Modartt user forum - Familiar w. Roland A-80?

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2013-01-07T00:49:07Z

CTJ wrote:

I just replaced the old battery with a new one. Because first time I took out the old battery and put it in again to default.

I just joined this Forum, and this is my 1st Post here! Keeping my fingers crossed that someone can help!

PROBLEM:

I Transposed 2 Patches on my Roland A-80. But recently I've noticed that sometimes those 2 Patches forget they Transposition, and Revert to Concert Pitch!

RAM Test seems OK.
Reload from the Backup Card fixes it, but then the problem returns!

I've never replaced that 3v Battery, since I bought this Roland A-80 in 1990!
I have no idea where it is inside the keyboard!
I've never opened this A-80!

I hope that someone can advise me how to install this battery! And hopefully it'll fix this issue!

Ideally, I wish there were Installation Videos, or and Photos, as is sometimes the case with computers!
Hopefully this Battery Replacement is not a huge production, that requires a major disassembly, with lots of screws, in order to get to that battery!

This is all I have found thus far!

Roland A Series Keyboard Parts http://j.mp/WlbMiQ
Battery, for A-50/70/80/90 (Part #4347)
View details for this product http://www.syntaur.com/4347.html

If you have any other suggestions regarding this Issue of * Why the Transposition Is Sometimes Not Remembered? *, I'd love to know about that too! But please be very specific with any Test Steps that you might have, because I am not as experienced as most people here likely are:)!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-17T19:58:28Z

Joe & Marzzz
Thanks for taking the time to reply. The online A80 (original) manual is what I have.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-12T06:04:17Z

jcfelice88keys wrote:

CTJ wrote:
Marzzz:
"Roland USA actually put out an 8 page document to "translate" what the manual specified".
Do you know where to find or download that document/manual?
Thanks
CJ

Just perform a Google Search for Roland A-80 User Manual. I was able to download the 104 page PDF. As an original A-80 purchaser who still owns the user manual, I confirm that the downloaded pdf is identical to the original hardcopy version.
Joe

Joe-

Unfortunately, that is not the document I was talking about. The original manual was very confusing as to how certain basic functions were implemented, so much so that Roland USA produced a second, 8-page document to explain the manual. That document does not appear to exist on the web, as far as I can tell. If I could remember who I sold my A-80 to (this was ten years ago!), I might be able to contact him and get him to scan the user manual.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-11T19:51:59Z

CTJ wrote:

Marzzz:
"Roland USA actually put out an 8 page document to "translate" what the manual specified".
Do you know where to find or download that document/manual?
Thanks
CJ

Just perform a Google Search for Roland A-80 User Manual. I was able to download the 104 page PDF. As an original A-80 purchaser who still owns the user manual, I confirm that the downloaded pdf is identical to the original hardcopy version.

Joe

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-11T18:17:35Z

CJ-

Unfortunately, I don't- it was nearly twenty years ago when I called up Roland USA with questions regarding the manual, and they mailed this document to me directly- it was about 8 type-written pages and was called "A-80 User's Guide," if I remember correctly. It was great because it explained all the basics in plain English, a lot of it having to do with when to hit the Edit button. I sold my A-80 about a decade ago, and the user guide went with it, sorry!

-M

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-11T17:14:04Z

Marzzz:
"Roland USA actually put out an 8 page document to "translate" what the manual specified".

Do you know where to find or download that document/manual?

Thanks
CJ

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-09T15:49:28Z

I had an A-80 from 1990 to about 2000, when I replaced it with an even older Kurzweil MIDIBoard (which has since been replaced with a new VAX77). I always thought the piano touch on the A-80 was excellent, even better than the A-90 that came after it. The manual was so convoluted, though, that Roland USA actually put out an 8 page document to "translate" what the manual specified! My main problem with the A-80 was the poorly implemented aftertouch- you needed hands of steel to get it to work, and it felt like trying to play concrete. But for piano, definitely a worthy controller- just a bit heavy to gig with.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-09T14:11:11Z

I just replaced the old battery with a new one. Because first time I took out the old battery and put it in again to default settings, some of the menu letters appeared "different". I put the new battery in to see if it would "cure" some of the weird letters. It didn´t.
After I did that, there is no midi-signal detected into my PC. I tried all the 4 midi outs on the A-80. I tried restarting pc (in case of eventual ASIO crash). Also restarted the pianosoftware with still no midi in signals. Inside the piano software there is a virtual piano where I can hit the keys with the cursor of my mouse. This still create "midi-signal" and a sound though.

Carsten

jcfelice88keys: thanks. The keys are ofcours not like a real piano, but they feel nicer than the A90 to me, which means it will be less hard to shift to real piano which is a big deal.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-02T16:31:04Z

CTJ wrote:

Solved.
On the keyboard I put the midicable in midi-out2 instead of midi-out1. Dont ask me why it works better.. Thanks

It did not occur to me to switch to Midi Out 2 instead of Midi Out 1; that was a good thought on your part!

Apparently the original owner had used Midi Out 1, and may have accidentally damaged the connector from repeated use (plugging and unplugging a midi cable over the past 20 years), or perhaps from a single trauma to the midi cable while still plugged into Midi Out 1.

Just as I was typing this reply, I looked at the back of my own A-80, and to my surprise I find I am using Midi Output #4!!!.

I am glad your problem is solved, because the A-80 is an extremely fine controller keyboard, even after some 22 years of owning it and using it every day.

Cheers,

Joe

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-04-02T09:16:37Z

Solved.
On the keyboard I put the midicable in midi-out2 instead of midi-out1. Dont ask me why it works better.. Thanks

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-03-31T21:39:01Z

are you sure this is a problem with your keyboard, rather than with the computer? I am having issues with my soundcard that sometimes mute the sound when the asio driver crashes.
Do you have a midi adapter that flashes when there is midi data sent and does that stop too if your bug occurs?

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-03-30T14:11:43Z

Thanks Sebion.
It has been a while since I worked on this. But then I turned on the A-80 and connected it this time to my PC with a pianoprogram installed. Strangest thing, sometimes the keys responds and sometimes not! It occurs while playing, the softer i play, the longer i can play. (few minutes when I´m lucky) So there must be a wiring problem inside the Roland A-80 somewhere I guess. Is that a rare but otherwise known issue with the A-80?
Thanks
CJ

By the way: Earlier on I opened it and took out the old battery and put it inside again(didn´t have a new one), to default the settings.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-01-19T22:12:33Z

pianoteq has a nice midi event window where you can see which messages you get from your controller. This event list is hidden in the options window under midi.

Hope that helps.

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-01-19T19:20:34Z

Thanks for your reply,
I have a soundcard with midi-in which is now connected to the A80. Dont really know how to check midi signals though

Re: Familiar w. Roland A-80?

2012-01-10T00:16:47Z

Hello Carsten,

I happen to own an A80 since it was new in 1990, and it has served me very well every day since then.

I am assuming you are able to get audio output from the A90 when you play its keyboard. If this is so, then you need to ensure that the A80's output midi channel matches the input channel of the A90. Moreover, you need to ensure that the A80's CC#7 (continuous controller for Volume) is set to some positive value other than zero.

If the three above assumptions are not met, then you will get no audio output signal from the A90.

Question: Are you absolutely sure you are outputting, say, Midi Channel #1 from the A80? One way to check would be to temporarily hook up your midi cable to a midi interface. Upon pressing any note on the A80, you should see some sort of LED lighting up on the midi interface confirming it is receiving Midi Channel #1 (in this example). If you happened to have a defective midi cable, then you will have found out your midi signal is going nowhere.

Hope this helps, at least as a start.

Cheers,

Joe