Roland A-01 - CONTROLLER and GENERATOR Manual

Introduction

The A-01 is a MIDI controller with two ribbon controllers and four rotary encoders. You can assign any MIDI messages to these controllers, and use them to control your DAW or external MIDI device. In addition, the A-01 contains an 8-bit CPU sound module and a step sequencer, allowing you to also use it as a stand-alone synthesizer.

The A-01 also supports the Bluetooth^® Smart standard, and can wirelessly exchange MIDI data with a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone.

Panel Descriptions

Top panel

1. Ribbon controllers (C1, C2)
   These are touch-type controllers.
   * From the left, they are numbered C1 and C2.
2. Operation buttons
   Use these to make settings for the A-01.
3. Rotary encoders (R1–R4)
   Use these to control external devices. (Subsequently, we'll call these "encoders.")
   * From the left, they are numbered R1, R2, R3, and R4.
4. Bluetooth LED
   This LED is lit blue when a Bluetooth connection is enabled.

Rear panel

5. [POWER] switch
   Turns the power on/off.
   * Before turning the unit on/off, always be sure to turn the volume down. Even with the volume turned down, you might hear some sound when switching the unit on/off. However, this is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
6. Micro USB port
   Connect this to your computer so that MIDI data can be transferred.
7. [VOLUME] knob
   Adjusts the output of the built-in speakers, PHONES jack.
8. PHONES jack
   Connect your headphones here.
9. CV OUT jack, GATE OUT jack
   MIDI messages from the A-01 or from an external device are converted to single-note CV/GATE signals and output from these jacks.
   
   Take care not to connect these jacks to your headphones or earphones. Doing so will cause malfunctions.
10. MIDI IN connector, MIDI OUT connector
    Connect these to your MIDI equipment to receive or send MIDI messages.

Connecting Your Equipment

Connecting a computer

1. Using a commercially available USB cable (A-micro B-type), connect the A-01 to your computer and turn on the power of the A-01.
2. Start the DAW or sequencer software that you're using, and specify the A-01 as the MIDI device.

Connecting a tablet

You'll use the Bluetooth function to connect the A-01 to your tablet.

1. Power-on the A-01, and place your tablet nearby.
2. Enable the Bluetooth function of your tablet, and in the list of detected devices, choose "Roland A-01."
   When the connection is established, the A-01's Bluetooth LED is lit.
3. Start the app that you're using, and specify the A-01 as the Bluetooth MIDI device.

Switching the Mode (CONTROLLER / SYNTH / SEQ)

The A-01 has three modes: CONTROLLER, SYNTH, and SEQ. Press the [MODE] button to switch between these modes.

• CONTROLLER Mode
  In CONTROLLER mode you use the two ribbon controllers (C1, C2) and four encoders to control your MIDI equipment. The assignments of each controller can be saved in buttons [1]–[4].
• SYNTH Mode
  In SYNTH mode you can create sound by editing the settings of the oscillator, filter, envelope, and LFO. You can save up to 16 of the sounds (tones) that you create (8 tones x 2 banks).
• SEQ (Step Sequencer) Mode
  The A-01 operates as a 16-step step sequencer, allowing you to view and edit the steps in four blocks each containing four steps.

Using CONTROLLER Mode

In CONTROLLER mode, the A-01 performs the functions that are printed above each operation button.

Editing the settings

To edit the settings, use the [◄] [►] [▲] [▼] buttons to move to an item, and use the [INC] [DEC] buttons to edit the parameter.

Recalling and saving a patch

You can recall or save controller settings for the patch as follows. Up to 16 sets of patches (4 patches × 4 banks) can be saved.

1. Hold down the [▼] button and use the [1]–[4] buttons to select a bank.
2. Press one of the [1]–[4] buttons to recall a patch. If you long-press a button, the current settings are saved in that number.
   * When you save the settings, the previously-saved settings are overwritten by the newly-saved settings.

Using SYNTH Mode

In SYNTH mode, the A-01 performs the functions that are printed below each operation button.

