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gm​.​dls

by Danny Wier

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1 04:42
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2 03:32
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3 02:55
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4 02:32
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5 02:20
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6 03:02
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7 02:34
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8 03:22
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9 02:32
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10 02:12
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11 01:31
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12 01:55
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13 03:08
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14 01:21
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15 01:33
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16 02:13
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17 02:00
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19 02:59
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20 01:08
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21 02:01
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22 03:36
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23 03:03
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24 01:09

about

In the late 1990s, Microsoft began to include the Roland SoundCanvas Sound Set (which the company calls the “GS Wavetable Synth”) with Windows—I think this began with Windows 98, or maybe it was XP, I forgot...

The file containing the sounds is called “gm.dls” and is 3.28 MB in size. It contains the 128 instruments of General MIDI plus many (though not all) of the Roland GS extension.

Today, there are far superior synth sounds available. But for nostalgia’s sake, I decided to write and record 24 short instrumental works using the old sounds. I also decided to use no effects at all, even reverb.

These are tunes of various genres, from funk to reggae to metal. On several tracks, the sampled sounds of the classic Roland TR-808 drum machine supply the beat.

I also use my “avant-garde” compositional techniques which are also featured in my symphonies: odd and changing time signatures and the 72-tone equal temperament scale.

The title of each track is indeed the same as its track number.

The versions of each track are likely going to be different than what would be heard on the completed album. These are just previews. I’m hoping to have the album released in early 2017.

credits

released January 2, 2017

license

all rights reserved

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about

Danny Wier image

Danny Wier Austin, Texas

Composer, arranger and music theorist, largely self-taught. I've recently finished an epic symphony and am working on another. Looking for work in movies and video games. Most of my recordings use Garritan sampled instruments.

Two of my "gimmicks" are the use of 72 tones per octave instead of the usual 12, and irrational time signatures such as 2/3 and 4/5 (and "third notes", "fifth notes" etc.) ... more

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