Here are some more links you might enjoy, including extended plays of the device in action on the second channel: Hear more Castlevania tracks on the MT-32 | th-cam.com/video/uFkxOf7dvdA/w-d-xo.html Hear the Yamaha MU 80 Demo Track | th-cam.com/video/FwWxEN2NGHA/w-d-xo.html Midiori MIDI card: github.com/tdaede/midiori RAM upgrade: github.com/stas2k/galspanic Neil - RMC PS If you enjoy what I do you can support the channel at patreon.com/rmcretro - Thanks!
I would love to get a hold of one of these machines, or at the very least figure out how to setup an emulator. The X68000 really intrigues me. Awesome vid Neil.
The Japanese text on Final Fight translates to “The game cannot allocate the required memory”. Well, more literally, “The game’s use-memory partitioning cannot be done”, but “cannot allocate the required memory” is how I’d translate ゲーム用のメモリ領域が確保できません。
Hah, Nokia 8110 4G has been my daily driver since it was released, keeps me sane and away from bloatware and non-essential software to steal my attention and time! (Incredibly good microphone in HQ mode recordings too, could be used for surveillance, no joke)
Hehe me too. I have a smartphone but that's only on wifi. It keeps me productive when out of the office instead of being tempted to check all of the socials and comments etc
@@RMCRetro Indeed. Whenever someone has asks me why I've use it, I tell them them I appreciate the durability and reliability and drop it over the shoulder, even out-doors! It's like the Nokia of the 90's only now slightly less of a blunt instrument for self defense.
Those MIDI devices were pure luxury science fiction for me back in the day, just known from articles in some go-to mags, I never knew some who owned one and I never did as well. This makes those MIDI insights even more fascinating, be it yours or the ones from LGR wo seems to be into them a lot as well. BTW: Can't wait to see your new DIY update from the mill! :-) Cheers, Peter
you get a slightly different composition depending on if you go with mt-32 or sc-55 for audio on that one also. really went above and beyond with sound design. even the stock x68000 soundtrack is a bit different and totally worth listening to.
Something about hearing that Castlevania music on the MT32 immediately made me feel that excitement old 80s / 90s games would give me back in the day. It sounded so fresh and clear. Amazing what was achievable with the albeit, expensive technology of the time. You can really see from this setup why retro MIDI and game music never died out and become more popular in recent years with artists. That Sharp's keyboard is a thing of beauty also! Great video, really sparked the magic of retro games for me again.
8:13 You could try setting the MT-32 to use MIDI channels 1-8 instead of 2-9 (default) by holding MASTER VOLUME and pressing 5, then 1 EDIT: When you played the same song on the MU80, it looks like the lead is on channel 1, so my suggestion should fix that problem. I actually have the same 3 MIDI devices in my PC setup, along with some extras to enhance the experience (mixer, MIDI splitter, spectrum analyser)
I can only imagine what it must've been like to be able to play Street Fighter II and Final Fight on a Sharp X68000 in the very early 90s. It must've been pure bliss.
It could have been worse, it could have been ********* ******** or ******** *******! =(Sorry for reasons of sanity this comment has been censored to protect the reader from having to endure further tunes/songs stuck in their head all day)=. [Note: the number of stars is random, there is no actual tune/song mentioned really, LOL].
@ Although I do think if I could choose only one for all time, its the SC55.. As it has the broadest compatibility and support. It really is the one that set the standard.
@@RMCRetro if only.....I think they may have gone the way of the Happy Eater, Bloody good video as always. Thank you for sharing with us this almost unobtanium.
I had no idea that this system was in existence and I thought that my video game geekery ran deep. I guess this just goes to show that their are truly levels to everything. Thank you for sharing; great, great music and sound. 👍
SF2 sounds wrong to me, but Ghouls n' Ghosts sounds absolutely amazing.The Castlevania Chronicles game on PS1, had a secret feature where you could change the soundfont to MT-32 or FM Synth, so it was definitely composed with that card in mind.
