Sharp X68k MIDI Madness | Does MIDI gaming get better than this?

[@RMCRetro]

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 | kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3fOqYKcbMmpmqM Hear the Yamaha MU 80 Demo Track | kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKi6qXiEZ7N6fqM 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!

[@bryndal36]

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.

[@TheTenthArt]

Very nice video! Kudos! But, you could at least adjust the image to fill-up the monitor, or at lease center it

[@NoobixCube]

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。

[@retro_reflections]

No apologies ever necessary when it comes to the Bubble Bobble BGM! But a cracking vid, wish I had an X68k myself!

[@superotterboy7937]

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.

[@wilsvgaddiction4456]

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.

[@Dorelaxen]

Oh, wow, that "Theme of Simon" sounds absolutely badass on that.

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

Agreed! :D

[@WalrusFPGA]

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.

[@411pete]

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

[@elmosexwhistle]

Nice to see the MT32 getting some love, I hadn’t used it in years 👍🏻

[@briero]

That Castlevania music is brilliant ❤️

WOW, this is amazing 11:52

[@wishusknight3009]

MT32 i think really is the best of the lot when its properly supported.

@@wishusknight3009 yeah !!

[@wishusknight3009]

@ 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.

[@garethjones2746]

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.

[@cbmsysmobile]

Still think that the MT-32 sounds better than the later SC-88, when you find tracks that are written to properly utilise it.

[@ExperimentIV]

yeah, i prefer LA Synthesis to General Midi ROMplers too

[@hardcore8uk]

Yes I concur , have you listened to TFX on PC DOS with MT32?, Superb, much better than the SC55 version

[@Safetytrousers]

A comfy chair is certainly one of my aspirations.

[@wimwiddershins]

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.

[@TotemSP2]

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.

[@anttiharju3739]

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

[@adimifus]

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)

[@RMCRetro]

I'll give it a go, thanks for the tip

[@BobbyCharlz]

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. 👍

[@ElShogoso]

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.

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

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.

[@Jef_Vermassen]

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

[@Something9008]

The Gradius II soundtrack is stellar too.

[@diskoBonez]

It's crazy to me that there was a time in gaming history where gamers could all be playing the same game, even on similar hardware, but with soundtracks sounding so wildly different. Thankyou for showcasing such a wide variety! The SF2 track with some missing instrument sounded so smooth, a totally different vibe!

[@geneshifter]

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.

[@UpLateGeek]

Love the sound of those midi synths! I've added your Castlevania video to my watch later list so I've got something good to listen to tomorrow night while I'm "capturing" a schematic!

[@Marcus_K]

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.

[@waynecuff3140]

With the announcement of the Sharp x68000 mini, can only hope the midi tracks are implemented. Would be amazing if that happens.

[@MattyStoked]

Thanks for this. The X68k is out of reach for so many of us. I'm so glad you put Castlevania in the video, especially Simon's Theme! You can get decent results with emulation but nothing compares to the real deal!

[@davebarnes2601]

Sharp X68000 was truly well ahead of it's time. Such a shame it never got a worldwide release. Fantastic content as always!

[@worldofretrogameplay6963]

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.

[@alistairblaire6001]

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.

[@organiccold]

The Sharp is an impressive machine, and those MIDI tunes, they are amazing.

[@corty1980]

Loved Bubble Bobble back in the day, my mom and sister even got hooked on it so no need to apologise RMC.

[@MeanMachineDean]

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)

[@AmigosRetroGaming]

Very interesting stuff! I had read that the 68k had decent MIDI support...very nice to see and hear that in action!

[@cousinmerl]

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!

[@xan1242]

CV 68k is forever going to be one of my favorites! Even made some videos like 10 years ago where I manually converted some instruments to the D-20, but later on made a better arrangement with direct instrument translations. Konami on the x68k has the best, most legendary MIDI music you'll ever find.

[@StevenMorris]

Fascinating stuff~ great to hear these old games with these nice sounds

[@takigan]

Late 80s/Early 90s Japanese tech is so fascinating. I remember as a little kid, my uncle in 1990 owned a PC Engine CD (Turbo Grafx CD) and it was leagues ahead of my NES that I had at the time. It came out here, but it never became popular like it did in Japan....their consumer market was just entirely different than ours.

[@allan.n.7227]

WAUW .. Just WAUW.. MIDI actually can sound amazing..

[@infi84]

it's a pity that the default microsoft GS font is what most people identify MIDI with

[@Ojref1]

Wonderful video, as always. I've always compared this era of quality MIDI devices to be as significant as movies going from silent to sound.

[@FinalBaton]

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.

