RAP-10 Worth Having?

[kreats]

Some games support both GM and GS - I understand that the RAP-10 properly supports GS but the Roland SCC-1 (and variants) does not (please correct me if wrong).

So, my question is - for gaming purposes, is a RAP-10 superior to a SCC-1? By superior I mean sounds closest to the music author's intended sound.

[Cloudschatze]

The RAP-10 is GM-only.

I think that there are three versions of the SCC, but all of them were GS/GM compliant. Since most game soundtracks were composed with the SC-55, you can't really go wrong with the SCC-1, 2.

[kreats]

Thanks for the quick response & correction. Not sure where I got the idea that the RAP-10 did GS from.

Just out of curiosity, is the GM from the RAP-10 equivalent (or inferior?) to that produced by the SCC-1?  i.e. if you were not playing GS games would it be an adequate substitute?

[Cloudschatze]

I've read that the RAP-10 has the same GM soundset as found in the SC-7, and from my comparisons, there is a slight quality difference between this and the SC-55mkII. For gaming though, it's absolutely adequate.

One other thing: the RAP-10 does not implement the "intelligent" features found in the SCC's MPU, but features UART mode compatibility. Again, I'm not sure that this is really an issue.

The digital audio portion of the RAP-10 was not widely supported, but support did exist, nonetheless:
http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,87/p,2/

[jbltecnicspro]

Did ANY games ever use GS?

[kreats]

Ulitma 8 has options for GM and GS music.  System shock 1 does also (it actually lets you choose specifically SCC-1,RAP-10 or GM music).

[Cloudschatze]

Loads of Japanese games have GS soundtracks.

[jbltecnicspro]

Loads of Japanese games have GS soundtracks.

At what level?  SC-55 or SC-88?  Also, if I use the "Sound Canvas" option on games, is it for my SC-55, or is it specifically for the SCC-1 and other sound cards?

[HondaSiR]

Also, if I use the "Sound Canvas" option on games, is it for my SC-55, or is it specifically for the SCC-1 and other sound cards?

The SCC-1 (or SCC-1B) is basically a Roland SC-55 on an ISA card. Their sound characteristics are identical. Computer game composers used the SC-55 while creating the soundtracks so you would do best if you have the same equipment when playing.

[jbltecnicspro]

Also, if I use the "Sound Canvas" option on games, is it for my SC-55, or is it specifically for the SCC-1 and other sound cards?

The SCC-1 (or SCC-1B) is basically a Roland SC-55 on an ISA card. Their sound characteristics are identical. Computer game composers used the SC-55 while creating the soundtracks so you would do best if you have the same equipment when playing.

You don't understand what I'm asking...  I'm fully aware that games were composed on the SC-55.  But some games have the Sound Canvas as a specific option.  Now, there is no way for a game to tell what kind of MIDI device you have because it's hooked up to a MIDI interface?  My question is this:  Since I obviously do not have the SCC-1, and choose the Sound Canvas option, will I get an error message saying that the card was not found?

[HondaSiR]

You don't understand what I'm asking...  I'm fully aware that games were composed on the SC-55.

But you seem to be unaware that the SC-55 is also Sound Canvas capable, or else you would not have asked this question: "if I use the "Sound Canvas" option on games, is it for my SC-55, or is it specifically for the SCC-1 and other sound cards?" <-- To me it is apparent that you have differentiated the two devices...the SC-55 and SCC-1. I may have misunderstood your question but you could probably have asked it in a better, more coherent way.

Regarding your question if an error will occur when you install the Sound Canvas option with a non-Sound Canvas device, it will depend. You will either get sound or no sound at all, depending if your device is MPU compatible. I know for sure that a Sound Blaster 32 MIDI will run on a Sound Canvas option albeit with improper balance and mediocre instruments.

[jbltecnicspro]

Well, I'm able to select the "MT-32" option for just about any device I have hooked into the system... that's because the game is just sending MIDI data.  The only way I can explain this is if I showed you exactly what I'm talking about.  Besides, Honda, I am not differentiating the two devices, the games are.  I know that the SCC-1 is an SC-55 in a sound-card form.

