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Roland AX-7 Electronic Keyboard User Manual

1. 0 eee ee 17 Restoring the factory settings 18 SPECIICALIONS ace bccn eadycoaic cle actin naa 18 7 Reference 2 2 cece ee eens 109 MIDI implementation chart 109 Factory settings based on the GM Tone Map 110 Blank Chalts ccaceaosac ce dheeinainala ours 111 Control Change list 0 0200 112 Z ep 7A I The AX 7 in a nutshell fn The AX 7 in a nutshell Four keyboard modes The AX 7 s 45 note keyboard can be used in Layer Split and Whole modes Perfect control The AX 7 puts you in control of all things MIDI in your keyboard rig Velocity sensitivity D Beam Con troller Expression Bar and Touch Controller are built in and can be set for the Upper and Lower sections independently Then there is also a DATA ENTRY knob that can be assigned to any control change number between CC00 and CC119 Of course you can also transpose the Upper and Lower sections either in octave or semitone steps You can also set the tempo for an external sequencer and store that value in a Patch 128 Patch memories The AX 7 comes with 128 2 x 64 Patch memories where you can save almost all settings plus the MIDI channels for the Upper and Lower sections and Bank Select Program Change numbers to be transmitted on both section channels where applicable when ever you select the Patch in question Once you have used up all 128 internal Patch memo ries and need ev
2. ment s manual for details Here are the official GM2 General MIDI Level 2 functions of the remaining Control Changes Message Function CC71 Harmonic Content Resonance CC72 Release Time CC73 Attack Time CC74 Brightness Cutoff CC75 Decay Time CC76 Vibrato Rate CC77 Vibrato Depth CC78 Vibrato Delay Freeze function If you set B bFir see p 11 to OFF and assign a tu td option to the D Beam the EXPRES SION BAR can be used for locking the last value generated by your movements over the D Beam Controller That would allow you for example to raise or lower the MIDI instrument s Cutoff setting via TWHu or iHd and to keep using the new value almost indefinitely To do so e Move your hand inside the D Beam s range e While doing so press the EXPRESSION BAR then release it and move your hand outside the D Beam s range e To generate a new value move your hand again inside the D Beam s range Getting the D Beam to play the notes you want The Ar and Erd options mean that the D Beam controller transmits several note on messages Before showing you how to specify those notes there is something else you need to know a section Upper or Lower to which one of the above D Beam functions is assigned cannot be triggered via the keyboard while the D BEAM ON OFF indicator lights The D Beam thus acts as trigger for the note numbers to be assigned If any combination of the Ar Erd op
3. Do not forget to connect the module synthesizer etc to an amplifier See its manual for details This setup only works as expected if the follow ing conditions are met e The computer if that is what you use must be equipped with a MIDI interface e You need to switch on the sequencer s MIDI Soft Thru MIDI Echo function Otherwise you won t hear what you are playing See the sequencer s software s manual for details Note The MIDI channel you set on the AX 7 see p 14 may be changed to another number by the sequencer If that is not the case be sure to set at least one of the AX 7 s zones to the MIDI channel the module not the sequencer is receiving on Note Yet other configurations are possible but the above usually cover most of your MIDI needs You could connect the MIDI IN socket of a second module to the a MIDI THRU socket of the module pictured above for an even larger system Or you could establish the following connection Sequencer MIDI OUT AX 7 MIDI IN AX 7 MIDI OUT Module MIDI IN See also About MIDI Merge p 17 Note The AX 7 is equipped with a circuitry protection fea ture At power up a brief interval is required before it will operate normally Note If the AX 7 is powered using batteries be sure to switch it off whenever you are not planning to use it for a while 5 minutes or more But before doing so you may wish to save the current settings to a Patch memory
4. Rough handling can lead to malfunctions e Never strike or apply strong pressure to the display e When connecting disconnecting MIDI cables grasp the connector itself never pull on the cable This way you will avoid causing shorts or damage to the cable s internal elements e A small amount of heat will radiate from the instrument during normal operation This is perfectly normal e When you need to transport the instrument package it in the box including padding that it came in Otherwise you will need to use equivalent packaging materials or a flightcase i Contents 1 The AX 7 in a nutshell 0 4 2 Panel descriptions 0 00 eee 5 Neck control section e0 eee eeeeee 5 Bottom DANE a ccue haGedwesanbaine nnana 6 Connection panel rear 0 0 0 c cece eee 6 3 The basicS 2 2 2 2 haa eee eee 7 Inserting or replacing the batteries 7 Connecting the AX 7 0 00 0 e eee 8 POWENNGHUP cirte imari enna a 8 4 Keyboard modes 00000eee eee 9 5 Configuring the AX 7 2 00005 10 Selecting the parameter to be edited 10 CONTROL parameters 0 0 eee 11 DATA parameters 0 20 0220 c cece e eee 14 PRG CHG parameters 0 0 0 eee eee 16 6 Miscellaneous 2 000000e ee eee 17 TANSPOSC ln cetera igaran iaaa ced 17 About MIDI Merge 0 200200 17 Working with Patches
5. button indicator must light 2 Move your hand towards and away from the D Beam s eyes noe The active section now transmits the assigned mes sages Here are the functions that can be assigned to the D Beam controller after selecting the dil parameter Art Are Ard The D Beam can be used for playing arpeggios on the external MIDI instrument The number 1 2 3 refers to the number of octaves that are covered by the arpeggio function See also Get ting the D Beam to play the notes you want p 13 The tempo depends on the speed of your move ments towards the D Beam Crd The D Beam can be used for playing chords i e transmitting several note messages simultaneously See also Getting the D Beam to play the notes you want ntE The D Beam transmits one note on message See 7 on page 13 for how to specify the note num ber This can be useful for triggering noises of an XV synthesizer or module loops hits or other sam ples tu t td With these options you assign the Con trol Change CC11 Expression to the D Beam con troller for the selected section The u means that the D Beam can be used for transmitting values between 0 volume effectively set to zero and 127 volume corresponding to the value set for CCO7 on the receiving MIDI instrument while d refers to the value range 127 0 What s the difference If you select i tu the receiv ing MIDI instrument can
