“Could you please provide me with instructions to backup the sounds on my U220 via MIDI to my computer before I load other SysEx files on this unit?”

The Roland U220 Sound Module

This involves a transfer of system exclusive (SysEx) data from the Roland U-220 to a MIDI recording device that has SysEx recording capability. Most MIDI sequencer programs have this ability these days, but check your owners manual to be sure. There may be some options you need to set in order to enable this functionality in your program.

Roland uses the term “Bulk Dump” for this operation. This is a one-way transmission of data from the U-220. This means that it will transmit its data regardless of the condition or connection of a receiving device. In this respect the U-220 is “dumb”, it just blasts the data on command and has no idea where, or if, it went.

NOTE: Make sure to set the U-220 and the receiving device to the same device ID number (use 17). If they aren’t matched on both devices the transfer will fail.

Okay, assuming all the prerequisite setup is done, here’s how to proceed…

1. On the front panel push the “Data” button.

2. Use the cursor buttons to make the word “Bulk” flash.

3. Push “Enter” once.

4. Use the cursor buttons to start the word “All” flashing.

5. Push “Enter” once, and only once at this point.

6. Make sure your recording device is armed and start it recording.

7. Push “Enter” once. The U-220 will now begin transmitting (Bulk Dumping) all of it’s memory. While in progress the display will read “Transmitting SysEx.” When the dump is complete the display will read “Function Completed.”

8. Stop your MIDI recording device and save the file.

That’s it, you’ve successfully backed up the data in your Roland U-220 sound module.

Back Up The Settings Of A Roland U-220 Sound Module is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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Like our sun, you shouldn’t stare directly at this for any length of time.

Feel free to comment on any of the models you can recognize before you pass out.

A Brief History Of ALL Roland Synthesizers? is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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“I figured from your web site, you might have come across the Roland KR 33 piano. Are the keys weighted or not?”

No Mario, the Roland KR-33 does not have weighted keys. It has 76 synth-style keys that are velocity sensitive.

“There is another Roland model said to have weighted keys (76) EP 7 II. Any idea if it produces a classical piano sound as well? (That’s what I am after.)”

This is the official feature breakdown:

The ep-7mkII has a 76-note velocity-sensitive, weighted keyboard and eight CD-quality instrument sounds for creating life-like performances that can be stored on the built-in four song recorder.

Features:

* 76 semi-weighted keys with touch sensitivity
* Built-in stereo sound system with two 5″ speakers
* Onboard digital reverb and chorus effects
* Dual headphone jacks for silent listening by two players or teacher and student
* Optional “console” type stand specifically for the EP7 and EP7mkII

Here’s a close up of the sounds available. You’ll note there are two different piano sounds available. On most Roland gear, these are typically a classical oriented piano and a jazz/pop/rock piano.

I hope this helps you with your search!

A Question About Roland Digital Pianos is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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“Hi, 2 questions…I’m a ‘Cars’ fan and was wondering if you knew if Greg Hawkes used this keyboard? Would you happen to know if the long sweep sound that opens for the Cars “Moving in Stereo” was used on this?”

Bill, I don’t know.

If anyone knows the answer to this and would like to help Bill out and satisfy my curiosity too, leave a comment!

A Question About the Roland SH-1000 is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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Hi Al,

Came across your 11/19/09 post on the Akai X7000.

I have one and 25 sampler discs that I’m looking to sell. Would you be interested or would you know someone who is?

My asking price is $ 450.

I’m not in the market for one right now, but if anyone out there is, please leave a comment and include how Carl can get ahold of you.

Note: I do not know Carl and I cannot offer any endorsement or guarantee of either his character or the quality of the gear he is offering for sale.

Akai X7000 Keyboard Sampler

Akai X7000 Question From Carl is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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Not only does this bit of trivia make this a great find on the second hand market, it is usually reasonably priced. When new, if I remember correctly, it was only $300 – $400.

Here’s a demonstration of the sound and functionality of the Realistic MG-1. If you managed to find one of these gems, drop me a line and tell me how you found it.

The Realistic Concertmate MG-1: A Moog In Cheap Clothing is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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Most keyboards will have at least stereo outputs, or two channels. Many have multiple outputs that you might wish to take advantage of, sometimes four, six, eight or even more per keyboard/module.

Most audio interfaces are limited to just a few inputs. For example, the Digidesign 003 can handle just eight inputs. You can add an expander that gives you an additional eight channels for a total of 16. But even with 16 inputs, that would only be eight keyboards or modules, not to mention microphones, guitars or anything else that also needs to be plugged in.