Here's an example:

I have two games that specifically give me these options:

SELECT MUSIC CARD

Sound Blaster 16
Sound Blaster Pro
Sound Blaster
Roland Sound Canvas
General MIDI
Promedia
Gravis Ultrasound

If the game uses MIDI for its music, why make an option for the Sound Canvas specifically?  Why not just general MIDI?  Better yet, when I choose the Sound Canvas option, it asks for my IRQ number and DMA access mode, signifying that the option for the Sound Canvas is for the sound card only... Every time I choose it, I get the error messgae thrown at my face: "Could not find music card" or something along those lines...and I have a Sound Canvas.  My question is this:

Is there anything special about the Sound Canvas option that I should know about, or is this merely a gimmick?  I assume that the Sound Canvas sound cards work fine under the General MIDI option, so why include a Sound Canvas specific choice, unless there is something made especially for the sound canvas cards?

[HondaSiR]

What Sound Canvas are you using? Has your SC-55 arrived? How is it connected to your computer? If you are using an MPU-IPC or a joystick to MIDI adaptor, it should work under the Sound Canvas and General MIDI options. And what are the two games that you are trying to configure?

[jbltecnicspro]

Not yet... But I just thought it was strange that I'd get such an error.  I'd never have problems playing MT-32 soundtrack options on my other synths before... Unless, the Sound Canvas option is referring to its digital part?  Do Sound Canvas sound cards have digital audio as well?

I'm using the Microsoft GS synth.

[Zemus]

Sound Canvas is MIDI only. The games may ask for the IRQ and DMA for the MIDI interface in your computer as the SC-55 needs to be hooked up to one. I remember I encountered a game asking for that once, but back then I used my SBAWE32 for MIDI as well so I just gave it the same data as for digital audio.

Privateer and Warcraft 2 uses GS drumsets, but I can't remember if they have specific Sound Canvas options in their setup programs.

[HondaSiR]

As Zemus stated, Sound Canvas is MIDI only. One particular card, the RAP-10 (I'm not sure if this card is labeled a Sound Canvas), offers an on board DAC but is sadly only supported by a handful of games (Wing Commander 4 supports the MIDI and DAC of the card).

jbltecnicspro: Wait until your SC-55 arrives. More than likely it will work on your SC option. I haven't tried using a softsynth while running games, perhaps the problem lies there since a softsynth doesn't have a hardware card.

[Alistair]

SC option = reverb settings. Soundfonts and such can't receive MIDI reverb controllers, so it'll be on default whereas it could be zero or 127.

- Alistair

[zaphod77]

"Sound Canvass" option=gs midi instead of GM.

Meaning any sc-55 or compatible will play it right. SImple, no?

[Great Hierophant]

http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,87/

Apparently, a fair number of games supported the RAP-10AT.  I would think that includes support for its digital audio capabilities, otherwise it should fall into the "Generic General Midi Devices category."

Windows games should support the RAP-10AT through the sound card driver.

No game should be asking for DMA settings for any Roland card or sound option other than the RAP-10AT.  Roland's midi interface cards (MIF-IPC, MPU-IPC, MPU-IPC-T, MPU-401AT, S-MPU, S-MPUII) require an IRQ but do not use DMA channels.  Roland's LAPC-I and SCC-1 cards are midi interfaces  and sound modules, and they don't use DMA channels either.  If a Roland daughterboard (SCB-07 or SCB-55) is attached to a Sound Blaster or other card that uses DMA channels, then use the sound card's settings.  

If there is an option for the Roland SCC-1 in the install menu, it may assume that you are really using a Roland SCC-1.  That card has a full MPU-401 midi interface, which defaults to intelligent mode.  Cards that only support MPU-401 UART mode won't work even if you have an SC-55 attached to midi port if the game uses the intelligent mode.  If there is an option for a Roland Sound Canvas in the install menu, this shouldn't be a problem because the driver should not assume that you are using a true MPU-401 midi interface to connect to the module.  

There are two versions of the SCC-1 card, the SCC-1 and the SCC-1A.  The SCC-1A has more tones than the SCC-1 and the patches may sound slightly different.  The SCC-1B is an SCC-1A bundled with extra software.