Roland CM-32L

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The Roland CM-32L is a MIDI synthesizer module first released by Roland Corporation in 1989. It is based on the second generation revision MT-32, but being intended for use with computers, it is housed in a beige case and lacks all external controls save for a volume knob and a MIDI message indicator light. There is one technical difference between the CM-32L and the second generation MT-32: the former has 33 additional sound effects in the percussion bank.

The front panel includes a volume knob, a power switch and two leds indicating power and MIDI data. On the rear panel there are three MIDI connectors (IN, OUT and THRU), a balanced 1/4" jack for headphones and two unbalanced 1/4" jacks for mono/stereo output (-10 dBu).

The MT-32/CM-32L uses Linear Arithmetic synthesis as opposed today's PCM sample based technology. Basically this method was more memory- and cost effective. Roland discarded this technology sometime after 1990 when memory, computer chips and other components started to drop drastically in price.

The CM-32L was particularly well used in computer games of that era; Sierra On-Line, and LucasArts are known for their full use of the module's capabilities when creating music and sound effects. From 1990 to 1994 the best combination was often to use the CM-32L for music and a Creative Labs Sound Blaster card to produce the sampled sounds/voice in such games.

Consisting of 8 melodic parts and one rhythmic part, the modules were fixed on MIDI channel 2 though 10. MIDI channel 1 was intended for the user's master keyboard/synthesizer. The choice of using channel 10 for drums/percussion seems to have followed Roland Corporation when they pioneered in defining the GM(General MIDI)/GS (General Standard) standards and the SMF (Standard MIDI file) standard some years after the release of the CM series.

The module has 128 preset sounds which formed the base for the GM standard. These sounds were generated from small PCM samples and LA synthesis of up to four different "blocks" at a time. These four "blocks" could be arranged in 10 different ways using various signal pathways, for instance utilizing a ring modulator to generate new harmonics. The sound engine was very powerful at the time and was based upon the D-50/D-550 design from 1987. The polyphony is 32 notes which was immense at that time.

See also: Modules: Roland MT-32, Roland CM-32P, Roland CM-64, Roland CM-300 and Roland CM-500. Sequencers: Tentrax, Roland Ballade, Roland Ballade GS, Musicator