...For the Roland Xp-50 Keyboard...

- An overveiw of the xp-50 -

Notice: This text is copied from the Roland Xp-50 brochure.

Instant response from a 32-bit RISC chip for more realtime potential
The Roland XP-50 is a new music workstation developed along the concept of instant response and more realtime operation. A complete rethink of the music workstation, the XP-50 streamlines operational flow and increases comprehensive music workstation power, effectively handling everything from music production to live performance, without compromise. The 32-bit RISC chip exercises optimal control over all the new XP-50 features. Like a newly developed MRC Pro sequencer system that is highly advanced, yet allows spontaneous operation to maintain your creative flow. And a sound source that is equivalent to the acclaimed Roland JV-1080, providing superb sound quality, advanced functions and maximum expandability. The XP-50's advantages synergistically combine to establish a new reference standard for music workstations in terms of sheer expressiveness, performance scope and operational versatility.

32-bit RISC chip enables instant response The XP-50's main CPU is a 32-bit RISC chip for lightning fast and accurate response to performance data. Using this chip places all workstation operational flow under advanced central processing control.
Onboard high-performance MRC Pro Sequencer The XP-50 incorporates a new MRC Pro sequencer that expands and advances editing functions of the industry-standard MC-series sequencers. Emphasizing realtime production to accommodate today's musical applications, the MRC Pro promotes off-the-cuff production and performance that maintain your creative flow. The MRC Pro features 16 phase traces, each capable of controlling up to 16 MIDI channels, plus a tempo track.
Features that make song composing much easier Loop Recording lets you smoothly create a song without interrupting the musical flow. Pattern Paste speeds up song creation because complete patterns can simply be pasted. The XP-50 memorizes up to 100 customized patterns. The XP-50 also offers multiple quantize functions. Grid Quantize accuratley aligns manually input data according to the beat. Shuffle Quantize can be set for variations in precise 1% increments. Groove Quantize creates grooves containing timing as well as minute velocity variations as a convenient template. Simply assign phrases to the emplate to obtain different intricate grooves, such as dance grooves, in an instant.
A preview function is also included for editing while confirming data variations on the monitor in realtime.

Functions that enhance performance Realtime Phrase Sequencing allows the user's own patterns to be assigned to a key. Then play back the selected phrases such as fill-ins and obbligato, that suit performance. Songs do not have to be loaded, since the XP-50 can play data directly from the disk. Songs saved to a single disk can also be played continuously without waiting between songs. Using a 2HD disk allows continuous play of up to 180,000 notes.

Compatiable with popular data formats The XP-50 features Standard MIDI File compatibility and its tone map contorms to General MIDI for conveniently playing commercial SMF song data in GM. The XP-50 can also convert Super MRC format data created on a sequencer like the Roland MC-50mkII for instant use.
A sound source that copes easily with the most demanding requirements The XP-50's 64-voice polyphony copes with the most sophisticated playing requirements and 16-part multitimbral capability makes it easy to handle elaborate sequence data with multi-instrument arrangements. The XP-50's most important advantage for the professional user is that now there are no more worries about hardware limiting musical expression.
Access to more sounds than ever before Many of Roland's latest waveforms are included to give sounds more impact. In addition to the 8 megabytes of internal ROM, the XP-50 can be expanded using Roland's SR-JV80 8 megabyte expansion boards. The XP-50 can accept up to four SR-JV80 series wave expansion boards at one time, to significantly boost the internal memory to a total of 40 megabytes. There are currently 10 available titles:
POP Expansion Board (SR-JV80-01)
ORCHESTRAL Expansion Board (SR-JV80-02)
PIANO Expansion Board (SR-JV80-03)
VINTAGE SYNTH Expansion Board (SR-JV80-04)
WORLD Expansion Board (SR-JV80-05)
DANCE Expansion Board (SR-JV80-06)
SUPER SOUND SET Expansion Board (SR-JV80-07)
KEYBOARDS OF THE 60's & 70's Expansion Board (SR-JV80-08)
SESSION Expansion Board (SR-JV80-09)
BASS AND DRUM Expansion Board (SR-JV80-10)
TECHNO COLLECTION Expansion Board (SR-JV80-11)
HIP HOP Expansion Board (SR-JV80-12)
VOCAL COLLECTION Expansion Board (SR-JV80-13)
ASIAN Expansion Board (SR-JV80-14)
Special FX Collection Expansion Board (SR-JV80-15)
ORCHESTRAL II Expansion Board (SR-JV80-16)
EXPERIENCE 2 Expansion Board (SR-JV80-98)
EXPERIENCE Expansion Board (SR-JV80-99)

with many more to follow. This extensive library can provide just about any waveform desired. There are 10 Tone structures including two wave generators, time variant filters (TVFs) and time variant amplifiers (TVAs) as well as a ring modulator and booster. To aid in creating sounds, a full battery of high-quality effects are provided including eight reverbs, one chorus and 40 insert effect, like phaser and distortion.

