GeekwithEnvy

Computers

MIDI Module Guide for Vintage PC games and Music Creation

by Leave a Comment

This is a simple guide to help you understand the different MIDI modules that are available for playing PC games. I am working on improving this, I need to take some pictures of the modules I own and add them here as well.

Different types of MIDI modules that you can use with PC games:

  • FM – Frequency Modulation. Only a very few games support FM modules.
  • LA – Linear Arithmetic. Many famous late 80’s and early 90’s games use LA synthesis.
  • GM – General MIDI. The standard for PC game music before CD audio took over.
  • GS – Roland’s extension of General MIDI often labeled as Sound Canvas in games
  • XG – Yamaha’s extension of General MIDI used by Final Fantasy VII and VIII on PC

  • Roland Sound Canvas Variants
  • SC-55 (1991) – Original, GS only model without a GM logo
  • SC-55 (1991) – Updated with full GM support, may or may not have GM logo on the front
  • CM-300 (1991) – Same as first SC-55 version but without a screen, GS only
  • CM-300 (1991) – Updated model with full GM support, may GM logo on the front
  • CM-500 (1991) – Has both CM-300 and CM-32LN hardware
  • Updated and Cost-Reduced Models:
  • SC-55 MKII (1993) – Improved audio quality and more tones
  • SC-55ST (1993) – Same as MKII but without a screen and one less MIDI input. Also sold under the Edirol brand in white.
  • SC-50 (1994) – Same as MKII / without the MT-32 voices
  • Desktop Versions:
  • SC-155 (1992) – A desktop version of SC-55
  • SC-33 (1992) – A desktop version of SC-55 without the MT-32 voices
  • Boss Dr. Synth DS-330 (1992) – Boss branded version of SC-33
  • SC-35 (1993) – SC-33 with an integrated sequencer
  • SC-88 Variants:
  • SC-88 (1994) – Base model
  • M-GS64 (1995) – Rack mount version
  • SC-88VL (1996) – Reduced size version / available in white
  • SC-88ST (1996) – No screen, can switch between SC-55 and SC-88 modes. Also branded as Edirol in white
  • SC-88 Pro Variants
  • SC-88 Pro (1996) – Original base model
  • SC-88ST Pro (1997) – No screen and a button that switches between modes
  • SC-880 (1998) – A rack mount unit
  • SC-8850 (1999) – USB connection and General MIDI 2 support
  • SC-8820 (1999) – Reduced size device without a screen, USB power. Button to change modes
  • SC-D70 (2001) – Works as a USB audio interface with digital outputs

  • Studio Canvas branded (Edirol and Roland):
  • SD-90 (2001) – A larger device with many of Sound Canvas sounds. Multiple options for connectivity
  • SD-80 (2002) – A cost reduced version of SD-90
  • These models support both GM (via GM2 backwards compatibility) and GS. Howver, they don’t have maps for Sound Canvas compatibility.
  • SD-20 (2002) – A cheaper device in an SC-8820 chassis
  • SD-50 (2009) – Midi interface, midi module, audio interface, mp3 player.

Yamaha Synth Modules:

  • TG Series:
  • TG100 (1992) – GM synth
  • CBX-T3 (1993) – Cheaper version with no display or controls
  • TG300 (1993) – Higher quality version of TG100. Better audio quality
  • MU Series:
  • MU80 (1994) – XG synth
  • MU50 (1995) – Cheaper version, lower quality audio
  • MU90 (1996) – Higher quality version of MU80
  • MU90R (1996) – Rack-mount version of MU90
  • MU90B (1997) – No display version of MU90. Power button and volume control
  • MU100 (1997) – upgraded sound engine, support for expansion cards
  • MU100R (1997) – Rack-mount version of MU90, extra expansion slot
  • MU100B (1997) – No display version of the MU100. Power button and volume control
  • MU128 and Desktop MIDI Modules:
  • MU2000 (1999) – USB, optical digital out, SmartMedia card slot, sampler and sequencer
  • MU1000 (1999) – Cheaper version of the MU2000, no sampler, sequencer or SmartMedia card slot
  • MU2000EX (2000) – Firmware upgrade to MU2000 adding Roland GS support
  • MU1000EX (2000) – Firmware upgrade to MU1000 adding Roland GS support
  • MU500 (2000) – Size reduced unit with MU100 sound engine and MU2000 sounds
  • Portable Versions:
  • Yamaha Portable MU Units:
  • MU5 (1994) – Only MU series unit with no XG, buttons double as a small keyboard
  • MU10 (1996) – Beige with no display, XG support
  • MU15 (1998) – An updated MU5 with XG support

