Not a musician but I have such a setup for my dos games on the MisterFPGA and it absolutely sounds great. You also can emulate a roland sound canvas, and you cannot beat the price.
Can you please make a video showing how to hook the rapsberry to the PC? On Mister a USB cable will be enough, I don't get how to hook it to the pc with the RS232 to TTL converter module, since the Raspberry Pi GPIO pin should be busy connecting the unit to the MT32-PI module.
You have a few options! First, you can use the line in on your PC Sound Blaster card. If you configure DOS mixer correctly, it’ll mix with the wave audio to give you a combined output Second, you can buy a cheap stereo mixer Third, you can buy a MIDI “hat” for the mt32-pi. These have a dedicated line in for mixing wave audio. See my separate PI-MIDI review video to learn a bit more on that 😎
Yes, that's right! Although the XT was released in 1983, and the Roland MT-32 in 1987 - so I'm not sure how many well those MT-32 compatible games will run on the venerable XT
@@marcinness1167 Unfortunately Rpi pico can’t be used, but the Zero can. The full list is Pi Zero 2 W, Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+, B, and B+, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, and CM4 series. HTH!
Agree, the Pi built-in audio is not so good. If you want better quality, you have to buy an I2S DAC like PI-MIDI: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/wiki/I%C2%B2S-DACs On MiSTer, the digital audio gets directly fed back via user port. The quality is essentially perfect 😎 Do you have the IO board and hat? I’m tempted to buy …
@@jamesfmackenzie It took me almost 2 years to fully assembled my mister with all addons and a case. The audio thru the user port is perfect but really sensitive to cable length. I love the sound from the MT-32 emulation, the fluid synth is not bad but flat. I would love to tweak the chorus and reverb settings.
No hat required! Just a cheap RS232 to TTL converter module. Here is an example on eBay: www.ebay.com/itm/373961854358 mt32-pi also now supports Serial USB, so you can use a USB to Serial cable to connect your Pi. More details here: ua-cam.com/video/SxMjDsT9rEo/v-deo.html Of course you can use a full hat like the PI-MIDI. It's more expensive but you do get better audio quality and "real" MPU-401 support: ua-cam.com/video/vnVbw3OV3N4/v-deo.html Hope this helps!
I'm using analog - and you're right the Pi does have very noisy output 😞 For higher quality, you can add an I2C DAC. I have the PI-MIDI, you can learn more here: ua-cam.com/video/vnVbw3OV3N4/v-deo.html Good luck!
It’s been a while since I made this, but it’s possible I’m using FluidSynth, Roland SC-55 soundfont and the GM-patched editions of Monkey Island 1 and 2. Hope this helps!
@@jamesfmackenzie I was thinking along those lines, thank you! I'll keep playing with different soundfonts :) Your video is what finally made me setup mt32-pi!
Wait, so this device replaces an actual Roland MT-32? If that's the case, I might be sold on it as I can't really afford a real MT-32 at the prices they're at right now. Plus, I just blew $600 on a minty Roland D-50. No regrets there though, lol.
Yep, that’s right! This is exactly what I use instead of a real MT-32. The quality is very good - personally I find it very hard to tell the difference between this and real hardware.
PS mt32-pi recently added support for USB Serial, which makes for an easier hookup. More details here: www.jamesfmackenzie.com/2021/07/25/mt32-pi-testing-out-usb-serial-support/
@@TECH097 each manufacturer has their own way of combining the PCM samples with traditional synth waves. Roland calls their solution “linear arithmetic synthesis”: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_arithmetic_synthesis
Is there an option to connect it up via actual MIDI cables? If so, it would be nice to connect it up to an Atari ST to play the Sierra titles that supported the MT-32...
There is! You can get a "MIDI hat" for your Pi to connect actual MIDI cables. I have one here: twitter.com/jamesfmackenzie/status/1421854983058767876 You can also use USB MIDI devices. Find more details on the mt32-pi wiki here: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/wiki/MIDI-connectivity
This makes no sense to me. If you don't use real hardware, but emulate it on a Raspberry, just use DOSBox. Besides, I don't like Raspberry Pi because it is everywhere now.
