Srandista wrote:

Hi guys.
I have a chance to buy SC-88 non-Pro for 130$. Would you say, that's reasonable price, or it's overpriced like almost all Roland stuff nowadays?

Also, what's the compatibility with SC-55?

Having bought numerous different Roland devices here in Canada using classified ads, I would say that unless it is in absolute mint condition with manuals and OE power brick, it is on the expensive side.
Ironically, had that been an SC-55 mkII, then I would say it is a good price.

The SC-88 is somewhat backwards compatible with the SC-55, but having some instruments replaced (even in the SC-55 map) and a different engine means that you may hear some (minor) differences between it and a genuine SC-55.
I'd wait and look for an SC-55.

If for gaming purposes, an original (mark 1) SC-55 would be best suitable.
Although the SC-55 MkII has 28-voice polyphony (the original SC-55 has 24-voice), still a few games will sound wrong on the MkII.

Some music will have notes cut-off despite the increased polyphony. This has to do with the way some of the voices in the MkII are built-up. Where in the original some voices have just one layer, in the MkII they consist of 2 or sometimes more layers, effectively taking up more voices for one note.

The other problem you sometimes have is the -NO INSTRUMENT- on mainly the drum channel (10) with some games. Don't really know why this sometimes is the case since all the drumkits are available in either version.

Quality-wise it's better though, and it has 354 voices instead of 317.

Salient wrote:

If for gaming purposes, an original (mark 1) SC-55 would be best suitable. Although the SC-55 MkII has 28-voice polyphony (the o […]
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If for gaming purposes, an original (mark 1) SC-55 would be best suitable.
Although the SC-55 MkII has 28-voice polyphony (the original SC-55 has 24-voice), still a few games will sound wrong on the MkII.

Some music will have notes cut-off despite the increased polyphony. This has to do with the way some of the voices in the MkII are built-up. Where in the original some voices have just one layer, in the MkII they consist of 2 or sometimes more layers, effectively taking up more voices for one note.

The other problem you sometimes have is the -NO INSTRUMENT- on mainly the drum channel (10) with some games. Don't really know why this sometimes is the case since all the drumkits are available in either version.

Quality-wise it's better though, and it has 354 voices instead of 317.

This is true, except that even with a mkI unit, you may face the same NO INSTRUMENT issues. You need a unit with ROM version 1.21 or earlier. The feature that was removed from subsequent units is known as Capital Tone Fallback.
I would not limit myself by this though for the handful of games that need it, and for which many have patches.

Go for an SC-55, any version, and you'll be happy and you'll cover 99.9% of your bases.

tpowell.ca wrote:

This is true, except that even with a mkI unit, you may face the same NO INSTRUMENT issues. You need a unit with ROM version 1.21 or earlier. The feature that was removed from subsequent units is known as Capital Tone Fallback.
I would not limit myself by this though for the handful of games that need it, and for which many have patches.

Go for an SC-55, any version, and you'll be happy and you'll cover 99.9% of your bases.

Yes, it was the Captial tone fall-back that was removed, now I remember. Thanks for dusting of my brain! 😀

How would you know what revision SC-55 you have?
As far as I know there are 3 models which can be identified from the outside: The "GS" version, the "GS Standard" version and the "GS/GM" version. I own the last mentioned one myself, but I have no clue how to see the firmware/revision of the device.

Salient wrote:

Yes, it was the Captial tone fall-back that was removed, now I remember. Thanks for dusting of my brain! :) […]
Show full quote

tpowell.ca wrote:

This is true, except that even with a mkI unit, you may face the same NO INSTRUMENT issues. You need a unit with ROM version 1.21 or earlier. The feature that was removed from subsequent units is known as Capital Tone Fallback.
I would not limit myself by this though for the handful of games that need it, and for which many have patches.

Go for an SC-55, any version, and you'll be happy and you'll cover 99.9% of your bases.

Yes, it was the Captial tone fall-back that was removed, now I remember. Thanks for dusting of my brain! 😀

How would you know what revision SC-55 you have?
As far as I know there are 3 models which can be identified from the outside: The "GS" version, the "GS Standard" version and the "GS/GM" version. I own the last mentioned one myself, but I have no clue how to see the firmware/revision of the device.

You really can't use the print on the front of the unit to know what you have.
The only true way would be to use the service menu by first putting the unit in standby mode (orange led is lit) and pressing simultaneously: both "Instrument" buttons and both "Midi Ch" buttons.

tpowell.ca wrote:

You really can't use the print on the front of the unit to know what you have.
The only true way would be to use the service menu by first putting the unit in standby mode (orange led is lit) and pressing simultaneously: both "Instrument" buttons and both "Midi Ch" buttons.

I tried this just now but I don't see any hidden menu, just the INIT ALL that comes with pressing both instrument buttons.

Salient wrote:

tpowell.ca wrote:

You really can't use the print on the front of the unit to know what you have.
The only true way would be to use the service menu by first putting the unit in standby mode (orange led is lit) and pressing simultaneously: both "Instrument" buttons and both "Midi Ch" buttons.

I tried this just now but I don't see any hidden menu, just the INIT ALL that comes with pressing both instrument buttons.

You need to hold down all 4 buttons.

tpowell.ca wrote:

You need to hold down all 4 buttons.

I did, at least I believe I did. When I am home again I'll try once more.

I just managed to see the ROM info:

Ver 2.00 208200203
'92
03/09