6. see p 17 Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual fa Keyboard modes Your AX 7 has three buttons that allow you to select one of four Keyboard modes The KEYBOARD MODE deter mines how many zones and or MIDI channels can be used simultaneously Whole Upper LAYER SPLIT WER UPPER uo KEYBOARD MODE E2 C6 TTA a Upper section assigned to all keys This mode means that the Upper section is assigned to the entire keyboard All messages generated on the AX 7 are therefore transmitted on the Upper channel Press the button to select this mode Whole Lower LAYER 4 SPLIT WER UPPER gaits se KEYBOARD MODE E2 C6 AEE Lower section assigned to all keys This mode means that the Lower section is assigned to the entire keyboard All messages generated on the AX 7 are therefore transmitted on the Lower channel Press the button to select this mode Alternately pressing UPPER and LOWER allows you to control different MIDI instruments as and when needed Example you could use the Lower section for controlling an organ sound of one mod ule or part and the Upper section for playing a lead synthesizer part using a different MIDI instru ment Split ee Seur WER UPPER tov KEYBOARD MODE Lower section Upper section In Split mode the Lower section is assigned to the left half of the keyboard while the Upper section is assigned to the right This allows you to control two differen
7. within the circle In the case of the symbol at left it means that the unit must never be disassembled The symbol alerts the user to things that must be carried out The specific thing that must be done is indicated by the design contained within the circle In the case of the symbol at left it means that the power cord plug must be unplugged from the outlet ALWAYS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING e In households with small children an adult should pro vide supervision until the child is capable of following all A the rules essential for the safe operation of the unit e When using an optional adaptor do not force it to share S e Protect the instrument from strong impact Do not drop it an outlet with an unreasonable number of other devices Be especially careful when using extension cords the total power used by all devices you have connected to the extension cord s outlet must never exceed the power rat ing watts amperes for the extension cord Excessive loads can cause the insulation on the cord to heat up and eventually melt through with your retailer the nearest Roland Service Center or an authorized Roland distributor as listed on the Infor mation page e Before using the instrument in a foreign country consult f Z CAUTION e The instrument and the optional adaptor should be located so their position does not interfere with their proper ventilation A
8. you can enter the Program Change number There is thus no real need to press 1 or B to select the c3 and Pe parameters As soon as you confirm the Pc value by pressing ENTER the memory selection cluster is transmit ted to the MIDI OUT socket Note While the setting range for CCOO and CC32 is 0 127 that of the Pe parameter is 14128 Note You can also select OFF for these three parameters to prevent the section in question from sending that message Note If Pe is set to GFF the 00 and c32 are not trans mitted CC00 CC32 must always be followed by a Program Change number Note These memory selection clusters can be programmed for the Upper and Lower sections individually cLt MIDI Clock on off This parameter and the following allow you to set the tempo and control playback of an external sequencer With this parameter you can specify whether Gn or not GFF the AX 7 should transmit the MIDI Clock messages set with the following parameter Selecting OFF also means that the AX 7 transmits the MIDI Clock messages received via MIDI IN This is not the case if you select On because then the AX 7 transmits its own MIDI Clock signal Note The AX 7 is also capable of receiving MIDI Clock mes sages and of retransmitting them EHP Tempo BPM Here you can set the tempo MIDI Clock to be transmitted to an external sequencer The setting range is 20 250 BPM This value will be transmitted if cLt is set
9. will silence the receiving MIDI instrument In most instances you will probably select OFF or igi Note Even if you set this parameter to 127 you will hear nothing at all if you set HolL see above to 0 rEv Reverb Send Level Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the Reverb Send Level value CC91 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is O 127 Off Selecting O will set the receiving MIDI instrument to dry no Reverb while 127 represents the maximum Reverb Send level Note If there is no audible change you may have to check the Reverb effect settings on the receiving MIDI instrument Note Not all MIDI instruments have a Reverb effect and even if they do they may not support this control change number this is especially true of older instruments cho Chorus Send Level Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the Chorus Send Level value CC93 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is O 127 Off Selecting 0 will set the receiv ing MIDI instrument to dry no Chorus while 127 represents the maximum Chorus Send level Note If there is no audible change you may have to check the Chorus effect settings on the receiving MIDI instrument Note Not all MIDI instruments have a Chorus effect and even if they d
10. 128 x 128 possibili ties a lot more than you can eat ind you nobody has even contemplated releasing instruments with over 2 million memories but at least this system provides enough flexibility for many years to come On the AX 7 these three messages CC00 CC32 and Program Change are always sent as a set Transmit ting only Bank Select messages does nothing at all while working only with Program Change messages means that you are stuck with 128 memories in the currently active memory bank That is why you need to transmit e A value for control change CC00 MSB e A value for control number CC32 LSB e A Program Change number See the manual of the receiving MIDI instru ment for the MSB and LSB values it supports As soon as you press ENTER to confirm the Pro gram Change number after first entering and con firming the CCOO and CC32 values the selected section Upper or Lower immediately transmits the CONTROL DATA 8 memory selection cluster If you save your settings to a Patch these values will also be memorized and transmitted each time you select that Patch PRG CHG As you will notice this procedure is very user friendly indeed after pressing 0 to select c DD and entering the desired value for CCOO pressing to confirm your setting will immediately take you to 1 where you can enter the value for CC32 When you confirm that value by pressing ENTER
