FR-8x Video Tutorials

[JerryPH]

As I am learning here, I see that there are not a lot of video tutorials for the things that I am looking for, so because I can, I will be making a few of them in the future, based on topics that I do not see anywhere, initially for my own records, but if someone else can benefit, that would be cool.

Quick example, I saw no video that explicitly could teach a newbie FR-8x owner how to import UPG sets, so here is my video about that. Its a relatively easy task, but for someone that never did it before, you need to search and read and maybe ask on the web and wait for an answer. Now, here it is in one easy video to watch in a few minutes.

No talking here, but the next ones will be improved with a little vocal instruction.



Other videos will start off easy and lead in to more complex topics as I learn them and have time to make them.

Let me know what you think, good idea or am I wasting my time?

 

[Glenn]

Thanks Jerry useful little video. Might be worth mentioning where you import from (ie. USB stick plugged in the front).
An idea for future videos would be how to organise user programs so you can find the damned things when you want them.
Oh, btw, surprised the background music was devoid of any accordion sounds

 

[JerryPH]

Hmmm... accordion music in the video about an accordion, huh? Novel thought. :lol: Yes that would be a good idea, one that I kind of forgot.

I will be making more (and better) videos over time, but before I start making videos, I need to get a lot better with the technical aspects of this accordion. Right now I have so many newbie questions, I cannot even take myself seriously at this point in time. More playing! {}

 

[EdwardKarisch]

Hello. I just recently joined this Forum. I am Ed Karisch in Houston, Texas. My wife just recently surprised me with an FR-8X for me to learn to play. I will look forward to viewing your videos. I have been playing an acoustic Titano accordion and am now sort of learning how to work the new FR-8X. You all take care and best wishes on your video making process, Ed.

 

[EdwardKarisch]

I am going to try to learn how to copy an existing user program from its current location to a new empty location and then how to modify the new location to be a new user program with different sounds and parameters. I downloaded "FR-8X: How to Program a User Program" from the Roland support site and will see what I can do. Wish me luck - I will need it.

 

[Glenn]

Hi Edward, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new accordion.
The task you are trying to perform is described in the manual I think. Just load a user program then when you save it give it a new location. Then this new version is the one you edit. Have you made sure you have the latest version of the operating software? The latest version has improved options for user program handling.


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[JerryPH]

I am going to try to learn how to copy an existing user program from its current location to a new empty location and then how to modify the new location to be a new user program with different sounds and parameters. I downloaded FR-8X: How to Program a User Program from the Roland support site and will see what I can do. Wish me luck - I will need it.

Hi Edward, welcome to the forum. What a lovely wife you have for getting you such a wonderful gift!

If I may suggest, just take your time with the instrument, learn the basics and from there move on up. The owners manual is helpful for an overview and it is good to read. I would also suggest downloading the following PDF files from Roland:

- The 8X factory manual if you dont have it yet.
- The TONE and DRUM KIT LIst.
- The later TONE and DRUM KIT LIst.

The next thing you should really do is make sure you have the latest firmware for your FR-8X, and if not the latest version DOWNLOAD it HERE and install it. READ CAREFULLY before installing!!

Once you have the latest firmware, time to add a TON of new sounds and several sets all for free. You do that by going to THIS page and downloading the 4 files for the different sound expansions:

1- Alpine
2 -Dallapè
3 - Orchestra
4 - Balkan

Dont bother with the German sets, they are made specifically for the FR-4X, and though you can make them work under the 8X, because they are made for the 4X, several registrations will give you errors.

BTW, the 4 sets are all ZIP files (compressed files). Open them up, extract ONLY the directories for the 8X and follow the directions on how to install the expansions and sets. Be ready to spend a day or 2 just listening to the new sounds your accordion now has!

At this point, make a backup of your accordion (reference exporting SETS on P.44 and User Programs on P.64)

Now, if you think that is a lot, one of the things that helped me out TREMENDOUSLY is getting the custom sets from Richard Noel. Hes spent hundreds of hours creating basically 30 sets that are amazingly well made, I use them a lot myself, its as if he looked in to my head and made the sounds I was looking for. Seriously, his sets should come factory installed, thats how good they are! His website is HERE. He also has a ton of YouTube videos that you should check out at least once.

I have a small blog that I started that touches on my experiences with the 8X and as a repository of my settings and what not (http://www.accordionmemories.com/category/fr-8x-education/ )

Finally, If you have any questions, ask away... I dont promise to know everything, as I am also new to the 8X myself, but I always try to help.

Jerry

 

[EdwardKarisch]

Hello folks, thanks for all that information. I just got back from business trip and was away from my computer for a while. I was able to make a new set of 14 user programs that have a good bass for a polka band sound. I will be happy to share it with anyone who might want to have it. It is only 357 KB in size so I could easily email it to anyone. Or is there a place on this site to upload things like this for sharing? Now that I am back - I hope to be on the forum more often.
My email is <EMAIL email="genedusaf@yahoo.com">genedusaf@yahoo.com</EMAIL> and I will be glad to email the "polka bass" user program set I made to anyone who would want to have it. It sounds 'ok' for playing the old time polkas that the old polka bands in central Texas use to play when they were all still alive. I even played Errol Garner's Misty using register one with a brass sounding bass. It's pretty neat sounding and a little different from the way Leon Sash plays it. I would love to be able to practice enough to include all the arpeggios that Mr. Sash is able to do. But I think that takes many many many hours of practice to duplicate his sound and techniques.

 

[Bobo]

Hmmm... accordion music in the video about an accordion, huh? Novel thought. {}

Haha! Yeah, thats some serious bedroom music you have going on there.
Oh, yeah.

 

[JerryPH]

I was able to make a new set of 14 user programs that have a good bass for a polka band sound. I will be happy to share it with anyone who might want to have it. It is only 357 KB in size so I could easily email it to anyone. Or is there a place on this site to upload things like this for sharing? Now that I am back - I hope to be on the forum more often.

... I will be glad to email the polka bass user program set I made to anyone who would want to have it.

Sure, Ill check it out, if you dont mind? You can send it to Jerry (at) AccordionMemories (dot) com and if I like it, I can host it on my website and give you full credit for it, of course.