Roland - VS SOUND Canvas VA 1.1.6 VSTi x64. Description: First introduced in 1991, the Roland Sound Canvas series has long become the standard for GS sound modules. With Sound Canvas VA you can now use classic sounds in your program as a VSTi plugin. It includes 1,600 high quality sounds, plus 64 different insert effects, main effects such as. Join Now The Gold Standard in GS Sound Modules. First introduced in 1991, Roland’s Sound Canvas series has long been the de facto standard in GS sound modules, and now you can access this classic sound source as a plug-in. Sound Canvas VA comes with over 1,600 high-quality sounds, 64 different insert effects, global effects like reverb and EQ, and extensive sound editing capabilities. Setting up and exploring the Roland SC-55 mkII synthesizer module and testing it with classic MS-DOS and Windows PC games! As far as General MIDI playback go.
| Developer | Roland Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | General MIDI |
| Release date | 1991 |
| Platform | IBM PC, PC-88, PC-98, Sharp X68000 |
| Predecessor | Roland MT-32 |
| Successor | Roland SC-88 |
| Related articles | Roland SC-8850 |
The Roland SC-55 (Sound Canvas) is a GSMIDIsound module released in 1991 by Roland. The SC-55 was the first sound module to incorporate the new General MIDI standard. It was the first in the Roland Sound Canvas series.
The SC-55 used both PCM and a cut-down version of the LA synthesis engine, to support 24-voice polyphony with 16-part multitimbrality. It came preloaded with the Roland MT-32's variation bank, but lacked the MT-32's re-programmability. Aimed at PC music enthusiasts, the SC-55 featured 317 instrument patches, including the GS drum kits and additional controllers. The selection of effects includes reverb and chorus.
Alongside the SC-55, Roland released the SB-55 (Sound Brush), an inexpensive MIDI sequencer module the same size as the Sound Canvas. Both the Sound Canvas and Sound Brush could be rackmounted alongside each other.
Other models with comparable tone generators include Roland CM-300, Roland CM-500 and Roland SC-155 sound modules. CM-300 and CM-500 models lack the LCD screen and extended controls of SC-55. Both models have external appearance nearly identical to Roland's earlier CM-32/64-series modules. SC-155 adds additional slider controls for master and channel level and panning. Additionally, CM-500 includes fully SysEx compatible LA tone generator similar to CM-32Ls.
The SC-55mkII[edit]
A minor upgrade to the original SC-55, the Roland SC-55mkII has increased polyphony (28 voices), more patches, raising the total number to 354 instruments and extended, and improved audio-circuitry in the form of 18-bit audio (versus 16-bit in the original SC 55.)
The SC-55mkII added a serial port as an alternative interface to the MPU-401.
Roland SCC-1[edit]
Roland also released the Roland SCC-1, an 8-bit ISA half-size card incarnation of the SC-55 sound module. The sound source is controlled by an on-board MIDI Processing Unit, a variant of the MPU-401 unit. An updated version featuring the SC-55mkII sound set was also released, known as SCC-1A. When bundled with the Band-in-a-Box and BalladeGS software, it's called SCC-1B.
Roland later replaced the SCC-1 with a combination of their MPU-401AT MIDI interface card and SCB-55 Wave Blaster-compatible daughterboard. Roland referred to this combination as the SCM-15AT. The SCC-1 was also sold as the GPPC-N for the NEC PC-98.
CM-32P and MT-32 Emulation[edit]
Since the SC-55 has no programmable memory, CM-32P and MT-32 emulation is done by providing the same sound arrangement as the preset sounds of actual devices. These variation banks are enabled by playing back special SysEx containing MIDI files, for example GS32.MID (included in the SCC-1 Utility Software), prior to loading a software title. These specially arranged tone tables contain the relevant GS sound mapped at either CM-32P or MT-32 program number. Pitch bend range is changed to 12 semitone from GS default 2 semitones. Master tuning and modulation depth are not altered by the emulation. Pan directions are reversed from actual CM-32P or MT-32 devices. CM-32P or MT-32 specific MIDISysEx messages are also ignored by the SC-55.