Creating a tone

1. Press the button corresponding to the item (OSC, FIL, ENV, LFO) that you want to edit. The parameters are displayed.
   Button or encoder corresponding to the parameter for each item

   	S1	S2	S3	S4	R1	R2	R3	R4
   OSC	Saw	Square	PWM	Noise	PW	Portamento	Portamento Time	Octave
   FIL	Type1	Type2	Type3	OFF	Cutoff	Resonance	Envelope Mod	LFO Mod
   ENV	Envelope	Gate	—	—	Attack	Decay	Sustain	Release
   LFO	Sine	Square	Saw	Random	LFO Mod	LFO Rate	LFO PWM	(Zoom)

   * PWM: Pulse Width Modulation, Mod: Modulation
2. To edit a parameter, operate the button (S1–S4) or encoder (R1–R4) corresponding to that parameter.
   * Parameters that are assigned to the buttons (S1–S4) allow you to select one choice.
   * In LFO, the Zoom parameter lets you change the magnification of the audio waveform.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create your tone.

Recalling or saving a tone

Here's how to recall or save a tone.

1. Use the [BANK 1], [BANK 2] buttons to select a bank.
2. Press one of the [OSC], [FIL], [ENV], [LFO], or [S1]–[S4] buttons to recall a tone. By long-pressing a button, you can save the tone.
   * When you save a tone, the newly-saved tone overwrites the previously-saved tone.

Performing

So that you can perform using the separately sold K-25m keyboard unit, the default settings assign pitch bend to ribbon controller (C1) and modulation to ribbon controller (C2). By pressing the [] button you can play back the step sequencer.

Using SEQ Mode

SEQ mode contains settings for the entire pattern (16 steps) and settings for each individual step.

Playing/stopping the pattern

To play the pattern, press the [] button. To stop the pattern, press the [] button once again.

Settings for the entire pattern

1. As shown in the table below, make settings for the entire pattern.
   

Creating a pattern: Inputting and editing steps

1. Use the [◄] [►] buttons to select the block that you want to input.
2. Use the [1]–[4] buttons to enter (turn on/off) each step.
   * Enter a tie: Hold down a [1]–[4] button and press [INC] button.
   Enter a tie Off: Hold down a [1]–[4] button and press [DEC] button.
3. As shown in the table below, specify how each step will sound.

   Parameter	Explanation	Editing procedure
   Key	Specifies the pitch of the step.	Hold down a [1]–[4] button and turn the encoder (R1).
   Gate Time	Specifies the duration of the note. To enter a tie, set this value to 101%.	Hold down a [1]–[4] button and turn the encoder (R2).
   Cutoff	Specifies the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter.	Hold down a [1]–[4] button and turn the encoder (R3).
   Resonance	Emphasizes the overtone components in the region of the low pass filter's cutoff frequency.	Hold down a [1]–[4] button and turn the encoder (R4).
   Velocity	Specifies the strength (velocity) of the note.	While holding down one of the [1]–[4] buttons, press the [▼] button and turn encoder (R1).

4. Repeat steps 1–3 to create your pattern.

Recalling or saving a pattern

Here's how to recall or save a pattern.

1. Use the [BANK 1] [BANK 2] buttons to select a bank.
2. Press one of the [OSC], [FIL], [ENV], [LFO], or [S1]–[S4] buttons to recall a pattern. By long-pressing a button, you can save the pattern.
   * When you save a pattern, the newly-saved pattern overwrites the previously-saved pattern.

Main Specifications

Roland A-01: CONTROLLER + GENERATOR

* In the interest of product improvement, the specifications and/or appearance of this unit are subject to change without prior notice.

System Settings

Here's how to make system settings for the A-01 and MIDI-related settings.

1. Press the [MENU] button.
2. Use the [▲ ][▼ ] buttons to select a parameter, and use the [DEC] / [INC] buttons to specify a value.
3. When you have finished making settings, press the [MENU] button to return to the original mode.

Parameter list

Important Notes

The A-01 operates on batteries or on USB bus power. If using the unit on batteries, install four AA batteries, ensuring that the batteries are oriented correctly.

• When the batteries run low, the LED at the top of ribbon controller (C1) blinks. Please install new batteries.
• If you handle batteries improperly, you risk explosion and fluid leakage.
• This unit is equipped with a protection circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds) after turning the unit on is required before it will operate normally.
• The power to this unit will be turned off automatically after a predetermined amount of time has passed since it was last used for playing music, or its buttons or controls were operated (Auto Off function). If you do not want the power to be turned off automatically, disengage the Auto Off function.
  • Any settings that you are in the process of editing will be lost when the power is turned off. If you have any settings that you want to keep, you should save them beforehand.
  • To restore power, turn the power on again.