GDC: next-gen audio will rely on MIDI, says Sony [correction]
- March 16, 2007 00:00 AM PST
In a surprise announcement, representatives from Sony announced that MIDI may have a new lease on life when it comes to next-gen audio technology.
By Eugene Huang
[editor's note: Last week, we posted a piece claiming that representatives from Dolby held a presentation in regards to MIDI technology being harnessed for usage with next-gen console systems. However, representatives from Sony quickly informed us that the representatives were not, in fact, from Dolby, but were from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. We apologize to Sony, Dolby, and our entire readership for our error. Below is the corrected news article.]
Look out, world, 'cause the next big thing in gaming audio is going to be the old... big... thing.
SCEE representatives Jason Page and Michael Kelly spoke at a GDC session last week on the future of audio technology in next-generation console gaming. And in a shocking revelation, they claimed that more and more developers will be using MIDI-based technology to power their in-game tunes.
Yes, you read right. MIDI - the relic from the bygone era of the IBM Compatible PC, situated in gaming audio history right between the origins of voice sampling technology and the clicks and beeps of tinny PC speakers. MIDI was once the music development tool of choice, but after the advent of newer, more realistic sound formats, developers made a mass exodus towards pre-recorded background music.
But MIDI is new and improved, say the Sony reps. They claim that, due to the power of next-generation consoles, MIDI samples can attain a fidelity comparable, or even better than those performed on dedicated sythesizers. Plus, file sizes would no doubt be smaller and load times would be exponentially quicker.
Furthermore, developers are beginning to complain about the lack of interactivity associated with pre-recorded music, with Koji Kondo stating earlier that, if the music isn't interactive or rhythmically in-tune with the game, it "might as well be piped from a source outside of the room". According to Page and Kelly, MIDI would be able to provide that interactivity Kondo seeks, in addition to providing a sound similar to an orchestrated score.
Audiophiles have much to look forward to for this console generation.
