USB/MIDI

[tony2000]

Hi ...i noticed that the Roland V accordion have a usb on the side that say usb midi ,what is actually for? Can it be used to control lets say a keyboard that allso have usb midi ? Or what is it for exactly? Thank you

 

[JerryPH]

There is no USB MIDI, there are separate standard MIDI ports for that... but the USB port is for a USB key thats used for several things like:
- Expansion Sounds
- User sets
- User Programs
- WAV recordings, loops, backing tracks
- Firmware updates

 

[tony2000]

I am really trying to find a way to control a midi keyboard or a backing style machine wirelessly with my fr 18 that's all

 

[JerryPH]

Wirelessly is possible, but wireless MIDI is expensive.  The wireless modules are several hundred dollars each.

If you want to control units like a Roland BK-7m (arranger/backing/drum unit) via MIDI using a MIDI cable, its much simpler and way cheaper.  First download and read through the user manual of your Roland accordion (available HERE).  

Next:

1. Read up on MIDI channels and how they affect your needs, specifically what channels the accordion uses for what functions (pg 47 of the above linked manual)

2. Learn what MIDI channels are connected to what functionality on the arranger/backing/drum unit and make sure that the functions you want sent to the arranger match the channels you are using on the FR-18.


3. Turn the volume all the way down on the FR-18 diatonic and the MIDI device you are about to connect.

4. Use a MIDI cable (sold separately) to connect the MIDI sockets to each other. Connection to transmit MIDI data to an external device:

Make sure you set your connection to SEND MIDI data to an external
device:

5. Adjust the volume level on the FR-18 diatonic and the connected device.

6. Set the “MIDI OUT/IN” parameter. See “MIDI OUT/IN” on p. 50. Select “OUT” to transmit MIDI data to an external device. (This is the default setting.)

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

Doesnt get much easier than that.

For wireless MIDI, 15-20 minutes with google and YouTube will definitely help you out.

Hope this helps. 

 

[Keymn]

I am really trying to find a way to control a midi keyboard or a backing style machine wirelessly with my fr 18 thats all

Midi Jet is my only solution. Been using it for years...pricy, more bulky, but no risk of drop outs and embarrassing note freezes. I work in a outdoor and indoor environment. It even controlled my module 100 feet away when I went outside the building. I work 6 nights a week in a restaurant, move around in and around tables and customers. Only problem I had was with those short midi cables went bad. Be sure to buy quality, one mechanical disconnect can effect any midi connection. I like these Rockboard cables...they are flat and can be angled any position. I had problems with the Hosa purchased on Amazon...but worked several years, probably I abused them? :huh:
https://www.rockboard.de/en/Home--A...4821234A287&category=D0121210001537974638A136

 

[tony2000]

Midi jet?? I cant find it can you pleaee give me more info about it ??
Thank you

 

[Keymn]

https://midijet.com/
I just found out SweetWater music no longer sells it...so is a new model coming out? I only recommend it because reliability. Another accordion player in New York area has been using for several months based on my recommendation. He loves it...
Any other user comments are welcome!

 

[knobby]

Have you looked at the Yamaha UD-BT01 & MD-BT01? Theyre Bluetooth adaptors, which the blurb says are to connect devices to your IOS or Mac devices. But if theyre Bluetooth then they should work with any other Bluetooth device including each other. Maybe as Yamaha first though, before buying.

https://uk.yamaha.com/en/search/index.html?search=ud-bt01

 

[knobby]

There is no USB MIDI, there are separate standard MIDI ports for that... but the USB port is for a USB key thats used for several things like:
- Expansion Sounds
- User sets
- User Programs
- WAV recordings, loops, backing tracks
- Firmware updates

According to the specs here: https://www.roland.com/uk/products/fr-18_diatonic/specifications/ it does have USB midi.

 

[JerryPH]

Yup, it was along the 3rd post or so he said that it was an FR-18... pretty much no other V-Accordion has that feature.

 

[tony2000]

Good morning all sorry for the confusion, 
I just purchased the FR 18 ...i found one after  searching for few months and THANKS to this web side i got one ....
I play in restaurants in the new York area and i usually stroll around tables and play few tunes ,until now ive used sound tracks pre recorded  and at times dont work out very well ,the song is almost over and some customer started to dance .....and they getting upset...so here my new project 
So i  want to be 100 wireless, i do have a korg pa 1000 that works  perfect for me ,it has a great arranger system and so far I've tried to connect and control the pa 1000 keyboard with the fr 18 via
Midi and works great ...but there is a cable ...midi cable...and i need to eliminate that cable....so that i can play and walking around the table with out problems ...thank you

 

[Tom]

Interesting, good luck Tony. Do you play mostly Italian music in the restaurant? Are the people used to seeing you play? I've tried it here but it seems it's not very usual. Please let me know more!

 

[tony2000]

Interesting, good luck Tony.  Do you play mostly Italian music in the restaurant?  Are the people used to seeing you play?  I've tried it here but it seems it's not very usual.   Please let me know more!

