The SC-88 featured more memory, multitimbral, and polyphony compared to the SC-55MKII while also adding EQ. The SC-88 was basically an expanded version of the SC-55MKII which was released in 1993. Since the SC-88 has audio input jacks with input level adjustment, you can also connect other sound sources to output from the audio output jacks mixed with the sounds of the SC-88. Most of the sound parameters can even be edited directly thanks to dedicated buttons. These parameters range from depth, rate, and time to frequency, character, and more. Additional fine adjustments to the sound can be made by specifying the parameters for each effect. It allows you to modify the sounds by tweaking vibrato, filter and envelope and other parameters and also comes with eight types of reverb, eight types of chorus, ten types of delay, and other effects. Users can also create their own sounds and drum sets as the SC-88 features 256 user sounds and two user drum sets. Amongst these sounds are the same ones as the SC-55/55MKII, which means that the SC-88 can correctly play the song data of these modules too. It has 654 high-quality sounds, along with 24 types of drum sound sets.

In terms of features, the SC-88 a 32 part multitimbral sound module with 64 voices of polyphony.

The SC-88 sound module is used for playback of song data with the GM mark as well as GS song data. The Sound Canvas series itself was first introduced in 1991 and became the de-facto standard in General Standard sound modules. Roland released their SC-88 in 1994 as a half-rack unit.

Roland sound canvas midi player