11. 5 keys velocity sensitive Display 3 x 7 segments Realtime controllers Data Entry knob Expression Bar Touch Controller D Beam Controller Sustain button Memories 128 Patches Connectors MIDI In Out DC IN adaptor Compatibility GM GM2 GS all MIDI messages Power supply Batteries AC DC adaptor DC 9V Dimensions 1010 W x 195 D x 102 H mm Weight 3 kg Supplied accessories 6 x dry batteries AA type MIDI cable owner s manual shoulder strap Options Roland ACA adaptor 9V 200mA Note Specifications are subject to changes without prior notice 18
12. MIDI controller It contains no sound generating circuits of its own You need to connect it to at least one external MIDI instrument in order to hear what you are playing See right for the basic connections Working with a computer or sequencer If you want to use the AX 7 as Master keyboard for recording applications that involve a computer with sequencing software or a hardware sequencer like the Roland MC 80 here is the most useful connec tion system MIDI OUT z Teori TTT AX 7 transmits MIDI messages MIDI IN Computer or sequencer L records and transmits Tl MIDI messages aaa MIDI OUT MIDI IN v ADOOoOOoOS Eas Module synthesizer etc receives MIDI messages Powering up Power to the various devices should be turned on in the appropriate order First switch on the units that transmit MIDI messages computer AX 7 Next switch on the sound module s synthesizers then the amplification system Set the AX 7 s power switch rear panel to the ON position Power off your system in the reverse order MIDI OUT cr a1 exe iT AX 7 transmits MIDI messages MIDI IN o a a ew we GL S bA cre Module synthesizer etc receives MIDI messages Note
13. O 5 Sj 6 Rai 7 Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual 8 Wait until the Ent message reappears in the display then stop the sequencer s recording function 9 Save the song with the Bulk data to hard disk or floppy That file now contains your archive of the 128 Patch memory settings Here s how to retransmit such an archive from the sequencer to the AX 7 at a later stage 1 Switch off the AX 7 and the sequencer 2 Connect the sequencer s MIDI OUT socket to the AX 7 s MIDI IN socket Switch on both devices 3 On the sequencer load the song file that contains the Bulk archive you wish to trans mit to the AX 7 Warning with the following step you will erase the 128 Patches in the AX 7 s internal memory If you think you may need them at a later stage first archive them on the sequencer see above 4 ham Start playback on the sequencer As soon as the AX 7 receives the first Bulk data the rH RX message appears Wait until the rH message disappears then stop playback on the sequencer The AX 7 now once again contains the Patch settings contained in the archive a a 15 Z ep 7A I Configuring the AX 7 PRG CHG parameters 16 As can be inferred from the assigned buttons 3 46 and 9 have no func EDIT PARAMETER tion this EDIT level in fact consists of two groups the first three parameters CONTROL DATA PRG CHG be set for both independent
14. RESSION BAR TOUCH CONTROLLER Press the Expression Bar to generate Modulation messages CC01 and or Aftertouch Behind the Expression Bar the big switch you will find a rib bon strip That is the Touch Controller Slide your fin ger towards the left or right on this ribbon to trans mit Pitch Bend messages KEYBOARD MODE buttons Press one of these buttons to select a Whole mode the Layer or Split mode See page 9 DATA ENTRY knob This knob located behind the button can be used to transmit the assigned MIDI messages in realtime D Beam sensors Move your hand over these two sensors to generate the assigned messages D Beam ON OFF switch Press this switch to activate indicator lights or switch off indicator dark the D Beam Controller Note Be sure to select the OFF position whenever you are not using the D Beam Controller to save battery life EDIT buttons Press one of these buttons CONTROL DATA or PRG CHG to select the corresponding EDIT level You can then use the numeric keypad to call up the parameter you wish to set WRITE button Press this button to save the current settings to one of the AX 7 s Patch memories Writing a Patch also involves pressing other buttons see p 17 o SHIT al aera ehh pugjoy l l 0 Display This three character display keeps you posted about the selected Patch memory the tempo or the param eter val
15. XIT to return to the previous value 7 Press EXIT if you want to select another parameter from the active EDIT group To select a parameter from a different group press the corresponding EDIT button CONTROL DATA PRG CHG then return to step 3 above 8 Press yet again to leave the EDIT mode You will achieve the same result by pressing the lighting EDIT button it then goes dark CONTROL parameters As stated above this is where you will find all parameters that are related to Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual Note See page 17 if you wish to save the settings you have just made as a Patch EDIT PARAMETER the AX 7 s performance functions This level also contains a parameter that CONTROL DATA PRG CHG II t h k th t t f th b tt 0 DATA ENTRY 0 CHANNEL 0 CC 00 1 HOLD 1 VOLUME 1 CC 32 a ows you 0 C ec e S a o a eres 2 TOUCH CTRL 2 PAN POT 2 PRG CHG 3 EXPRESSION BAR 3 EXPRESSION 4 VELOCITY 4 REVERB 5 OCTAVE 5 CHORUS 6 DBEAM 6 DELAY 7 DBEAM NOTE 7 PORTAMENTO 7 CLOCK TX 8 BATTERY CHK 8 MODE 8 TEMPO 9 DUMP o dEn Data Entry Upper Lower This parameter allows you to assign a control change number CC to the AX 7 s knob The knob can then be used for realtime control of the related function You can assign any number between CCOO and CC119 Given their dedicated use for memory bank selection see p 16 CCOO and CC32 are unlikely candidates for other assignments Assi
16. based on special tricks such as not releasing one key while pressing others in suc cession to create a fast line with little effort If the MIDI instrument should sound chords however be sure to select Pot CC127 0 B dF Bulk Dump This is not really a parameter but a function that allows you to transmit the settings of the 128 Patches see also page 17 to an external MIDI instrument as SysEx data chunks In most instances the recipient will be a sequencer Here is what you need to do in order to archive the AX 7 s settings 1 Switch off the AX 7 and the sequencer 2 Connect the sequencer s MIDI IN socket to the AX 7 s MIDI OUT socket MIDI OUT WTC MIDI IN a 1000000000 Switch on the AX 7 Boot the sequencer and select an empty song Then activate its recording standby mode If the sequencer s MIDI OUT socket is connected to the AX 7 s MIDI IN socket on some sequencers you may have to tempo rarily defeat the Soft Thru MIDI Echo function Select the diiP parameter by pressing DATA followed by 9 The display now shows Ent to signal that the AX 7 is ready to transmit the data Check whether the sequencer receives SysEx data see its manual then start recording Press the button on the AX 7 The display now counts down from 26 to i thus informing you about the Patch whose settings are being transmitted a B