  • Drum modules (DTX series)
  • DTXpress (2000) – Similar to older MU series
  • DTXpress II (2002) – Updated drum samples
  • DTXpress III (2003) – Updated drum samples

  • Korg Modules:
  • 05R/W (1994) – First Korg GM module, based on their X5 keyboard
  • AG-10 (1994) – “Audio Gallery” white box.
  • X5DR (1995) – same as 05R/W with improvements for music production
  • NS5R (1997) – GS compatible, could be upgraded with a daughterboard to add XG
  • NX5R (1999) – Upgraded NS5R with XG daughterboard built in

  • Kawai Modules:
  • GMega (1993) – The only model with a screen and controls
  • GMega LX (1993) – a white box with only a power button and volume control
  • GMega L (1993) – Cheaper version of GMega LX, with less MIDI channels

  • Casio Modules:
  • GZ-50M (1995) – Very basic, small GM module
  • GZ-30M (1995) – Cheaper version of GZ-50M with a simpler case and controls, no separate RCA output or headphone jacks. No effects or reverb
  • GZ-70SP (1995) – A GZ-30M stuck inside a speaker

  • Akai Modules:
  • SG01k (1995) Akai’s only GM module. Good sounding unit that emulated Roland sounds and others
  • MIDIPLUS
  • miniEngine Pro (2017) – A tiny GM device that also works as a battery pack
  • miniEngine (2017) – Cheaper version of the Pro, screen replaced by a three-digit display
  • Various Sound Modules:
  • E-Mu Sound Engine (1993) – Similar to the Creative Waveblaster in module form.
  • ENIAC Sound Saurus BH-1000 (1994) – A GM unit that is somewhat rare. Can work with Sound Canvas
  • Ketron SD 2 (2006) – A small, portable module with realistic sound.
  • Alesis Nanosynth (2007) – Compact high quality sound module.
  • Ketron SD 4 (2008) – Rare GM module that has hight quality sound.

  • Roland LA Synth Modules:
  • MT-32 (1987) – The original MT-32
  • MT-32 (1988) – Headphone jack added, internal changes
  • MT-100 (1988) – A combination of the newer MT-32 and a PR-100 sequencer.
  • CM-32L (1989) – White box with power button and volume control only, added sound effects
  • CM-64 (1989) – a CM-32L and CM-32P (a PCM synth not used in DOS games) combo
  • CM-32LN (1992) –CM-32L with a new DAC and a connector for NEC PC-98 computers
  • CM-500 (1991) – combination of CM-32LN and CM-300 (GS synth)

How to install the KDE Desktop on CentOS 7

by Leave a Comment

CentOS Logo

If you have the Minimal Install of CentOS 7 and want to install the KDE Desktop, follow this guide and type in the commands below once you have CentOS 7 booted up and you’re logged in.

Enter in these commands to install the KDE Desktop from the Minimal Install:

Note: If you are not logged in as root, then you will need to use sudo. Also, you need to be connected to the internet for this to work, as you will need to download resources to your machine.

1. yum groupinstall “X Window System”
2. yum groupinstall “Fonts”
3. yum install kde-workspace
4. yum install gdm

Now to start the KDE desktop envirmonent you can type in:

startx

To have the system boot into the KDE Desktop follow steps 1-4 then :

1. unlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target
2. ln -sf /lib/systemd/system/graphical.target /etc/systemd/system/default.target
3. reboot OR (systemctl isolate graphical.target)

How to Force Windows 10 To Begin Downloading

by 1 Comment

Is your computer already up-to-date and ready to download Windows 10? If so that’s awesome. Except it’s still not downloading right?

Well, we know you’re anxious to get started with Windows 10 (so are we) so here is a quick guide on how to force Windows 10 to begin downloading on Windows 8 and 8.1.  (This guide should also work for Windows 7).

