Zeliard AdLib recording

[Teppic]

Hi,

I've made a recording of Zeliard from a Sound Blaster 16 card with a real YMF-262 chip.

Listen on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC943DB7AF9AB3B6D

Download in MP3:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5rtaaa8mz695m86

Download in FLAC:
http://www.mediafire.com/?3eu6wu6ylg6xd5f

[Marten]

Thanks Teppic!  This brings back memories.  I first played Zeliard with AdLib support, and I only heard it in MT-32 format much later.

Edit Oh hey, you've recorded music from a bunch of games!  Some obscure ones (I remember Ken's Labyrinth and Skunny Cart, poor knockoffs of other games popular at the time) and some more familiar ones (Tyrian, Wacky Wheels [the game Skunny Cart was copying], and Monster Bash - the only Apogee game for which I ever actually bought the full version.)

[endre1952]

Wacky Wheels itself is a clone of Mario Kart.

[Mau1wurf1977]

Awesome!

I was hoping for some gameplay footage though...

Also the SB16 didn't exist when that game came out. So for "authenticity" an original Sound Blaster 

[jharris01]

Good job Teppic. I see you did the standard presentation with the music logo like the majority of people do with Youtube to post songs (easy on the bandwidth). I also don't care what card you used (as with the 99.9999% of people who will listen to it). Sounds great.

I also appreciate the playlist setup. Now I can listen to it while I work. Well done!

[Great Hierophant]

I also don't care what card you used (as with the 99.9999% of people who will listen to it).

I guess I am the only one who does.  The Adlib is probably the closest sounding to the original NEC PC-8801 soundtrack, since both use FM technology.

[Teppic]

Edit Oh hey, you've recorded music from a bunch of games!  Some obscure ones (I remember Ken's Labyrinth and Skunny Cart, poor knockoffs of other games popular at the time) and some more familiar ones (Tyrian, Wacky Wheels [the game Skunny Cart was copying], and Monster Bash - the only Apogee game for which I ever actually bought the full version.)

Yes, it seems I've made quite a few of these now. I have yet to put up download links for the rest of them on Youtube, but I will get to that pretty soon.

I was hoping for some gameplay footage though...

You probably don't want to see gameplay montage videos from me. I hadn't played anything from this game until I started recording this. Going through the last cavern to record the music from the last boss took a lot of tries. I fell from the last two moving platforms at least a dozen of times.

Also the SB16 didn't exist when that game came out. So for "authenticity" an original Sound Blaster  ;)

I bought this card so I could record from both OPL2 and OPL3. And besides, I doubt there's much difference between the cards, if any.

Thanks all for the feedback!

[jharris01]

I was trying to compliment you. The belittling comments Mau1wurf1977 made criticizing your video editing choices and not using XYZ card didn't agree with me. It's trying to find fault where there is none. If you feel they are right to nitpick you over trivial matters however then go ahead.  I just want you to know I think it sounds just fine the way it is.

I also don't care what card you used (as with the 99.9999% of people who will listen to it).

I'm all for pleasing that 0.0001%

Thanks all for the feedback!

[Teppic]

I was trying to compliment you. The belittling comments Mau1wurf1977 made criticizing your video editing choices and not using XYZ card didn't agree with me. It's trying to find fault where there is none. If you feel they are right to nitpick you over trivial matters however then go ahead. I just want you to know I think it sounds just fine the way it is.

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought you nitpicked me for mentioning what sound card I used. As you can see in my previous post I've already tackled Mau1wurf1977 critics.

Also whoever wants to have recordings from one of the original Ad Lib cards are more than welcome to record it themselves. It will never be done by me.

[Mau1wurf1977]

Teppic just to clarify, I give you a lot of praise for doing the recordings.

It obviously took a lot of time and effort, so job well done!

My comment wasn't meant to take anything away from your work. As to an original Sound Blaster sounding different, well there is only one way for you to find out  

Many don't know what Yamaha OPL is or are unaware that AWE64 card sound different, so clearly using a SB16 with Yamama OPL chip was something you cared about. You could have also used DOSBox right.

Me using a Sound Blaster is the same reason why you picked a card with Yamaha OPL. We care and we value authenticity. Nothing less, nothing more.

And I find gameplay footage always welcome! Especially if you die or something like that. It's just more fun to look at... DOSBox is the easiest option to record video footage...

I also noticed that your recordings sonnd very clean. I take it you ran some audio filters over your recording?

[Ari]

Thanks Teppic, Zeliard is one of those few games where the AdLib soundtrack is just as good as the MT-32 - if not better.

Can't wait to have a listen.

[Teppic]

Teppic just to clarify, I give you a lot of praise for doing the recordings.

It obviously took a lot of time and effort, so job well done!

I appreciate it!

My comment wasn't meant to take anything away from your work. As to an original Sound Blaster sounding different, well there is only one way for you to find out  

Yes, waiting for someone else to record it. Preferable with the AdLib Digisnap project and with the same fadeout and volume level fixes I did.

Many don't know what Yamaha OPL is or are unaware that AWE64 card sound different, so clearly using a SB16 with Yamama OPL chip was something you cared about. You could have also used DOSBox right.

Me using a Sound Blaster is the same reason why you picked a card with Yamaha OPL. We care and we value authenticity. Nothing less, nothing more.

I do care about authenticity and it would be interesting to listen to it recorded with the YM3812 chip, but I can't say I care about it all that much as I think it would sound very much the same as with the YMF262 chip.

