LGR - Roland MT-32: Retro PC MIDI Music Revisited

[@AlexCBrandon]

You are correct! Tyrian was specifically written on an Ad Lib and converted to the Loudness sound system by Andreas Molnar as well as MIDI spec for the MT-32, but the MIDI aspect was all translation into the MIDI standard and not intended for the original soundtrack instruments. In addition one song for Tyrian was written as a MOD file and also converted by Andreas. I love seeing Tyrian show up in so many Retro videos. Great info you have here. Thanks again LGR!

[@FishfingerRmx]

Wow you're the guy behind Tyrian soundtrack ! I never play the game but I'm listening to the music some time to time . Exellent work . And I just saw you made a lot of .mod songs , I have to check this out , I'm more familiar with the crack/keygen .xm and .mod scene .

[@LGR]

Thank you for the extra info, sir! :D

[@AlexCBrandon]

Anytime. If and when you do a feature on MODs, definitely get in touch!

[@AlexCBrandon]

Thanks! There's some great cracktro / intro music in that scene. I have a Bandcamp page with two MOD collection albums on it. :)

[@VEC7ORlt]

Wait, are you THE Alexander Brandon? Thanks for the GREAT OST!

[@jasonblalock4429]

Funfact: Sierra didn't go half-assed when they debuted Roland support. They hired William Goldstein, a professional TV composer and electronics wiz, to do the music. He certainly wasn't a household name, but he was a legit pro composer and it was the first time a computer game had done that. Later, they also hired the keyboardist from Supertramp to do the soundtrack to Space Quest 3.

[@TheEmeraldMenOfficial]

It shows. Those are some AWESOME soundtracks.

[@bmhater1283]

Damn, they're genius for doing these.

[@MasterZebulin]

The title screen music for Space Quest 3 is *_fucking awesome._*

[@fen4554]

When you think about it, it's amazing that so many of these games had musicians that cared enough to program full songs.

[@Accursed_Farms]

Great video, it shows what a night and day difference the right equipment can make. I'm on a perpetual quest to find the best conversions of MIDI music, I feel like different hardware and soundsfonts all have different pieces of the puzzle.

[@LGR]

Thanks, Ross! And I wish you luck on your journey, it is seemingly a lifelong one.

[@Accursed_Farms]

Also if my mother was a pianist, I think I would have bugged her to play the Gabriel Knight credits theme.

[@GRAFICHEDAZ]

Hey guys, I have a MT-32 Roland to sell for anyone interested

[@GRAFICHEDAZ]

[e-mail]

[@racer927]

Interesting to see you commenting on this video and even more so when he made a music comparison of Tyrian 2000, which I can not thank you enough for getting me into that game.

[@ModernVintageGamer]

great video. the Amiga also supported the MT-32 (albeit in very limited fashion). i made a video about it if you were interested. cheers!

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Great work Clint! You managed to cram in about everything I hoped you would say about the MT-32 in under 12 minutes! Only one word: Awesome! Pleasure to watch! :)

[@LGR]

Happy to hear it! And thank you once again for helping make this episode happen :)

[@pyrobison2002]

Lazy Game Reviews this was just posted. How did you comment from the future past

[@jenjenneration]

Anders Enger Jensen thank you for making this wonderful video possible :)

[@larsiparsii]

Norsk én også! 😊

[@WeekendWarrior92]

Patreon backers have early access to videos, they become available to the masses later

[@philscomputerlab]

MT-32 is so awesome! Thanks for spreading the word, more should know about it and enjoy DOS games at their best!

[@Heru3005]

Knew the moment i saw this posted you'd leave a comment on it Phil lol

[@LGR]

For sure, and I'm glad you're doing your part to spread the word as well!

[@philscomputerlab]

Thanks! That was a great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it :)

[@philscomputerlab]

LOL :D

[@spongeyperson]

Phil

[@wowdogeful]

Holy shit, not even the Secret Of Monkey Island remastered version from 2009 sounds that good

[@matthewrice4419]

I was so happy to see Tyrian 2000 featured in this video. Many hours of my childhood were spent with the shareware version of that game! Another fun video, thanks Clint!

[@TechDeals]

I remember having a Roland General MIDI add-in card that installed on my Sound Blaster 16, this hardware predates that and I never saw one, but I do remember how much better music was once the add-on card was installed!

[@ThetaReactor]

MT-32 vs FM synth is like the SNES vs Genesis of PCs. They both have their strengths, and good composition can make either sound superior.

[@alpzepta]

ThetaReactor more like Genesis vs Sega CD lol

[@MatthewChristianMurray]

Eh…4-op FM without effects has never sounded realistic to me.

[@JAMBONBALONEY]

That must have been quite frustrating for game music/sound creators. Create a rich sound track that (at the time) only a fraction of their customers could enjoy and the rests will have to settle for 'beep beep' music.

[@Notsbaby]

JAMBON BALONEY thank god I was born in the 21st century.

[@patlefofort]

It's kinda the same problem today. Music is made to sound good on cheap earbuds to the detriment of better options.

[@kunstsein]

I guess that this practice is prevalent with some kinds of Pop Music (?). It must depend on the style of music, since with the stuff i listen to, this is not the case for sure.

[@jpoortman]

I wonder... I kinda miss the old days, dealing with the limitations of the platform you're working on was a great deal of fun, at least for me. Graphics in my case, but I can imagine sound engineering offered similar challenges from time to time. The joy of getting something done that shouldn't be possible (without some ingenuity or insane amounts of work) or wasn't possible before this or that piece of tech came out... I miss that. Yeah, sometimes you would make something that wouldn't run properly on someone else's hardware, the more reason to invite them to your home :)

[@olafmuller4506]

JAMBON BALONEY pretty much, yeah 🤔

[@TrapNerdMusic]

"Just listen to some of these ..." *TURNS VOLUME UP* *CRIES TO BEAUTIFUL MIDI GOODNESS*

[@AgentTasmania]

I've never even played it and I get taken by surprise by the sheer beauty every time the Monkey Island main theme starts in the MT-32 perfection. I suppose that's what 'Timeless' means.

[@CougarBen02]

I feel the "couldn't afford the good audio options as a kid" SO MUCH! Thank you for fulfilling our common fantasy. I enjoyed it by proxy.

[@tonylancer7367]

The link to 8-Bit Keys blew my mind. The Roland MT-32 on Space Quest!!! ARE YOU FOR FREAKIN' REAL??? That sound is UNBELIEVABLE!!! If you had that(back in the 80s), you must have been the one. No more 1-bit square wave PC Speaker noise. Too bad that all our sounds are now 24bit/192KHz 4K Ultra High Fidelity 10.1 Auro-3D Fully Immersive Surround Sound. **sigh**

[@birdbrain4445]

Anders Enger Jensen! I was introduced to that name because Technology Connections has used his music to demonstrate audio playback of record players. Funny little connection there; nice of him to donate one of these amazing things to you.

[@Reverend_Revenant]

That Monkey Island track hit my nostalgia so hard that I physically recoiled... and now I have an urge to play Monkey Island again.

[@RetroGamingMuseum]

Finally !! Have been waiting years for you to make a video of Roland MT-32 :) I used to own the Roland LAPC card which I bought in a Musical Instruments Store, which puzzled the store owner, as he asked me why a kid would fork out all this money just to play games with it :)

[@detaart]

Clint, your channel is just downright excellent.

[@LGR]

Thanks!

[@BledWh1te]

As someone who grew up playing DOS games, I spent a fair amount of time as a kid wondering over all the different graphic and audio options, and your channel has officially cleared up the last of those old mysteries for me. Good stuff, as always

[@DailyFunFacts]

great and very informative! enjoyed every bit of this awesome video 😊

[@Ryodakun]

lol the doom drums only thing was awesome. I wanna hear more of these with other games and other instruments.

[@ryanpascual9598]

Dtd Nt Fllow Instrctns

[@noeuro]

There's a reason why the Atari ST became the MIDI controller of choice for many. Excellent choice Atari :)

[@Bcbud420]

Had the Atari ST 520 and 1040 and a mt-32 was so amazing playing King's Quest and other Sierra games back in the day :)

[@mdavis5826]

Thank you for always expanding my mental rolodex with your wonderful compendium of computers & their corresponding counterparts~ Your videos inspired me to actually get off my ass & fix up these old machines I've got laying around!

