Roland MT-32 setup tutorial video

Skip to 6:00 if you just want to see the MT-32 playing music.
Video showing how to connect a Roland MT-32 to a modern PC via the USB port.

[@rhydermike]

Hopped over from JimPlaysGames' channel. Nice stuff. I've got an MT-32 as well. I always describe it it as being half way between Ad-lib and an early wavetable card. As you say, it's the only way to hear the best version of a lot of game soundtracks. I even had the "pro" version, the Roland D-110 for a while. I never seem to get around to hooking up my MT-32 for actually playing games though.

[@einokeino303]

Nice to see you back :-) Great tutorial video, MT-32 really spawns new life into these old Sierra classics! Way too expensive for common PC owners back in the day unfortunately.

[@orionnights]

Do you know if this same setup works for Windows 10/11? Your video helped me set up my MT-32 12 years ago but wanted to see if it will still work on my latest PC after I moved a few years back

[@laffer35]

@Wishbringer3 Sadly I really only know how to do this properly on modern PCs with MIDI-USB cables, however I recommend you go to the Dosbox forums, there is an MT-32 section in the forum there.. there are quite a few knowledgeable people there regarding these things. Since KZbin doesn't allow links here, I'll send them in a PM.

[@laffer35]

@DenNukem2 That sounds like you might not have a good midi cable, I got that problem at first too... games would use wrong instruments as the cable wasn't able to have custom instruments sent to the MT-32. I went through five cables before I found one that worked perfectly.

[@rtarbinar]

@laffer35 wow, talk about a blast from the past! i was quite impressed with FT, but i never played with it that much; mainly scream tracker 3.21 and then impulse tracker. finally, i played a bit with madtracker for windows, but now i'm on to fruity loops(and perhaps i'll try some of the other professional ones someday)

[@laffer35]

Nice.

[@SethTheDarkOne]

Nice video by the way.

[@laffer35]

@SohoMonkey You're sure it's not the MIDI cable that's the issue? Seems odd to have issues with the very simplistic audio cable, just make sure it goes from two 1/4" mono jacks on one end to one stereo 1/8" stereo jack on the other. Did you check your soundcards line-in settings to make sure it's not muted or anything?

[@DonBrowne]

It the sound doesn't sound right, try turning it on, pushing "master volume" and 'part 5" at the same time, then push "part 1" This sets the midi channels to 1 through 8 instead of 2 through 9 which happens on some MT-32 models.

[@laffer35]

@qix77 I used to mess around in FastTracker 2 waaay back in the day, never got very good at it though.

[@laffer35]

@nicolaj0154 eBay, I had to get a replacement power supply for it (got it from a US seller), but those are easy to find.

[@laffer35]

Sounds like your MIDI cable isn't transferring the Sysex information to your MT-32, resulting in it using the default soundbank and not the instruments from the game. I had this issue with several MIDI-USB cables until I found one that worked... maybe you'll just have to find another cable? I really don't know, though.

[@marquisor]

how to connect a soundblaster card to a mt32?? do i need drivers? got a midi cable but in sound setup nothing happens on the mt32

[@Nico93]

hey again, ive got me a roland sound module but i dont get stereo sound of it althougt i had bought a jack splitter so i could get stereo of it.

[@laffer35]

@alex76gr Thank you. By the way, I happened to look at your channel and I love many of your videos :D Especially the Cross Platform Shitty game ones, they're great. Beverly Hills Cop was a very interesting one to watch because of the very different levels, and even the large changes in some of the levels in different versions. And Veteran looks hilarious :D

[@mrmactknife]

I just can't get mine to work :( I thin it might be a problem with the power supply, the MT-32 seems to keep turning itself off randomly. The plug is a lower milli amp hours that the Mt32 needs, could this be the problem?

[@mrmactknife]

Solved the power problem. I bought a 1000mah plug, works well. Although I just can't mine to sound like yours? Does the MT-32 have to be mapped somehow? Also I don't get the Police Quest II message :(

[@Nico93]

hi, how did you get the roland mt 32?,

[@SethTheDarkOne]

So I see you have no use for that cd.......

[@laffer35]

Nope, didn't need to use it at all.