MT-32 Emulation Samples[edit]
The Roland SC-55's CM-32P and MT-32 emulation is based on using preset sounds of the actual devices without utilizing programmable memory or actual device synthesis techniques. This results in poor emulation for software titles relying on custom programmable MT-32 sounds as demonstrated by the introduction of the Sierra On-Line game Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon.
Software titles supporting the Roland MT-32 but not utilizing its memory are emulated with better results as demonstrated by the introduction song from Origin Systems' Ultima VI: The False Prophet.
Use in media[edit]
The sounds of the SC-55 (or any other similar Roland products) can be recognized in various television jingles and production music during the 1990s. It is also notable for its use in various episodes of British television series Mr. Bean.
Notable Users[edit]
- Liz Kitchen (Tweenies, Playdays, Tikkabilla, The Shiny Show)
- Francis Haines (The Story Makers, Mr Men, Timbuctoo, The Shiny Show, Tikkabilla, Busy Buses)
- Robert Hartley (Brum, Teletubbies, Rosie and Jim)
- Kim Goody & Alan Coates (Fifi and the Flowertots, Tiny Planets, Mike & Angelo, Roary the Racing Car)
- Dave Cooke (ChuckleVision)
- KICK Productions (Sitting Ducks, Fimbles, Rubbadubbers, The Beano All-Stars)
- Bob Singleton (Barney & Friends)
- Julian Ronnie (Sooty, Bug Alert!, Jellikins)
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- 'Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 MK2'. The Amiga Buyer's Guide '94. No. 1. Winter 1994. p. 172.
External links[edit]
- GS-compatible virtual instrument plug-in with support for Windows and Mac
- Includes 1,600 high-quality sounds and 63 drum kits that cover nearly every musical genre
- Each plug-in instance supports 16 parts and up to 64 notes of polyphony
- Tone Editor and Effect Editor functions enable you to fine-tune sounds in great detail
- Supports host DAW automation for a variety of parameters
Reminders
Depending on your host application, system exclusive messages contained in MIDI tracks might not be supported with VSTi or AU plug-ins.
The Sound Canvas VA plug-in must initialize its parameters and read various settings when it loads, and this may take about 15 seconds for each plug-in instance. For example, if you’re using four Sound Canvas VA plug-in instances in a project, it may take approximately one minute to load all the plug-ins when you open the file (four plug-ins at 15 seconds each). The actual times may vary depending on your computer’s performance and setup.
Supported Host Applications
The following host applications (DAW) have been verified to work properly with the plug-in version SOUND Canvas VA Ver.1.0.0.
Windows®
Windows® 7 SP1, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 10
- Steinberg Cubase 8.5 Series (64-bit Edition)
macOS™
OS X 10.10, 10.11, macOS™ 10.12
- This software is only available as a 64-bit applictaion
- Steinberg Cubase 8.5 Series (64-bit Edition)
Due to host application specifications, system exclusive messages cannot be sent from tracks to SOUND Canvas VA in the following hosts:
Windows®
Windows® 7 SP1, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 10
- Cakewalk SONAR PLATINUM, SONAR PROFESSIONAL, SONAR ARTIST (64-bit Editions)
- Ableton Live9 (64-bit Editions)
- Presonus Studio One 3 Professional (64-bit Editions)
macOS™
- OS X 10.10, 10.11, macOS™ 10.12
- Apple Logic Pro X (64-bit Edition)
- Apple GarageBand (64-bit Edition)
- Ableton Live9 (64-bit Edition)
- Presonus Studio One 3 Professional (64-bit Edition)
Due to host application specifications, you cannot use control changes to make correct bank selections and program changes in the following host applications:
Windows®
Windows® 7 SP1, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 10
- Cakewalk SONAR PLATINUM, SONAR PROFESSIONAL, SONAR ARTIST (64-bit Editions)
Due to host application specifications, there is a limit to the parameter that can use automation in the following host application.
Windows®
Windows® 7 SP1, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 10
*Compatible with only parameters that knob is attached.
- Ableton Live9 (64-bit Edition)
macOS™
OS X 10.10, 10.11, macOS™ 10.12*Compatible with only parameters that knob is attached.
Roland Sound Canvas Manual
- Ableton Live9 (64-bit Edition)
Roland Sound Canvas Sc-55 Mkii
We do not confirm SOUND Canvas VA compatibility with DAW software other than those DAWs previously listed here.