Roland RD-300SX owner manual Connecting External MIDI Devices, What’s MIDI?, About MIDI Connectors

Connecting External MIDI Devices

What’s MIDI?

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard specification that allows musical data to be exchanged between electronic musical instruments and computers. By using a MIDI cable to connect devices that have MIDI connectors, you can create an ensemble in which a single MIDI keyboard can play multiple instruments, or change settings automatically as the song progresses.

About MIDI Connectors

The RD-300SX has the following two types of MIDI connector. Their functions differ as described below.

fig.04-01

For instructions on connecting the external devices, refer to “Connecting the RD-300SX to External Equipment” (p. 12).

MIDI IN Connector

Performance messages from an external MIDI device are received here. These incoming messages may instruct the RD-300SX to play sounds or switch tones.

MIDI OUT Connector

MIDI messages are transmitted from this connector to external MIDI devices. The RD-300SX’s MIDI OUT connector is used for sending the performance data of the keyboard controller section as well as data used for saving various settings and patterns (Bulk Dump →p. 44).

Connecting to External MIDI Sound Generators

fig.04-02

MIDI IN

MIDI OUT Sound Generator A RD-300SX

Using the RD-300SX As a Master Keyboard

By connecting an external MIDI device to the MIDI OUT connector on the RD-300SX’s rear panel, you can then control the external MIDI device with the RD-300SX.

Normally, the RD-300SX transmits Note messages from the MIDI OUT connector, but you can control not only Note messages, but a variety of other external MIDI device settings as well.

Make the following settings if you do not want to have MIDI messages transmitted.

1.Hold down [SHIFT] and press [MIDI Tx].

2.Press [INC] or [DEC] to switch the setting to ON or OFF.

*To enable transmission, set this to ON.

This button is disabled when Tx Mode is set to Mode 2.

Selecting Sounds on an External MIDI Device

To switch the tones of an external MIDI device, enter the program number and the MSB/LSB of the Bank Select message as numerical values on the RD-300SX.

1.Press [MIDI Tx].

2.Referring to the following, press the TONE SELECT button to which the parameter you want to change is assigned, then select the parameter.

If you want to change the sounds, press [ORGAN] first to send the Program Change message.

TONE	Indication	Parameter
SELECT
button
PIANO		Bank Select MSB
E.PIANO		Bank Select LSB
ORGAN		Program Change
STRINGS/		Pan
PAD
GUITAR/		Reverb Send
BASS
BRASS/		Chorus Send
WINDS
VOICE/		Key Transpose
SYNTH
RHY/GM2		MIDI Ch

If the RD-300SX transmits a Program number or a Bank number for which no Tone has been assigned, an alternate Tone may be selected, or in some cases, there may be no sound played. If you do not want to transmit the Program number or Bank Select, set the MSB/LSB to “--- (OFF).”

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