Roland Sound Canvas
Roland/Edirol Sound Canvas lineup is a series of General MIDI based PCM sound modules and PC sound cards primarily intended for computer music usage, created by Japanese manufacturer Roland Corporation. Some models include serial or USB connection to computer.
Products
Sound Canvas
In some cases also sold as "Edirol" rather than "Roland" as the brand name.| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | output resolution | Notes | References |
| Roland SC-55 | 1991 | GM GS | 16 | 24 | 317 | 9 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | Half Rack unit, first product of the line, units without GM logo technically not GM compatible. | |
| Roland SC-155 | 1992 | GM GS | 16 | 24 | 317 | 9 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | Table top version of SC-55 | |
| Roland SC-7 | 1992 | GM | 16 | 28 | 128 | 6 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | No display, introduced serial port for PC/Mac connectivity. | |
| Roland SC-55mkII | 1993 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 354 | 9 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | Half Rack unit. A minor upgrade to the original SC-55. | |
| Roland SC-55ST | 1993 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 354 | 9 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | Half rack unit. Lower cost version of SC-55mkII. No display and only one MIDI input. | |
| Roland P-55 | 1993 | 3 | 28 | 32 | 0 | Piano module, with a limited set of instruments. | |||
| Roland SC-50 | 1994 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 226 | 9 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | SC-55mkII without the Roland MT-32 patches, only one MIDI input. | |
| Roland SD-35 | 1993 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 223 | 8 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | SC-50 with integrated MIDI sequencer. | |
| Roland SC-33 | 1992 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 226 | 8 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | Table top version of SC-50, rebranded as BOSS Dr. Synth DS-330. | |
| Roland SC-88 | 1994 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 654 | 22 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | Half rack unit, additional height for more controls, introduced multiple triggering and EQ, SC-55 map support. | |
| Roland M-GS64 | 1995 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 654 | 22 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | A 1U rackmount version of the SC-88. | |
| Roland SC-88VL | 1996 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 654 | 22 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | Smaller sized version of SC-88, with a same size and panel layout as the SC-55. | |
| Roland SC-88ST | 1996 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 654 | 22 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | A black plastic box, with LEDs for MIDI activity. 2 MIDI ins, 1 out. There is one single button on the front panel for switching between SC-55 and SC-88 modes. | |
| Roland SC-88 Pro | 1996 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 1117 | 42 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | SC-55 and SC-88 map support, introduced Insertion EFX and unofficial XG compatibility. | |
| Roland SC-88ST Pro | 1997 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 1117 | 42 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | A black plastic box, with LEDs for MIDI activity. 2 MIDI ins, 1 out. There is one single button on the front panel for SC-55/SC-88/SC-88 Pro modes. | |
| Roland SC-880 | 1998 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 1117 | 42 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | A 1U rackmount unit similar to the SC-88 Pro, but with an enhanced "patch mode" and a newer DAC. | |
| Roland ED SC-8850 | 1999 | GM GS GM2 | 64 | 128 | 1640 | 63 | 24-bit @ 32 kHz | Desktop module that can connect via USB. Contains a new native map as well as SC-55, SC-88, and SC-88 Pro maps for backwards compatibility. However, compatibility with these units is flawed due to modifications made to the synthesis engine as well as improper mapping of older instruments. | |
| Roland ED SC-8820 | 1999 | GM GS GM2 | 32 | 64 | 1608 | 63 | 24-bit @ 32 kHz | Mobile MIDI device with no LCD display, successor of the SC-88ST Pro. USB-powered, but does not act as a full USB audio device. A software editor such as GS Advanced Editor is required to edit sounds. Despite similarities, patches and effects occasionally play differently from the 8850 - some samples on the 8850 are stereo while the 8820 versions are mono and vice versa. | |
