[vcf-midatlantic] Roland MT-32 equivalent?

[David Ryskalczyk]

I've got a few MT-32 units, and its big brother, the Roland D-50. Haven't had sufficient time to use them lately, though.
A side project some time ago that I was involved in was cataloging the different MT-32 hardware and firmware revisions, and helping improve the Munt MT-32 emulator. Which, by the way, has improved to the point where it produces nearly identical output to the real hardware — in fact, somewhat too clean as there isn't any noise introduced as in the real hardware.

If you're looking for General MIDI, one of the later Roland Sound Canvas boxes might be a better bet. As others have pointed out here, the MT-32 has a very specific MIDI implementations, and music not written for it will sound wrong. I believe there is a General MIDI compatibility patch set, but it's not as good as the real thing.

David

On Nov 16, 2015, at 17:04, Ethan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

>> MT-32s are not so expensive, look on ebay. I've also got 2 or 3 here I don't need anymore...
> 
> PM me your asking price but ping original poster first!!!
> 
> My current midi collection:
> Korg Wavestation EX
> Yamaha Motif rack module
> EMU Esi-4000 w/ ACARD SCSI to IDE + CF card
> Yamaha VL70 (wind controller/module)
> Yamaha RM1X
> Midi router unit
> Roland JV-30 keyboard (I think)
> 
> Normally I buy and repair the stuff for fun and to make sure another unit isn't lost in the world.
> 
> Past units now gone:
> Roland MC-505 (I repaired)
> Roland MC-307
> Yamaha DX7II-FD (I repaired)
> Korg M1
> Ensoniq ASR-10 (I rebuilt it)
> Ensoniq something or other 76 key or something
> 
> Future list:
> MT-32
> Oberheim Matrix 6, 6R or 1000
> Roland JP-8080
> 
> Engineering projects sort of underway:
> Korg multicart
> 
> A friend got his Roland MT-32 signed by Al Lowe at MAGFest 2 years ago. That was cool and it was awesome meeting Al Lowe. If only he brought a saxophone!!