If I already have a Roland SC-55 and a SC-88, is there any reason to use a SC-55mkII for games? \ VOGONS

If I already have a Roland SC-55 and a SC-88, is there any reason to use a SC-55mkII for games?

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First post, by Kahenraz

Posted on 2024-08-21, 13:31

Kahenraz Offline

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The biggest differences between the SC-55 and the SC-55mkII is the increased polyphony (a slight bump from 24 to 28) and more tones. I know that a lot of games targeted either the older SC-55 when it was contemporary or require the newer SC-88 for to avoid dropping voices. Polyphony aside, are there any games that need a mkII over a non-mkII to generate the required tones?

I am struggling to find a reason to use the mkII at all, given that I have both a SC-55 and a SC-88.

Reply 1 of 4, by chinny22

Posted on 2024-08-22, 02:28

chinny22 Offline

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Only game I can find that requires a MkII is QFG4

SC-55 vs SC-55MkII - Quest for Glory

due to it supporting capital tone fallback which the original SC-55 Did not.
However I assume the SC-88 also has support so still not required?

Reply 2 of 4, by Kahenraz

Posted on 2024-08-22, 02:37

Kahenraz Offline

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I think you misread that thread. The CTF feature is only present in the SC-55 with firmware versions 1.21 and prior. Later revisions of the SC-55 had this feature removed due to a lawsuit from Yamaha. As far as I'm aware, it was not added back in any subsequent model.

This is the exact reason I bought two SC-55s with matching firmware version 1.21; to have both CTF with double the polyphony (though still not as much as the SC-88).

I did some research comparing lots of Roland synthesizers of this vintage, including the mkII some time ago:

An analysis of Warcraft 2 MIDI music on Roland synthesizers

Reply 3 of 4, by chinny22

Posted on 2024-08-22, 03:54

chinny22 Offline

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It's very possible.
I'm sure there was an old post that listed games and the required Roland device to be 100 % compatible but could only find posts talking about CM or MT 32 and a few posts about QFG4 requiring a MKII.
Although not been a game I own or have interest in I'm by no means an expert.

Reply 4 of 4, by SuperDeadite

Posted on 2024-08-22, 11:19

SuperDeadite Offline

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The SC-88's 55 compatibility mode is a MK2. I think very few people will have ears good enough to hear a difference between a real 55Mk2 and an 88 in compatibility mode... So yes, dropping the mk2 is fine.

Modules: CM-64, CM-500, SC-55MkII, SC-88 Pro, SY22, TG100, MU2000EX, PLG100-SG, PLG150-DR, PLG150-AN, SG01k, NS5R, GZ-50M, SN-U110-07, SN-U110-10, Pocket Studio 5, DreamBlaster S2, X2, McFly, E-Wave, QWave, CrystalBlaster C2, Yucatan FX, BeepBlaster

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