Roland's SK-88 Pro // A Sleeper 90s Synth, & a Gift from Early Gaming

[@suitandtieguy]

hey man thanks for the mention. i'm glad you like this thing too. the diff between the Dr Synth and the SC-33 is the SC-33 has some more sounds in it. they are identical other than that. i have an SC-33 in my live rig, believe it or not. it's in a case with other synths i only sequence like the Novation Peak, OpSix, and MB33 (that i just added a Lil Rat to.)

[@JorbLovesGear]

The man himself! I'll have to go digging on the sc-33, it seems like every time I step a bit further with this era of gear I find out about something else wonderful. Can't wait for knobcon!

[@suitandtieguy]

@@JorbLovesGear make sure you say hi. Also i can show you how the SC fits in the setup. I'm going to do a workshop about my "instrument"

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@suitandtieguy I would love that. I'll be rolling around making some videos while I'm there, maybe a short interview?

[@suitandtieguy]

@@JorbLovesGear totally. Thanks!

[@NegativeReferral]

The Sound Canvas sample bank (and other Roland sound sets that use similar samples, such as the samples on the JV series) are iconic. They were everywhere in pop, gaming, and elevator music, and still show up from time to time. The SC-55 sample set was also probably the most "borrowed" set of samples, used in so many SF2's you can find online, as well as the default GM/GS soundfont on Windows and Mac computers. Heck, I found a Cocomelon-branded keyboard with the grand piano. This is culture in action - two men (Eric Persing and Adrian Scott) working for a multinational tech corporation, capturing sounds that the Midi Manufacturers' Association viewed as symbolic of broader musical practice around the world, and proliferating them on so many revolutionary Roland instruments and modules... forming lots of pathways in people's brains.

[@markwoodson2020]

I'm a highly motivated amateur with a circuit tracks and I now NEED a sound module. Love my volca bass and modal Skulpt but these sample based sounds open up entirely new genres and song ideas. The effects are absolutely beautiful. Thank you!

[@readmedottext]

late to the discussion but same here. Hopefully my SK-88 arrives in a few weeks.

[@danielgow7975]

Man, I am actually impressed by the fidelity of this instrument. I always assumed it was like a typical rompler but it has quite a clean and fresh sound. Great video as always

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers thank you! I agree, the sounds are surprisingly good

[@larslevinberget9558]

Apart from the JV30, I didn't know Sound Canvas keyboards existed, only the different modules and cards :) I was into the pro synths like D50, U20, JD800 and JV80 at that time, as goes for Roland, and the GM / GS appeared at the time of the XP50 and JV2080, and I think the SC series was inspired by the mentioned synths/samples. I was surprised by the sound quality of such a product, to be that high and its tweakability could turn the game soundtracks and boring SMF, with personal editing, into something creative. The final Sound Canvas product was the SC880 pro rack module which is the expansion board for Roland's ultimate hardware sequencer, the MC80 :) 6 octaves make this a great MIDI keyboard for the minimal / portable DAW studio too!

[@pirozhkebab]

I have never been able to modify MFX that fast and in real-time on my 88Pro. the SK-88 is really something special

[@SirRigbyBaconKaiser]

I agree with the latter part of the title. This is the peak for DOS gaming.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Such a fascinating era of electronic music production. Glad to have come across this board.

[@SirRigbyBaconKaiser]

@@JorbLovesGear Since you're into under dog Synths. (Like me) Would mind if I gave you a recommendation? I'd recommend looking for a Korg DSS-1 it's a sampler from the late 80's with an integrated wave generator. When compared to other Samplers at the time (Akai'S SXX series or EMU's Emulator/Emax series) it's never really talked or recommended but it's definitely a capable Sampler.

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@SirRigbyBaconKaiser adding them all to this list, appreciate the recs!

[@Dualhammers]

This sounds incredible. Makes me want to learn piano just to make stuff with it.

[@0072gldnfngr]

Jorb. You are the man! lol I’ve been mulling over old stuff and found the desktop version. Decided to do some research because I hadn’t heard of it, and boom! There you are. Of course. lol thanks!

[@henne_music]

I started watching out of curiosity and ended up watching the whole thing :D great showcase

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers, thank you! Happy to share it

[@MichaelBLevi]

Multitimbral Roland machines are loads of fun. I used my MC 909 like a Sound Canvas for years. I'd have it playing GM sounds and expansion card samples and three other external MIDI machines and still have enough polyphony.

