Roland KR-15, KR-17 201, What Are Music Files?, Regarding Copyright, SMF with Lyrics, XG lite

Music Files That the KR Can Use

What Are Music Files?

Music Files contain information describing the details of a musical performance, such as “the C3 key on a keyboard was pressed for this amount of time, using this amount of force.” By inserting the floppy disk into the disk drive on the KR, the performance information is sent from the floppy disk to the piano, and played faithfully by the piano. This is different than a CD, since the music file does not contain a recording of the sound itself. This makes it possible to erase certain parts, or to change instruments, tempos and keys freely, allowing you to use it in many different ways.

Regarding Copyright

Use of the song data supplied with the Data Disk attached to this product for any purpose other than private, personal enjoyment without the permission of the copyright holder is prohibited by law. Additionally, this data must not be copied, nor used in a secondary copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright holder.

■The KR allows you to use the following music files

●Floppy disks saved on a Roland MT Series, or Roland Piano Digital HP-G/R and KR Series instrument

●Roland Digital Piano Compatible Music Files

Roland’s original music file is made specifically for practicing the piano. Some follow an instructional curriculum, allowing for a complete range of lessons, such as “practicing each hand separately” or “listening to only the accompaniment.”

●SMF Music Files (720KB/1.44MB format)

SMFs (Standard MIDI Files) use a standard format for music file that was formulated so that files containing music file could be widely compatible, regardless of the manufacturer of the listening device. An enormous variety of music is available, whether it be for listening, for practicing musical instruments, for Karaoke, etc.

*If you wish to purchase SMF Music Files, please consult the retailer where you purchased your KR.

■About the KR Sound Generator

The KR come equipped with GM 2/GS sound generators.

General MIDI

The General MIDI is a set of recommendations which seeks to provide a way to go beyond the limitations of proprietary designs, and standardize the MIDI capabilities of sound generating devices. Sound generating devices and music files that meets the General MIDI standard bears the General MIDI logo. Music files bearing the General MIDI logo can be played back using any General MIDI sound generating unit to produce essentially the same musical performance.

General MIDI 2

The upwardly compatible General MIDI 2 recommendations pick up where the original General MIDI left off, offering enhanced expressive capabilities, and even greater compatibility. Issues that were not covered by the original General MIDI recommendations, such as how sounds are to be edited, and how effects should be handled, have now been precisely defined. Moreover, the available sounds have been expanded. General MIDI 2 compliant sound generators are capable of reliably playing back music files that carry either the General MIDI or General MIDI 2 logo.

In some cases, the conventional form of General MIDI, which does not include the new enhancements, is referred to as “General MIDI 1” as a way of distinguishing it from General MIDI 2.

GS Format

The GS Format is Roland’s set of specifications for standardizing the performance of sound generating devices. In addition to including support for everything defined by the General MIDI, the highly compatible GS Format additionally offers an expanded number of sounds, provides for the editing of sounds, and spells out many details for a wide range of extra features, including effects such as reverb and chorus. Designed with the future in mind, the GS Format can readily include new sounds and support new hardware features when they arrive. Since it is upwardly compatible with the General MIDI, Roland’s GS Format is capable of reliably playing back GM Scores equally as well as it performs GS music files (music files that have been created with the GS Format in mind). This product supports both the General MIDI 2 and the GS Format, and can be used to play back music data carrying either of these logos.

SMF with Lyrics

“SMF with Lyrics” refers to SMF (Standard MIDI File) that contains the lyrics. When Music Files carrying the “SMF with Lyrics” logo are played back on a compatible device (one bearing the same logo), the lyrics will appear in its display.

XG lite

XG is a tone generator format of YAMAHA Corporation, that defines the ways in which voices are expanded or edited and the structure and type of effects, in addition to the General MIDI 1 specification. XGlite is a simplified version of XG tone generation format. You can play back any XG music files using an XGlite tone generator. However, keep in mind that some music files may play back differently compared to the original files, due to the reduced set of control parameters and effects.

Appendices

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