External MIDI Modules

by salient · October 1, 2018

In this section is a list with the current external MIDI devices I currently own.

Akai SG01k GM Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Akai S3000
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 189/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1995

Alesis NanoSynth (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Alesis
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 640/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1997

Anteg EasyMidi EM-100 (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9503
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/17 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 48 (34 with all effects on)
Year of introduction: 1999

* This unit uses the same unofficial “Roland GS” sound ROM as the Turtle Beach Cancun FX daughterboard although the GS logo is nowhere to be seen.

Casio GZ-50M GM Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Hitachi HG51B155FD-1
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1998

Creative Midi Blaster MB10 (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Creative
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM) *
Polyphony: 20 *
Year of introduction: 1993

* Because this module has only 20-voice polyphony, it is officially disqualified as a GM device (requires 24 at least)

Doepfer GMX-1 General Midi Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM8905
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/6 (GM) *
Polyphony: 20 *
Year of introduction: 1992

* Because this module has only 20-voice polyphony, it is officially disqualified as a GM device (requires 24 at least)

E-MU Sound Engine Music Module (Unit only) *

Audio chipset: E-MU 8805
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 384/64 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

* This module is basically the same as the Creative Wave Blaster (CT1900) but with added reverb and chorus effects.

Hammond GM-1000 Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: V.A.S.E. (Versatile Advanced Sound Engine)
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 368/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1994

Kawai GMega Synthesizer Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Kawai DMS2
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/7 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1992

Korg Audio Gallery AG-10 AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Ai2
ROM size: 4MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/4 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

Korg NS5R AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Ai2
ROM size: 12 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1049/31 (GM) *
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1997

* This module features an internal waveblaster compatible header, so support for a Yamaha XG board is possible. In fact, the NX5R comes with a Yamaha DB51XG daughterboard by default.

Korg X5DR AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Korg Ai2
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 430/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1995

Midiplus MiniEngine USB (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2635
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 287/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 2016 (?)

Roland CM-32L LA Sound Module (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 1 MB (2 x 512kB)
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1989

* This module is basically a LAPC-I ISA soundcard in a box, e.g. a 2nd generation MT-32 with the extra sound effects.

Roland CM-500 GS/LA Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland GS + LA synthesis
ROM size: 3MB (GS) + 1 MB (LA)
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GS) + 128/1 (LA)
Polyphony: 24 (GS) + 32 (LA)
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland MT-32 Multi Timbre Sound Module (1st generation)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 0.5 MB (1 x 512kB)
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1987

Roland PMA-5 Personal Music Assistant (Unit with leather carrying case)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 306/16
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1996

Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 0.5 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1988

* This module has an MT-32 soundmap and can therefore act like a second generation MT-32 which can be useful for DOS games. However, it does not support the “All notes off” command, which can lead to hanging notes in DOS games. This can be overcome with the SoftMPU utility though and there is even a hardware “fix” by cutting a trace and connecting two IC pins on the mainboard.

Roland SC-7 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/6 (GM)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-33 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 226/8 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GS standard front, Unit only, ROM version 1.10)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GS front, Unit only, ROM version 1.21)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GM/GS front, Unit only, ROM version 2.00)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-155 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-88 Pro Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 20 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1117/42 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1996

* This module is somewhat (unofficially) compatible with the Yamaha XG standard, albeit very limited.

Roland SC-8820 Sound Canvas (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 24 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1608/63 (GM/GM2/GS)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1999

Roland SC-8850 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 32 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1640/63 (GM/GM2/GS) *
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 1999

* This module is somewhat (unofficially) compatible with the Yamaha XG standard, albeit very limited.
Also, the GM/GS compatibility is flawed, which makes it a less interesting choice for using it to play DOS games and listening to standard GM/GS MIDI files.

Roland SD-50 Mobile Studio Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 128 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1125/32 (GM2/GS)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2009

Roland SonicCell Desktop Synthesizer Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 128 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 896+256/32+9 (GM2)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2007

Tascam Pocketstudio 5 (Unit only)

Audio chipset: ?
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/5 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 2002

Yamaha MU2000EX Tone Generator (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha AWM2
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1396/58 (GM/GS/XG)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 1999

Yamaha TG100 Tone Generator (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha YMW258-F
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 192/10 (GM) *
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

* This module uses 12-bit samples instead of 16-bit.