Roland PG1000 programmer - connections to use with D-50

Connecting the Roland D-50 with its PG1000 programmer can be a bit confusing.

These are my notes of how I'm using it with my DAW (Abelton)

The midi merge box I'm using is a simple   ... 3 in / 1 out box

It mixes MIDI from the DAW and PG100 & sends this info to the D-50.

There is one final connection from the D50 back to the programmer.

Here is a pick of the rear of the programmer:

The PG 1000 is a brilliant machine

For the record, here is the rear of the D50

Roland D-50 - backing patches and sound banks to computer & from PC , M256e ram card

 To back up sound banks to your PC using D50 Librarian

1. un-protect the memory of the D50.

    Press Tune/function . The display will flash. Change it using the joystick ... move to left.

2. press exit

3. check MIDI settings (default = ch 1)

I'm using DIN 7

4. press exit

5. Press "data Transfer"

   Hold Data Transfer & press "B Dum" simultaneously to select "one way Transfer"

You will see this message.

Press enter

6. press exit ... you should see your sound bank on the computer.

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To transfer a sound bank to the D-50

1. un-protect the memory of the D50.

    Press Tune/function . The display will flash. Change it using the joystick ... move to left.

2. press exit

3. open the sys ex sound bank

4. press the send data tab in the Sound library program

5. on the d50 press Data Transfer

6. hold data transfer and press bulk load

120ms works best for me.

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Using the M256e card

This is a modern replacement for the old Roland soundbank cards

The light must be on when you plug in the card.

Press CARD on the D50 --- display will say "illegal card"

This is only because the card isn't formatted.

Press "DATA Transfer" & then "Int --> crd".

It will still say "illegal card"

ignore this and press "enter"

you will see the sending message and "verify error"

This is OK

press exit

Check the card. your sound bank should have been transferred

Rompler Synths

 A ROMpler is a digital synthesizer that plays back pre-recorded sounds stored in its Read-Only Memory (ROM) instead of generating them from scratch. The term is a blend of "ROM" and "sampler". Unlike a traditional sampler, a rompler cannot record new audio; its sounds are pre-loaded by the manufacturer and are often realistic emulations of instruments like pianos, guitars, and strings, or synthetic tones. 

Note that earlier digital synthesizers, which used short-cycle sampled waveforms, are usually not considered romplers but are either called "PCM synthesizers" or "wavetable synthesizers" because the sampled waveform in this case is usually only made of a single full cycle (or a handful of full cycles) of the wave and would therefore be a fraction of a second in length. 

Why use romplers?

Romplers are known for their unique, imperfect, and "vintage" character, often heard in genres like IDM and ambient music. The way samples are stretched and looped can create subtle imperfections that add a distinctive "character" to the sound.

Using pre-made samples speeds workflow & provides "instant results" with ready-to-use Instrument Racks. The sounds are typically presented as "presets," offering instant access to a variety of high-quality tones without the need for complex programming.

While the core sound source is fixed, most romplers allow for sound shaping through filters, envelopes (like ADSR), and effects.

The advantage about using  rompler is their ease for the new user.

Its basicall a load of sample libraries, in a box.

Is the lack of sound source editing something to be ashamed of.??

They come with samples already loaded so you can focus on creating melodies.

The Orbit, for instance, contains samples of a Moog Modular, ARP 2500 and 2600, TR-808 and Fairlight CMI Ilx.

Popular early romplers include the Roland D-50 and the Korg M1. 

Classic hardware romplers include the Roland JV-1080 and JD-990, Korg M1 and Triton, and E-mu Proteus series. 

Popular software romplers, which can also be called sample-based synthesizers, are reFX Nexus, Spectrasonics Omnisphere, Native Instruments Kontakt, and UVI Falcon. 

Modern hardware examples include the Korg Kronos and Wavestate. 

Software

Flex - fruity loops

Nexus 3/4

KONTakt - native instruments

Roland Zenology

Steinberg HALion

Hardware

E-MU Proteus series

EMU orbit

Korg M1

Wavestate - korg

Kurzweil K2000, K250,

Roland U-110

Roland sound canvas

Roland JV 1080

Roland JV 1010, 2028, etc

Roland JD 800, JD 900

Roland MC 303

Roland MC 505

Roland MC 808

Roland MC 909

Yamaha XG, tg55, mu50

Yamaha Tg 33

Yamaha motif

NLC - More (cowbell drum module) - Build notes

These are my build notes for the nonlinear circuits "more" module.

