Game Killer/Game_Killer.bin/132.PRIVMT32.DOC

Text File | 1993-10-05 | 9KB | 186 lines

        PRIVMT32  Version 1.0
        10-05-93
        Converts Privateer XMI music files from General MIDI into a format
        that the MT-32/LAPC-1/CM-32L can play.
        By: Mike "Newt" Cornelius
        Requires: DOS 3.3 or higher
        This program is PUBLIC DOMAIN and can be passed along and changed
        with no restrictions.  (As long as it is not sold for profit or the
        program is not misused)

 Purpose:
 ------------------

 To change program change/patches from the embedded XMI files within the
 Origin Systems game PRIVATEER from their native General MIDI format into
 MT-32 compatable sequences.

 Commentary:
 ------------------

 General MIDI is the new standard patch set used by many synthesizer
 manufacturers, and is the standard on which MIDI is set in the Windows
 Multimedia enviroment and used by many DOS games with the requirement of a
 Roland MPU-401 or compatable interface.  General MIDI is just a "map" of
 sounds.  Patch 1 always represents a piano, for example.  Patch 124 is a bird.
 The MT-32 and LAPC-1 use a different standard "patch set".  But the MT-32 can
 be remapped or rewritten to better accept General MIDI music information.
 With certain utilities a MT-32 can rewrite its sounds and emulate General MIDI
 but the standard John Miles AIL driver "resets" the MT-32 upon startup.  (The
 command to do that is unique to the MT-32...  Coming to the conclusion that
 the version of the AIL (Audio Interface Library) that OSI is using still uses
 the "old" Roland MT-32 driver. (Which is basically an MPU-401 driver that
 sends MT-32 exclusive commands that are ignored by most GM devices at startup
 that reset and thus thwart the "emulators".)  If Privateer didn't use this old
 MT-32 driver as a "General MIDI" driver, the emulators should have worked to a
 degree.  By this I mean, even though the MT-32 is capable of emulating General
 MIDI it still has the limitation of 8 melodic channels.  (Or only 8 DIFFERENT
 musical instruments can be played at the same time.  This doesn't include the
 drum set.)  Since AIL does this the second way to emulate would be to enter
 into the file itself and change the patch assignments, and along with that,
 the channels.  PRIVMT32 alters the "SOUND.TRE" file which has the XMI (Which
 is basically a Standard MIDI file with a different header) information by
 changing the General MIDI patch assignments to the closest natural MT-32
 sound to it.  Since there is also the limitation of the channels (The MT-32
 only supports 2-9 as melodic and 10 as percussion), it also changes the
 channel assignments to all note and controller data on a first come first
 assigned basis.  So that if some channels from 2-9 are skipped in favor of the
 high channels (>10) or channel 1 it will automatically reassign the channels
 until it reaches the maximum of 8, after that it ignores the rest.  There is
 bound to be a few quirks in this.  Also George Alistair Sanger "The Fat Man"
 has created a GM patch set for the MT-32 that works with the AIL system.  Why
 they can't use that, I don't know. In any case Privateer is an EXCELLENT game,
 and the music is not done justice with Soundblaster sound.  (Neither the MT-32
 really-- but it's still better than SB sound).  People with MT-32s and LAPC-1s
 should start to think of getting a truly GM compatable card, as it is the de
 facto standard now.  It is worth it.  Right now there are a few Wave-table
 GM cards that I could recommend:

 The Roland SCC-1 or SC-55/SC-155 (Sound Canvas GS series)
  No doubt about it, if you love your LAPC-1 or MT-32, this is the next step
 up.  It is a GS card, which has General MIDI with plenty of grand extensions.
 Built in reverb, and Roland quality.  I HIGHLY recommend this card over many
 other MIDI cards.  Note that it doesn't support Digital audio, since they are
 professional MIDI equipment.  The SCC-1 is the on-board form (like the LAPC-1)
 and the SC-55 and SC-155 are the external modules (like the MT-32) all have
 the same sounds & features.  The only other differences are the front panel
 controls.  Retails for $500.  Street Price over $350.