12:00 : Simon Belmondo is not a mistake. This is a private joke about a french actor, Jean Paul Belmondo, who is famous all around the world, especially in Japan (like Mireille Mathieu, a french woman signer)
Castlevania and Ghouls'n Ghosts sound phenomenal. I think these classics should be rereleased with these soundtracks. A remixed soundtrack can do so much to enhance a game.
Man the Castlevania soundtrack is the best. I hope X68000 emulation progresses far enough on MiSTer and allows MIDI output somehow. I want to try combining that with MT32-pi. It's the closest any of us would get since these machines still cost a fortune, especially complete and working.
It’s official for me - I’m taking my savings and buying one of these computers. I’m aware of how expensive this venture will be, but come on - the Sharp X68000 is a ‘killer’ computer setup. I have emulated the system before in the past, so I know how to load software from the DOS prompt, etc. From what I heard, a homebrew community is slowly growing for this computer. I can’t even begin to imagine the type of games we will eventually see for this system (it makes me giddy with excitement; it makes me feel like a kid again!). My only regret is not knowing about this system sooner, when the prices weren’t as insane as they are today. *BUT* - I know a few trustworthy resellers in Japan, who should be able to hook me up with a fair deal.
@RMC - any chance you can detail how to operate the Roland SC-88? I just recently purchased one along with a MIDI card (could not find the Midori as it is sold out, but found an original MIDI card for the X68K). I'm waiting on a cable but am not familiar with the options on the SC-88 itself. Is it self explanatory or are there certain presets or buttons needed to press to get it into the correct mode? Thanks mate!
@@RMCRetro Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! Last question (hopefully!): It looks like I'll need 5 pin DIN male cable to go from X68 stock midi card to SC88 - should that go to "MIDI IN A"? I'm seeing there is a "computer" option on the back of the SC88 that uses a different type of cable so just want to be sure I'm getting the right components. Thank you again!
Yes the din midi cable goes into midi in. I tried sending audio into the computer in 3.5mm jack to see if it would act as a mixer but it didn't, I'm not sure yet what that's for. You'll want to run the audio out on the x68k into the sc88 input and use that as a mixer
You already know my fetish for this lovely bit of kit. The more i see, the more i want one! Putting this one in my "nsfw" folder. (Can i drop this now? Its getting weird)
Wow this sounds spectacular, especially Castlevania. Been wanting to get my hands on a MiSTer to see how these cores sound. This era was really magic. Also Parodius is wo wacky because its a parody of gradius and a super light hearted take on the shoot em up genre. Great video.
As you've just found out Neil, Cyber Block Metal Orange is an elite videogame OST. The composer (JKL Furukawa) did only a couple of games but it's all ace. Do check out Carat also by him. Both games were originally made on the PC-98 and they sound great on those machine via FM synth.
I suspect it's because we are used to/more familiar with them than the 'new' versions which we aren't. Just a thought. Same goes with regards mega drive/genesis devices which sound slow/wrong in modern hardware sometimes.
A lot of times, the original music took advantage of hardware tricks the original (arcade) hardware had, or in some cases, the original computer platform, and later ports and MIDI transfers get a sort of literal transcription, devoid of noise channels, bend, or other treatment. This happened a lot in games originally for the C64's powerful SID chip ported for simpler hardware, where the music was just simpler, plainer. Since MIDI made it very easy to just transcribe notes, and effects were handled very differently from device to device, just making flat transcriptions of the music was the safest thing to do to keep it hardware agnostic across different MIDI devices. Personally, I always hated the sound of MIDI, and still do, though I don't begrudge anyone else for it. It always sounds like the equivalent of taking a song I like and a less talented band covering it, with less emotion, a flatter attack curve, less swing, etc.
One of the composers on that game was Masaharu Iwata who later worked on games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Ogre Battle, and Odin Sphere... so you're pretty much correct. :)
I would love to have one of these in my future retro setup. I’m going to be getting a white Checkmate monitor to go with an Amiga 500+, Atari 1080 STe, Micro PC running Windows 95/98 and MS DOS, NEOGEO, SNES, Dreamcast and possibly a PC Engine. I’ve already got retro styled speakers that will be part of the system ( Klipsch The Fives. ). I can hope, maybe I’ll get lucky one day and get a white X68000, if not the Mini version.
