Whats the big deal?

[Space Quest Lover]

I notice everyone is going on about this card, whats so special about it?

[Doctor Creep]

Somebody called "Space Quest Lover" should know

For example these superb MT-32 tunes:

"SPACE QUEST III - THE PIRATES OF PESTULON"

"Main Title Theme"
by Bob Siebenberg

Great sort of Supertramp pop song. Awesome!


"SPACE QUEST III - ROBOT GARBAGE FREIGHTER"
By Bob Siebenberg

Super cool dramatic piece of music with superb sysex-sounds....


"SPACE QUEST IV-ROGER WILCO & THE TIME RIPPERS"

Main Title Theme
by Mark Siebert

What should I say - a classic!


SPACE QUEST IV-ROGER WILCO AND THE TIME RIPPERS

"Closing Themes"
By Mark Siebert

Wondeful epic theme. Begins very dramatic with a variation of the main title theme - with a quite middle part.

Lutz

[Space Quest Lover]

And whats the difference between this card any other ones?

[Alistair]

To be very concise: Listen to what you hear in the games (SQ3/4 for best examples) and then listen to an MP3. Like the SQ3 title theme, or the Garbage Freighter, as Lutz said. In SQ4, listen to Sacks, Xenon, or Big and Tall for good comparisons. Quite simply, your sound card cannot compete with the MT-32 (For SQ's 1VGA, 3 and 4 anyway)! (Which, incidentally, is NOT a sound card, though it has a sound card equivalent, the LAPC-1)

- Alistair

[Danny]

THe reason behind the preference of the Roland MT-32 Sound Module is that it was the module used by the composers of various Sierra games, basically all Sierra games between King's Quest 4 and the era of KQ5, SQ4, QFG4.  Simply put, it's the offical module of the Sierra games, replaced by the Roland Sound Canvas in later games.

[Laust]

Danny pretty much sums it up. The difference between the MT-32 and other cards/synths is that is the pinnacle of sound hardware used in PC games at the time. Although you can praise the card based on its technical merits, the support in games alone is enough to make it special.

And the fact that, aside from a small handful of Roland models, nothing sounds like it or can emulate it, still makes it an attractive piece of equipment for fans of older PC games.

[Doctor Creep]

I notice everyone is going on about this card, whats so special about it?

So special about the MT-32 is that you can create your own patches using sysex, many game makers (big names like Jan "Miami Vice" Hammer and Bob "Supertramp" Siebenberg did many MT-32 tunes) have done this (SIERRA) and maked it sound fantastic! That means many MT-32 soundtracks have their special unique sounds - and this btw makes it so difficult to emulate the MT-32...

BTW: Which card do you use for midi?

Lutz

[HondaSiR]

The MT-32 is also capable of making custom sound effects, not just custom instrument sounds. This unique feature is not found on newer soundcards such as the Audigy. Although most sound cards claim to emulate an MT-32, the reality is they can't. Most soundcards can only emulate the built-in MT-32 instrument patch (and this emulation is not really 100% accurate) but not the custom sound-effects capability. And that alone makes the MT-32 (and its true Roland compatibles) a very unique and treasured device. You have to have one to become a believer.