Nuked-SC55 and emusc: Roland SC-55, emulated, 2024 Edition

[Karmeck]

There is two emulators in the works, one has just released an early version.

First emulator here:
https://github.com/skjelten/emusc

To my understanding this emulator, emulated the first sc-55.

Then we have:
https://github.com/nukeykt/Nuked-SC55

This emulator, at this time has two releases.

Despite the name. This emulator aims to emulate sc-55 mkII.

Here are the built in demo songs, using the emulator.
https://youtu.be/DUEkcFTuldg

Reverb and chorus are being worked on.

This emulator need roms. There are legal issues with sharing thees roms. So I won't post them here. There are tales of the roms being included in the latest mame release. Zip name is sc55mk2.zip

What's interesting to me is that, at least the Nuked-SC55, can be compiled for Linux. It's fairly CPU heavy though. But hoping for an raspberry themed add-on for the mister in the future. Or a separate box.

[Karmeck]

new version is out. Now also supports SC-55mk1, CM-300/SCC-1, SC-55st

https://github.com/nukeykt/Nuked-SC55/releases

roms for the individual devices are needed.

[thorr]

Very cool. It doesn't look like this is FPGA, but it could become the equivalent of the mt32Pi for the sound canvas. I have an external MIDI MT32Pi and an SC-55mk2 within my MiSTer setup.

[bbond007]

This is fairly easy to try out NOW with your MiSTer now via UDP with your Windows PC.

You'll use loopMIDI+UDPMIDI20+SC55emu

https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html
https://github.com/bbond007/UDPMIDI20

[Karmeck]

This is fairly easy to try out NOW with your MiSTer now via UDP with your Windows PC.

You'll use loopMIDI+UDPMIDI20+SC55emu

https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html
https://github.com/bbond007/UDPMIDI20

this was also done in this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSk9S1bkRS8

I do think though, that finding a tiny tablet powerful enough is hard at this time, at least to the same price.

[rhester72]

Anyone know if this happens to run (well) on a Pi Zero 2 W? If so, one HDMI audio tap later...

[Karmeck]

Anyone know if this happens to run (well) on a Pi Zero 2 W? If so, one HDMI audio tap later...

Efforts are under way to make the code more efficient. Current target it raspberry pi 4 tho. At least that's what's tested.

I suggest to follow the discussion on vogons. Here is a random test build in an reply. Discussion on a build for raspberry pi can also be found here.
https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1255128#p1255128

[rhester72]

@Karmeck Following that thread closely now, thank you!

[breiztiger]

new version is out. Supports SC-55mk2, SC-55mk1, CM-300/SCC-1, SC-55st, JV-880, SCB-55/RLP-3194 and RLP-3237

https://github.com/nukeykt/Nuked-SC55/releases

roms for the individual devices are needed.

[softtest9]

I wonder how appropriate Nuked SC-55 would be for something like the mt32-pi? Judging by the license text, it seems to have a thing against "emulation boxes". Very cool project regardless.

[rhester72]

I wonder how appropriate Nuked SC-55 would be for something like the mt32-pi? Judging by the license text, it seems to have a thing against "emulation boxes". Very cool project regardless.

The creator of MT32-Pi has been extremely clear he would not pursue anything at all with Nuked SC-55 so long as the licenses remain incompatible.

[Karmeck]

https://github.com/Falcosoft/Nuked-SC55 ... /tag/0.2.1

Falcosoft made a version that including the optimization by Eivind. That is necessary to have Nuked-SC55 run on raspberry pi.

I have no raspberry pi too compile on tho. Source is right there, just saying.

[rhester72]

@Karmeck Elvind has offered to rescind those patches due to concerns over how a Pi would be used.

Complete thread here:

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=99447

[Karmeck]

@Karmeck Elvind has offered to rescind those patches due to concerns over how a Pi would be used.

Complete thread here:

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=99447

I'm well aware.

[softtest9]

I suggest locking this thread or removing references to Nuked SC-55.

To reiterate, the use-case that almost everyone wants for this kind of project is incompatible with Nuked SC-55's license. If you want to pair up SC-55 emulation with the MiSTer, keep an eye on emusc. emusc is progressing well, has a friendly license, and emusc's author actually wants to see it integrated into mt32-pi, DOSBox-Staging and other projects. Nuked SC-55 is not it.

[Bas]

I just read the LICENSE file. What in there makes the Nuked SC-55's license incompatible? I don't see anything in there that would preclude me from building it to run on a Pi, and connecting it to my MiSTer in a similar way that mt32-pi is. The license does preclude me from manufacturing and selling such a setup as a package deal commercially, but it doesn't preclude home tinkerers from building such a setup themselves. A hat for it wouldn't even include the software at all.. Am I missing something relevant?

