I'm currently an avid Commodore 64 user. I've thought about getting an MSX time and time again, but never got around to it.

Right now, I am an amateur musician using my C64 setup to make music. I have one for beats, and a MIDI capable one acting as a real-time synth....

What's missing from this setup is the warm, happy sound the Yamaha chip in an MSX provides.... I'd like to partake of this!

I know there are a bunch of MSX models/brands/stuff out there...... so I was hoping someone here could help me narrow it down to what I really need!

I'd like a MIDI capable MSX that has a live-play style program that would essentially turn my MSX into a piano... I have a midi controller that I currently use w/ my C64 , in a similar manner.

I Also would like to be able to use trackers, or other sequencing software to arrange beats/rhythm stuff. I saw there are some trackers available. I hope they are not dependant on a certain MSX model. Also, in terms of trackers, are there preset sound banks, or must I sample all of my sounds into the MSX?

There is an MSX w/ built in MIDI right??

finally, once all is said and done, whatever MSX I am directed to will still be able to play games right!?

thanks a ton!

there are a number of ways to get midi from your MSX, check the hardware page. Some of this HW is hard to get...


http://www.faq.msxnet.org/hardware.html

There are different possibilities.

- You can buy "your average MSX" (any model will do) and a Philips Music module. This module has MIDI-in, MIDI-out and MIDI through plugs. There is also a dedicated keyboard available.

- You can buy "your average MSX" (any model will do) and a MIDI Saurus interface. Also MIDI in, out and through. Excellent tracker included in the package. A bit hard to find and thus a bit expensive.

- There is a special Yamaha MSX 1 "music computer", the CX5M. A lot of information can be found here on MRC. Extremely rare though...

- You can buy a MSX Turbo R FSAIGT. This MSX model has MIDI in, out plugs. Quite expensive machine.

- And there's ofcourse the FAC MIDI interface. Good tracker also...

No MIDI alternatives:

Buy a MSX and insert a:
- FM Pac
- Konami SCC cartridge
- Moonsound

And there is the PC program Vortex Tracker which emulates the MSX PSG chip. Free to download but not as much fun as "the real thing"...

The MSX with MIDI build into it is the Panasonic FS-A1GT MSX turbo R, but these machine a realy rare, last week there was one on marktplaats (dutch kind of ebay) I think it was sold for 400,- EURO

You can buy any MSX you like and also buy a Philips Music Module to add the MIDI connectors to your MSX, it also has the following features:

32kB sampleRAM for the ADPCM unit
MIDI interface (in/out/thru)
connector for music keyboard (NMS-1160)
2 tulp mono Audio-out connectors
builtin microphone (mono)
external microphone connector (mono)
When external microphone or line is connected the internal microphone is automatically disabled
Volume adjuster (Sample volume)
audio-in connector (mono, tulp, to sample from a "line"-source)
built in software (Music-BOX, CALL MUSICBOX)
Only sold in Europe

MSX-Audio is a standard for FM sound synthesizer cartridges, which contain an OPL-compatible chip made by Yamaha, the Y8950. This chip is called the MSX-AUDIO. The FM sound generator in the MSX-AUDIO is compatible with the YM3526 (OPL, sometimes called OPL1), so any OPL software can be used with an MSX-Audio. The chip was produced in 1984.

Man . there was a Yamaha music computer on eBay a few weeks ago... if only I knew they were somewhat rare, and if only I had the money for it....

I found this and am currently watching it...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270259043844&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

Now that I have figured out the hardware aspect, software wise, is there anything that turns the MSX into a live-synth? I could get by without the MIDI aspect, as long as there is a relatively cheap way to obtain the non MIDI gear mentioned. I've used a bunch of trackers, so I am hoping I will be comfortable using an MSX one also.

and I take it there is no homebrewn MIDI interface for the MSX yet that's cheap/easy to find?

I should also like to add.... I've got an Amiga A1200 setup I'm looking to trade / sell away in favor of an MSX. I have the Octamed studio disks, and an 8bit sound sampler interface....

and hey while I'm at it, instead of making a new thread.... will a US MSX play Japanese games without any mods?

thanks for all the help!

Quote:

I found this and am currently watching it...

Uh?, forget it, it's a plain MSX1 without diskdrives and with a strange combo PAL+60Hz used in Brazil. Your best option is to go for a japanese MSX2+, you'll get out-of-the-box: 100V, NTSC color system, 60Hz and a very good looking and powerful machine. The drawback is mainly the price and the bare 64Kb (most european MSX2s build 128Kb or more) that the japanese machines usually build.

Take a look at those topics opened too by US people:

First time in front of an MSX2 system - the technical difficulty stage...PAL to NTSC output advice
Got my first MSX2 (Panasonic FS-A1)

Basically, if you have a modern TV set capable of process PAL color signals you're done. If it even builds a SCART connector you'll be happy with most of the common (thus cheaper) european machines. Of course, the mains is not a problem if you've a step-down converter...

Probably this is a good buy for you.
You get a Sound Module and a Keyboard, the Module also has MIDI.

http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=260265078421&Category=72500&_trksid=p3907.m29

The SFG-05 FM-unit is built around the YM2151 / YM2164 OPM chip.

Ok, so that brazilian MSX is garbage, and I should track down a Japanese model? Will I be staring at Katakana when I boot a Japanese one up??? Will English software will work on it?

