The Gang of Five

Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => Hobbies and Recreation => Gamers Zone => Topic started by: Flathead770 on April 03, 2008, 01:58:47 AM

Title: Synthesia
Post by: Flathead770 on April 03, 2008, 01:58:47 AM

Have any of you guys heard about it? Looks like it might be pretty fun. This video pretty much explains everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2mPdXJsLcc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2mPdXJsLcc)

Title: Synthesia
Post by: action9000 on April 03, 2008, 02:43:13 AM

OMG okay, I'm downloading this! :D

As one of the few here with access to a MIDI keyboard, I'll let you know how this game works. B)

EDIT: haha, this is kind of amusing!  It's a little buggy but I do like how it grades based on timing.  You can also select exactly what MIDI tracks you want to perform and what others will be autoplayed/muted.  It's pretty powerful, really.  I'm rather impressed.

Title: Synthesia
Post by: Kor on April 03, 2008, 04:53:22 AM

Looks like an expensive game, you'd have to go and buy your own keyboard to play the game, but for those who already have one they may find it great fun.

Title: Synthesia
Post by: Flathead770 on April 03, 2008, 08:48:17 PM

I have a keyboard as well, but i don't have anything to connect it to my computer with. :cry .

Title: Synthesia
Post by: action9000 on April 03, 2008, 09:22:00 PM

As long as your keyboard has a MIDI out (looks like this)
http://proaudiomusic.com/images/midiPort154x134.gif (http://proaudiomusic.com/images/midiPort154x134.gif)

you can easily connect your keyboard to your computer via a simple MIDI -> USB adaptor such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/M-AUDIO-Midisport-Un...e/dp/B00007JRBM (http://www.amazon.com/M-AUDIO-Midisport-Uno-MIDI-Interface/dp/B00007JRBM)
Warning:
"I called M-Audio's tech support line, and they quickly admitted that the device doesn't work with Yamaha PSR keyboards."

You may want to shop around for adaptors.  I don't use an adaptor (my keyboard has a USB port so I can just send MIDI via the USB cable).  I didn't look very long when finding this link.  As for the quality of M-Audio.....eh, they're okay.  Entry-level pro stuff usually.  Not incredibly cheap/useless, but not my favorite brand either.

As for MIDI cables...they're cheap.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/music-sound/...prod55906A.html (http://www.ramelectronics.net/music-sound/keyboards-and-midi/midi-cables/55-906a/prod55906A.html)


It's not too difficult as long as you have a place to put your keyboard around your computer. B)

Title: Synthesia
Post by: Flathead770 on April 04, 2008, 01:16:55 AM

Quote

As long as your keyboard has a MIDI out (looks like this)

Ya, mine has that.

Quote

It's not too difficult as long as you have a place to put your keyboard around your computer.

I'm still thinking about what to do with that, i f i do a bit of re-orginizing i should be able to make room.

Anyways thanks for all the help. Looks like i have to a bit of shopping then :D .

Title: Synthesia
Post by: action9000 on April 05, 2008, 07:58:09 PM

I want to point out a bug in this game which is rather important to know about:

When you close the game, be sure to press CTRL-ALT-DELETE and check to see if Synthesia is still running.  I didn't notice that it didn't close properly and my CPU was running at 100% for days (this game uses every bit of available CPU power), wasting electricity and generating excess heat (not to mention the wear and tear on my CPU!).

Just a warning for everyone. When you close the game, make sure it actually closes. B)

Title: Synthesia
Post by: Flathead770 on April 06, 2008, 01:11:28 AM

Good to know, thanks for the heads up.