Your Yamaha XG compositions on an MU100

[Blitz Lunar]

I recently bought an MU100 sound module off eBay. For those who don't know, the MU100 was one of the top-line XG devices during the late 90s, basically being the sound module version of the SW1000XG soundcard. Compared to the 2MB SYXG50 it basically has a lot more sounds/presets, better sound quality/samples in general (larger 20MB WAVE ROM), no latency, 32 channels instead of 16 (obviously irrelevant as far as .mid is concerned) and also has the option of upgrading with one of various available daughterboards.

Anyway, since I've now got it, it needs Christening. I thought I'd extend the offer of recording any of your XG compositions you'd like to hear! Obviously I can't promise that they will sound ideal, as there are differences between the MU100 and the SYXG50/softsynths. Maybe this thread will illustrate those differences? Hm.

So yeah, tl;dr - post links to/uploads of any XG sequences and compositions of yours you'd like recorded with an MU100. Make sure that all I have to do is hit play and record though - I don't want to be tweaking/editing your sequences or doing any kind of extra work.

EDIT: I'm informed i should probably put a friendly reminder about using common sense - don't request I make recordings of your entire "collected works." I should probably set an arbitrary limit of 2 per person for now. choose stuff that's more heavily XG, no half-baked stuff purizu.

EDIT2: As I migrated from my defunct shakal webspace over to vgmusic, all the links in this thread are now broken. I've reuploaded everything I recorded to a new location here: http://vgmusic.com/~lunar/MU100

[MaliceX]

In addition to the above offer, I happen to be in possession of Scot Solida's (those that read computer music may know who this is) old SW1000XG soundcard. While there isn't much real difference in terms of sounds compared to Dave's MU100, it's to show there's more than one source available to do so.

In any case, yeah. Also if you know of any MU100-written MIDI pieces that you'd like to hear in its proper form, link please!

[Arrow]

Here's the two I've done I'd like to hear you run with the most:

Metroid Prime 3: Torvus Bog
Aria of Sorrow: Forbidden Area

Thanks for even offering this for folks.

[Blitz Lunar]

Arrow's tracks:

http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100/aria.mp3
http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100/torvus.mp3

[ButzaW]

Hey, I hope you have fun with that thing, it looks mighty cool!
After hearing those recordings I'm tempted to send something myself...
And so I will!
I always wondered how this one would sound on a proper XG synth. Many thanks!

[Blitz Lunar]

ButzaW:

http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100/clouds.mp3

hopefully to your liking.

Also, Tony Thai requested one of his and Shock's teamcomps get recorded. Actually he requested a whole lot of stuff but I haven't done anything else.

http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100/ttdy.mp3

the start is a bit messed up but oh well!

[ButzaW]

Ah, thanks for the trouble.
As I expected the volume levels are different than SYXG50 so that screwed up the midi a bit compared to the original, but the sound quality is really good!
Enjoy your new toy Lunar!

[Shock]

Also, Tony Thai requested one of his and Shock's teamcomps get recorded. Actually he requested a whole lot of stuff but I haven't done anything else.

http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100/ttdy.mp3

the start is a bit messed up but oh well!

Nooo! That wasn't supposed to be released until we were done! He didn't even give you the latest version haha

Anyway err, I'll upload some MIDIs when I'm using the right computer. I haven't taken the time to transfer all my MIDIs back onto my laptop yet.

[Blitz Lunar]

ah heh well, I thought it was abandoned. I'll delete it.

[Arrow]

Oh man, did those sound delicious. Thanks much.

[Shock]

ah heh well, I thought it was abandoned. I'll delete it.

It's been idle for quite a while now, but I hope to continue it someday; hopefully Tony feels the same way.

