How to activate midi in Arcus Oddysee, Granada and Sol-feace

[Psygnosis8]

Anybody know how to select midi audio in these games?  I can't seem to find a menu item to activate it.  Is it something that has to happen prior to booting the game?

Thanks in advance...

[skpstmgs]

All three:  Hold 登録 (touroku) key while the game is booting.
OR
Granada: edit autoexec.bat on disks 1 and 3 (or !Start.bat for HD Image version) and add the text MIDI_DRV below MDRV and above :LOOP

[Psygnosis8]

You're my hero.

How bout this one:  know any way to skip the intro in Arcus Oddysee?

[H68k]

If your going to play Wolf Team games with MIDI music.. I highly recommend an MT-32 emulator such as MUNT: http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/ as all of there games where made for it in mind. While you can use a General Midi or General Standard (GM or GS) software midi synth. you will have the wrong instrument sounds being played because the MT-32's instrument program numbers where made before the GM/GS standard.

OH.. and I forgot.. you'll also need the MT-32's ROM set for MUNT, these are floating around the internet.. but are hard to find. I could post a link.. but it maybe in breach of this forums policy's.

[Psygnosis8]

Hey, thanks for the info, I'll look into this!

I'm using an sc-55 because that's what it came with.  Some of the music does sound weird, particularly the splash screen.

[H68k]

Ahh.. if your using an SC55, that is why your getting the wrong instruments.

As it seams your using real hardware. then I suggest you get a real MT-32 and audio mixer. The MT-32 was sold world wide, so availability from the likes of Ebay is not much of a problem. Though do be aware, because of the whole "retro" craze and unscrupulous Ebay sellers.. you wont find a working MT-32 for anything near a reasonable price at the moment.

[SuperDeadite]

MT-32 is a waste of money if you are buying it for X68K use exclusively.  Quite a few games support the added features of the CM-32L and CM-64.  If you can get an MT-32 really cheap, it might be ok, but if you have nothing and are going to spend some cash go for a CM-64.    For Wolfteam, Sol-Feace does in fact use the CM-64's PCM effects.

The popular CM-500 is also a waste of money unless you get one really cheap.  As Choujin and Gemini Wing support the PCM Expansion Cards, which only a true CM-64 or a CM-32L&32P combination can use. 

[skpstmgs]

To add onto what SuperDeadite said, a CM-500 in CM-64 mode will not always produce an accurate sound compared to an actual CM-64. In Gemini Wing's first boss, the extra vibrato that the CM-500 adds ruins the effect quite a bit and just sounds like a mess, quite honestly. Also, if you get a CM-64, make sure you check out Detana!! TwinBee with the CM-32L (#2) track option as it sounds amazing.

[Psygnosis8]

Wow, this is a lot of info, thanks guys!

If I do get a cm-64, can it be connected into the midi expansion card I already have or does it need a whole new card?

[skpstmgs]

I'm pretty sure any MIDI card for the X68000 will work with the CM-64. I heard there might be some incompatibilities when using the SACOM MIDI cards with some games, but I don't think anyone has mentioned which ones specifically (which makes me think this list is probably very small). In any case, that should not stop you from getting a CM-64 as they sound beautiful.

[Psygnosis8]

Hey, guys.  I got an offer for a CM-300.  Anybody know if those emulate the CM-64?

[SuperDeadite]

CM-300 is just an SC-55 stuffed in a different case.  So no, not really compatible with LA synth games.

[Psygnosis8]