The OS, game etc are all running on the real PC here - so it’s very authentic. The only thing that’s running on the Pi is the MIDI synthesiser. So it’s a “drop in” replacement for existing MIDI synths like the Roland MT-32 or SC-55 (which are expensive and quite rare nowadays). I think it’s a great addition for your DOS gaming PC 😎
![🎵 MT32-pi - karta MIDI dla MiSTERa i nie tylko [RG#566]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1XymJk8i2UU/mqdefault.jpg)
![🎵 MT32-pi - karta MIDI dla MiSTERa i nie tylko [RG#566]](/img/tr.png)
sound quality is amazing
The mt32-pi is such a great project. Did you build your own too?
Amazing sound quality, if my Roland Rack ever fails, this could be a real alternative 👍🏻🥰
It’s great when you live in a tiny NY apartment too ;-)
Not a musician but I have such a setup for my dos games on the MisterFPGA and it absolutely sounds great. You also can emulate a roland sound canvas, and you cannot beat the price.
Can you please make a video showing how to hook the rapsberry to the PC? On Mister a USB cable will be enough, I don't get how to hook it to the pc with the RS232 to TTL converter module, since the Raspberry Pi GPIO pin should be busy connecting the unit to the MT32-PI module.
Ah, I missed your more recent video, I could use a simple USB to Serial cable, this is a game changer!
Yep, it's really great! Do you have the MiSTer MT32-Pi hat? That's something I want to buy :-)
Can you change modes on this? Like for instance MT-32 mode and SC-55 mode? Because I would want to run SC-55 mode for Doom
Yes, you can do it! The mt32-pi can switch between FluidSynth (for General MIDI / Sound Canvas games) and Munt (for MT-32 synth). Good luck!!
What advantages does the mt32-pi give compared to a x64 Munt instance?
For me it’s the appliance aspect. Just power on and you’re ready to go. Just like a real MT-32 😎
The idea is that the Raspberry Pi being as small as it is, it can be added to the setup without any issues.
I'm a bit late to the party but how do you handle wave audio if your speakers are only handling music? Assume the 3.5 goes to the line in?
You have a few options!
First, you can use the line in on your PC Sound Blaster card. If you configure DOS mixer correctly, it’ll mix with the wave audio to give you a combined output
Second, you can buy a cheap stereo mixer
Third, you can buy a MIDI “hat” for the mt32-pi. These have a dedicated line in for mixing wave audio. See my separate PI-MIDI review video to learn a bit more on that 😎
@@jamesfmackenzie oh! I thought the hat was just a dac. Ok interesting. Thank you so much for the reply.
@@cubeflinger no worries! Good luck with the build!
Can mt32-pi be used on an IBM XT 8088 computer? You just need a sound card with midi output?
Yes, that's right! Although the XT was released in 1983, and the Roland MT-32 in 1987 - so I'm not sure how many well those MT-32 compatible games will run on the venerable XT
Hello, i was wondering if Rpi pico could be used instead rpi3?
@@marcinness1167 Unfortunately Rpi pico can’t be used, but the Zero can. The full list is Pi Zero 2 W, Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+, B, and B+, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, and CM4 series. HTH!
@@jamesfmackenzie top Man. thanks a lot buddy
@@marcinness1167 No worries!
Cool setup via RS232 but the Pi3 built-in audio is not great, I've got no noises on my mister setup thru TosLink
Agree, the Pi built-in audio is not so good. If you want better quality, you have to buy an I2S DAC like PI-MIDI: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/wiki/I%C2%B2S-DACs
On MiSTer, the digital audio gets directly fed back via user port. The quality is essentially perfect 😎 Do you have the IO board and hat? I’m tempted to buy …
@@jamesfmackenzie It took me almost 2 years to fully assembled my mister with all addons and a case. The audio thru the user port is perfect but really sensitive to cable length. I love the sound from the MT-32 emulation, the fluid synth is not bad but flat. I would love to tweak the chorus and reverb settings.