As for using DOSBox, it would take the same amount of time and the music would sound worse due to the emulation, so I don't see the point.

And I find gameplay footage always welcome! Especially if you die or something like that. It's just more fun to look at... DOSBox is the easiest option to record video footage...

Yes, but I'm not up for it.

I also noticed that your recordings sonnd very clean. I take it you ran some audio filters over your recording?

No, it's just recorded from the speaker out of the SB16 card to the line-in of my  M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496. The bass and treble in the SB16 mixer kept in the middle.

[Mau1wurf1977]

Adlib DigiSnap is a interesting project. But the digital to analogue conversion of these old cards is kinda what makes them sound like they sound...

A lot of recordings are very clean, nothing like it was back in the days. I remember being able to hear the "computer thinking" and other noises! All part of the authentic experience 

[Cloudschatze]

Adlib DigiSnap is a interesting project. But the digital to analogue conversion of these old cards is kinda what makes them sound like they sound...

Muted highs, muddy lows, and poor SNR? The Ad Lib MSC is probably the worst I've encountered, as far as noise is concerned.

I'm not sure how "pristine" it is, when compared to the DigiSnap captures, but the AWE32 has digital output...

http://www.symphoniae.com/misc/zelopl3/zel_muralla_opl3.mp3

[Cloudschatze]

I'm not sure if anyone cares, but here's a Zeliard track listing straight from the PC-88 version's "MUSIC GALLERY." I took a few liberties with the translations, and much appreciation goes to NewRisingSun for his help. ありがとう！

01 エスメサンテの輝き 02 旅立ち 03 束の間の休息 04 地下の町 05 閉ざされた町 06 闇の世界へ 07 洞窟を越えて 08 樹の世界 09 氷の世界 10 腐土の世界 11 黄金の世界 12 炎の世界 13 不思議の世界 14 闇の使者 15 魔王 16 勝利 17 新たなる冒険へ "RADIANCE OF ESMESANTI" "DEPARTURE" "A MOMENT'S REST" "SUBTERRANEAN CITY" "SECLUDED TOWN" "TO THE WORLD OF DARKNESS" "BEYOND THE CAVES" "WORLD OF TREES" "WORLD OF ICE" "WORLD OF DECAY" "WORLD OF GOLD" "WORLD OF FIRE" "WORLD OF WONDER" "DARK MESSENGERS" "DEMON KING" "VICTORY" "INTO A NEW ADVENTURE" (Title) (Muralla Town) (Bosque Village) (Satono Town) (Tumba Town) (Cavern of Malicia) (Cavern of Peligro) (Cavern of Madera) (Cavern of Escarcha) (Cavern of Corroer) (Cavern of Tesoro) (Cavern of Caliente) (Cavern of Absor) (Encounter!) (Jashiin) (Crystal Obtained) (Credits)

[Ari]

Adlib DigiSnap is a interesting project. But the digital to analogue conversion of these old cards is kinda what makes them sound like they sound...

Muted highs, muddy lows, and poor SNR? The Ad Lib MSC is probably the worst I've encountered, as far as noise is concerned.

I'm not sure how "pristine" it is, when compared to the DigiSnap captures, but the AWE32 has digital output...

http://www.symphoniae.com/misc/zelopl3/zel_muralla_opl3.mp3

Hey! How'd you get it to output in stereo?

[Teppic]

I'm not sure if anyone cares, but here's a Zeliard track listing straight from the PC-88 version's "MUSIC GALLERY." I took a few liberties with the translations, and much appreciation goes to NewRisingSun for his help. ありがとう！

01 エスメサンテの輝き 02 旅立ち 03 束の間の休息 04 地下の町 05 閉ざされた町 06 闇の世界へ 07 洞窟を越えて 08 樹の世界 09 氷の世界 10 腐土の世界 11 黄金の世界 12 炎の世界 13 不思議の世界 14 闇の使者 15 魔王 16 勝利 17 新たなる冒険へ "RADIANCE OF ESMESANTI" "DEPARTURE" "A MOMENT'S REST" "SUBTERRANEAN CITY" "SECLUDED TOWN" "TO THE WORLD OF DARKNESS" "BEYOND THE CAVES" "WORLD OF TREES" "WORLD OF ICE" "WORLD OF DECAY" "WORLD OF GOLD" "WORLD OF FIRE" "WORLD OF WONDER" "DARK MESSENGERS" "DEMON KING" "VICTORY" "INTO A NEW ADVENTURE" (Title) (Muralla Town) (Bosque Village) (Satono Town) (Tumba Town) (Cavern of Malicia) (Cavern of Peligro) (Cavern of Madera) (Cavern of Escarcha) (Cavern of Corroer) (Cavern of Tesoro) (Cavern of Caliente) (Cavern of Absor) (Encounter!) (Jashiin) (Crystal Obtained) (Credits)

Thanks!

Updated the song names, but kept the tracklist as I think it makes more sense to hear the music like it appears in the game.

http://www.mediafire.com/?3sydesul8krvgw4

[Laust]

I'm not sure how "pristine" it is, when compared to the DigiSnap captures, but the AWE32 has digital output...

http://www.symphoniae.com/misc/zelopl3/zel_muralla_opl3.mp3

Nice stereo. Shouldn't there be quadraphonic output with the OPL3?

Here's a "raw" recording of the same tune (YM3812). Made a couple of years ago while experimenting with digital Adlib capture (using my own interface).

[Ari]

I just love that synth brass! It's one of the best sounds the FM chip has to offer, IMO.

[Teppic]

Added FLAC download for this.