blog:retro_audio_captures_reviews

Audio / MIDI Captures

  • Year: 1993
  • Platform: Sharp X68000 (YM2151, MIDI), PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PSP, PS Vita
Tracks
Devices used
  • Yamaha YM2151 internal music chip (from a real Sharp X68000)
  • Roland MT-32
  • Roland Sound Canvas SC-55
  • Roland ED SC-8820

  • Year: 1992
  • Platform: Sharp X68000 (YM2151, MIDI), Arcade, NES, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PSP, PS Vita, TurboGrafx CD, Wii
Tracks
  • Loading (track played in background whilst floppy disks are loaded)
  • Title Screen
  • Burning Heat (Stage 1)
Devices used
  • Yamaha YM2151 internal music chip (from a real Sharp X68000)
  • Yamaha YM2151 + Roland MT-32
  • Roland Sound Canvas SC-55
  • Roland ED SC-8820

Gradius II is a bit unique in how it plays back music; you have 3 options: Internal, MIDI MT-32 or MIDI SC-55.

However, the MIDI MT-32 option is not as simple as it sounds; it actually plays part of the music back via the YM2151 and uses the MT-32 to fill-in and complement the sounds that the internal sound chip makes. If you mute the YM2151 output and just listen to the MT-32, it's clear that it's only playing part of the melody. It actually works really well; you get the crisp, sharp sounds from the YM2151 synth and the warmer, deeper sounds from the Roland unit.

In MIDI SC-55 mode the internal YM2151 plays no part in the music output - all sounds are generated by the Sound Canvas module.


  • Year: 1991
  • Platform: FM Towns, MSX (MT-32 MIDI), PC-98, SEGA CD, Sharp X68000, Windows
Tracks
Devices Used
  • Roland MT-32

  • blog/retro_audio_captures_reviews.txt
  • Last modified: 2021/04/08 16:24
  • by john