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Descent seriesDescent 2 Music Question(7 posts)solved(7 posts)solved
(7 posts)solved
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Posted June 07, 2015
I have a question regarding Descent 2 and its music. If I launch the game though DosBox, I get a metal soundtrack. If I launch it through D2X Rebirth, I get different music in the title screen, as well as the first level. Which soundtrack is the official one? Why the differences?

Also shoutout to A_Future_Pilot for all his guides. They were extremely helpful.
This question / problem has been solved by A_Future_Pilotimage
Posted June 07, 2015
Thanks for the shoutout! You're very welcome! :)

If you install Rebirth with the Windows installer linked in the FAQ here, there's an option to download the Redbook soundtracks. That's what you want to get for the metal music you hear in DOSBox.

Basically the difference is that Descent (and D2) originally came with MIDI music. Later on there was a release that had the Redbook audio included (several different bands composed songs [some loosely based off the MIDI songs] for Descent 2). That audio is what is included by default in the GOG release :)
Posted June 08, 2015
Thanks for the info.

I didnt use the installer as I had already downloaded the zips from the Rebirth website. I did however grab the redbook audio and the different DXAs from your threads.
Posted June 09, 2015
You can also get it working by mounting DESCENT_II.inst in Daemon Tools as it's actually basically a .cue file and then D2X will pick it up automatically.

I actually prefer the MIDI music FWIW, fits the game a little better and has a specific track for each level, I think the redbook audio just plays tracks on a playlist.
Post edited June 09, 2015 by Duffking
Posted October 29, 2015
I agree Duffking, the original MIDI tracks on both Descent 1 and 2 had a "je ne sais quoi" about them. Some of the best, if not the best, suite of MIDI tracks on any old 1990's game I remember. I still have a full set of just the MIDI files themselves isolated from the games! Though Descent 2 buttfked us by only having four tracks vs at least 20 for Descent 1!

The only downside to them being MIDI came after 2001. That's when my totally Microshit Windows free, DRDOS (yep I wouldn't even have Microshit's DOS neither) Pentium 120 died. I bought a Windows ME system to replace it - I had to, no DOS only systems existed anymore!!!!! No MIDI file ever played the same again on anything Windows 95 or later! The instruments were different, and just plain sounded wrong! I've never ever found a solution to that even after 14 years of looking!

The music on Descent 3 is just total pap in comparison!
Post edited October 29, 2015 by JMayer70
Posted October 29, 2015
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JMayer70: No MIDI file ever played the same again on anything Windows 95 or later! The instruments were different, and just plain sounded wrong! I've never ever found a solution to that even after 14 years of looking!
There are many threads here on the GOG forums about using third party MIDI soundfonts to replace the ones provided by the Microsoft General MIDI instruments. Last time I read about them was in the System Shock thread for the recent release of the first game.
Posted November 08, 2015
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JMayer70: No MIDI file ever played the same again on anything Windows 95 or later! The instruments were different, and just plain sounded wrong! I've never ever found a solution to that even after 14 years of looking!
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korell: There are many threads here on the GOG forums about using third party MIDI soundfonts to replace the ones provided by the Microsoft General MIDI instruments. Last time I read about them was in the System Shock thread for the recent release of the first game.
Thnx Korell, worth a look. I've tried a some replacement midi sets before but they didnt seem to make a lot of difference, but every new one is worth trying
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Descent seriesDescent 2 Music Question(7 posts)solved(7 posts)solved
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