Dune 2 intro MIDI music comparison
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 лис 2024
- 00:14 Adlib
03:00 Roland MT-32
05:49 Roland SC-88Pro
08:33 Yamaha MU90
11:17 Roland SC-7
14:02 Korg X5DR
The intro of the classic RTS game Dune 2 by Westwood Studios run through several music playback devices. The game's soundtrack was composed by Frank Klepacki, who also wrote music for many other Westwood games, such as Lands of Lore and Command & Conquer.
Note that the game uses both the programmability of the Roland MT-32, and the GS superset of the General Midi format when applicable, which really makes the MT-32, the SC-88Pro and even the XG-compatible MU90 shine.
On pure General Midi units, some sound effects will be mapped to the vanilla GM sound map, and sound strange - as can be heard by the rocket launchers making a telephone ringing sound on the SC-7 and the X5DR instead of the "woosh"-sound heard on the more capable units.
So beautiful
Adlib is the winner here in my book ;), although layering some of the differenent audio devices together like LGR did really sounds amazing.
Such comparison is priceless for all of the historians of videogames and audio hardware buffs
I want PC speaker
Thanks for this comparison! It helps a lot in my researches.
I find that the MT-32 is definitely smoother and better in general, but there's something about the snappiness of the Adlib. I'm currently making covers of some of Dune 2 songs and I often end up using both Adlib and SC-55 inspiration for my instrument design. Its super interesting to be able to compare them in one package.
Thanks !
Awesome, how are the covers progressing?
The one game where OPL really shines!
Thanks for putting this together. Booting this up on weekends is one of my favorite memories from those years.
It's hard to top the MT-32. The drums alone put it ahead of everything else. I also really prefer the sweeping pads and traditional analog synthesizer sounds found in that version of the soundtrack.
The SC-88Pro was surprisingly impressive in a different way. The Mellotron choir was really great to hear and fit the mood just as perfectly as the traditional pads. Much cleaner snares, but lacking the "oomf" of the MT-32.
Winner: MT-32. ;)
It just really makes me wish that they'd re-release this game with emulation of the various PC synths at the time.
Yeah, little beats the MT-32. It has a certain organic sounding quality and meaty punch that the wavetable-only successors lack. I have so many fond memories of game soundtracks from that era, and the MT-32 is basically what got me into composing music of my own.
Kyrandia comparison would be awesome!
Really nice comparison, do you generally prefer MT-32 over GS? I'm looking for my first midi unit.
Well, I'd say the application is different. If you want to experience the 90s classics by Sierra, Westwood, Lucasarts and so on in all their glory, the MT-32 is hard to beat because of its programmability. But it's sort of a specialized piece of gear, since it does't contain a GM sound set (and mapping the MT-32 to a GM sound set usually sounds strange, as it isn't 1:1). But for games that utilize the MT-32 well, it's usually the best - hands down.
If you want a more generalized unit that works great for games with GM / GS support, or composing MIDI music yourself, I'd get a Roland SC-88.
I love MIDI, but instruments like trompets sounds so strange compared to other the instruments.
Yeah, brass seems hard to capture realistically with very limited RAM.
bubble bobble- comparison!
Tøysebukken!
I have the Korg 05r/W, excellent in Midi files playing. It has only one issue, missing sometimes the track 10 with some. Anyone knows a solution or the reason why does this happen? Thanks.
How about trying the "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis - Intro" ?
Excellent suggestion!