Rodgers MR-200 User manual

o
Song Player/Recorder
MR-200
Owner’s Manual

The
IMPORTANT: THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE.
BLUE:
BROWN:
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
Under no circumstances must either of the above wires be connected to the earth terminal of a three pin plug.
NEUTRAL
LIVE
For the U.K.
For Canada
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
NOTICE
AVIS
For the USA
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the users authority to operate this equipment.
This equipment requires shielded interface cables in order to meet FCC class B Limit.
This product complies with the requirements of European Directive EMC 89/336/EEC.
Dieses Produkt entspricht der europäischen Richtlinie EMC 89/336/EEC.
Ce produit est conforme aux exigences de la directive européenne EMC 89/336/EEC.
Questo prodotto è conforme alle esigenze della direttiva europea EMC 89/336/EEC.
Este producto cumple con la directrice EMC 89/336/EEC de la CE.
Dit product beantwoordt aan de richtlijn EMC 89/336/EEC van de Europese Unie.
For EU Countries

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
3
FCC notice
Radio and Television Interference
Notice to users
Rodgers products use and generate small amounts of radio-frequency (RF) energy. The instru-
ment complies with the limits set for Class B computing devices. FCC Rules, Part 15, Subpart J
define the limits for radio and television interference in a residential installation.
Follow the installation and the use instruction in the manual, or the instrument could potentially
cause interference with some radio or television reception. In the unlikely event this occurs, we
encourage the user to try the following corrective measures:
• Turn the instrument OFF to see if it is the actual source of the interference.
• Disconnect the peripheral devices and their input/output cables one at a time. If the interfer-
ence stops, it is caused by the peripheral device or its I/O cable.
• Try coiling and uncoiling the instrument’s power cord in different ways.
• Connect the instrument’s power cord to a power outlet on a different circuit.
• Move the instrument further away from the radio or television receiver.
• Turn the radio or television receiver until the interference stops.
• Connect the radio or television receiver to a different power circuit.
• Reorient or move the receiver antenna further away from the instrument. Consider installing a
rooftop antenna with coaxial cable lead-in between the antenna and receiver.
• Consult the nearest Rodgers dealer for more information if the above corrective measures don’t
remove the interference.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this manual may be
translated into any language, stored in a retrieval system, reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any pur-
pose without the express written permission of Rodgers Instruments LLC.
RODGERS INSTRUMENTS LLC
1300 N.E. 25
th
Avenue
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124
USA
[phone]
www.rodgersinstruments.com
RODGERS IN CANADA
5480 Parkwood Way
Richmond, B.C. V6V 2M4
[phone]
© Copyright 2003. Rodgers Instruments LLC, a member of the Roland Group. All rights reserved.
Rodgers®, Rodgers Classic Organs®, and Insignia™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rodgers Instruments LLC,
Hillsboro, Oregon.

Song Player/Recorder
4
001
• Before using this unit, make sure to read
the instructions below, and the Owner’s
Manual.
.............................................................................................................................................
002a
• Do not open or perform any internal
modifications on the unit.
.............................................................................................................................................
003
• Do not attempt to repair the unit, or
replace parts within it (except when this
manual provides specific instructions
directing you to do so). Refer all servicing
to your retailer, the nearest Rodgers Ser-
vice Center, or an authorized distributor,
as listed on the “Information” page.
.............................................................................................................................................
004
• Never use or store the unit in places that
are:
• Subject to temperature extremes (e.g.,
direct sunlight in an enclosed vehicle,
near a heating duct, on top of heat-
generating equipment); or are
• Damp (e.g., baths, washrooms, on
wet floors); or are
• Humid; or are
• Exposed to rain; or are
• Dusty; or are
• Subject to high levels of vibration.
.............................................................................................................................................
007
• Make sure you always have the unit
placed so it is level and sure to remain
stable. Never place it on stands that could
wobble, or on inclined surfaces.
............................................................................................................................................
• The MR-200 should only be connected to
a power supply of the type described in
the operating instructions, or as marked
on the PSB-1U adapter supplied with the MR-200.
............................................................................................................................................
009
• Do not excessively twist or bend the
power cord, nor place heavy objects on it.
Doing so can damage the cord, produc-
ing severed elements and short circuits.
Damaged cords are fire and shock hazards!
............................................................................................................................................
011
• Do not allow any objects (e.g., flammable
material, coins, pins); or liquids of any
kind (water, soft drinks, etc.) to penetrate
the unit.
............................................................................................................................................
013
• In households with small children, an
adult should provide supervision until
the child is capable of following all the
rules essential for the safe operation of
the unit.
