My buddy uses a Roland RA90 with an old laptop that was configured with dos and cakewalk 2.0. He runs midi files and the arranger provides the sounds.

We're upgrading the equipment to a newer laptop with cakewalk 9.0 and was wondering if anyone knew where I could find drivers that are needed to detect the RA90 within cakewalk. I checked his v2.0 software and the RA90 is listed as a device. I want to make it possible for him to use the RA90 with his new laptop and software.

Any Suggestions

Hi, Why not use Rolands SC88h wavetable software for your sound source. It has the RA90 sounds plus hundreds more. It is not expensive[ under $60]..Fran

Let me see if I understand correctly:

I install Cakewalk 9.0 and the SC88H wavetable software. Then any midi file opened within cakewalk will pick up the sounds from the SC88H wavetable software automatically?

Sorry if I sound like a newbie, I'm kinda hard headed I think.

You have to configure Calkwalk to use the software synth for MIDI playback. It does not usually get done automatically.

Paul Ip
from Texas

I started looking for the SC88h but haven't found it. The Roland site lists a SC-880 voice synthesizer module, but that's not what I'm looking for is it? Any advice on where to review and purchase the product?

That is the VSC88h from WWW.Edirol.com

It's been a while I was here, but anyway;

You don't need to buy any additional software if you use CPA 9.x
The only thing you have to do is load an instrument patch for the RA 90.
If you have to buy CPA 9.0 first, and you will just use it for playback the midi's, this is an expensive investment and indeed the alternative Fran offered is way cheaper.
But in case you have CPA 9,x or buy it anyway, you don't need any other software.

Fred