Which MIDI Synthesiser is best for me?

[sir_beaker]

I've recently bought a SX-68M II MIDI board for my x68000 I bought here but I know nothing about MIDI and synthesizers. I also have an Atari ST, STe, and plan to get a MIDI interface for my Amiga 1200 and I want to get an old PC for DOS gaming.

What's my best option that is supported by all these machines. As far as my severely limited understanding goes, the Roland MT-32 was the industrial standard but might not be the best one to buy I am quite confused.

 

[slk486]

The MT-32 is your best bet in general as most titles where produced for the quirks of that one specifically. The CM-32L will do in a pinch and a few games on the X68000 support the full CM-64.

 

[sir_beaker]

That's perfect thanks

 

[commodorejohn]

Yep, if you want to run oldschool computer games the MT-32 is the way to go. The Yamaha FB-01 is also interesting as it's the module version of the IBM Music Feature Card, but I don't know how much non-DOS stuff supports it. For GM-era stuff, though, I'd recommend the Korg 05/RW or X5DR - they have a much nicer GM set than the Sound Canvas and can be programmed with new patches if you get to feeling experimental.

And of course, if you get a taste for synthesis, there's a whole wide world of analog and early digital stuff out there...

 

[tokyoracer]

The machine's you are wanting are not really Synth's. They are "SoundCanvas"'s. Or kinda 'sound banks' so to speak, being basically just a box full of samples that can be loaded and played in a tracker style of a number of channels.

The Roland MT-32 is probably the most supported but some swear by other models which perform slightly differently and have different specs.

 

[commodorejohn]

The machine's you are wanting are not really Synth's. They are "SoundCanvas"'s. Or kinda 'sound banks' so to speak, being basically just a box full of samples that can be loaded and played in a tracker style of a number of channels.

Not entirely true. The Sound Canvas line wasn't user-editable, but the MT-32 and its immediate descendants (among them the CM-32 and CM-64) have a fully editable synthesizer architecture (it's basically a seriously cut-down Roland D-50.) What they don't have is onboard editing facilities, but there's more than one computer patch editor for 'em, including one from Dr. T for the Atari. Multiple games, including Dune II and pre-GM Sierra titles, provide custom patch sets that bring out more of the capabilities of the li'l alarm clock than the factory presets.