17. be faded in i e it is only audible when the D Beam senses your hand i id allows you to produce fade outs Assigning one to the Upper and the other to the Lower section after selecting Layer mode see p 9 thus allows you to produce cross fades in Realtime lBu i Bosi 9u 19d Tu iids 18u Wd With these options you assign the corresponding Control Change number CC16 19 or CC71 78 to the D Beam controller again for the selected section The u means that the D Beam allows you to transmit values between 64 and 127 while d refers to the value range 64 0 This is mainly intended for rel ative changes to value of the external MIDI instru ment s parameter that responds to the CC number in question CC71 78 are meaningful for GM2 com patible tone generators though other MIDI instru ments may receive them and control another parameter which can be as interesting As long as the D Beam does not sense any move ment the value will be 64 which is the relative neutral position no change to the parameter value CC16 19 are General Purpose Control Changes which is a learned way of saying that they have no standardized function yet and can thus be used at will by each manufacturer If your MIDI instrument usually a programmable synthesizer allows you to use these messages for controlling certain parame ters the D Beam can perform the same function as an assignable controller See your MIDI instru
18. dead by now while 100 repre sents the highest value A flashing dot in the left part of the display means that the remaining bat tery power is less than 30 Note This value is only meaningful if no adaptor is con nected to the DC IN socket if an adaptor is connected the value will always be 1 00 Note For important occasions it may be wiser to work with an optional ACA adaptor That way you can rest assured that you will not run into problems during the session or gig 13 Z ep 7A I Configuring the AX 7 DATA parameters 14 The DATA parameters represent MIDI messages you can use for configuring EDIT PARAMETER the receiving MIDI instrument up to a certain point by specifying things like CONTROL DATA uniter its main and ion volume its Reverb and or Chorus depth et Ho ft vouume 5 cos its main and expression volume its Reverb and o s depth etc 1 HOLD a 1 VOLUME 1 a o i 2 r 3 EXPRESSION BAR 3 EXPRESSION These are static settings that are transmitted whenever you select a Patch vELociTy nevens With the exception of ch Mad and d F the corresponding control change 8 PBEM o a S DEY 7 croan numbers can also be assigned to the DATA ENTRY knob for continuous real 5 bow feiss time control see p 11 CONTROL DATA o a PRG CHG Note Be sure to select DFF for any MIDI message that should not be transmitted No
19. default setting which produces a natural response H heavy is the way to go if the external MIDI instrument is too loud bright when you play nor mally 11 Z ep 7A I Configuring the AX 7 12 Select LL if all note messages of the section in question are to be transmitted with more or less the same velocity value Extreme differences in dynam ics hitting very hard and very soft will however allow you to trigger velocity switches if the receiv ing MIDI instrument supports that feature This set ting is thus not the same as off on other instru ments but it is very similar ock Octave Upper Lower This parameter is especially useful in Split mode see p 9 when you wish to use your left hand for a chord backing whose register is close to the part you play with your right hand Of course you can also transpose or shift the Upper part in octave steps which may be useful in Layer mode The setting range is 2 1 0 1 2 octaves down or up Note that the AX 7 s keyboard can also be transposed in semitone steps See page 17 6 doh D Beam Upper Lower The D Beam Controller allows you to control various aspects of your performance or to add something to the music by moving your hand head etc in the air You only need to make sure that you do so over the two eyes and within a 40cm 16 range Your movements are translated into musical expression 1 Press the D BEAM ON OFF
20. e Whenever the instrument is to remain unused for an extended period of time disconnect the optional adaptor QO if you have one e Try to prevent cords and cables from becoming entangled Also all cords and cables should be placed so they are out A of the reach of children Never handle the batteries or optional adaptor with wet hands when plugging into or unplugging from an outlet V or the AX 7 e Never climb on top of nor place heavy objects on the instrument Before cleaning the AX 7 turn off the power and unplug the optional adaptor from the outlet Q Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual H Important notes In addition to the items listed under USING THE UNIT SAFELY page 2 please read and observe the following Power supply e The AX 7 can be operated using batteries or an optional adaptor Be careful to insert the batteries the right way around If you pre fer to use an adaptor be sure to purchase a Roland ACA model e Before connecting the AX 7 to other devices turn off the power to all units This will help prevent malfunctions and or damage to other devices Placement e Using the AX 7 near power amplifiers or other equipment con taining large power transformers may induce hum To alleviate the problem change the orientation of this instrument or move it farther away from the source of interference e This instrument may interfere with radio and television reception Do not use it in the vicinity of such rece
