Sarich - 21 February 2010 09:45 PM
I would like to buy a small organ/harpsichord for home playing and are very interested in new Roland model C-230. After Internet exploration and reading Owner's manual I have some questions about this instrument. Unfortunately, a staff of Moscow Roland's representative can not answer for them, because of novelty of C-230. I will very appreciate for your help
I'm not sure I will be any extra help, it certainly is a novel product. Not one I was previously aware of.
1) I intend to connect Roland's 20-note MIDI pedalboard PK-7 to C-230, but in C-230 Owner's manual only Roland's 13-note pedalboard PK-5A pedal is mentioned. Is PK-7 pedalboard compatible with C-230 via MIDI Out/In connections for convenient bass playing too?
Pretty sure you will be fine, it's no different to connecting a MIDI keyboard to it.
You will just have to make sure the MIDI channels match, Organ Bass is received on MIDI channel 14 according to the manual.
2) Have C-230 a "MIDI Merge" feature, which allows to have MIDI messages received at MIDI IN be combined with MIDI messages produced by playing the C-230 itself and to transmit the resulting merged data from MIDI Out connector of C-230?
Not that I can see.. You can buy small MIDI mergers if you needed to do it.
3) I can not find any information about MIDI standard (GM, GM2, GS, XG) for C-230 and PK-7 MIDI pedalboard. Can I use C-230 and PK-7 as usual General MIDI compatible keyboards (compatible with GM standard at least) to connect it with external GM-sound module?
Well you would be able to send note data, but selecting the patches to a GM standard, I would have to say unlikely.
(On page 34 of C-230 Owner's manual wrote: "The C-230 does not conform to the GS standard or General MIDI format. Songs not specifically preparated with/for C-230 may therefore use the wrong sound." However it's concern to received by C-230 MIDI messages and don't clear queastion about transmitted by C-230 MIDI messages.)
As far as I can see from the MIDI implantation chart, it can only send 12 program change messages.
Confusingly it then says only on MIDI channel 11 program no. 1 -128.
I would treat the C-230 as a very basic MIDI keyboard, it was really designed to be what it is a reproduction of a classic keyboard.
If you want control over a GM module I would suggest a controller keyboard.
Very hope for your help.
Not sure if I've helped, or hindered.
