GM/GS/XG synth recommendations

[xttl]

Greetings!

I've had a Roland CM-500 for a couple of years now and I also have a Yamaha MU80 which I bought about half a year ago. I'm thinking about getting more MIDI modules right now so I would like to ask you for any possible recommendations. I can't really compose music so my primary use for these is listening to MIDI music from computer games and some newer fan-made stuff like those Mega Man XG MIDIs by Teck (if you know of them). This is also why I'm not really willing to pay more than around 150-200 euros (as used), it's not really going to be a professional tool or anything for me (but if what you're going to recommend is not too much in excess of that then tell me about it anyway).

So...any GM, GS and XG synths besides these two you would recommend? I don't think either the CM-500's "mode C" or the MU80 are bad, but there's always room for improvement (especially on electric guitars, for Doom)! I also like to just switch to a "different" sound now and then, sometimes I use the CM-500 and sometimes I use the MU80 when I'm listening to "plain" General MIDI stuff, so maybe something from other manufacturers could be a good choice too...at least as long as it's just different and not worse (like Creative!). I just bought a SC-88ST from eBay which, if I'm not mistaken, will not sound that different from the CM-500's GS mode (=SC-55?) except for more polyphony which will definitely be useful for some games. I was also thinking about buying a SC-88 Pro (with original manuals and box) which went for around 200 euros but reached the conclusion that I don't want to spend that much if it's sound is not clearly better and/or different than the CM-500's for GM/GS.

External synths only please. No PCI/ISA/WB/whatever cards, thanks.

Btw. on a somewhat related note: I'm also interested in getting a CM-32L due to the CM-500's LA mode not being so perfect after all (I didn't know about this back when I bought it, heh). What do you think would be a reasonable price for one? I can see a couple on eBay right now but their prices seem excessive considering that I got the CM-500 for around 100 euros and from what I've gathered it's supposed to be ZOMG R@R3 so some people want it bad even though the LA side is flawed (I didn't know this either when I bought it). I will probably also buy an original MT-32 unit soon just for the cute LCD display, but those are not too pricy anyway. :-)

[endre1952]

A CM-32L is offered on this Japanese auction:

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n83228815

It's a good price. Actually, the item has been relisted already, nobody bid on it.

You could get this item by using http://www.fromjapan.co.jp/, but you'd have to pay for shipping, of course.

  Endre

[shad0wfax]

Honestly, if you already got a CM-500, a MU80 and a SC-88ST and you intend to use them only to listen to game midi files (and not for making music), then you hardly need any more stuff. Game music was mostly programmed either for the MT-32 or for the Roland Sound Canvas (SC-55 and compatibles), with very few exceptions (CM-64, SC-88 or Yamaha XG). If you like, you could get a "real" MT-32 or a CM-32L, but the differences regarding the LA part of the CM-500 are not that great (indeed, they are quite minimal).

Another story is if you wanted to make some original music. Then there are quite a good bunch of interesting synths around the 200 euro tag. Moreover, you wouldn't depend on GS/XG compatibility.