Roland SK-50 Owner's Manual
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Roland SK-50 Owner's Manual

Roland SK-50 Owner's Manual

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OWNER'S MANUAL
MULTI TIMBRAL KEYBOARD SK-50
Ensemble Volume
Using the SK-50 with a Computer and other MIDI equipment
26053769
'99-6-E2-61S

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  • Page 1 OWNER’S MANUAL MULTI TIMBRAL KEYBOARD SK-50 Ensemble Volume Using the SK-50 with a Computer and other MIDI equipment 26053769 '99-6-E2-61S...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    4. MIDI DATA ROUTING ......................10 (1) When Connected to a Computer .................10 (2) When Connected to a MIDI Player or Sequencer..........11 5. MIDI MESSAGES HANDLED BY THE SK-50 ..............12 6. POLYPHONIC CAPABILITIES ....................21 7. MINUS-ONE PERFORMANCES ..................22 8. MIDI SETTINGS.........................23 9.

  • Page 3: Features Of The Sk-50

    General MIDI logo. GS Format The GS Format is Roland’s universal set of specifications which were formulated in the interest of standardizing the way in which sound generating devices will operate when MIDI is used for the performance of music.

  • Page 4: Making The Connections

    38) beforehand to make sure you obtain the right cable. Before making a change in the position of the COMPUTER mode selection switch, always have the power on the SK-50 turned OFF. If the power has been left ON, the unit may not operate normally.

  • Page 5: Connecting With An Ibm Pc At Series Computer

    Connecting with an IBM PC AT Series Computer Place the COMPUTER mode selection switch on the rear of the SK-50 at the RS232C-2 position (baud rate of 38.4 Kbps). Connect the COMPUTER cable between the RS-232C connector on the computer and the COMPUTER connector on the SK-50.

  • Page 6: Connecting With An Apple Macintosh

    Connecting with an Apple Macintosh Place the COMPUTER mode selection switch on the rear of the SK-50 at the RS422 position (baud rate of 31.25 Kbps). Connect the COMPUTER cable (optionally available RSC-15APL) between the modem or printer port on the rear of the Macintosh and the COMPUTER connector on the SK-50.

  • Page 7: Connecting With Other Midi Devices

    SK-50. Connecting with a MIDI Sequencer or Player After connecting your SK-50 to a MIDI sequencer or player, you will be able to carry out multi- track recording while you play the keyboard, and can enjoy listening to any commercially available music data designed for GS/GM compatible sound generating units.

  • Page 8: Connecting With A Midi Sound Module

    ADAPTOR ONLY THRU MIDI MIDI Cable When you wish to use the SK-50’s keyboard to play an external sound module, you need to first move the Serial Mode Selection Switch on the rear panel to the “MIDI” position. SK-50 Sound Module...

  • Page 9: About Midi

    Remember that you do not really need to know all that much about how MIDI works if all you want to do is use your SK-50 while connected to a computer or MIDI sequencer/player. This is because the sound generator in the SK-50 is compatible with the GM System/GS Format.

  • Page 10: Midi Channels And Multi-Timbral Capabilities

    The channels available with MIDI range from 1 through 16. Multi-Timbral Sound Generator The sound generator in the SK-50 can simultaneously receive data on 16 MIDI channels, and can play the musical data for 16 independent Parts at once. Sound generators such as this,...

  • Page 11: Midi Data Routing

    4. MIDI DATA ROUTING Even when the SK-50 is connected to a computer using a computer cable, the data which is communicated through this cable can be thought of as being the same as MIDI data. When this unit is connected to a computer or other MIDI-equipped device, the flow of data is routed as explained in the following.

  • Page 12: When Connected To A Midi Player Or Sequencer

    MIDI player or sequencer is set to “ON,” whatever data that has been sent out will be routed back to the SK-50 at its MIDI IN connector, and will cause its sound generator to produce those sounds.

