CrimsonMachete wrote on 2025-05-21, 02:39:

I provided my own SD card and copied over the files from Serdaco's website, then copied the MT32 ROMs from Phil's Computer Lab into the ROM folder. Is there an additional step I'm missing? I watched Phil's recent video and searched through the TM32 page on Serdashop but no luck.

Back up a moment: you got the ROMs from Phil's Computer Lab? That's doubtful: they're copyrighted and Phil doesn't [knowingly] host illegal downloads (also the reason you wouldn't find them at Serdashop). If you pulled the wrong kind of files that would likely explain it...and I would advise against asking anyone here for advice on how to obtain them even if Roland doesn't seem to care that much.

I don't see any such files on his site, but his youtube DOES have a review of this device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7SEobJY9M

As I recall, the samples inside the MT32 were subject to japanese copyright rules, and were allowed to lapse. This was kinda pivotal in reversing a C&D order early on in the underlying emulator's development, as Roland was not able to assert copyright protections like they thought they could.

That said, in an abundance of caution, I would avoid distributing the ROM set.

Emulators built from scratch are their own thing that have been ruled on favorably time and again; the use of copyrighted ROM code is a different matter. Roland's cloud subscription service has included emulation of the D-50 synthesizer for at least the better part of a decade, so Roland LA ROMs are NOT "abandonware." Find online by yourself and use at your own risk.

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-05-21, 14:46:

CrimsonMachete wrote on 2025-05-21, 02:39:

I provided my own SD card and copied over the files from Serdaco's website, then copied the MT32 ROMs from Phil's Computer Lab into the ROM folder. Is there an additional step I'm missing? I watched Phil's recent video and searched through the TM32 page on Serdashop but no luck.

Back up a moment: you got the ROMs from Phil's Computer Lab? That's doubtful: they're copyrighted and Phil doesn't [knowingly] host illegal downloads (also the reason you wouldn't find them at Serdashop). If you pulled the wrong kind of files that would likely explain it...and I would advise against asking anyone here for advice on how to obtain them even if Roland doesn't seem to care that much.

Hi, thanks for your response. Sorry, i should have been clear, the ROMs aren't hosted by Phil, however he provides a link to them. In any event, I discovered the reason for the error. I had simply copy and pasted every ROM I downloaded onto the memory card, and it seems the software doesn't like that. Reducing the number of ROMs fixed the error.

CrimsonMachete wrote on 2025-05-23, 01:10:

Hi, thanks for your response. Sorry, i should have been clear, the ROMs aren't hosted by Phil, however he provides a link to them. In any event, I discovered the reason for the error. I had simply copy and pasted every ROM I downloaded onto the memory card, and it seems the software doesn't like that. Reducing the number of ROMs fixed the error.

Good to know. The ROMs have been easy to find online for years, and there is no indication Roland cares enough about their distribution to react (even though, unlike Microsoft, they have not granted tacit approval of such activity involving their long-deprecated software). Just here at VOGONS we prefer not to breach into such legal gray areas, hence being careful talking about it.