You didn't know, huh? Where have you been the past 2 years?

http://www.agdinteractive.com/

Check it out.

- Alistair

That's cute. How exactly can you delete someone's reply by replying to it? First I've ever heard of such a thing.

At least this forum's in capable hands.

On a serious note- were you actually saying something, Tom?

- Alistair

Well, in the same way that one can send a 'program change' to channel 10 for the SC-55, e.g. 'Acoustic Bs.' for 'Jazz', one can send a program change to change the MT-32 drumkit. At least, that seems to be the case in some Sierra games. None SC-55 support games, of course, but games which were composed for the MT-32 sometiems used quite different drumkits. Willy Beamish had a synth drum, a snare, a 'standard' kit, and various other types of drums, all accessed by different patch or program numbers. I use 'Willy' as an example because it's the soundtrack I've been working with most recently, but other games did this as well.


Yep.. that's what I was alluding to. I'm sure he did it in SQ4, for example. I've done it myself. Though, it ain't easy.

- Alistair

Intriguing.

Well, since no QuestStudios people of importance seem to have any comments- Boogeyman, if you ever get 'em uploaded, let us know.

- Alistair

Hee, hee. Those servers are awfully unreliable..

Been there, done that. For downloading not uploading, though.

I thought you were uploading here?

Does *anyone* know what's going on with this? I know I don't..

- Alistair

Every QS XG text file, if I'm not mistaken, recommends a WaveForce as the 'minimum' device to play it back.

Thanks once more for the info, guys.. be a long while before I can afford a MU device, however.

- Alistair

Certain games have great MT-32 percussion.. and some have awful percussion. I can't imagine calling the average drum use in SQ5 good. Games like Willy Beamish, and especially ones like Dr. Brain 1, had amazing MT-32 drums. So realistic. But I've always found the MT-32 drums to be either realistic or unrealistic.

I wonder.. ever mixed (or thought about mixing) MT-32 and SC sounds, Tom? I'm sure I've heard a few pieces where you've done this before.

The Sound Canvas ED percussion matches drum 'hits' better for my money.. something the SC-55 could never do.

- Alistair

Love that QFG piece by Sachal. But then again, I love every piece of his.

Anyway.. is there such thing as a Yamaha XG sound module? I could've sworn I'd heard of one (I'm a Roland man, Yamaha is an ignorant field of mine).

- Alistair

What's happening with this currently, folks?

- Spike

Ah, right..

All QuestStudios's XG files are arranged for a WaveForce, aren't they?

What's the SW1000XG got over the WaveForce?

- Alistair

Thanks for the responses, guys. That song doesn't exactly leap off the page at me, not my favourite Sierra piece. In fact, I'd prefer most Dynamix game scores to that one.
But as a reference point for XG, good example. I could hear the difference in basses as well.

Honda; Tom's got a XG recording (I forget which device) on the MP3 pages.

- Alistair

Realms of Chaos has a SC-55 score as well, from memory.
Duke3D and Wolfenstein do as well, I think, but never played either of them.

Older games are Adlib only, though Bobby Prince has released various Sound Canvas MIDI conversions of Adlib sequences (from Keen, Duke II, BioMenace, etc.). Well, various is probably an overstatement.

I've tried to convert, but it's intensely difficult.. and especially hard to resequence an electric guitar track from Adlib, for example.

I think that's all of the Apogee games that had MIDI and not IMF scores.. I'm sure I've missed some, though. Some I never played that weren't the cult-platformer style. I never liked the 3DRealms directions, myself.

- Alistair

Well, just so we have a comparison, I recorded the full finale themes from HOC, on Ari's advice. Unlike Tom's XG MP3, I haven't edited it, so bear with me in its' 4 (or thereabouts) MB goodness.

http://www.smc.sq7.org/miscfile/hocfinedxg.ogg

From the Roland ED Sound Canvas-8850's XG tones; 'Heart of China- Finale'.

- Alistair

Latency applies to one or the other, I assume.. that is, if you stop VSC taking up all your processor speed, VSC runs as slow as can be (i.e. 22ms).

- Alistair

VSC is a heavy lagger, in my experiences. Unless you have a decent P4, don't bother. That said, once you've heard it, and SC-55 digital audio from Sierra games on the web, you'll want a real Sound Canvas. VSC gives you a taste.
For the good Sound Canvas games it keeps pace pretty well. King's Quest VI for example is rather good.
As for hiss, the quality of VSC is entirely dependent on your VSC settings and your sound card quality. It's not much good for recording with, but is good as a temporary SC.

- Alistair

It sounds weird to hear 'whopping 20 MB', when soundfonts and gigasamples can be over 100 MB's. But no, I can't afford it, Honda.. Roland ED module cleaned me out. Only just enough to take a short vacation next week. I'll need to get another job in the holidays after Uni's out for the year..

XG isn't essential to me in the sense that I need it. But if my mission statement is to use the best quality instruments, then I suppose diversification in my equipment is essential. Hmm.

Thanks for the information, everyone. Ari, what's a good QuestStudios XG file to record and upload?

- Alistair

And I use both. How weird. I haven't got it set to recording everything, but controllers are set. I wonder.. why would you guys record a c 71 and me not?

- Alistair

No worries, Boogeyman.

Ari/Zemus: I'll get back to you. To be honest, that never occured to me. I've just never seen the controller appear in any VGA QuestStudios MIDI recording, as well. But I will get back to you, next few days.

Actually, what software to each of you two use?

- Alistair

Well, I'm tired of not having XG as an option.

I was thinking of buying a copy of SYXG50, but I was wondering exactly how good it is?

And what's the XG emulation of my Roland ED Sound Canvas like? I know it has some Yamaha instruments in there, and plays XG files back pretty well, though I don't know how close to the 'real thing' (Someday I'll get a Waveforce, but not for a bit yet- money issues, still broke from my ED SC.).
EDIT: Also, how do I access XG tones? Is it through a controller 32 or something?

Any advice/wisdom would be appreciated.

Regards,
- Alistair

I wasn't hinting you placed them, Tom! From what I think I remember you told me, you recieved the files from someone else.

I get standard files when I record from KQ7, when I record the Sierra theme at the start I get the 'usual 4', Data Entry, Controller 101, 100, and 38. Other than pitch bends, patch changes, pedal sustains and mod wheels there's no other controllers/program changes I've encountered at all!

Zemus, how exactly are you recording? And what part of the game from?

- Alistair