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MIDI Module Guide for Vintage PC games and Music Creation

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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 GNOME Desktop for Ubuntu 18.04

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If you have the base install of Ubuntu 18.04 installed without a GUI and would like to add the GNOME desktop to your install, then this is the guide for you!

First, you should always make sure your package lists are up-to-date by running the update command followed by the upgrade command:

  • sudo apt-get update
  • sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Next, we recommend using Tasksel to install Ubuntu desktop. It’s a really easy way to get you up and running with a GUI and requires less commands. To install Tasksel use this command:

  • sudo apt-get install tasksel -y

After tasksel has finished installing, you can then run the application with sudo:

  • sudo tasksel
Screenshot of Tasksel Software Selection Menu

Finally, you can simply select Ubuntu desktop and select “OK” to install the GNOME desktop environment for your Ubuntu installation. Once the installation is complete, you can reboot your system and Ubuntu will start with a GUI.

Additionally, you may also notice that Tasksel has a good selection of other software collections that you can also install with this interface. Some options include DNS server, LAMP server, Samba file server and more.

How to install the KDE Desktop on CentOS 7

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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)

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans Cheat Codes

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Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, the first of Blizzard’s real-time strategy games, is absolutely a great classic. If you love these types of games and don’t mind playing something old, then this is a great place to start.

Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the real-time fantasy strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment that quickly became a best seller. Warcraft has not only become a classic, winning many awards, but it has set new standards for multiplayer games. Set in the mythic kingdom of Azeroth, players are given the task of maintaining a thriving economy while building a war machine with which to destroy the enemy. – Blizzard Entertainment.

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans Box Art
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans Box Art (Copyright 1994 Blizzard Entertainment)

 
Code: Effect:
orc# Any Orc Level # (1-12)
human# Any Human Level # (1-12)
pot of gold  10000 Gold and 5000 Lumber
eye of newt  All Spells
iron forge  All Upgrades
corwin of amber  God Mode, Instant Win/Loss, Level Skip
ides of march  Brings player to final campaign sequence
there can only be one  Invulnerable Units and do 255 damage
crushing defeat  Lose Current Mission
sally shears  See Entire Map
yours truly  Fast Building / Training
hurry up guys  Win Mission

Age of Empires II: Age of Kings Cheat Codes

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Age of Empires II is the sequel to the award-winning, best-selling real-time strategy game Age of Empires. Explore new maps, units, and scenarios in this all-time classic RTS. If you love these types of games and have never played Age of Empires II, I highly recommend it! You don’t have to buy the original game as you can head to Steam and download the HD version there.

If you want to enter in any of these cheat codes for Age of Empires II: Age of Kings, press enter and then type in the code.

Age of Empires II Box Art Age of Kings
Age of Empires II: Age of Kings Box Art (Copyright 1999 Ensemble Studios / Microsoft )

Code: Effect:
 !nomute  Undoes the !mute code
 resign  Instant Lose
 i r winner  Instant Victory

!mute

  Will not hear any taunts
natural wonders  Control the Animals
 I love the monkey head A VDML man will appear at your Town Center 
 marco  Full Map
 polo  No Shadows
 black death  Kill All Opponents
 wimpywimpywimpy  Commit Suicide
 how do you turn this on  Cobra Car
 to smithereens Saboteur Unit 
 aegis  Build Fast
 furious the monkey boy  Furious the Monkey Boy
 lumberjack  1000 wood
 robin hood  1000 Gold
 cheese steak jimmy’s  1000 Food
 rock on 1000 Stone