It's a eurorack module.

This module contains three individual cowbell circuits based on those in the Roland TR-808.

Links

+ Wiki

+ BOM

As far as parts go there isn't anything rare or hard to find.

CD 40106 

& three Opamps - TL072

CD40106 (CMOS IC with 6 Schmitt trigger inverters)

The really cool thing about this circuit is that it uses a logic chip to make metallic noise

Each bell uses 2 of the 6 oscillators.

I think in the 808, similar circuits provide the basis for the cymbal & hi hat sounds

The original 808 used band pass filters to remove the upper and lower partials.

Andrew's description is as follows:

"The filters are fixed as per the original design. This means the output

is loudest when the oscillators are set close to the operating frequency

range of the filters and softer when the oscillators are at much higher

or lower settings. For me, this seems fine, but mess with the filter

values if you like. I have seen some mods of the 2k2 to ground resistor

varied to change the filter range. In proto-typing, this was

experimented with but I didn’t feel it was much improvement."

resistors next

Diodes: LL4148

These are the power protection voltage rectifiers... or just use a 10 ohm resistor and dont plug the module in backwards.

You'll need a through hole +5V 100mA voltage regulator : 78L05. 

power header

Transistors : BC857, 847

Six 1M pots.

12 sockets

The accent input is tied to the trigger input via the switch tab,

probably best to use a gate rather than a trigger to get the sound going,

but that depends on what you want to do. Otherwise patch whatever you

like to make things happen.

This is a dense but easy build.

More links

+ Hackaday

+ Roland TR-808 cowbell rebuild

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You can find more NLC builds here.

http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/non-linear-circuits-ncl-index.html

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Circuitbenders CB55 - drum machine build notes.

These are my build notes for the circuit benders clone of the Roland/- Boss Dr 55 drum.

The clone is called the CB-55.

The original is a really simple and great sounding machine. It's definitely a classic.

I think where it falls short is it's limited sequencer, and that its tricky to sync to external gear. 

I loved the first DR-55 I bought so much, that I purchased a second one with the intention to mod it.

But I just couldn't vandalize  it .

Mods to overcome this are out there but I think its a shame to need to mod vintage gear. 

These relics are getting harder to find as the years go by and in the future, the ones that will

retain their value will be those in original condition.

So from a practical level, get an original to admire & treasure and build the clone to 

mod to your hearts content.

Links:

+ official site

+ Boss DR -55 drum machine

+ CB 55 mods

+ Modwiggler

+ CB forum

+ DR 55 schematics

+ Music thing modular

I'll install the trigger conditioning circuit.... connected to TRIG_IN1 connector.

This allows you to connect 5V triggers that last longer than 10ms

The build looks easy. all through hole with standard parts that i probably already have in my store.

Resistors first.

Caps 

fairly straight forward build so far.

D1 1N4001 Rectifier diode

D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9 1N4148 or 1N914

D1 is a larger 1N4001

rectifier diode that provides polarity protection for the power input, but all the others can be general purpose

small signal diodes such as 1N4148's or 1N914'

Jumper wires:

The jumper wires at J3-J7 connect the output of each voice circuit to the main mix bus.

These links are designed as 

jumpers for easy mods to provide individual outputs, but at this point it would probably be better to just install 

them. You can always change things at a later date.

the voltage regulators and transistors. 

REG1 is a 78L06 regulator that supplies the 6v power to the 

voice circuits. REG2 is a 78L09 that supplies 9v to the trigger conditioning circuit

ebay ... ordered

There is just one IC

IC1 - LM324 Quad opamp

T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10 2SC945 Or similar transistor

Its a  Bipolar (BJT)

"T1 to T10 are general purpose NPN transistors. Roland/Boss used 2SC945's is virtually everything they produced 

during this era, so this is what we've specified here, but you could probably get away with using any number of 

transistors with similar specs. We haven't actually tried it, but we would imagine it'd also work fine with the 

common 2N3904 or 2SC1815"

I'll use 2n3904s

-----------------------------

Q1 in the accent circuit should be a JFET transistor with a DSG pinout. A few different types will fit here. We've

tried the J201, MPF102 and 2N5457, and they all seem to work okay.

I installed a J201

------------------------

L1 --- 47mH inductor Original DR55 uses 45mH **

mouser

Boss DR -55 drum machine

I've been revisiting an old fav drum machine of mine - The Boss DR-55 Dr. Rhythm.

