Hi,
I currently have:
MT-32 (Old)
RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and I couldn't test it yet)
CM-64
SC-88Pro
MU-2000 (can be "ex-ed" via usb, I have not done it yet)
Ns5R

Do I need anything else to cover the whole spectrum? Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

Mao wrote on 2025-10-29, 10:39:

Hi, I currently have: MT-32 (Old) RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and […]
Show full quote

Hi,
I currently have:
MT-32 (Old)
RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and I couldn't test it yet)
CM-64
SC-88Pro
MU-2000 (can be "ex-ed" via usb, I have not done it yet)
Ns5R

Do I need anything else to cover the whole spectrum? Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

88Pro in 55 compatibility mode is basically a 1:1 replacement for 55MkII. It does not support the original 55's Capital Tone Fallback feature if you play games that need that.

Other modules really come down to taste. Personally I'm in love with my SuperOctet!, but I love FM.

You pretty much have everything work having when it comes to MIDI. I could see adding an original SC-55 for completeness, but that's about it.

Yes, that's what I am going to look for.

SuperDeadite wrote on 2025-10-29, 11:26:

Mao wrote on 2025-10-29, 10:39:

Hi, I currently have: MT-32 (Old) RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and […]
Show full quote

Hi,
I currently have:
MT-32 (Old)
RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and I couldn't test it yet)
CM-64
SC-88Pro
MU-2000 (can be "ex-ed" via usb, I have not done it yet)
Ns5R

Do I need anything else to cover the whole spectrum? Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

88Pro in 55 compatibility mode is basically a 1:1 replacement for 55MkII. It does not support the original 55's Capital Tone Fallback feature if you play games that need that.

Other modules really come down to taste. Personally I'm in love with my SuperOctet!, but I love FM.

I don't think that any MkII support CTF, as that was already removed from later firmware releases of the original SC-55.

Kahenraz wrote on 2025-10-29, 16:11:

SuperDeadite wrote on 2025-10-29, 11:26:

Mao wrote on 2025-10-29, 10:39:

Hi, I currently have: MT-32 (Old) RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and […]
Show full quote

Hi,
I currently have:
MT-32 (Old)
RA-50 (supposedly already modified as MT-32 New, but the switch got broken during shipment and I couldn't test it yet)
CM-64
SC-88Pro
MU-2000 (can be "ex-ed" via usb, I have not done it yet)
Ns5R

Do I need anything else to cover the whole spectrum? Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

88Pro in 55 compatibility mode is basically a 1:1 replacement for 55MkII. It does not support the original 55's Capital Tone Fallback feature if you play games that need that.

Other modules really come down to taste. Personally I'm in love with my SuperOctet!, but I love FM.

I don't think that any MkII support CTF, as that was already removed from later firmware releases of the original SC-55.

Yes, that's what I meant by "original 55."

Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

No, it doesn't. It's been discussed at length elsewhere but the transition from the SC-55/mkII to the 88 and beyond uses different reverb/chorus effects, different DAC's, and even possibly some waveform changes to where the "SC-55 mode" will not be entirely accurate.

It is usable? Oh, absolutely, and it's very close. But it depends what you're looking for.

Spikey wrote on 2025-10-31, 07:53:

Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

No, it doesn't. It's been discussed at length elsewhere but the transition from the SC-55/mkII to the 88 and beyond uses different reverb/chorus effects, different DAC's, and even possibly some waveform changes to where the "SC-55 mode" will not be entirely accurate.

It is usable? Oh, absolutely, and it's very close. But it depends what you're looking for.

Was the standard SC-88 better matched to the SC-55/MKII?

It can even be difficult to quantify the original SC-55, as there were several revisions affecting GM/GS compatibility, sound banks, and capital tone fallback, a feature relied upon for some tracks to playback correctly.

zuldan wrote on 2025-10-31, 09:15:

Spikey wrote on 2025-10-31, 07:53:

Does SC-88Pro perfectly replace SC-55?

No, it doesn't. It's been discussed at length elsewhere but the transition from the SC-55/mkII to the 88 and beyond uses different reverb/chorus effects, different DAC's, and even possibly some waveform changes to where the "SC-55 mode" will not be entirely accurate.

It is usable? Oh, absolutely, and it's very close. But it depends what you're looking for.

Was the standard SC-88 better matched to the SC-55/MKII?

No, the same problem exists. The reason was the effects and DAC's were changed between the 55 and 88. Possibly some wave ROM sounds were changed, but I can't remember about this any more.

Kahenraz wrote on 2025-10-31, 10:18:

It can even be difficult to quantify the original SC-55, as there were several revisions affecting GM/GS compatibility, sound banks, and capital tone fallback, a feature relied upon for some tracks to playback correctly.

