Very interesting stuff. BTW, you say you've contacted Roland Japan. Do they have an e-mail address for support/questions? I've tried to find one at www.roland.com, unsuccessfully

Hi all,

After finishing my last theme, "DixieSaints", on the Integra-7, I was wondering how it would sound like in the MT-32 and  in the original Sound Canvas. So I took the midi data and I did minimal modifications in order to play them correctly on those synths (actually, on a CM-500 in CM-64 and CM-300 modes, because currently I have neither a MT-32 nor a SC-55). Those modifications refer only to program changes, volume levels and the like, so the midi file is essentially the same.

These are the results:

1) MT-32 version: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/DixieSaints_MT32.mp3

2) SC-55 version: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/DixieSaints_SC55.mp3

3) INTEGRA-7 version: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/INTEGRA-7/DixieSaints.mp3

One might think that the comparison is unfair, because the MT-32 version uses preset patches, which doesn't reveal the real potential of the synth. That's true, but the other versions also use preset sounds, so they're all on an "equal" basis.
Another slight difference is that the MT-32 has a preset pitch bend range of a full octave (+/- 12 semitones), and it is quite complex to modify this range (it seems that it has to be done via sysex and I haven't had success); so I finally opted for eliminating all the pitch bend messages from the MT-32 version.

Have fun!

The LSL3 soundtrack and all the other audio files have been moved to another server.

Now you can donwload the LSL3 sountrack here: http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/INTEGRA-7/LSL3_Soundtrack_v4.rar

And in the directory http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/INTEGRA-7/ you'll find some audio demos that I've been recording using the Integra-7 (some of them with a few sounds from the Motif Rack XS and/or the RD-700GX). Some are original and other are adaptations. At this moment the newest one is http://shadowfax.ismael.cat/INTEGRA-7/DixieSaints.mp3. All comments are welcome!

Considering that it's a format created by Cakewalk (now owned by Roland), I suppose that Sonar should open those files (I don't know for sure because I use Cubase). But don't take it for granted, because newer versions of Cubase cannot open projects from old versions  Don't know if this has something to do with the acquisition of Cubase by Yamaha.

I think that there are freeware format converters, anyway.

I've prepared and recorded a few audio clips of different styles which show some of the "acoustic" sounds (non "synthy", that is, including also electric instruments such as electric pianos, electric guitars and so on) of the Integra-7. IMHO, the acoustic sounds of the I-7 sound very "acoustic" (pardon the pun!). Here are the links:

* Some "acoustic rock" (a fragment of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"): https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/INTEGRA7/HaveYouEver.mp3

* Some smooth jazz (an adaptation of a midi file from Yamaha, originally created for showing the capabilities of their XG models): https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/INTEGRA7/SmoothJazz.mp3

* A jazz trio piece (adapted from a Roland's GS midi file): https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/INTEGRA7/softly.mp3

* A simple "baroque" tune created by me to show some solo string intrsuments: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/INTEGRA7/String_Quartet_Integra.mp3

* A fragment of a W.A. Mozart's woodwind ensemble divertimento: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/INTEGRA7/Woodwinds.mp3

I hope you'll enjoy them!

Cool! To be honest, I'm not a fan of Christmas Carols, but it must be admitted that they sound great. Very good use of the sounds!

BTW, which software do you use for editing the midi files (Cubase, Sonar, Logic...?)

Wow, that's really a nice work! (and for sure there is a lot of WORK there, in a litteral sense).

I haven't watched the full video, only a few parts of it, but I'm pretty sure that anyone can found any info he wants to know about the MT-32.

I agree with jharris01 that it would be interesting to "split" the video into several parts, according with the relevant topic which is being treated in each part. I suppose that total newbies will be mostly interested in a general intorduction and overview, while more experienced people are propably interested only in some very specific and/or technical topics, without having to watch other parts about topics which they already know about. In any case, this is a great work!