(Mainly as it's awesome for triggering the arp of a Roland JP 4).

This classic drum machine produced by Roland Corporation has been in my collection for decades.

It was I think one of the first I ever owned.

The Dr55 was sold under Roland's guitar pedal Boss brand. 

Introduced in 1979/80, it quickly gained popularity due to its affordability, portability, and ease of use. 

You can still find these on Ebay quite cheaply. They haven't yet undergone 808/909 price inflation.

The DR-55 was one of the earliest programmable drum machines available to musicians and became a staple in many home studios and electronic music setups.

It was one of the first step-write-style drum machines, and it was the first rhythm machine in BOSS' successful Dr. Rhythm Series. 

It inherited much of its sounds DNA (an appearance) from the CR 68 & 78 drum machines.

I love this machine so much as it highly portable and sounds great ....suitable for both studio and live use

The FS-1 jack is for a footswitch. It's an input.

Connecting a (latching footswitch) such as the Boss FS-1 will make it possible to start/stop the DR-55 remotely, when in PLAY mode.

The DR-55 features 4 analog drum sounds:

kick (BD), snare(SD), rimshot(RS), hi-hats. 

You can globally adjust the master Volume, master Tempo, master Tone and master Accent for the drum sounds.

Only the BD, SD, and RS can be programmed.

The HH has a switch to select between OFF, 8th, 16th/12th preset pattern

These sounds are generated by analog circuits, giving them a warm and characteristic tone.

Accent Function: 

Accents can be programmed.

You can globally adjust the accent volume.

This feature allows users to emphasize certain beats within a pattern, adding dynamics and variation to the rhythms.

Users can program their own drum patterns using the DR-55's step sequencer. 

There are 8 memory slots to store up to 8 patterns:

This is divided into 

a. six different 16 step drum patterns (4/4 rhythms) b. two 12-step patterns (3/4 and 6/8 rhythms). 

In each memory slot you can record 2 variations : 

A or B.

These is a switch to select either variation in rec or playback modes.

The centre variation switch position (AB) records and plays both A & B variations consecutively.

To Program:

1. set switch to WRITE mode.

2. select a drum sound to program.

3. Steps are entered with the start button. 

    Rests are entered with the stop button.

4. The beginning of a pattern is indicated when the RED LED 

     lights up.

5. Pattern playback is enabled by setting the switch to PLAY mode and pressing START.

Jacks:

Audio Output: 

Unbalanced 1/4 inch.

 Note that a cord must be connected to 

 this jack for the drum to be turned on.

 This is like many of BOSS's 

 guitar effects pedals

Foot switch 1/4 inch input - use with a FS-1 pedal. (Like with the Roland CR 78).

DBS : outputs a pulse for each step. (+5v, 8ms) ... use to drive the arp on a Roland Jupiter 4

CSQ: outputs a pulse for each accented step. (+4v, 10ms)... use o drive a CSQ-100/600 sequencer

      

When this jack is used, accents no longer occur in the programmed rhythm patterns.

It can also be connected to the Roland modular System 100M.

It runs on 6V DC (four AA batteries

I purchased a new 6V battery holder on Ebay. I have two DR 55s and both had a broken battery holder

when I initially bought them.

These are made of really weak plastic which will definitely break one day. So buy a few as backups.

While the DR-55 lacks some of the advanced features found in later drum machines, its simplicity and iconic sound have contributed to its enduring popularity among musicians, particularly in genres like electronic, synth-pop, and new wave. Despite being over four decades old, the Boss DR-55 continues to be sought after by vintage gear enthusiasts and remains an important piece of music technology history.

Links

+ Korg Drum Machine Timeline
+ Roland Drum Machine Timeline

I'm in two minds about modding the drum. But here are some links if you're up to vandalising a piece of music history :-)

I think simple mods like external clocking & adding a DC input (to eliminate batteries) are harmless.

+ Dr 55 mods

   Music thing Modular

   Tubbutec

   Synthnerd

There are also plenty of modern clones of this machine, which have all the bells and whistles ... so maybe leave the original alone and buy a clone to mod to your heart's content.

Clones

+ circuitbenders

The circuitbenders.co.uk CB55 is an exact clone of the voice board of the Boss DR55 drum machine. It has the four fully analogue percussion sounds, bass drum, hat, snare, and rimshot, but leaves out the clunky and arguably useless sequencer. There is also an overall accent feature that adds a little extra punch to the whole mix when it is triggered.