While the SC-88 and beyond do not correctly emulate either model, you're right that the OP should note the SC-55 mk I and II are not the same in a few significant ways.
DAC (mk II is better), polyphony (mkII is better, needed for some games), CTF (mkII does NOT have this feature, which may cause issues with a handful of games).

Here are links to some of my other posts and research on this subject.

If I already have a Roland SC-55 and a SC-88, is there any reason to use a SC-55mkII for games?
Apparently not all GS-only sc-55s are the same, some are GM

And for a deep dive.

An analysis of Warcraft 2 MIDI music on Roland synthesizers

To summarize and, in my opinion, if you're going to have only one synthesizer, get an SC-88. Even though the SC-55 can sound superior in some instances, you will have to be aware of its limitations and increased complexity of choice between revisions when it comes to CTF, GS, GM, and other firmware changes. The mkII is pretty useless, imo, and the benefits of the slightly increased polyphony never manifest. If you're using a mkII with a game that was designed for the SC-55 then it might sound wrong; and if the game was designed for the SC-88 then you're going to be missing notes. As you the other synthesizers, the MT-32 and CM-32L can be emulated nowadays and there are only a handful of games which use them.

Kahenraz wrote on 2025-11-03, 04:32:

As you the other synthesizers, the MT-32 and CM-32L can be emulated nowadays and there are only a handful of games which use them.

Only a handful? Mobygames lists over 800 games that support the MT-32. Or did you mean the CM-32L specifically?

How many of those MT-32 supporting games have overlap with General MIDI though?

Of relevance, and quoting myself from 2017...

General MIDI was much less prevalent a standard for PC gaming than a lot of people realize. Using MobyGames as a reference, in combination with known information and reasonable assumptions otherwise, an interpreted count of titles by year, separated by their "target" MIDI playback device/standard, looks something like this:

I stand corrected. Thank you for the nice spreadsheet visual. My gaming experience was definitely more in the 90s, so I definitely saw General MIDI much more commonly as an option in games, from my memory.

Kahenraz wrote on 2025-11-04, 18:26:

How many of those MT-32 supporting games have overlap with General MIDI though?

There is overlap in some cases, though I don't know the specific number of games that supported both.

That said, even in cases where games support both, MT-32 or CM-32L/64 can still be a preferred option. For example, in my experience X-COM sounds best with a CM-32L/64 or MT-32 versus General MIDI.

The mkII is pretty useless, imo, and the benefits of the slightly increased polyphony never manifest.

Just have to pull this comment up - to take Sierra games as an example, the mkII is ALWAYS better with no drawbacks, and the polyphony is required *at least* for GK1 and QFG4 to play all tracks without dropouts.

Conversely, a SC-88 will be 'technically incorrect' in 100% of cases for SC-55 gaming, so I wouldn't be recommending that as a blanket recommendation. An SC-55 mk I would be the blanket recommendation, with an 88, Pro or 8850 to accompany it. If you only play Sierra games, a mkII is the best option, with other SC's/modules for alternative fun.

Spikey wrote on 2025-11-06, 14:05:

The mkII is pretty useless, imo, and the benefits of the slightly increased polyphony never manifest.

Just have to pull this comment up - to take Sierra games as an example, the mkII is ALWAYS better with no drawbacks, and the polyphony is required *at least* for GK1 and QFG4 to play all tracks without dropouts.

I'm willing to entertain this theory if you can back it up. The need for a mkII to get the most out of QFG4 might be anachronistic.

Cloudschatze wrote on 2020-10-29, 01:43:

It's worth mentioning that the demo version of Quest for Glory IV, which features MIDI music later used in the full game, contains a resource bundle that can reasonably be assumed to pre-date the release and/or general availability of the SC-55mkII.

Also, I would like to see an example of a mkII being better than a SC-88 in SC-55 mode.

It's going to come down to personal preference in the end. The SC88 and the SC55 both sound good. They sound different, but they're both good. Some people are going to like the SC88 better, others are going to like the SC55 better. You can buy both, but in my opinion in the long run you're likely to just end up using the one you like more.

I really love my SC55, so that's what I use for everything, but the SC88 is pretty amazing in terms of audio quality, so I would say both are great options. If you buy either one, I think you're pretty covered for most things, unless you have very specific desires/use cases.

If you like the sound of the MT32, that's also a good option. I personally vastly prefer the sound of the SC series over the MT32, but that's just personal preference. The MT32 is a bit of a different beast though: it's a bit of a collector's item separate from its sound due to its use in Sierra games and its display of custom messages. I have a first gen MT32 that sits under my SC55 just as a collector's item, but I never use it because I like the sound of the SC55 better. If I had bought the SC55 first, I probably never would have bought the MT32, but purely as a collector's item, I'm glad I have it.