  • Page 13: Midi Messages Handled By The Sk-50

    5. MIDI MESSAGES HANDLED BY THE SK-50 All of the MIDI messages that the SK-50’s controller is capable of sending out, and all MIDI messages that the SK-50 will understand (should they be received from an external unit) are explained in the following pages.
  • Page 14 As you can see from the chart, the Capital Tones (Tones which can be selected using the UP and DOWN, and 1—8 NUMBER buttons on the SK-50’s panel) are located in the No. 0 Bank Select row. The Variation Tones (Tones which can be selected after the VARIATION button is pressed) have been assigned to other, upper locations on the chart (in the Banks, or rows, other than 0 which are numbered from 1—127).
  • Page 15 In order to accomplish a change from a Tone to a Drum Set, or a change from a Drum Set to a Tone, you need to insert a “Use for Rhythm Part” Exclusive message ( MIDI Implementation p. 49) before the Bank Select message. The SK-50 is not capable of automatically sending such messages. Pitch Bend Messages These messages convey the action of a Pitch Bender (Pitch Bend Wheel).
  • Page 16 Modulation Messages (Control Change No. 1) <TX> Describe the amount of modulation that is being applied. This amount is controlled by pressing the Modulation key after the Pitch Bend/Modulation feature has been turned ON ( SOLO Volume, p. 19); or by depressing an Expression pedal that has been connected and assigned the Modulation function ( SOLO Volume, p.
  • Page 17 Hold (1) Messages (Control Change No. 64) Conveys the action of a damper pedal (whether it is depressed or released), which allows notes that are already sounding to be sustained. <TX> An ON message is sent when the pedal (a damper pedal, such as the optional DP-2; connected to the Pedal jack on the unit’s rear) is depressed, and an OFF message is sent when it is released.
  • Page 18 NRPN LSB, MSB (Control Change No. 98/99) Data Entry (Control Change No. 6/38) An NRPN (Non-Registered Parameter Number) is a special, extended form of Control Change message which allows settings to be made for certain unique functions that a device may have. The parameter over which control is desired is specified first in terms of its NRPN MSB and NRPN LSB.
  • Page 19 These messages convey the functioning of the aftertouch feature provided by some keyboards. (The SK-50’s keyboard is not equipped with this feature.) Aftertouch allows for certain modifications to be applied to notes being sounded depending on the amount of pressure that is further placed on a key after it has initially been pressed.
  • Page 20 “Universal Exclusive” messages. Since the SK-50’s sound generator complies with the GS Format, it can transmit/receive Exclusive messages that are common to all GS Format sound generators (Model ID: 42H).
  • Page 21 “Request Data” message ( MIDI Implementation p. 44). <RX> The SK-50 supports all Exclusive messages that the GS Format defines as being universal for all GS-compatible sound generating units. Applications or external controllers which support the GS Format can therefore be used to make a complete range of precise settings for this instrument’s internal sound generator.

  • Page 22: Polyphonic Capabilities

    6. POLYPHONIC CAPABILITIES The SK-50 is capable of generating a maximum of 28 sound elements (voices) simultaneously. Note, however, that this does not mean that you will always have 28 notes available. This is because some sounds need to mix together the sound generated by two of these voices in order to create their distinctive sound.

  • Page 23: Minus-One Performances

    * A good example of commercially available music data would be the “SMF Music Data” selections offered by Roland (compatible with both GS and GM sound generators). This collection of music data (on floppy disk) is provided in the Standard MIDI File format (a universal format designed to allow music data to be used with a wide variety of devices).

  • Page 24: Midi Settings

    8. MIDI SETTINGS Some of the settings for MIDI can be altered when needed, as explained below. Making the Settings While holding down the MIDI button, press the appropriate NUMBER button (which corresponds to the desired function printed below the button). Keep your finger on the MIDI button while you then press either UP or DOWN until you have obtained the value you desire.
  • Page 25 Exclusive messages to target a specific device to be controlled. The Device ID Number for the SK-50 can be set to any number from 1 to 32. As a factory default, the SK-50 is set to 17.

  • Page 26: Starting/Stopping An External Sequencer

    9. STARTING/STOPPING AN EXTERNAL SEQUENCER The panel buttons on the SK-50 can be used to start or stop play on an external device (such as a computer or MIDI sequencer). Note, however, that the computer or MIDI sequencer you are using needs to be set to a mode whereby it is ready to be controlled using the Start and Stop System Real Time messages.

  • Page 27: Transmitting Setup Data

    10. TRANSMITTING SETUP DATA We recommend that you always record the group of data items known as “Setup Data” at the beginning of each song that you create on your computer or MIDI sequencer. Once you have this Setup Data stored at the very beginning of a song, the sound generator will automatically be placed in the state suitable for that song as soon as playback starts.
  • Page 28 Transmitting the Setup Data Return to the very beginning of the song on your computer or MIDI sequencer, and get into the recording mode. While holding down the MIDI button, press the number 7 button to send the GM Setup Data, or press the number 8 button to send the GS Setup Data.

  • Page 30: Tone Chart

    TONE CHART Tone Name Tone Name Nylon-str.Gt Piano 1 Ukulele Piano 1w Nylon Gt.o Piano 1d Nylon.Gt.2 Piano 2 Piano 2w Steel-str.Gt 12-str.Gt Piano 3 Piano 3w Mandolin Jazz Gt. Honky-tonk Honky-tonk w Hawaiian Gt. Clean Gt. E.Piano 1 Detuned EP 1 Chorus Gt.
  • Page 31 Tone Name Tone Name Trumpet Ice Rain Trombone Soundtrack Trombone 2 Crystal Tuba Syn Mallet MutedTrumpet Atmosphere French Horn Brightness French Horn 2 Goblin Brass 1 Echo Drops Brass 2 Echo Bell Synth Brass1 Echo Pan Synth Brass3 Star Theme AnalogBrass1 Sitar Synth Brass2...
  • Page 32 Tone Name Gt.FretNoise Gt.Cut Noise String Slap Breath Noise Fl.Key Click Seashore Rain Thunder Wind Stream Bubble Bird Horse-Gallop Bird 2 Telephone 1 Telephone 2 DoorCreaking Door Scratch Windchime Helicopter Car-Engine Car-Stop Car-Pass Car-Crash Siren Train Jetplane Starship Burst Noise Applause Laughing Screaming...

  • Page 33: Drum Set Chart

    DRUM SET CHART 1: Standard set PC : 9:Room set 17:Power set 25:Electronic set 26:TR-808 set 41:Brush set 49:Orchestra set Drum set / 33: Jazz set High Q Closed HH [EXC1] Slap Pedal HH [EXC1] Scratch Push Open HH [EXC1] [EXC7] Scratch Pull [EXC7]...
  • Page 34 57: SFX set Drum set High Q Slap [EXC7] Scratch Push [EXC7] Scratch Pull Sticks Square Click Metronome Click Metronome Bell Guitar sliding finger Guitar cutting noise (down) Guitar cutting noise (up) String slap of double bass Fl. Key Click Laughing Screaming Punch...

