Guys, I need advice, I need to buy Sound Canvas for DOS games because AWE64 quality indeed is good but I want better quality and I wonder about compatibility with SC-55 model 2, SC-88VL and SC-50, which one should I order?
Consider the Dreamblaster boards from Serdaco (http://www.serdashop.com/) as well, especially the X2.
Of the options you presented, the SC-88VL is obviously the most powerful one and it does offer an SC-55 compatible mode I believe, so you can have it running in 2 distinctively different modes.
The SC-55 MK2 is a classic and many developers from back then used these units to compose for their games.
The SC-50 is essentially an SC-55 without any of the MT-32 patches, this means that it will sound identical to the SC-55, except for those very very few MT-32 games which the SC-55 could play fine (Monkey Island 1 for example).
I'd go for the cheapest one, if the SC-55 or SC-50 are cheap, go for them.
The Dreamblaster boards are of no use for him, as the AWE64 has no wavetable header.
For DOS games, you may choose any of them. You can also get an SC-7, whatever comes cheapest. GM output isn't much different between them.
If you are into games <1992, you may better get an MT-32, however.
SC-55 model 2 and SC-88VL looks the best for me and 150$ is something I can pay.
From what you listed you should go with the SC-55mkII. That plus an MT-32 will cover 99% of games.
wrote:The Dreamblaster boards are of no use for him, as the AWE64 has no wavetable header.
That site listed above has an adapter to use a daughterboard with a gameport, so the daughterboard option is very possible even with a headerless card like the AWE64.
http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/ - Nerdly Pleasures - My Retro Gaming, Computing & Tech Blog
Yes, I know. But then you end up paying way more than for a Sound Canvas (75€ for the X2, 60€ for an assembled MIDI interface, 12€ for the PSU) and have the nacked hardware hanging on your sound card, since the MIDI interface doesn't come with a case. If at all, only the X3M would make sense. But he asked for a Sound Canvas anyway, so I don't think that's an option for him.
My bad, I completely forgot that the AWE64 doesn't have a wavetable header (one of the reasons I got rid of my AWE64 Gold for an AWE32 😀 ).
Still, as Great Hierophant stated, there is the adapter option and the total cost will probably be around as much as an SC-55 and you are:
a) getting brand new hardware
b) supporting community endeavors
c) IMO better and more flexible sound than SoundCanvas
But that's just my opinion and besides the point perhaps, I just felt the need to offer an alternative as well. The SC-7 you recommend derSammler is also a great option, I picked mine up for 40-50E many years ago from Salient (I wonder what he's up to these days!) and it has served me quite well.
Haker120, can you tell us the individual prices that you've found for each module? That way we could tell you which ones are worth it.
The other option is to buy a USB MIDI interface and run a soundfont engine on another computer.
All hail the Great Capacitor Brand Finder
I personally vouch for the SC-88 series. It may not be exactly accurate to what the composers originally intended, but I love the sound of them, even in SC-55 games.
Musician & music gear/game reviewer.
MIDI hardware: JD-990, SC-55, SC-880, SD-90, VL70-m, Motif ES, Trinity, TS-10, Proteus 2000, XK-6, E6400U
Well, I ordered SC-88VL with psu 110-250V and GamePort to MIDI cable. Any disadvantages between normal 88 and Pro? And difference between SC-55?
wrote:Any disadvantages between normal 88 and Pro? And difference between SC-55?
The SC-88 Pro has more instruments available to provide pseudo compatibility with Yamaha XG MIDI extension. Not very useful for games.
So was my choice good? And I don't understand, why normal model has additional panel with buttons? Will I notice a lack of those in games with model VL?
wrote:So was my choice good? And I don't understand, why normal model has additional panel with buttons? Will I notice a lack of those in games with model VL?
Yes, your choice is fine. I have a SC-88 Pro and I wish I had saved a few bucks by getting a SC-88VL instead. The extra controls are not useful for gaming.
SC-88 is a solid choice, have fun 😁.
Thanks guys. 😀 Hopefully I'll get it this month however I thought to buy a cable made for PC slot but I didn't see any on ebay or just I'm searching putting wrong sequence in search bar. xD Or it doesn't matter? I mean midi to gameport connection.
What about SC-7 ?
https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board
wrote:Thanks guys. 😀 Hopefully I'll get it this month however I thought to buy a cable made for PC slot but I didn't see any on ebay or just I'm searching putting wrong sequence in search bar. xD Or it doesn't matter? I mean midi to gameport connection.
Not sure where you are located, but a search for either of these should bring up some results:
gameport midi cable
sound card midi cable
Cheapest one I could find on eBay in the USA
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Casio-MMCABLE-MIDI-C … rt/222785944101
@cyclone3d my location is Poland and actually I ordered used cable like that. I meant slot signed as COMPUTER Connector. Here's a link to screenshot. https://puu.sh/yZ4Bh/bc3cb8159c.png
wrote:@cyclone3d my location is Poland and actually I ordered used cable like that. I meant slot signed as COMPUTER Connector. Here's a link to screenshot. https://puu.sh/yZ4Bh/bc3cb8159c.png
For gaming you want to use the MIDI port not the "computer" port. Games only know to send MIDI commands through a MPU-401 interface.
I think the SoftMPU program can be used to reroute the MPU-401 commands to a serial port that can connect to that "computer" port on the sound canvas. But I do not think there is any reason to do that besides trying to Rube Goldberg your setup.
