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Roland Sound Canvas SC-55

ID: ROLAND-SC-55
RELEASED 1991
PRICE
DISCONTINUED 1996
UNITS SOLD Industry Standard

I/O PORTS

MIDI In/OutSerial (Mac)Stereo OutHeadphones

System Analysis

The General MIDI reference device. Defined how GM should sound. Sample-based synthesis with 317 instruments and 9 drum kits.

Processor

N/A
Custom Roland

Dedicated sample playback engine.

Audio Subsystem

24 Voices (16 Parts)
Roland Custom

General MIDI Level 1 + GS Extensions. Reverb, Chorus, EQ.

Memory

ROM
2 MB Sample ROM

Expandable to N/A

Storage

N/A
N/A

Graphics Architecture

N/A
Palette: N/A
Hardware Tricks

Did You Know?

  • ? When game developers wrote "General MIDI" music, they tested it on the SC-55.
  • ? The SC-55mkII added even more sounds and better reverb.
  • ? Still used today for playing DOS game music as the composer intended.