This is a simple guide to help you understand the different MIDI modules that are available for playing PC games. I am working on improving this, I need to take some pictures of the modules I own and add them here as well.
Different types of MIDI modules that you can use with PC games:
- FM – Frequency Modulation. Only a very few games support FM modules.
- LA – Linear Arithmetic. Many famous late 80’s and early 90’s games use LA synthesis.
- GM – General MIDI. The standard for PC game music before CD audio took over.
- GS – Roland’s extension of General MIDI often labeled as Sound Canvas in games
- XG – Yamaha’s extension of General MIDI used by Final Fantasy VII and VIII on PC
- Roland Sound Canvas Variants
- SC-55 (1991) – Original, GS only model without a GM logo
- SC-55 (1991) – Updated with full GM support, may or may not have GM logo on the front
- CM-300 (1991) – Same as first SC-55 version but without a screen, GS only
- CM-300 (1991) – Updated model with full GM support, may GM logo on the front
- CM-500 (1991) – Has both CM-300 and CM-32LN hardware
- Updated and Cost-Reduced Models:
- SC-55 MKII (1993) – Improved audio quality and more tones
- SC-55ST (1993) – Same as MKII but without a screen and one less MIDI input. Also sold under the Edirol brand in white.
- SC-50 (1994) – Same as MKII / without the MT-32 voices
- Desktop Versions:
- SC-155 (1992) – A desktop version of SC-55
- SC-33 (1992) – A desktop version of SC-55 without the MT-32 voices
- Boss Dr. Synth DS-330 (1992) – Boss branded version of SC-33
- SC-35 (1993) – SC-33 with an integrated sequencer
- SC-88 Variants:
- SC-88 (1994) – Base model
- M-GS64 (1995) – Rack mount version
- SC-88VL (1996) – Reduced size version / available in white
- SC-88ST (1996) – No screen, can switch between SC-55 and SC-88 modes. Also branded as Edirol in white
- SC-88 Pro Variants
- SC-88 Pro (1996) – Original base model
- SC-88ST Pro (1997) – No screen and a button that switches between modes
- SC-880 (1998) – A rack mount unit
- SC-8850 (1999) – USB connection and General MIDI 2 support
- SC-8820 (1999) – Reduced size device without a screen, USB power. Button to change modes
- SC-D70 (2001) – Works as a USB audio interface with digital outputs
- Studio Canvas branded (Edirol and Roland):
- SD-90 (2001) – A larger device with many of Sound Canvas sounds. Multiple options for connectivity
- SD-80 (2002) – A cost reduced version of SD-90
- These models support both GM (via GM2 backwards compatibility) and GS. Howver, they don’t have maps for Sound Canvas compatibility.
- SD-20 (2002) – A cheaper device in an SC-8820 chassis
- SD-50 (2009) – Midi interface, midi module, audio interface, mp3 player.
Yamaha Synth Modules:
- TG Series:
- TG100 (1992) – GM synth
- CBX-T3 (1993) – Cheaper version with no display or controls
- TG300 (1993) – Higher quality version of TG100. Better audio quality
- MU Series:
- MU80 (1994) – XG synth
- MU50 (1995) – Cheaper version, lower quality audio
- MU90 (1996) – Higher quality version of MU80
- MU90R (1996) – Rack-mount version of MU90
- MU90B (1997) – No display version of MU90. Power button and volume control
- MU100 (1997) – upgraded sound engine, support for expansion cards
- MU100R (1997) – Rack-mount version of MU90, extra expansion slot
- MU100B (1997) – No display version of the MU100. Power button and volume control
- MU128 and Desktop MIDI Modules:
- MU2000 (1999) – USB, optical digital out, SmartMedia card slot, sampler and sequencer
- MU1000 (1999) – Cheaper version of the MU2000, no sampler, sequencer or SmartMedia card slot
- MU2000EX (2000) – Firmware upgrade to MU2000 adding Roland GS support
- MU1000EX (2000) – Firmware upgrade to MU1000 adding Roland GS support
- MU500 (2000) – Size reduced unit with MU100 sound engine and MU2000 sounds
- Portable Versions:
- Yamaha Portable MU Units:
- MU5 (1994) – Only MU series unit with no XG, buttons double as a small keyboard
- MU10 (1996) – Beige with no display, XG support
- MU15 (1998) – An updated MU5 with XG support
- Drum modules (DTX series)
- DTXpress (2000) – Similar to older MU series
- DTXpress II (2002) – Updated drum samples
- DTXpress III (2003) – Updated drum samples
- Korg Modules:
- 05R/W (1994) – First Korg GM module, based on their X5 keyboard
- AG-10 (1994) – “Audio Gallery” white box.
- X5DR (1995) – same as 05R/W with improvements for music production
- NS5R (1997) – GS compatible, could be upgraded with a daughterboard to add XG
- NX5R (1999) – Upgraded NS5R with XG daughterboard built in
- Kawai Modules:
- GMega (1993) – The only model with a screen and controls
- GMega LX (1993) – a white box with only a power button and volume control
- GMega L (1993) – Cheaper version of GMega LX, with less MIDI channels
- Casio Modules:
- GZ-50M (1995) – Very basic, small GM module
- GZ-30M (1995) – Cheaper version of GZ-50M with a simpler case and controls, no separate RCA output or headphone jacks. No effects or reverb
- GZ-70SP (1995) – A GZ-30M stuck inside a speaker
- Akai Modules:
- SG01k (1995) Akai’s only GM module. Good sounding unit that emulated Roland sounds and others
- MIDIPLUS
- miniEngine Pro (2017) – A tiny GM device that also works as a battery pack
- miniEngine (2017) – Cheaper version of the Pro, screen replaced by a three-digit display
- Various Sound Modules:
- E-Mu Sound Engine (1993) – Similar to the Creative Waveblaster in module form.
- ENIAC Sound Saurus BH-1000 (1994) – A GM unit that is somewhat rare. Can work with Sound Canvas
- Ketron SD 2 (2006) – A small, portable module with realistic sound.
- Alesis Nanosynth (2007) – Compact high quality sound module.
- Ketron SD 4 (2008) – Rare GM module that has hight quality sound.
- Roland LA Synth Modules:
- MT-32 (1987) – The original MT-32
- MT-32 (1988) – Headphone jack added, internal changes
- MT-100 (1988) – A combination of the newer MT-32 and a PR-100 sequencer.
- CM-32L (1989) – White box with power button and volume control only, added sound effects
- CM-64 (1989) – a CM-32L and CM-32P (a PCM synth not used in DOS games) combo
- CM-32LN (1992) –CM-32L with a new DAC and a connector for NEC PC-98 computers
- CM-500 (1991) – combination of CM-32LN and CM-300 (GS synth)