No is not very usual ,i have this one Italian restaurant that i play on Friday nights they like my music mist Italian but i wanted to het more jobs in more restaurants, until now i played the organetto which is a very small version of the diatonic accordion only one and a half row on the right ,only play one key  D

So i am very limited of what i can play ,and because i play diatonic accordion i figured that the roland fr 18 is perfect, i can play other music with minor cords .italian and some Americanclassic music is what i play music that you usually ear in movies, commercialsand so on ....are you play in restaurants as well ?? I am i  the new York city area

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tony! Good luck with your other restaurants. No, I do not play in restaurants but I would like to, or small venues like coffee shops. I played 3 times in one restaurant but it was not too successful. There was no stage area, so I had to stand or walk around, but most people just wanted to eat. I don't think I played that bad! I play at volunteer venues 2 or 3 times a month.

I play a few tunes on the organetto (in G) like Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, Serenata Aviglianese, Calabrean tarantella, and play these and more on the piano accordion, a lot of traditional music like Carnevale di Venezia, Vieni Sul Mare, Calabrisella Mia, Finiculi, etc. plus the required polkas and waltzes of Wisconsin.

 

[Keymn]

Thanks Tony! Good luck with your other restaurants. No, I do not play in restaurants but I would like to, or small venues like coffee shops. I played 3 times in one restaurant but it was not too successful. There was no stage area, so I had to stand or walk around, but most people just wanted to eat. I don't think I played that bad! I play at volunteer venues 2 or 3 times a month.

I play a few tunes on the organetto (in G) like Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, Serenata Aviglianese, Calabrean tarantella, and play these and more on the piano accordion, a lot of traditional music like Carnevale di Venezia, Vieni Sul Mare, Calabrisella Mia, Finiculi, etc. plus the required polkas and waltzes of Wisconsin.

Restaurant gigs are quite different then corporate or family parties. In my view, volume is a key in restaurant and not too be intrusive to the diners when strolling. Many times I feel nobody cares about my music playing at my current gig at Edelweiss Biergarten in Phoenix. I just play songs one after another with no silence. Then there are times I get audience participation. But most people dining are there to meet with friends and family members. Do not be discouraged, as when reviews come in, that is what counts!

 

[Tom]

Thanks, Key!

 

[Keymn]

There is no USB MIDI, there are separate standard MIDI ports for that... but the USB port is for a USB key thats used for several things like:
- Expansion Sounds
- User sets
- User Programs
- WAV recordings, loops, backing tracks
- Firmware updates

Remember our discussion way back? If you plug in the Yamaha Ud-bt01 into the computer port of accordion, you can receive midi program/control messages to accordion from different apps on iPad. Like this application:

https://baumsoftware.freshdesk.com/...land-fr-4x-v-accordion-for-use-with-songbook-

I do not have a need for this, but heard some accordion players may be doing this now?

Another thing to try, add a Bluetooth pedal like Airturn Bt200s, May give footswitch control to set a certain register?

Roland accordions are a bit dated and do not mention this in manual, but is mentioned in many of the newer keyboards and arrangers. For example: Roland GoKeys have both Bluetooth Midi as mentioned and Bluetooth audio...

 

[n9yty]

I know that my FR-1xb and my FR-4xb have the USB port for the memory device (and Wireless link to the iPad on the FR-1xb), and also a USB connection on the bottom that is really advertised/intended to connect to the computer. However, you can run it into a USB MIDI Host adapter, like the Kenton USB MIDI Host, the Sevilla Soft USB-UHM2 and USB-UHMR, and others... This will give you a simultaneous MIDI IN and OUT which you don't have otherwise as both of these only have one MIDI port that is either IN or OUT depending on the choice in the settings. I set up my FR-4xb that way so I can have one small USB cable coming to the accordion and connect both the BK-7m and the FC-300 pedal unit.

 

[torch]

I know that my FR-1xb and my FR-4xb have the USB port for the memory device (and Wireless link to the iPad on the FR-1xb), and also a USB connection on the bottom that is really advertised/intended to connect to the computer. However, you can run it into a USB MIDI Host adapter, like the Kenton USB MIDI Host, the Sevilla Soft USB-UHM2 and USB-UHMR, and others... This will give you a simultaneous MIDI IN and OUT which you don't have otherwise as both of these only have one MIDI port that is either IN or OUT depending on the choice in the settings. I set up my FR-4xb that way so I can have one small USB cable coming to the accordion and connect both the BK-7m and the FC-300 pedal unit.

Just saw this thread.  Yes, the 1x, 4x, 8x, and 18 all have USB MIDI.    About three years ago, I was talking to a Roland accordion dealer on the East coast.  The dealer swore that the FR1x did not have USB MIDI.  I didn't want to argue with the person but I pleaded with the dealer to take a take a look at the bottom of it.    After the person came back to the phone, what an attitude......   Anyway, so with these models, you only need a USB cable to connect to PC/MAC and IOS devices (plus a lightning adapter or other adapter depending on the IOS models) for MIDI.