Limitations with MSX-Music

Paragon (1489)

29-09-2007, 16:11

I'm not sure about the sound limitations on the MSX-Music (OPLL).

From what I understand, you can only select one hardware sound or software variations of it for a full set of voices.
Is that it ?

But what about the drums then ?

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (9950)

29-09-2007, 16:19

There are 15 hardware voices you can pick for any channel, and there's 1 software voice in total for any of your channels. The software voice is one you can make yourself, the hardware voices are preset.
Drums kan be changed, somewhat. You can change the frequencies of their operators, but as some of those operators are shared between drums, changing one may imply that you also change the rest. Simply said, there are 6 operators for 5 drum sounds, and things like cymbals use more than 2 operators. If you don't need drums, you better pick 9-channel mode rather than 6-channels + drums.

By Metalion

Paragon (1489)

29-09-2007, 17:20

Thanks wolf_ for those infos

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (5918)

29-09-2007, 21:37

If you like to use tricks you can get some more sounds. Tip: Try changeing instruments while playing the voice.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (9950)

29-09-2007, 21:43

A feature which is present in Oracle! I even used it in Moonblaster here and there, but never released something with that iirc, one usually required high speeds and then you've hardly any space as you run out of patterns within a splitsecond. Not to mention that management of such fast patterns is not doable.

(and now let's find a precious next forumreaction to make..!)

By Yukio

Paragon (1540)

14-10-2007, 04:13

Stereo sound!

Well, the sounds of the six channels are on one side the later three channels (or the DRUM kit) +PSG would be output into the other side.

Ok, realistically not every MSX would implement the stereo output.

The MSX-MAGAZINE MuSICA text files seems to use a lot of sound for FM and SCC.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3503)

14-10-2007, 05:40

1) There's 15 instruments ROM that can't be changed.
2) Instrument zero is in RAM, so you can edit its parameters.
3) The YM2413 can play samples: Unsigned 6bit PCM. It has a very good quality and is played just like the Turbo-R PCM and COVOX: lots of outs to its ports. Limitation: Can't play samples and FM sound at the same time.

By msd

Paragon (1472)

14-10-2007, 09:26

3: It can? Did anybody use this?

By AuroraMSX

Paragon (1902)

14-10-2007, 10:53

3: It can? Did anybody use this?Of course it can - just like the PSG can play samples...

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (5918)

14-10-2007, 11:41

I've tried but I've had no much luck... (Check out Dragons Lair demo) Either the sample cuts, or it gets very low volume. Sometimes these happen even together. I hope someone could tell me how to initialize OPLL correctly to play samples. I know that I have to set OPLL to test mode, but what else?

By msd

Paragon (1472)

14-10-2007, 11:51

AuroraMSX: Yes, well I didn't know about any 6bit mode.