Why not just use Munt?

Leisure Suit Larry 2 and Legend of Kyrandia 1 also, although the latter has some custom SFX that won't play correctly without a LA device.

collector wrote:

Why not just use Munt?

Because I'm using a computer with a 486 CPU

You can run Munt on another computer, like a laptop and connect them. Basically building a MIDI box 😀

Spikey wrote:

Leisure Suit Larry 2 and Legend of Kyrandia 1 also, although the latter has some custom SFX that won't play correctly without a LA device.

Actually, Larry 2 uses custom instruments, its Police Quest II that uses the default instruments.

Great Hierophant wrote:

Spikey wrote:

Leisure Suit Larry 2 and Legend of Kyrandia 1 also, although the latter has some custom SFX that won't play correctly without a LA device.

Actually, Larry 2 uses custom instruments, its Police Quest II that uses the default instruments.

Playing on a device with MT-32/CM-64 "compatibility mode", How do you determine if it's custom sounds and default sounds, exactly? Will it immediately sound out of tune if there are custom instruments, or are they just wrong or missing during playback? For the more popular games, I can obviously compare it to the numerous recordings, but I'm interested in testing (and playing) some games that haven't been covered to death.

I realize the premise of my thread is sort of obscure, but it may be of some use to people who are slumming with no MT-32

Legend Entertainment games use the default instruments to great effect.

The thing is, the MT-32 is not exactly a ROMpler and no soundfont or sysex remapping will correctly "emulate" the synth's instruments (be they default or custom). You can certainly try and make a list of MT-32 games that sound the least horrible on an "MT-32 compatible" device out of academic interest, but that would never make it a viable alternative to the real thing.

Playing on a device with MT-32/CM-64 "compatibility mode", How do you determine if it's custom sounds and default sounds, exactly? Will it immediately sound out of tune if there are custom instruments, or are they just wrong or missing during playback? For the more popular games, I can obviously compare it to the numerous recordings, but I'm interested in testing (and playing) some games that haven't been covered to death.

I realize the premise of my thread is sort of obscure, but it may be of some use to people who are slumming with no MT-32

The thing to understand is the power of the MT-32 was in its' custom patch ability (new instruments made by the composer being written to the MT-32 during game startup), so 95% of MT-32 soundtracks are going to utilise that capability, and the soundtracks will feature these custom instruments. Therefore, "MT-32 compatibility" outside of MUNT does not exist. You can't remap a soft or hard synth to map to a unique instrument, after all! (Well, you could rewrite each game's soundtrack, and figure out how to put that in the game, and create new drivers, but that is probably not what you're looking to do. 😉 )

Great Hierophant wrote:

Actually, Larry 2 uses custom instruments, its Police Quest II that uses the default instruments

No, the opposite is true.

NewRisingSun wrote:

Great Hierophant wrote:

Actually, Larry 2 uses custom instruments, its Police Quest II that uses the default instruments

No, the opposite is true.

Silly me, just wait until I start to go senile 😊

Which is more common, custom or default? I was looking for a list on the former myself. Trying to put together a list of impressive MT-32 OSTs.

Spikey wrote:

Leisure Suit Larry 2 and Legend of Kyrandia 1 also, although the latter has some custom SFX that won't play correctly without a LA device.

In addition to SFX, Legend of Kyrandia 1 actually uses at least one custom instrument, one that replaces the "soundtrack" instrument.

The question is imprecise. A game can use only default timbres but use System Exclusive Messages to rearrange their order. In fact, that's what quite a number of Sierra games do. And those will sound wrong as well on devices that do not process MT-32 System Exclusive Messages.

Laukku wrote:

Spikey wrote:

Leisure Suit Larry 2 and Legend of Kyrandia 1 also, although the latter has some custom SFX that won't play correctly without a LA device.

In addition to SFX, Legend of Kyrandia 1 actually uses at least one custom instrument, one that replaces the "soundtrack" instrument.

You got me on a technicality, but it hardly is enough to call it a custom bank game. What patch is it? I forget these days.

Which is more common, custom or default? I was looking for a list on the former myself. Trying to put together a list of impressive MT-32 OSTs.

I haven't played enough non-Sierra games to know, but I would imagine very few games use default instruments, and as NRS pointed out, games can use only default instruments but in non-standard patch order (a custom bank that comprises of default instruments).

Given that most of the MT-32's default instruments are 'real' instruments, and it's a 30 year old synth, I don't think those are the best sounding patches for the module by any stretch, although several have aged well considering. In my book synth soundscapes are the coolest MT-32 sound possible, although it does fast paced and punchy music well because of the good drumkits and decent bass sounds (see: Police Quest 1, Castle of Dr. Brain for both synth and drums).

Interesting, thanks. I finished up that list a while back, though it's open to new suggestions. Would've liked to find something dance-oriented with a deep and punchy kick drum on MT-32.
http://minirevver.weebly.com/mt-32-music.html