[@RMCRetro]

Thank you, off to check that out now!

[@RetroSegaDev]

😍 Sharp + MT32 = bliss

[@nickwallette6201]

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?

[@tankgrrl]

Me just playing this in the background while working. Then Theme of Simon Belmondo starts playing... 🤩 Wow!

[@JVHShack]

This makes me want to get my own Sharp X68000.

[@mysterynad]

Same *Takes one look at the prices* Nevermind...

[@thera34]

or a MiSTer fpga and recreate it :) X68000 core is being developed ;)

[@AndrewFremantle]

@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.

[@WildkatPhoto]

Goodness those things were beautiful!

[@35milesoflead]

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 ;)

[@WhoIsLudwig]

I'm deeply in love with how Daimakaimura sounds on the MU80

[@WhoIsLudwig]

Castlevania is incredible too

[@noctis1672]

I LOVE the Bubble Bobble theme song. I hum it a LOT. To the point that it irritates people around me :D

[@jackeldridge1319]

7:51 It feels wider because of the different technologies used. The Sound Canvas is based on a ROMpler synthesis method, this basically means that it stores all its samples on a flash chip and then plays them through a DAC. These are PCM samples recorded in a studio, it's produced to have a wide and impactful soundstage. You're basically listening to tiny clips of CD quality audio stacked together, it's amazing stuff. The MT-32 uses Linear Arithmatic synthesis, which is sort of an earlier form of this technology. Before the samples are flashed, they get very heavily compressed, and then inside the synth a preprocessor takes those samples and essentially averages and smooths out the quite nasty original sample to make it sound very harmonic. It's used to great effect in other synths like the Roland D-50 which puts the MT-32 to shame, but that's bc the MT-32s LA synthesis is based on cheaper components and has less flash memory to store samples forcing more compression. Essentially things like reverb and texture are lost in the timbral smoothing of LA synthesis, but not at all in the Sound Canvas. Because of this the Sound Canvas series, despite being budget, punched far above its weight class with its excellent DACs and samples and is why it existed into the 2000s. Hardcore Japanese musicians like Koji Kondo and Kazu Matsui made heavy use of it in their studios, an SC-88 module features heavily on Akira Jimbo's album Stone Butterfly. It's just an amazing synth for the price

[@nosferadu]

Holy MIDI, Batman! Some of these sound fantastic!

[@MorganJustGames]

Very nice Video Neil. Some great tunes there. I liked the look of some of those Shoot Em Ups. Impressive set up you got there too.

[@BeastOfSoda]

"you'll have that tune stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Sorry everyone." All is forgiven!

[@plan7a]

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].

[@Kawa-oneechan]

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.

[@atomicskull6405]

The SCC was actually a step back from the MT-32 in some ways. The MT-32 had user editable programs where you could create new instrument sounds by changing around which ROM waveforms were used and editing the envelopes and filters. This information was uploaded to the MT-32 over the MIDI interface as a binary SYSEX dump when the game booted up. Most Sierra games for example used custom instruments. After GM came out IBM PC games mostly stopped using custom instruments on the MT-32 and just used a GM mapping instead.

[@briantaylor3031]

That breakout song should be the battle music for a jrpg.

[@djsquarewave]

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. :)

[@megaglowz8540]

Does MIDI gaming get better than this? Clint: Yes.....Yes, it does. Great video!!

[@killab138]

Ghouls and Ghosts sounds SOOOO AWESOME!!!!!!

[@dangerotterisrea]

That apron makes you look like you work part time at the little chef XD

[@RMCRetro]

Maybe I do :D

[@dangerotterisrea]

@@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.

[@BeastOfSoda]

I actually thought it was leading into a sponsored segment for Hello Fresh or something, haha

[@thorc4167]

Castlevania through MT-32 is amazing.

[@WalrusFPGA]

this was a really nice overview of midi options on x68k! Wonderful timing as well, as i've been diving into this rabbit hole the past month as well. Interesting that not only do you have options for different sound modules in a game like akumajou dracula, but they also took the time to make unique compositions for the different midi devices as well! check out theme of simon on SC-55 mode, and listen to those shredding guitars in the build-up section, that are completely missing from the mt-32 track. mt-32 version of the tunes are great also, with many unique elements of their own. Really blown away by the effort there. Essentially made three soundtracks for the game at once.

[@mynameistechno]

I bet the synthesizer community is proud some people utilize this boxes in a inoffensive way.

[@chr15b]

Glad I wore my headphones for this one! 😊

[@AerikForager]

I started having flashbacks when I heard that midi super ghouls 'n' ghosts! :D

[@KarLKoX]

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)

[@ヴァンサン]

「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.

