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First post, by rfnagel

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FOLKS,

Lee Jackson, the composer of the music from Duke Nukem 3D, has just released a MIDI of the FULL version of his song "GrabBag", which is the title theme music of the game!

THIS version of the MIDI file is the one that the single Redbook audio track on the Atomic Edition and Plutonium Pack CD was recorded from, and is an EXTENDED version of the same MIDI file that is heard within the game!

The ZIP actually contains TWO MIDI files:

One MIDI file is targeted for use with the Windows Media Player (or some other simple MIDI player), especially if you do not have a dedicated music card in your system. It is a simplified version of the song designed to play back on these systems, so it may not sound exactly like the Redbook audio CD version.

The second MIDI file contains GS (Roland General Standard) MIDI commands specific to Roland MIDI modules and devices. It is the more authentic of the two files, using patches that match the Redbook audio CD version. Of course, it will sound most authentic if you use a Roland SC-88 Sound Canvas, which is what Mr. Jackson actually used to record the Redbook audio CD track.

Anyhow, download and enjoy! 😀

The download is here -> http://leejacksonaudio.lbjackson.com / http://leejacksonaudio.lbjackson.com/html/download.html / http://leejacksonaudio.lbjackson.com/GrabbagO … VersionMIDI.zip

...and don't forget to comment and thank Mr. Jackson on his Facebook page here -> https://www.facebook.com/leejacksonaudiocommunity !

WOOHOO!!! 😀

Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel
http://www.richnagel.net

Reply 1 of 9, by truth_deleted

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That's great news! I enjoyed listening to both versions of the extended edition in gsplay/dosbox. 😀 There seems to be a (recent) resurgence among fans to find the intended sound of dos games, such as for Doom. With the composers willing to share their music and thoughts, it should generate greater interest to find and preserve the missing parts.

Reply 2 of 9, by SpooferJahk

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I pretty much lost it when I saw that on my Facebook feed, it really is amazing having the raw audio source for the full version of that song. Since I am on the subject, I thought I would share a recording I made of the song on the Roland SC-55, with some tweaks to make it sound right on that device. Unedited sounds a bit off to me personally and I tried to match the settings to the shortened MIDI in the actual game as close as possible. It may not sound perfect, but it still sounds fantastic if I say so myself.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/nchnsqtuhgq … ptimized%29.wav

Reply 3 of 9, by d1stortion

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Just a minor observation, but there's zero reverb in these .mid's. The redbook track must have been mastered with external reverb. None the less it's great that he was able to find these files after all the years and release them 😀

On the topic of 90s Grabbag remixes, the Total Meltdown rendition by Mark Knight is great as well (as is the whole soundtrack from that game, frankly). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf84qDCq_8E

Reply 4 of 9, by rfnagel

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Yeah guys, I was pretty geeked-out hearing about this release as well! 😀 I've been drooling for that version of the MIDI file now for literally YEARS (there are a few stray messages from eons ago by me here and there around the Internet asking Joe Siegler about it as well... heh, side note: I remember one reply by Joe Siegler where he stated that Lee Jackson had LOST the original MIDI 🤣!).

As far as the reverb, there is indeed a bit of MIDI CC91 in the MIDIs, but not much. Being that he dressed up the MIDI files for the release, he MIGHT have simply reduced the reverb (for whatever reason).

Anyhow, speaking of remixes (of sorts), in case y'all haven't heard my "XG-ified" version (XG "Tube" amp effects and such for the overdriven/distorition guitars) of the in-game tune here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwsmnS-waCU ... and YES, I like reverb 🤣! 😀

Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel
http://www.richnagel.net

Reply 6 of 9, by rfnagel

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rfnagel wrote:

As far as the reverb, there is indeed a bit of MIDI CC91 in the MIDIs, but not much.

I was MISTAKEN... there is NONE (MIDI CC91s are all "0") DUH!

@keropi, yer welcome! 😀

Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel
http://www.richnagel.net

Reply 8 of 9, by realnc

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paatudos wrote:

Does this tune play normally for you guys ? This doesn't sound similar as duke in-game or do I have some errors in my settings.

In another thread you mentioned you're using a SB16 with OPL3 to play MIDI files. So it's normal that it sounds totally different.

Also, this MIDI file is different from the version that came with the game anyway. It's intended to be played on a Sound Canvas SC-88, not on an OPL3 synth. This is how it's actually supposed to sound like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUX9MMCOejg