Just a short while after the announcement of the Game Music Cover challenge, MSX composer Meits starts us off with the first entry for the challenge. Triggered by the announcement he did not create a single song for us to enjoy, but in stead covered the entire opening sequence of Micro Cabin's classic Xak II Rising of the Red Moon.

To recreate the opening sequence Meits used an interesting choice of hardware. The songs were completely tracked on a Panasonic FS-A1WX and a Panasonic FS-A1ST in Moonblaster 1.4. Using WORP3's MIDI PAC he sent the notes to his various MIDI synthesizers; a Roland Fantom XR, a Roland JV 1080 with a SR-JV80-13 expansion board and a Korg X5D. All of the sounds were then recorded in Cool Edit 1.2 and finally mixed in Sony Vegas.

Here's a bit more information about the tracks that are in the opening sequence and the equipment used:

  • 0:00 Prosperity (19 Channels. Roland Fantom XR, Roland JV 1080, Roland SR-JV80-13)
  • 1:04 Ominous Clouds (20 Channels. Roland Fantom XR, Roland JV 1080, Korg X5D)
  • 4:12 Main Title (29 Channels. Roland Fantom XR, Roland JV 1080, Korg X5D, Philips NMS 1205 Music Module)
  • 7:17 Presents (9 Channels. Roland Fantom XR, Roland JV 1080, Roland SR-JV80-13, Korg X5D)

For optimal enjoyment of this 10 minute opus Meits also released a video on his Youtube channel that shows the original intro demo with Meits' remade soundtrack. Enjoy!

Relevant link: Xak II - Rising of the Red Moon - Opening Sequence (Meits)

Comments (11)

By MsxKun

Paragon (1154)

MsxKun's picture

23-12-2013, 20:06

He's not a Roland fan, is he? Cool

Time to listen!

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10190)

wolf_'s picture

23-12-2013, 20:33

I actually recall introducing him with the ROMpler concept @ my studio, when demoing my Roland JD990. Soon after that he found a JV1080 on eBay and the following years he gradually expanded. Perhaps if I'd shown him a Yamaha ROMpler he'd have been a Yamaha fanboy.. So, you can partly blame the Roland-parade on me.. Smile

By Low_Profile

Champion (426)

Low_Profile's picture

23-12-2013, 22:05

Great, now the rest of us can't use the excuse anymore that the deadline is too short Tongue

Sounds great Meits, I've always been in love with the serene sound of the 4th part of that demo. So simple, yet so mesmerizing! Smile

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1842)

Jorito's picture

24-12-2013, 00:30

That last part is only 7 (different) notes, but simplicity really has its charms. Unlike the 40+ channel monster song I'm working on now...

But indeed, the challenge is off to a great start, the song(s) sound great (especially since I know how he made it). I would have used some epic drum (taiko) ensemble and/or foot march samples in the Main Title part though Wink

By WORP3

Paladin (864)

WORP3's picture

24-12-2013, 18:20

Great song !

By Manuel

Ascended (20029)

Manuel's picture

24-12-2013, 20:16

Now for the Gazzel intro ofcoz...

By meits

Scribe (6606)

meits's picture

25-12-2013, 12:12

MsxKun wrote:

He's not a Roland fan, is he? Cool

Time to listen!

I didn't even use my XV 5050 Tongue

By meits

Scribe (6606)

meits's picture

29-12-2013, 15:15

wolf_ wrote:

I actually recall introducing him with the ROMpler concept @ my studio, when demoing my Roland JD990. Soon after that he found a JV1080 on eBay and the following years he gradually expanded. Perhaps if I'd shown him a Yamaha ROMpler he'd have been a Yamaha fanboy.. So, you can partly blame the Roland-parade on me.. Smile

Before I visited you, you pointed me at this JV1080 at Marktplaats... I took that thing with me to get a little tutorial Wink
I stuck to the brand because the things I can do with them, work more or less the same on each of them synths... My Korg X5D has a way different menu structure... I like the Roland menus quite a lot more... Same goes for the sound when it comes to mid priced synths like these...

By Creepy

Champion (335)

Creepy's picture

17-01-2014, 14:50

I really miss the forest level music right after the intro Wink. Great work!

By meits

Scribe (6606)

meits's picture

17-01-2014, 22:03

I made an opl4 version of that one :D

By mesiasmsx

Prophet (3464)

mesiasmsx's picture

15-02-2014, 16:41

+1 .

My MSX profile