21. ely and Important notes These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the AX 7 Be sure to keep this manual in a safe place for future reference Copyright 2001 ROLAND EUROPE All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Europe s p a USING THE UNIT SAFELY INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRE ELECTRIC SHOCK OR INJURY TO PERSONS About Z WARNING and Z CAUTION Notices Used for instructions intended to alert the user to the risk of death or severe Z WARNING injury should the unit be used A CAUTION improperly Used for instructions intended to alert the user to the risk of injury or material damage should the unit be used improperly Material damage refers to damage or other adverse effects caused with respect to the home and all its furnishings as well to domestic animals or pets Before using this instrument make sure to read the instructions below and the Owner s Manual Do not open or modify in any way the instrument and avoid damaging an optional adapter Do not attempt to repair the instrument or replace parts within it Refer all servicing to your retailer the nearest Roland Service Center or an authorized Roland distribu tor as listed on the Information page 0 gt Never use or store the AX 7 in places that are Subject to temperature extremes e g direct sunlight in a
22. en more setups you can archive your existing settings via MIDI Bulk Dump function Supports Roland s GS Format The GS Format is a standardized set of specifications for Roland s sound sources which defines the manner in which multitimbral sound modules will respond to MIDI messages All devices compatible with the GS Format bear the GS logo Every module or instrument bearing the GS logo will respond in the same way to the MIDI messages sent from the AX 7 All Roland GS sound modules also fully support Level 1 of the General MIDI System The AX 7 is also GM2 compatible Important note When using an AC adaptor use only the specified device Roland ACA series Use of any other AC adaptor could result in damage malfunction or elec tric shock Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual f2 Panel descriptions Neck control section Z ep 7A I eas 0 9 O LEESON AANA Sor St ur CONTROLLER START STOP button This button allows you to transmit MIDI Start and Stop messages to start or halt playback of an external sequencer DOWN UP PATCH buttons These buttons can be used for selecting the preceding DOWN or next UP Patch memory EDIT parameters or entering parameter values In certain cases press ing them simultaneously will switch the selected parameter on and off In other cases pressing them simultaneously recalls the default value of the selected parameter O jai 3 EXP
23. gning them to the knob there fore makes little sense If you assign CC10 Pan to this knob positions below the center correspond to the left side while settings above the center correspond to the right Note Certain MIDI instruments may not respond in realtime to CC10 changes because they only implement Pan changes at the beginning of a new note Note on message It is also possible to select OFF by simultaneously pressing DOWN UP which means that the knob performs no function at all Note See the manual of the MIDI instrument to be con trolled for the CC numbers it supports for realtime control Note The CC assignment can be different for the Upper and Lower sections This allows you for example to control the Pan setting CC10 via the Upper section and the Delay Send Level CC94 via the Lower section hid Hold Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify for Upper and Lower separately whether the selected section should Gn or should not GFF transmit Hold CC64 messages when you press the Sustain button on the bottom panel tch Touch Control Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify whether the selected section should On or should not OFF transmit Pitch Bend messages when you use the AX 7 s ribbon TOUCH CONTROL strip CONTROL DATA PRG CHG tAr Expression Bar Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify what kind of MIDI messages the selected section
24. ivers Do not expose the AX 7 to direct sunlight place it near devices that radiate heat leave it inside an enclosed vehicle or otherwise subject it to temperature extremes Excessive heat can deform or discolor the instrument Maintenance e For everyday cleaning wipe the AX 7 with a soft dry cloth or one that has been slightly dampened with water To remove stubborn dirt use a mild non abrasive detergent Afterwards be sure to wipe the instrument thoroughly with a soft dry cloth e Never use benzene thinners alcohol or solvents of any kind to avoid the possibility of discoloration and or deformation Repairs and data e Please be aware that all data contained in the instrument s mem ory may be lost when it is sent for repairs Important data should always be backed up via MIDI see p 15 In certain cases such as when circuitry related to memory itself is out of order we regret that it may not be possible to restore the data Roland assumes no liability concerning such loss of data Additional precautions e Please be aware that the memory contents can be irretrievably lost as a result of a malfunction or the improper operation of the instrument To protect yourself against the risk of losing important data we recommend that you periodically save a backup copy of important data in the instrument s memory e Use a reasonable amount of care when using the instrument s but tons other controls and jacks connectors
25. ly while the last t ly to the AX 7 01 l s vouume 1 ces can be set for both zones independently while the last two apply o the AX THOU ijt VOLUME 1 cca o as a whole Nevertheless even these parameters are saved along with the tice le Bev ek 5 OCTAVE 5 CHORUS remaining settings see p 17 6 DBEAM 6 DELAY 7 DBEAM NOTE 7 PORTAMENTO 7 CLOCK TX See page 10 for how to select and set these parameters S PATTERYCHK S DUMP E pag p 0 lt 02 i c32 Bank Select messages 2 Pc Program Change Upper Lower Nowadays most MIDI instruments and effects devices contain a lot more than 128 sounds memo ries When the MIDI standard was developed some 20 years ago 128 memories seemed a lot which is why it was decided to use a dedicated message type Program Change for selecting memories on an external device The entire MIDI standard evolves around the magi cal number 128 Given that there is no way of expanding that number so called Bank Select mes sages were later added to accommodate the grow ing number of memories synthesizers with more than 2 000 sounds are quite common these days At the time neither CCOO nor CC32 had dedicated functions and so these two control change mes sages were appointed Bank Select messages by Roland by the way with the introduction of its GS Format Two bank addresses MSB and LSB aka CCOO amp CC32 with 128 possibilities each plus 128 Program Change numbers provide 128 x
