Baleog wrote on 2023-01-28, 08:12:
Shponglefan wrote on 2023-01-27, 17:59:
Fixed this Roland CM-64 today.
It was only outputting sound on one channel. Took it apart and didn't see anything immediately obviously wrong.
I cleaned the audio connectors with some DeoxIT and reflowed the solder joints on them for good measure. That appears to have done the trick as it now is working perfectly.
What is the purpose of the memory card?
These pages explain it pretty well...
https://soundprogramming.net/synthesizers/rol … /roland-cm-32p/
https://soundprogramming.net/synthesizers/rol … d/roland-u-110/
The CM64 is a combination of a CM-32L (LA Synthesis like the MT-32) and the CM-32P (PCM synthesis). Think of the PCM synth as early wavetable, but without being General MIDI or LA compatible. Compared to LA synth, the instruments can be much more realistic, but they are only useful for production and recording. I don't believe any games make use of PCM synths like this.
To be honest, and I'm not sure if you can really even find MIDI tracks that utilize them, and if you did you'd have to have the correct card to make them sound right. I think they only make sense if you compose and record your own music, and in that area they probably are outpaced by a Sound Canvas most of the time.
EDIT: Wow, these PCM samples are so cool.
https://www.synthmania.com/u-110.htm
The "wide piano" that pans from right to left depending on key pitch is fantastic for the late 1980s... very impressive!
Now for some blitting from the back buffer.