How to Connect a Roland Sound Canvas + MT-32 to your PC

[jharris01]

The following picture explains the most common way to connect a SC-55 (or any other SC model) and a MT-32 to a modern PC using a daisy chain approach. With this setup, you press ALL + MUTE on the SC unit to let the MT-32 play. Please note your USB MIDI cable has two plugs labeled on the connector itself. You need to connect the "out" plug to the MIDI IN jack in the SC.








Considering how cheap MIDI USB cables are these days, you can also get two USB cables and hook each Roland unit directly to your PC, like this:



This approach gives you the ability to choose directly from your computer which unit you want to use. Recommended if you want to compose music in addition to retrogame.




USB 1.1 or 2.0?

USB to MIDI cables use very little bandwidth. Unless your cable brand calls for it specifically, then it's safe to connect them to an older USB 1.1 hub or computer port. Just mentioning this for people who may have an old USB 1.1 hub lying around.


Do I need drivers for the USB cable?

For most cases generic USB to MIDI cables are plug and play and do not require drivers. Some brand name cables may come with a driver disk.


Using a joystick to MIDI cable?

Some people still have soundcards with joystick ports on them or are playing with old DOS rigs. Although these cases are outside the scope of this thread, the original daisy chain example can be adapted to fit this particular situation. If you are playing on a modern machine then it's easy. Just replace the USB MIDI cable in the original picture with your joystick cable.


What audio cables do I need?

There are many ways to answer this question. Basically you get a set of cables, adapters or combination of both. The MT-32 has two large mono 1/4" phono jacks for left and right channels. For that there are many options out there. These are just a few:





On second generation MT-32 models there is an additional stereo 1/4" phono jack for headphones. You can take advantage of this and use cable like this one. Notice the photo shows an additional phono adapter. You may be able to find a Y splitter cable that has a 1/4" plug already built in.





The cable going from the SC to your PC is an 3.5mm to RCA ("Y" splitter) cable.





Where to get?

You can find all your cable needs off places like Ebay or Monoprice.com. If you live in the UK and know of a good online store please let me know so I can add the information here.

[Shadow Lord]

Nice illustration!

[Ari]

Great explanation, jharris! Thanks!

[Roy]

Great post!
I have been using Putzlowitschs Vista MIDI-Mapper (http://putzlowitsch.de/2007/08/07/sichtwechsel/) for changing the default MIDI device under Windows 7/Vista. Installation is easy: just place PLWMidiMap.cpl in the \Windows\System32\ folder (or \Windows\SysWOW64\ if you have a 64-bit operation system). Open Windows Control Panel (which should be viewed by icons, not category) to access the new MIDI-Mapper.

[Shadow Lord]

Roy I have been using the Vista MIDI Mapper as well. However, I am not sure if it is working. In my Win7 x64 system I have an audigy X-Fi card and switching MIDI mapping does not seem to change the sound quality on MIDI playback. Of course it could be the x-fi needs sound fonts loaded. I have also tried the MIDI picker with the same result.

[Shadow Lord]

jharris01,

Do you know if this setup will also work with a SC-55 MkII? That is, does the MkII also have the capability to input/pass through audio form the MT-32 and be completly muted through the buttons? Thanks!

[jharris01]

Yes. It's a standard feature in all SC models.

[Roy]

Shadow Lord, I am unfamiliar with the X-Fi, but for me the Putzlowitschs Vista MIDI-Mapper works great. For example, with DOSBox set to the default MIDI device I can easily use different MIDI devices (e.g., default Microsoft GS, MIDI devices connected using a cheap USB-MIDI device from eBay and other USB equipped MIDI devices).

[Shadow Lord]

Yes. It's a standard feature in all SC models.

Thanks. Any recs on a USB Midi cable? Ideally one with support for XP/V/7 in x32 and x64?

[Shadow Lord]

Shadow Lord, I am unfamiliar with the X-Fi, but for me the Putzlowitschs Vista MIDI-Mapper works great. For example, with DOSBox set to the default MIDI device I can easily use different MIDI devices (e.g., default Microsoft GS, MIDI devices connected using a cheap USB-MIDI device from eBay and other USB equipped MIDI devices).

Hmm... I can switch as well but playing back an MIDI file does not result in a change in sound quality. Do you hear a difference (e.g. GS vs. MIDI device) in music playback qualitY?

[ebondefender]

Terrific advice, I just noticed this post. (It's after midnight here, kinda loopy) Thank you for the awesome explanation.

[Roy]

Yes. It's a standard feature in all SC models.

Thanks. Any recs on a USB Midi cable? Ideally one with support for XP/V/7 in x32 and x64?

I bought one from eBay for 5$ (shipping included). Works great in 64-bit Vista/7. The seller had told me that Vista is not supported, but I took the chance...

Shadow Lord, I am unfamiliar with the X-Fi, but for me the Putzlowitschs Vista MIDI-Mapper works great. For example, with DOSBox set to the default MIDI device I can easily use different MIDI devices (e.g., default Microsoft GS, MIDI devices connected using a cheap USB-MIDI device from eBay and other USB equipped MIDI devices).

Hmm... I can switch as well but playing back an MIDI file does not result in a change in sound quality. Do you hear a difference (e.g. GS vs. MIDI device) in music playback qualitY?

Sure. What MIDI options do you have? Which player are you using?

[bzyphk]

Just my 2 cents...I can connect the PC-MIDI interface OUT to the MT-32 IN, then connect the MT-32 THRU port to the GM-based device (in this case an SC-88ST) IN port.  Both devices are hooked up using the R/L OUT connection independently to a stereo R/L IN connection, and I toggle between the two.  I've used a Joystick/MIDI, USB/MIDI and a Roland interface card successfully with this configuration.

Why would a 5-pin DIN cable be OS-specific?  At worse, the cable's audio quality would vary on the cable quality, not the OS.  My E-Mu XMidi 2x2 works great in Windows XP, and E-Mu has drivers for all the later Windows operating systems and Macs.  Linux detects it but I can't seem to make it accept the MIDI signal...

[jharris01]

Yes. MIDI cables (5-pin din) are not OS specific. For USB-MIDI cables however there may be cases where the cable comes with a driver disk.