Roland Forums

Hello there,

Just wondering if anyone out there is using a Roland FC-300 in patch mode.
I'm using it in standard mode and then switching to control mode to control a TC Electronics G Major 2 and a Marshall JMP 1 preamp. I have a reasonable degree of control using it to switch on/off effects in a block, volume control etc. I have read the FC-300 manual but even so I dont understand the patch mode setup fully.

I have looked on the Marshall and TC forums and had no luck there with anyone using the FC-300 in patch mode. Some guys on those forums are using it but either I've had no response to my request for help or there is not any real information contained in the posts that could help me. That is to say some guys have posted what they can do in patch mode but not how they did it.

I was hoping someone would have some straight foward instructions or advice on setting up a "patch" the FC-300. It need not be specific to the GM2 though, if it was then great. I need to be able to switch presets on both the GM and JMP 1, bank up and down and switch effects on/off in an effect bolck in real time and control volume and sweep changes via midi.


It's a big ask but I hope someone can help me with this.

Unfortunately I don't understand this either but I managed to use to to switch the preset on my TC G-force and switch amp mode (ENGL E530) at the same time. As far as I know only the patchmode can do that in the FC-300. I'm at the office right now and don't know the menu times by heart but the only settings I made were
- Make sure the preset change instruction is active: Use PC (stands for Program Change I think) and then the CH# of the preset you want to use on your FX gear.
- Set AMP1 switch on/off when preset is selected.

I'm using the patchmode because it's the only mode that can do AMP switching and preset switching at the same time.
Because of that I want the patch mode to be the default mode for the FC-300 at boottime but I don't know if it's possible.
Does anyone know if that's possible?

Thanks in advance

Hi there thanks for the reply.
you can set the FC-300 to activate whichever mode(s) you wish.

To do this,

1. Press the utility button.
2. Press the > parameter button until you reach MODE-Pdl-Seq in the display.
( A total of 12 times)
3. Use the > parameter button to move the cursor under the mode you wish to switch on/off.
4. Use the value buttons to toggle the mode on/off (CAPS = MODE ON lowercase = mode off).
5. EXIT when done.

Hope this helps.

All the best.

Hi Thanks for the hint.

I tried that, I made all small caps except for the patch mode.
But when I switch the controller off/on it still chooses standard mode and I have to browse through all modes to get to the patchmode. I don't understand the meaning of the option you mentioned but it seems to be not used at all.....

Hi ZakHoi,

I've just done the steps that I've described to you.
When you complete all the steps try these aditional ones.

6. Turn FC-300 off then on.

The FC-300 will be lit beside STANDARD in the MODE DISPLAY.

7. Depress and release the TWO MODE (up/down) footswitches.

The unit should now operate in patch mode ONLY.


Give it a go.

Thanks for your quick reply.
However it still doesn't work.
I guess when talking about the mode switches you're talking about the to switches arrow up/down top row left side, right?
When I follow your procedure, the controller does switch to patchmode when I press the two mode switches simultaneously.
But when I switch off/on the controller it's back on standard mode.
So it looses the setting when switched off.

I followed the procedure you described closely, I don't understand why it's still not working.....

I don't think it does loose the setting when you turn it off.
You just have to keep in mind that you will have to hit the two mode switches every time before you use patch mode.

I'm no expert I've only had the unit for about a week but have got a handle on most of the functions except patch mode. I'm gonna tackle that when I get time next week.

Try it and let me know how you get on.

Cheers ZakHooi.

The same applies to me. I just own it for a week. I use it on my TCelectronic Gforce.
I used my Digitech RP10 as footcontroller for the gforce the past decade but since it broke I bought the fc300 as replacement.

Thanks for the hint, so I have to press the pedals everytime I boot.

There are many more things I'd like to know such as:
At this moment the EXP1 functions as 'volume out' controler and EXP2 as 'volume in' controler.
THat means that -when using an effect like delay- the sound fades away nicely when I use EXP2 to turn down the volume whereas EXP1 causes the delay to be muted too and doesn't sound as nice as with EXP2
You understand that I rather use EXP2 , so I'd like to use EXP1 for a different effect like ptichshifter or wahwah (both effect reside in the Gforce).
As you already stated the manual of the FC300 isn't clear about all functionality and I'm having serious troubles to make EXP1 work as described above.
I have a few gigs upcoming and I don't want to take the risk to mess up all my settings and therefore don't dare to fiddle with EXP1 for the moment but I will try to make it work.

I hope you can sort out your initial question too, maybe with help from a more experienced use than I am.

Good luck!

ZakHooi