[@alexriesenbeck]

Absolutely great demo! And then the Live II makes an appearance! That's basically how I will be using my SK-88 Pro. Thank you for an inspiring and detailed video

[@Pheonix0114]

Anytime I hear about General Midi, I'm sad I can't be nostalgic for that age. I was a kid in the 90s, but I didn't game on the computer till highschool in the late 00's when my friends got me to play Tibia (a terrible 2d mmo) with them. Edit: Great job filming the screen btw! Edit 2: Voice Oohs from Rugrats!!!

[@JorbLovesGear]

A lot of these sounds ended up being used in games that were developed a bit later too, or on consoles. I believe the music box patch is used in Mario 64, and I was reading that the PS1 soundtrack for Final Fantasy 7 includes a lot of sound canvas sounds.

[@_M4YD4Y]

Great video !!! I’ve owned an SC-8850 module for over a decade and I love it… I didn’t know they made a keyboard version. These are the sounds of my childhood…

[@JorbLovesGear]

Happy to share the info! I'm infatuated with the sounds.

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Oh man, I'd been interested in the SC-88 Pro, I might have to check this out as a possible alternative.

[@JorbLovesGear]

I've seen you're into chiptunes, video game music 20 years later is easy to sell to you😂 If you want to get the sounds of metroid prime, pick up an emu proteus 2000, it's all over that soundtrack. 😅

[@fl33ce_]

Damn. I didn’t know this existed and now I’m absolutely captivated. Excellent stuff again, Jorb I swear those are the footsteps from Grim Fandango…

[@lokelosk]

Oh man, this sounds so good! Who needs hi-fi when they can have such pleasant sounds? [Or maybe it's just the nostalgia talking.]

[@JorbLovesGear]

If it sounds good, it is good. And I agree, they definitely sound good

[@Max10_B]

I’ve literally been looking for the samples for so long for my MPC one. I even was going to buy the app that they discontinued to sample into the MPC. Please make some!! I’d be forever indebted

[@JorbLovesGear]

I might! Since each sound is one sample repitched, I wonder how tough it would be to get things working right...maybe all the challenge would be in finding the right loop point?

[@conk971]

i'm getting big time chibi robo vibes from this

[@alkaiosmusic]

We want THAT

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Awesome topic! I've always been aware of the general MIDI standard, but you covered a lot that I did not know. Fantastic video, now I need to get an MT-32 or SC/SK-88 ;)

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers! I'm interested in getting my hands on an MT-32 now, would love to compare.

[@KattKirsch]

Great video! I would absolutely LOVE to have some samples from this / keygroups that I can try integrating into a Polyend Tracker for that true ultimate Amiga samplesmashing.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Oh wow I never had considered the connection. This would be so cool to pair with a tracker

[@jaxager]

Wow. That thing sounds pretty damn good.

[@JorbLovesGear]

It really does surprise. Great synth!

[@yeoldmedic7572]

sound canvas is legendary. i own a yamaha MU 128 witch is like the yamaha sound canvas. its amazing as well. i sold my sc 8850 a while back thinking the sound canvas VST would be enough .... well its not quite as tactile as hardware as you might imagine. welp i just snagged a SK 88 pro on ebay in perf condition les gooo

[@odiroot]

Wow, the Electric Piano 1 with chorus is so pleasant.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Totally agree, surprisingly good sound

[@djangofett4879]

I have this thing's big cousin, the SC-880 rack unit. It has a completely different editing screen from all the other SC units, but its basically the same as an SC-88 pro but with balanced XLR outs and its a big heavy metallic chunk. And the sc-88 series has an sc-55 mode so it can accurately play all your favorite DOOM and DESCENT midi tracks

[@niceheartwhitesuit]

Honestly, that jam slaps.

[@kenzieprice6745]

Man great video. I would love to see you keep a segment of videos going having you review obscure and underdog gear.

[@JorbLovesGear]

You've got it, that's a lot of where I would like to focus my energy.

[@kenzieprice6745]

@@JorbLovesGear I should clarify I do mean more like the SK-88 that's literally barely being talked about or known vs like the Akai AX-60 that could be considered underdog and more obscure too to some circles but is definitely already well discussed and regarded in some circles. ....but I think you were already pickin' up what I was putin' down. Keep up the great content.

[@wavesequencer]

Nice demo. There's multiple affordable options out there for GM sound set modules from both Yamaha and Roland, my own recommendation though for something small with a great set of sounds/synthesis capability, with multi-timbral mode and GM sound set is the Korg Micro X (62 voice polyphony - sounds from the Triton workstation range). Otherwise Roland JV1080 is a similar price and I think sounds better than the sound canvas range. Both around 300$ US used.

[@hidikitalks]

It never occurred to me until watching this that possibly... Lately Bass was trying to sound like the TB-303. Thanks Jesk!

[@JorbLovesGear]

Ahh most definitely. Good stuff!