[@johnb4467]

I purchased an MT-32 while I was in grad school (around 2003-ish), having been curious all those years how much I was "missing out on" in not having one. Having always had Creative Labs' cards...was absolutely FLOORED at the difference it made! Compared to the 5 or 6 generations of Sound Blaster cards I went through, just having the one MT-32 from the get-go would have actually SAVED me money in the long run (albeit, too much $$$ up front for my young self). Even in old EGA games (like Quest for Glory 2), the usage they got out of it as amazing and really enhanced the settings and mood. I also used the MT-32 as a synthesizer for Cubase and some audio software (for fun); it was clear how flexible the device was. Many years later, I recently sold it on ebay during the pandemic -- and I hope it went to a good home that fully enjoys it to this day. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it...even though technology by 2003 had far moved beyond its capibilities.

[@vinnyolmsted8018]

Thank you for pronouncing Timbre correctly.

[@Eos_Galvus]

it hit the music portion and I kind of hit the zone. This thing sounds FREAKIN' GOOD. Thanks for reviewing, and thank Andres for donating!

[@bohunkuspictures]

That. Was. Fascinating! I regularly watch you but this is a new favorite! I grew up always wondering what the MT-32 was on all those install screens. PS. -- Years ago you commented kind words on my Jill of the Jungle music cover -- at the time I don't think LGR was even fully up in running (2009). But a great honor to hear the kind words

[@Desmaad]

Speaking of which, the founder of Roland, Ikutaro Kakehashi, died recently.

[@Sama3L]

Wait... The 8-Bit-Guy AND LGR both got a MT-32 from Anders Jensen? How many of these does he have in storage?

[@dwarf365]

A quote from Anders "Well.. my original CM-32L from 1991, then I went a little crazy on eBay a couple of years ago so in total 3x MT-32 (incl the two I donated), 3x CM-32L (one which I recently sold to a friend), 1x CM-32P, 2x CM-64, 1x CM-300, 1x MT-100 and 1x SC-55 (plus the rest of my studio www.eox.no). I need more space really. 😜"

[@Sama3L]

nice quote, thank you. sounds like me and my crapload of multimedia devices... XD

[@MrJigssaw1989]

Pche its obvious. Step 1: Buy bunch of MT32 for next to nothing. Step 2: Donate some to tech youtubers to show it off and ignite the interest. Step 3: ???? Step 4: Resell and PROFIT !!!!

[@sirknight4981]

Genius!!

[@JaceCavacini]

I have two of these myself. One of them is even in a modded case to rack mount it. You can chain multiple MT-32 units together in “overflow” mode so that any voices that can’t play on one unit will play on the next unit. You’d think 32-voices would be enough, but not when you’re using it to play a game soundtrack. I couldn’t get one as a kid, so I bought two for $50 a pop as a 30-year-old. Played a few games with it on PC (with Scumm, and DOSBox) and Atari (built-in MIDI interface!). I’ve even used it in my own music a little (with lots of effects), and I keep meaning to play with editing custom sounds on it with a unique editor adaptation made for SoundDiver I found online years ago and still haven’t played with...

[@jfwfreo]

The MT-32 is by far the best way to enjoy the music from the first Space Quest game (best sound of any version of the game period)

[@barbarianbros]

I'm fond of the Space Quest III music by Bob Siebenberg (drummer of Supertramp). kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn_FiYeBqrSVebM

[@nathanielbeven9052]

this the same guy who gave 8-bit keys his? does his channel music too? what a god damn trooper. big ups to this man!.

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Nathaniel Beven Indeed it is and thanks. ;) You'll find my music on www.eox.no (link to my SoundCloud on the front page).

[@susst5562]

@@AndersEngerJensen ty for providing us the chance to hear this.

[@acemcjack]

Thank you for this, LGR! I've had an original MT-32 for some 15 years, and it still sounds awesome IMO.