Running any sort of Roland emulation without owning the original device for a license to use the ROMs makes it kind of moot anyway as you'd be pirating Roland's ROMs anyway and I'd think Roland would have an opinion on that, if it were relevant enough to them to invest in stopping it. In that way a whole lot of emulation is legally wrong, and I think it's a bit strange how one would respect one license but not another.

[rhester72]

I just read the LICENSE file. What in there makes the Nuked SC-55's license incompatible? I don't see anything in there that would preclude me from building it to run on a Pi, and connecting it to my MiSTer in a similar way that mt32-pi is. The license does preclude me from manufacturing and selling such a setup as a package deal commercially, but it doesn't preclude home tinkerers from building such a setup themselves. A hat for it wouldn't even include the software at all.. Am I missing something relevant?

Running any sort of Roland emulation without owning the original device for a license to use the ROMs makes it kind of moot anyway as you'd be pirating Roland's ROMs anyway and I'd think Roland would have an opinion on that, if it were relevant enough to them to invest in stopping it. In that way a whole lot of emulation is legally wrong, and I think it's a bit strange how one would respect one license but not another.

The author himself has been fairly hostile to use on Raspberry Pi as a result of his stance on commercialization.

[Karmeck]

I guess the author do not want the emulator to be a key part in raspberry pi boxes, marketed as replacement for real
sc-55.

That was not the goal.

I have no probelm with this. I just want the option to buy a raspberry pi and have the emulator runt from there.

With the optimized version linked above, maybe even a cheap windows tablet cab run it. No pi needed. But I rather have it on a Pi.

I might not even buy a Pi in the near future. I just want the option to be there. And as seen on the thread on vogons. This can already be achieved if you have the know how.

[Karmeck]

Recent developments, regarding, potentially changing license and the possibility of a Pi version.

https://github.com/nukeykt/Nuked-SC55/p ... 2101035220

[rhester72]

I will charitably say you should not hold your breath.

[HarborSeal]

He doesn't want to get sued.

I get it, but I don't see how he avoids a lawsuit releasing it the way it is right now.

[rhester72]

I actually don't think that's it. He's said repeatedly he doesn't want people profiting off his work - which is ironic given that it's actually a reinterpretation of Roland's intellectual property and design. I'm not a fan at all of how he's gone about any of this, but not my code and not my call.

[Karmeck]

I actually don't think that's it. He's said repeatedly he doesn't want people profiting off his work - which is ironic given that it's actually a reinterpretation of Roland's intellectual property and design. I'm not a fan at all of how he's gone about any of this, but not my code and not my call.

There is a language barrier, the way I writes sometimes. Maybe using Google translate. So the arguments he makes might not be the best representation of what he wants to communicate. Also, when we write long arguments, maybe it's not completely understood the way we intend.

About the licens, if think it's done in this way to control what can be controlled. Once the license is changed, all of those smart people over at GitHub will get working on a build for raspberry pi, hardware will be made and shells will be 3D printed. And it will be fast. But now, everyone is respecting the rules. And thus we have no pi-sc55.

We don't know how Roland will react, neither does nukeykt. Therefor he control what he can. Trying to be responsible. Not killing the project from dmca/trademark/copyright, befor it even reach 1.0

[rhester72]

I agree wholeheartedly with Dale Whinham. nukeykt's emulator is not the way forward (for anyone with the possible exception of DOSBox). It'll take longer, but the eventual gold standard will be EmuSC, where real collaboration is happening.

[rhester72]

Ouch.

For those not following the Vogons thread, it looks like the optimizations that made a Pi 4 possible also broke the output.

Bummer.

[Karmeck]

New version compiled by Falcosoft. Without the broken optimization.
https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=1262552#p1262552

If you look here, the author of the optimization say he worked more on it, in private builds. And might resume public work on it, when the license change.
viewtopic.php?p=86492&sid=90bb3e6e5a836 ... f53#p86492

Also, the optimization is not included in the master build.

[HarborSeal]

Ouch.

For those not following the Vogons thread, it looks like the optimizations that made a Pi 4 possible also broke the output.

Bummer.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The Vogons members are comparing the optimized version to the official release. To my ears, compared to any SC-55 soundfont, the optimized version (with the 32-bit float output) is still far superior.

[HarborSeal]

Roland has announced that they won't be selling the Sound Canvas VA after September 1.
https://rolandcloud.com/news/sound-canv ... scontinued