GR-20 Questions

Started by Minstrel, August 20, 2019, 04:20:06 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Minstrel

I've been lurking far too long! I've been playing for 45 years (goodness me). About 3 years ago, I picked up a Godin Freeway SA, with a GR20. Now I'm using a Godin XTSA...spent more money, but can't play any better! Now, if I understand correctly, with a USB MIDI host and a USB MIDI keyboard, I might be able to use the keyboard to trigger the GR20...and perhaps use guitar and the keyboard simultaneously.  Don't know if that will help; I can't play keys either. But I can't resist a challenge! I've searched the site, but I'm not having any luck finding info about what host and keyboard would be suggested...as well as how to start. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks



admin

#2
Quote from:  philjynx on August 20, 2019, 05:29:21 PM
Which thread addresses the OP's question?

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=15877.msg114509#msg114509
On GR-20,  must enable the "Local OFF Mode" - before it will respond as a MIDI sound module and make sound when you feed it MIDI Note-On Off messages to its MIDI Input from your MIDI controller  / DAW/ Keyboard, etc.


GR-20  enable the "Local OFF Mode"

1 )Turn off the GR-20

2 ) Hold down the System Edit Button

3 ) Power On the GR-20 , and LED Display shows "Lo" - (Local off) means you can now connect a MIDI cable to the MIDI Input on GR-20 and make music

Minstrel

Thank you both for your replies. I knew from lurking that I could expect friendly advice.

Is the information in this post not true then?

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20348.0

Steve

Minstrel

Well, I gave it a try.

I hooked up a Rock Band keyboard (a surprisingly inexpensive and useful 25 key MIDI controller) through MIDI in on my GR20. They work simultaneously. Both the XTSA through the 13 pin and the keyboard can trigger the GR20 sound module at the same time. However, the only way the keyboard will work is if the XTSA is plugged into the 13 pin cable. The XTSA doesn't need to be set to trigger the GR20, but it must be connected to the GR20 for the keyboard to function as a controller. The keyboard can switch through patches, shift up and down octaves. Now I'm trying to find a way to use a sustain pedal with a quarter inch plug with the keyboard that has an eighth inch jack. I couldn't get the GR20 Hold pedal to work while playing the keyboard. And an adapter doesn't seem to work.

gumbo

Quote from: Minstrel on September 05, 2019, 09:07:29 PM
Well, I gave it a try.

I hooked up a Rock Band keyboard (a surprisingly inexpensive and useful 25 key MIDI controller) through MIDI in on my GR20. They work simultaneously. Both the XTSA through the 13 pin and the keyboard can trigger the GR20 sound module at the same time. However, the only way the keyboard will work is if the XTSA is plugged into the 13 pin cable. The XTSA doesn't need to be set to trigger the GR20, but it must be connected to the GR20 for the keyboard to function as a controller. The keyboard can switch through patches, shift up and down octaves. Now I'm trying to find a way to use a sustain pedal with a quarter inch plug with the keyboard that has an eighth inch jack. I couldn't get the GR20 Hold pedal to work while playing the keyboard. And an adapter doesn't seem to work.


Could this be a TRS jackplug vs TS jack problem?


Peter
Read slower!!!   ....I'm typing as fast as I can...

Minstrel

Hi Gumbo

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give that a try. Every Rock Band compatible eighth inch pedal I've seen is a TS plug, just like the quarter inch sustain pedals I've tried. But I have both adapters.

Steve

admin

on GR-20 / GR-33 - external MIDI controllers cannot access the built in "HOLD" pedal

Instead look at the MIDI Specification for these products

GR-20 page 40 for HOLD via SYSEX
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/GR-20GK_OM.pdf


https://www.roland.com/us/products/gr-20/support/

gumbo

Quote from: admin on September 06, 2019, 11:01:42 AM
on GR-20 / GR-33 - external MIDI controllers cannot access the built in "HOLD" pedal

Instead look at the MIDI Specification for these products

GR-20 page 40 for HOLD via SYSEX
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/GR-20GK_OM.pdf


https://www.roland.com/us/products/gr-20/support/


Ah ha...

now I vaguely (!) remember that...     ...sigh..   ::)
Read slower!!!   ....I'm typing as fast as I can...