Optimizing the sound quality for the MT-32 and SC-8820
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:21 pm
So I have a couple Roland sound modules (MT-32 and SC-8820) and would like to create full soundtrack libraries for a few Sierra classics with them.
I have the modules set up to my computer through an interface (a Behringer 404) and honestly, they sound really good as they are. But before I commit to the painstaking process of creating a large set of immutable audio files, I would like to ensure I'm getting the best quality sound I can out of them, in case there's any more I can do. In other words, I'm taking on this project pretty seriously. But my passion aside, I don't really know what I'm doing.
The results I'm getting from the MT-32 are sounding pretty much the same as clips of a few tracks I'm finding online. If that's the best I can expect, I can accept that. However, if I could improve it, I might as well, and now is the time to ask. For one, I noticed many of the tracks from Quest Studios often have extra musical embellishments I can't find in the resource files, but overall that's not a priority. I am especially curious how they enhanced the overall sound quality though because it sounds really good. However, if this requires a different module then that's probably not worth it.
The more complex case is the SC-8820, since I don't know of any simple equal comparisons online like I did with the MT-32. Moreover, I have some doubts all is right with how it currently sounds anyway. A long time ago, I recorded one track with it on my old computer before I even had an interface. I think I just hooked a 3mm from the headphone jack to the line-in back then. Whatever I did, I preserved the file and you can listen to it here. But on my new setup with a Roland cable connected to the interface, it now sounds like this. Very similar and still pretty good, but in my opinion not quite as good, so now I'm wondering what the heck I was doing before, and if there's some subtle change I put in before that would improve it now.
It sounds... flatter now, for lack of a better term. Did I just add reverb before? The higher instruments in particular sound clearer in the old version too though. The only positive on the new one is that I hear less noise, which I attribute to the better cable. (If you don't recognize the track, it's from King's Quest VI, and the reason I recorded it in the first place is that it plays only during the optional less desirable path through the game, and I suppose that's why it's not included on any soundtrack I've heard of the game.)
So if there are any experts out there that could advise me on how to best perfect all the audio I'm recording, whether it's a setting on the device somewhere or I need to edit MIDI files before recording or audio files after recording or whatever, I would much appreciate it.
I have the modules set up to my computer through an interface (a Behringer 404) and honestly, they sound really good as they are. But before I commit to the painstaking process of creating a large set of immutable audio files, I would like to ensure I'm getting the best quality sound I can out of them, in case there's any more I can do. In other words, I'm taking on this project pretty seriously. But my passion aside, I don't really know what I'm doing.
The results I'm getting from the MT-32 are sounding pretty much the same as clips of a few tracks I'm finding online. If that's the best I can expect, I can accept that. However, if I could improve it, I might as well, and now is the time to ask. For one, I noticed many of the tracks from Quest Studios often have extra musical embellishments I can't find in the resource files, but overall that's not a priority. I am especially curious how they enhanced the overall sound quality though because it sounds really good. However, if this requires a different module then that's probably not worth it.
The more complex case is the SC-8820, since I don't know of any simple equal comparisons online like I did with the MT-32. Moreover, I have some doubts all is right with how it currently sounds anyway. A long time ago, I recorded one track with it on my old computer before I even had an interface. I think I just hooked a 3mm from the headphone jack to the line-in back then. Whatever I did, I preserved the file and you can listen to it here. But on my new setup with a Roland cable connected to the interface, it now sounds like this. Very similar and still pretty good, but in my opinion not quite as good, so now I'm wondering what the heck I was doing before, and if there's some subtle change I put in before that would improve it now.
It sounds... flatter now, for lack of a better term. Did I just add reverb before? The higher instruments in particular sound clearer in the old version too though. The only positive on the new one is that I hear less noise, which I attribute to the better cable. (If you don't recognize the track, it's from King's Quest VI, and the reason I recorded it in the first place is that it plays only during the optional less desirable path through the game, and I suppose that's why it's not included on any soundtrack I've heard of the game.)
So if there are any experts out there that could advise me on how to best perfect all the audio I'm recording, whether it's a setting on the device somewhere or I need to edit MIDI files before recording or audio files after recording or whatever, I would much appreciate it.