Using a Roland MT-32 with Windows 7 and DOSBox

Shows how to connect a Roland MT-32 to a newer PC running 64-bit Windows 7 via USB and how to get it to work with DOSBox.

[TheRetroRoadshow]

I just lucked out and bought a real MT-32 for a very reasonable price, and I'm really excited to follow your guidance and get it going with my modern PC. Feels like finally achieving something I only dreamed of as a kid

[eriktwice]

Thanks a lot for this video. I think gaming owes a lot to people like you, who spend their time to help others with these obscure topics :)

[DonBrowne]

I'm not sure if this tip will help anyone with a different model of the MT-32 ( I don't use my for games but for midi music composition) but after turning it on, hit "master volume" and "part 5" simultaneously and then push "part 1." This sets the midi channels on the MT-32 to 1 through 8 instead of 2-9. This might solve any problems when a model you have doesn't play the game music correctly with the right sounds.

[wilbo]

I'm glad you demo'd Ultima 6 for this. The intro scene with the gargoyle ritual is probably my favorite musical piece from a PC game.

[africanmarty]

A very big help. Thank you SO0o much beigemore I used this video to setup my Roland SoundCanvas SC-55ST so I can hear general MIDI with my old dos games and it worked like a charm. I especially liked how you showed how to edit the config so you don't have to change the settings every time you launch dos dox. Regards Marty.

[SimonDufour]

Really great video! I'm 26 and I never realized how important important synth were to PC gaming in the early days. Thanks for you video, it was a bit like traveling back in time. Too bad that MT-32 emulation is not legal. Those soundtrack deserve to be heard. If you're interested, I made a MT-32 vs SoundBlaster video where I crossfade the music of Wing Commander 1 with both synth.

[romein]

Great video. I found this video after researching MT-32 stuff and you did a great job of showcasing the hardware and connectivity. I've installed Munt (an MT-32 emulator) and tinkered with it a bit, but it just sounds all wrong and off-key compared to how the real hardware should sound. Subscribed and liked!

[cavegames]

Thank you very much for this guide! I have found a good offer on a well-preserved MT-32 unit, but was unsure whether I would even be able to connect it to my modern system and get it running with DOSBox. I could only ever dream of having that nice little synth as a boy, and I'm keeping your video handy for when I finally get one =)

[mattalki]

I know this video is a couple years old, but to connect the MT-32 to the line in on the computer with a minimum of cables, use a 1/8" to dual RCA cable + two RCA to phono plug adapters.  The adapters are cat no 274-320 at RadioShack.  That's how I've connected mine, and it works perfectly.  Great vid, btw!

[BeastOfSoda]

i'll be honest: i love the MT-32's sound quality, however having grown up as a sound blaster owner, the audio i have the fondest memories of is still the OPL3 synth. i do strive to achieve results similar to the MT-32 by using soundfonts and whatnot, though, but the one that tugs at my nostalgia strings remains the yamaha chip :3

[nFiveTech]

Can it also play through my speaker in my monitor from the usb??

[captainmay]

Where can I hear the rest of that Life Force boss music that plays in the beginning? Sounds fantastic

[zfer]

Great tutorial good overall history and guide on how to use this.

[AxeBlack]

I'm probably going to have to pickup one of these. I still have my privateer, Wingcommander games I'd like to play again. I'm not sure how well it works with the old school joysticks though.

[nFiveTech]

Will a VicTsing usb to midi work with this????

[purduecoz]

I am seeing a lot of 1 x 1/8" to 2 x 1/8" adapters/cables that seem designed to duplicate a stereo signal. Will these cables work in the reverse direction to merge a left and right mono signal into a single stereo signal going into line in on my PC? I can't find an adapter like what you're using anywhere on Amazon. Thanks!

[elaborate-press]

thanks for showing this setup! I honestly think that midi in / out is based on a logical setup. sending midi commands from the midi output of source A to the midi input of source B and back. wanne use a midi keyboard to play notes in your daw, connect just the midi output of the keyz to the midi input of your computer / midi interface, so the keyboard can send and the computer can receive. wanne both send and receive notes and commands, like from a synth and playback the arrangement from your daw with the sounds from your synth, you additionally connect the midi input of the synth to the midi output of the computer / midi interface. that's no biggie ;-)

[lomaymenpolnosty]

Why you connected USB MIDI IN and MT-32 MIDI OUT? MT-32 is sending some MIDI info to USB and PC? Why need this connection? Maybe USB MIDI IN is for piano synthesizer or something?

[MrTibbs]

I liked that the version of DOS Box you ran had a menu. What version is that? I noticed it was a SVN Build.

[rhampton]

kool video...i just got a used one for $20 off of Craigs list...awesome...sounds great..