It looks neat - I will need it 😁

Looks great!
How does it compare to the MP32L? That one uses a Pi 3, whereas this device is powered by a Pi Zero 2W. Any noticeable differences in performance given the Pi 3 has a faster clocked CPU?
Thank you 😀

Mikity wrote on 2025-02-05, 14:18:

Looks great!
How does it compare to the MP32L? That one uses a Pi 3, whereas this device is powered by a Pi Zero 2W. Any noticeable differences in performance given the Pi 3 has a faster clocked CPU?
Thank you 😀

MT32 emulation, i see no difference.
For general MIDI, max polyphony may be a little less, it used to be 256 on MT32pi, and i read the recommended default for Pi zero 2W is 200.
I have put max polyphony now at 128 for TM32 which seems more than safe and enough for any game.

dreamblaster wrote on 2025-02-05, 15:54:

I have put max polyphony now at 128 for TM32 which seems more than safe and enough for any game.

OK, thanks for the clarification! 😀

So a whole new MT-32 module is finally here? Not only that, but it can have CM-series personalities too (and all without surrendering the MT-style display messaging feature)? What a time to be alive!

I have never used MT32pi because I am not good with technical building and needed the right pre-built form to come along. Now that it has, is this something I can just install the ROM(s) (I still have my LAPC-I), plug into my MIDI-compatible gameport with a proper adapter, and be good to go?

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-02-07, 19:18:

So a whole new MT-32 module is finally here? Not only that, but it can have CM-series personalities too (and all without surrendering the MT-style display messaging feature)? What a time to be alive!

Yes it is a new form factor, but in general the magic happens there in the MT32-pi software project, (same as many other such projects). See for example MP32L which runs the same software : https://youtu.be/UNIilN3Uf9g?si=rDjTKvZzYQKHLTPh
if you have rom files you can put them on the micro sd card and switch between these sets

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-02-07, 19:18:

I have never used MT32pi because I am not good with technical building and needed the right pre-built form to come along. Now that it has, is this something I can just install the ROM(s) (I still have my LAPC-I), plug into my MIDI-compatible gameport with a proper adapter, and be good to go?

yes

I heard about what happened with the MT32-pi developer. What a shame that proves there is no room for entitlement in enthusiast circles! At least from what I gather the project (actually its source, Munt) had pretty much peaked enough to stand in as a virtually identical [if not improved] replacement for an actual vintage Roland LA device?

Having a hard time deciding between MP32L and TM32. Besides the smaller form factor are there any advantages of TM32 over the MP32L? Any advantages of MP32L over the TM32?

slai50 wrote on 2025-02-18, 20:22:

Having a hard time deciding between MP32L and TM32. Besides the smaller form factor are there any advantages of TM32 over the MP32L? Any advantages of MP32L over the TM32?

Since it has been a few days I say this under potential for correction from Dreamblaster, but functionally they look identical. I notice the optional enclosure on the MP32L has what looks like an HDMI port in the back; not certain what that would be for.

The SF2 unit, on the other hand, appears to be like a TM32 without the ROM-based Roland LA emulation: just an external soundfont module.

slai50 wrote on 2025-02-18, 20:22:

Having a hard time deciding between MP32L and TM32. Besides the smaller form factor are there any advantages of TM32 over the MP32L? Any advantages of MP32L over the TM32?

MP32L has higher max polyphony default settings than TM32 (256 instead of 128), but for any DOS game this will not matter.
TM32 has USB-C power connector, MP32L has Micro USB

BaronSFel001 wrote on 2025-02-21, 19:18:

The SF2 unit, on the other hand, appears to be like a TM32 without the ROM-based Roland LA emulation: just an external soundfont module.

SF2 and TM32 use the same hardware PCB, so capable of doing the same.
I had the idea to put different default configuration for SF2 (different soundfont), but so far they are the same, both had General User soundfont out of the box
you can put any sf2 you like on there, and also MT32 ROM file

Would be nice to have an audio passthrough on this device.

TM32 review by Phil's computerlab :
https://youtu.be/5w7SEobJY9M?si=dumBeQ0mCB-Pb9B8

i tested the latency of TM32 :

- in default setting (buffer set to 128 samples) : 6.3ms

- with tweaked setting (buffer set to 32 samples) : 3.9ms

this is measured from the end of the incoming midi signal, to the start of the outgoing audio signal,
when playing woodblock sound with general user soundfont. (some part of the delay may be due to the soundfont)

Would the midi cable with the DIN connectors work with an old keyboard switch like this?

https://www.cablesonline.com/abmonswitbox1.html

douglar wrote on 2025-04-02, 18:19:

Would the midi cable with the DIN connectors work with an old keyboard switch like this?

https://www.cablesonline.com/abmonswitbox1.html

It may, if the said box simply switches between connectors pin-for-pin. MIDI only uses pins 4 and 5 on the DIN connector. One possible complication however is that pin2 and the cable shield are supposed to be connected to ground only at the MIDI out, not at the MIDI IN (where instead they are supposed to be decoupled to ground by 100nF capacitors). This is to avoid the formation of ground loops which could interfere with the main MIDI current loop between pins 4 and 5. I don't know how relevant that is to KVM switches.
(edit) if the shield on the KVM is connected to ground, it may create such a ground loop between the MIDI out and the KVM itself.

Hey thereI am new to this stei and I really love it!
I am an oldie (60) and have tons of old hardware and software. This is a perfect playground here! Thanks for accepting me.

Now I found this thread because I was getting a TM32. I have tons of soundfonts and wanted a hardware gear to play them.
I downloaded the contents of the SD card, copied it to an empty FAT32 SDcard and it worked fine. I could play the piano on Midi channel 1. So I copied more soundfonts to it and wanted to load it, but I could not. It rebooted my TM32 and after I deleted the additional soundfonts I could not even play the included GS Soundfont anymore. I tried to edit the config file but I got no sound anymore. I see that MIDI Data is coming on channel 1 as the display shows the bar changing. So MIDI still works.

What could it be? Did I break the soundcard? How can I debug? Any ideas?

cheers
ferdinand

stamasd wrote on 2025-04-02, 21:55:

One possible complication however is that pin2 and the cable shield are supposed to be connected to ground only at the MIDI out, not at the MIDI IN

And that's why I broke pin 2 of the MIDI IN connector out of the Gameport-to-DIN cable for my Soundblaster, as it was "Creatively" connected to ground...

My TM32 arrived today, and while trying to use it I'm running into an issue with the MT32 side of things. Soundfonts load and work perfectly, but when pressing the Mode (M) button to change over to MT32 mode I just get a message saying "Synth Unavailable!".

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.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!