PC FF music - how it should have been done

[Rubicant]

Instead of using the soundfont system for FF7 PC, they should have made .XM or .IT files for the music. There would have been better compatability and quality in the music for these PC versions of the FF series. First off, the soundfonts included with FF7 could have been a lot better. Back when FF7 came out, there were several computer owners who did not have an AWE32/64. The music and graphics are a large component to what makes these games good. It was a bad idea for Eidos to use the soundfonts the way they did. Hell, even if they used MP2s, Mods, or WAV files, several people would be happier with their version of FF7.

If anyone makes any FF7 or FF8 ports, use .IT or .XM files to ensure the best possible music for the Final Fantasy experience.

[ficedula]

Possibly ... the only problem with MOD's and alikes is the processor time they use. When FF7 was released, both me and my friend were /right/ on the lower end of the CPU speed range (I had a 133MHz and a 3d card, he had a 166MHz and no supported 3d) so the game played well, but not particularly fast. Add the CPU overhead for a high quality XM in and you could've been talking skipping... MID's of course use virtually no time, when you have hardware synthesis.

But now, of course, that's not a problem ... we all have far too much CPU power to spare as it is  But I don't blame the original time for staying away from XM's then.

[Aaron]

When FF8 came out, they probably could have done a MOD-like file format.  However, I'm perfectly happy with the DLS (well, Samuel's DLS that is )

[Rubicant]

With all that said, Ficedula's FF7Music patch for Cetra should replace the ff7 midis. There are plug-ins for winamp that let you listen to .Xm .It and Mod files. All that needs to happen is for FF7Music to be able to work without that Runtime error when you try to use it. Is there a way to fix that error?