How to make tone changes to arranger parts?

I create my own user-styles on the G-800 and would like to edit various parameters of the accompaniment (AC1-AC6) sections - such as TVF cutoff, resonance, vibrato delay, decay, etc. I am aware that the UPPER1 and UPPER2 tones can be edited by using the Tone/Edit buttons. However, I cannot figure out how to do this for the ARRANGER sections.

Vallury Prabhakar

As you are fully aware it's only possible to make TONE EDIT on the real-time parts (UPPER1, UPPER2, M.BASS, M.DRUMS) - unfortunately, you can't do that for the arranger parts. This is a limitation in the SC-88 soundmodul, handling the NRPN messages (Non Registered Parameter Number) for the arranger parts.

If you would like to record theese tone changes for the arranger parts (ADR,ABS,AC1,..,AC7) using the MICROSCOPE function of USER STYLE EDIT, you will find that no NRPN messages can be assigned - with one exeption. You are allowed to use the NRPN messages for the ADR part only:

CC99=24
CC98=37 Side Stick
    =38 Snare Drum 1
    =40 Snare Drum 2
    =41 Low Tom 2
    =52 Chinese Cymbal
    =57 Cowbell
    =65 High Timbale
CC06='value' (0-127) (default=64)

Steen

Upgarde to version 1.06 ?

Should I upgrade to the new version 1.06 now ?

Steen

The Roland G-1000 vesion 1.06 SW have been out since end of April. It solves a lot of problems e.g. the problem with the very sensitive balance regulator. (see G-xxx SW, firmware and bugs for a list of bugs fixed).

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

Will Roland E-86 styles work on G-1000?

Will my Roland E-86 styles work on G-1000? (The E-86 is regular SC-55 compatible) without editing all the instruments. I do not quite understand what you say about changing the bank numbers - whether this must be done or if things will still work if one does not do that.

Sam Safran

The Roland G-600/800 is based on the SC-88 soundmodule, and G-1000 on the new SC-88pro. These soundmoduls are both backward compatible with the SC-55 soundmodule of the E-86, which means that the SC-88 also contains the sounds of the SC-55, and SC-88pro contains both the sounds of the SC-88 and the SC-55. (See figure below).

So the answer is - Yes your E-86 styles should work on all the G-series keyboards, without changing anything, because the G-keybords will just use the same sounds as the E-86.

But when you have a G-keyboard, you will be able to modify one or more instruments of your original style, simply by changing the CC32 value for thoose instuments, by using the microscope and then save the style. (Rember to make a copy of your original style, because the microscope don't have a undo function).

Steen

Understanding the GM MIDI messages in the styles

When you keyboard reads the stylefile, the stylefile contains the following MIDI messages for each instrument

1. PC   -  Program Change
2. CC00 -  Control Change 00 (Least Significant Byte, LSB)
3. CC32 -  Control Change 32 (Most Significant Byte,  MSB)

SC-88pro 	- CC32 = 3
SC-88    	- CC32 = 2
SC-55    	- CC32 = 1
No change	- CC32 = 0

You have your favorite style, with:
AC1=Soprano Sax (PC=65, CC00=0, CC32=1 (SC-55))
You can change that to a G-800/G-600 (SC-88) tone just by altering CC32=2 and save the style. When you have changed CC32 to a value greater than 1, you shouldn't be able to use it on your E-86, but the G-1000 should be able to play both the original and the changed style.

You have just seen how some of the MIDI messages work, but there are a lot more MIDI messages and I have listed some of the most seen below:

 PC   -  Program Change
 CC00 -  Control Change 00 (Least Significant Byte, LSB)
 CC32 -  Control Change 32 (Most Significant Byte,  MSB)

 CC01 -  Modul, Only Modulation messages
 CC10 -  PanPt, Only Panpot messages 
 CC11 -  Expre, Only Expression messages
 CC91 -  RevrB, Only Reverb messages
 CC93 -  Chrus, Only Chorus messages

 PB   -  PBend, The Pitch Bend Range (the pitch bend change that
				      can be obtained by turning
				      the pitch bender fully to 
				      left or right).

... and many more

G-1000 Upper and Lower buttons

I take it that there are now 3 upper parts and 2 lower parts.
Is that correct?