............................................................................................................................................
Used for instructions intended to alert
the user to the risk of injury or material
damage should the unit be used
improperly.
* Material damage refers to damage or
other adverse effects caused with
respect to the home and all its
furnishings, as well to domestic
animals or pets.
Used for instructions intended to alert
the user to the risk of death or severe
injury should the unit be used
improperly.
The ●symbol alerts the user to things that must be
carried out. The specific thing that must be done is
indicated by the design contained within the circle. In
the case of the symbol at left, it means that the power-
cord plug must be unplugged from the outlet.
The symbol alerts the user to important instructions
or warnings.The specific meaning of the symbol is
determined by the design contained within the
triangle. In the case of the symbol at left, it is used for
general cautions, warnings, or alerts to danger.
The symbol alerts the user to items that must never
be carried out (are forbidden). The specific thing that
must not be done is indicated by the design contained
within the circle. In the case of the symbol at left, it
means that the unit must never be disassembled.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
5
014
• Protect the unit from strong impact.
(Do not drop it!)
.............................................................................................................................................
015
• Do not force the MR-200’s adapter to
share an outlet with an unreasonable
number of other devices. Be especially
careful when using extension cords—the
total power used by all devices you have
connected to the extension cord’s outlet
must never exceed the power rating
(watts/amperes) for the extension cord.
Excessive loads can cause the insulation
on the cord to heat up and eventually
melt through.
.............................................................................................................................................
016
• Before using the unit in a foreign coun-
try, consult with your retailer, the nearest
Roland Service Center, or an authorized
Roland distributor, as listed on the
“Information” page.
.............................................................................................................................................
101a
• The unit should be located so that its
location or position does not interfere
with its proper ventilation.
.............................................................................................................................................
102b
• Always grasp only the plug on the adapter
cord when plugging into, or unplugging
from, an outlet or this unit.
.............................................................................................................................................
104
• Try to prevent cords and cables from
becoming entangled. Also, all cords and
cables should be placed so they are out of
the reach of children.
.............................................................................................................................................
106
• Never climb on top of, nor place heavy
objects on the unit.
.............................................................................................................................................
107b
• Never handle the adapter’s power cord or
its plugs with wet hands when plugging
into, or unplugging from, an outlet or
this unit.
.............................................................................................................................................
• If you need to move the instrument, take
note of the precautions listed below. It
should be handled carefully, all the while
keeping it level. Make sure to have a firm
grip, to protect yourself from injury and
the instrument from damage.
2• Disconnect the adapter cord.
3• Disconnect all cords coming from
external devices.
.............................................................................................................................................
• Before cleaning the unit, turn off the
power and unplug the adapter from the
outlet.
.............................................................................................................................................
• Whenever you suspect the possibility of
lightning in your area, pull the plug on
the power cord out of the outlet.
.............................................................................................................................................
117
• Should you remove screws, be sure to put
them in a safe place out of children’s
reach, so there is no chance of them being
swallowed accidentally.
.............................................................................................................................................

Song Player/Recorder
6
Important notes
In addition to the items listed under “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” and “USING THE
UNIT SAFELY” on pages 2, 4 and 5, please read and observe the following:
Power supply
• Do not use this unit on the same power circuit
with any device that will generate line noise (such
as an electric motor or variable lighting system).
• Before connecting this unit to other devices, turn
off the power to all units. This will help prevent
malfunctions and/or damage to speakers or other
devices.
Placement
• Using the unit near power amplifiers (or other
equipment containing large power transformers)
may induce hum. To alleviate the problem,
change the orientation of this unit; or move it far-
ther away from the source of interference.
• This device may interfere with radio and television
reception. Do not use this device in the vicinity of
such receivers.
• Noise may be produced if wireless communica-
tions devices, such as cell phones, are operated in
the vicinity of this unit. Such noise could occur
when receiving or initiating a call, or while con-
versing. Should you experience such problems,
you should relocate such wireless devices so they
are at a greater distance from the MR-200, or
switch them off.
• Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight, place it
near devices that radiate heat, leave it inside an
enclosed vehicle, or otherwise subject it to tem-
perature extremes. Also, do not allow lighting
devices that normally are used while their light
source is very close to the unit (such as a piano
light), or powerful spotlights to shine upon the
same area of the unit for extended periods of time.
Excessive heat can deform or discolor the unit.
• To avoid possible breakdown, do not use the unit
in a wet area, such as an area exposed to rain or
other moisture.
