Hello, can someone help me on this?

Did you (or GOG) manage to obtain the ORIGINAL general midi sounds on modern computers?
I'm talking about the Ensoniq waveset (EAPCI8M.ecw file) found in the old Sound Blaster cards.

I've tried a bunch of replacement soundfonts, but none is really faithful! (most noticeable: Descent's strong percussions often sound like instruments)

A guy tried to convert the waveset here, but then sadly abandoned the project.
Do you know if some other faithful replacement exist?

EDIT: link to an older post here

BUMP!

RI-BUMP

Come on!
TRI-BUMP

Ok, I'll try a last bump in the weekend T_T

I found this:
http://opl3.cozendey.com/

But, as far as I know later models of the Sound Blasters used inferior, emulated versions of the actual hardware synthesizers found on the original Sound Blaster 16 to cut costs and make a more affordable product. I'm not sure what end of the authenticity scale you're sliding on but, I would suggest that it would behoove you to research those original Roland and Yamaha chipsets.

The *old* Sound Blater cards didn't have wavesets, they rather used FM synthesis and that synthesis is fully emulated by DOSBox.

Which sound card models *exactly* had that particular waveset anyway?

Oo thank you for the reply!

I'd just like to listen to the same old midi music in both games and in media players. Better samples would be welcome, as long as they didn't alter the songs.
I can currently do it on this old pc with Xp, because I bought an used 5$ Sound Blaster Live ages ago, but I doubt that the card will fit\work on modern computers.

I'll check the link, thanks.

I compared yours mp3s with midi files played using CT2MGM.SF2. Can't hear the difference - but I guess I'm deaf :-P

I'm rather surprised. I just played back the Level 1 MIDI through the default SoundFont of the early SoundBlaster Live! sound cards (called 8MBGMSFX) and it sounds very differently from your mp3s, definitely a different waveset.

Also, because I'm a nice guy I used my audio super powers to create an MP3 for you.

Edit: Oh yeah, and to prove my point that not all Soundblaster cards sound the same - here's a recording from an AWE32. Obviously the first thing you'll notice is the (ridiculous) use of reverb but it also has yet another waveset.

Really? Everybody knows how to do that and only I learned about soundfonts like two years ago?

Just did a quick check and it seems that may actually be the SoundFont from the soundcards phaolo meant.

Edit: Compared the sound myself now. Nope, definitely not the same waveset.

You can't hear the difference?
Anyway, that should be the default (simplest) 2Mb SB soundfont (maybe similar to 2gmgsmt.sf2)

Thanks for the clip ; )
That should be the 8mb version of CT2MGM.SF2.

True and there's also a soundfont for it (I think it's called 1mgm.sf2)

The damn EAPCI8M.ecw is a waveset identified by "SB Live! Sw Synth [D800]" in the midi mapper.
8MBGMSFX.sf2 should probably be one of the "SB Live! Synth A [D800]" or "SB Live! Synth A [D800]", instead.

Damn elusive midi : (

I'd just load up Fluid R3 or something and enjoy the crap out of it. With General MIDI "authenticity" isn't that big a deal anyway, IMO. Sure, perfectly emulated AdLib or Roland MT-32 sound is kinda important but the whole idea of General MIDI has always been about interchangeability anway.

Edit: And thanks. I ended up putting Descent's whole OST into Winamp because of this thread. It's so friggin' awesome. It gave me the motivational boost I just needed.

What annoys me is that, even if sounds are improved, without a faithful soundfont the tracks end up changed (I probably notice it because I remember the originals).
Anyway my favourites soundfonts so far are: ChoriumRevA, (merlin gold), (UtopiaLive)

Then I suggest you to try Tyrian OST too, it's simply great! :D

P.S: lol are you still using Winamp like me? XD

Last BUMP, I guess.