Roland RD-800 - Using the RD-800 As a Master Keyboard; MIDI Connectivity and Control; Selecting MIDI Output and Adjusting Layer Volume

Using the RD-800 As a Master Keyboard
What’s MIDI?
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard
specication that allows musical data to be exchanged between
electronic musical instruments and computers.
If devices equipped with MIDI ports are connected via a MIDI cable,
you’ll be able to use them in the following ways.
• Use one MIDI keyboard to play multiple instruments
• Play multiple MIDI instruments as an ensemble
• Automatically switch settings as the song progresses
About MIDI Connectors
The RD-800 has the following three types of MIDI connectors. Their
functions dier as described below.
MIDI IN connector
Performance messages from an external MIDI device are received
here. These incoming messages may instruct the RD-800 to play
sounds or switch tones.
MIDI OUT connector
MIDI messages are transmitted from these connectors to external
MIDI devices. The RD-800’s MIDI OUT connectors are used for
sending the performance data of the controller section.
MIDI THRU connector
MIDI messages received at MIDI IN connectors are re-transmitted
without change from this connector to an external MIDI device.
Use this in situations such as when you use multiple MIDI devices
simultaneously.
MEMO
The RD-800 lets you switch the function of the MIDI THRU/OUT
2 connector (p. 41).
Adjusting the Volume of Each Layer
When the [MIDI CONTROL] button is lit, you can use the Layer
switch and Layer LEVEL sliders to control the EXTERNAL Layer in the
same way as with the Layer (p. 12).
LAYER switch
This species whether MIDI data including the notes you play on
the keyboard in the EXTERNAL layer will be transmitted from the
MIDI OUT connector if the [MIDI CONTROL] button is lit.
When the Layer switch indicator for a Layer is lit (on), MIDI
messages are transmitted from the MIDI OUT connector when the
keys for that Layer are played.
When the Layer switch indicator for a Layer is not lighted (o ), MIDI
messages are not transmitted from the MIDI OUT connector even
when the keys for that part are played.
The Layer switch will turn on or o each time you press it.
LAYER LEVEL slider
If the [MIDI CONTROL] button is lit, these sliders adjust the volume
of the EXTERNAL layers.
Selecting the MIDI Connector to Use
for Output
The RD-800 provides a MIDI OUT connector, a MIDI connector
whose function can be switched between OUT and THRU, and a
USB COMPUTER port.
For each layer you can select the MIDI OUT connector or USB
COMPUTER port from which its data is to be transmitted.
1. Press the [MIDI CONTROL] button so the button is lit.
The MIDI Control screen appears.
If the screen does not indicate “OUT,” press the cursor [
] button a
number of times until “OUT” is indicted in the screen.
2. Use the Cursor buttons to move the cursor, and use
the [DEC] [INC] buttons or the value dial to specify the
connector from which each layer will transmit its MIDI
data
Layer Parameter Settings Explanation
UPPER1
OUT
(MIDI OUT Port)
ALL,
OUT1 (MIDI OUT1),
OUT2 (MIDI OUT2),
USB
The RD-800’s performance data
is transmitted from the selected
connector.
UPPER2
UPPER3
LOWER
MEMO
If the System parameter MIDI OUT2 Port Setting (p. 41) is set
to “THRU,” the performance data from the RD-800 will not
be transmitted from the MIDI OUT 2 connector; instead, the
performance data received at the MIDI IN connector will be
retransmitted without change (MIDI THRU).
By connecting an external MIDI device to the MIDI OUT connectors
on the RD-800’s rear panel, you can then control the external MIDI
device from the RD-800.
Normally, the RD-800 will transmit note messages from the MIDI OUT
connector, but if you press the [MIDI CONTROL] button so the button
is lit, you’ll be able to control various settings on your external MIDI
device in addition to transmitting note messages.
You can control internal and external sound generators
independently.
If you press the [MIDI CONTROL] button so the button is lit, the
RD-800 will be in a state where it can control an external MIDI sound module (EXTERNAL layer). You press the [MIDI CONTROL] button to switch
between control of the Layer and control of the EXTERNAL layer.
You can also make detailed settings for MIDI messages transmitted to external sound modules.
* If Rec Mode (p. 47) is “ON,” you can’t change the EXTERNAL layer settings. Nor will the MIDI Control screen appear when you press the [MIDI CONTROL] button.
LAYER
switch
LAYER
LEVEL
slider
[MIDI CONTROL]
button
37