Comparison of MIDI sound modules (Roland vs Korg vs Yamaha vs Kawai) \ VOGONS

Comparison of MIDI sound modules (Roland vs Korg vs Yamaha vs Kawai)

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First post, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-03, 02:30

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Update (03/17/2022)

Links have been down for a few years due to no longer using the hosting service they were uploaded to. I will look for a new place to re-upload the files in question and re-link them.

Update (10/23/2016)

New recordings later in this thread:

Doom - Intermission From Doom

Update (10/8/2016)

New recordings posted later in this thread:

Blood - Dark Carnival
Duke Nukem 3D - Stalker

Update (10/7/2016)

Added Kawai Gmega sound recordings to comparisons.

Update (10/3/2016)

New recordings posted later in this thread:

Tyrian - The Level
Master of Magic - Intro Music

Recordings in this post:

Descent - Main Theme

Kawai Gmega (GM mode)
Korg NS5R (GM mode)
Korg Triton Rack (GM mode)
Roland JV-1010 (GM mode)
Roland SC-55
Roland SC-88
Roland XV-5080 (GM mode)
Yamaha MU80 (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (GS mode)

Just for fun: Korg/Roland/Yamaha Megamix (NS5R/Triton/XV5080/MU2000EX - layered mix of all 4 tracks)

Doom II - Dead Simple

Command Adventures Starship - Sahara

Last edited by Shponglefan on 2022-03-17, 16:27. Edited 19 times in total.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 1 of 21, by PhilsComputerLab

Posted on 2016-10-03, 02:51

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Very nice 😀

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Reply 2 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-03, 03:36

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PhilsComputerLab wrote:
Very nice 😀

Thank you! They'll be more to come! 😀

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486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 3 of 21, by mrau

Posted on 2016-10-03, 03:42

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any chance for descent 1 level 2 macintosh edition?

Reply 4 of 21, by boxpressed

Posted on 2016-10-03, 03:45

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This is great. If you're taking requests, how about Tyrian: The Level?

Reply 5 of 21, by DracoNihil

Posted on 2016-10-03, 04:08

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mrau wrote:
any chance for descent 1 level 2 macintosh edition?

Macintosh Descent uses CD-Audio...

“I am the dragon without a name…”
― Κυνικός Δράκων

Reply 6 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-03, 23:19

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boxpressed wrote:
This is great. If you're taking requests, how about Tyrian: The Level?

Can do. Should have it up later tonight.

mrau wrote:
any chance for descent 1 level 2 macintosh edition?

Unfortunately as DracoNihil posted, the Mac version of Descent used recorded audio, not MIDI.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 7 of 21, by PhilsComputerLab

Posted on 2016-10-04, 00:12

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Interesting, didn't know about the MAC soundtrack. The GOG version includes it as a bonus.

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Reply 8 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-04, 01:22

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New recordings:

Tyrian - The Level

Kawai Gmega(GM mode)
Korg NS5R (GM mode)
Korg Triton Rack (GM mode)
Roland JV-1010 (GM mode)
Roland SC-55
Roland SC-88
Roland XV-5080 (GM mode)
Yamaha MU80 (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (GS mode)

Master of Magic - Intro Music

Last edited by Shponglefan on 2016-10-08, 00:40. Edited 2 times in total.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 9 of 21, by boxpressed

Posted on 2016-10-04, 04:28

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Thank you -- those are superb. I find myself liking the Yamaha synths more than the others.

What recording software do you use?

Reply 10 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-04, 11:35

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boxpressed wrote:
Thank you -- those are superb. I find myself liking the Yamaha synths more than the others.

What recording software do you use?

You're very welcome! 😀

For recording, I'm using a program called REAPER. It's a great little DAW that's surprisingly powerful given its inexpensive price.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 11 of 21, by FGB

Posted on 2016-10-04, 20:15

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Hi,
Thank you! I always appreciate recordings which compare the big three!

www.AmoRetro.de Visit my huge hardware gallery with many historic items from 16MHz 286 to 1000MHz Slot A. Includes more than 80 soundcards and a growing Wavetable Recording section with more than 300 recordings.

Reply 12 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-06, 00:31

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FGB wrote:
Hi,
Thank you! I always appreciate recordings which compare the big three!

Glad you like them! Should have more soon! 😀

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 13 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-08, 00:41

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Just recently took delivery of a Kawai Gmega sound module, so I made some recordings with it and added it to the comparison. It's a bit hit-or-miss, moreso than the other modules I have. Tyrian and Master of Magic sound decent with it. But the Descent theme on the other hand... *shudders*

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 14 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-08, 23:35

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New recordings:

Blood - Dark Carnival

Kawai Gmega(GM mode)
Korg NS5R (GM mode)
Korg Triton Rack (GM mode)
Roland JV-1010 (GM mode)
Roland SC-55
Roland SC-88
Roland XV-5080 (GM mode)
Yamaha MU80 (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (GS mode)

Duke Nukem 3D - Stalker

Kawai Gmega(GM mode)
Korg NS5R (GM mode)
Korg Triton Rack (GM mode)
Roland JV-1010 (GM mode)
Roland SC-55
Roland SC-88
Roland XV-5080 (GM mode)
Yamaha MU80 (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (GS mode)

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 15 of 21, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2016-10-24, 01:47

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My Roland SC-55 started acting up, so I ended up ordering a new one. Recording in this batch is based off the new SC-55.

New recordings:

Doom - Intermission From Doom

Kawai Gmega(GM mode)
Korg NS5R (GM mode)
Korg Triton Rack (GM mode)
Roland JV-1010 (GM mode)
Roland SC-55
Roland SC-88
Roland XV-5080 (GM mode)
Yamaha MU80 (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (XG mode)
Yamaha MU2000EX (GS mode)

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 16 of 21, by holaplaneta

Posted on 2020-02-08, 09:44

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Unfortunately it seems that the links are down... tragic. This was great to me once when I was deciding about what modules to get. Thank you.

Reply 17 of 21, by bishopcop

Posted on 2020-02-08, 15:09

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The files are archived on wayback machine (archive.org). Just checked a couple and they work.

Reply 18 of 21, by Dimitris1980

Posted on 2020-04-02, 20:47

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You have done a great job with the recordings. I really like it. All devices are great. I wonder how is the music on sierra on line adventure games that support general midi like Police Quest 4, Gabriel Knight, Space Quest 5 etc. on devices like Korg, Yamaha and Kawai.

- Macintosh LC475, Powerbook 540c, Macintosh Performa 6116CD, Power Macintosh G3 Minitower (x2), Imac G3, Powermac G4 MDD, Powermac G5, Imac Mid 2007
- Cyrix 120
- Amiga 500, Amiga 1200
- Atari 1040 STF
- Roland MT32, CM64, CM500, SC55, SC88, Yamaha MU50

Reply 19 of 21, by HandOfFate

Posted on 2020-07-29, 11:35

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bishopcop wrote on 2020-02-08, 15:09:

The files are archived on wayback machine (archive.org). Just checked a couple and they work.

Here's a link for those who are also on the lookout to buy a module: https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://shpongle … ers.com/audio/*

Am486 DX4 120MHz, no L2, 16MB, Tseng ET4000/W32 1MB VLB, ESS ES1869 /// 5x86 133MHz, 256kb L2, 64MB, S3 Virge/DX 4MB PCI, SB16 + Yucatan FX, PicoGUS /// Pentium III 1GHz, 512MB, Asus V7700 64MB AGP, SB Live!

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