26. m 2 Q 7a I Roland izo AX 7 MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER Owner s Manual Thank you and congratulations on your choice of the Roland AX 7 MIDI Keyboard Controller The AX 7 is a powerful easy to operate dedicated shoulder keyboard for MIDI sound modules whether or not they are GM2 GM GS compatible Please take the time to read through this Owner s Manual That way you can feel assured that you understand every feature the AX 7 offers and will enjoy many years of trouble free opera tion The Roland AX 7 is a MIDI keyboard controller It does not contain any sound generating circuitry It is designed to transmit note messages program changes bank select messages as well as a variety of other IDI messages such as Reverb and Chorus Send levels to an external sound module To avoid confusion let s agree to e use the word button for all keys on the front panel and only use key when referring to the AX 7 s keyboard e say sequencer when referring to both hardware sequencers like the Roland MC 80 and computers with sequencer software e talk about MIDI instruments to signify both isolated monotimbral instruments and parts timbres voices multi channels of a multitimbral module or synth The contents of the illustrations appearing in this manual may differ slightly from what you see when you start using your instrument Before using this instrument carefully read the sections entitled Using the unit saf
27. n enclosed vehicle near a heating duct on top of heat generating equipment or are Damp e g baths washrooms on wet floors or are Humid or are Exposed to rain or are Dusty or are Subject to high levels of vibration When using an optional adaptor make sure the line volt age at the installation location matches the input voltage specified on the name plate Do not allow any objects e g flammable material coins pins or liquids of any kind water soft drinks etc to penetrate the instrument O Immediately turn the power off disconnect the adaptor from the outlet and request servicing by your retailer the nearest Roland Service Center or an authorized Roland distributor as listed on the Information page when e Objects have fallen into or liquid has been spilled onto the instrument or The instrument has been exposed to rain or otherwise has become wet or The instrument does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance gt About the Symbols TheA symbol alerts the user to important instructions or warnings The specific meaning of the symbol is determined by the design contained within the triangle In the case of the symbol at left it is used for general cautions warnings or alerts to danger The symbol alerts the user to items that must never be carried out are forbidden The specific thing that must not be done is indicated by the design contained
28. nnect the MIDI IN socket to the device that should transmit MIDI messages to the AX 7 Connect the MIDI OUT socket to the MIDI instrument you wish to control with your AX 7 The AX 7 is capable of merging the MIDI messages received via MIDI IN with the messages you generate by playing on the AX 7 DC IN socket This is where you can connect an optional ACA adap tor Battery compartment This is where you need to insert the supplied or replacement batteries Function overview These lists provide at a glance information about the available Edit and D Beam functions THIS CLASS E DIGITAL APPARATUS COMPLIES WITH CANADIAN INTERFERENCE CAUSING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS CET APPAREIL NUMERIQUE DE LA CLASSE B RESPECTE LE REGLEMENT SUR LE MATERIEL BROUILLEUR DU CANADA N225 3 Cord hook If you connect an optional ACA adaptor to the DC IN socket be sure to wind the cable around this hook as a safeguard against accidental disconnection 4 POWER switch Set this switch to the ON position to switch the AX 7 on Select the OFF position to power off your AX 7 Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual f3 The basics Inserting or replacing the batteries The AX 7 can be powered either by batteries or an optional AC adaptor For live use batteries are by far more convenient however Battery replacement Six AA batteries are required to run the AX 7 on battery power We recommend the use of alkaline batteries because they will provide a m
29. o they may not support this control change number this is especially true of older instruments 6 JEL Delay Send Level Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the Delay Send Level value CC94 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is 0 127 Off Selecting 0 will set the receiving MIDI instrument to dry no Delay while 127 repre sents the maximum Delay Send level Note If there is no audible change you may have to check the Delay effect settings on the receiving MIDI instrument Note Not all MIDI instruments have a Delay effect and even if they do they may not support this control change number Por Portamento Upper Lower This parameter allows you to set two parameters simultaneously the Portamento switch CC065 and the Portamento time CC05 By selecting a value between 0 and 127 the Portamento switch is automatically set to on 127 If you set the Par parameter to DFF however the Portamento switch CC65 is turned off 0 Portamento is an effect that produces gradual pitch changes between the notes you play The higher the value the longer it takes before the pitch of the newly played note is reached lod MIDI mode Upper Lower This parameter allows you to select the monophonic Ton or polyphonic mode Pal on the receiving MIDI instrument Mono CC126 0 can come in handy for solo lines
30. ol your MIDI rig to your liking Most of the following parameters can be set for the Upper and Lower sections independently and most of them can be saved to a Patch memory see p 17 Note The available EDIT parameters will be presented in the order they can be selected See page 14 if all you want to do for the time is being is assign different MIDI channels to the Upper and or Lower sections You will also find a list of the available parame ters on the AX 7 s bottom panel Selecting the parameter to be edited 10 The AX 7 s Edit parameters can be accessed via three buttons EDIT CONTROL DATA PRG CHG Button Function CONTROL Provides access to all parameters related to page 11 the available performance functions like Expression Bar Touch Controller Data Entry etc DATA Provides access to more specific and static page 14 MIDI parameters transmit channel vol ume etc but also the Dump function PRG CHG Allows you to set and transmit memory page 16 selection clusters Bank Select Program Change and to set the MIDI tempo When none of the above buttons lights you are in play mode i e where you cannot change the above parameters That also means that the PATCH SELECT keypad A 8 1 8 can be used for select ing Patch memories After pressing CONTROL DATA or PRG CHG however the buttons 0 A B 1 8 and 9 TRANSPOSE all