[@barbarianbros]

"Background music is from Adventures of Willy Beamish" : thanks for the link to my video :) About the LA devices : there are 3 versions of the MT-32 : Rev.0, Rev.1 old, Rev.1 new. Only the latter has the phones jack and no 'buffer overflow' bug. This later model also introduce a preset duration for 'sustain' (with earlier models, composers had to stop the sustain or to use a fade-out to avoid 'stuck notes' ) -CM-32L is a MT-32 with 32 new sound effects, no screen nor buttons on the front panel. -LAPC-I is a soundcard. It's basically a CM-32L and a MPU-401 combined on an ISA card. -CM-64 is a CM-32L and a CM-32P (a 'patches' or samples module) in one only module. -CM-500 : combines a LA CM-32L and a GM/GS CM-300 (the CM version of the SC-55) in one module. Note that many european games have problems with the original MT-32. As PC MS-DOS games was a tiny market in Europe until 1991 (because Amiga and Atari ST computers ruled the marked), European developpers composed their music for MT--32 'new' or later models. So many european games have buffer overflow bug or stuck notes.

[@jozefnava8588]

It's the second time I've seen this video and it always seems great to me ... I don't understand how there are 68 people who don't like this video ... they don't know anything about old school videogames (retro).... Thanks for your videos my friend Clint I hope one day I can send you a Christmas gift

[@novafawks]

Clint!!!! I'm so happy you covered this!! :D I've been wanting to buy one of these or the SC-55 for AGES, i really want to make some music with it!

[@djlobb]

Wow!!! The Monkey Island title screen on the MT-32 is just phenomenal

[@fallingwax7290]

This is weird synchronicity i was messing around with Roland MT-32 emulation last night and was wondering if LGR has ever done a video on the subject and blow me when i check you posted an hour before, freaky stuff!

[@paulgascoigne5343]

my friends brother is a superb musician/composer. he had a whole stack of gorgeous midi boxes of magic, gorgeous gorgeous sounds.

[@CrimFerret]

The only downside is the sound quality is so much higher quality than the game graphics there there's a little bit of feeling of there being a mismatch.

[@Abu_Brandino]

Yeah, but music is always been ahead of visual media so it’s fine to me

[@simulatedcreated1108]

I had a similar childhood of wandering around music shops. When I was learning to play piano, I would regularly go into the shop just to play the Roland synth which at the time was over £1000. I dreamed about that thing. Fast forward to my thirties, and I bought one. I actually wrote a whole musical on it which was performed in London two years ago :)

[@ckynut]

Man, this is such satisfying content. I can't help wanting to continue to thank you, Clint, which is why I have no problem giving you some of my money each month! Keep it up, mate!

[@LGR]

Much appreciated, thank you!

[@eluzai]

Each kind of synth has their own use, be FM, sampler, analog, additive, and so forth. It's just the manner of how you use it. Still though, this tickles my music producer senses. Love the vid LGR!

[@macesteffy2066]

As a long time owner of a Roland TD-12 drum-kit/module and TD-20 module, I'm really happy to see this. From my experience, Roland hardware never comes cheap, user controls can be complicated as hell, but in the hands of a master, it's one of the best audio hardware companies.

[@Zizzily]

I've been waiting for you to cover this for a long time. And I've always wanted to get one, especially for those Sierra soundtracks. Great video as always.

[@MatSpeedle]

Always great to have some new LGR content, just what I needed to cheer me up! Thanks Clint! :)

[@aphex4000]

It's a shame audio of this quality was not accessible to the masses in the early days of PC gaming. The demo clips you played sound amazing, and would completely have changed the game play experience. Thanks so much for making this video; it's just great!! :D

[@auroramartell]

I love this neat little device, Clint. Thanks for showing it to us!

[@mattalki]

That MPU-IPC 8-bit card is a freaking unicorn. I've been hunting for one for ages. Nice score! I've used my MT-32 with my soundblaster 16, and it does work, but using it with DOSbox and the USB->midi adapter works really solidly. Sierra had awesome support for the MT-32, and I've found that I've gone through most of my game library and played through the older games just to hear the soundtracks. Great video, Clint!

[@LGR]

Thank you! And yeah, I was shocked when Anders sent me that IPC card, I'd never even come across one before.

[@saxman112]

Man, that is an impressive sounding synth! It was truly advanced for its time! Amazing how much of a difference it made for the soundtracks of games that supported it.

[@enilenis]

So glad I picked my MT-32 up before retro youtubers started covering this device. Prices shot up virtually overnight now that there is a renewed interest in this beautiful little machine. If you can't get your hands on one, look up SC-55. It has an MT-32 emulation mode. Another cheap option for pure SC-55 are sequencers with built-in synthesizers, such as SD-35. They show up online periodically and often sell for under $100.

