Of Adlib, MIDI and VGM ports (split)

Originally Posted by Spikey

Again, not to put too fine a point on it but Rimo's Adlib TIM rips aren't a 'game rip', at least in the sense that it's not how the original game audio sounds.

And Eriol- cool, you're from Indonesia? Alway nice to see someone from either my country or Indonesia.

- Spike

That's how the Adlib version sounds, and that's how most people know it considering the price of MIDI devices when it was released ... Don't really get your point there. =/

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I agree on the fact we can argue on what the original compositions were meant to be for the composer itself, but disagree on the fact this has to be held as the one and only "true face" of the work in question.

Reminds me of those people who insist anything composed by Bach and not played on the original baroque instruments is infamy. I call this love for musicology at this point, but not love for music.

The original author's view is important, but in the end, as with any artistic creation, it's what each and every listeners feel and see in the muic that matters.

And yeah, aside from all those ideological nitpicking, Rimo's Adlib recording still stick perfectly to the Game Rip definition. Something MIDI recordings is borderline on, considering the difference from one soundfont to another. =)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Oooh but we totally agree on the fact things need to be properly categorized. If you were to browse my VGM folders, you'd actually notice I use the term "Game Rip" only when a ripping process actually took place. I also use the terms Recording, Redbook, Log etc ... where they are due, and always mention the audio source when several were available (Adlib, MIDI, MIDI MT32, OPN, OPNA etc ...).

But hey I understand not everyone want or even *need* to worry about stuff like that, so I go fof the general "Game Rip" definition in community discussions.

I also agree the issue is kind of different when there is an acknowledged downgrade process. I still stand by the fact that I consider the composer's opinion of his own work should not matter in the listener's appreciation of the music.

But we're mixing tech and feelings there. Always a difficult mix. =p

(Splitting. Let's see whats others have to say on that ^_^)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I think the real issue here is that we're talking about a Sierra game. Sierra is a particular case in the sense that they do have a Game Music history tied closely to the MIDI format, maybe more than any other company.

I don't mean that only in terms of quantity, but also as an actual artistic will. I mean, it only takes a couple of minutes on Quest Studios site to notice those guys literally worship the MT-32.

A quick look at the site and the forums show people who aren't so much fans of VGM as they are fans of Sierra MIDI music. I mean, some of them go as far as displaying attention to games like Sorcerian and Silpheed only because it was ported by Sierra! (they don't even credit the orginal composers but the Sierra guys who did the MIDI ports, btw) ^_^;

I, for one, prefer Sierra soundtracks in their Adlib form. Why? Because I don't really like fully MIDI based tunes. Simple as that. To take Legend of Kyrandia as an example again, I adore the Adlib version which is full of a mysterious atmosphere, due to the Adlib sound limitations. This atmosphere completely disapears in the MIDI version, and I'm only left with average melodies that don't particularly hold my attention.

I like chiptunes. Don't particularly like MIDIs. This is me. =/

So yeah, one side is expressing a general opinion while the other reduces it to Sierra in particular. This discussion will be going nowhere. ^_^;

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Spikey

Anyway. While Idon't think the discussion is 'going nowhere', I think you have to talk about what's being discussed, not just saying "I'm biased therefore I'm right", which I'm trying to avoid (although it's hard so I'm probably failing as Niki is).

wat

I actually meant both parties are biased, and in the end that's pretty much all there is to say about that whole discussion. =/

I was speaking idiomatically.

What we're (simplistically) refering as Adlib in this thread is an old PC audio chip. FM based, so not MIDI, just like the Megadrive chip for example. Check this out for more. =)

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Spikey

Um, that isn't my point. Rather than "don't check out Sierra or other games for Adlib", I'm saying listen to a given soundtrack with the device it's supposed to be heard with. With GM scores like TIM, almost everyone here will have the Microsoft Synth, so that's not an issue.

Hum. I guess that's why you never sent me those Sorcerian MIDI recordings from the Sierra port, eh? Definitely not worth listening to since the original tunes were composed for the PC98. =p

FELIPE NO

Heh, I really meant that in a not so serious way as you guessed. Still, I'm pretty curious about the Sorcerian MIDI arranges and will have to find a way to listen to these without relying on my crappy system.

As for the PC98, ah well personal tastes here again. I love the PC98 sound, and Sorcerian represents the pinnacle of early Falcom music composed for that system, to me. As for Falcom arrangements, they're so numerous much can be said about them. I love some and dislike others, heh.

About Silpheed, I'm not familiar enough with it. I like the PC98 tunes without being a great fan of it, and I haven't heard many of Sierra's renditions. I know there are some really nice things on the Sega CD version, but I'm not sure those weren't composed expressly for it.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?