Re: [SWCollect] Re: The World of Roland

[Pedro Quaresma]

Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: The World of Roland


> (This reply was detailed enough that I thought the whole list
might enjoy
> it
> -- sorry if you feel it is spam...)

No problem :) Maybe there are other members interested in planning
their dream retro machines :)

Just to make sure every member of the list is understanding what
this is about, I'll explain: I've been trying to gather the perfect
machine for retro-gaming, and have been haunting Jim through e-mail
for his fantastic knowledge on Roland sound "cards".

I'd like to take a moment to thank not only Jim for his knowledge,
but also Stephen Lee for the idea and Alexander Z�ller for helping
me get the hardest pieces of hardware at the best prices :)

Back to the topic!

>
> "Pedro R. Quaresma" wrote:
> >
> > How's the family? Hope everything is fine, and the weather better
> > than in Portugal.
>
> Hey, long time no write.  Family is fine and the weather has been
HOT but I
> can't complain as we have air conditioning.

Sunnier today, but it rained during the night. Little P. is
teething, so the rain is actually the least of our nightly
annoyances :/ ;)

>
> > I made a huge pause on this subject, cause I was waiting for the
> > important items to arrive. They have at last! I am now the proud
> > owner of a Roland MT32, a Roland Interface card and a Roland
SCC1! :)
> > Any special recommendations before I install them? :)
>
> Congrats!  You should be able to install them both at once but
keep in mind
> that the MIDI ports are by default the same (port 0x330).  Since
general
> MIDI
> sound was supported in later games, and the later games allow you
to
> usually
> pick the port GMIDI is on, I would recommend that you leave the
MIDI
> card/MT-32 set to 330 and change the SCC1 to some other supported
address,
> maybe 320 or 300.

Unlike the MT32 interface card which has a wide range of values, the
SCC1 card only has four options: 330, 332, 334 and 336. I set it to
336, was it a good pick?

>  If you don't have a manual for the SCC1 then I can look
> in
> mine to tell you the settings of the DIP switches.

I have the manual, but the values above were the only ones
mentioned. I'm missing the floppy for the interface card though, I
hope I won't be needing it or I'm toast.

>
> For testing purposes, you should actually install them seperately
and test
> them BEFORE trying to get them both in the same machine.  Start
with the
> SCC1
> first and run Doom or some other game that supports GMIDI; leave
it at the
> default port, select GMIDI, and play the game.  Should sound
okay.  Then
> remove the SCC1, put in the MIDI card (hopefully set at it's
default 330)
> and
> play any of the later Sierra games, like Silpheed or King's Quest
4 or
> later,
> or some other supported game, and you should hear very nice music
and
> possibly
> some "messages" on your MT-32 as it is reprogrammed.  Once you
know both of
> your hardware is good, THEN try to get them both in by changing
the default
> 330 address on the SCC1.

I think I'll try the "bruteforce" method first: both at same time.
If something goes horribly wrong, then I'll follow your suggestion.

I'm having a problem at the moment, which is the lack of cables. I
_think_ I know the two cables I need to plug the SCC1 to the stereo,
but I'm completely baffled as to what I need to plug between the
MT32 and both the stereo and the interface card. Some help as
pictorical as possible would be great :)

>
> > I also have two questions left: I won't be able to plug _both_
to my
> > sound system, will I?
>
> If your stereo has multiple inputs on your receiver, of course you
>can.  No
> game will use both of them at the same time so you can switch as
>necessary.

That's good to know :)

>
> If you only have one connection on your stereo, you can use a Y-
cable, but
> this reduces the sound output of both devices by half and I don't
recommend
> it.  For both devices to a single output, you would be better off
with a
> simple mixer.  I use the MidiMan multimixer 10
> (http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/multi10.php) but
something as
> simple
> as the multimixer 6 (http://www.midiman.net/products/m-
audio/multi6.php)
> should work too.  I bought my 10 for $99 at www.audiomidi.com, so
the
> "street"
> prices are lower than the MSRP you see on the manufacturer's
>website.  

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for them.  How many devices can I plug
to each of them?

>And
> using a mixer means that you can hook up a Sound Blaster as well
and hear
> them
> all at the same time -- Sound Blaster for sound effects playing at
the same
> time you hear wonderful music (some games allow you to choose
different
> devices for effects and music).

But I thought the main "function" of the SCC1 was to output said
sound effects and MT32 for the music, which would mean no need for a
SB? So does that mean I should add a SB to this duo I have? If so,
which one would you recommend, I think I have a SB Pro 2.0 and a SB
16.

>  Wing Commander 1 and 2 in particular use
> this
> to great effect, especially if you have the Speech Pack.  It's
cool hearing
> cinematic music taking a turn for the worse as your damage mounts,
and your
> radio crackles with your enemies mocking you and your wingmen
screaming as
> they go down :-)

Stop it, my mouth is watering already! :D

>
> > Also, will I benefit in any way from adding a Roland MPU401? I've
> > seen a scheme somewhere (wish I could recall where) that showed a
> > computer plugged to a MPU401 and the MPU401 plugged to the
MT32...
>
> The MPU401 is just Roland's MIDI card -- if yours works, then
>there's no
> reason to get an MPU401.

I have seen several auctions depicting a small gray box called "MPU-
401", exactly like this one here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=898052083
Please do shed some light on this subject, what exactly is
the "unit" for?

>
> Let me know how it goes, and what games you feel are more
significantly
> enhanced by the music, I'm curious...

I'll let you know, although I'm pretty sure it'll be either Ultima 6
or 7 ;)

Thank you and all the best,
Pedro


--

Pedro R. Quaresma       +     -==(UDIC)==-
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"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy
without fighting"      Sun Tzu - "The Art of War"



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