• Do not put anything that contains water (e.g.,
flower vases) on the cabinet. Also, avoid the use of
insecticides, perfumes, alcohol, nail polish, spray
cans, etc., near the unit. Swiftly wipe away any liq-
uid that spills on the unit using a dry, soft cloth.
• Do not paste stickers, decals, or the like to this
instrument. Peeling such matter off the instru-
ment may damage the exterior finish.
Maintenance
• To clean the unit, use a dry, soft cloth; or one that
is slightly dampened. Try to wipe the entire sur-
face using an equal amount of strength. Rubbing
too hard in the same area can damage the finish.
• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of
any kind, to avoid the possibility of discoloration
and/or deformation.
Additional precautions
• Please be aware that the contents of memory is
lost when you switch off the MR-200 or during
improper operation of the unit. To protect your-
self against the risk of loosing important data, we
recommend that you save them to floppy disk.
• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the
unit’s buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when
using its jacks and connectors. Rough handling
can lead to malfunctions.
• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the dis-
play.
• When connecting / disconnecting all cables, grasp
the connector itself-never pull on the cable. This
way you will avoid causing shorts, or damage to
the cable’s internal elements.
• A small amount of heat will radiate from the unit
during normal operation.
• Use cables from Roland to make the connection. If
using some other make of connection cable, please
note the following precautions.
Some connection cables contain resistors. Do not
use cables that incorporate resistors for connect-
ing to this unit. The use of such cables can cause
the sound level to be extremely low, or impossible
to hear. For information on cable specifications,
contact the manufacturer of the cable.
If you connect the MR-200’s PHONES socket to a mixing console, amplifier, etc., to which you also
connect an optional MX-200 module, be sure to use the MX-200’s own adapter (do not power it via
the MR-200’s REMOTE EXTERNAL socket) to avoid unpleasant hum.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
7
Before using floppy disks (handling the
floppy disk drive)
• Install the unit on a solid, level surface in an area
free from vibration. If the unit must be installed at
an angle, be sure the installation does not exceed
the permissible range: upward, 2°; downward, 18°.
• Avoid using the MR-200 immediately after it has
been moved to a location with a level of humidity
that is greatly different than its former location.
Rapid changes in the environment can cause con-
densation to form inside the drive, which will
adversely affect the operation of the drive and/or
damage floppy disks. When the MR-200 has been
moved, allow it to become accustomed to the new
environment (allow a few hours) before operating
it.
• To insert a disk, push it gently but firmly into the
drive—it will click into place. To remove a disk,
press the EJECT button firmly. Do not use exces-
sive force to remove a disk which is lodged in the
drive.
• Never attempt to remove a floppy disk from the
drive while the drive is operating (the indicator is
lit); damage could result to both the disk and the
drive.
• Remove any disk from the drive before switching
the instrument on or off.
• To prevent damage to the disk drive’s heads,
always try to hold the floppy disk in a level posi-
tion (not tilted in any direction) while inserting it
into the drive. Push it in firmly, but gently. Never
use excessive force.
• To avoid the risk of malfunction and/or damage,
insert only floppy disks into the disk drive. Never
insert any other type of disk. Avoid getting paper
clips, coins, or any other foreign objects inside the
drive.
Handling floppy disks
• Floppy disks contain a plastic disk with a thin
magnetic coating. Microscopic precision is
required to enable storage of large amounts of
data on such a small surface area. To preserve
their integrity, please observe the following when
handling floppy disks:
• Never touch the magnetic medium inside the
disk.
• Do not use or store floppy disks in dirty or
dusty areas.
• Do not subject floppy disks to temperature
extremes (e.g., direct sunlight in an enclosed
vehicle). Recommended temperature range:
10°~50°C (50°~122°F).
• Do not expose floppy disks to strong magnetic
fields, such as those generated by loudspeakers.
• Floppy disks have a “WRITE” tab which can
protect the disk from accidental erasure. It is
recommended that the tab be kept in the PRO-
TECT position, and moved to the WRITE posi-
tion only when you wish to write new data onto
the disk.
• Disks containing important performance data
for this instrument should always be locked
(have their write protect tab slid to the PRO-
TECT position) before you insert them into the
drive of another instrument.
• The identification label should be firmly affixed
to the disk. If the label comes loose while the
disk is in the drive, it may be difficult to remove
the disk.
• Put the disk back into its case for storage.
Rear side of the disk
WRITE
(you can save data to the disk)
PROTECT
(you cannot save data)
Protect tab

Song Player/Recorder
8
Liability and copyright
• Should data contained and stored on a floppy disk
be lost, it is unfortunately impossible to restore
them. Roland Europe S.p.a. assumes no liability
concerning such loss of data.
