MT-32 With a Laptop

[bbk5]

Hey guys,

I'm very interested in getting a Roland MT-32 for use with DosBOX so that I can play some of the Sierra games with that great music.  My question is how to best set-up everything since I'm using a laptop which doesn't have any of the usual soundcard outputs.

Will using the Yamaha USB MIDI device work in sending the MIDI files out to the MT-32?  Then, can I hook the MT-32 directly up to a set of computer speakers?  (Provided I use an RCA-to-Mini Jack cable)

I appreciate any help you all can give me on this.  I don't want to spend the money on the USB MIDI connector if the whole set-up is not going to work.

[Cloudschatze]

Will using the Yamaha USB MIDI device work in sending the MIDI files out to the MT-32?

Supposedly, certain Yamaha and Roland USB interfaces have issues with the proper transmission of SysEx. You might do some searching, and see if there is any kind of consensus on which interfaces do not have this problem.

[Nagra]

Hi,

I have my MT-32 connected via an EDIROL UM2 usb-midi-interface to my Powermac G4.
It works fantastic with SCUMMVM. There are absolutely no problems.

Unfortunately I cant tell you if it is the same with DOS Box, cause DOS Box for Mac OS does not support external midi-devices yet.

[Alistair]

If you want a sound card, kill two birds with one stone and get an external sound card with MIDI ports, since USB->MIDI devices are freakin' *expensive*.

But yeah, I use my MT-32 with my laptop sometimes.

The reason I suggest a sound card is mainly the good value you can get (I got a pro soundcard, the M-Audio Audiophile, you can get the USB or FireWire one, and it's like 125 US dollars), but also because the MT-32 doesn't so great played through laptop speakers, or even external speakers through a laptop sound card.

- Alistair

[shad0wfax]

I've got a laptop, and I also have a M-Audio firewire audiophile and it works fantastic with DosBox under Windows XP. This card has a great audio quality and provides standard midi in/out ports.

For best results, you can also connect MT-32's otuput to M-Audio's input, so the mixed computer audio + MT-32 signals will go directly to your amp/speakers.

[BlueMax]

A USB MIDI interface is only $30-40....

[Alistair]

And an Audiophile is only 125 If the difference is only85-95 bucks, that's not much at all to get a pro sound card as well! But, that might be in excess of his needs.

And yes, I think 30 plus US bucks for an external MIDI interface is a total cash grab job.

- Alistair

[jbltecnicspro]

Hey guys,

I'm very interested in getting a Roland MT-32 for use with DosBOX so that I can play some of the Sierra games with that great music.  My question is how to best set-up everything since I'm using a laptop which doesn't have any of the usual soundcard outputs.

Will using the Yamaha USB MIDI device work in sending the MIDI files out to the MT-32?  Then, can I hook the MT-32 directly up to a set of computer speakers?  (Provided I use an RCA-to-Mini Jack cable)

I appreciate any help you all can give me on this.  I don't want to spend the money on the USB MIDI connector if the whole set-up is not going to work.

I have the Yamaha USB to MIDI adapter, and it works flawlessly with my MT-32.  My soundcard is the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook, which requires a PCM-CIA slot, connected to Klipsch ProMedia speakers.  Sound quality is excellent, though I would get an M-Audio firewire Pro card if I was seriously into music production.