The truth about waveblaster - the sequel

[Alistair]

BAK is an erroneous game to use for this thread, as stated, some of the SC-55 MIDI files on this site are slightly wrong, probably due to MT-32 conversion which was unnecessary. But that's an isolated example and nothing more should be read into it than an innocent mistake.

BTW, Ari- I don't believe BAK has a MT-32 soundtrack, I believe there's one GM soundtrack which is sent to whatever source you have, in the case of the MT-32, there is a SysEx bank as you say, to MT-ify it. Dynamix's programming code may be remapping some instruments to something else though, that is certainly possible.


But other than that specific case, the only time DOS MIDI vs Windows MIDI vs recorded MIDI should be an issue is where the Windows versions of the game are buggy, or if you have basic General MIDI selected (it will cause only 3 instruments to play instead of 3-9) instead of 'extended', which is just regular GM. Hate the terminology!

The Windows and DOS versions of Sierra games use identical MIDI files to playback the music. The only difference is that Windows games, from what I can tell, don't send controllers such as pitch bend (e.g. QFG4, play Windows and hear an electric guitar) or resets. Sending for example a QS 'complete soundtrack' MIDI file beforehand will clear that up in most cases.

But that's different to the Wave Blaster discussion/etc. Just wanted to clear some things up, here.

On-topic. I agree that SQ5 and 6 are probably bad choices to do comparisons with. Some of the scores are orchestral but a large part is instruments that are going to perform better on a SC-55. The sound in both games is definitely 'tweaked' for a SC-55, and Tom's SQ6 SC-55 complete MIDI score utilises SysEx to change and improve the SC-55's sound that is not present in the original game. I like it, but it's going to make comparisons inaccurate that use those MIDI files to make said comparison.
I think KQ6, KQ7, GK1, QFG4, and TIM scores would be better examples to compare. Quite a few Sierra GM scores are really only good on a SC-55, IMO (unless you mix output like Tom and myself do for CD's).


- Alistair

[WBman]

@Ari: OK, I understand. I resulted from the text info that every MIDI file has. And the Bak2gm.txt really says that the MT-32 driver was used, but the Bakgm11a and Bakgm10 nfo says it was recorded directly with Sierra's GM. But never mind, it isn't so important.

 @Cloudschatze: Thanks! I see there are some excited reviews at Sonicstate.com. I am very curious how the GM bank of this sounds. But I suppose.. there are no sound samples anywhere available, are they?

@Alistair: I mostly agree. You hit the nail on the head with the SC-55 tweaked sound and SysEx msgs, that's it! And to the list of better compare examples I would add also QFG3 and especially Betrayal at Krondor which was, in my opinion, one of the best Sierra music. Of course, the errors in the QS GM rip of BAK are not so important, I was only trying to find 100% accurate MIDI soundtrack anywhere on the Internet, because I love this game's music. I still can listen to the music in the game itself, but it would be nice to have also the correct MIDI or XMI files.

[Alistair]

BAK is probably a good one too. With QFG3 I think it's still better on a SC-55, instrument choices and overall sound.. Eastern Fricana Jungle, for example- I've never heard it sound truly good on a non SC or Roland device.

- Alistair

[Cloudschatze]

@Cloudschatze: Thanks! I see there are some excited reviews at Sonicstate.com. I am very curious how the GM bank of this sounds. But I suppose.. there are no sound samples anywhere available, are they?

I'll try and record some GM samples in the next few days. I just returned home from a week-long vacation, and am incredibly sick, else I'd work on it sooner... 

The GM bank hasn't struck me as being very extraordinary. In fact, some of the instruments, like the distorted guitar, are absolutely dreadful.

A number of the instruments are quite nice though. Here are recordings of a few of the MIDI demonstration pieces:

(Note: These instruments are in the GM bank - not the Super-Orchestral bank, as previously supposed.)

