Re: MIDI files on IIgs?

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article pubpc1@library.ucla.edu writes...

>spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) wrote,
>>    Even so, as I said, Diversi-Tune sounds very synthy. Quite nice
>>in its own respect, but not a suitable tool for listening to MIDI
>>files out there (well, maybe solo piano pieces, if you don't mind
>>the semi-artificial sounding piano). Actually Bill described DT as
>>sounding like a rich FM-synthesis.
>
>Beauty is in the ears of the beholder, then.  I actually found
>myself preferring Diversi-Tune's pianos and drums to synthLABs. :)

    Same here, which is why I would use custom patch-sets for
MIDIsynth, like Ian Schmidt's MT32 drumset or the Grand Piano
patch I did (not perfect, but much better than the one that
came with synthLAB).

    The problem with using Diversi-Tune for MIDI though, isn't
just its FM-like sound quality, but the lack of instruments
available overall. You have a piano, organ, banjo, percussion,
and harpischord. Not a exactly a suitable selection for most
MIDI files out there.

>(It certainly sounds much better than the SoundBlaster cards I've
>listened to in PC computers.)

    Probably, although then again, even the crummy OPL3 chipset 
(used for FM synthesis) on my Pro AudioSpectrum 16 card generally 
does a better job than Diversi-Tune for MIDI playback. In many 
cases, although I hate to admit it, it quite often does better 
than MIDIsynth because there are so many more voices and it can 
emulate certain instruments not too badly (e.g. bells, chimes, 
harp, bass).

    Of course I don't listen to MIDI through FM-synthesis, I just use 
my Roland SCC-1 which is probably about the richest, most realistic 
music synthesis available for personal computers today. :) Using the 
GS for listening to MIDI just doesn't cut it for me anymore, the 
software available is just too limited. Even so, writing new software 
wouldn't drastically help, since there are fixed limitations in the 
Ensoniq 5503, like it being only 8-bit (16-bit samples are nicer for 
wavetable), having only 64K of available RAM and it's kind of hissy 
and noisy in the GS too. 

    Here's a thought, find a Roland SC-55 (which is the original Roland,
an external box device which the SCC-1 card is based on) and connect it 
up to the IIgs using a MIDI adapter. With software like MasterTracks Pro,
you should be able to play GM/GS MIDI files and even have control over
things like reverb (I think there is an LCD panel on the SC-55). I toyed
with this idea awhile ago, but then just decide to get an SCC-1 card
instead when I was given a PC.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca