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Topic starter
My software uses the instrument definition files from the Roland SC-8850 and the Yamaha 9000 Pro (and SW1000XG) for my instrument lists.
Even though I've read through the manuals somewhat, it didn't occur to me until yesterday to look at the actual devices. I just assumed the SC-8850 was a keyboard with lots of features. I didn't know (or it didn't sink in) that it is A) a Sound Canvas (SC??? haha!) and B) that it is not a keyboard!
All of my personal experience with MIDI has been software based:
- playing old DOS and Windows games that used MIDI for music, with a SoundBlaster OPL chip providing the sounds, and later the Yamaha SYXG100 SoftSynth
- playing MIDI files on my more recent computers using Winamp and assorted SF2 soundfonts via Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth
So now I am curious, what do the SC-8850 and Yamaha 9000 Pro actually sound like?
Any chance one of you has either of these devices and could make a recording of this MIDI file to compare?
I am choosing this one because I know what it sounds like and I've listened to it a billion different times and over many years and devices, so I know how it sounds in assorted situations. It may be harsh to some ears 😉 It's a medley of assorted Castlevania musics.
I have attached the MIDI file dmed.mid (in a zip file), and linked to an mp3 of how it sounds for me using Winamp/Timbres Of Heaven soundfont.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JvHGlDPQe_Yzj4TQM00rbASItftWVEl5/view?usp=sharing
Posted : 24/11/2021 4:38 pm
Topic starter
It is a GS format file, by the way. I'm not sure how/if it will play on the Yamaha?
Posted : 24/11/2021 4:45 pm
Using same rom set as SC-88 i guess it sound alike.
Never had any Yamaha GM module unfortunately.
Posted : 24/11/2021 5:45 pm
That file explicitly selects the SC-88 map for most of its instruments.
I've also changed it to use the newest sounds. For this file, this means SC-88Pro, because none of these instruments were changed between the SC-88Pro and the SC-8850.
Posted : 28/11/2021 10:10 am
Topic starter
Hmm, not bad. It actually sounds a lot closer to mine than I expected. The biggest difference I noticed are the electric/overdriven guitars. Most of the sounds are actually a lot nicer than I expected. Organs sound good, drums sound good, bass sounds good.
I'd be curious to listen to some other songs if anyone knows of specific files on YouTube or whatnot. I've tried to find soundfonts made from these devices, but so far have been unsuccessful.
Posted : 28/11/2021 3:12 pm
I think the SC-55 is the more complete "better one".
https://github.com/trevor0402/SC55Soundfont/releases
https://musical-artifacts.com/artifacts/538
Posted : 29/11/2021 12:00 am
Just search for "SC-8850": https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sc-8850&sp=CAM%253D
A soundfont alone would not be able to recreate all the effects, and recording thousands of samples would be too much of a bother.
Posted : 29/11/2021 6:31 am
