Roland GS soundtracks

[jbltecnicspro]

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to do a Roland GS conversion of a couple of game soundtracks?  The one I'm most interested in hearing is Colonel's Bequest and maybe Kings Quest 5 (this one is pretty long, I know).  Thanks

[Alistair]

Colonel's Bequest wouldn't be too hard, and neither would KQ5, because both use lots of default instruments, or customs that are easily converted (like ClarinetMS or StrSectMS).

Sound effects as always are the toughies. But I think most (like explosions, lightning, and animal noises) would convert nicely to even SC-55 GS.

That said, I don't think either I or Tom currently has the time to do it. But he can speak for himself
My current SC-55 project is making a KQ7 GM MIDI score, and that's a LOT of (hard) work.

I advise you to check out Tom's QFG2 and/or SQ3 and/or LSL3 GS conversions, though! They're all good. And be sure to visit the Sierra GS page..

Regards,
- Alistair

[jbltecnicspro]

I did visit the GS page, and the songs are fantastic.  I love the Leisure Suit Larry 3 track with a real piano sound.    This is why I'm asking for more!  I simply love it.  I also have some software, and I'd love to learn how to do this stuff myself...

[Alistair]

Well, it took me 2 years. <grin>

Seriously, grab Voyetra something Orchestrator something and dive right in.

- Alistair

[jbltecnicspro]

Well, ok, I'll do that.  I have Voyetra Record Producer Deluxe, which is a MIDI writing software app, and I'll see what I can do.  Right now, I figured out how to change the banks, but I have no idea how to address a variation.

Alistair (this goes for everyone else, too), would you think it a sin to modify some sierra songs?  For the Oak Tree in Kings Quest, I feel it needs more natural sounds to it - like birds, a stream, and maybe some wind sounds as well.

[MusicallyInspired]

Oak tree? Are you talking about the Weeping Willow? (I'm assuming you mean from KQ5). I'm all for adding sound effects and the like. Mark Seibert himself did it with his sierra soundtrack cd. He added all kinds of effects to the Witch's Forest and Graham's Theme (Introduction piece after Mordack steals the castle) and it sounds great.

[jbltecnicspro]

Well, I wasn't referring to KQ5, but KQ1.  When Graham's up in the tree, it just sounds like there could be some sounds added.  Since rivers run throughout Daventry, I figured that a faint running stream might help.

The problem with KQ5 and Roland SC-55 GS is that the module doesn't have enough sound effects to do a good conversion.

EDIT:  I've already converted some Kings Quest 6 songs, but it's too small to be post-worthy.  All I pretty much did was substituted the SC French horn for the MT-32 variant (sounds nice, though).

[MusicallyInspired]

Ahh yes from KQ1. I love that track. Would sound a lot nicer with birds chirping...maybe a faint stream would help...I don't know about wind, though. Would make it feel almost cold. I always pictured that scene as very calm and gentle-like. Wind would almost seem rough rather that serene.

[jbltecnicspro]

SC-55's wind sounds gentle enough, but I think I'm going to leave it out.  Maybe if I turn down the volume to the seashore patch, and do some tweaking with it, it might pass for a gentle breeze, but for the time being, a stream and some birds are definately going to be there.  One problem - I still can't figure out variation patches, and this is driving me crazy.  I know how to do bank selects, but variation tones are killing me.

[Tom]

Variation tones ARE bank selections.  Most capital tones have variation banks associated with them.  You select the capital tone by its program number, then insert a CC0 controller set to the variation bank (sound) number.  That's all there is to it.  If you use a DOS sequencer, you'll have to place CC0 in front of the Program controller.  In Windows, that's automatic.

Piano+String = Program 1, variation (Bank) 24   -- I think.  I'm not near a SC-55 soundmap.

So, set CC0 to 24 and set the Program to 1.

[jbltecnicspro]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

[MusicallyInspired]

Sorry to go off-topic here, but what exactly is a variation tone?

[Tom]

You're not off topic...
It's what jbltecnicspro is trying to access on his SC-55.

In GS, XG, and the like, each capital tone -- the major intrument or Program Number (i.e. Piano is program 1, French horn is program 60, Flute is program 73, etc.) has variations of that same tone.  French horn, for example, may have:  French Horn 1, French Horn Wide, French Horn Rip, etc.  Some Capital tones (like on the SC-8850) can have as many as 30 variation tones associated with a given capital sound!

The MT-32 doesn't work like this.  There's only your 128 captial tones.  General MIDI is the same.  GS, GM2, XG use variation tones (banks) in order to increase the number of sounds a synth can have.

That make any sense?

The CM-500's "GS" portion has these variation banks, too....just like the SC-55.  (Check out the sound map for the "GS" portion of the CM-500.)

[Alistair]

Don't try CC0 24, since the SC-55 doesn't have that tone!

One you could try is:
Piano1w = Program 1, variation (Bank) 8.

Incidentally, I LOVE the Oak Tree from KQ1. I did a really nice enhancement of it not so long ago. I'll post it when I'm in Aussie.

The problem with KQ5 and Roland SC-55 GS is that the module doesn't have enough sound effects to do a good conversion.

I disagree. I believe you can emulate sounds like FingerBel and such. I did it with the KQ5 Intro when I converted it earlier this year. Just took too much time though, a KQ5GS project.

I've already converted some Kings Quest 6 songs, but it's too small to be post-worthy. All I pretty much did was substituted the SC French horn for the MT-32 variant (sounds nice, though).

I helped Ari Stone convert that one, the 'Closing Scenes'. I told him to use the MT-32 bank French because it's more of a GS enhancement. MT-32 has nicer Frenchs IMO, and I like the GS variation. Though the SC's might just be better.

- Alistair

[jbltecnicspro]

I agree with the French horns.  IMO, the default SC-55 GM French horns are crap, and I love the MT-32 variation tone's french horn.

[MusicallyInspired]

I like the SC-55's french horn myself...or at least one of them. It's got a nice soft feel and it flows well for slow easygoing songs. I really like the blare of the one on the SC-8820 that Tom uses, though (is that from the 8820, Tom? For example the french horn from the theme in the Sharkee King's throne room in KQ2+). I wish I had a sample like that. Actually I think I have a similar blare-esque french horn in one of my soundfonts...maybe I should use that.

The MT-32 one is really good though, too. I should use it more, actually.

[Tom]

That's the 'Wide French Horns', one of the SC-88xx's variation tones.  I use that one a lot.  I love it.  

I also like the default SC-55 and SC-88xx French horn.  Hell, I like all of the SC's French horns, and the MT-32's.  The SC-88xx's 'French horn 2' is a lot like the MT-32's French horn 2, and makes for a perfect substitute.  They all sound a bit different, and work well for all different types of French horn situations.  The SW60XG's 'French horn 2' is the main reason I keep that sound card in use, too.  It has a wonderful sound.

[jbltecnicspro]

Well, IMO, the SC-55 default french horn is a little "thin."  The fact that I sit near a real french horn section every week probably has something to do with my dislike.  Even though the MT-32 french horns don't sound perfectly "real," they still have that nice, fat french horn sound characteristic to them.  In fact, I find that the MT-32 emulates the attacks of real instruments quite well, actually.  The only negative is that the instruments don't sound that real, like the Violin patch, for example.  While the Violin patch doesn't have that real violin sound, the attacks emulate the characteristics of a violin very well.

[Alistair]

I pretty much agree with everything that's been said. I generally find it hard doing pieces with french horns in them purely because all of my modules do them well. The 8820/8850's 'Wide French horns' as Tom says, is definitely king, though.

- Alistair