[@AndersEngerJensen]

enilenis SC-55's emulation doesn't work with most games since it can't work with the custom SysEx messages. I'd recommend MUNT instead. :)

[@enilenis]

Anyone aware of of SysEx Easter eggs likely knows all of them already. MT-32's biggest advantage over MT-32 emulation on SC-55 is that it can receive custom tones that are used to synthesize effects in a handful of games. Then again, those need a proper MPU401 box which nowdays costs many times more than the genuine MT-32 itself. Munt is a great free option. I agree.

[@RFTL]

Those custom tones are programmed by SysEx messages and no they aren't just used for effects but also often for new instrument arrangements. The problem with the cast majority of MT-32 compatible devices (including from Rolland) is that they are a Static remapping of the standard sounds and not fully reprogrammable synths. A proper MPU-401 is only necessary for games that use Intelligent Mode. Wich is mostly early MT-32 titels. Mid to late games used mostly UART mode (compatible with most cheap MTU-401 implementations like in the SoundBlaster 16). Many MPU-401 Intelligent mode games work with SoftMPU (still under active development).

[@barbarianbros]

I use SoftMPU to link my MT32 (Rev.1 old) to the gameport of my Soundblaster AWE 32 on my 'retro PC'. To easily record music or test, I play games in Dosbox, linking the MT-32 to my modern PC with an 'MIDIUSB' cable. Dosbox has a 'delaysysex' option to avoid 'buffer overflow' bug with 'Rev.0' and 'Rev.1 old' MT-32s

[@TheIwanttoapologize]

I always had a soft spot for the Police Quest soundtracks. Jan Hammer did the score for Police Quest 3: The Kindred. The score is awesome. Some people might not know, but Police Quest 4: Open Season's score by Neal Grandstaff was in General Midi format and was intended to be played back on the Roland SC-55.

[@CoolDudeClem]

Although the MT-32 sounds better than Adlib in just about every way when it comes to music, I still prefer the Adlb in DOS games, to me Adlib is the "voice" of DOS.

[@Art7220]

The MT-32 was $700 back then. I could only afford to get an ESS Sound Blaster clone card for Space Quest 3.

[@ronaldraygun3386]

It depends what you are used to, I guess. In the DOS game era, I had a Roland, so I am more familiar with how games sounded with Roland LA-synthesis, than how they sounded with the rinky-dinky Yamaha OPL-2 FM synthesis used on Adlib and Soundblaster. Of course not all games supported Roland, so yeah I'd also hear only FM synth music in e.g. Alone in the Dark, Eye of the Beholder 2 and such.

[@kgbinfo]

I also like the sound of the Ad Lib card. That 2 operator FM sound is just so gritty and full of character.

[@wonframe]

Very interesting. Keep up the great work man, I love your videos!

[@LGR]

Will do my best!

[@ja-qwellin]

8-Bit Keys brought me here, it's cool to see you bring him up in this video

[@SuperMew98]

You don't know how long I've been waiting for LGR to make a video on the MT-32. Wonderful job, man!

[@LGR]

Thank you!

[@SuperMew98]

No problem! :D

[@rayforceaddict]

SoftMPU really is a lifesaver. For soundtracks I've gotta recommend Firehawk and Rob Hubbard's masterful shredding on the Ski or Die intro song. Great video \o/

[@ThomasEdge]

Awesome video, Clint! Hearing Monkey Island on the MT-32 gave me serious chills.

[@galaxyfox1230]

You dont know how long iv been waiting for you to do a video about this :D

[@lrochfort]

Cracking video as always. I always loved the Monkey Island theme, it sounds much more cinematic than many others to me.

[@MarkyShaw]

Great video. I'm a MIDI fanatic and love seeing stuff like this.

[@NightOfTheLiving8bit]

Man...over 500k subs...that's insane! I remember first subbing when you had under 1k subs, which was way before the epic beard too! So nice to see worth while channels growing this much. Keep on keeping on man. Keep on keeping on.

[@LGR]

Yeah, things are moving so fast these days, it's awesome. Thanks for sticking around this long!

[@iandavidwolfe]

This would have blown my mind as a kid!!! Awesome job Clint!

[@0ne323]

Glad to see another review on an amazing piece of hardware, and by such a good reviewer. Excellent!

