Grabbag - Yamaha XG (con)Version

[Rich Nagel]

*LONG* time, no post. Man, looks like this place has just about died

Anyhow, I've recently been twiddling around with the Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesizer (identical sound and effects processor capabilities as the Yamaha MU50 MIDI tone generator and the DB50XG MIDI daughterboard), and was fooling around with "Grabbag".

I extracted the title theme music "Grabbag" (by Lee Jackson) from Duke Nukem 3D, and then converted and optimized the MIDI file for Yamaha XG format (a lot of effects processor editing using XGEdit 95, and a wee bit of resequencing and rearranging using the old Cakewalk Pro v3.01). I then recorded it to an MP3, and uploaded it here: http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/Grabbag_XG.mp3 .

Listen to the song and watch a YouTube video version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwsmnS-waCU .

That is how "Grabbag" SHOULD/COULD sound on all Yamaha XG compatable hardware (e.g. DB50XG, MU50, S-YXG50)

By the way, this is how the same song sounds *without* the Yamaha XG conversion and optimization (no Yamaha XG effects processors): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzU1EH3u0X0 .

Oh, if you have any Yamaha XG compatable MIDI hardware (or even simply the Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesizer), here's the MIDI file: http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/Grabbag_XG.mid .

Small thing - you posted this theme in the wrong key - You did it in D minor, it should be down in F sharp minor...

However, it's interesting to hear.

[Rich Nagel]

Hehe, I was waiting for someone (another musicially knowledgable person) to mention that <grin>.

Actually, it was intentional; it sounded a bit better in that key when played back with XG hardware/S-YXG50 softsynth, and the key of D made a little more guitar "sense" to me (I actually learned the bass part to this eons ago, and my mind wouldn't "work" in F# LOL).

[ryche]

Cool.


All that music stuff just went over my head and to Montana where it's taking a summer vacation up in the mountains at a lake filled with busty beautiful women who will slave over all their needs.

Out of curiosity - is it easy to transpose it down to F#... just for fun???

I only ask because I have perfect pitch, and I can't get over the new key... and I'd love to hear both versions...

I tried transposing it down using software, but that also affects the type of sound each instrument makes...

Is it easy to upload a second recording in the original key???

[Rich Nagel]

Originally Posted by Piano Man

Out of curiosity - is it easy to transpose it down to F#... just for fun??? I only ask because I have perfect pitch, and I can't get over the new key... and I'd love to hear both versions...

Sure 'nuff

Originally Posted by Piano Man

I tried transposing it down using software, but that also affects the type of sound each instrument makes...

Yeah, a lot of MIDI sequencers/editors will cobble up the sysex dumps required for the XG hardware effects processors.

Originally Posted by Piano Man

Is it easy to upload a second recording in the original key???

Attached is it... and ya know something??? I think I like it better as well <grin>


P.S. What I use for all of my sequencing -> http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#cakewalk . Been using that for over a decade and a half, and it freely downloadable now

P.P.S. More of my own stuff (as well as more "XG-ified" things) here -> http://www.richnagel.net . Also, a lot of Yamaha XG stuff that you might find useful in general -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/ .