MT-32 Wish
19 messages in this thread
I've recently purchased a Roland MT-32 and am looking for a good and
inexpensive patch editor/librarian. Anyone have any ideas? Right now I'm just
playing with presets and what great presets they are.
Also, does anyone know of anywhere I could get some great support for the Amiga
and MIDI?
Any suggestions appreciated,
Brian
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Great choice in hardware! Dr. T and Sounquest both have Editor/librarians fore
MT-32, but I don't have either, yet. From what I have read, Soundquest requires
an MPU-401 interface. What software are you currently using? I have Dynamic
Studio but am not at all pleased. Oh well…………GTK
I am currently using only DMCS. My sequencer software is back at the ol' U of
I while I am on summer vacation. Usually I use Soundscape, but I'm not
completely happy with it. It could use a more friendly MIDI event editor. I
guess we all have to wait for Music-X, but I'm looking for Dr. T's KCS.
Brian
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I just picked up Dr. T's MT-32 editor/librarian. At $149 it's a bit
expensive, but it REALLY does the job. Seems to multi-task ok, should work
especially well with Dr. T's Keyboard Controlled Sequencer, ( wish I could
afford to find out ) but haven't done too well yet with Deluxe Music
Construction Set. You set up the timbres with Dr. T's and then go to DMCS,
which doesn't send system exclusive data so it won't change your settings.
Other software might be able to use the libraries directly. ( I hope!!! )
The user interface is quite functional without being TOO friendly, as in;
Are you sure ? – Are you sure you're sure ? – Last chance ! etc. Most
parameters can be set by either mouse or keyboard, which is MUCH better than
having to move sliders around for everything. Also the mouse can be used to
play the sounds, either the whole voice or just selected partial(s) or you can
use an external MIDI device. MIDI Merge is also supported, so you could use a
MIDI keyboard or sequencer to play while you edit the voice.
All parameters are shown graphically in a sensible ( to me ) fashion, and
Roland's somewhat unusual terminology is maintained. There is even a window for
editing the rythm channel so you can use the notes which previously gave no
sound or set the pan and reverb and so on.
It is copy protected in the sense that you must keep the original disk as
a key after you run the program from your backup or hard disk.
Most important – no attempt was made to conform the MT-32 parameters to
match the existing editors, it was either a remake of the Roland D50 editor or
else it's a whole new program.
GTK
Thanks for the info!
Brian
I have the Dr T's software and recommend it for the MT-32. You really need a
computer to use the MT-32 to its full potential. As to storing
[A or trading voices, I think that's a good idea, but I'm not sure if this is
the right place. (perhaps MIDI forum?) The format of the patches might be a
problem, but it is possible to convert them form one format to another (I've
done this with DX-7 voices). Rick, do you have any advice on where to find
patches?
After playing with Dr. T's editor and Deluxe Music ALL NIGHT and DAY I can
recommend Dr. T for the MT-32 without qualification. The possible combinations
are endless and I now think the cost is justified. Both programs multi-task
well, with just one glitch the first time I tried, so you can experiment with
Dr. T while DMCS is playing the score. Very nice!!! GTK
I'm thinking about picking up an MT32 and using it with Deluxe Music. Can you
tell me if the MT32 has both MIDI-IN and MIDI-THRU? I'd like to use it in
combination with my synth.
Also has anyone used Sound Quest's MT32 editor/librarian?
Rodney,
The MT-32 provides a thru, in, & out. Again I recommend this unit for
any hobbyist or professional who just wants more voices.
Brian
MT-32 has in out and thru. watch out for Sound Quest, I believe it requires an
MPU-401 interface (parallel) whereas most do not.
Not offhand, Phil. The MIDI forum would certainly be the best bet, but as you
pointed out, format can be a problem. On the other tentacle, Dr. T's is pretty
generic and universal, so I'd wager that you'll find lots of stuff in that
format. Why don'tcha GO MIDI and take a look? And if you leave a message,
tell 'em I sent ya. 😉
Rick
but very little for the MT-32. I'm waiting on a new modem to try downloading
some of the files. It seemed that there were very few new (past three months)
files, but I might have been looking in the wrong place. By the way, I have a
question. Can you use any of the various drum programs for the Amiga to write
MIDI drum patterns (for the MT-32 or other drum machine Ideally, you should be
able to see all the voices (of the drum) and when each sound is playing. Once
you've got the pattern the way you want it, be able to save either the pattern
or the MIDI data to recreate it. Can any of the current programs do this? I get
tired of editing using the drum machines
controls or trying to edit MIDI event list data….
What sort of support you need, Brian? This is the best place to ask, far as I
know.
Rick
I'm mainly looking for special interest groups that I can contact for software
and patches for the MT-32 in addition to those people on CIS. I would
especially like info about groups in Hawaii (where I live) and in Illinois
(Urbana-Champaign where I go to school).
Brian
Sorry, can't help you there. You of course realize that you are talking about
a _VERY_ tiny slice of humanity: Amiga-owners-who-patch-edit-MT-32s is a subset
of a subset, if you will.
We DO have a listing of Amiga user groups, but that doesn't mean that even a
single person in any particular group even does MIDI, much less owns an MT-32.
You might want to ask in the MIDI forum (GO MIDI); there should be a lot of
MT-32 owners there, and maybe some of them know about user groups in your area.
Good luck to you in your search in any event, and if we can be of any help
here, please don't hesitate to ask.
Rick
Tiny slice is probably accurate but the Amy-Mt32 combo is about as much bang
for the buck as I've seen. Much too good for the philistines, but I guess we
should give the benefit of the doubt to Amiga ]sers. For all who want to know,
the Roland MT-32 has 8 channels for music, each of which is polyphonic, up to a
total of 32 notes at once from this machine, not counting the seperate drum
channel. And what GREAT sounds! All this for around $600.
Right. I did a demo a couple of months ago at a local users group focusing on
the power you can have with the Amiga and one single external module. My main
thrust was the FB01, which gives you 12 voices with the Amiga, and can be had
in the $300 range easily. I considered using the MT-32, but I wanted the
lowest cost approach for the demo. I did listen carefully to the MT-32,
though, and was suitably impressed.
Rick
Thanks. I'll ask around in the MIDI forum, but Amiga owners seem scarce there,
or at least they don't say very much.
Brian
Oh, they're over there, quite a few of them. But we don't say much, you're
right. 8)
Rick