[@LGR]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robintst]

Wow, when it's a game that takes advantage of it specifically, the MT-32 sounds amazing! I definitely would still go with Yamaha FM synth though... mostly due to my undying love for the SEGA Genesis and it's YM2612 sound chip. It's big brothers included on PC sound cards of the day shared that similar sound which has always been appealing to me. That might be something you'd find interesting Clint, there are some folks have modded the Genesis with higher end sound chips from the same family that are closer to or the same as the ones used on Ad-Lib cards. Makes games like Sonic sound even more amazing.

[@summitap1]

TYRIAN I have been trying to remember this game for a long time thank you!

[@zummone]

It's so cool that you're enjoying it so much, and it's also in pretty good shape (functionally speaking), that Anders guy must really love you! But seriously now Clint, I'm going to be honest to Christ about this, DO NOT overuse your MT-32 and if you do ALWAYS mind your indoor temperatures and the ones on the unit! I got burned (figuratively) because of my negligence, and unfortunately the second unit I bought from Japan was in a similar state to my first one. Basically, hardware failure from overheating is a serious concern, you notice when some notes eventually seem to miss (not trying to sound alarming here, there are other non-dangerous reasons the notes might miss) but what happens is that the channels (internally known ad partials) start to break down because either the pins melt or because something inside the LA chip screws up (I'm very knowledgeable about how the unit operates, but very ignorant on the physical, hardware side). I also downloaded a library of custom sounds and a librarian to make them, let me find it and post it here soonish, it runs on 3.1, and it's lots of fun to be had!

[@HotIceVlog]

Ironically, the founder of the Roland company died today at the age of 87. RIP

[@Trusteft]

I am glad you mentioned the Atari ST, a cheaper way (back then) to use the MT-32. Not all games supported it, but there were plenty. Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@krillarbran]

Oh wow. That is a huge jump from PC speaker. That really awed me. But it also reminds me how much ultimate PC gaming can cost, even back in the early 90's

[@dallyink7412]

I didn't know anything like this existed. Figured "oh, I guess the beepboops might sound a little better", but that was truly amazing to hear.

[@stephanemignot100]

My father gave me one two decades away, thanks to Munt, I heard about his gaming capabilities, playing Frontier Elite II a lot these days, great experience... If you can only afford one device, this is the way, GM mode using Roland sysex is not that bad, better than the opposite, GM to MT32...

[@Apprentice_of_the_Leonine]

In just 6 months or so, the MT-32 has gone from $100 to $275 and up.

[@djmouglie]

holy crap that is insaaane :D ... you could get a Yamaha CS1x with better sound + general midi compatebility and a hole keyboard and synth included for about the same price

[@weezerbluealbum5984]

I put part of the blame on the 8-bit Guy, as cool as he is he did make a video on it

[@djmouglie]

yer i saw that video too :D .. he really does a great job at making things seem cool in his very own polite way

[@3434abab]

nope. still $100 on ebay

[@und4287]

according to ebay sellers, old=rare=expensive.

[@AmyraCarter]

7:16 That DOOM DRUMS bit was SICK. Seriously, that's some Metal awesomeness going on there.

[@Mir_Teiwaz]

The MT-32 makes all those older games feel so much newer with the significantly improved music.

[@vashtanerada100]

I really love just how clear the sound is.

[@LohTec]

Tyrian! Awesome soundtrack, great game. :)

[@excrono]

7:39, Funny you featured the MT-32 Zeliard soundtrack Clint. Your old review had inspired me to play with MIDI/MT-32 emulation, and I used this as a test. My conclusion was that the MT-32 version still couldn't even approach the greatness of the Tandy version. That is the ultimate weakness of synthesized soundtracks.

[@danielanderson9400]

Everything i know about older computers is thanks to clint. Ive watched so many lgr videos its unreal.

[@CarfDarko]

This little machine is a true time capsule for writting late 80's/early 90's soundscapes. I really want to add this one to my midi studio now. Not sure but if I would trigger this one from a DAW would it listen to 8 different Midi channels just like my trusty Roland MC505 Groovebox? Got a feeling this device can also can help to get close to those good ol' Konami arcade sounds! How is the music studio doing nowdays?