@8:30 - The MT32 has three main incompatabilities with GM 1) Missing and mis-mapped instruments. Not much to do about that, though there are mt32 patchsets that claim to enable some degree of General MIDI compatability 2) Volume ramping is incompatible - One is logarithmic, the other exponential. Volumes will sound messed up 3) Incompatible channel mapping - The MT-32 listens on MIDI channels 2-9, verses General MIDIs 1-16 Street Fighters missing instrument is probably on Channel 1. The MT-32 can be configured to listen on 1-8 via the front panel, [Master Volume] + [5], [1] I'm honestly shocked Street Fighter sounds as good as it does.
I know the MT-32 is not the most advanced of MIDI synths, but IMO, it is such a well-balanced, wide, and smooth sounding box that it STILL holds up. Gah.. that Castlevania soundtrack was leGIT. X-D Can you imagine bringing home something like that at the end of the 80s, when everyone else was rocking a PC speaker?
Nice one Neil. Interesting to hear the difference between the Roland devices and the Yammy. I am biased though. I have been looking at getting one of those Roland sound canvas modules myself, but instead bought a Roland D-110 module for my midi set up. Bought it today, ironically. Came with an expansion card which is allegedly "R.A.R.H.S." - Rare as Rocking horse shoes ;)
By default, the MT-32 is not only not General MIDI, but it also doesn't play channel 1. If the lead instrument is played on track 1... it'd be missing on the MT-32.
when starting these games you showed, do you have to specifically choose the MT-32 in order for it to use it? or do the games you showed just use a connected MT32 automatically?
I once in my youth read about X68000 and was blown away, while drooling a bit, never could I've guessed that I'd once watch a MIDI-pimped up version of it, and I don't think there's anything cooler than that
Having that luxury is like having a CD Rom port, but those MIDI module where made for musician, my teacher use to have the same Roland soundcanvas plug with an atari St and a Oberheim matrix 6 as the midi keyboard, at home i only get a Roland E 16 keyboard & the only sequencer i could afford was a Groovebox MC 303, i later build a bulky second hand PC with a guillemot soundcard and use to play the midi data on my Roland for fun, it was primitive as fuck, my hardware sequencer was more reliable, i could only imagine how good a X68000 or an Amiga was so much creative power inside machine like that.
I imagine you can get a bit more use out of MT32. There's a MIDI file you can play on it, which will reprogram it to provide GM compatibility - it's limited, some patches will not fit quite right, but there shouldn't be any completely missing parts then either. The programming is volatile and lasts until reset. Or at least so i heard. I don't have hands-on experience with MT32.
Nice video! I also own a X68030 with a Miniori 2.2 card and an Roland MT-32. I haven't done the setup yet but a question: do you use a scaler for the BenQ monitor?
Just curious, some of those games look kind of skinny, are those supposed to be 4:3 ? Or its just the lack of an analog control to stretch the image on that flat screen display.
Kinda makes me sad for all the music composers who put so much effort into some of these soundtracks, but got the most visibility on consoles with such limited sound capability. Now I know why they are still so beloved in japan.
I was never into midi, as I always thought of it is cheesy and lo quality, probably due to adlib on most cards. As I was heavy into mod files, or digital audio via CD. But it also showcases how much those outboard midi devices were in turn sampled and used in mods :)
I always thought, given the Atari ST came with MIDI ports as standard, they really should have crammed a rudimentary MIDI synth, even one that just redirected instruments to bleeps and bloops like the main sound chip, into the machine. That would have made games target MIDI for their sound be default, and free up the sound chip for just sound effects. People who wanted better could then use the MIDI port to plug in a synth if they so desired, but at least MIDI would have been ubiquitous. It just always seemed strange to me that the computer marketed to musicians had such crap sound compared to literally everything but the IBM PC compatibles of the day.
The "wide" sound you hear it's called "sound stage." The general idea being that it sounds big, as if you're there in an amphitheater where it's being played.
No matter how many times I see this machine I'm always impressed. The machine coupled with a midi device would have blown away anything I was used of back in the day. Maybe some day I can visit the cave and finally play on one. :D
It's a shame that we didn't get more games that used Midi in Europe, especially on the Atari ST. It would have killed the Amiga sound wise if games used that Midi port.
Here are some more links you might enjoy, including extended plays of the device in action on the second channel:
Hear more Castlevania tracks on the MT-32 | th-cam.com/video/uFkxOf7dvdA/w-d-xo.html
Hear the Yamaha MU 80 Demo Track | th-cam.com/video/FwWxEN2NGHA/w-d-xo.html
Midiori MIDI card: github.com/tdaede/midiori
RAM upgrade: github.com/stas2k/galspanic
Neil - RMC
PS If you enjoy what I do you can support the channel at patreon.com/rmcretro - Thanks!
I would love to get a hold of one of these machines, or at the very least figure out how to setup an emulator. The X68000 really intrigues me. Awesome vid Neil.
Very nice video! Kudos! But, you could at least adjust the image to fill-up the monitor, or at lease center it
The Japanese text on Final Fight translates to “The game cannot allocate the required memory”. Well, more literally, “The game’s use-memory partitioning cannot be done”, but “cannot allocate the required memory” is how I’d translate ゲーム用のメモリ領域が確保できません。
This is too bloody cool. i know I'm definitely going on a listening spree. Have you managed to try the TG300b mode on the Yamaha?
Nice! You did it! 😀
Sounds are Awesome.....!!
Hah, Nokia 8110 4G has been my daily driver since it was released, keeps me sane and away from bloatware and non-essential software to steal my attention and time! (Incredibly good microphone in HQ mode recordings too, could be used for surveillance, no joke)
Hehe me too. I have a smartphone but that's only on wifi. It keeps me productive when out of the office instead of being tempted to check all of the socials and comments etc
@@RMCRetro Indeed. Whenever someone has asks me why I've use it, I tell them them I appreciate the durability and reliability and drop it over the shoulder, even out-doors! It's like the Nokia of the 90's only now slightly less of a blunt instrument for self defense.
No apologies ever necessary when it comes to the Bubble Bobble BGM! But a cracking vid, wish I had an X68k myself!
Still think that the MT-32 sounds better than the later SC-88, when you find tracks that are written to properly utilise it.
yeah, i prefer LA Synthesis to General Midi ROMplers too
Yes I concur , have you listened to TFX on PC DOS with MT32?, Superb, much better than the SC55 version
Those MIDI devices were pure luxury science fiction for me back in the day, just known from articles in some go-to mags, I never knew some who owned one and I never did as well. This makes those MIDI insights even more fascinating, be it yours or the ones from LGR wo seems to be into them a lot as well. BTW: Can't wait to see your new DIY update from the mill! :-) Cheers, Peter
Oh, wow, that "Theme of Simon" sounds absolutely badass on that.
Agreed! :D
you get a slightly different composition depending on if you go with mt-32 or sc-55 for audio on that one also. really went above and beyond with sound design. even the stock x68000 soundtrack is a bit different and totally worth listening to.
「データ用のメモリ領域が確保できません」 means that it could not allocate memory for data.
The X68000 had "enhanced" arcade ports at a time when everything else was struggling to get "arcade like" ports. It's a very desirable bit of kit.
That Castlevania music is brilliant ❤️
Something about hearing that Castlevania music on the MT32 immediately made me feel that excitement old 80s / 90s games would give me back in the day. It sounded so fresh and clear. Amazing what was achievable with the albeit, expensive technology of the time. You can really see from this setup why retro MIDI and game music never died out and become more popular in recent years with artists. That Sharp's keyboard is a thing of beauty also! Great video, really sparked the magic of retro games for me again.
8:13 You could try setting the MT-32 to use MIDI channels 1-8 instead of 2-9 (default) by holding MASTER VOLUME and pressing 5, then 1
EDIT: When you played the same song on the MU80, it looks like the lead is on channel 1, so my suggestion should fix that problem.
I actually have the same 3 MIDI devices in my PC setup, along with some extras to enhance the experience (mixer, MIDI splitter, spectrum analyser)
I'll give it a go, thanks for the tip
Nice to see the MT32 getting some love, I hadn’t used it in years 👍🏻
I can only imagine what it must've been like to be able to play Street Fighter II and Final Fight on a Sharp X68000 in the very early 90s. It must've been pure bliss.
"you'll have that tune stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Sorry everyone."
All is forgiven!
It could have been worse, it could have been ********* ******** or ******** *******! =(Sorry for reasons of sanity this comment has been censored to protect the reader from having to endure further tunes/songs stuck in their head all day)=. [Note: the number of stars is random, there is no actual tune/song mentioned really, LOL].
"8 seconds ago" well thanks youtube recommendations
edit: wait shit i'm the first comment except for the pinned comment
Take your medal 🥇
WOW, this is amazing 11:52
MT32 i think really is the best of the lot when its properly supported.
@@wishusknight3009 yeah !!
@ Although I do think if I could choose only one for all time, its the SC55.. As it has the broadest compatibility and support. It really is the one that set the standard.
Well this just goes to prove that all the best stuff comes from Japan ;)
A comfy chair is certainly one of my aspirations.
That apron makes you look like you work part time at the little chef XD
Maybe I do :D
@@RMCRetro if only.....I think they may have gone the way of the Happy Eater, Bloody good video as always. Thank you for sharing with us this almost unobtanium.
I actually thought it was leading into a sponsored segment for Hello Fresh or something, haha
I had no idea that this system was in existence and I thought that my video game geekery ran deep. I guess this just goes to show that their are truly levels to everything. Thank you for sharing; great, great music and sound. 👍
Wow. The midi audio here is stunning stuff. I have to look into X68000 emulation which supports midi. Mame?
OHHHHHH I USED TO HAVE THOSE SPEAKERS. They made my midis SLAP
SF2 sounds wrong to me, but Ghouls n' Ghosts sounds absolutely amazing.The Castlevania Chronicles game on PS1, had a secret feature where you could change the soundfont to MT-32 or FM Synth, so it was definitely composed with that card in mind.
12:00 : Simon Belmondo is not a mistake. This is a private joke about a french actor, Jean Paul Belmondo, who is famous all around the world, especially in Japan (like Mireille Mathieu, a french woman signer)
Castlevania and Ghouls'n Ghosts sound phenomenal. I think these classics should be rereleased with these soundtracks. A remixed soundtrack can do so much to enhance a game.
With the announcement of the Sharp x68000 mini, can only hope the midi tracks are implemented. Would be amazing if that happens.
Wow, that is just another level. In 2021 I’m amazed so imagining what it would be like back when it was released. Thanks for this one. I’m taken back.
The Gradius II soundtrack is stellar too.
Man the Castlevania soundtrack is the best. I hope X68000 emulation progresses far enough on MiSTer and allows MIDI output somehow. I want to try combining that with MT32-pi. It's the closest any of us would get since these machines still cost a fortune, especially complete and working.
It’s official for me - I’m taking my savings and buying one of these computers. I’m aware of how expensive this venture will be, but come on - the Sharp X68000 is a ‘killer’ computer setup. I have emulated the system before in the past, so I know how to load software from the DOS prompt, etc.
From what I heard, a homebrew community is slowly growing for this computer. I can’t even begin to imagine the type of games we will eventually see for this system (it makes me giddy with excitement; it makes me feel like a kid again!).
My only regret is not knowing about this system sooner, when the prices weren’t as insane as they are today. *BUT* - I know a few trustworthy resellers in Japan, who should be able to hook me up with a fair deal.
Re: Bubble Bobble music. Did you ever find out from Software Creations why the Amiga music isn't the the same as the arcade (and Atari ST)?
I didn't, good question!