One solution to this problem is to use a line level sub mixer. This allows you to mix down several inputs to just one or two. For example, an eight-channel sub mixer could mix down eight mono channels or four stereo channels to just one or two master outputs.

However, with just a few keyboards and modules the input requirements climb very quickly. Even eight mono or eight stereo may not be enough. True, you may not need all those keyboards in one song, but you certainly wouldn’t want to have to constantly plug and unplug different keyboards to discover which one you want to use.

That brings me to today’s recommendation… the Mackie LM3204 32-channel Pro Tour line mixer.

The Mackie LM 3204 32 Channel Pro Tour Line Mixer

This mixer wasn’t as widely publicized or as well known as the standard Mackie mixers, like the 1604. Although the LM3204 shared a lot of the same features it has some very specific benefits that are of interest to us as studio owners with lots of outboard equipment.

The main benefit? Well, this speaks for itself… 16 stereo channels! Yes, with this unit you can easily sub mix 32 channels of audio. It’s powerful and convenient. With this mixer I can have all of my outboard equipment always hooked up and ready to go. And all the while I’m sub mixing to stereo, so it only takes up two inputs on the audio interface to my computer.

I recently saw one of these units sell on eBay for just a little over $300. At that price it’s a real steal. You don’t see these come up very often. But if this would solve your input problems like it’s solved mine, grab it when you see it.

(By the way, these have the capability of being chained together. So if you can find two of them, that would be 32 stereo channels you would have!)

Dealing With Input “Spaghetti” is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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The Roland KR-33 Digital Piano

If you’re looking for a good candidate for a digital stage piano, you would do well to check out the Roland KR 33. This useful keyboard is no longer made but can be found on the secondhand market. I’ve seen these on eBay going for between $300 and $400.

I only became aware of this keyboard because I was working in music retail when it first came out. Our store was shipped a palette of these by accident. When we opened them and set them up we just had a blast playing with them.

While the KR-33 originally intended to be a home digital piano, it works great on stage and in the studio. It has 76 synthesizer type keys, MIDI in and out, several voices including pianos, the ability to split and layer sounds, and just enough MIDI implementation to give it some power as a MIDI master controller.

As far as gigging with it, it’s light weight, easy to carry and is flat as a board on top; perfect for stacking another keyboard. Oh yes, I almost forgot… it also comes with a matching stand.

This would make an excellent piano/controller for any studio as well as being ready to go out and gig with you. And the going price on the used market ain’t bad either.

The Roland KR-33 Digital Piano – Sleeping Giant is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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The Roland SH-1000 Analog Synthesizer

This was the very first synth I ever owned. It sat right on top of my A-100 Hammond organ (same as a B-3 with the addition of built in speakers).

If you don’t have a vintage hardware synth in your studio, this would bring you hours of audio enjoyment. It is especially good at big, fat basses. It’s also very easy to create all those weird, ethereal analog sounds you’ve heard so often. While the controls are limited, there’s enough to get thousands of different sounds very quickly.

I’ve seen this unit selling for as little $100 on the used market. I would personally pay as much as $300 for one in really good shape. Here’s a full video demo of the Roland SH-1000:

Here’s the factual breakdown on this cool retro synth from Wikipedia:

The Roland SH-1000, introduced in 1973, was the first compact synthesizer produced in Japan. It resembles a home organ more than a commercial synth, with coloured tabs labelled with descriptions of its presets and of the “footage” of the divide-down oscillator system used in it’s manually editable synthesizer section. It produced electronic sounds that many professional musicians sought after whilst being easier to obtain and transport than its western equivalents.

Although it has limited capabilities, with 10 simple preset voices, the SH-1000 has a manually editable section which can be manually tweaked around to create new interesting sounds. However, there is no user program memory available, so a musician would have to remember settings. Its effects include white noise generator, portamento, octave transposition, two low frequency oscillators and a random note generator.

Some famous SH-1000 users:

• The Band
• The Human League
• Blondie
• Jethro Tull
• The Rose Phantom (revideolized)
• Fad Gadget
• Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
• Imagination
• Eddie Jobson (Roxy Music)
• Radio Massacre International
• Tetsuya Komuro

If you pick one of these up, please let me know! I’d love to hear about it and see some pics.

Roland SH-1000 Synth – Get Your Analog On! is a post from: The Dirt Floor Recording Blog

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