[@DetrimentalDerivation]

In speaking of the PC-98, ZUN of the Touhou Project utilized both FM and MIDI for his soundtracks up until the early Windows era, with the MIDI version often being an arrangement of the FM version. However, with the compositions being produced in a later era, the machine of choice was not the Roland MT-32, but rather the Roland SC-88Pro. The difference is quite striking, for instance: Alice in Wonderland (Touhou 5: Mystic Square, FM version): watch?v=_ZwOGMEAbQo Alice in Wonderland (Touhou 5: Mystic Square, MIDI version, recorded from SC-88pro): watch?v=XxLnriYZRFA

[@FrankieHiltz]

Wow, it's insane how much more available and cheap audio equipment is nowadays. As a guitarist of 9 years who's been writing, recording, and mixing his own music, this stuff has always been so fascinating to me. Seriously, people take for granted the quality audio we get today. The mic quality in a 99$ android phone would cost 500$ way back when.

[@djemergency512]

Holy crap you just help me remember the first PC game I ever played when I was little. It was Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. I could never remember the name

[@G.B...]

Ahhh, the dream machine of the 80s for PC gamers and amateur musicians alike. Essentially a rack synthesizer, the legendary MT-32 was too expensive for the "common mortals"; most gamers thought it was a sound card, because they never had the chance to actually see this thing. Nevertheless, this piece of technology art still sounds great, even today. It took me 17 years to finally listen to the intro music of Monkey Island played by this beast. Well, it could be worse, I guess. Thank you Clint!

[@JamesPotts]

Ultima VII (parts 1 & 2) has fantastic MT32 support.

[@kosmosyche]

Also Ultima Underworld is great on MT-32.

[@JamesPotts]

I had forgotten that the CM-32L had those extra samples. Ironic, considering that's what I own.

[@captainsemicolon]

I had one of these in a cupboard for about 10 years before I realised actually what it did. I received it with a bunch of other music stuff, and I just couldn't work out what it did. So glad I kept it as playing DOTT now with the MT-32 is an incredible experience!

[@SyntheticFuture]

Ah yes the D-50, I bought that one this year. What a wonderful device :D

[@SyntheticFuture]

It is interesting though: I never realized game sound was so soundcard dependent. I have been missing out :D

[@Lewmania]

Good to hear Willy Bemaish in MT-32 in the background sir!

[@jayxeno]

Holy shit that was incredible. I can't believe it could get that good. I have a relatively nice 5.1 system and the MT-32 had such depth in its audio.

[@mrskizzot]

Hearing the regular pc speaker, then hearing the mt-32 ,is like going limp to climax immediately.

[@billlumburgh8272]

Awesome review, hope to see some more sound card stuff on LGR!

[@HomelessTechnology]

The music at the start. It's Willy Beamish isn't it? Really cool old DOS game. Review it Clint! You must have it?

[@LGR]

Yep! Did a full playthrough of it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4umY55qd62je9U

[@HomelessTechnology]

Why haven't I seen this already! Many hours lost playing that game when I was a kid. :)

[@FernieCanto]

That melody sounds very similar to a portion of Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick, so much so that I thought it was a remix at first.

[@jasonblalock4429]

Pushing Up Roses also did a video on it just a couple days ago.

[@robrobbins]

Playing with software synthesizers can be a lot of fun. Propellerhead Reason is my favorite.

[@distractedFreek]

I've never had any real experience with retro computers or games but even I got goosebumps when the King's Quest theme played on the Roland.

[@oopus4]

This is what i have been waitning for! Thanks LGR :D!

[@wmilberry]

Wow, this was nostalgic. I remember getting a Sierra On-line demo tape (audio) featuring clips from MT-32 audio from Sierra On-line games in the early 1990s.

[@RetroPowerUp]

I love the way the screen looks on the front of it. I always wished I had one of these as a kid. It sounds SOO much better!

[@nickwallette6201]

Just got one recently myself, and now they're blowing up on KZbin. :-) Good to see these things getting some love. They sound great even today, and especially for their time. So, next up - Sound Canvas?

[@gray-hairedgamer799]

A few years ago I was able to pickup a MT-32 and a SCC device and I'm so glad I did. Sierra really supported the heck out of it and some of there games sound amazing when using said device.

[@randomango2789]

Watching your vids after a science test is always relaxing