• Unauthorized recording, distribution, sale, lend-
ing, public performance, broadcasting, or the like
in whole or in part, of a work (musical composi-
tion, video, broadcast, public performance, or the
like) whose copyright is held by a third party is
prohibited by law.
• Do not use this unit for purposes that could
infringe on a copyright held by a third party.
Roland assumes no responsibility whatsoever with
regard to any infringements of third-party copy-
rights arising through your use of this unit.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
9
Contents
FCC notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Important notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Quick tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
What is the MR-200? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Listening to a song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Recording your first piece . . . . . . . . . . 18
Recording using a Rodgers organ. . . . . . . . 18
Recording using a synthesizer, digital
piano, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Saving your song internally. . . . . . . . . 22
More advanced functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Metronome functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Playback functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Additional recording functions . . . . . 27
MIDI functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Available MIDI parameters. . . . . . . . . 34
File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Disk functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Erasing internal songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Copying a song from one floppy disk
to another . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Function flow chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
MIDI Implementation chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Song Player/Recorder
10
Introduction
Thank you for choosing a MR-200 Song Player/Recorder. This easy-to-use MIDI recorder allows you
to supplement your Rodgers organ, or any other MIDI-compatible sound source, with a handy exter-
nal recording device.
The MR-200 is a 16-track recorder and a realtime SMF Player for use with MIDI instruments like
Rodgers organs, the Roland C-180 Portable Organ, an SC-series or JV/XV-series sound module, an
MX-200 Organ Sound Expansion unit, etc.
To get the most out of the MR-200 and to ensure many years of trouble-free service, we urge you to
read through this Owner’s Manual thoroughly. To avoid confusion, let’s agree to use the word “but-
ton” for all keys on the front panel, and use “key” only when referring to the keys on an external key-
board.
Before using this unit, carefully read the section “Important notes” on page 6. They provide impor-
tant information concerning the proper operation of the MR-200. Be sure to keep this manual in a
safe place for future reference.
Realtime SMF Player
The MR-200 can be used to play back Stan-
dard MIDI Files. Each track can be assigned
to one of two separate MIDI outputs (A or
B).
16-track Recorder
The MR-200 allows you to record both
complete arrangements (up to 16 different
parts simultaneously) and single tracks, and
to listen to the entire piece or individual
tracks (e.g. to check the accuracy of the
overall musical performance).
Metronome
The MR-200 contains a dedicated metro-
nome function, which is helpful during
recording and for practice. The time signa-
ture is selectable (1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4,
6/8, 9/8) and the metronome sound is gen-
erated by the MR-200 itself. (The MR-200
has no internal sound source and thus only
produces a metronome sound.)
Musician-friendly simple operation
The MR-200 can easily load and reproduce
any Standard MIDI File (Format 0 and 1)
from 3.5” floppy disk and also provides an
internal memory area. Moreover, even non-
expert musicians can create songs and save
them in the Standard MIDI File format.
Two independent MIDI outputs
You can connect the MR-200 to two exter-
nal MIDI devices (i.e. a Rodgers organ and
an MX-200 organ sound module). Assign-
ing the 16 MIDI tracks to the desired MIDI
output (“A” or “B”) is easy.
Remote control functions for the MX-200
The MR-200 allows you to select sounds, set
effects, etc., for the optional MX-200 sound
module and to store that information in
your songs.
Remote DC out
The MR-200 comes with a socket to which
you can connect the adapter socket of an
external sound module (Roland JV-1010,
XV-2020, Rodgers MX-200, etc.). By switch-
ing off the MR-200, you also power down
the external module.
Copyright © 2003 ROLAND EUROPE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without
the written permission of Roland Europe S.p.a.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
11
Quick tour
What is the MR-200?
Before explaining how to work with your
MR-200, let us briefly look at what it is and
does. The MR-200 is a “MIDI sequencer”. That
term refers to two things: to the MIDI standard,
and the fact that it allows you to create
sequences.
Concept
Though the MR-200 is as user-friendly as a
tape or MD recorder, it is based on an entirely
different concept. It does not record the audio
information of what you play. In a way, the
MR-200 is an electronic piano roll: it only reg-
isters “events” (the digital equivalents of punch
holes), whose position and distance specify
when the notes are to be played. The sequencer
as such (being the “digital paper roll”) cannot
sound what you record – you need an instru-
ment with a tone generator (a “digital pianola”)
for that. The MR-200 must therefore be con-
nected to an electronic sound source, like a
Rodgers organ, etc., before starting playback.