[@bengalinsky4300]

Keygroups yes please! Esp the music box, i forgot how gorgeous that sounds!

[@JorbLovesGear]

I'm reaaally thinking about doing this. May be easier to source the original samples, but not sure if all the saucey ones from the 88 pro are available online.

[@parkerstang1342]

I want to ask "why have you done this to me?" but what I feel right now is: thank you for showing me the thing I was looking for. Time to spend money.

[@JorbLovesGear]

This is a real gem, hope you get something to scratch the itch

[@Vachey]

I have one of these with a keyfax Phat Boy attached for live filter/adsr controller. Its a great device!!!

[@c0ldcity]

Lovely demo, top job

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers, thank you!

[@Frozirra]

But the mopho is yellow! I heavily considered it because of its affordability and color as well as it’s nice keybed

[@formxshape]

Check out Japanese electronic musician Rei Harakami, he wrote all his music on the sound canvas and it sounds amazing. Sadly he died.

[@HazeAnderson]

If you are looking for another alternative there is the miniEngine USB GM sound module/power bank thingy. Not only does it power a Beatstep Pro but it also provides 16 channels of GM sound for it (and channel 10 is drumz).

[@linuspowers]

Great demo! I believe this question was answered in the video, but given the absence of an instrument jack, can I use MIDI cables to run this into my Scarlett 4i4?

[@JorbLovesGear]

Midi won't pass audio actually, just performance data. RCA or RCA to instrument cables for audio

[@linuspowers]

@@JorbLovesGear ok that's what I thought. Thank you so much! I didn't know RCA to instrument cables existed but lo and behold I see Roland makes them

[@BrianMcKee]

Managed to pick up one of these bad boys for 100 bucks while I was buying other stuff from japan. Can get good deals if you buy from places like yahoo auctions. Mine even came complete in box. One reason I got this over the SC-88pro was the fact that this uses an external power brick while the SC-88pro uses an internal one. I know 100v isn't a big difference from 120v but I like to be careful with equipment like this. Also keep in mind just like the SC-88 pro you need to replace the battery in here, the originals begin to leak. These things are just endless fun, and I think you're correct that these are more rare than the price would reflect. I would imagine in a few years time when nostalgia for these old sounds reminiscent from n64 titles and others will cause the demand to increase. It could be very difficult at some point to source a good condition one. Though of course you do have options like the SC-88pro or the much cheaper ST-88 pro.

[@filgaia1]

I just purchased an SK88. Could you please tell me about the battery replacement aspect? Is this something I can do at home or would I need a technician to do this? I am in the US importing it from Japan.

[@BrianMcKee]

@@filgaia1 Extremely easy. Just unscrew the back and the battery is right there. It's a CR2032.

[@filgaia1]

@@BrianMcKee Thank you! I am still traumatized from the battery in my Ensoniq VFX which is soldered in and I had to bring to a specialist to delicately remove and replace when it began to break down. Can’t wait to receive my SK-88!

[@BrianMcKee]

@@filgaia1 Thankfully it isn't soldered but it can be a bit annoying to get out. I used a thin wooden stick as leverage to pry it out. Putting in the replacement is instant though.

[@JakeLionsWorld]

Square wave sounds like Wario Land 4, and Space Voice sounds like Paper Mario. aaaahhhh

[@JorbLovesGear]

Woah it does

[@cdwhiley]

Jorb. Bro. I really wish we could be real life friends. :D I can’t tell you how much of this is EXACTLY how I am about gear. Especially lately. I too love the in between weird stuff. I missed a sc-155 pro for $75 and it made me sad. I also want a cm-64 super bad but I do have the midi volume fader 🎚 pad and the note entry pad from that period. I also have a ds-330 dr synth which is identical to the Roland one I forgot the name of … but there’s actually two versions of the ds-330 dr synth and only one sports the GS midi logo. It’s weird. I edit it with an actual win98 laptop running the Edirol/Roland sound canvas editor. Let me know if you need a copy!!! Oh and I want the sc-880 rack. It’s the ultimate sound canvas unit in my opinion.

[@cdwhiley]

:'(

[@JorbLovesGear]

Full commitment to the world of it, very impressed. I can't imagine working on a win98 pc at all! I'm really curious about the Dr synth now, hounding reverb a bit for one

[@cdwhiley]

@@JorbLovesGear identical to Roland SC33!!! That's the Roland Sound Canvas desktop module that looks identical to the Dr. Synth. The Dr. Synth has an awesome piano patch and cool synth patches and others. The SC33 is fully GS compatible, and only one version of the DS-330 is but they both kinda work on that Roland general whatever whatever (i don't really carew but its interesting there's literally 3 desktop modules that are almost exactly the same).

