ROLAND TR 909

Page 14

MIDI NOTES

The TR-909 is designed to accept voice messages sent over MIDI channells)
in any of four channel modes defined in the MIDI Specification as shown in

the table below.

N: Basic Channel

This is an inherent channel of
an instrument, which cannot
be changed by MIDI messages
but may be changed by the
panel function on the instru-
ment.

The TR~909 has channel selec-

MODE RECEIVER
1 OMNI ON Voice messages are received
POLY from all Voice Channels and
assigned to voices polyphoni-
cally.
2 OMNI 0N Voice messages are received
MONO from all Voice Channels, and
control only one voice, mono-
phonically.
3 OMNI OFF Voice messages are received in
POLY Voice Channel N only, and are
assigned to voices polyphoni-
cally.
4 OMNI OFF Voice messages are received in
MONO Voice Channels N thru N+M-1,
and assigned monophonically
to voices 1 thru M, respective-
ly. The number of voices M is
specified by the third byte of
the Mono Mode Message.

tions on the front panel.

To fully take advantage of this feature, however, proper Channel Mode must
be selected to receive necessary voice messages only, and to reject unneces-
sary ones.

Before proceeding to this text, please note the following:

* TR-909 is a one voice rhythm machine.

* The rhythm sounds (rhythm voice generators) are assigned to KEY
(NOTE) numebrs, respectively, as shown below.

* A given MIDI message will take effect only when recognized by TR-909.

* Do not put TR-909 into MIDI-loop circuit. Feedback may lead to mal-
function.

MIDI KEY ASSIGNMENT
kkkkkkk=35, 36 Bass Drum

37 Rim Shot
38, 40 Snare Drum
39 Hand Clap

41, 43 Low Tom
42, 44 Closed HivHat

45' 47 Mid Tom Keys not listed are ignored.

Two keys are for duplicating

46 Open Hi-Hat . .

k
48,50 High Torn alasound With convenient ey
49 Crash Cymbal p y.
51 Ride Cymbal

TR-909

MODES AND CHANNELS IN TR-909 MIDI CONNECTIONS

Exclusive ONzwhen has no relation)
o\o l

® ------- -Timir,g Clock
,fly (ONzwhen TEMPO MODE is MIDI)

MIDI IN
CHl-CHIG CHliCH15
C I MIDI
All messages except ©~© OUT
® Fleal Time CHM
VOICE @ Common

MESSAGES @ Exclusive CH
SELECT
SEOUENCER
EXT
cu
SELECTf (
CHIO

SEOU ENCER

l

RHYTHM
VOICING
CIRCUIT

As can be seen from the diagram, TR-909 MIDO OUT does dual duties; it also
serves as a kind of MIDI TH RU. Using this route, additional data can be sent
in different channels, and yet can be mixed with TR-909 output data in one
channel at the TR-909 MIDI OUT. Thus, an external voice will be controlled
both through TR-909 and by the data that TR-909 cannot provide. MIDI mes-
sages common to internal and external voices are coordinated by TR-909.

To prevent the data already applied to TR-909 from being re-fed to the sub-
sequent unit, receiving and transmitting channels are set to different channels
at the factory.

MODE 1.....OMNI 0N, POLY
MODE 2 ..... OMNI ON, MONO

MASTER SLAVE With this connection, slaveunit can recog-
nize v0ice messages on whichever channels
(TR-909) TR909 the master unit transmits. There is no dif-
ference between MODEs 1 and 2 in TR-909
function since it contains only one voice.

MODE 3 ..... OMNI OFF, POLY

In a system as shown, each slave should be
in OMNI OFF mode with its basic channel
match the channel number assigned by the
master respectively. Once set, it will re-
sponse to voice messages sent over its cur-
SLAVE rent basic channel only (see GENERAL
PRECAUTIONS" on page 16).

....... As for TR-909, it must be set to MODE 3.
L's SLAVE : The table below will help set TR-909 to

, I correct mode and channel.

SLAVE

MASTER TR-909

All slaves in different channels

NOTE:
Roland products with preliminary MIDI turn
to OMNI OFF upon receiving POLY ON.

14

CHANNELS 8t CHANNEL MODES

JUN. 15, 1984

RECEIVER TRANSMITTER

ON POWERUP Defaults to Defaults to

MODE MODE1 (OMNI 0N,POLY) POLY

CHANNEL 10 (1001) 11 (1010)

HOW TO Both receiving and transmitting channels can be changed to any of

CHANGE 16 channels from front panel.

iNSNM'oEo-gs 1. Press SHUFFLE/FLAM. 1. Press LAST STEP.
This Will display the current This will display the current
channel number. channel number.
0n power up, without any 2. Holding LAST STEP, select
input message, "10" will be new channel, as needed, by
replaced by "0" to indicate pushing MAIN Key (1 thru
OMNI ON. 16).

2. Holding SHUFFLE, select This will cause transmission
new channel, as necessary, of OMNI OFF and POLY
by pushing MAIN KEY (1 mode messages in the new
thru 16). channel.

This also sets the new chan- This function should be

nel to MODE 3 (OMNI OFF, adopted when need arises to

POLY). set its slave (which is incap-
able of changing receiving
channels by itself) to OMNI
OFF mode.

ist slave
MASTER TR-909 2nd slave

When the slave(s) has no capability of channel selection or mode change to
OMNI OFF (like some Roland preliminary instruments), this can be cured by
using the TR-909 transmitters feature listed above.

(See "GENERAL PRECAUTIONS on page 16.)

MODE 4.....OMNI OFF, MONO

When TR-909 receives MONO mode message with OMNI OFF mode, it re-
cognizes the number (M) represented by the 3rd byte of the message.
TR-909, then accepts voicing messages on the basic channels and upward ac-
cording to M.

Example: Basic channel-4, M--3, then 4 + 3 - 1. Le. channels 4, 5 and 6.
Result numbers exceeding 16 are ignored.