31. ore stable long lasting source of power With alkaline batteries you can expect about 20 hours of continuous operation although this depends on how the AX 7 is being used Note Avoid using new batteries together with old ones In addition avoid mixing different types of batteries e g regu lar carbon and alkaline batteries Note When replacing batteries be sure to insert them cor rectly ensure correct polarity Note Remove the batteries whenever the AX 7 is to remain unused for an extended period of time 1 Switch off the AX 7 2 Remove the battery cover located on the bot tom of the instrument a Press the tabs forward b Lift up Connecting an optional AC adaptor Be sure to use only the specified AC adaptor Roland ACA series Using any other type may cause mal function or electric shock Note If the AX 7 is to remain unused for an extended period of time unplug the adaptor 3 Take out the battery holder then insert the six batteries supplied with the AX 7 three on either side 4 Insert the battery case and close the battery cover 1 Switch off the AX 7 2 First connect the AC adaptor to the AX 7 s DC IN socket then connect the large plug to a power outlet Z ep 7A I The basics Connecting the AX 7 Note Switch off both the AX 7 and the external instru ment s before establishing or breaking the MIDI connections The AX 7 is a
32. ow you to select the desired param eter These numbers appear below the buttons and are printed in grey Here is how to select the desired parameter 1 Look at the list on the bottom panel to find out which EDIT button you need to press EDIT PARAMETER L conTRoL DATA PRGCHG 0 DATA ENTRY 0 CHANNEL 0 CC 00 1 HOLD 1 VOLUME 1 CC 32 2 TOUCH CTRL 2 PAN POT 2 PRG CHG 3 EXPRESSION BAR 3 EXPRESSION 4 VELOCITY 4 REVERB 5 OCTAVE 5 CHORUS 6 DBEAM 6 DELAY 7 DBEAM NOTE 7 PORTAMENTO 7 CLOCK TX 8 BATTERY CHK 8 MODE 8 TEMPO 9 DUMP CONTROL DATA o o 2 Press CONTROL DATA or PRG CHG depending on the column that contains the desired parameter The number of the first parameter now flashes in the display PRG CHG 3 Use the 0 9 buttons or DOWN UP to select a parameter PATCH SELECT 4 TRANSPOSE 6 6 After about three seconds the display shows the value currently set for the selected parame ter 4 Press LOWER or UPPER to select the key board section whose settings you wish to change Note It is now no longer possible to select a different KEYBOARD MODE You need to leave the EDIT mode altogether before being able to do that 5 Use 0 9 or DOWN UP to make the desired setting Some parameters can be set to UFF To do so simultaneously press and DOWN 6 Press to confirm the value or setting Press E
33. sed for specifying the Patch numbers 11 88 so that numbers like 30 or 59 are impossible That explains why the 11 88 range adds up to 64 possibilities or memories The bank can be selected using the button Storing settings in a Patch memory After setting all parameters to your liking you can store them in one of the AX 7 s Patch memories If you spent a lot of time fine tuning your settings you should definitely store them before switching off the AX 7 It would also be a good idea to save all settings your are satisfied with even though you may have to change them or others at a later stage You could then simply overwrite the memory in question You can store everything in the AX 7 s Patch memo ries except Dump see p 15 and Battery Check see p 13 All entries marked Upper Lower are saved in dupli cate one set for the Lower section and a second for the Upper section 1 Press and hold the button lt exe 2 Enter the address of the desired Patch mem ory by pressing e A B to select group or b example h e 1 8 to select a bank example b5 e 1 8 to select a memory within that bank example b5 1 e Press ENTER to confirm your setting Note You can release WRITE at any of these stages if you do not wish to save the Patch after all The display shows the number of the Patch memory that contains your new settings Note The previous settings in the selec
34. t MIDI instruments via separate channels Lower and Upper Press the button to select this mode At first the Split point of the factory Patches is located at the C key slightly left off center This key is called the C4 Here s how to select another split point between the F2 and the B5 see the follow ing illustration F2 B5 MAITAT Possible range for the Split point 1 Press and hold the button 2 While still holding that button press the key that should become the lowest note of the Upper section You can also use the DOWN UP buttons on the AX 7 s body or neck 3 Release both the button and the key you pressed Note This setting can be saved to a Patch Your KEY BOARD MODE selection is also saved Note To select the default setting C5 simultaneously press DOWN UP Layer Lower Upper X Seur WER UPPER tow KEYBOARD MODE TTT Lower section Upper section two different MIDI channels In Layer mode the AX 7 transmits on two MIDI channels simultaneously assigned to Lower and Upper Every action on the AX 7 is thus translated into two MIDI message strings Hold down while pressing to select this mode To leave it press LOWER UPPER or SPLIT Z ep 7A I Configuring the AX 7 fs Configuring the AX 7 Your AX 7 comes with a great many MIDI parameters or message types that can be transmitted so as to con tr
35. te See page 10 for how to select and set these parameters o ch MIDI channel Upper Lower This parameter allows you to assign the desired MIDI channel to the Upper or Lower section 1 16 You can also select UFF by simultaneously pressing DOWN UP to keep the section in question from sending any MIDI messages whatsoever HolL Volume Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the volume value CC07 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is 0 127 Off Remember that selecting 0 will silence the receiving MIDI instrument Note Even if you set this parameter to 127 you will hear nothing at all if you set EHP see below to 0 PAn PanPot Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the Pan value CC10 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is 0 127 Off The value 0 corresponds to hard left 64 to the cen ter and 127 to hard right Note Some MIDI instruments work the other way round 0 right 127 left See the manual of the instrument you are controlling for details EHP Expression Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify the expression value CC11 to be transmitted by the Upper and or Lower section whenever you select the Patch that contains this setting The setting range is 0 127 Off Selecting 0