I am watching that FM sound module/keyboard. That thing looks sweet.


I will have to keep my eyes out on eBay for a nice MSX2+ then. There aren't many on ebay atm.

There's no such thing as US MSX's.... Except for the Yamaha CX5M, which is a very basic MSX1 with only 32kB RAM, but it has built in the SFG-01 or SFG-05 synthesizer and MIDI interface, as is already described above (the YM2151 OPM). Practically you can only use the original Yamaha cartridges on it, which do seem to do what you want.

If you are going for the warm sound of the AY-3-8910, forget about MIDI. And there are very few trackers for it (the aforementioned cross-tracker Vortex Tracker is probably the best).

Also check Meridian (Use Google), an in-progress MIDI program for e.g. the MoonSound cartridge (which has an OPL4). More info about the sound extensions on http://faq.msxnet.org/ (look for MoonSound, SCC, FM-PAC, MSX-AUDIO).

MIDI is not that popular on MSX. And there are very few programs that support all MIDI interfaces...

If you want to play games right, get a Japanese MSX with expanded RAM. If you have no problems with 50Hz PAL, get a European MSX2, might be cheaper and easier (if you dislike Japanese keyboards, e.g.). If you have good money, buy an MSX turbo R (GT model), also gets you a MIDI implementation.

Popular trackers: Moonblaster (for FM-PAC/MSX-AUDIO, but old and rather limited), Oracle (a lot more powerful than Moonblaster), Moonblaster for MoonSound (for MoonSound, obviously, there's a WAVE and an FM version).
There are a dozen of MIDI programs, but none are really popular, I think. At least I have no experience with them.

You might want to try out some stuff on emulators first, to get an idea. Feel free to ask more questions, though

Good luck. And: it's probably wise to ask here before buying hardware.

Quote:

Ok, so that brazilian MSX is garbage, and I should track down a Japanese model? Will I be staring at Katakana when I boot a Japanese one up??? Will English software will work on it?

Nope, but you have a Japanese keyboard, which can be annoying at times. You are able to type Japanese, but in general you won't be bothered with it. English software will work fine, if the machine has enough RAM (as already pointed out, many Japanese machines have only 64kB.

Quote:

I will have to keep my eyes out on eBay for a nice MSX2+ then. There aren't many on ebay atm.

Depends if you want a Japanese machine with only 64kB. Or, if you can expand it yourself. (Or maybe you can handle 50Hz PAL?)

Oh., well by US, I guess I meant English.

I'm pretty comfy on Japanese keyboards, I have a laptop with one, and an old keyboard for a PC. I have limited Katakana reading abilities. They're getting there!

From what I have gathered, I don't think MIDI is where I want to go with an MSX either. My Commodore 64 seems to take care of live-play better, but they lack in alot of bassy stuff. They do ok, but ehh...

Could you recommend a solid MSX emulator to test out these music programs?... they are available in for download to try, correct??

Google around. Top emulators: blueMSX and openMSX (disclaimer: I'm a developer of the latter ;-)

Note that almost all JP software runs on EU MSX'es (the Japanese Metal Gear is the only exception I know if, it has an explicit check), but you may be getting wrong characters (i.e. not the Japanese ones, but either graphical characters or plainly white squares). The other way around as well, as long as the machine has enough RAM. Most European MSX homebrew software uses 128kB RAM or more. (And those music programs fall in that category, I think Oracle even uses 256kB.)

Depending on what you want to do exactly with MIDI, it can be done on MSX. If you can be more specific...

What kind of music chips are you interested in? FM (MSX-AUDIO (OPL), MSX-MUSIC (OPLL), Yamaha SFG-01/05 (OPM), MoonSound FM (OPL3)? Samples (Moonsound OPL4, Konami SCC)? Very old school (AY-38910 PSG, MSX-MUSIC, MSX-AUDIO, Konami SCC)? Modern (for MSX terms; MoonSound, MIDI connected to modern equipment)?

Well I will be avoiding a European MSX, because I don't want to deal with PAL if I can.

In terms of MIDI, I wanted to have an MSX setup with a MIDI keyboard controller to play in real time, like I do with my C64 using M64 (you program the SID chip with a scripting language), or MyMIDI (functions similar to a real-tweakable synth with ADSR, Waveform, Filter). That is the only MIDI implementation I would want. If there is no software that allows this, I would then just prefer to have a good piece of software that I can use to generate beats and even full songs. I grabbed ProTracker and a few other trackers from the downloads page here to give a test on an emulator.

In terms of sound, I don't want samples or modern MIDI stuff. I'm hoping for something similar to this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lsaroEr87aI

It's the Ecco music from Sega Genesis. The MSX and Genesis have a similar Yamaha chip if I'm not mistaken, so I would mainly be looking into FM.

I'll have to give your emulator a try when I am testing these programs I downloaded...

ProTracker is very basic. Maybe you could get your hands on FAC Soundtracker (Pro) or Moonblaster. With the last program you can play music through FM Pac and Music Module at the same time, creating some sort of stereo-effect.

I think Channel Pressure (from the bytewizards) does the same as MyMidi, but you need a musicmodule for that. And if you gonna get a musicmodule, get moonblaster, so you can create your own songs. Get SoundTracker PRO if you want to send out midi messages to your keyboard.