If you would rather just download Windows 10 to a usb drive or DVD you can get the .iso file to do so from Microsoft’s Windows 10 Disc Image page.

1.  First, Go ahead and open up Windows Update. You can do this by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard and then type “Windows Update”. Now go ahead and open Windows Update. (It would be helpful if your computer is completely up-to-date)

step1W10Update

2.  Next, hit the Windows Key on your keyboard again type “cmd”. Right click on “Command Prompt” in the menus to the right and select “Run As Administrator”.

 

3.  With the Command Prompt open, go ahead and type in “wuauclt.exe /updatenow”. Now check on your Windows Update window. You should see that Windows Update is Checking for Updates.Windows10UpdateSS

 

* At this point Windows 10 should begin downloading, if it isn’t , then repeat step 3.

* If you’re having trouble, you may also clear out your Windows Update data under “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download” by deleting all of the files and folders there. Then retry the process.

 

Blizzard Announces Overwatch

by Leave a Comment

Mercy_Overwatch

Blizzard Entertainment has just announced an all new franchise Overwatch, a first person shooter based on team play. The first video is an awesome cinematic that gives us a glimpse into the minds of some of the new characters you will be playing in Overwatch. The second video showcases gameplay, which I have to say looks immediately engaging  and the visuals have a clean and unique artistic styling that is quite refreshing.

Below I have posted the official press release. Head to Blizzard Entertainment for full details on the new first person shooter.


 

World premiere of brand-new Blizzard game universe at BlizzCon®

Show attendees go hands-on with Overwatch, running live on 600 BlizzCon PCs

Beta coming in 2015; sign-ups NOW LIVE at www.playoverwatch.com

ANAHEIM, Calif.—November 7, 2014—In front of a live crowd of more than 25,000 BlizzCon® attendees and an expected online audience numbering in the millions, Blizzard Entertainment today announced Overwatch™, a pick-up-and-play first-person shooter featuring an amazing cast of heroes and set in an all-new Blizzard game universe.

The action of Overwatch takes place in a technologically advanced, highly stylized future earth. In a time of global crisis, an international task force of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities known as Overwatch had come together to restore peace to a war-torn world. After many years, the group’s influence waned, and it was eventually disbanded. Overwatch might be gone now . . . but the world still needs heroes.

With an emphasis on accessibility and pure fun, Overwatch brings Blizzard’s signature easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay to the FPS genre. Harnessing the power of their hero of choice, players will join forces in teams of six and battle each other across a range of futuristic global locations, from the hologram-lit streets of London to a bazaar in the shadows of a high-tech Egyptian pyramid. Every battlefield is iconic and built to highlight each character’s unique abilities, and fights can shift from streets to rooftops to open skies within the span of a breath.

“Overwatch is our take on a vibrant, near-future universe with amped-up characters and action-packed team-based gameplay,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “With every new Blizzard game, we look at our favorite aspects of a genre and put our own spin on things. Our goal with Overwatch is to create an awesome FPS experience that’s more accessible to a much wider audience while delivering the action and depth that shooter fans love.”

The heroes of Overwatch each bring their own distinct weapons and superabilities to bear. Here’s just a glimpse of the numerous heroes that will ultimately fill Overwatch’s rosters:

Tracer, a former British test pilot who shrugs at danger, can execute impossible acrobatic assaults thanks to her ability to teleport, drop energy bombs, and even reverse time.
Reinhardt, a hulking German soldier in battle armor, can charge great distances and pin his enemies to a wall or slam the ground with his rocket hammer to knock them off their feet.
Hanzo, a bow-wielding Japanese mercenary, has the ability to scale walls with his bare hands, fire off a tracking device that illuminates nearby enemies for his team, and unleash a huge spirit dragon that does grievous damage to all enemies in its path.
Symmetra, an Indian architech, manipulates light and energy to shield her allies and damage her enemies—and she can turn the tide of any battle by building a device that instantly transports her teammates to the front lines.
While each hero represents a formidable force on their own, players can amplify their potential by assembling into a well-balanced team and creatively combining powers. No matter which hero or playstyle they prefer, players will be able to team up and accomplish the incredible in Overwatch.