36. ted Patch mem ory will be overwritten Note In case of a power failure while you are saving a Patch the AX 7 may display a scrolling message to the effect of PREcH ALS rEcottred or another num ber This means that the Patch memory in question but only that one has been reset to the factory settings for safety reasons Your other Patches are fine however 17 Miscellaneous Selecting Patches 1 If you haven t yet saved your current settings 3 Use the and 1 8 buttons to select the do it now see above desired Patch memory 2 Leave the currently selected EDIT mode by You can also use DOWN UP If after select pressing CONTROL DATA or PRG CHG ing Patch b88 you press yet again you depending on which of these buttons lights return to Patch A i t Conversely if you press DOWN after selecting Patch At t you will go to Patch bHE Restoring the factory settings You can reset the AX 7 to its factory settings which means that your own Patches will be overwritten with the settings the AX 7 contained when you first got it You may wish to archive your Patches before initializing the AX 7 see p 15 Power on the AX 7 while holding down the button The display will read Factor SEtuP scrolling message as soon as the factory settings have been loaded See page 110 for a list of the AX 7 s factory settings Specifications Keyboard 4
37. tions is assigned to both sec tions you won t hear the notes you play on the AX 7 s keyboard while the D BEAM ON OFF button is on To specify the notes the D Beam should use for its chords or arpeggios you need to proceed as follows e Select Split or Layer mode e Press the D BEAM ON OFF button indicator must light e Play the notes on the keyboard using keys that are assigned to the section that is controlled by the D Beam Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual e While holding those notes press the Sustain button on the bottom of the neck section Release the keys and possibly also the Sustain button e Move your hand within the D Beam s sensing range to cause the D Beam to first transform those notes in the case of Ar 1 Ar3 and then transmit the result din D Beam Note Upper Lower This parameter allows you to specify which note number should be transmitted whenever the D Beam senses your hand This is only meaningful if you assign the nkE D Beam function to a section see p 12 The setting range is 0 127 displayed as C 049 This function is useful for producing special effects like triggering sampled grooves certain noises that add to the realism of your performances or sounds to impress your audience orchestra hits gongs explosions etc 8 bch Battery Check This parameter allows you to check the voltage of the batteries 0 100 The value O means that the batteries should be
38. to Un Roland AX 7 Owner s Manual fs Miscellaneous Transpose Your AX 7 comes with a TRANSPOSE function you may want to use for playing songs in difficult keys You can also set the interval with the DOWN buttons Pressing them simultaneously recalls the default value 1 Z ep 7A I To set the desired transposition interval 1 Hold down the button and wait until the current transposition interval is dis played 3 Once the desired interval has been set you 2 Keep holding the button while can switch it off by pressing the you press the key assigned to the note you button Press it again to switch the Transpose wish to assign to every C key 6 5 semi function back on tones i e from Gb F The indicator lights to signal that the Transpose The indicator now lights steadily interval is being used to indicate that the Transpose interval has been Note The Transpose on off setting applies to both key set and is being used board sections Upper and Lower and can be saved to a Patch memory About MIDI Merge The AX 7 can also merge the MIDI messages received via its MIDI IN socket with the data generated on the AX 7 itself and retransmit the lot via its MIDI OUT socket Merge function Working with Patches A Patch is a memory where you can store your own settings The AX 7 provides 128 such memories in 2 groups of 64 memories Like on many Roland instruments only 8 buttons C 8 are u
39. transmits when you press the EXPRESSION BAR There are four pos sibilities Mod The section in question transmits Modulation messages CC01 CCO1 messages can be used for creating vibrato tremolo or WahWah effects This depends on how the receiving MIDI instrument uses these messages AFE The section in question transmits Channel Aftertouch messages Depending on the instrument you are controlling Aftertouch messages can mod ify the volume timbre filter pitch or even other aspects ALL The section in question transmits both Modu lation and Aftertouch messages OFF The section in question does not respond to the EXPRESSION BAR The EXPRESSION BAR could then be used for locking the value generated by the D Beam controller see also p 12 UEL Velocity Upper Lower This parameter allows you to assign a velocity curve to the selected section The AX 7 s keyboard is velocity sensitive and very responsive to nuances of your playing You may however be controlling a IDI instrument that does not interpret the velocity values in the desired way Rather than reprogram the sound if that is at all possible you can simply select another curve on the AX 7 so that your strik ing force is translated in a different way and thus more usable for the part you wish to play Select L light if the section in question should send high velocity values even when you strike the keys with light to medium force fi medium is the
40. ue you set AD PATCH SELECT buttons If none of the EDIT buttons lights the buttons and 4 8 allow you to enter the number of the desired Patch memory two banks of 64 memories each After pressing one of the EDIT buttons the buttons A B 1 8 and TRANSPOSE which then functions as 9 can be used for selecting the desired parameter see p 10 A TRANSPOSE button Usually this button allows you to switch the AX 7 s keyboard transposition on and off and to set the transposition interval When CONTROL DATA or lights however this buttons can be used for selecting a parameter in which case it functions as 9 Panel descriptions M ENTER button Press this button to confirm a setting or a selection EXIT button Press this button to leave the currently selected EDIT level or to ignore the value you just set thus return ing to the previously set value Bottom panel 45 DOWN UP buttons These buttons duplicate the DOWN UP PATCH but tons Strap pin This is where you need to attach one end of the sup plied strap The other end needs to be attached to one of the pins on the bottom panel a Sustain button This button has the same function as a Hold Sustain pedal connected to a synthesizer or stage piano press it to hold the notes you are playing Strap pins This is where you need to attach the other end of the supplied strap Connection panel rear MIDI IN OUT sockets Co

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