Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) Hi Guys! In response to a previous post (Do You Play?) I am creating a new thread to answer it in more detail and with a sample. I have been a keyboard player since I was 12 years old. That's 31 years ago. I've had LOTs of keyboards from the "toy" range including a few Casio models and working my way to Yamaha. I remember the Yamaha models the most with my favorites being the PSS-480 and the PSR-510 both of which are very good keyboards in their respective class. I recently picked up a Casio MT-240 which was a late 80's keyboard I wanted but never got. I have to say that it does sound good for an FM based modulator but really doesn't do MIDI any justice. Paired with an ST you can make the keyboard sound good but you are limited to only three channels. The fourth channel is only used for a clock which I have not figured out yet. But what little time I have spent learning the keyboard's lack of MIDI functions I have managed to pull off a few decent "my versions" of some of my favorite NES video game music. So, for your enjoyment I will share what I am doing with this keyboard. For starters I am including a recent piece I did from Konami's Life Force. This is from the Starfield stage (2nd level). Everything was done using Sweet 16 on an Atari ST through MIDI using only three channels. I played every part and it took me a long time to figure out how to get custom drum tracks out of this keyboard. All that you hear is coming from the MT-240 played back from the Sweet 16 file. I hope you enjoy it. Life Force_Starfield.mp3 Edited March 8, 2018 by kamakazi20012 Justin and RickR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 (edited) Space Harrier_Main.mp3 Well, it's not 100% accurate yet but here is the Space Harrier theme I've been working on. There are actually two variations to this game's main theme music. The arcade and most ports to consoles and computers are done in the key of "C". The Master System has two versions of it. In Japan the SMS got an FM add-on to boost the music and sound abilities of the console, the USA version didn't get that. So, if you hear the FM version it is in the same "C" key. But the SMS version without the FM add-on is actually done in the key of "A". That is the version to which this is based on. Remember, I'm still working on it but this one is done "Mikey Style!". It's not 100% accurate but I hope you all enjoy it. Edited March 9, 2018 by kamakazi20012 Justin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Does this keyboard let you record a short sample? If yes, that's the keyboard I had back in the 80's and absolutely loved it. I need to find one to buy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Does this keyboard let you record a short sample? If yes, that's the keyboard I had back in the 80's and absolutely loved it. I need to find one to buy.... No. But I know what keyboard you are speaking of. The keyboard you are speaking of is the Casio SK-1. I remember that keyboard well but 32 keys was not enough for most of the music I enjoyed playing. It simply did reach the octaves I needed. I believe that is the keyboard that plays Jingle Bells with dog barking voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Maybe, but I think it may have been a different model. The yellow/red buttons are what set off my memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 PS - your MP3 files sound great. Nicely done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 PS - your MP3 files sound great. Nicely done! Thank you. I have more coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Does this keyboard let you record a short sample? If yes, that's the keyboard I had back in the 80's and absolutely loved it. I need to find one to buy.... The red buttons on the MT-240 are for recording while playing. The left yellow button is to activate the tone bank (basically mixes two tones together to "supposedly" get more sounds) and the right yellow button is to hear the demo "Night Birds" originally by Shakatak. Keyboard version and...for clarification... The original band performing the same song in 1984. Justin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Is it me or does hearing that demo make you think of Sega's Out Run? Justin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Is it me or does hearing that demo make you think of Sega's Out Run? MOST DEFINITELY! I love that Out Run flavor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 That live performance was done in Japan in 1984. Out Run was released to arcades in 1986. It is therefore highly possible that the music in Out Run was inspired by Night Birds. Just a theory but makes sense to me. Justin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Yes...I am also an oddball. One of my most beloved musical pieces comes from none other than Star Voyager on the NES. Im working on that one now. Such a nice piece put very technical and only using three channels. I've got the Title music figured out...work on the ending theme now. Will post when both are done. Actually a fun game but very tough. RickR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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