Has anybody here ever successfully managed to replace the MIDI music in Sierra Online games (like LSL, KQ, etc...) with the soundtracks from QuestStudios?
Did it work and improve the music any, or would this be a giant waste of time and effort?
Aren't the QuestStudios music just converted captures made for use on midi modules?
wrote:Aren't the QuestStudios music just converted captures made for use on midi modules?
I honestly don't know. I was thinking that maybe using MUNT for the MT-32 tracks (i've got MT-32 old and new, and CM-32L/LAPC-I controls and roms), and Bassmidi with SC-55.SF2 would be doable.
I downloaded the Willy Beamish MT-32 file, and here's what's in the README. Maybe you can dumb it down for me, because I'm pretty clueless beyond what the synths are, and using BM and Munt with DOSBox and ScummVM.
(some other games also have SC-55 arrangements, as well)
"System Requirements:
- MIDI Playback Software capable of reading Type 1 Standard
MIDI File format
- System Exclusive patch bank utility (i.e. MidiEx, Cakewalk)
- Roland MT-32, MT-100, CM-32L, CM-64, or LAPC-1
- MPU-401 compatible MIDI interface
(Not required for LAPC-1 users.)
This Standard MIDI File was recorded directly from Dynamix's "The Adventures of Willy Beamish" adventure game using Dynamix's MT-32 support. Therefore, in order to obtain the proper sounds during playback, you must first transmit the WILLY.SYX SysEx patch bank to the MT-32. Failure to do this will result in improper playback of the song file. Use an utility such as MidiEx/WSysEx, Quick Send, Cakewalk, etc. to transmit the SysEx bank. See below for song titles.
NOTE: This file is designed ONLY for the Roland MT-32 Sound Module (and its' variants such as the other MT modules, the LAPC-1 [MT-32 on a card], and the CM line which contain a genuine MT-32 mode) and is NOT compatible with devices which can "emulate" the MT-32, such as the Roland Sound Canvas line, Creative sound cards, or any purely GM/GS/XG compatible devices.
Recorded/edited/arranged/compiled for the Roland MT-32 in Standard MIDI File format by Alistair Gillett."
BTW, the files in the zip archive are willymt.doc, willy.syx, willyMT.mid, and a readme.
Yes, they are. And there is no way to replace the SOUND resources with digital sounds. The earlier SCI games did not support digital sound and the later SCI games that did call the SOUND resource music from its scripts. It would require a heavy modification of the interpreter and game scripts. A daunting task without the source. Even if you could, there probably would be problems with getting them to loop properly or any of the other MIDI commands the games use to manipulate the music. You would need the unmodified captured music too. Quest Studios modifies the music with fade ins/fade outs, merging, etc. to make it stand alone.
ScummVM did have some projects to use newly rendered music in place of the original, but I never saw anything in regards to SCI games. Also, remember that ScummVM does not support much more than up to SCI1.1.
It would be far easier to buy a SoundCanvas and MT-32 for yourself to get the same sound as those from Quest Studios.
wrote:It would be far easier to buy a SoundCanvas and MT-32 for yourself to get the same sound as those from Quest Studios.
Dang. I was hoping to keep it all virtual. What would be a reasonable price for a SoundCanvas/MT-32, and should I focus on getting a MT-32 OLD, or just try to get external CM-32L/CM-64 modules? Do I need a breakout box for this?
I've never tried using external midi devices before. Just the crap wavetable built into soundcards, and now BM and Munt. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Well MUNT does a decent Job for LA games. And for GM, well you are spoilt for choice. But there is no need to modify the games.
I've done a video installation guide: http://youtu.be/qsGQ6AXzen0
And some videos that compare a real MT-32 with MUNT: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query= … l+mt-32+vs+MUNT
Featuring SQ4, Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2, Codename Iceman and Police Quest 3.
wrote:Well MUNT does a decent Job for LA games. And for GM, well you are spoilt for choice. But there is no need to modify the games. […]
Well MUNT does a decent Job for LA games. And for GM, well you are spoilt for choice. But there is no need to modify the games.
I've done a video installation guide: http://youtu.be/qsGQ6AXzen0
And some videos that compare a real MT-32 with MUNT: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query= … l+mt-32+vs+MUNT
Featuring SQ4, Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2, Codename Iceman and Police Quest 3.
I was under the impression that these were "remastered" sound tracks, and in some cases, completely redone using GS/XG formats. That's what peaked my interest.
I've got zero problems getting the original audio working in the games natively, I was just hoping that maybe these would "jazz up" the soundtracks. I'll stick with Munt and BM for now, while I squirrel away some money, and find good deals on actual hardware. Is Ebay the only choice, or are there preferred vendors folks on the board use?
People had luck in Japan and also with music stores.
wrote:People had luck in Japan and also with music stores.
Like Amazon or ebay japan? I called the local music stores, and they only carry used SC-55s at $450. 😮 Nobody local carries MT-32s.
What type of hardware would I need to connect them to my modern PC? My mobo is an Asus P8Z68V-GEN3
wrote:What type of hardware would I need to connect them to my modern PC? My mobo is an Asus P8Z68V-GEN3
Is this for DOSBox?
wrote:wrote:What type of hardware would I need to connect them to my modern PC? My mobo is an Asus P8Z68V-GEN3
Is this for DOSBox?
And possibly ScummVM. I've got plenty of dos games that only work with DOSBox, so I really need it to work with both.
I'm looking at an MT-32, and either an SC-55 or SC-88. No ISA cards for me.
Good price for MT-32 & SC-55(/mkII) would be sub-$80 shipped (sub-$50 if you're really lucky) but you'll have to do a little searching. Don't worry about missing adaptors as you can use an aftermarket universal ac adapter with interchangable tips (9VDC,1A, center negative).
There's a simple diagram on how to connect them to your PC (just for example):
http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php?topic=3109.0
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."—Arthur C. Clarke
"No way. Installing the drivers on these things always gives me a headache."—Guybrush Threepwood (on cutting-edge voodoo technology)
Can someone run a quick sanity check for me? I went ahead and downloaded the custom soundtracks from QuestStudios, along with SendSX. For an example, I extracted the SQ3-GS zip file, opened up SendSX, selected the SQ3-GS file, hit Send, then chose "Bass Midi A" for MIDI out (I use the SC-55 soundfont on that). Then I loaded up ScummVM, and made sure that SQ3 was setup to use Bass Midi A, and played the game.
To my ears, it sounded different. To double-check, I closed all that out, and re-opened ScummVM, and set SQ3 to use Munt's MT-32 emulator (set to the MT-32 OLD files), and started the game up again. It definitely sounded different to me.
Can anybody confirm this, or am I just losing my hearing and my mind in my old age?
The QuestStudios midis are manually touched up and are intended for standalone playback on a module. There is no real purpose to reinject these back to their games.
Also MT-32 wasn't a General MIDI standard, it will never sound like the Bassmidi driver 😀
The SC-55.sf2 font is suspect as well since it was done by someone who doesn't own a SC-55 and just begged people on the internet to record from their SC-55.