Because SC did pure shit with bubble bobble. So many things were not included :(
@@RMCRetro Amiga must have coolguy music in every game
@RMC - any chance you can detail how to operate the Roland SC-88? I just recently purchased one along with a MIDI card (could not find the Midori as it is sold out, but found an original MIDI card for the X68K). I'm waiting on a cable but am not familiar with the options on the SC-88 itself. Is it self explanatory or are there certain presets or buttons needed to press to get it into the correct mode? Thanks mate!
This explains the modes for you www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=57148&p=630483
@@RMCRetro Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! Last question (hopefully!): It looks like I'll need 5 pin DIN male cable to go from X68 stock midi card to SC88 - should that go to "MIDI IN A"? I'm seeing there is a "computer" option on the back of the SC88 that uses a different type of cable so just want to be sure I'm getting the right components. Thank you again!
Yes the din midi cable goes into midi in. I tried sending audio into the computer in 3.5mm jack to see if it would act as a mixer but it didn't, I'm not sure yet what that's for. You'll want to run the audio out on the x68k into the sc88 input and use that as a mixer
Castlevania through MT-32 is amazing.
The people who thumbed down this video have NO taste in video games. 👍🏻’s up if you agree!!
You already know my fetish for this lovely bit of kit. The more i see, the more i want one!
Putting this one in my "nsfw" folder.
(Can i drop this now? Its getting weird)
Wow this sounds spectacular, especially Castlevania. Been wanting to get my hands on a MiSTer to see how these cores sound. This era was really magic. Also Parodius is wo wacky because its a parody of gradius and a super light hearted take on the shoot em up genre. Great video.
I LOVE the Bubble Bobble theme song. I hum it a LOT. To the point that it irritates people around me :D
As you've just found out Neil, Cyber Block Metal Orange is an elite videogame OST. The composer (JKL Furukawa) did only a couple of games but it's all ace. Do check out Carat also by him. Both games were originally made on the PC-98 and they sound great on those machine via FM synth.
Thank you, off to check that out now!
I am so sad, I missed MANY of your videos because some how i stopped getting notification about your channel.
Oh no! TH-cam does some silly things sometimes 😔
This makes me want to get my own Sharp X68000.
Same
*Takes one look at the prices*
Nevermind...
or a MiSTer fpga and recreate it :) X68000 core is being developed ;)
WAUW .. Just WAUW.. MIDI actually can sound amazing..
it's a pity that the default microsoft GS font is what most people identify MIDI with
As nice as the MIDI renditions are, I still prefer the original music.
Same.... SF2 especially feels like Midi tacked on Japanese Elevator Remix musics....
I suspect it's because we are used to/more familiar with them than the 'new' versions which we aren't. Just a thought. Same goes with regards mega drive/genesis devices which sound slow/wrong in modern hardware sometimes.
A lot of times, the original music took advantage of hardware tricks the original (arcade) hardware had, or in some cases, the original computer platform, and later ports and MIDI transfers get a sort of literal transcription, devoid of noise channels, bend, or other treatment. This happened a lot in games originally for the C64's powerful SID chip ported for simpler hardware, where the music was just simpler, plainer. Since MIDI made it very easy to just transcribe notes, and effects were handled very differently from device to device, just making flat transcriptions of the music was the safest thing to do to keep it hardware agnostic across different MIDI devices. Personally, I always hated the sound of MIDI, and still do, though I don't begrudge anyone else for it. It always sounds like the equivalent of taking a song I like and a less talented band covering it, with less emotion, a flatter attack curve, less swing, etc.
That breakout song should be the battle music for a jrpg.
One of the composers on that game was Masaharu Iwata who later worked on games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Ogre Battle, and Odin Sphere... so you're pretty much correct. :)
I started having flashbacks when I heard that midi super ghouls 'n' ghosts! :D
🎶 Cause every girl's crazy 'bout a Sharp MIDI stack 🎶
aw man, I just got a copyright strike 😖
I would love to have one of these in my future retro setup. I’m going to be getting a white Checkmate monitor to go with an Amiga 500+, Atari 1080 STe, Micro PC running Windows 95/98 and MS DOS, NEOGEO, SNES, Dreamcast and possibly a PC Engine. I’ve already got retro styled speakers that will be part of the system ( Klipsch The Fives. ). I can hope, maybe I’ll get lucky one day and get a white X68000, if not the Mini version.