Bob (Belgium)

Yes see my G-1000 InfoSheet(New Keys), where I have briefly have discribed the 3 Upper and the 2 Lower buttons.

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

Upper as 'lead' or monophonical voice

Do you know if any of the upper parts can be made to be "Lead" ( a feature found on Yamaha keyboards sometimes). That means that it monophonically plays only the highest note.

Bob (Belgium)

The G-600/800 have the cabability to switch both Upper 1 and Upper 2 into monophonic mode, which means that you are only able to play one note at a time. On the same menu (Parameter/Tune) you can also set the portamento time for both Upper 1 and Upper 2.

You find these options by choosing F2 Param then F2 Tune

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

Automatic harmonies / Melody Intelligence

Do you know if there are any automatic harmony effects - that is, where the right hand voices have harmonies automatically filled in base on the left hand playing. On the E86 this is called melody intelligence, but it only adds one harmonizing notes. On the KR series and maybe E500 it is called harmony intelligence and can add different harmonies. Does the G1000 have any such feature?

Bob [Belgium)

Even the G-600/800 have the cabability to play up to 2 voices added to the Upper voice and calculated on basis of the lefthand accord. Use F2 Param - F3 Cntrl to go to the Parameter/Control page.

I don't know if the G-1000 have more features in this area, but I like to know.

You find these options by choosing F2 Param then F2 Tune

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

How to change drumset on G-600/800

Many of my styles contain use of C12:Standard. The music of today often use the drum sound of a drummachine, and the TR808/909 gives a very exiciting alternative.

Load the style. Press the TONE button. On the screen you will see the part that you are changing displayed in the upper left corner of the display. Use the DRUMS PART button/knop placed left most under the display. By turning the button/knop you will see the part shifting from: UP1, UP2, LWR, MBS, MDR, ADR, ABS, AC1, .. AC7.
Choose the Automatic DRums part. Before you alter the drumset, remember to use the SHIFT F2 (Arrng) menu to change the tone source from Arr (arranger) to Prf (Performance Memory), then use the SHIFT F2 to go back to the Instrument selection. Change the drumset from C12: Standard to A44: TR808/909.

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

Yamaha / Roland

I read you are a roland fan. I play with the e86 since a year. I'm still learning tot play my keyboard. I thing for that purpose the e86 is o.k. But these times there are a lot of new boards on the market. You heard already the g1000. What do you think about the psr8000 from Yamaha and the kn5000 from technics. Can they be compared with the Roland?

Bob [Belgium)

I don't know much to the Yamaha and Technics keyboards. I tried a Technics keybord last year, when I was out looking for a keybord, and my brief impression was that the sound was a bit of artificial at least compared to the Roland G-600. Another thing I liked very much the quick and flexible way the Roland keyboard could be controled.

Actually I have composed a number where I start playing the manual drums. Turn on the automatic drums while still playing the drum solo. Then leaves the drums and play the manual bass. Let the automatic bass take over, and play a rythm part in the Lower. Just a few cords later I play the Jazz Guitar in Upper1 and let it have the melody until the verse.

Then I use the Fill-in to Variation, shifts to Upper 2 Vibraphone and plays the verse. Later on I'll even shifts the Upper 2 voice by pressing the Bank selction keys (but this is indeed dangerous, because you have to check before starting, that the Upper 2 Tone selection buttons under the display is selected. These keys are not saved in performace memory, so therefore you hvae to remember manually to put them in the right mode before playing.

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer

How to learn to play keyboard

I think you are professional keyboardplayer with that equipment? Have you some suggestions or good methods to learn the keyboard. I practice each day at least one hour.

Bob (Belgium)

No I am not a professionel keyboardplayer, but sometimes you get so passionated that even your wildest dreams come true.

I started playing the G-600 last summer, and have been exercising 2-3 hours every day since. I have also had the pleasure to entertain and hope there is more to come.

I have been working hard to make a repertoire. I have chosen all the melodies I like myself, because I think that you have to like the stuf you play, to make a difference. In Denmark we are lucky to have public libraries where you can borrow all the notebooks for free. So I have got a lot of stuff from there.

So I have divided my time

• playing and maintaining my existing repertoire
• time for exercicing new songs
• recording tapes with my playing
• investigating the facilities of the keybord
• reading the manual
• recording and editing styles

Steen

Steen's Roland Arranger Question & Answer