The X2GS/X16GS use a soundbank of Roland-authorized sound samples and are officially recognized as GS-compatible MIDI hardware, which many have deemed suitable for gaming. FluidSynth is a collection of software that allows you to implement a HQ Wavetable synth, using SoundFont or DLS soundbanks, and in it's current version, it is sort of GS and XG-compatible, but your mileage will vary with sample bank and software usage/configuration.

Thanks for the reply and the information.

How does the X2GS/X16GS compare to FluidSynth with the more popular SC55 sound fonts? As I mentioned I thought FluidSynth lacked support for certain sound canvas features? (and I'm not sure if the X2GS/X16GS supports them either?)

I have no idea what people mean by "doesn't support certain SC features". Nobody has ever bothered to articulate what that claim refers to. FluidSynth has had issues in the past with the imitation Roland soundfonts, but I can't speak to any of that, as I never bothered to use them and the software is constantly changing/being improved.

sofakng wrote on 2024-09-05, 14:39:

How does the X2GS/X16GS compare to FluidSynth with the more popular SC55 sound fonts? As I mentioned I thought FluidSynth lacked support for certain sound canvas features? (and I'm not sure if the X2GS/X16GS supports them either?)

I can't speak for FluidSynth, as I barely used that years ago, but some of the SC-55 soundfonts don't implement GS instruments correctly.

This usually doesn't matter, but a few games do use these custom instruments, and their absence or incorrect implementation will make the music sound wrong. Stonekeep and Dune 2 are two games that I know of which use GS instruments, but there are likely more. I think Duke3D also uses a GS drum kit (if available) but it has a fallback of sorts if there's no GS support. Rule of thumb, if the game's composer used a SC-55, it's more likely that the music tracks use GS instruments and/or drum kits.

I know that in general, the X2GS that I have sounds very similar to the sound samples from Sound Canvas devices I have heard on various YouTube videos. The bass response is a little bit more pronounced on the X2GS than the SC-55 in my experience, although it looks like one can specify a slightly different GS sound preset to be pre-loaded upon order that more closely matches the SC-55.

I know that while using my X2GS with Descent, TIE Fighter, Doom, Doom 2, and Duke Nukem 3D, it sounds really good when using General MIDI or Sound Canvas as the sound device. If you don't have an actual SC-55 module and want an excellent and affordable GS MIDI device, I would heartily recommend the X2GS.

I've tried to get a decent SC55 sound out of FluidSynth with the various soundfonts out there and none were satisfactory IMO. They might sounds great with one game, but way off with another.

The X2GS however sounds consistently fantastic, and with some adjustments to the mixer I think it's very close indeed to the real thing.

sofakng wrote on 2024-09-05, 13:24:

I've read that FluidSynth (or the SF2 format more specifically) doesn't support enough information to fully replicate an SC55/SC88.

I think you've been reading about the decrypted SC-55 samples and attempts to create a SoundFont out of it. This is correct, SF2 supports different parameters than the SC-55 and up uses. Results vary though. The SoundFont based on the decrypted samples only did GM + GS drumkits if I recall, missing all GS instruments. If you want a complete alternative with all the GS instruments you can try KGS88 V1.97. It's a Korean made SoundFont that mimics the SC-88 Pro. Different samples and effects but all instruments are there, sounds good as well.

sofakng wrote on 2024-09-05, 13:24:

Are the X2GS/X16GS closer to a real SC55/SC88? Do they lack any features that a real sound canvas would support?

It's close. I've been playing with MIDI boards over the years and the X2GS comes very close in regard to used samples and balance of the instruments. Some samples are different, some effects are different, EQ is different (which you can adjust), but nothing major. You do miss bank 127 for MT-32 emulation. I've been using it in DOS, with Japanese computers (emulation) and DTM MIDI's. It's my go-to and I've sold the rest except for my WaveTable Pi for MT-32.

There are also a few professionally made SoundFont banks from at least one - of the few left - vendor sold as "Roland GS" capable, but I have no idea if they are any good or capable in the slightest. I think they go for $30 bucks or so.