VOGONS


First post, by slx

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The two version of the MT-32 are use the same PCM.ROM (512KB) but what is the difference between them.
The CM-32L has 1MB PCM.ROM it has more instruments or/and better quality instruments?

Reply 1 of 5, by Spikey

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The PCM ROM should be identical between the MT-32's. BlueRidge changed a few small things like reverb, battery backup of patches and so on, and IIRC it was supposed to go alongside hardware modifications (of rev0 units).

The CM-32L has the same 512KB that the MT-32 has, plus 512KB more of PCM sound effects (accessed by the drum channel) that would be added in higher quality to the SC-55 and beyond lines.

The CM-32L is a later gen LA device, so it will be higher quality (presuming you set the options in MUNT appropriately) but also introduces some panning errors that the CM's suffer from.

Reply 2 of 5, by slx

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Thank you for your answer and help!
I found a strange thing about the MT-32 and CM-32L music in the MicroProse's 'Pirates! Gold' version.
There is a possibility in the install to set to MT-32 or LAPC-1/CM-32L; but the MT-32 (BlueRidge) sounds much better in the emulated DOSBox with the correctly set up MUNT!
I thought the CM-32L would sound better but I was wrong! Looks like this game wrote for the later MT-32 (BlueRidge) version but the newer CM-32L device did not set for this game (because it uses different instruments). I do not get the compatibility of these music devices!!!

Reply 4 of 5, by slx

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Thank you! But the older the MT-32 sounds much better than the newer CM-32L!!!
The vogons' 'List of MT-32-compatible computer games' says it is better on the new MT-32 because „...Distorted/incorrect sounds on MT-32 'old'”.
https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/List_of_ … _computer_games

Reply 5 of 5, by gdjacobs

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The MT-32 has two versions. Except for rare synths where Roland replaced the motherboard, all new MT-32s have a TRS headphone jack in addition to the line outputs. The new version is a little quieter and doesn't have the same buffer problems as the old.

Some games were composed for the old version taking bugs into account and don't sound correct with the newer synth. More games don't sound right because of the buffer problems.

All hail the Great Capacitor Brand Finder