  • Page 35: Settings Chart

    SETTINGS CHART Operation Action taken on SK-50 MIDI data transmitted as result of action taken on SK-50 Power turned ON POWER (SOLO Volume p. 10) None Volume adjusted VOLUME control (SOLO Volume p. 10) None [During play] Keyboard played Keyboard keys pressed...
  • Page 36 MIDI data for remote control of SK-50 Default value Permissible range Stored (after GS Reset) in memory Unavailable On/Off Unavailable MIN-MAX Note On (9nH) / Off (8nH) Pitch Bend (EnH) CC 1 (Bn 01H) Modulation CC 64 (Bn 40H) Hold 1...
  • Page 37 Operation Action taken on SK-50 MIDI data transmitted as result of action taken on SK-50 [Overall Settings] Master level MASTER + 2 ->MASTER +BANK UP/DOWN None (SOLO Volume P.24) Master Tune MASTER + 1 ->MASTER +BANK UP/DOWN None (SOLO Volume P.24) Pedal assign MASTER + 3 ->MASTER +BANK UP/DOWN...
  • Page 38 MIDI data for remote control of SK-50 Default value Permissible range Stored (after GS Reset) in memory Universal Realtime Exclusive (04 01 H) Master Volume 0 - 127 Or, Execlusive Model ID=42H (40 00 04H) Master Volume Execlusive Model ID=42H (40 00 00H) Master Tune 440.0...

  • Page 39: Wiring Diagrams For Computer Cables

    WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR COMPUTER CABLES Apple Macintosh (Option: RSC-15APL) 8-pin mini DIN, male 8-pin mini DIN, male mini DIN 8pin 凸 mini DIN 8pin 凸 6 7 8 6 7 8 3 4 5 3 4 5 8-pin mini DIN, male 8-pin mini DIN, male mini DIN 8pin 凸...
  • Page 40 IBM PCAT (9 pins) (Option: RSC-15AT) 8-pin mini DIN, male mini DIN 8pin 凸 DB-9, female D-sub 9pin 凹 6 7 8 3 4 5 8-pin mini DIN, male DB-9, female mini DIN 8pin 凸 D-sub 9pin 凹 HSKo 1 HSKi 2 TXD- 3 RXD- 5...

