Roland TD-6 About Midi, Midi Connectors, Midi Channels and Multi-timbral Sound Modules, Example

Chapter 7 Making the MIDI Settings (SETUP/MIDI, BULK DUMP)

Parameters That Can Be Set Here

SETUP

MIDI COMMON (MIDI Settings) (p. 97)

Note Chase

Local Control

Sync Mode

Channel 10 Priority

Pedal Data Thin

GM Mode

Rx GM ON

Soft Thru

Device ID

Tx PC Switch

Rx PC Switch

MIDI PART (MIDI Channel Settings for a Part) (p. 102)

GM PART

(MIDI Messages Stop Function in GM Mode) (p. 103)

BULK DUMP

(Saving Data to an External MIDI Device) (p. 103)

About MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard that allows performance data and other information to be exchanged among electronic musical instruments and computers. MIDI With a MIDI cable connecting MIDI devices that are equipped with MIDI connectors, you can play multiple instruments with a single keyboard, have multiple MIDI instruments perform in ensemble, program the settings to change automatically to match the performance as the song progresses, and more.

While using only pads with the TD-6, there is no need to have any detailed knowledge of MIDI. For those who wish to use MIDI keyboards to record patterns on the TD-6, use it as a sound module with external sequencers, or learn the TD-6 at a more advanced level, the following explains such matters related to MIDI.

MIDI Connectors

The TD-6 has the following two types of MIDI connectors.

MIDI IN Connector Function

This receives MIDI messages transmitted from an external MIDI device. When it receives MIDI messages, the TD-6 performs a variety of actions such as playing sounds and switching drum kits and part instruments.

MIDI OUT/THRU Connector Function

MIDI messages are transmitted from this connector to external MIDI devices. The TD-6 transmits pad and sequencer performance data from the MIDI OUT/THRU connector. You can also transmit various settings content, songs, and other data you want to save to another device (Bulk Dump; p. 103). The TD-6 MIDI OUT and MIDI THRU connectors are combined into a single connector. The function is selected in the “Soft Thru” setting (SETUP/MIDI COMMON/SOFT Thru; p. 101). When “Soft Thru” is set to “ON,” pad and sequencer performance data are transmitted to an external device as is along with messages received at the MIDI IN connector.

As shipped from the factory, this is set to MIDI OUT.

MIDI Channels and Multi-timbral Sound Modules

MIDI can send numerous streams of performance data over a single MIDI cable. This is made possible by MIDI channels. MIDI channels allow messages intended for a given instrument to be distinguished from messages intended for another instrument. In some ways, MIDI channels are similar to television channels. By changing channels on a television you can view programs from many different broadcast stations. This is because the television set has thus been directed to selectively display only the information being transmitted by a particular station. In the same way, MIDI also allows a device to select the information intended for that device out of the variety of information that is being transmitted to it.

The cable from the antenna carries the TV signals from many broadcast stations.

Station A

Station B

Station C

The TV is set to the channel of the station you wish to watch.

There are sixteen MIDI channels, numbered 1–16. Set the receiving device so that it will receive only the channel that it needs to receive.

Example:

Set the TD-6 to send Channel 1 and Channel 2, then set sound module A to receive only Channel 1 and sound module B only Channel 2. In this way, sound module A plays the guitar part and sound module B plays the bass part.

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