Roland FP-8 User Manual

About MIDI
MIDI (pronounced middy) stands for Musical instrument
Digital Interface. MIDI1is a world-wide standard that allows
musical instruments and computers to exchange musical
data. Most electronic musical instruments sold today are
MIDI compatible. MID! compatible devices have MIDI
connectors which are used to physically link instruments
(using special cables). MIDI does not transmit the sound
of an instrument, but rather ‘messages' in digital form that
tell the receiving instrument to "do something". These are
known as MIDI messages.
MIDI can be used to do a variety of things:
: Play the internal sounds of the FP-8 from other
MIDI instruments.
© Play the sounds of other MIDI instruments or sound
modules’ from the FP-8's keyboard.
° Record your FP-8 performance into a sequencer’,
and then playback the recording using the FP-8's
internal sound source.
1A sound module is a synthesizer or digital piano
without a keyboard; i.e., a box containing only
sound-producing circuitry. Sound modules produce
sound in response to incoming MIDI messages.
The Roland MT-32 is an example of a sound
module.
2A sequencer is a device that records MIDI mes-
sages and plays them back to have MIDI instru-
ments produce sound. Sequencers allow you to
edit the recorded MIDI messages, and also let you
control many MIDI instruments simultaneously (to
create a MIDI orchestra). The Roland PR-100
Music Recorder and MC-50 Micro Composer are
examples of sequencers. The MT-100is acombina-
tion sound module and sequencer.
MIDI Connectors
Look at the rear panel of your piano. The three MIDI
connectors are used to connect the FP-8 to other MIDI
equipment. Each connector has the following function:
MIDI
ouT IN
THRU
MIDI IN connector
This connector receives incoming MID! messages.
MIDI OUT connector
This connector transmits outgoing MIDI messages to
other devices.
MIDI THRU connector
MIDI messages received at MIDI IN are re-transmitted by
the MIDI THRU connecior. (This connector does not
transmit messages that originate inside the unit itself.)
MIDI connectors accept MIDI cables with "5-pin DIN"
connectors. You may occasionally see similar connectors
on other devices, but be sure to use only cables that are
intended specifically for MIDI (Roland MSC-15/25/50;
sold separately).
MIDI Connections
in this example, a MID! cable connects two digital pianos,
A and B.
MIDI OUT
A
TACT TTA
MIDI IN
B
HET TTA TET
In this setup, playing the keyboard of A will cause the
sound of B to be heard in unison with the sound of A. This
is because when you play the note ‘F#'.on keyboard A, a
message is sent from A to B saying “play the note ‘F#' at
such-and-such a loudness and hold the note until ... now”.
This is called a Note message. B receives this message
and plays and releases the appropriate note with the
appropriate loudness and timing.

Roland FP-8 Specifications

General

Brand	Roland
Model	FP-8
Category	Musical Instrument
Language	English