| Roland ED SC-D70 | 2001 | GM GS GM2 | 32 | 64 | 1608 | 63 | 24-bit @ 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz | Digital audio-oriented desktop module version of the SC-8820. Contains A/D inputs as well as USB audio functionality when connected to a host system. This is also the only Sound Canvas module to have digital audio ports built in. The output can be selected either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. |
Sound Canvas Personal Computer Products
| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | output resolution | Notes | References |
| Roland SCC-1 | 1992 | GM GS | 16 | 24 | 317 / 354 | 9 | 16-bit @ 44.1 kHz | PC based ISA card. The SCC-1A and SCC-1B revision upgraded the board to 354 tones. First model technically not GM compatible. | |
| Roland RAP-10 | 1993 | GM | 16 | 26 | 128 | 6 | 16-bit @ 44.1 kHz | PC based ISA high-end Soundcard. Includes two-channel 16-bit digital audio support. | |
| Roland SCB-7 | 1995 | GM | 16 | 28 | 128 | 6 | 16-bit @ 32 kHz | Daughter board to attach to a Soundcard Waveblaster port. Also sold as SCD-10 and SCM-10 in bundle with MPU-401/AT. | |
| Roland SCB-55 | 1995 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 354 | 9 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | Daughter board to attach to a Soundcard Waveblaster port. Also sold as SCD-15 and SCM-15 in bundle with MPU-401/AT. Internally 18-bit resolution, will be limited to 16-bit because of daughterboard connector, unless a hardware modification is performed. The SCD-15 was installed in Charlie Lab Megabeat One MIDI devices as well. Charlie Lab was very popular in southern Europe back in the 1990s/2000s. | |
| Roland SCP-55 | 1995 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 354 | 9 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | PCMCIA card to insert in notebook/laptop computer | |
| Roland GPPC-N | 1993 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 354 | 9 | 16-bit @ 44.1 kHz | NEC PC-9801 card to insert in computer |
Computer Music Products
| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | output resolution | Notes |
| Roland CM-300 | 1991 | GM GS | 16 | 24 | 317 | 9 | 16-bit @ 44.1 kHz | "Computer music" version of the SC-55, no screen. A beige box with a volume knob and two LEDs on the front, technically not GM compatible. |
| Roland CM-500 | 1991 | GM GS MT-32 | 16 | 24 | 317 | 9 | 16-bit @ 44.1 kHz | A beige box with a volume knob and two LEDs on the front, technically not GM compatible, combines the CM-300 with a CM-64. |
Sound Canvas and Keyboard
The following combine a sound canvas module with a built in MIDI keyboard| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | output resolution | Notes | References |
| Roland SK-50 | 1994 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 226 | 8 | |||
| Roland SK-50 IV | 1997 | GM GS | 16 | 28 | 226 | 8 | |||
| Roland SK-88 Pro | 1999 | GM GS | 32 | 64 | 1117 | 42 | 18-bit @ 32 kHz | SC-880 with 37 key MIDI keyboard | |
| Roland SK-500 | 2000 | GM GS GM2 | 32 | 64 | 1608 | 63 | 24-bit @ 32 kHz | SC-8820 with 49 Key MIDI keyboard |
Edirol
Roland sold GM/GS products under its Edirol brand. The samples contained in the ROMs of these units do not in all cases mirror the original SC-7 / SC-55 GM/GS samples. GM2 is downward compatible with GM. The SD line was also sold under the "Roland" brand.| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | Notes | References |
| SD-20 | 2002 | GM2 GS | 32 | 64 | 660 | 23 | > | |
| SD-50 | 2009 | GM2 GS | 32 | 128 | 1125 | 32 | > | |
| SD-80 | 2002 | GM2 GS | 32 | 128 | 1050 | 30 | > | |
| SD-90 | 2001 | GM2 GS | 32 | 128 | 1050 | 30 | > |
Virtual Sound Canvas
There is also the VSC, Virtual Sound Canvas, range of PC software which provide GM and GSsynthesis on Windows PCs. Many versions of Cakewalk's Sonar software came bundled with a copy of VSC, though from Sonar 4 onwards they ship with the improved TTS-1 softsynth, which Roland has sold previously through its Edirol subsidiary as the HyperCanvas.
| Model | Year | Standards | Parts | Voices | Tones | Drumsets | Notes | References |
| VSC-55 | 1996 | GM GS | 16 | 128 | 226 | 9 | ||
| VSC-88H3 | 2000 | GM GS GM2 | 16 | 128 | 902 | 26 | With SC-55, SC-88 and SC-88 Pro compatible instrument mappings. Most of the instrument samples are from the SC-55. | |
| VSC-MP1 | 2001 | GM GS GM2 | 16 | 128 | 902 | 26 | With SC-55, SC-88 and SC-88 Pro compatible instrument mappings. Most of the instrument samples are from the SC-55. A multipack containing the standalone MIDI synthesizer, a DXi plugin and a VSTi plugin. This is the only Windows NT OS family compatible version. | |
| SOUND Canvas for iOS | 2015 | GM GS GM2 | 16 | 1600 | 63 | iOS MIDI player app without patch editing. | ||
| Sound Canvas VA | 2015 | GM GS GM2 | 16 | 64 | 1600 | 63 | VSTi/AU plugin based on the SC-8820. |
Distribution
North America
- Roland Systems Group U.S.
Europe
- EDIROL Europe Ltd., London, UK