Trend price : 100€
A consumer module from more professional series D-10 / D-20/ D-5/ D-110 synthesizers based on LA Synthesis (Linear Arithmetic synthesis) which flagship is the classic Roland D-50. MT32 it is still praised by the retro-gamers because it has been a standard on the games musics from the nineties.
Overview
weird-shapped Midi module, a kind of half-rack unit for desktop computer.
Main panel is really poor and features a 10 x 2 lines display, a Midi led (activity) 10 push buttons and a knob for volume settings.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
-
main out
-
headphones out (only in updated v.2 release)
Voice
32 voices polyphony. The LA synthesis WG - Wave Generator - is a mix of 2 syntheses:
-
PCM wavetable
-
2 digitally generated basic waveforms (sawtooth and square waves) a kind of primitive VA
Sound structure
minimal synthesis part is the PARTIAL, up to 4 PARTIALS make a TIMBRE. In the TIMBRE, the PARTIALS are combined in 2 pairs : 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 and each partial features these parameters:
- level
- pitch coarse / fine
- mute flag
- pitch keyfollow mode
WG combines partial synthesis elements with a digital ring modulator in 13 preset algorithms.
PCM Wavetable
WG handles a 512 kb ROM wavetable,:128 PCM waves organized into 3 macro categories:
- transient PCM acoustic
- transient PCM spectral loops
- transient PCM normal loops
Performance
system handles 8 parts + rhythm
Filter
a digital 4-poles resonant lowpass filter only for the S synthesis. Cutoff is quantised to 100 levels, assignable to velocity with keyfollow mode and breakpoint. .
LFO
a single modulator (triangle-shape)only for the WG pitch with variable depth, frequency and amount to pitch bender.
Envelope
3 EGs for each partial:
- EG AMP: 4 segments ADSR + 5 times
- EG filter:
4 segments ADSR + 5 times (only for S synthesis)
- EG pitch: 4 segments ADSR + 5 times
Effect
a simple digital reverb with adjustable duration and intensity (can be set only by sysex). 4 reverbs algorithms: room, hall, plate and tap-delay.
Memory
- 128 ROM patches
- 64 RAM slots
FUN FACT MT32 is indeed a strange synth case: today it is still praised by the retro-gamers as the unit ihas been a standard on the games musics from the nineties when connected by Midi to a computer.
Review
OK: cheap / LA synthesis / retrogaming cult
NOT : edit / volatile memory / obsolete acoutstic PCM
"Interesting synthesis structure, different from D50, but needs to be deeply programmed: it is NOT a simple rompler! ringmodulation and structure make interesting sounds. Now totally obsolete for acoustic sounds, it is still precious cult item only for retrogamers"
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci
