Ultima 8’s Soundtrack On A Roland JV-1080 and Sound Canvas
Over at Jaesun’s Classic Video Game Music Channel, Jaesun999 has just posted two separate renditions of the soundtrack of Ultima 8, one “as played through the Roland JV-1080 as played in game using DOSBox v.74”, and one “as played through a Roland Sound Canvas (Roland CM-500 MODE C), which the game was originally designed and composed on.”
Here’s the JV-1080 version:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLF0A8BCE7FAE05390&hl=en_GB&w=560&h=315]
Roland JV-1080
And here’s the Sound Canvas version:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLAD18FFF0FF78BC28&hl=en_GB&w=560&h=315]
Roland Sound Canvas
They’re both hauntingly good renditions of the soundtrack, and I’ve pinged Jaesun999 about obtaining MP3 downloads of both versions. For now, though, enjoy the YouTube playlists.
I thought it was originally written for the Roland Sounds Canvas SC55. I don’t own a CM500 so not sure the differences if any.
From what I have read, there is very little difference between the SC55 and the CM-500 (MODE C which is the built in Sound Canvas). That said, the reason I did this project was to document, as it were, the differences between the various Roland Sound Modules. I still am in the process of buying a Sound Canvas (either a SC55 or another one) and will do another series with that as well.
Of note in Pagan, the entire Sound Canvas mode when playing in game, there is not ONE single use of the “alternate instruments” that are available on the Sound Canvas. Which is most interesting…. Why the composer chose not to use them, who knows. Maybe he hated them. hehe This was my observation while looking at the RAW games music files as well as capturing MIDI live with DOSBox,
As for MP3’s. I’m not going to distribute any of these. I would probably be sued by EA. So not going to touch that topic. Sorry. 🙁
Sorry for the wall of text, but anyways, I hope you all enjoyed these. This is my single favorite soundtrack of a video game. It is just pure awesome. <3
I would however be inclined to do some of these tracks in OGG format for the Pentagram project. Just like the OGG music for Exult.
Great stuff. I have the following Roland devices if you need any recordings. I have a great pro setup at home to record.
Roland MT 32
Roland CM64
Roland SC-55 Mkii
Roland SC8850
The SC8850 is the last sounds canvas roland did and has some amazing sounds. I managed to get it working on my Apple IIe and Ultima V 🙂