@8:30 - The MT32 has three main incompatabilities with GM
1) Missing and mis-mapped instruments. Not much to do about that, though there are mt32 patchsets that claim to enable some degree of General MIDI compatability
2) Volume ramping is incompatible - One is logarithmic, the other exponential. Volumes will sound messed up
3) Incompatible channel mapping - The MT-32 listens on MIDI channels 2-9, verses General MIDIs 1-16
Street Fighters missing instrument is probably on Channel 1. The MT-32 can be configured to listen on 1-8 via the front panel, [Master Volume] + [5], [1]
I'm honestly shocked Street Fighter sounds as good as it does.
I know the MT-32 is not the most advanced of MIDI synths, but IMO, it is such a well-balanced, wide, and smooth sounding box that it STILL holds up.
Gah.. that Castlevania soundtrack was leGIT. X-D Can you imagine bringing home something like that at the end of the 80s, when everyone else was rocking a PC speaker?
Ghouls and Ghosts sounds SOOOO AWESOME!!!!!!
I'm severely disapointed that your "cutting edge Nokia phone" (an Nokia 8110 4G 🍌) isn't yellow.
Nice one Neil. Interesting to hear the difference between the Roland devices and the Yammy. I am biased though.
I have been looking at getting one of those Roland sound canvas modules myself, but instead bought a Roland D-110 module for my midi set up. Bought it today, ironically. Came with an expansion card which is allegedly "R.A.R.H.S." - Rare as Rocking horse shoes ;)
I bet Gary is salivating :-) ... I do love some good midi kit :-)
I had an XG daughter board
By default, the MT-32 is not only not General MIDI, but it also doesn't play channel 1. If the lead instrument is played on track 1... it'd be missing on the MT-32.
I got the MiSTer and a MT32pi and I absolutely love finally playing on this thing. Very cool system. Castlevania has been a blast on it.
when starting these games you showed, do you have to specifically choose the MT-32 in order for it to use it? or do the games you showed just use a connected MT32 automatically?
Came for the Sharp Sharp X68000, left with Bubble Bobble in my head.
Great video Neil! Love this computer, one day I'll own one...(wishful thinking)
I once in my youth read about X68000 and was blown away, while drooling a bit, never could I've guessed that I'd once watch a MIDI-pimped up version of it, and I don't think there's anything cooler than that
Me just playing this in the background while working.
Then Theme of Simon Belmondo starts playing... 🤩 Wow!
Having that luxury is like having a CD Rom port, but those MIDI module where made for musician, my teacher use to have the same Roland soundcanvas plug with an atari St and a Oberheim matrix 6 as the midi keyboard, at home i only get a Roland E 16 keyboard & the only sequencer i could afford was a Groovebox MC 303, i later build a bulky second hand PC with a guillemot soundcard and use to play the midi data on my Roland for fun, it was primitive as fuck, my hardware sequencer was more reliable, i could only imagine how good a X68000 or an Amiga was so much creative power inside machine like that.
I imagine you can get a bit more use out of MT32. There's a MIDI file you can play on it, which will reprogram it to provide GM compatibility - it's limited, some patches will not fit quite right, but there shouldn't be any completely missing parts then either. The programming is volatile and lasts until reset.
Or at least so i heard. I don't have hands-on experience with MT32.
Nice video! I also own a X68030 with a Miniori 2.2 card and an Roland MT-32.
I haven't done the setup yet but a question: do you use a scaler for the BenQ monitor?
Does MIDI gaming get better than this?
Clint: Yes.....Yes, it does.
Great video!!
Just curious, some of those games look kind of skinny, are those supposed to be 4:3 ? Or its just the lack of an analog control to stretch the image on that flat screen display.
