Talkie LucasArts SCUMM Games - GM vs MT-32 \ VOGONS

Talkie LucasArts SCUMM Games - GM vs MT-32

Topic actions

First post, by bergqvistjl

Posted on 2015-06-26, 13:47

bergqvistjl Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 133
Joined: 2010-06-08, 12:06

Hi, there are a few games (DOTT, Sam & Max, Fate Of Atlantis, and possibly The Dig?) that from what I can see had both GM or GS - (not sure which) and MT-32 Soundtrack options. Does anyone know which is the better-sounding/preferred of the two/as per the composer's intentions, for the above games?

I'm getting conflicting reports from googling around the internet.

Reply 1 of 5, by PhilsComputerLab

Posted on 2015-06-26, 13:51

PhilsComputerLab Offline

Rank l33t++

Rank: l33t++
Posts: 6174
Joined: 2014-09-28, 03:33
Location: Western Australia

Sam & Max is General MIDI, The Dig uses digital audio, no MIDI whatsoever. DOTT I'm not sure.

YouTube, Facebook, Website

Reply 2 of 5, by Dominus

Posted on 2015-06-26, 13:54

Dominus Offline

Rank DOSBox Moderator

Rank: DOSBox Moderator
Posts: 9202
Joined: 2002-10-03, 09:54
Location: Ludwigsburg

The better sounding is the one you like better...
GENERALLY you can say that the mt32 is best but then in later years it's not always true AFAIHeard.

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 3 of 5, by bergqvistjl

Posted on 2015-06-26, 13:55

bergqvistjl Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 133
Joined: 2010-06-08, 12:06

Dominus wrote:
The better sounding is the one you like better...
GENERALLY you can say that the mt32 is best but then in later years it's not always true AFAIHeard.

That's the thing, from what i've heard, the MT-32 was an on-the-fly port of the Sam & Max GM soundtrack - so the GM version would be superior. I'm not sure for Day Of The Tentacle however.

Reply 4 of 5, by skitters

Posted on 2015-06-27, 03:13

skitters Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 438
Joined: 2004-11-17, 20:08
Location: US

Check out samples on YouTube and see if you think one sounds better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc8ucyhpIZ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQeQzeVmN5w

Reply 5 of 5, by jesolo

Posted on 2015-06-27, 10:56

jesolo Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 2110
Joined: 2014-06-24, 19:04
Location: South Africa

I normally go with the general rule that, if the setup menu of the game supports General MIDI, then chances are the in game music was written on a General MIDI compatible sound module (in most cases, the Roland SC-55).
MT-32 support was still provided by re-mapping the General MIDI sounds for users that still had a Roland MT-32 or compatible sound module.

However, some game developers released General MIDI patches after the initial game was released (like your SC1 Sierra games).
Since these games' music were written on an MT-32 (or compatible sound module), they will obviously sound better on these modules than on a General MIDI sound module.

Most DOS games released after 1992 supports General MIDI and you will also see that less games supported the MT-32 after that.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to DOS