MT-32 Midi

Roland MT-32: The Orchestra Inside Your Computer

Launched in 1987 by Roland Corporation, the MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module brought high-quality MIDI music to personal computers. As the de facto standard for PC game audio in the early '90s, the MT-32 was supported by hundreds of games across platforms such as IBM PC, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Apple Macintosh, Apple IIGS, NEC PC-8800/PC-9800, and Sharp X68000.

• Its cinematic, orchestral-quality sound made it a favorite for titles from Sierra On-Line, Lucasfilm Games, and many others
• In 1987, the MT-32 retailed for $695—around $1,700 in 2023 dollars

Technical Specs

• Linear Arithmetic Synthesis (like the Roland D-50), combining sample-based and subtractive synthesis.
• 158 preset sounds (128 melodic + 30 rhythm)
• 9-part multitimbrality (8 melodic, 1 rhythm channel)
• Built-in digital reverb
• MIDI input/output, designed for external MIDI controllers or computer MIDI interfaces

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  Model Variants

• Original MT-32 (No headphone jack; "Old MT-32")
• New MT-32 (With headphone jack and improved DACs)

Roland MIDI Devices Compatible with MT32

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

Fully compatible with MT32

• 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)

Partially compatible with MT32

• 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:

Over 650 MS-DOS games support MT-32 audio. To use one, you need an MPU-401 MIDI interface or a compatible card that supports Intelligent Mode (not just UART). Some compatible options include:

• HardMPU
• Music Quest MIDI cards
• ISA MIDI interfaces with MPU-401 support

VIDEO GAMES FEATURING MIDI/MT-32 MUSIC

These are the computers and games that support Roland MT32:

IBM PCs

Over 650 MS-DOS games support MT-32 audio. To use one, you need an MPU-401 MIDI interface or a compatible card that supports Intelligent Mode (not just UART). Some compatible options include:

• HardMPU
• Music Quest MIDI cards
• ISA MIDI interfaces with MPU-401 support

Useful Links: 

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

• 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

Though the Amiga lacks built-in MIDI, it works with serial-to-MIDI adapters. Supported games:

• 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 line includes built-in MIDI ports, making it plug-and-play for the MT-32. Notable games:

• 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

British developer Dale Whinham created the MT32-Pi, a low-cost MT-32 emulator running on a Raspberry Pi. It uses:

• Munt and FluidSynth engines
• A 128x64 OLED display
• USB MIDI input and output
• Support for MT-32, General MIDI, and Roland GS

Roland MT-32: A Legacy in Game Audio

The MT-32 was a revolution in home computer audio and remains one of the most desired audio devices in vintage computing.

■ Roland MT-32

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