[@Breakfast_and_Bullets]

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.

[@CorporalDanLives]

OHHHHHH I USED TO HAVE THOSE SPEAKERS. They made my midis SLAP

[@imhafdhom]

Akumajou Dracula's Creatures In The Depth MT32 rendition is the OG of boss music

[@jamesburland]

Wow! Love song of these MIDI arrangements.

[@MessiahProphylaxis]

Simon Belmont's theme on an MT-32 would have switched up my whole life if I heard it on my beige-ass 486.

[@brianmarshall6746]

Great video. Japan had some really interesting domestic systems, half PC and half consoles. Going down this rabbit hole can certainly lead to a midi stack that ends up five modules tall, but this is probably overkill. For retro perfection, you can't do better than a good 486 with a MPU 401 module box, connected to the matching ISA card (there are good modern ISA replacements for the Roland card), a good ISA sound card (I use a Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold), a Roland MT-32 module for earlier MIDI games, and a Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 (a later module is fine, like a SC-88, as long as it's one of the versions that has a SC-55 mode). A MIDI switch box is a good idea, as the sound is clearer versus daisy chaining the consoles. Other modules work too, but nothing quite has that imprimatur of "sounding like the composer intended" as a combination of the MT-32 and SC-55. So many game soundtracks were composed on those MIDI modules.

[@stickenchuffing4694]

The MT-32 can be made compatible with General MIDI by playing a midi file containing some SysEx instructions after powering it on using a midi file player. It temporarily stores some additional sounds and orders them in the correct layout for GM. You can end up with some rather interesting variations. Descent is a good one to try. A search for "MT32 GM" should point you in the right direction.

[@Petertronic]

Great sounds. The pirate cat made my day.

[@kentoad8948]

Gemini Wing has native MT-32 support if you hold F1 during boot. It's one of the best game soundtracks I've ever heard.

[@sethrd999]

Well this just goes to prove that all the best stuff comes from Japan ;)

[@waynecuff3140]

That's what is amazing about Castle chronicles on ps1. Has the midi tracks available on the options menu :)

[@kibawolf2501]

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?

[@Richard.Linder]

Nice! You did it! 😀

[@ellhawkes78]

Amazing, would love to hear more retro soundtracks.

[@tmacmc2984]

Wow. The midi audio here is stunning stuff. I have to look into X68000 emulation which supports midi. Mame?

[@AndrewFremantle]

Also, the MT-32 has a configurable hardware reverb chip in it - [Master Volume] + [Volume] - some tracks go from awesome at the default 5/10 to near-godlike at 7/10 or 8/10. That's entirely subjective, of course.

[@Sauceyjames]

Another Sharp 86K video? Count me in!

[@ArrowGent]

the x68000 definately had the best music sound of the japanese computers, pc88/98, msx, pc-e and fm-towns.

[@Jyve]

I miss those speakers. Best desk speakers ever, with a bass that rattled my teeth.

[@adamburgess1287]

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!

[@SianaGearz]

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.

[@djcalle1975]

Awesome stuff! Unrelated but I have to say I much prefer the videos where you host alone.

[@Colin_Ames]

Excellent video!

[@laumpolumpio]

You should have tried the wolf Team titles for the x68k since those were the games that really nailed it with the midi music for the X68k

[@GenesHand]

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.

[@Th3OmegaPoint]

That error message at 3:45 reads "There is not enough memory to run this game", translation by my missus.

[@opiejaye]

Fascinating stuff! I can't help thinking that track from Spanner X (interesting title!) is more than a little 'influenced' by The KLF's What Time Is Love

[@DanielLopez-up6os]

I think the word you were looking for more "Room for the Sound" is Called A Sound Stage.

[@damianknight8064]

quite literally music to my ears!

[@lupinzar]

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.

[@TheTurnipKing]

The PS1 version of Castlevania Chronicles actually has a number of soundtrack options, though they're somewhat hidden. The default is remixed cd audio but I seem to recall it can also do the internal sound generators of the x68000 as well

[@dazsly]

I would love one of those sharps but the price has gone up massively and the cost getting it from Jspsn would be huge. Awsome video

[@GoWstingray]

My Dads had a MU50 sat on his Yamaha Clavinova since the 90s lol, I missed the PC Dos gaming era as I had an Amiga and it never occurred it could probably enhance games at the time, I think I did try to hook it up on the Amiga as we had a midi interface but it was all to much for me as a kid. Think I might borrow it as I have a Socket Super 7 motherboard I found in the loft beginning to be part of a retro pc!