[@cdwhiley]

@Jorb I'm so dumb...I meant XP. Not 98. I got the Sound Canvas editor to run under XP.

[@suitandtieguy]

CM-64 is what I wrote the music for Oids with in 1994. It was my personal Sound Canvas, becase American Musical Supply blew them out at like 150 bucks or something.

[@ewh88]

Subbed. I’ve been looking at the sc88 . And was about to buy one until I saw your video. Is th sound bank on the sk the same as the sc? I’ll be listening to your videos at work for more info . Am looking to put some modern production onto these awesome sound from our childhoods!!

[@isedagd]

This thing is too cool. I feel like I shouldnt be drawn to the "corny" sounding voices but I can't help it. Super interested in experimenting with sounds like these.

[@Agerian7]

26:03 I hear the end of the rugrats theme song

[@JorbLovesGear]

EXACTLY what I was trying to play 🤣😂

[@insektgod]

Nice... a lot of the sounds in the Sound Canvas SK-88 remind me of the Roland MC-303... I think the MC-303 had a few more "analog" synth sounds, classic drum kits, and FX... but no nifty display. ROMplers always did get a bad rap... but maybe like everything their time is coming. I'm a big fan of the Yamaha CBX-K1XG (37 velocity mini keys attached to the Yamaha XG and GM sounds with stereo speakers running off 6 AA batteries) Not as deep or classy as the SK-88... but I love an ugly 80's office beige campfire synth with awkward hopes of being a keytar.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Campfire synth is not something i had heard before, but its not something i'll be repeating. lol

[@insektgod]

Yeah Campfire Synths are kind of a small niche in the synth world. It is nice to get outside occasionally.

[@klaassiersma4892]

Ementhaler? Cheddar? Gouda?, the fun part of these, you could chose. I had my keyboard lessons on one of these, fun times.

[@LittleRichard1988]

These sounds are still usable in modern music production. I have the SC-88 Pro module and also 3 othewr Sound Camvas modules and also the VST version of the SC-8820. Those electric guitars still sound convincing even today.

[@klaassiersma4892]

You got what you payed for, The more they cost the bigger samples and more multi sampled those GM modules got. Some of them were real bottom of the barrel stuff. I heard pretty convincing distorted electric guitar sounds coming from prophet 5's too.@@LittleRichard1988

[@SoundingEnglish]

Hello there. Thanks for the video. Really appreciated. I have the same Roland SK-88 Pro and I was wondering if there is a way to connect it to Mac's GarageBand...?

[@JorbLovesGear]

Cheers, and thank you! Sure if you want to control the keyboard via midi, you need either a USB to midi cable, or some other interface to get midi out of the computer. Of course, if you just want to move audio, just an audio interface. I'm not a daw user, so may not be a ton of help!

[@SoundingEnglish]

@@JorbLovesGear Thanks for the reply. Really appreciated. I got the USB to midi cable but although my Mac recognizes the midi input when I connect the Roland SK-88 to it, GarageBand did not. I was wondering if you had similar problems. Anyway, thank you again!

[@djsandy303]

Any tips on running a japanese sk88 (100volt) in a 120 volt environment?

[@JorbLovesGear]

It's probably just a matter of a different power adapter. You aren't plugging 120v into the sk88, the adapter is changing wall power to a DC voltage. So either a converter with the old adapter, or a totally new adapter.

[@gutsberserker5476]

what i never saw the sk-88 in keys form

[@TiberianFiend]

I haven't seen another video as in-depth as this on the Sound Canvas. How much of this applies to the SC-55?

[@JorbLovesGear]

A lot of it is the same! Fewer alternate instruments, not sure about effects. SC-88 though, all the same

[@Vachey]

@jorb you need a keyfax phat boy for that thing. Thank me later.

[@monotronfan1]

So would this work as an audio interface? Line level instrument in the input and it’s output over usb? Is that possible?

[@JorbLovesGear]

I don't believe it can do audio to a pc, those connections are just for Midi.

[@monotronfan1]

@@JorbLovesGear ok thanks for the info, Im currently shopping around for the perfect keyboard that doesn’t exist instead of making music

[@MisterGadd]

Not gonna lie; I immediately checked Gumroad after watching this video, and was a little disappointed that the MPC Keygroups didn't already exist. First World problems.

[@gutsberserker5476]

Is the sound Mono?

[@r.mattcoker4184]

I think early gaming is early 1980s or even 70s.

[@JorbLovesGear]

Early PC* gaming, my b

[@ksager123]

Do you have anymore synths you wanna sell?

[@JorbLovesGear]

Tons lol. All my moog stuff

[@ksager123]

@@JorbLovesGear do you have an online store?