Preparations To Make Before Performing; Items To Have On Hand; Installing The Divided Pickup On The Guitar Or Bass; About Midi - Roland GI-20 Owner's Manual

Preparations to Make Before Performing

Although the GI-20 can be used with both guitars and basses, the descriptions here are based on the assumption you are
using a guitar or six-string bass, and the numerals indicating the "strings" in the descriptions of settings and procedures
correspond to the 1st through 6th strings of a guitar or regular six-string bass. If you are using a four-string or five-string
bass, substitute the following numbers for those discussed in the manual.
1st String ---
2nd String 1st String (G)
3rd String 2nd String (D)
4th String 3rd String (A)
5th String 4th String (E)
6th String 5th String (B)

Items to Have On Hand

To use the GI-20, you need a guitar or bass equipped
with a pickup capable of separately outputting the
signals for each individual string (a divided pickup).
The GI-20 contains no internal sound generator, so you
will need to use a separate MIDI sound module.
Determine which other gear you will need by referring
to the connection examples (p. 10).
Installing the Divided Pickup
on the Guitar or Bass
First, attach the divided pickup to your instrument. Install
the GK-2A if you are using a guitar; if you are playing a bass,
install the GK-2B. Refer to the GK-2A or GK-2B Owner's
Manual for instructions on installing the pickup.
Guitars That Cannot Be Used with the
GK-2A/GK-2B
While the compact design of the GK-2A/GK-2B allows its
installation on many different guitars, please note the
following types of guitars on which it cannot be used:
• 12-string, pedal steel, and other specially strung guitars.
• Nylon-strung, gut-strung, and similar guitars; bass
guitars.
• Guitars which, due to their physical design, lack the
space for proper mounting of the GK-2A/GK-2B.
Several guitar manufacturers produce guitars that can be
connected directly to the GR series with a GK cable, without
the use of a GK-2A/GK-2B. For more information, please ask
your dealer or these guitar manufacturers.

About MIDI

MIDI stands for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface," a
worldwide standard that enables electronic instruments and
peripherals to share information about performances, sound
switching, and other functions. MIDI is a standard that is
shared by a wide range of instruments from different
manufacturers. For instance, you could use a MIDI controller
from company A to play a sound module from company B or
send data to a sequencer from company C.
MIDI Messages Handled by the GI-20
What follows is a list of some of the different types of MIDI
messages that the GI-20 can handle.
• "Note On messages" provide information on what
string was played, and its pitch and force.
• "Note Off messages" provide information on when a
string stops vibrating.
• "Bend messages" provide information for changing
the pitch smoothly, such as when bending, vibrato, or
hammering.
• "Bank Select messages" and "Program Change
messages" transmit commands for switching patches.
• "Control Change messages" provide information on
changes in volume and effects.
• "System Exclusive (SysEx) messages" provide
information for exchanging patch data with external
instruments.
9