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The Roland MT-32 is a synthesizer module first released in 1987.
Like the Roland D-50, it uses Linear Arithmetic synthesis, a form of sample-based synthesis combined with subtractive synthesis, to produce its sounds. Samples are used for attacks and drums, while traditional synthesis assures the sustain phase of the sounds.
The MT-32 features a preset library of 128 synth sounds and 30 rhythm sounds. It can play 8 synth and 1 rhythm sound simultaneously. It also features a digital reverb effect. Compatible successors (see below) added a library of 33 sound effects and improved the signal-to-noise ratio.
Unlike later General MIDI sound modules, the MT-32 family is very programmable. Sounds are created from up to 4 partials, so the polyphony depends on the tonal complexity; there are 32 partials available overall. The MT-32 notably features techniques like the ring modulation. The MT-32 emulation mode present in most of Roland's later GM/GS modules sounds poor compared to the original, notably since it is a one-partial recording of originally dynamically evolving multi-partial sounds. On the negative side, the MT-32 lacked any kind of convincing piano sound. On the curious side, it did not play on MIDI channel 1 by default (but could be reprogrammed to do this, thru MIDI system exclusive messages).
The MT-32 was used extensively in PC computer games in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a high-end alternative to AdLib or Sound Blaster sound cards for producing game music and sound effects. Sierra On-Line was one of the first companies to support it in their games; they also sold the module (people often confused it with a soundcard). Sierra's Leisure Suit Larry 5 adventure game from 1991 had an admirable level of MT-32 support, with custom-designed sounds and over 20 tasteful melodies. However, support faded when General MIDI sound cards became widely available. Later Sierra games tried to reprogram the MT-32 into a (poor) General MIDI mode rather than providing custom sounds. General MIDI support itself was later outphased when CD-ROMs, compression technologies and increasing CPU power allowed to store complete digitized scores within games.
The technology of the MT-32 was also available on an ISA bus card called the LAPC-I and other synth modules from Roland, notably the 1989 CM series of beige, computer-oriented modules, the CM-32L and the CM-64. The modules only featured a volume knob and a green MIDI-message-in LED as controls, in addition to a power-on button and a red power-on LED. The CM-32P, alhough similarly named, was actually a pure sample-playback module similar to the Roland U-110. The CM-64 was a combination of a CM-32L and CM-32P in a single box. Roland later released General MIDI products in a similar barebones packaging, notably the CM-300 and CM-500.
The popularity of the MT-32 as a music playback device for PC games has led to a number of attempts at emulating its hardware using copies of its onboard sample and controller memory chips/ROMs. The most notable of these emulators is the Open Source project, Munt (http://sourceforge.net/projects/munt/), which currently does a fairly admirable job of emulating the MT-32 hardware by way of a WDM driver for Windows XP. It is also incorporated into ScummVM, an Open Source Lucasarts adventure game interpreter, as of version 0.7.0, although playback is restricted to 32kHz in accordance with the limitations of the original MT-32 hardware. Munt was based on Canada Cow's controversial MT-32 Emulation Project (http://www.artworxinn.com/alex/), which was the source of a short-lived legal squabble over distribution of the original ROMs with Roland Corporation, the MT-32's maker and copyright holder.
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