I'd like also to make another suggestion, although I'm aware that it would imply a long and hard work. Ideally, it would be fantastic if the video had also subtitles of your speech, for people who have notions of English but are not native speakers in order to follow your explanations better, especially in some fast passages which might be a bit difficult for "non-trained" ears.

Anyway, THANKS, THANKS, THANKS a lot for your work and your help to the MT-32 community!

Hi all,

I've decided to sell my Yamaha MU-500 sound module. Why? Because for listening to XG midi files it's enough with a basic XG synth such as a MU-50 or MU-80, and for creating music I already have more powerful synths, so I simply don't need all the extra sounds.

As you surely know, the MU-500 is a scaled-down version of the MU-2000, the top line of Yamaha's MU series of XG synths. It has _all_ the sounds of the MU-1000/2000 (more than 1,500 I think), but with only 64 voices of polyphony instead of 128, no LCD screen and buttons, no expansion slots for PLG cards and with a slightly scaled-down effects section (but still quite powerful, with reverb, chorus, variation and 2 insertion units). It also has 64 midi channels (!), usb connection and digital output.

Here's an example of the MU-500's sound: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5059817/Chillout_MU500.mp3

I'm asking 150 euro for it (around US$200), and I think it's a good value for money. The unit is in good condition, although with some slight marks and scratches in the case (I can send photos). I someone is interested I can also add a Casio GZ-50M for free

Very interesting project! BTW, do you already know the answers to all these topics, or is it intended to be a kind of wiki?

Hi Andrew! The biggest drawback of the Integra-7 is te price Otherwise, it's really great, despite the limitations (some of them quite difficult to understand, though).

IMO, the most relevant limitation is the absence of a proper software editor, but on the other hand this should be the easiest problem to fix, if Roland decides to release it (I hope so). The 4-slot limitation is quite strange, given the price of memory nowadays, but 4 cards should be enough in most situations, considering that you've got access to the "native" sounds also. The SuperNATURAL acoustic sounds are simply fantastic (noticeably better than SRX sounds, which are already great).

The PCM card uses the whole 4 slots (I suppose that it holds more Mb of samples). Honestly, I don't see the point of including this expansion. If we look at the patch list, it's very simmilar to the SD-50 soundset (the SD has more patches in native mode but the order and the names are the same), and the sounds are not editable (just like in the SD-50), and the quality is in general terms lower than the SRX cards and of course than the native SuperNATURAL sounds.

It would be nice to have 32 midi channels, but IMO it would be much better to have 256 voices of polyphony instead of 128, even with 16 channels. The Integra is conceived to be used in a studio or live, and not to play midi files, so in these contexts 16 channels are usually more than enough. But this synth is very "polyphony hungry", so 256 voices is more a need than a luxury.

Thank you very much Alistair for your words. The Integra is a really good synth, but I bought it only a few weeks ago and I'm sure that with more practice and experience it can sound much better than I'm able to make it sound now. I've just finished the new version of the LSL3 soundtrack but I've detected some weak points which I think I could improve, but I'm not going to make version 5 yet... . IMO, an "ultimate" version of this soundtrack would require a complete re-recording of the midi data, instead of working over the MT-32 or the GM version, in order to eliminate completely some synchronization issues of the midi tracks and to take advantage of the Integra and Motif features.

On the other hand, it's true that now I own very good synths, but for what reason do you think you'll never have some of them? Although I've had dozens of different models during the last 20 years or so (yes, I'm pretty old), nearly all of them have been second hand (=cheaper), and instead of "collecting" them, I've usually sold the old ones to get the newer ones (with some exceptions). For instance, I sold my Fantom XR, 7 SRX cards and an audio interface to get enough $ to get the Integra. You can always try to get the gear in the secons hand market and sell what you don't use/need/want and getting awesome synths is not as difficult as it might seem

Yes, I've checked the D-110 manual and you are right. I suspect I got a little confused and I was thiking about how the SC and MU series handle the drums. Too many synths, I'm afraid...