Acoustic Bass & Piano
"Mod" Piano
Electric Piano
6-String Ac.Guitar
12-String Ac.Guitar

[WBman]

Thank you, Cloudschatze! Sounds interesting from these sketches. I'm looking forward to some GM game samples, but of course there's absolutely no hurry. Hope you get well soon.

[Alistair]

I second it, Eric- feel better and post samples when you can, in that order.

- Alistair

[Cloudschatze]

But what about the opinion of Bobby Prince?

I think his opinion does have some value at least.

I'm at odds with him on the Ensoniq Soundscape DB rating. I haven't heard the ALR and Aztech boards (yet...), but I've done listening tests with everything else on his list, and the (1MB) Ensoniq is, in my opinion, the worst sounding DB of the lot.

Well, having now heard one, I mostly prefer the Aztech Wave Power (Ensoniq chipset) to Ensoniq's own Soundscape DB. However, interestingly enough, and unless something is very wrong with mine (firmware bugs, bit-rotten EPROM, etc.), the Wave Power is completely useless for gaming, due to issues with All Notes Off messages. If anyone else happens to own one of these, I'd love to know if this is expected behavior...

I may do a proper Wave Power vs. Soundscape DB comparison at some point (using the SSDB demo files), but, in the meantime, here are two snippets from that Settlers 2 MIDI file that has been mentioned a time or two on the forum:

Wave Power
Soundscape DB

[apeman]

The external box for the daughterboards is self-made (i used existing schematics of course)

Which ones, if you don't mind me asking months later? The heise.de ones?

[Salient]

The external box for the daughterboards is self-made (i used existing schematics of course)

Which ones, if you don't mind me asking months later? The heise.de ones?

I used the elektor schematics from... 1997 i believe.

[apeman]

I used the elektor schematics from... 1997 i believe.

Thanks. Do you know if they're available online?

[Salient]

I used the elektor schematics from... 1997 i believe.

Thanks. Do you know if they're available online?

Here

[Cloudschatze]

I used the elektor schematics from... 1997 i believe.

Thanks. Do you know if they're available online?

Here

Not sure if this will help anyone, but in addition to the English version that Salient posted, I came across a Dutch "reprint" of the Elektor project when I was gathering parts for it a few years back:

Computer-Muziekrant, June 2004

[Salient]

Cool, didn't know this dutch version existed.

[apeman]

Thanks very much to both of you! Now, if I had a little more time and a little more knowledge of electronics....

[Cloudschatze]

Thanks very much to both of you! Now, if I had a little more time and a little more knowledge of electronics....

You could always go with the DoX-BoX. It's not perfect, but all-the-same...

I have all of the parts necessary to build another Elektor adapter, if you're interested. You'd need to get a 230/240V transformer (I only have 115V), but they seem to be pretty common on that side of the world.

[apeman]

You could always go with the DoX-BoX. It's not perfect, but all-the-same...

The what?? I must confess I've never heard of such a beast before... and neither has my good friend Google, it seems...

I have all of the parts necessary to build another Elektor adapter, if you're interested. You'd need to get a 230/240V transformer (I only have 115V), but they seem to be pretty common on that side of the world.

Thanks for the offer Cloud! I don't know if you realize, but I'm actually living on your side of the world now (well, in the middle of a big ocean, actually)...

[Salient]

You could always go with the DoX-BoX. It's not perfect, but all-the-same...

The what?? I must confess I've never heard of such a beast before... and neither has my good friend Google, it seems...

The Dox-Box

[apeman]

The Dox-Box

Thanks I had no idea....
The thing looks solid, and should do the trick, but - 100 €?!

Does anyone here actually own one?

[aleksej]

Does anyone here actually own one?

Yep.
http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=21647

[apeman]

cool, thanks

I'm assuming you don't notice the mains hum that Cloud mentions? I use a ground loop isolator in my setup anyway, so I should be OK...
I'd be using it with a Roland SCB-55.