To make it short, get the SC-88 if it's reasonably priced.

I have a relevant question, assuming the main usage is DOS gaming, does it really matter if one gets a SC-88 over a SC-55 or a MU-80+ instead of a MU-50?
Ofcourse the "bigger" modules have more capabilities but does any DOS game use any?

No, I doubt that any DOS game with GM soundtrack used patches the SC-55 doesn't have. It is just that the SC-88 has vastly improved instruments, for the most part, and sounds much better on many tracks. Of course certain tracks will sound wrong, but the SC-55 map on this synth is pretty accurate.

Descent:
SC88
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … %20SC-88%5D.mp3
SC55
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … 20SCB-55%5D.mp3

Dune2:
SC88
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … %20SC-88%5D.mp3
SC55
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … %20SC-55%5D.mp3

Lost Vikings:
SC88
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … %20SC-88%5D.mp3
SC55
http://www.wavetable.nl/files/comparison/game … %20SC-55%5D.mp3

I guess that the SC88 here is not using SC55 map, but rather its default one.

Well, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFX63IGmbwY

The thing with the SC-55 is that it's essentially a beefed up Microsoft GS SW synth, so the sounds are all well familiar. Guitars sound way more realistic on the SC-88. Also orchestral soundtracks will be convincing, on the SC-55 they can sound cheesy at times. There are of course negative examples as well though, I find the SC-55 pizzicato strings to have a lot more expression.

I think it's the way way around, the Microsoft GS SW synth is a cut-down version of the SC-55 without fx etc...
IIRC also have read on Quest Studios that the SC-55 mk1 has a different sound engine than the mk2 (and I assume by extend the SC-88 - but don't quote me on that I might be wrong, I am sure a more knowledgeable user will correct me if I am wrong)

Microsoft licensed Sound Canvas from Roland so it was incorporated in directsound since. But it does not sound as good as the real thing.

Now thing is, can i reset the SC88 to the SC55 sounds? Will i have to reset it to SC55 map everytime i turn the unit on?

Of course it's the other way around. Maybe I haven't expressed myself clearly, I meant that perhaps more people knew the GS SW synth before the SC-55 than the other way around 😉 so in that respect you could say that SC-88 brings something new to the table while still sounding very good, while SC-55 would be the "true" cheesy early 90s sound.

Actually I'm under the impression that the SC-88 was the pinnacle of Roland's development as far as the GM patches go. Someone on this forum also stated that the 8850 has a bit of a flat sound to it with GM files.

@carlostex: you press "ALL" and "SC-55 MAP", that's it.

I guess now the real question now is if the SC-88 is "based" on the mk1 or the mk2 SC-55? That's what it will make it a nice gaming unit or not IMHO

Hmm, I'm not quite sure if I get your point? The main differences that I know of with the SC-55mkII are that it has an 18-bit DAC, some extra variation tones (don't know one single game that uses those) and lacks capital tone fallback for its default GS mode; that may apply to the SC-55 w/ GM logo as well though. I'd imagine there won't be any major differences between those two; on the other hand, the SC-88 in SC-55 map does sound slightly different, but it's really only noticeable in direct comparison IMO.

It's also noteworthy that the SC-88 has a CM-64 emulation mode instead of a MT-32 one.

ofcourse I am talking about games with the capital tone fallback "feature" or even things that are described here: http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php/topic,3565.0.html
There is a difference in the 2 sound engines and since at this age we do have a choice then why not get the mk1 benefits?
IMHO for gaming usage you are better off with a mk1 SC-55 instead of a mk2/sc-88 (assuming they have the same engine)

Most of those issues are just due to faulty MIDI game drivers or different target synths. I wouldn't think about it too much.

^ true but it's the same situation as the CM-32L/LAPC-I clipping issue on some games where the MT-32 sounds correctly.
Or a similar issue where MT-32 are the only units that sound OK (some king quest game intro afair, there is a thread here).
If a fan like tilakat/nrs don't make patches to correct said problems then you are stuck with an inferior experience in gaming music. Sure is not that big of a deal but why limit yourself when all you are going to do with a device is listen to game music? 😉
anyway, that's just my 2 cents 😉

Well obviously I'm interested in finding out such differences too. Otherwise I wouldn't be posting in such threads. It just seems to me both devices seem to drop notes in some places (not familiar with this soundtrack though). If this was really composed for the SC-88, like stated in the thread, then why even try playing it on a SC-55?

I've had huge problems with Duke3D a year ago and actually wound up selling my SC-55ST because I couldn't find any information whatsoever on the issue. I still can't believe that all of those issues seemed to be so blatantly ignored over the last 15+ years. It's really great that some people finally stepped up to create some fixes.

I would get the standard SC-55 and a MKII 😀

Mau1wurf1977 wrote:

I would get the standard SC-55 and a MKII 😀

I can only get one. Probably gonna go for the standard.

I think the SC-55 MKII will be just right for Dos gaming.

I love my MKII. I posted before that while playing Heretic, I felt like I was in a studio, when I heard the drums and cymbals..

If anything, don't get the first model Roland SC-55 at all. I noticed in some games, namely Duke Nukem 3D, where some songs sound off because it lacks some instruments that the MKII added such as the breath noise sample.

^ that is interesting with the breath sample... did not knew about that one and couldn't remember hearing breath with an XG synth... what track is that?

So one just choses, for example breath with DN3D or arrows with Might & Magic... (some info here: Calling all Roland SCC-1A Owners) , great news... 😒