Chapter 6. Connecting External Devices

Connecting MIDI Devices

By connecting an external MIDI device and exchanging performance data, you can control the performances on one device from the other. For instance, you can output sound from the other instrument or switch tones on the other instrument.

What’s MIDI?

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, an international standard which allows performance information to be communicated among electronic musical instruments and computers.

The DP-970 provides MIDI connectors, which allow performance data to be exchanged with external devices. When these connectors are used to connect the DP-970 to external devices, an even wider range of possibilities becomes available.

For details on MIDI functionality and operations, refer to MIDI implementation. You can download the MIDI implementation from

http://www.roland.com/

Connection Examples

*To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices, always turn down the volume, and turn off the power on all devices before making any connections.

Playing the DP-970 from a MIDI sequencer/ Recording an DP-970 performance on a MIDI sequencer

MT Series

* MT-90s has no MIDI Out connector.

Out MIDI In

DP-970

*Set Local Off if you have connected the DP-970 to a MIDI sequencer. Refer to “Switching Local Control on and Off” (p. 47). Also set your MIDI sequencer to MIDI Thru mode (so that messages received at MIDI IN will be re-transmitted without change from MIDI OUT). For details, refer to the owner’s manual of your MIDI sequencer.

Perform on the DP-970 to play a MIDI sound generator

Sound Module

MIDI

THRU OUT IN

DP-970

Making MIDI-related Settings

Here’s how you can set the transmit channel and other MIDI- related settings.

How to enter function mode

1.Hold down the [Split] button and press the [Reverb] button.

The DP-970 switches to the function mode.

The indicators for the [Split] and [Reverb] buttons and the button to which the function is assigned start flashing.

Setting various functions

2.Press the button to which the desired function is assigned.

The indicators for pressed button, [Split] button, and [Reverb] button flash.

For details on the contents of each function, refer to the explanations that follow.

3.Press the [-] or [+] button to change the value.

If you press the [-] and [+] buttons simultaneously, the setting will return to the original value.

How to exit function mode

4.Press either the [Split] button or the [Reverb] button. The button’s indicator will return to the previous state.

MIDI Send Channel Settings

MIDI features sixteen MIDI channels, numbered 1–16. Simply connecting a cable is not enough for communication to take place. The connected devices must be set to use the same MIDI channels. Otherwise, no sound will be produced, and no sounds can be selected.

* The DP-970 receives all channels 1–16.

1.Hold down the [Split] button, and press the [Reverb] button.

The DP-970 switches to the function mode.

2.Press the [Strings] button.

The following appears in the display.

Value

1–16

Power-up default setting

1

46