Please, Help!!!!!

[Volks]

OK here's the problem:

I don't understand how exactly a sound module works with a keyboard. OK, I want to get a Roland JV-1010 sound module and use it with MIDI to play it on my Roland MC-303. I don't understand what the sounds do once they are "in" the MC-303. Can I only just play the sounds from the module on the keyboard, or can I use the MC-303's appegiator on the sounds, can I apply the effects from the MC-303 on it, or can I apply the sounds to the presets on the MC-303 or what!!??? Basically, what I what to know is: what can I do with the sound once it's in a keyboard?? I have an small understanding of what MIDI is, but I don't understand what kind of relationship a sound module and keyboard have?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated,

Andrew(I'm learning new things about digital music EVERY minute of the day. I'm on a constant quest to gain knowledge about producing my own music and I'm having a hard time finding simple explanations of what should be easy, ordinary processes in the recording world on the internet!!!)

 

[DavidK]

Hi Andrew, I dont know what an MC303 is or does,
but I will assume its a midi keyboard.

If you get a JV 1010, you will control it with
a keyboard. The sounds from the JV1010 wont go "in"
the MC303, they will be seperate. A sound module
is just a keyboard without keys.

Your "master" keyboard simply controls the JV1010
and doesnt interact with it. You can control
the notes, pitch bend, modulation,etc. Arpeggiators
probably arent going to work, effects the same.
If your sound is off or on on the Mc303, makes
no difference to the JV1010.

A good analogy to midi is the VCR/TV/Cable setup.
A universal remote control can operate all 3,
but if your VCR is stereo and your TV is not,
your tv wont all of a sudden be stereo. Likewise,
if your cable transmits a show in stereo, your
tv is still mono. They just
have the same controller.

The JV1010 is a great little unit, and the price
right now is great. Once you get the concept of
midi down, its fairly easy, and once you get the
Jv1010 running with all 16 channels, you are gonna
want more and more and more. Its addicting! David

 

[Volks]

Hey,

Thanx for respondin'. I still don't get it though. How do you get the sounds from the sound module. What is it, you can only play notes on the keyboard with the sounds from the sound module or DOES the sound module have preset melodies? And what if you did want to use an appegiator with sounds from a sound module? This is so confusing!!!!!!

Andrew!

 

[DavidK]

Hey Andrew,
I got my first midi rig back in 1985, and I remember
being confused too, so dont fret, once you get the
concept, its fairly straight forward.

I think your keyboard is a MC303. I dont know anything
about it, so I will assume its a midi keyboard like
a yahama DX7, which everyone has heard of. I am
going to use the DX7 for the following example, kind
of a universal keyboard.

A keyboard synth, like the DX7, has two parts;

1. The sixtyone white and black keys, aka the Keyboard.
2. The other crap, like sounds, arpegiattors, effects.

A sound module has:

2. The other crap.

To use a sound module, you need a keyboard controller,
like a dx7.

When using the Dx7 with a sound module like a jv1010,
you will use the keyboard on the dx7 to control the
jv1010. FORGET ABOUT THE OTHER CRAP ON THE DX7.
You are just borrowing the DX7s keyboard to control
the jv1010.
If the DX7 has an arpegiattor, cool bass sounds, reverb,
etc, IT WONT AFFECT the JV1010.

You are just borrowing the keyboard from the DX7
to use with the JV1010. The actual sounds, reverb,etc.,
are totally seperate and dont work together.

Sound modules were designed to save space and money.
Who needs two sets of keys when one set can operate
both? is the thinking behind sound modules.

If you are playing a sound on the dx7, with volume up,
and hook it to the Jv1010, with volume up, both machines
will make a sound. The Dx7 could play a piano sound,
and the jv1010 could play a tuba sound, but both
sounds will come out. Thats the beauty of the whole thing.
If I can help more email me, I would be glad to help, David

 

[Volks]

Thanx...

Hey!,

Well, thanx. That's what I've been wanting to know for so long, but no one ever explained it to me. Now I understand clearly! But I do have one other questions(just two more questions, I swear!)...Do sound modules have an appegiator and stuff on it like cutoff/resonance? What if I wanted to use the sounds in a sequencer, how would that work? After looking on the internet and at music stores, sound modules do sound like a good idea. For $400-700 you can get a ton of sounds for less than a keyboard. It seems like everyone who works with electronic music knows what MIDI is and uses it, so I think I should get into it too. It can't be that hard!! Oh, the Roland MC-303 is a synth(it's has a sequencer, appegiator, effects, 16 note keyboard, etc.) Thanx again!,

Andrew!

PS: DO you have a DX-7? I've heard good things about those, but they are vintage and hard to find.