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Roland LAPC-I or SCC-1

Yes, I had an XR385 wavetable card attached to my SB16, and also have an MT32/SC55 which I can attach to the card externally using the joystick/midi port.
The XR385 and external device will both play at the same time. Unfortunately I can't find a way to mute the XR385 when using the external device, so if you want to use the SB16 for digital sound and the external device for synth, you also get the XR385 playing over the top.

You are really opening a can of worms here lol
With the SB16's many models had the 'hanging note' bug, basically when using a MIDI device connected to the SB16, and using the same SB16 for digital sound, you sometimes get a stuck/hanging note on the synth. Certain models seem to be affected more than others, My CT2800 had it quite badly. The original SB16 (CT1740 I think) didn't have this issue but has a poor SNR with audible cracks/hiss so its a poor choice for digital sound anyway. I think the AWE64 is not affected either but it doesn't have a real OPL chip on it AFAIK so you don't get true adlib audio. Its drivers can be a pain to use under DOS too. Any model in between is a bit of a gamble.

I ended up getting sick of this so I swapped to a clone card (Acer Magic S20) which was SB Pro compatible with MIDI internal and external connectors and doesn't have the issue.

Also, with the MT32, you may want an Intelligent mode MPU401 card. Some MT32 only games, eg Sierra Quests, Wing Commander, required an intelligent mode MPU401 to work or sound correctly. No Sound Blaster or compatible card has an intelligent MIDI port, they only use UART mode. The LAPC-I has its MIDI controller built in so supports intelligent mode by default.

Another option, instead of an MT32, is a Roland Sound Canvas- eg. SC55. They are GM devices but also have an MT32 mode (I think you hold the left instrument button at power on to switch to MT32 mode) which doesn't sound EXACTLY like a real MT32, but still sounds pretty good, in some cases better. The XR385 wavetable card I'm using can also be switched into MT32 mode using some specially crafted MIDI files. I don't know about the SCD-10 but it may have an MT32 mode as well. Of course, none of these options will give you intelligent mode, you you won't get that even with a real MT32 on an SB16.
 
Hmm... well, I suppose that settles it. I'll revert back to my SB Pro 2.0 and look for an SCC-1 to which I can attach an external MT-32. More cables than I'd care to wrangle, but it should be the most versatile and trouble-free configuration.

If anyone is interested in my SCD-10 daughterboard, PM me.
 
Just dropped in because I heared someone mention the word 'SCC-1'. Actually, on the box it's proper title is "Roland GS Sound Card" followed by "SCC-1". And, that's what I've got - the full caboose!

I used it alongside an SB64Gold.

When playing games like DOOM and 7th Guest, it used to blow all my friends away! It is an awesome combo.

The SCC-1 comes with a 5 1/2 inch floppy diskette which include a nifty sound check utility that verifies your interrupt and address settings along with a handful of of quality MID files for testing MIDI playback. Also included in the box are two mini-MIDI-to-std-MIDI leads and a very comprehensive user manual.

I bought it second-hand around 1990 for £250.

It can be fiddly setting it up with some of the later operating systems however, I had no problems with XP Pro although I did have to download and install a single MPU401 driver.

I haven't used it for nearly 10 years now hoever, I may just decided to blow the cobwebs off it and put together a dedicated DOS box for reviving a few old favourites...
 
While I'm waiting for the SCC-1 to arrive in the mail, a quick question. If I connect an external MT-32 to it, is there anything special that needs to be done to configure games to play LA MIDI through the external box? I'm not going to have to constantly change jumpers or software settings to have GM games play through the SCC-1 while LA games go through the MT-32, correct?
 
ajerimez said:
While I'm waiting for the SCC-1 to arrive in the mail, a quick question. If I connect an external MT-32 to it, is there anything special that needs to be done to configure games to play LA MIDI through the external box? I'm not going to have to constantly change jumpers or software settings to have GM games play through the SCC-1 while LA games go through the MT-32, correct?
Click to expand...

Good question: I guess not. You will have audio out from the MT-32.
 
Update: I purchased an SCC-1 from lutiana (thx!) and installed it alongside my old Sound Blaster Pro 2.0. It works great. Now I just need to get an MT-32 module and the appropriate connectors.

Roland originally included a utility disk with the SCC-1. Does anybody have a copy of it? It has a diagnostic program and a utility that sets the SCC-1 to MT-32 emulation mode, and both would come in handy.

EDIT: Got the disk! SCC-1 sounds surprisingly authentic in MT-32 emulation mode - I can't really tell the difference with the Monkey Island theme.
 
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