The Roland VA includes the sound banks from all the hardware sound canvas such as the MT-32, SC-55 and SC-88. Each of the hardware models included unique sounds so if you want a particular sound and that sound is only available in a specific hardware model you're covered. Back in the day MIDI artists use to embed in the MIDI file what hardware they used so if you want to hear the song as the artist heard it then you had to have the exact hardware.

Roland derived the TTS-1 soft synth software from their HyperCanvas soft synth. Cakewalk bought exclusive rights to label and distribute the TTS-1 but Roland stills maintains the rights to the software code. The TTS-1 sound bank is similar to the hardware sound banks but based on a different sample set.

The best way I can think to put it is the two products are similar in function and how they sound but there are minor differences. Some people can tell the difference but most can not. Just as most people can not tell the difference between Roland and Yamaha's soft synth.

Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home