

I'm glad you liked my work. Tom, would it be possible to place the new soundtrack in QS instead of the old Fantom XR version?

[gortmertl0]

I have really been enjoying listening to your latest version, shad0wfax.  It's really terrific work here, and would love to hear other scores (like from QFG and SQ) similarly revisited!

I know the previous versions were tagged as "Fantom XR", but since you used a lot of different hardware for version 3, do you have a generic tag for these?

Or should I just label my folder as "LSL3 shad0wfax"?

[Tom]

Tom, would it be possible to place the new soundtrack in QS instead of the old Fantom XR version?

Yeah.  If you've kept all the same file names, I can just overwrite what's there now.  (I know, these tracks have the 'V3' spec added, but I think the remaining nomenclature is the same.)  Probably be next weekend, though.  The few tracks I've listened to (quite a few, actually) sound really good.  It's really refreshing to hear the new sounds!

[shad0wfax]

Thanks a lot, Tom! Yes, AFAIK the only differences in the filenames are the "v3" suffix.

@gortmertl0: Thank you very much for your words. Indeed, there's quite a lot of work there (in a rough estimation, I calculate between 200-250 hours of work, distributed during 4 months). I'll try to keep doing other adaptations, because I really enjoy doing them, although I haven't got much spare time.

[jharris01]

So what's next shad0wfax? +1 Vote to Larry 6

[shad0wfax]

I already did a Fantom XR version of the LSL6 soundtrack some time ago. I'd prefer now something new for me, such as Gabriel Knight 1, for instance.

[Tom]

All of the LSL3 XR tracks have now been updated with shad0wfax's latest MP3's....

[MusicallyInspired]

How about Space Quest 6? Maybe something like a Fantom XR version would make me actually appreciate that soundtrack a little more. Or Space Quest V. That one lends itself to realistic instruments quite well I'd think. Then again, I guess they all would. What about King's Quest V? I might as well just suggest every Sierra game....

[shad0wfax]

@Tom: thanks a lot for the update!

Any more opinions about the new version? I'd really appreciate comments and criticisms, regarding instrument selection, overall feeling, and the like... IMHO, the more 'round' conversions are tracks 14 (Bambi) and 30 (The Feral Pig), in terms of balance and "politeness", although I'm pretty satisfied with the results in all tracks, despite I haven't been able in some tracks to make them sound just I'd like to... Not even with quite a lot of good equipment can one do everything one wants! (I suspect that my own limitations are the problem, though).

[MusicallyInspired]

I think they sound quite nice, but I'm not really familiar with the LSL soundtracks as I've never played the games and so have no real connection to their soundtracks.

[jharris01]

That's how I feel about Monkey Island. Played the game way past its time. Nice soundtracks, but not too familiar with them (no nostalgia).

As I get older my appreciation to Larry3 has changed. As a kid I only remember Larry's main theme. As an adult I've grown to appreciate Al Lowe's jazzy style. The song played in the Noontonyt hotel also sticks in my head because of the many hours lost wandering there, trying to figure out puzzles.

Oddly enough I really liked the PQ and SQ songs. It was refreshing to hear them with new instruments.

[endre1952]

I did play the Monkey Island games when they were new (with AdLib support), but I consider Sierra's MT-32 scores better. Some here may not agree. The MT-32 support in MI1 is somewhat basic, no custom sounds are used.

[jharris01]

This topic is good enough to have its own thread. I agree with you about MI1's MT32's soundtrack. When people talk about Monkey Island's music, they usually refer (implicitly) to the second game. That's the one with the memorable tunes and the one that really fleshed out the MT-32.

Shadowfax: I didn't know you already did Larry 6. In any case I am looking forward to hear whatever you tackle next.

[shad0wfax]

Despite not being a Sierra soundtrack, I like very much the music of Sam & Max, from Lucas Arts, and I've made my own "conversion" of the title credits tune, which can be downloaded here http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/Sam&Max/Credits.mp3. And you can compare with the original GM version (played on a SC-55) here: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/Sam&Max/Credits_SC55.mp3

[endre1952]

The Sam and Max intro music was the first tune I ever listened to on my SCC-1A ISA card ca. January of 1994. It sounded really impressive at the time. If only the MT-32 emulation mode was more adequate....

[Ari]

Despite not being a Sierra soundtrack, I like very much the music of Sam & Max, from Lucas Arts, and I've made my own "conversion" of the title credits tune, which can be downloaded here http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/Sam&Max/Credits.mp3. And you can compare with the original GM version (played on a SC-55) here: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/Sam&Max/Credits_SC55.mp3

Love those organs and drums!

[jharris01]

Sounds great shadowfax. Thanks for sharing it with us.