What does it do?
The MR-200 only works with instructions, also
called “data”, “messages”, or “commands” – just
like a computer. Those instructions are gener-
ated by your playing on an external keyboard.
Whenever you press a key or pedal, your organ
(or other MIDI instrument) sends a message
that translates what you just did (“start sound-
ing a C4 now”, “stop sounding the C4 now”,
etc.). This is possible thanks to a common lan-
guage for musical applications, which is called
“Musical Instrument Digital Interface”, o r
“MIDI” for short. MIDI has a lot in common
with the internet: you can to link one or many
instruments to one another via a cable (but you
don’t need a telephone line), and you need two
machines that speak and understand the same
language.
In the same way you need to save your letters,
scores, and other files before switching off your
computer, you must save your MR-200 record-
ings before switching it off.
To play back a song you recorded a while ago,
you must first open it (load the file from floppy
disk). You may very well be able to take the
floppy disk to a friend’s house and to use his/
her computer as playback device – provided
that computer is fitted with a floppy disk drive
and contains a software program that allows
you to play back MIDI files (most computers
do). If that computer contains a sound card,
you will be able to hear your music. Be aware,
however, that the sound card may use slightly
different sounds, and contain a different sound
engine, so that your music does not sound
exactly like when you recorded it. And if you
use a different sound source during playback,
your music sounds different as well. But it is
usually fairly close.
Advantages of a MIDI sequencer like your
MR-200
As stated above, the MR-200 records your play-
ing as a series of isolated instructions (“punch
holes”) rather than sounds. Their chronologi-
cal order is correct, and so the instructions
(re)produce your music the way you played it
whenever they are sent back to your organ and/
or an external sound module. This approach
offers the following advantages:
• The playback tempo can be changed with-
out affecting the music’s pitch (this allows
you to record at a slower tempo than the
one you will be using during playback);
• You can change (“transpose”) a recorded
piece without affecting its tempo;
• You can repeat the desired passage over and
over using the REPEAT function.

Song Player/Recorder
12
• You can rearrange your own and someone
else’s recordings by selecting different
sounds for the recorded parts and by adding
more parts.
• Your recordings always remain “up-to-date”.
So if you decide to buy another instrument,
you can use its sound generator for playing
back your pieces – without recording them
again, but with the sounds of your new
instrument.
• A MIDI sequence is a lot smaller than any
(MP3) digital audio file. One floppy disk
can hold at least 20 MIDI files (sometimes a
lot more), while it is barely enough for one
MP3 audio file of the same length.
Front panel
ADisk drive
This is where you need to insert the floppy
disk that contains the songs you wish to play
back, or where you wish to save a song you
have recorded. You can use 2DD (720k) and
2HD (1.44MB) disks.
The MR-200 “forgets” the data you record or play
back when you switch it off. Be sure to save your
own songs internally or to a floppy disk beforehand.
B[POWER] button
Press this button to switch the MR-200 on
or off. Switching the MR-200 on or off also
means that the external sound module
whose adapter socket you connect to the
MR-200’s DC OUT socket will be switched
on or off.
CBEAT indicator
This LED flashes to indicate the currently
selected tempo: green while the MR-200 is
not running, and red on the first beat/green
on the other beats during playback or
recording. This can be either the tempo you
set, or the tempo of the last Standard MIDI
File you play back.
D[METRONOME] button
Press this button to activate or switch off the
MR-200’s metronome. After pressing this
button, you can also change the metro-
nome’s time signature.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
13
E[TRANSPOSE] button
Press this button to transpose the recorded
parts to another key. This setting only
affects the melodic parts the MR-200 trans-
mits to its MIDI OUT sockets. The data
received via MIDI IN are not affected. See
page 25.
F[DISK] button
Press this button to access the MR-200’s
Disk functions, e.g. to save the current song
to disk or to manage the files on disk. See
page 37.
GDisplay and assigned buttons
The display keeps you informed about the
MR-200’s current status. The buttons linked
to it by blue dashed lines allow you to select
and set the functions that are currently dis-
played.
H[VALUE] knob
Use this knob to change the value of the cur-
rently selected parameter, e.g. the tempo
value, the transposition interval, etc.
You can also press this knob to confirm your
setting or to change the status (on/off) of
the selected parameter or track.
I[MENU] button
After pressing this button, you can use the
[VALUE] knob to select one of the MR-200’s
functions. The following functions are avail-
able (see elsewhere in this manual for an
explanation):
J[SOUND SELECT] button
This button is used to register the sound
addresses (as “program change numbers”)
for the various tracks you record. It can also
be used to select sounds on a sound module
or MIDI instrument connected to the MIDI
OUT B socket for playback only.
