Originally posted by Masterlink
Try experimenting with stronger instruments, like @4 and @6 (if used with strong ADSR like $ed $7e $e0), raising the volume of the percussion and redefine the instrument for every note, or they will lose its pitch (note that this only happens with percussion) after playing the first note. So you have to do this:
If it still isn't enough for you, maybe using a different midi with more stuff may do? There are some with more than one channel for percussion, and with background strings to make it sound less empty.
Oh, and adding echo may make it sound better, just make sure it isn't too strong. Try with this one:
$ef $ff $20 $20
$f1 $04 $50 $00
Code
r8/o3@21b32r16^32 [@21b32]2r32@21b32/@21 b32r16[@21b32]2r16@21b32 [@21b16r16@28b16r16@21b16 @21b16@28b16@21b16]42
If it still isn't enough for you, maybe using a different midi with more stuff may do? There are some with more than one channel for percussion, and with background strings to make it sound less empty.
Oh, and adding echo may make it sound better, just make sure it isn't too strong. Try with this one:
$ef $ff $20 $20
$f1 $04 $50 $00
Where do I put all this stuff? As I said, I don't understand anything about porting. And I can't really use "a different" midi because I didn't use one in the first place; I can't get tinymm to output anything that sounds like music. I prefer doing it from scratch rather than building up from a tinymm-disaster. I used the original .nsf file for reference.
Anyway, is music porting really about trying every single combination of every command until it gives something half-decent?
Originally posted by Masterlink
If it still isn't enough for you
I would say this is enough. The problem is with the standards. Nowadays it's unthinkable to have a soundtrack lesser than Chrono Trigger. That's why I'm hating hacking more and more. You can't do it for fun anymore, it has to be more than perfect. You have to make a polished Brutal Mario with orchestra music and HD hand-drawn graphics with outstanding level design. I'll stop here, but I could rant for HOURS about this.
Mod edit: Nuked annoying table stretch.