Roland Cm-64

[Silvana Fleischacker]

RolandMT-32 (Old)

Roland SC-55 MKII

Roland CM-64

Yamaha MU100

Roland MPU-401/AT or SCC-1A? Own both so your opinions would be appreciated. Assuming the MPU-401/AT given that the SCC-1A has an onboard SC-55 MKII and I'll be using an external midi module for that anyway.

Now I plan to run a midi through box to connect the midi modules and then run a through midi cable from the CM-64 to the MT-32. The reason for this is that the MT-32 will not be used for sound, purely just for messages via the LCD screen. The CM-64 will handle the MT-32 sounds. Next, audio cables will run from the midi modules to a Rolls MX44 Pro audio mixer which will then connect to my speakers.

Regarding my question, I know the Roland Super MPU64 can be used in Windows 98 but can it work as a standard midi through box via Dos? If not I also have an AmpTone Lab Midi Splitter I could use but I'd prefer to use the Super MPU64 so it doesn't sit there gaining dust so to speak.

The CM-64 is a combination of the CM-32L with the sample-based CM-32P. The CM-32L is basically an MT-32 with extra sounds so it's actually the MT-32 that can never have 100% compatibility due to lacking the extra sounds from the CM-32L. Only downfall to the CM-64 is that it contains a slight bit more noise due to the dual PCB's so a CM-32L is more ideal. Also need to make sure the CM-32L portion of the CM-64 has its Rom updated to the latest version to get rid of the clicking/popping sound bug.

The Roland Super MPU64 is a part of the newer roland cards that are targeted towards windows and more serious usage, if you pass the MPU401-AT/SCC-1 era you'll see dos support is basic at best and with issues. Since you have the MPU401-AT/SCC-1 cards there is no need to add more problems to your build ?

Hi Keropi. In that case I'm better off using both the MT-32 and CM-64 depending on which game I'm playing at the time. I'd only use the MT-32 for games that require the old MT-32 and use the CM-64 for everything else. Would this be a better way of doing it?

Regarding the Super MPU64, should I just use it for Windows based games and then use the AmpTone Lab Midi Splitter for everything dos related? Or just use the AmpTone Lab Midi Splitter for everything? What midi splitter do you use btw? Also what audio mixer?

yes that is the best way: use each device for it's games.

Windows-based games don't care about roland mpus or intelligent modes, a simple uart mpu is all they care... you can even use a usb midi interface if the system is modern enough. So using the MPU64 with windows is good.

I use KENTON splitters, like the one you have it takes 1 midi signal and make it 5 - works great.

My audio mixer is an x-fade VL-303A that I found NOS, it is really good I bought it from an elderly gentleman that had is as a backup for his audio setup, the psu even has dual grounds , one is isolated... it is hard to find a nice mixer nowdays...

Just thought of something as I'm still waiting for the Roll MX44 Pro to arrive. Would I be able to run the RCA cable from for example the SC-55 into the Rolls mixer and have a 3.5mm audio cable running from a sound blaster into the same Line in so I have midi music coming from the SC-55 and sound effects coming from the sound blaster? Or would I need to run the RCA to the mixer and the 3.5mm cable to separate speakers? Hope this makes sense.

this way you will have total control - you'll soon find out that music/sfx volumes vary from game to game and having a mixer really comes handy.

My mixer has 3 stereo inputs, I connect them like this:

- SB

- GUS

- MIDI

now the MIDI input goes to an audio source selector and I have connected there my SC-55 mk1/SC-55 mk2/MT-32/CM-32L so I just chose from the selector the module I want to hear and tune it's volume with the mixer. Works great but there are too many cables ? ? ?

Ok, now if I connect the 3.5mm cable from the sound blaster to just say CH.2 and the midi modules to CH.1, does that mean that I cannot also have another midi module plugged into CH.2 due to the 3.5mm cable also being plugged in there?

Edit: looking at your setup, it looks like I actually may need to purchase another Rolls MX44 Pro. Otherwise I'm going to have to keep swapping around cables which will get annoying real quick. So 1 for the 4 midi modules and another for the sound blasters. Got a few Pc's setup.

@Keropi and yawetaG; I understand that 2 sound sources shouldn't be connected to the same channel but if Midi connections don't carry any audio then wouldn't the midi connection and 3.5mm connection per channel on the MX44 Pro be separate to each other within each channel thus not interfering with each other? Just curious.

I'll still take your advice Keropi though as having 2 separate mixers, 1 for the midi modules and 1 for the sound blasters would be a cleaner setup and allow me to leave everything as is without having to keep unplugging and plugging cables back in again. Just select which sound card and fire away so to speak.

Not sure if Midi through mode can work without a PC connection for the Super MPU64. I'd be interested to test it out. Keropi said that it's dos support was basic and had issues though. Do we know what issues exactly?

Just another small thing, as I don't think it was mentioned in the thread: You'll need a cable with a 3.5 mm stereo plug on one side and 2x RCA on the other side to connect the soundblasters to the mixer.

I'm not sure how it would even work in pure DOS. It's an early USB-to-MIDI interface, and AFAIK the official drivers do not support DOS (unless Keropi meant using it for DOS games started from within Windows 98...).

Indeed, it's a 4 IN, 4 OUT (hence "64", 4 x 16 MIDI channels) USB MIDI interface, that only works on Windows 98-XP and non-OS X MacOS, and that was quickly renamed "UM-4" when it was released a second time in a new color scheme...

So I decided to return the Rolls MX44 Pro mixers in place of a Rolls RM219 mixer rack. I'll then mount the rack to my desk. Seems to be perfect for what I'm after. Not cheap but I prefer quality anyway.

Finding 8-10 channel mixers with 1/4" Jack's or RCA jacks is harder than I thought it would be to find (With Stereo inputs anyway). Narrowed it down to the Rolls RM219 or Behringer RX1602 but chose the Rolls unit due to being made in the USA. Also has more features than the Behringer.

Stereo inputs may not be explicitly labeled as such in ad material, since they're usually just a pair of mono ones (depending on the mixer this may or may not have implications for how it handles audio internally). So you can buy a mixer advertised as having 10 mono inputs with no mention of stereo in the ad, but that will be equal to having 5 stereo inputs in practice.

3a8082e126