Roland AX-7 Owner's Manual
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Roland AX-7 Owner's Manual

Roland AX-7 Owner's Manual

Midi keyboard controller
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See also: Owner's Manual , Service Notes
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AX-7
MIDI Keyboard Controller
Owner's Manual
Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the Roland AX-7 MIDI Keyboard Controller. The AX-7 is a
powerful, easy-to-operate, dedicated shoulder keyboard for MIDI sound modules (whether or not they are
GM2/GM/GS compatible). Please take the time to read through this Owner's Manual. That way, you can feel
assured that you understand every feature the AX-7 offers, and will enjoy many years of trouble-free opera-
tion.
The Roland AX-7 is a MIDI keyboard controller. It does not contain any sound-generating circuitry. It is
designed to transmit note messages, program changes, bank select messages as well as a variety of other
MIDI messages (such as Reverb and Chorus Send levels) to an external sound module.
To avoid confusion, let's agree to...
• ...use the word "button" for all keys on the front panel, and only use "key" when referring to the AX-7's keyboard.
• ...say "sequencer" when referring to both hardware sequencers (like the Roland MC-80) and computers with
sequencer software.
• ...talk about "MIDI instruments" to signify both isolated ("monotimbral") instruments and parts/timbres/voices/multi
channels of a multitimbral module or synth.
The contents of the illustrations appearing in this manual may differ slightly from what you see when you
start using your instrument.
Before using this instrument, carefully read the sections entitled "Using the unit safely" and "Important
notes". These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the AX-7. Be sure
to keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Europe s.p.a.
Copyright ©2001 ROLAND EUROPE. All rights reserved.
mg

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Summary of Contents for Roland AX-7

  • Page 1 To avoid confusion, let’s agree to… • …use the word “button” for all keys on the front panel, and only use “key” when referring to the AX-7’s keyboard. • …say “sequencer” when referring to both hardware sequencers (like the Roland MC-80) and computers with sequencer software.
  • Page 2 Roland Service Center, or an authorized Roland distribu- tor, as listed on the “Information” page. • Never use or store the AX-7 in places that are: • Subject to temperature extremes (e.g., direct sunlight in an enclosed vehicle, near a heating duct, on top of heat-generating equipment);...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Inserting or replacing the batteries ... . . 7 Connecting the AX-7 ......8 Powering up .

  • Page 4: The Ax-7 In A Nutshell

    The AX-7’s 45-note keyboard can be used in Layer, Split, and Whole modes. Perfect control The AX-7 puts you in control of all things MIDI in your keyboard rig. Velocity sensitivity, D Beam Con- troller, Expression Bar, and Touch Controller are built in –...

  • Page 5: Panel Descriptions

    I WRITE button Press this button to save the current settings to one of the AX-7’s Patch memories. Writing a Patch also involves pressing other buttons (see p. 17). C EXPRESSION BAR/TOUCH CONTROLLER Press the Expression Bar to generate Modulation messages (CC01) and/or Aftertouch.

  • Page 6: Bottom Panel

    X POWER switch Set this switch to the ON position to switch the AX-7 on. Select the OFF position to power off your AX-7.

  • Page 7: The Basics

    3. The basics Inserting or replacing the batteries The AX-7 can be powered either by batteries or an optional AC adaptor. For live use, batteries are by far more convenient, however. Battery replacement Six AA batteries are required to run the AX-7 on battery power. We recommend the use of alkaline batteries because they will provide a more stable, long-lasting source of power.

  • Page 8: Connecting The Ax-7

    (See the sequencer’s/software’s manual for details.) Note: The MIDI channel you set on the AX-7 (see p. 14) may be changed to another number by the sequencer. If that is not the case, be sure to set at least one of the AX-7’s zones to the MIDI channel the module (not the...

  • Page 9: Keyboard Modes

    4. Keyboard modes Your AX-7 has three buttons that allow you to select one of four Keyboard modes. The KEYBOARD MODE deter- mines how many zones and/or MIDI channels can be used simultaneously. Whole Upper Upper section assigned to all keys This mode means that the Upper section is assigned to the entire keyboard.

  • Page 10: Configuring The Ax-7

    5. Configuring the AX-7 Your AX-7 comes with a great many MIDI parameters, or message types, that can be transmitted so as to con- trol your MIDI rig to your liking. Most of the following parameters can be set for the Upper and Lower sections independently –...

  • Page 11: Control Parameters

    CONTROL parameters As stated above, this is where you will find all parameters that are related to the AX-7’s performance functions. This level also contains a parameter that allows you to check the state of the batteries. [0] den (Data Entry) This parameter allows you to assign a control change number (CC) to the AX-7’s [DATA≈ENTRY]...
  • Page 12 (or “shift”) the Upper part in octave steps, which may be useful in Layer mode. The setting range is –2, –1, 0, 1, 2 octaves (down or up). Note that the AX-7’s keyboard can also be transposed in semitone steps. See page 17. [6] dbm (D Beam)
  • Page 13 If any combination of the Ar~Crd options is assigned to both sec- tions, you won’t hear the notes you play on the AX-7’s keyboard while the D BEAM [ON/OFF] button is on. To specify the notes the D Beam should use...

  • Page 14: Data Parameters

    Configuring the AX-7 DATA parameters The DATA parameters represent MIDI messages you can use for configuring the receiving MIDI instrument up to a certain point by specifying things like its main and expression volume, its Reverb and/or Chorus depth, etc.
  • Page 15 first archive them on the sequencer (see above). (4) Start playback on the sequencer. As soon as the AX-7 receives the first Bulk data, the rH (RX) message appears. (5) Wait until the rH message disappears, then stop playback on the sequencer.

  • Page 16: Prg Chg Parameters

    EDIT level in fact consists of two groups: the first three parameters can be set for both zones independently, while the last two apply to the AX-7 as a whole. Nevertheless, even these parameters are saved along with the remaining settings (see p.

  • Page 17: Miscellaneous

    About MIDI Merge The AX-7 can also merge the MIDI messages received via its MIDI IN socket with the data generated on the AX-7 itself, and retransmit the lot via its MIDI OUT socket (Merge function).

  • Page 18: Restoring The Factory Settings

    Restoring the factory settings You can reset the AX-7 to its factory settings, which means that your own Patches will be overwritten with the settings the AX-7 contained when you first got it. You may wish to archive your Patches before initializing the AX-7 (see p.

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