Descent MIDI Soundtracks

[MusicallyInspired]

What MIDI device were these soundtracks composed on? I know it seems whoever the composers were spent a lot of time on compatibility for multiple sound devices (personally I think it sounds best with an OPL3 card), but was there a specific device in mind above all others during composition? Like the way Sierra games did things where they supported a variety of hardware but were all composed for the MT-32 in the early days. And therefore was the best way to experience the game.

[CptKlotz]

Hi,

My guess would be that Descent was composed for General MIDI, more specifically the SC-55.


I think the game sounds best on a good GM device. I'm not exactly sure whether I prefer my SCC-1 or the DB50XG for Descent 1 and 2. They both seem to have their strengths, but I'm leaning slightly towards the Sound Canvas since I have a slight preference for the Roland's synth drumkit in Descent.

If you look at the year Descent 1 was released (1994) it seems plausible that the soundtrack was composed on a Sound Canvas since the DB50XG didn't arrive (according to Wikipedia) before 1995 and the MU-10 and SW60XG not before 1996.

The GUS soundtrack, while good, seems somewhat inferior to GM in my opinion.

As far as FM synthesis is concerned, I think Descent makes pretty good use of the OPL3 but I prefer the GM or even the GUS soundtrack.

What I find remarkable, is, that in Descent 1, the actual arrangement of the music seems to be different in places when you use Adlib. For example there seems to be an arpeggio at the very beginning of the title track that is not present in the other versions.


It seems people have some very different opinions about what sound device is best used with game X. Some people seem to prefer FM synthesis for Tyrian, which I always considered a "GM" game, as well.

[jharris01]

Good point. I think for some games the FM soundtrack sounds better than the MIDI version. If you like OPL-FM music then you see it through a different light.

was there a specific device in mind above all others during composition?

It's kind of hard for me to answer this objectively, but in terms of compatibility I think Descent's GM soundtrack is as plain vanilla as it gets. It sounded great across all wavetable sound cards (and external synths) I've had. At least for me no card sounded better than the other. Guess I should clarify I am talking about the game's excellent MIDI compatibility, not the wavetable quality of the hardware.

[Doctor Creep]

It's kind of hard for me to answer this objectively, but in terms of compatibility I think Descent's GM soundtrack is as plain vanilla as it gets. It sounded great across all wavetable sound cards (and external synths) I've had.

The Level1 track uses the TR-808 drumkit (channel 10) of my SC-55. If you have a SCD-10 (no GS only GM) what drumkit will be used (does it have the 808?)?

Doc

[Salient]

Yes, it also has the 808 drumset and it will sound virtually the same.

[Rhizome]

I'm pretty certain the soundtrack was composed on a SC-55. I've listened to all of the MIDI files on my CM-300 and they all sound 'balanced', while any other device I play them on (Ensoniq Soundscape Elite and Yamaha MU10 for example), something generally sounds 'wrong'.