And more... The XP-50's 61-note velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard delivers the expressive power needed for recording and performance. New bender design features a longer modulation stroke along with larger lever diameter to make dender operation smoother and more comfortable for greater control. A large 40-character, 2-line LCD for easy sound and data editing. Orange backlighting for visibility even on dark stages. A built-in 3.5" FDD for 2DD and 2HD floppy disks.

Blelow are some short cuts to different procedures:
Try em'

Shift+Press Help.....	For help on all parameters & values
Shift + tone select.....	Run thru all tone banks without exiting edit mode...
Shift + A-a.....	For all upper and lower case letters...
Shift + Ins.....	To insert a space
Shift + del.....	To delete a character
Shift + derictional buttons.....	Top,bottom,frist and last page quickness
Shift + tone select while in micoscope mode.....	For notes in microscope mode
Shift + Locate followed by enter.....	To set locate markers 1-8
Shift + Stop/Play....	MIDI update 1-8

XP-50 Specifications:
Synthesizer Section
Keyboard: 61-key, velocity and aftertouch sensitive
Maximum Polyphony: 64 voices
Number of Multitimbral Parts: 16
Memory Capacity Performances: Internal 96, User 32
Memory Capacity Patches: Internal 640, User 128
Memory Capacity Rhythm Sets: Internal 10, User 2
System Common Effects: Chorus, Reverb (8 types)
EFX: 40

Sequencer Section
Data Storage: 3.5" Micro Floppy Disk (MF-2DD/2HD)
Data Format: MRC Pro, Standard MIDI File (Format 0/1)
convert load MRC (for MC-500/300/50/50mkII)
Tracks: 16 Phase Tracks (16 MIDI Channels per Track)
+ 1 Tempo Track, 100 Pattern Tracks
Resolution: 96 clocks per quater note
Internal Memory: 20,000 notes
External MFD: 99 Songs or 180,000 notes per disk
Max. Length of Song: 999 measures

Others
Display: 40 characters X 2 lines backlit LCD
Connectors: Output (L(Mono)/R), Hold, Pedal 1/2, Phones,
MIDI IN / OUT / THRU
Dimensions: 1023(W) x 348(D) x 97(H) mm (41" x 14" x 4")
Weight: 9.2kg (20 lbs 5 oz)

XP-50 main interface:
Press the [SEQUENCER] button to enter Sequencer mode.
Then press the [SHIFT] + [ENTER] + [EXIT] buttons simultaneously.
This screen will appear:

The first number on the display is the ROM version. The second version number is the CPU version. Press [EXIT] to leave this screen.
ROM Version History:
ROM Version 1.03 and CPU version 1.01 are the latest reported versions.
CPU 1.01 fixes a problem with a 'POP' noise when the XP-50 is powered on.
----------------------
XP-50 Factory Preset
XP-50 Owner's Manual Page 94
1. Press [DISK/UTILITY].
2. Press [4] for Sound.
3. Press [5] for Preset.
4. Press [ENTER]. If a message about Internal Memory Write Protect appears, press [DEC] to display OFF then press [ENTER].
-------------------------
XP-50 General Notes
* Owner's Manual Part Number: 00783312
* The xp-50 uses a teac 3.5 floppy drive.
( I'll put the part number up later. I've got it here somewhere...)
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Note:
As Paul Yost and I un-veiled my board for the first time.
My eyes were taken on a beautiful tour on the inside of this
great piece of artwork.
I actually had fun with this problem...Thinking back on it.
Anyway, Several months ago
I had a problem with the discs loading (we think it was a production line fault, but are not sure.)
and as we found out
a simple cleaning of alcohol did the trick.
Needless to say after we tryed to put another drive in it's place.
Be careful if you run into this problem...
If you don't know what your doing, admit it and take your board to the nearest Roland Dealer..
wjn/01
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Technical Documentation
Velocity Sensitivity Adjustments
Various keyboard controllers and playing techniques can result in some of the JV/XP Patches not sounding accurate or as desired. This can be especially noticeable on piano patches, where the piano* and forte* sound styles may require extra key force which can be uncomfortable to play.
A few different techniques are utilized in the JV/XP synthesizer to achieve the tonal variances of real acoustic instruments when played with different velocities. These techniques include one or a combination of:
� Velocity Range Switching between Tones
� Changing TVA Amplitude Envelope values with Velocity
� Changing TVF Filter Envelope values with Velocity

The overall Patch velocity sensitivity can be changed by adjusting the appropriate parameters to suite your playing style.

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Using external MIDI devices
Procedure:
1.) Use a MIDI cable to connect the MIDI out to the MIDI in
of the external MIDI device.
2.) Set the xp-50's transmit channel to match the external MIDI device's receive channel.
3.) If you only want to play only the sound source of the external MIDI device, set the Local parameter
(System: MIDI: patch MIDI) / ( System MIDI: Perform MIDI) to off.
Note:
If you "daisy-chain three or more devices using
IN, OUT, THUR...use a MIDI THUR BOX so the signal maybe sent without
causing errors.
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- The Roland Xp-50 -

Other xp-50 Documentation