Mockingboard Rendered Ultima Music
MIDI files for the old Ultima series are available with a quick search on
the net. However, somehow it just isn't the same to listen to it rendered
with modern day midi players and instruments. Somehow I can never get
the instruments to sound like the old wave synthesis I remember from playing
Ultima III, IV, and V on my apple II with my mockingboard.
The mockingboard was produced by Sweet Micro Systems. These samples (except Ultima III which does use a mockingboard A)
are actually played on a phasor sound board, an enhanced mockingboard compatible
card made by Applied Engineering. It supports 12 voices as opposed to
6 voices supported by the mockingboard. Ultima V supported the phasor
(or 2 mockingboards) for additional voices, while I believe the older Ultimas
did not support more than 6 voices by default.
The songs have been digitized in 16 bit stereo at 44khz and then converted
to 160kbps mp3 files.
All composition are copyright Origin Systems,
Inc. and the original authors.
Ultima III
The ordering of the songs were determined by the order they play in the main
view title screen.
Compositions by Kenneth W. Arnold
These tracks were in mono. This version lets you select from three of the early mockingboard cards (The Sound 1, the Sound 2, and the Sound/Speech 1)
Wanderer
Towne
Castle (mp3 titled Unknown)
Dungeon
Combat
Shopping
Exodus' Castle - The Isle of Fire
There seem to be two missing tracks not played in the intro screen that other midi versions list. I believe the original file may have been called assorted but the two tracks have been called Alive and Fanfare. I may have to play through the game to get these. Update: Thanks to Great Hierophant for emailing me the title for unknown and telling me where to get the Alive and Fanfare snippets (reaching Ambrosia and defeading exodus respectively). If anyone has a saved game at these locations it would speed up recording them, I haven't had time to play through the game. Make sure to put 'mockingboard ultima' or something similar in the title!
Ultima IV
The ordering of the songs were determined by the order they play in the main
view title screen.
Compositions by Kenneth W. Arnold
Towns
Shopping
Dungeon
The Castle
Rule Britannia
Wanderer
Combat
Shrines
Fanfare Of Lord
British
Ultima V
The ordering of the songs were determined by the order they are listed in
the music screen.
Compositions by Kenneth W. Arnold
Stones composed by David R. Watson and Kathleen Jones
Ultima Theme
Britannic Lands
Cap'n Johne's Hornpipe
Engagement and Melee
Stones (by
Iolo & Gweno)
Greyson's Tale
Fanfare for the Virtuous
The Missing Monarch
Villager's Tarantella
Halls of Doom
Worlds Below
Lord Blackthorn
Dream of Lady Nan
Joyous Reunion
Rule Britannia
See other mockingboard music here