KTRACK [ORGAN] and [OTHER] buttons
Press the [ORGAN] button to select the tracks
that are used for recording your organ play-
ing. Each manual is recorded onto a sepa-
rate track: GREAT= 12, SWELL= 13, and
PEDAL= 14. Tracks 15 (CHOIR) and 16
(SOLO) are also selected and used by certain
Rodgers models.
Tracks you assign to the MIDI OUT A socket (see
page 36) can be selected using the
[ORGAN] but-
ton. Tracks assigned to MIDI OUT B can be
selected using the
[OTHER] button.
Press the [TRACK] button to select all other
tracks (1~11, Master Track, Tempo Track)
for recording. See also page 27.
LPAGE [√][®] buttons
These buttons allow you to select other dis-
play pages with additional parameters you
can set.
MMARKER buttons
Press [A/B] to specify the beginning (“A”) and
end (“B”) of the musical passage you would
like to repeat. Press [REPEAT] to switch the
function of the same name (button lights)
or off (button goes dark). See page 25.
NPLAYER/RECORDER buttons
These buttons allow you to control song
playback and recording. See page 24.
W
rite iSong
Erase iSong
Master Tune Send
Song Chain
Count In Status
Clock TX
Start/Stop TX
Sync Rx
MIDI Soft Thru
MIDI MACRO Recall
Track 1~16 MIDI Out Assign

Song Player/Recorder
14
Rear panel
AMIDI OUT B, OUT A & IN sockets
Connect the MIDI OUT sockets to the
MIDI IN sockets of two external instru-
ments. The factory settings for these sockets
are: MIDI OUT A should be connected to
the MIDI IN socket of your Rodgers organ.
MIDI OUT B should be connected to an
external sound module (like the MX-200,
for example).
The MIDI IN socket needs to be connected
to the MIDI OUT port of the instrument
your are playing while recording (usually
your organ, digital piano, or synthesizer).
BFOOTSWITCH socket
By connecting an optional Roland DP-2,
DP-6, or BOSS FS-5U footswitch to this
socket, you can start/stop playback or
recording by foot.
CMETRONOME [LEVEL] knob and [PHONES]
socket
The PHONES socket allows you to connect
headphones, which might be useful while
recording. You could also connect this
socket to an audio input of an external
amplifier or your Rodgers organ using a
standard 1/4” phone audio cable (“guitar
cable”). Before doing so, be sure to read the
note in the gray box on page 6.
There is no absolute need to use this socket as the
metronome beep is also reproduced by the MR-200
itself.
The [LEVEL] knob allows you to set the met-
ronome’s level.
DREMOTE EXTERNAL DC OUT socket
Use the supplied cable to connect this socket
to the DC IN in socket of another Rodgers
or Roland sound module (if it is powered by
an adapter). You can connect any instru-
ment that requires 600mA or less.
Carefully check whether the external module can
indeed be connected to this socket. See its owner’s
manual or ask your dealer for details.
EDC IN 9V 2A socket
This is where you need to connect the sup-
plied PSB-1U adapter.
A B C D E

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
15
First steps
MIDI connections
In order to use the MR-200’s full potential, you
need to connect its MIDI sockets as follows:
A MIDI OUT socket only sends data, while
a MIDI IN socket only receives them. Never
connect a MIDI IN socket to a MIDI IN
port (or a MIDI OUT socket to a MIDI
OUT port), because that does not work.
Optional metronome connection
The MR-200 contains a metronome that indi-
cates the time signature and tempo. Press the
[METRONOME] button to switch it on. If you
have difficulty hearing it, set the [LEVEL] knob
(rear panel) to the desired value. You can also
connect headphones to the PHONES socket,
but then you will only hear the metronome
(not the music).
If the metronome is still difficult to hear, how-
ever, you can connect the METRONOME
PHONES socket to the AUX INPUTS L
(MONO) socket of your Rodgers organ. This
requires the use of an optional guitar cable (1/
4” jack→1/4” jack).
Before doing so, be sure to read the note in the gray box
on page 6.
You could also connect it to the input of an
external amplifier, but then you would not hear
the metronome if you worked with headphones
connected to your organ.
After switching on the MR-200 (see below), set
the METRONOME [LEVEL] knob to the desired
value. You may also have to change the external
instrument’s or amplifier’s input sensitivity.
Rodgers series organ
MR-200
External module* (*) This could be a Rodgers
MX-200 module, a Roland JV/
XV-series module, or a sound
module by another manufac-
turer.