  The Roland RAP-10:
   The Roland Audio Producer is a new card from Roland that is GM compatable
   and also has 16 bit digital audio capabilities.  (Unfortunately it isn't
   compatable with the Soundblaster standard)  Retails for $600
                Roland Corp. US
                7200 Dominion Circle
                Los Angeles, CA 90040-3696
                [phone]

  Waveblaster:
    The Waveblaster is an add on daughterboard for the Soundblaster 16 and
    Soundblaster 16 ASP.  It gives General MIDI support and MPU-401 UART
    compatability.  It works with Privateer.  It lacks the features of the
    roland cards, but is a less expensive alternative, and still sound good.
    Retails for around $250.  (but it needs a SB16 which is also $250!)
                Creative Labs
                1901 McCarthy Boulevard
                Milpitas, CA 95035
                [phone]

  Gravis Ultrasound:
    The favorite sound card of the "hackers".  Reason being you pretty much
    have to be one to get it to work right.  It has a plethoria of TSR
    emulation programs that you need to emulate the Soundblaster and General
    MIDI cards with.  It is a 16 bit digital audio card with 32 channels.  All
    patches can be rewritten with it, which is a bonus.  But its sounds aren't
    quite up to the SCC-1's.  SBOS is the Soundblaster emulator, which does its
    job ok. (But the current version doesn't work with Privateer) this comes
    with the Ultrasound.  There is a shareware General MIDI/MT-32 emulator
    called MEGA-EM which DOES work with Privateer, but at the cost of digital
    sound effects.  Supposedly, the author of the protected mode port
    redirector has "signed on" with Gravis to create a version that Gravis will
    send out which will allow use of the SB digital sounds and the General MIDI
    music.  It has quirks, though.  I know a few full-fledged Gravis supporters.
    and have even written some supporting programs for them.  (Dave Redfern)
    Right now the Ultrasound has an uncertain future, but possibly a promising
    one.  (They promise a "3-D" sound system which goes far beyond QSOUND in
    its realism)  This remains to be seen.  I recommend keeping a close eye on
    this one, but avoid it currently.  The Gravis camp claimed that OSI would
    support it starting with Privateer; obviously the Gravis people were going
    with a lot of hot air.  The nutty ASM "Demo" groups seem to like it.  It
    may or may not fly.  Also it is the least expensive of the bunch, so it may
    be worth the gamble.  Retail Price $200.00.  Street $150.
                Advanced Gravis
                #101 3750 North Fraser Way
                Burnaby, B.C., Canada, eh
                V5J 5E9
                [phone]

  Also a rumored card from Ensoniq called the "Soundscape" may be worth
  looking into.


  The file "PATCHPRV.TXT" can be rearranged so that it can convert the
  Privateer music files to ANY type of patch set for melodic channels only.
  Read the end of the file for info.

  Notice:
  -------
   There may be some quirks with the PRIVMT32.EXE program!  In such a case the
   program creates a backup of the SOUND.TRE file which can overwrite the
   converted file in case of a problem.  To do so, you must copy "SOUND.OLD"
   over "SOUND.TRE".  Please report any problems you come across to me if
   possible.

  Included Files:
  ------------------

  PRIVMT32.DOC    The file you are reading now
  PRIVMT32.EXE    The executable file
  PATCHPRV.TXT    The file with the patch conversion data. (user-editable)
  FILE_ID.DIZ     Description of Program
  DESC.SDI        Description of Program

  If you find any other files besides these in the archive, please delete them.

  Quick Start:
  -------------------
  To convert Privateer into allowing the use of an MT-32 type the following:

  PRIVMT32 C:\PRIVATER

  Note:  You must change "C:\PRIVATER" to the exact drive & directory to which
  you have installed privateer.

  The program will query you to continue and then proceed to convert the file.
  The garbage that pops up on screen was intended to be debugging information,
  but is left to give an idea of the progress of the conversion.

  More On Commands
  -----------------------

  PRIVMT32 [d:]\privateerdirectory\

  words in '[ ]' are optional.


  Custom Patch Maps
  -------------------------
  Information about editing the standard patch remapping data can be found
  at the end of the PATCHPRV.TXT file.

 History
 --------
  Version 1.0 First Released version
  -------
  If you have questions or comments I can be reached on the Prodigy
  service at ID# KBND17B
  The Outdoor Sportsman BBS [phone] - 24 hours @ 14.4k.
  I am not positive that the Prodigy Internet gateway is open or if it is not,
  but you could try sending a note to "[e-mail]", although my
  ability to respond may not quite be there. <G>

                                Enjoy,

                                Mike "Newt" Cornelius
                                New Smyrna Beach, Florida