[Blitz Lunar]

Anyway, I have other tracks of yours on here:

6.mid (25 instruments)
12-beat.mid
188222-unfinished_xg[1].mid
dyshock bass xg.mid
warhq_battle1.mid
warhq_main2.mid
sweetyseven (already recorded at Tony's request, has some lag)
bl_tt_dy blahblah (recorded this too, has mega lag problems )

[Shock]

Anyway, I have other tracks of yours on here:

6.mid (25 instruments)
12-beat.mid
188222-unfinished_xg[1].mid
dyshock bass xg.mid
warhq_battle1.mid
warhq_main2.mid
sweetyseven (already recorded at Tony's request, has some lag)
bl_tt_dy blahblah (recorded this too, has mega lag problems )

I'd like to hear 6.mid, 12-beat.mid as well as the the two WarHQ ones if possible!

I realise that's a lot of requested MIDIs, but here's another couple of MIDIs I'd like to have a recording of, if that's possible (bass_2.mid is probably the same as that "dyshock bass xg.mid" one except this is the latest version).

Thanks!

[PL-7764]

Hmm ... I can't use XG effects with my set-up (my only XG right now is a keyboard I can output to), but I have some songs done in GM that I think sound best in XG even if no custom XG stuff is used.

Note the description for the second one. I can also provide a version without the extra tracks if needed - this is just the file I happen to have at the moment.

[Blitz Lunar]

The "two midis per person" thing isn't seeming to be much trouble. I guess I expected more people than this! Maybe it is early days? Anyway, if anyone has anything else they'd like recorded (ButzaW? Arrow?) send it over.

Recorded lots more stuff (mostly Shock's .) Here's a full list:

Lychea~ - Last Stage
Tony Thai - Donut Plains Electronic Jazz Remix
Tony Thai - Hurry!
Shock - F-Zero GX - Step 70s
Shock - Bass
Shock - 25 Instruments
Shock - 12beat
Shock - WarHQ Battle1
Shock - WarHQ Menu
Shock - Family Guy Imperial March Bossa
Blitz Lunar & Lychea~ - Automated Annihilation
drumnbach - See You Again
drumnbach - Feudal Battle Airstrike!
ButzaW & drumnbach - Riding the Naked Butterflies

Can't be bothered to link to them all directly - http://www.shakal.net/lunar/temp/MU100

While I'm here, I'll list some of the different behaviours I've noticed in comparison to the SYXG50:

- Analog Kit kicks always have the "pop" on attack like they should. SYXG50 sometimes didn't trigger analog kit kicks properly.
- SYXG50 ignores Bank MSB messages being set on the drum channel. MU100 doesn't, and will change to piano for Bank 0 messages (all the drumkits are on Bank 127.) This can cause some problems with general playback on the MU100.
- The MU100 needs more time for messages than SYXG50; initial notes sometimes get cut off on files with notes starting pseudo-simultaneously with controller data, and particularly MIDI resets.
- Certain instruments that had undesirable "filtered" timbre changes in high registers on SYXG50 (marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel to name a few) don't on MU100.
- I've come across a couple of midis ("Farland Story" ones in the archive (SNES)) that actually freeze the MU! I don't know why this is - something to do with GS sysex data I presume, although it must be some weird messages.... most GS midis work fine.
- Rapid volume/expression/pan changes are not a big problem for MU100, within reason. They didn't work properly on the SYXG50 (stuttered, sounded uneven, didn't work at all sometimes.)
- Overlapping notes on the SYXG50 just increased their volume. On the MU100, they cause phase/comb filtering (like most other midi devices do.) SORRY ZENKUSA YOUR TIME IS UP.
- XG resets are required before tracks for yamaha XG variation banks/instruments to work (a GM reset will not allow for XG instruments, it'll always use default GM patches.) However, on the SYXG50, variation banks worked irrespective of any type of reset message beforehand, as far as I am aware.
- The SYXG50 has the "MU Basic" GM patch set. The MU100 can use this set or use the new "MU100/SW1000XG Native" set, which changes many instruments. Haven't worked out how to switch between the two, but the native one sounds better on the whole.

Might find more as I go

EDIT: Paper Luigi, I'll get to your stuff. Dunno if it'll be that interesting with GM stuff though. Also can I suggest - nay - demand that people who send me midis send them in the state they wish them to be recorded? That is, make any adjustments you need to before sending them... fades etc. I don't really wanna fiddle with peoples tracks...