How do I fix the awful TiMidity++ sounds?

[isme]

On my computer GZDoom's music sometimes sounds awful.

It's most obvious for TNT's MAP02 music: "Smells Like Burning Corpse".

Here it sounds like this.

Link to MP3 I recorded of my computer's audio output: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vj2osi4b ... i2dmj&dl=0

I think it's supposed to sound more like this version I found on YouTube.

Link to audio extracted from the source using yt-dlp: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vewzxxtw ... c3zmo&dl=0

Link to YouTube source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSNRUlhebcA

I'm using the default MIDI device "TiMidity++". That one normally sounds best on my computer.

My GZDoom version is "4.10.0 - 2022-12-04 15:23:05 +0100 - SDL version".

My OS version is "Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS, Linux 5.15.0-76-generic on x86_64".

Is something wrong with my configuration of GZDoom or Timidity? Is my IWAD corrupted?

Years ago when I played on Windows this just worked, so I don't know where to start to fix it.

Any help would be much appreciated. I want to get the most out of the game!

[wildweasel]

The YouTube recording of this soundtrack was made off of a real Roland SC-55 MIDI module, not from Timidity, so what you're probably wanting is either a different soundfont to use with Timidity that sounds like one (but isn't strictly going to be 100% accurate by nature), or a way to emulate an SC-55, such as Virtual Sound Canvas.

Alternatively, the video description mentions where they got the recording from, as a pack that you can load with GZDoom. http://sc55.duke4.net/games.php#doomtnt

[Graf Zahl]

IMO the best renditions of Doom's music (and also Heretic's and Hexen's) are these:

http://sycraft.org/content/audio/doom.shtml

[isme]

> The YouTube recording of this soundtrack was made off of .. a pack that you can load with GZDoom

Ah, I hadn't realized. Thanks to both for sharing those links.I may end up using a recording pack if I can't fix the MIDI config.

I think the problem is that I'm expecting Ubuntu to sound like Windows. When I last played ZDoom years ago it was on a Windows 7 computer. I don't have a copy of Windows to compare any more, though.

Windows ships with the "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth", a Roland SC-55 soundalike. Since most people play on Windows, it's the de facto standard.

How would I install and use "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth" on Ubuntu?

Or is there another soundfont that sounds good enough?

I've found a couple of threads on the Doomworld forums discussing the Windows synth. In the meantime I'll read through these to see if I can find an answer for Ubuntu.

Microsoft's GS Wavetable Synth is the best soundfont for Doom?
https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... -for-doom/

Microsoft GS Wavetable player??
https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... le-player/

[isme]

> How do I fix the awful TiMidity++ sounds?

Use FluidSynth instead.

> That one normally sounds best on my computer.

Not sure where I got that idea from! FluidSynth sounds like the Windows I remember.

Link to MP3 of recording of GZDoom with FluidSynth: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kys82p12 ... lz22b&dl=0

> default MIDI device

GZDoom's default MIDI device is actually FluidSynth. That's what I get when I choose "Reset to defaults" in the Options menu.

So I must have absent-mindedly changed the MIDI setting at some point and to frustrate myself now when it makes a difference.

---

Before I realized my mistake, I found some other relevant threads around the forums.

Play Doom midi with VLC properly?
viewtopic.php?t=77565

Making Gzdoom sound like it did in 2.4.0
viewtopic.php?p=1027704

From the second one I learned that Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth is incompatible with GZDoom's license, so it's unlikely to be officially supported.

But FluidSynth and the default soundfont are close enough, so my problem is solved.

Thanks for all the help. I learned a lot more than I was expecting about MIDIs today

[wildweasel]

You might still be able to find an SC-55 soundfont bank, if you want to take it that extra step closer. But I'm glad you at least got it sounding somewhere within your boundaries of "good enough."