First post, by sndwv
I have a real SC-50 and SC-88 for my main gaming MIDI needs, but I have recently built a portable retro / emulation Windows 10 (and Batocera) mini-PC that I'd like to add SC-55 emulation to, and have so far discovered the following:
- Sound Canvas VA: Following Phil's Computer Labs' excellent tutorial this seems to be the current best way to go about things, HOWEVER with the migration to Roland Cloud this now requires the host to be online to renew the license every couple of weeks, even for 'lifetime' keys. Are there pre-Cloud versions out there, or (legal) ways to make this run 'offline'?
- Virtual Sound Canvas VST Developers Edition v1.6 VSTi: Sold on eBay. This does not require online activation, but I have no idea if the 32bit host requirement mentioned would rule this out for Windows 10? Also I have no idea where this fits in the release timeline, if it is the lastest version of what it is, and what software this is exactly in the first place. If anyone in the know could elaborate, please!
- Roland Virtual Sound Canvas: Tech Tangents just made a video about this. If I understand correctly this is somewhat unique in not needing a host like SAVIhost and loopback MIDI, but it is only compatible with windows up to XP, and I assume no one has ever made this work on Windows 7 or 10?
I would like to know if there is a working solution for my intended use. I would not mind paying for software and jumping through hoops to get it working, I *do* mind any subscription-based or always online solution, out of principle and because my mini-PC will spend most of it's life offline.
Note: I tried several SC-55-like SoundFonts and EmuSC as well, and while 'ok', both have too many quirks for me at this point, and for sake of this discussion I'd like to keep it about official Roland solutions.