Song Player/Recorder
30
Ensuring that your parts sound the same
every time
The recording procedures described on
pages 18 and 20 did not mention anything
about how to ensure that your songs also
contain the settings relating to the sounds
you are using while recording sequences.
The MR-200 only records data – or “events”,
as we called them. That term refers to some-
thing that takes place at the time of record-
ing. When recording in “
Org
” mode (and if
you use the MIDI connections described on
page 15, i.e. MIDI OUT
→
MIDI IN +
MIDI IN
→
MIDI OUT), the MR-200 sees
to it that Rodgers organs transmit those set-
tings automatically. In the case of other
MIDI instruments, however, selecting a
sound before starting to record is not con-
sidered an “event” (because there is no
change while the MR-200 is recording).
Consequently, the MR-200 does not
remember which sounds you are using. If
you select another sound on your synthe-
sizer, digital piano or module after record-
ing a part, it will be used instead of the
sound you recorded the part for, however.
In “All” mode, the MR-200 automatically records
the Rodgers organ settings to measure 1, even if you
do not change them while the recording process is
running.
Sound selection operations you can record
via MIDI are handled by so-called “Program
Change” and “Bank Select” messages. When
the MIDI standard was developed, some 20
years ago, 128 memories seemed a lot,
which is why it was decided to use a dedi-
cated message type (Program Change) for
selecting memories on an external device.
The entire MIDI standard evolves around
the magic number “128”. Given that there is
no way of expanding that number, so-called
Bank Select messages were later added to
accommodate the growing number of mem-
ories (synthesizers with more than 2,000
sounds are quite common these days).
At the time, neither CC00, nor CC32 had
dedicated functions and so these two con-
trol change messages were chosen for bank
selection.
Two bank addresses (“MSB” and “LSB”,
a.k.a. CC00 & CC32) with 128 possibilities
each, plus 128 Program Change numbers
provide 128 x 128 x 128 possibilities – a lot
more than you can eat.
On the MR-200, these three messages
(CC00, CC32 and Program Change) are
always sent as a set. Transmitting only Bank
Select messages does nothing at all, while
working only with Program Change mes-
sages means that you are stuck with 128
memories in the currently active memory
bank.
That is why you need to transmit:
• A value for control change CC00 (MSB)
• A value for control change CC32 (LSB)
• A Program Change number
See the manual of the receiving MIDI
instrument for the MSB and LSB values it
supports.
Let’s look at the “complete recording pic-
ture” now, which also includes settings
related to the sounds you are using.
A
Connect the external instrument to the
MR-200’s MIDI sockets (see page 15).
Replace “Rodgers series organ” with “your
keyboard”.
B
Switch on the MR-200 and your external
keyboard.
Create a new song (by selecting the “
All
”
recording mode) or select an existing song
for which you wish to record an additional
part.
C
If you need the metronome, switch on the
[METRONOME]
button.
D
Press
[TRACK]
below the display.
E
Use the
[VALUE]
knob to select the track you
want to record to.
F
Press the
[REC≈∏]
button.
G
Use the
[VALUE]
knob to select another track
you want to record to.
