Nirsoft Runasdate
Dorthea Seate
One thing I am wondering about - how did you get your SQ5 installation? Did you install any patches? Originally, I was using Collector's installer (I have the Space Quest Collection Series), but just for kicks, I tried an "alternate" version with the same results.
There's something odd in your video. I tried to reproduce this 'hanged note' problem in SCVA without success. But what's troubles me more is the SC MIDI channels that appear to receive the game's MIDI data shown in your video. It looks like they're route from the game to channels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 in SCVA. On my end the active channels at this Sierra intro are 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Saw that you already solved the problem but just a thought, which MIDI driver did you pick from the game's setup: "Roland MT-32, MT-100, LAPC-I, CM-32L, or CM-64" or "General Midi Sound Driver"? The right one to pick when using GM sound module is the General Midi Sound Driver, and gladly Sierra included this driver with their latest games (see screenshot)
If you pick MT-32 when using GM sound module you'd probably encounter wrong instrument mapping. This was the case with the incorrect sound when opening/closing the box in KQ6 that you posted on YouTube =hxqfqhtcno0. I'm not sure but it might be worth to check if this solves this problem as well.
Just so you know, you can use Sound Canvas VA longer than 10 minutes for free by using the program RunAsDate (nirsoft) and setting it to not move time forward (all boxes unchecked) and make a shortcut. You can now play your DOS games in peace. This will give you a longer time to decide whether the program is worth it.
The suggestion regarding freezing the clock is kind of borderline advice. Part of having no Warez or Abandonware here is respecting software licenses. Bypassing the time lock circumvents the Roland trial license conditions which is almost certainly not kosher.
I browsed all 24 pages of this topic, but it seems that no one here got it working on a mac?
Followed Phils workaround on youtube and installed the plugin into reaper. So far so good.
But there is no stand alone app of Sound Canvas VA for Mac OS, that is needed for the other steps.
I recently got a MacBook Pro and spent some hours trying to get SC VA working. I've found that success relies heavily on the DAW one uses. For example, Garageband works but doesn't accept Sysex commands through the VST so the instruments never change and always play piano. You can also try DP9 and load the plug-in as an AU. However, I've only gotten one channel to work. Cubase is also an option but 10gb of DAW seems overkill for SC VA. For now I've resorted to Munt as it's much easier to get working than SC VA.
Changing instruments does not require SysEx support. Of course it can be done also with SysEx messages but the more common method is sending Program Change messages (and optionally Bank Select controller messages for variation banks). You should try sending Program Change messages, Garageband should support this.
Thanks for the reply. I'm not exactly sure how DOSbox or ScummVM passes MIDI through the Coremidi driver on OSX but I'm certainly interested in sorting it out, especially if it can be done for free in Garageband.
Unfortunately I'm not a Mac user so I cannot help with OSX/Garageband setup.
But there must be a way for SC-VA to work with Garageband since it is mentioned as a supported host on:
_canvas_va/
Although it is mentioned that SysEx is not supported under Garageband but as I said above it is not required since DOSbox/ScummVM sends midi messages 'as is' and games using GM send Program Change and Controller messages.
Also according to the above link there are problems with Program Change/Bank Select messages with some hosts but Garageband is not listed as a problematic one.
Maybe some midi message filters are applied either in Garageband or in coremidi by default?
All legitimate versions of SC-VA work in XP but only in trial mode. So the 10 min/session restriction is active, but the 14 day limit is not (most likely because of the activation component's incompatibility).
Edit:
SC-VA under XP:
_BdqT60A
Edit 2:
You should not install it under XP, just use the '...\Roland\Sound Canvas VA' folder's content of your legitimate copy.
Slightly different feedback in my case. The version Roland sent me to download for purchase is version 1.0.0.6. This is the one I installed and activated under Windows 7. It works under that OS, no problem. Now if I copy my installation folder into Windows XP and try to use it under VST MIDI synth, I get no sound. If I replace the 1.0.0.6 "SOUND Canvas VA.dll" from a 1.0.0.3 from a trial version, I'm no getting a "Your trial period has expired" message. Can this be related to the fact that I tried to run a trial version a few years ago? So, in my case, the time limits definitely triggers. Are the legit and trial versions of the "SOUND Canvas VA.dll" different?
So, making this working under XP might not as straightforward in the end.