I love the sound of 8/16-bit console synthesizers, I already have a chipped gameboy that I use live in my Dj-ing.. So does anyone know any ways of playing megadrive/genesis synthesizers that would be possible to use live? I'd love to throw some of that into some breakcore or jungle... Cheers! ------------------------------------ 'Me like tings'
Aw heck, just use a second generation Yamaha DX/TX synth and that's your Genesis sound right there! But as far as using the actual chips, I haven't a clue.
I'm working on something that would fill the purpose... a PC is required, or any other host machine, perhaps another MD even :P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh6i4JBXrpA
Didn't Yuzo Koshiro put a YM2612 in the mixer he uses to make his non-game songs? No wonder he could do what he did in the Streets of Rage series =P
Any 4 op, 8 algorithm synth can imitate a Genesis to some degree. It's a shame OPL3 can only do 4 of the algorithms though. Just about any FM synth Yamaha made (also the sy/tg 77 and SY 99) can play Genesis instruments, though the formts aren't always compatible, and some synths, like the DX7/II/FD and TX7 are mono or bi timbrial, so if you wanted to do an FM song, you'd have to do it one track at a time.
Yeah, I wouldn't even bother with the DX7 and the other higher end synths if the Genesis sound is what you're after. Back when I was designing Sonic QX, I wanted to be sure that TX81Z voices would be compatible with the YM2612, so I ported a voice from Green Hill Zone to the TX81Z and played it, and after a little tweaking (because there are slight technical differences in the way the numbers are handled), I got the voice playing. It sounded just like the Genesis. And likewise afterwards, TX81Z and compatible voices were made portable to the Genesis. But my point is it's been proven and tested. I'd say one of Yamaha's 4 operator, 8 algorithm synths would be an easy way to go about what you want. I have a TX81Z, and for anyone who wants a Genesis sound, it's a product I recommend. But if it's a full keyboard you want, the equivallent to the TX81Z is the DX11.
There is also the V50, which is supposed to also be a higher quality keyboard varaint of the TX81Z sound engine. Another good one is the FB-01, and is usually cheap (relitively) but I think it can only be programmed externaly, otherwise you're stuck it';s internal sounds. I have a TX802, with up to 8 voices simultaneously of 4 or 6 op sounds, but it doesn't work right. The SY/TG 77 and SY99 can do both 4 and 6 operator with multiple waveforms, but those things are maddenly complex. Yikes, I derailed this thread.
