First post, by NewRisingSun
Assuming proper hardware set-up and correct setting of standard DOS environment variables, a well-written DOS game could completely eschew a SETUP program and rely entirely on auto-detection capabilities to select the optimal output device all by itself, except for one thing: when you detect a Roland MPU-401 interface, you don't know whether a General MIDI or an MT-32 compatible device is attached.
Telling between the two is possible if the device is an external module: Just send a Request Data (RQ1) sysex with an MT-32 Model-ID; if you receive something back, you have an MT-32, otherwise assume General MIDI. However, the most common MT-32 compatible device will be the Roland LAPC-I, and just like the SCC-1, the LAPC-I will never respond to an RQ1 sysex (see pages 17 and 21). This means that the most common MT-32 compatible sound source cannot be detected, only the MIDI interface can. Why, Roland? Other MIDI cards and daughterboards, including the original Wave Blaster, have no problem responding to request messages.