Fascinating stuff~ great to hear these old games with these nice sounds
Wish the MT-32 had become more of a standard, it sounds better than most later General MIDI devices although that Yamaha sounds pretty sweet.
That's what is amazing about Castle chronicles on ps1. Has the midi tracks available on the options menu :)
How does this compare to virtualmidisynth\midimapper\ChoriumRevA or alternative?
Kinda makes me sad for all the music composers who put so much effort into some of these soundtracks, but got the most visibility on consoles with such limited sound capability. Now I know why they are still so beloved in japan.
Quality Neil !!!!!
Just a thought, can you make a video of games for Amiga & Atari ST that have midi support in games ?,
Cheers buddy
I was never into midi, as I always thought of it is cheesy and lo quality, probably due to adlib on most cards. As I was heavy into mod files, or digital audio via CD. But it also showcases how much those outboard midi devices were in turn sampled and used in mods :)
The AdLib FM synth was good in it's own right, but it didn't often do MIDI justice. Although some games, such as Doom, sound pretty good.
I always thought, given the Atari ST came with MIDI ports as standard, they really should have crammed a rudimentary MIDI synth, even one that just redirected instruments to bleeps and bloops like the main sound chip, into the machine. That would have made games target MIDI for their sound be default, and free up the sound chip for just sound effects. People who wanted better could then use the MIDI port to plug in a synth if they so desired, but at least MIDI would have been ubiquitous. It just always seemed strange to me that the computer marketed to musicians had such crap sound compared to literally everything but the IBM PC compatibles of the day.
Man the audio hard ware on this system was AMAZING! Still to own it, it had a very expensive price tag. All this from 30 years ago!
Sharp X68000 was truly well ahead of it's time. Such a shame it never got a worldwide release. Fantastic content as always!
Simon Belmont's theme on an MT-32 would have switched up my whole life if I heard it on my beige-ass 486.
Now I'm curious what was achieved on an X68000 as a workstation. CAD?
I think capcom and others used them to develop their arcade games.
@@HoffmanTH-cam Right, I forgot that, thanks.
@@HoffmanTH-cam SNK also I've heard.
To be honest MT-32 sounds more "fat" and professional in compare to that two, which sounds quite "toyish". :-)
The "wide" sound you hear it's called "sound stage." The general idea being that it sounds big, as if you're there in an amphitheater where it's being played.
Wonder what the tracks would sound like thru my daily workhorse Roland Integra-7... Still has those classic Roland noises from back in the day!
No matter how many times I see this machine I'm always impressed.
The machine coupled with a midi device would have blown away anything I was used of back in the day.
Maybe some day I can visit the cave and finally play on one. :D
get a roland um-one ($50 usd) and the falcosoft midi player on another device and you will have roland emulation or soundfont you want.
It's a shame that we didn't get more games that used Midi in Europe, especially on the Atari ST. It would have killed the Amiga sound wise if games used that Midi port.
Holy MIDI, Batman! Some of these sound fantastic!
Thanks for this amazing video!! which speakers are you using?
I didn't realize there was some General MIDI support on this machine. I will have to see if any emulators support native MIDI output.
Are the special effect sounds coming from the MIDI players?
Great video, can you give me a link to be able to buy a midi sound card for the sharp X68000?
Fantastic video as always! What's the track you've used for the end credits called though?
Akumajou Dracula's Creatures In The Depth MT32 rendition is the OG of boss music
Loved Bubble Bobble back in the day, my mom and sister even got hooked on it so no need to apologise RMC.
the x68000 definately had the best music sound of the japanese computers, pc88/98, msx, pc-e and fm-towns.
Would it be possible that this machine was originally intended as a development workstation to create new CPS games on?
Yes! So glad you pursued this!
I'm also happy you had the courage to show off Cyberblock Metal Orange, one of the best sounding h-games ever.
Defo not as good as the Spectrum Beep.
Audio at its purest
I think the word you were looking for more "Room for the Sound" is Called A Sound Stage.
I bet the synthesizer community is proud some people utilize this boxes in a inoffensive way.
The Sharp is an impressive machine, and those MIDI tunes, they are amazing.