Audio-Midi Divide
Roland and other electronic accordions amazingly integrate mechanical music systems with electronic sounds. Once you get past the power cord and batteries, you enter the world of cables and connections.
The Audio (analog) electronic waves of varying voltage extend through cable or wireless connections to headphones and speakers. These signals can be recorded into mp3 and wav files, where they can be played later and also be combined and edited on a computer. These signals can be digitally sampled and manipulated.
The MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) signal is digital from the start. It requires a separate arrangement of cables and connections as well as computer hardware and software known as a DAW (digital audio workstation). Ableton is one such computer software that works with both audio and midi information.
Midi Morass
A general comparison between audio and midi is that one works and the other does not. A goal would be to get midi working to the level of audio. Given that digital starts with two values, zero and one, and then builds up to countless layers and complexities, it is most likely not to work. So getting a midi system working is the result of many small victories.
The Roland accordion can establish a two-way digital connection with a computer DAW by using a USB cable. The computer can now record the midi information from the accordion as well as send midi information to the accordion.
Operating the Roland Accordion from the Computer
The FR-1x accordion responds to midi signals from a computer when the accordion parameter setting ESQ (external sequencer) is set to YES. It is located far down the Parameter List after UPG, SND, and SAV. Press on the Set button to enter the Parameter Setting Menu. Press Register Switch 4 forty-three times to get to ESQ. Then press Register Switch 2 to set ESQ to YES.
Similarly on the FR-4x accordion, set Ext Seq (ESQ) to YES. Press the Menu button to enter the Parameter Setting Menu. Press the Right Arrow eleven times to reach the System heading. Press the Enter button and press the Right Arrow twenty-one times (or press and hold the Right Arrow button) to reach the MIDI sub-menu. Press the Enter button and press the Right Arrow button twice to reach the Ext Seq (ESQ) entry. Press the Enter button then the Plus button.
Midi has sixteen independent channels, but defaults to channel one. The Roland accordion uses many of the channels. So, the computer will work best with the accordion when it is recording and playing on a separate track per channel. The following Midi channels are used on the Roland accordion.
- One -- right-hand Accordion
- Two -- left-hand Accordion bass and Free bass
- Three -- left-hand Accordion chord
- Four -- right-hand Orchestra/Organ
- Five -- left-hand Orchestra bass
- Six -- left-hand Orchestra chord
- Seven -- left-hand Orchestra Free bass
- Ten -- left-hand Drums
- Thirteen -- Sound set selection