INPUT
Rodgers organ, ampli-
fier, etc.
MR-200

Song Player/Recorder
16
Power connections & switching the
MR-200 on and off
After establishing the above connections, you
need to connect the supplied adapter to the
MR-200’s DC IN socket:
AWind the adapter cord round the hook to
its right to prevent accidental disconnec-
tion of the adapter cable during operation.
BInsert the small adapter plug into the DC
IN socket on the MR-200’s rear panel.
CConnect the big plug to a suitable wall out-
let (see the label on the adapter’s plug).
DIf you are also using an external module
with a DC IN socket (a Rodgers MX-200,
for example), connect that socket to the
MR-200’s REMOTE EXTERNAL DC OUT
socket using the supplied cable.
If you also want to connect the PHONES socket to
an external amplifier, mixing console, etc., be sure
to read the note in the gray box on page 6.
EPress the POWER button on the external
module.
This ensures that the module is switched on
when you power on the MR-200. (The
external device doesn’t come on yet.)
FPress the MR-200’s [POWER] button to
switch it on.
The module whose DC IN socket you con-
nected to the REMOTE EXTERNAL DC
OUT socket also comes on.
Press the [POWER] button again to switch the
MR-200 (and the connected module) back
off again.
To an external module.
Connect the supplied
adapter here.

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
17
Listening to a song
Listening to a song on disk
To listen to a piece on floppy disk (or a disk
you bought), proceed as follows:
AConnect the Rodgers organ and/or MIDI
sound module to the MR-200’s MIDI sock-
ets (see page 15).
Be sure to follow the suggested connections:
the organ’s MIDI IN→MIDI OUT A
a module’s MIDI IN→MIDI OUT B
BSwitch on the MR-200 and your instru-
ment.
CInsert the disk with the piece you want to
listen to into the disk drive.
The disk’s metal shutter must point towards
the drive and the disk label must be visible.
The display now looks as follows:
In other instances, you can press and hold
the [SONG] button to display both the song’s
internal name and its file name (firs line).
The internal name is usually more explicit
and may therefore help you find the desired
song more quickly.
Not all commercially available Standard MIDI
Files have an internal song name. Furthermore, the
MR-200 does not allow you to program such
names.
DUse the [VALUE] knob to select the song you
wish to listen to.
EPress the [PLAY¥®] button to start playback
(the button lights).
Songs that contain more than 18 tracks cannot be
played back by the MR-200. For such songs, the
display briefly shows the following message:
FPress the [STOP¥ª] button to stop playback.
Listening to an internal song
After saving your own music to the
MR-200’s internal memory (see page 22),
you can also select your pieces and play
them back – without using a floppy disk.
AConnect the Rodgers organ or MIDI sound
module to the MR-200’s MIDI sockets (see
page 15).
BSwitch on the MR-200 and your instru-
ment.
CPress the [SONG] button.
DUse the [VALUE] knob to select the song you
wish to listen to.
Internal songs are indicated as “I01”, “I02”,
etc.
D01:74600_01
I Shot The
Can’t load
Too many tracks!

Song Player/Recorder
18
EPress the [PLAY¥®] button to start playback
(the button lights).
FPress the [STOP¥ª] button to stop playback.
Recording your first piece
As stated earlier, the MR-200 is a MIDI
sequencer that records MIDI messages. MIDI is
a communication standard for digital musical
instruments that can transmit and receive mes-
sages on 16 channels simultaneously.
You can also record complete arrangements by
playing all parts in consecutive passes. Rodgers
organs (and keyboard instruments with two or
more “zones”) use several MIDI channels at
once. A Rodgers organ, for example uses sepa-
rate MIDI channels for each manual and for
registration settings.
This also allows you, for instance, to record the
notes you play on the GREAT manual first, fol-
lowed by the SWELL notes, and finally the
PEDAL notes. Of course, you can also play the
SWELL and GREAT parts simultaneously, add-
ing just the PEDAL part at a later stage. (And
you can also record all three parts simulta-
neously.)
It is important to remember that MIDI only
works as expected if the receiving instrument
“watches” the MIDI channel the sender is
transmitting on.
The MR-200 handles MIDI channels almost
automatically, so that you do not really have to
worry about that. What you need to remember
however, is this: if you also wish to use a drum
or percussion part, it should be recorded onto
track 10. We’ll come back to that later. For now,
just remember that the track numbers corre-
spond to the MIDI channel numbers (so track 1=
MIDI channel 1, track 2= MIDI channel 2,
etc.).
