Definitive list of ST games supporting MIDI?

[oky2000]

OK I saw a video on Youtube and it was a terrible game (ST Karate?) BUT it had ST sound effects AND external MIDI equipment audio. Not sure how the guy making the video set it up but it's more or less how PC games were in the 80s too. LAPC-1 etc MIDI card for music and SB for scratchy FX on PC combo.

 

So my first question is how do I know which games support this kind of hardware? Is there a definitive list?

 

Secondly, if I wanted to do this at home on my own ST what is the best external MIDI module to get $/quality? Do I need any extra software or does the game just check for it and pipe the music to any MIDI hardware it finds?

 

Finally, is there any way to get this working on a PC emulator? I mean ALL PCs today play .MIDI files because Winblows has ALL the general MIDI instruments stored as samples for software playback. Seems a bit silly for emulator programmers not to make the MIDI aspect of the host machine not available as a general MIDI module for use by the virtual ST hardware running on your MIDI capable PC.

 

Any info appreciated.

 

 

Then I started to think (part two of this topic thread if you like) that perhaps if Atari had done a deal to either produce a standalone or internal basic quality general MIDI piece of hardware how much better the ST games would have looked? IF they had done this in 1985-88 whilst the sales of the A1000, A2000 and A500 were minuscule it would have made the ST a much better proposition. A high end machine (1040STF initially and Mega 1/2/4 later) with the built in MIDI AND an external MIDI box to make the low end 520ST/STM/STFM compatible and essentially a hardware upgrade to the

ST audio.

 

This is the kind of stuff that would have happened if Jack Tramiel had owned MOS Technology NOT Commodore and when he moved to Atari still had their technical in-house 'cost price for salary wages' fabrication facilities which is essentially how the VIC20/PET/C64 price was possible at all.

 

What do you think?

[+DarkLord]

Not sure about the "definitive" part, but there is a message thread at AtariForums on this subject:

 

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21473

 

HTHs.

[Mark Wolfe]

The Roland MT-32 was the go-to sound module back then. they can be had for a "song" on ebay these days hehe

[oky2000]

Thanks everyone

 

Checked out the link, not as many as I thought sadly.

[atarian63]

We had the obligatory CZ101 setup on several St's in our store. Later got a Roland used and set it up. Cant recall all the games though. Sierra games come to mind though

[oky2000]

I think Atari really should have produced a low price self branded midi module for £99/$199. It made all the difference to PC gaming soundtracks in the 90s and the ST would have got this benefit 4-5 years before PC gaming era in the EU. YM chip for three channels of SFX and MIDI box for musical soundtracks.

 

They would have been years ahead and saved the cost of the STE's R&D (blitter was already done).

 

These games sound great!

[Mark Wolfe]

Oh right the CZ101, casio's first semi-non-toy synth. hehe. I don't think that had Multi-Timbrel capability though did it? the MT-32 was the first real Multi-Timbrel synth that did not cost an arm and a leg, I think it was under $500