Sierra and Casio Midi Devices

[Great Hierophant]

Many, if not most of Sierra's 16-color game titles from the late 80's, in addition to the MT-32, Adlib, Game Blaster and IMFC devices (including 100% compatibles) also supported the Casiotone MT-540 and CT-460 synthesizers and CSM-1 Sound Module.  Apparently, the big difference was that the MT-540 only supported 20 preset sounds (this could be circumvented) while the CT-460 and CSM-1  supported 30 preset sounds.  But has anyone ever heard Sierra's music with these devices?  While they were supported, they came later in the game than even Sierra's variable (and that's being generous) support for the IMFC, so how good can it sound?  Anyone willing to provide recordings, because I would really like to hear the sound.

[Cloudschatze]

I looked into this a year or two back, but didn't pursue it very far. I'd be curious to hear the Sierra output as well, despite the fact that it's probably horrendous.

This site has some sound-samples of the CSM-1. It's a PCM sound module, and while some of the sounds appear to be better than what the MT-32 might be capable of, on the whole, I can't imagine the conversions being that great with such limited specs. (12-voice polyphony, 4-part multitimbrality, 30 tones)

[Great Hierophant]

You can get the CT-460 for short money, it seems.  If only my interests extended that far, but I don't have the room nor the musical inclinations to buy a synthesizer keyboard.

[BlueMax]

I heard it at a friend's house.  It's better than the Adlib, but the range of sounds is VERY limited, as is the polyphony....  in fact, I'd only say it's DIFFERENT from AdLib.  Mind you, going back to the samples on that page...  it was better than Adlib.  Those special effects were used well in SQ3.

Space Quest 3 was pretty interesting....

[Ari]

These demo sounds sound very nice, actually. I'd say it's much better than an adlib. I'd love to hear some Sierra tunes with that.

[BlueMax]

That'll be some good ebay/garage sale scouring.  

Great to get some samples... I can only remember from my high school days ~15 years ago.

[Cloudschatze]

I was going through Casio manuals today, and the MT-540, CT-460 and CSM-1 (not to mention a few others) all appear to share the EXACT same polyphony/tones/key-mappings/etc., when used as external sound sources.

Assuming this is true, and that the drivers are cross-compatible (I haven't tried this yet), why did Sierra create separate MT-540 and CSM-1 drivers and patch maps, and what differs between them?



Edit: Bah, my bad. I found the difference. Despite the similarities, the tones in the MT-540 are mapped to different Program Change numbers than in the CT-460/CSM-1.

[Cloudschatze]

I've read that the Sierra's ATARI conversions (SCI) may include music playback support for Casio's CZ-101 synthesizer. Fact or fiction?

[Edit: Hmm. Fact, apparently. It's even stated on some of the boxes. I wonder why it's not supported for the PC.]

[Great Hierophant]

I've read that the Sierra's ATARI conversions (SCI) may include music playback support for Casio's CZ-101 synthesizer. Fact or fiction?

[Edit: Hmm. Fact, apparently. It's even stated on some of the boxes. I wonder why it's not supported for the PC.]

It is supported on the PC if you use a good emulator like Steem. 

[Cloudschatze]

I've read that the Sierra's ATARI conversions (SCI) may include music playback support for Casio's CZ-101 synthesizer. Fact or fiction?

[Edit: Hmm. Fact, apparently. It's even stated on some of the boxes. I wonder why it's not supported for the PC.]

It is supported on the PC if you use a good emulator like Steem. 

 

[Cloudschatze]

I extracted the "Generic" MIDI driver that the Atari versions use for the CZ-101:

http://www.symphoniae.com/elw/CASIO.DRV

Using it must involve manual setup of the synth, since the Atari resources contain the same patches as the PC versions.

I suppose it's kind-of a moot point, since the GNRCSND driver exists on the PC side...

[Stefan_L]

Cloudschatze did you edit the CASIO.DRV file? as it now says "generic midi" instead of "Casio CZ Synthesizer".

BTW here what the readme from Conquest of Camelot says:

The CZ101 and the Casio MT540 sound
driver is no longer "officially"
supported by Sierra On-Line due to the
enormous amount of time required to
fully test and verify each new driver.
We will, however, make the driver
available on The Sierra BBS so that
you may download and use the driver
at your own risk. A minimal amount of
testing will be done on the driver
periodically.

The Sierra BBS number is:
                  (209) 683-4463
                  No Parity
                  8 data bits
                  1 stop bit

Conquest of Camelot and Police Quest 2 do state Casio CZ-101 support on the box but none do have the Casio driver, wich anyway is just a Generic midi driver just as Cloudschatze said earlier.
I am speaking of the Atari ST versions

[Cloudschatze]

Cloudschatze did you edit the CASIO.DRV file? as it now says "generic midi" instead of "Casio CZ Synthesizer".

Nope. That's the version found with Hero's Quest. Functionally, it looks like it's the same as the version that states "Casio CZ Synthesizer," but if you find anything different, I'd be interested to know.