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 Yesterday, 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.