  • Page 41: Midi Implementation

    MULTI TIMBRAL KEYBOARD Date : Jan.18 1993 MIDI Implementation Chart SK-50 Version : 1.00 1. Receive data * "Bank select" is suspended until receiving "Program change". To select a Tone of another bank, you have to send Bank select(mm,ll) before sending the Program change.
  • Page 42 - Expression Example 1. On MIDI Description Result Status Second Third ========================================================= 90 3C 40 Note on C4 C4 on B0 54 3C Portamento Control from C4 no change (C4 voice still sounding) n=MIDI channel number :0H - FH (ch.1 - ch.16) 90 40 40 Note on E4 glide from C4 to E4...
  • Page 43 NRPN Data entry Description **RPN** MSB LSB An RPN (Registered Parameter Number) is an expanded control change ========================================================= message. 01H 08H Vibrato rate Each function of an RPN is described by the MIDI Standard. relative change on specified channel To use RPN, set RPN number (MSB/LSB) before sending data. Then send data by mm: 0EH - 40H - 72H (-50 - 0 - +50) Data entry message(Control Change # 6/38).
  • Page 44 System Exclusive Messages of Mode Change are the messages used to initialize the internal parameters of the device to General MIDI mode or GS default mode. •OMNI OFF "GS reset" use a form of Roland Exclusive Message. "Turn General MIDI System Status Second Third On"...
  • Page 45 Checksum Status Data Byte Status (End of exclusive) 7EH, 7FH, 09H, 01H * SK-50 only recognize the RQ1 messages whose address and size match the Byte Description Parameter Address Map (Section 3). ========================================================= * The error checking process uses a Checksum. Refer to Section 4 to calculate a Exclusive status Checksum.
  • Page 46 •Note off - Expression Status Second Third Status Second Third n=MIDI channel number :0H - FH (ch.1 - ch.16) n=MIDI channel number :0H - FH (ch.1 - ch.16) kk=Note number :0CH - 78H (12 - 120) vv=Expression :00H - 7FH (0 - 127) vv=Velocity :01H - 7FH (1 - 127) * This message is sent when you depress an Expression pedal that has been...
  • Page 47 •Active sensing Status * SK-50 only send the DT1 messages whose address and size match the Parameter Address Map (Section 3). * If the data to send is a large data (more than 128 bytes), then the data will be * Transmits at about 250ms intervals.
  • Page 48 Part12 (default MIDIch =12) x=B Part16 (default MIDIch =16) x=F * For more explanation about these parameters, refer to section 3. 3. Parameter address map (Model ID=42H) This map indicates address, size, Data (range), Parameter, Description, and Default Value of parameters which can be transferred using "Request data 1 (RQ1)"...
  • Page 49 •Patch Parameters SK-50 has 16 parts. The parameters of each part are called PATCH PARAMETERS. To send or request a PATCH PARAMETER, use not the part number (which is usually same as the MIDI channel number) but the BLOCK NUMBER in the message.
  • Page 50 REVERB MACRO is a parameter used to select the preset type of the effect. When set to another REVERB MACRO, all other reverb parameters will reset to the values set for each type of REVERB MACRO. 40 01 38 00 00 01 00 - 07 CHORUS MACRO 00: Chorus 1...
  • Page 51 40 1x 21 00 00 01 00 - 7F CHORUS SEND LEVEL 0 - 127 (=Bn 5D vv) 40 1x 22 00 00 01 00 - 7F REVERB SEND LEVEL 0 - 127 (=Bn 5B vv) 40 1x 23 00 00 01 00 - 01 Rx.
  • Page 52 40 2x 30 00 00 01 28 - 58 PAf PITCH CONTROL -24 - +24 [semitone] 0 [semitones] 40 2x 31 00 00 01 00 - 7F PAf TVF CUTOFF CONTROL -9600 - +9600 [cent] 0 [cent] 40 2x 32 00 00 01 00 - 7F PAf AMPLITUDE CONTROL...
  • Page 53 •All Parameters (System Parameters and all Patch Parameters) Address(H) Size(H) Description Number of packets ===================================================================================== 48 00 00 00 1D 10 30 packets 48 1D 0F# •System Parameters Address(H) Size(H) Description Number of packets ===================================================================================== 48 00 00 00 00 10 SYSTEM PARAMETERS 1 packet 48 00 0F#...
  • Page 54 •DRUM SETUP PARAMETERS *m: map number (0 = MAP1, 1 = MAP2) Address(H) Size(H) Description Number of packets ===================================================================================== 49 m0 00 00 02 00 PLAY NOTE NUMBER 2 packets 49 m1 7F 49 m2 00 00 02 00 LEVEL 2 packets 49 m3 7F 49 m4 00...
  • Page 55 * The resolution of 7-bit Hexadecimal numbers is 128. Use several bytes for values which require higher resolution. i.e. The number "ad bbH" in 7-bit Hexadecimal is "ad x 128 + bb" in Decimal form. * A signed number (with a sign +/-) is indicated as 00H = -64, 40H = 0, 7FH = +63. So the signed number "aaH"...
  • Page 56 The send order may be different as each sequencer if the events are in the same clock in sequence data. •Checksum of Roland System Exclusive messages Roland System Exclusive messages (RQ1 and DT1) have a Checksum at the end of the data (just before EOX) to be able to check for communication errors.

  • Page 57: Index

    INDEX General MIDI System......E2 POWER Switch ........S10 GM Setup Data ........E26 Program Change Messages....E12 GM System On ........E19 Program Change Reception S: SOLO Volume E: ENSAMBLE Volume GS Format..........E2 (PG RX) .......E24 ABOUT MIDI........E8 GS Reset ..........E19 Program Change Transmission Active Sensing .........E19 GS Setup Data .........E26 (PG TX) .......E24...

  • Page 58: Midi Implementation Chart

    MULTI TIMBRAL KEYBOARD Date : Jan.18 1993 MODEL SK-50 Version : 1.00 MIDI Implementation Chart Transmitted Recognized Remarks Function••• 1-16 1-16 Basic Default 1-16 1-16 Channel Changed Default Mode 3 Mode 3 Mode 3, 4 (M=1) Mode Messages Altered **********...

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