MT-32 Midi

"Roland MT-32.. the Orchestra inside your PC or Home Computer"

Released in 1987 by the Japanese manufacturer Roland Corporation, the MT-32 was the standard MIDI device for PC games in the 80s. Hundreds of video games support the MT-32 on various platforms (IBM PCs, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, MAC, etc.) Notable mentions include several adventure games from Sierra and Lucasfilm.

• The MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module is a MIDI synthesizer module featuring a preset library of 158 sounds and 9 channels
• Several platforms used the MT32, including PCs, Mac, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Apple IIGS, PC-8800 series, NEC PC-98, and Sharp X68000
• In 1987, the device cost $695 (equivalent to $1,700 in 2022)

Technical Specs

• The MT-32 features 128 synth and 30 rhythm sounds that are playing on 8 melodic and 1 rhythm channel (drums)
• The device also features a digital reverberation effect
• There are 6 buttons on the front of the MT-32 module for changing patches within a part
• Like the prior Roland D-50, the MT-32 uses Linear Arithmetic synthesis (sample-based synthesis combined with subtractive synthesis)
• The device cannot perfectly play acoustic piano, as it doesn’t include a piano attack sample
• The MT-32 was made before the General MIDI standard (1991), and thus, it features its format for playing MIDI files
• In 1993, Roland released the "GM2MT" SysEx pack. This pack can be used for the re-programming of MT-32 to match General MIDI specs (as released in 1991)

There are two main MT-32 models:

(1) The original MT-32 (called Old MT-32 / without headphones)

(2) Th later MT-32 (called New MT-32 / with headphones)

Other Roland MIDI Devices Compatible with MT32

For those seeking to buy an MT-32 device, these are some good alternatives:

Fully-Compatible with MT32 Devices from Roland

• Roland CM-32L (The CM-32L is fully compatible, but note, that CM-32P is NOT compatible with MT-32)

• Roland CM-64 (Combines the CM-32L with the CM-32P)

• MT-32 Raspberry Pi (check below)

Other devices offering MT32 Compatibility

• Roland MT-100 (Some compatibility issues with Sierra games)

• Roland RA-50 (Basically includes the CM-32L, but needs some modifications to work 100% as an MT-32)

• Roland CM-32LN (Sound module for the NEC PC-98 series)

• Roland CM-500 (Combines the CM-32LN with the GS-compatible Roland CM-300)

• Roland LAPC-I Card (IBM PC internal ISA card, also consists of the MPU-401 interface)

General Midi-Compatible Games:

For general MIDI compatibility, you can use a Roland Sound Canvas (SC) device or other:

• Roland SC-50
• Roland SC-55 (nice)
• Roland SC-88
• Yamaha (MU50, MU80, MU90, MU1000, etc.)
• Many others (Casio, Korg, etc.)

VIDEO GAMES FEATURING MIDI/MT-32 MUSIC

These are the computers and games that support Roland MT32:

IBM PCs

There are hundreds of old PC games that support MT32. However, to connect an MT-32 to an old PC, you need to find a Roland MPU-401 or a compatible card. The Roland MPU-401 is very difficult to find, so you need to buy a fully compatible card that offers both "Intelligent" and "UART" modes of operation.

• There are more than 650 PC video games that support MT-32

• The full list of IBM PC MT-32 games can be found on Wikipedia here

Useful Links: 

• PC Midi Device compatible with Roland MPU-401 (new ISA 8-bit MIDI card for retro PCs)

Apple Macintosh

Macintosh games that support Roland MT32:

• Castle of Dr. Brain
• Freddy Pharkas
• Gabriel Knight
• Hoyle Official Book of Games, Volume I & II
• King's Quest VII
• King's Quest V
• Leisure Suit Larry I (Enhanced)
• Leisure Suit Larry V
• Leisure Suit Larry VI
• Police Quest Open Season
• Quest for Glory 1 (Enhanced)
• Space Quest I (Enhanced)
• Space Quest III
• Space Quest IV
• Thexder

Commodore Amiga

Amiga doesn't offer a built-in MIDI interface, however, you can easily find a serial-to-MIDI cable.

• Castle of Dr. Brain
• Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
• Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 3
• King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1991 remake)
• King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!
• Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (1991 remake)
• Leisure Suit Larry V: Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover Work
• Mixed-Up Mother Goose (1991 remake)
• Police Quest III: The Kindred
• Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
• Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter (1991 remake)
• Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon
• Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers

Useful Links: 

• Amiga serial-2-midi cable

Atari ST/STE

The Atari ST, STE, TT, and Falcon computers all offer a built-in MIDI device. Therefore, you don't have to buy any interface for connecting MT32 to a 16-bit Atari computer.

• Codename: Iceman
• Conquests of Camelot (MT-32 and Casio CZ-101)
• Cruise for a Corpse
• Hero's Quest/Quest of Glory (MT-32 and Casio CZ-101)
• Hoyle's Official Book of Games: Volume 1
• King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (MT-32)
• Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love
• Leisure Suit Larry III (MT-32)
• Operation Stealth: The Stealth Affair
• Police Quest II: The Vengeance (MT-32 and Casio CZ-101)
• Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon
• The Adventures of Maddog Williams
• The Colonel's Bequest
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Plus support for general MIDI on Atari ST/STE:

• Aliants
• Arkanoid
• Albedo (Casio CZ-101 & Generic MIDI device)
• Bomb Jack
• Dragonlord
• Eco by Ocean (1987)
• Gold of the Realm
• Metropolis
• ST Karate
• ST Protector
• Space Station
• War Zone
• Fire Blaster
• Karate Kid part 2 (Casio CZ-101)
• Lost Dutchman Mine (Casio CZ-101)
• Pirates !
• Sappiens (Casio CZ-101 & Generic MIDI device)
• Ultima III Exodus
• Ultima IV Quest of the Avatar

Roland MT-32 with Raspberry Pi

Recently, the British engineer Dale Whinham revealed an open-source MT-32 project based on Raspberry Pi. The hardware perfectly emulates Roland MT-32 by using a 128 x 64 OLED screen and featuring two buttons and a thumbwheel. The software used by the device is based on the Circle, Munt, and FluidSynth engines, and is programmed in C++. » Find the software on Github

• The MT32-Pi is compatible with general MIDI, Roland GS, and MiSTer FPGA
• The user needs to find his MT-32 ROMs (due to copyright)
• 3d parties have created their versions of MT32-Pi, based on Mr. Whinham’s work

■ Roland MT-32

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