Thanks for your words Alistair. Regarding the question, the Integra includes the XV/JV waveforms and because of its synthesis architecture it can replicate exactly the patches. Nevertheless, the effects section is slightly different and some people in the RolandClan forum talks about some slight differences between the XV-5080 and the Integra in some patches. I cannot confirm this because I don't have a 5080, but I suspect that the differences are minimal, probably less than the SC-55 and the "SC-55 map" in the latter Sound Canvas models.

Glad you like it! In fact, the instrument of the lead melody is also a clarinet, but it's true that it sounds quite different from all other Roland's clarinet sounds I've heard so far. In general terms, Integra-7 acoustic sounds are very... erm... acoustic, so it's normal that the whole soundtrack sounds more jazzy overall, as most tunes are "jazzy".

The main reason for the filenames is that this way I have no problems with my car's mp3 player, which always plays the files in alphabetical order

Thanks a lot for the detailed info about the samples. Of course, you're right when pointing out that the rythm section of the D series is technically superior than MT-32's. I's also agree that the D-series sounds are more realistic. When I say that the MT-32 sounds better I'm simply making a subjective judgement. IMO, the sounds are more... I'd say... lively, or punchy. What I mean is that I had to choose only one drum set between the D series and the MT-32, I'd choose the latter. I'd even choose the MT-32 drum sounds over the SC-55 ones.

On the other hand, when talking about flexibility I'm simply referring to the fact that there's not a strict distinction between "instrument" patches and "drum" patches given the architecture of the MT-32.

So it seems that maybe the MT-32 didn't include the drum samples from the D-series because of its limited ROM size, as the MT-32 was more "low-end"... I think it's plausible. Oddly, there's more flexibility in the MT-32 and IMO the drums sound better!

Thanks s lot for your kind words. Regarding next soundtracks, well, I haven't decided anything yet... although I'd like to make something non-Sierra also, such as Sam & Max, for instance. But I confess that currently I don't know, as I'm very busy trying the thousands of new sounds from the Integra...

Hi all,

As it's been often pointed out in this forum, the MT-32 is a quite unique piece of hardware, even when compared to other Roland synths. Its rather peculiar shape and dimensions, the MIDI channel mapping, and the fact of being conceived and marketed as an addon for Roland's digital pianos, are only a few of the aspects that differentiate the MT-32 and its derivatives (CM-32L, MT-100 and so on) from its closest cousins, such as the D-5/10/20/110 synths.

One of the most evident differences is the drum sounds. Instead of using the same drum kit as the D-series, the sounds are different (and, actually, I'd say better). The point is: I'm pretty sure that Roland didn't create that drumset specifically for the MT-32, so they probably borrowed the sounds from some other models. I've read somewhere that the drum sounds come from the TR-707, TR-727 and TR-505 drum machines. The fact is that while I'm pretty sure that the latin percussion sounds come from the TR-727 (which ONLY has latin percussion sounds, no drums), I'm a bit confused about the drums (bass drum, snare, toms, hi hats and so on).

Although I've listened to some videos of the TR-707 on Youtube, the sound quality is not very good and I cannot judge well whether the sounds are identical or not. On the other hand, there's a TR-707 drum kit on the Integra-7 and I can assure that it sounds different (although somewhat simmilar) than the MT-32. I don't know if the TR-707 "emulation" of the Integra-7 is good and hence the sounds of the 707 are different from the ones of the MT-32, or if the problem is that that 707 drum kit of the Integra is not faithful to the original.

Does someone have better information about this topic?

Hi Alex, and welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the video, I think it's a great work! I like very much the way you use the visual effects, and how they contribute to create the atmosphere. Of course, the music is great, too. There's much synth programming there, right? It's good to see (and hear) how different from the typical preset patches the MT-32 can sound.