@@BigMacIIx haha, you’re way ahead of me! Still only have SD-RAM after more than 2 years 😂 Next purchase: case and IO board
Where did you order the hat?
No hat required! Just a cheap RS232 to TTL converter module. Here is an example on eBay:
www.ebay.com/itm/373961854358
mt32-pi also now supports Serial USB, so you can use a USB to Serial cable to connect your Pi. More details here:
ua-cam.com/video/SxMjDsT9rEo/v-deo.html
Of course you can use a full hat like the PI-MIDI. It's more expensive but you do get better audio quality and "real" MPU-401 support:
ua-cam.com/video/vnVbw3OV3N4/v-deo.html
Hope this helps!
Lol I thought I need the hat. I make one real quick.
No hat required! Just this cheap RS232 to TTL converter module 😎
How do you output the audio? Digital or analog? My Pi has really noisy output over analog.
I'm using analog - and you're right the Pi does have very noisy output 😞
For higher quality, you can add an I2C DAC. I have the PI-MIDI, you can learn more here:
ua-cam.com/video/vnVbw3OV3N4/v-deo.html
Good luck!
What settings are you using on the mt32-pi? Mine does not sound like this in mt32 mode or with any of the soundfonts I've tested
It’s been a while since I made this, but it’s possible I’m using FluidSynth, Roland SC-55 soundfont and the GM-patched editions of Monkey Island 1 and 2. Hope this helps!
@@jamesfmackenzie I was thinking along those lines, thank you! I'll keep playing with different soundfonts :)
Your video is what finally made me setup mt32-pi!
@@agsel Glad it gave you some motivation :-) mt32-pi is great!
Wait, so this device replaces an actual Roland MT-32? If that's the case, I might be sold on it as I can't really afford a real MT-32 at the prices they're at right now. Plus, I just blew $600 on a minty Roland D-50. No regrets there though, lol.
Yep, that’s right! This is exactly what I use instead of a real MT-32. The quality is very good - personally I find it very hard to tell the difference between this and real hardware.
PS mt32-pi recently added support for USB Serial, which makes for an easier hookup. More details here: www.jamesfmackenzie.com/2021/07/25/mt32-pi-testing-out-usb-serial-support/
@@jamesfmackenzie Thank you for the information and for your reply. I'm going to look into getting this setup.
So wait this is a Synthesizer and doesnr just use samples?
It’s a sample based synth :-)
The difference between this a traditional synth is that the seed waveforms are samples vs sine/saw waves.
HTH!
@@jamesfmackenzie Interesting...so samples of the synth waves then? :o
@@TECH097 each manufacturer has their own way of combining the PCM samples with traditional synth waves. Roland calls their solution “linear arithmetic synthesis”:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_arithmetic_synthesis
@@jamesfmackenzie Wooow...the more ya know!
nice
Is there an option to connect it up via actual MIDI cables? If so, it would be nice to connect it up to an Atari ST to play the Sierra titles that supported the MT-32...
There is! You can get a "MIDI hat" for your Pi to connect actual MIDI cables. I have one here: twitter.com/jamesfmackenzie/status/1421854983058767876
You can also use USB MIDI devices. Find more details on the mt32-pi wiki here: github.com/dwhinham/mt32-pi/wiki/MIDI-connectivity
This makes no sense to me. If you don't use real hardware, but emulate it on a Raspberry, just use DOSBox. Besides, I don't like Raspberry Pi because it is everywhere now.
The OS, game etc are all running on the real PC here - so it’s very authentic. The only thing that’s running on the Pi is the MIDI synthesiser. So it’s a “drop in” replacement for existing MIDI synths like the Roland MT-32 or SC-55 (which are expensive and quite rare nowadays). I think it’s a great addition for your DOS gaming PC 😎
If you wanna spend an extra $250+ on a Roland. Go for it.