Recording using a Rodgers organ
If you are using another type of keyboard
instrument, skip to “Recording using a synthe-
sizer, digital piano, etc.” on page 20.
AConnect the Rodgers organ to the MR-200’s
MIDI sockets (see page 15).
BSwitch on the MR-200 and your organ.
CActivate the MIDI mode of your Rodgers
organ. See its owner’s manual for details.
When you switch on the MR-200, its “play-
back song memory” (computer buffs would
call it “RAM”) is therefore empty. Before
proceeding, ask yourself whether you have
changed the previous song since loading it
and whether you wish to preserve the new
version. If you do, save the song now (see
page 22).
DPress the [REC≈∏] button.
It starts flashing and the display looks as fol-
lows:
At a later stage (to redo the organ parts),
you can press the TRACK [OTHER] button so
that it stops flashing if you only want to
record to tracks 12~16 (without changing
what’s on tracks 1~11).
There are two things you can do now:
• Perform the following step, then set the time
signature and tempo –OR–
To create a new song, you must select the
“All” setting (if it is not yet selected).
Rec: EW SO G 001
All® 4/4 >120

MR-200 – Owner’s Manual
19
• Switch off the metronome.
Here are the pros and cons of these two
approaches:
Recording without the metronome– This
is perfectly possible and has the advantage
that you do no not need to worry about the
correct time signature and tempo. The
drawback, however, is that the measure
indication in the upper right corner (below
“MEASURE”) will be meaningless and that
several more sophisticated functions (like
REPEAT) will not work as expected.
Recording with the metronome– This
approach has the advantage that you can
rely on a rhythmic guide and so play in time.
Since we are dealing with MIDI data, you
could even set a slower tempo for recording
than the one you will be using during play-
back. The drawback is that you may have the
impression that your performance becomes
too artificial. And tempo changes in the
course of a piece are only possible if you
program them after recording the music.
EIf you need the metronome, switch on the
[METRONOME] button.
FIf you switched on the [METRONOME] but-
ton, set the time signature and tempo:
• Press [BEAT] below the display and use the
[VALUE] knob to set the time signature (1/4,
2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8).
• Press [TEMPO] below the display and use the
[VALUE] knob to set the tempo (20~250).
Watch the BEAT indicator while setting
these two values and listen to the metro-
nome. If necessary, change the setting of the
[LEVEL] knob on the MR-200’s rear panel.
The BEAT value can only be set before you start
recording a new song (and only after selecting “All”
mode). The TEMPO value can be changed while
recording the first part, or by programming the
Tempo Track later (see page 27).
GPress the [PLAY¥®] button.
If the metronome is already ticking, it will
restart when you press the [PLAY¥®] button.
If the metronome is off, you will neverthe-
less hear a 2-measure count-in, but no met-
ronome while recording (unless you switch
the Count-In function off, see page 23).
HWait until the count-in is finished and the
[PLAY] button lights, then start playing your
part(s).
Do not play any notes while the count-in is still
running. This is to ensure that the information
about the organ’s registration is also memorized.
That registration information is rather complex
and can only be recorded properly if the MR-200
can “concentrate” on those messages.
If you like (and if you only play with one
hand), you can change the tempo during
recording by first pressing [TEMPO] and then
using the [VALUE] knob.
The MR-200 always starts recording music in mea-
sure 2 (measure 1 contains all settings related to the
sounds you are using).

Song Player/Recorder
20
IAt the end of your piece, press the [STOP¥ª]
button.
Congratulations! You have just recorded
your first piece with your MR-200. Note
that the “®” next to “All” has changed to
“„”. This means that the organ tracks (12~
16) now contain music data (or silence, if
your organ does not use all five channels).
Listening to your recording
The first thing you probably want to do now is
listen to your recording.
APress the [RESET¥|√] button.
If you watch the display while doing so, you
will notice that the MEASURE indication in
the upper right corner returns to “001”.
If want to start playback from a different
measure, use the [º¥BW ] or [FW ¥‰] but-
ton to rewind or fast-forward.
As explained on page 19, the measure indications
may not coincide with the measures of what you
recorded if you worked without the metronome.
Finding the desired location may therefore be diffi-
cult, or even impossible.
BSwitch off the [METRONOME] button if you
don’t want to hear the metronome.
CPress the [PLAY¥®] button to start playback.
You can change the tempo during playback
by first pressing [TEMPO] and then using the
[VALUE] knob.
DPress the [STOP¥ª] button to stop playback.
If you are satisfied with your rendition save your
piece now (see page 22).
If you are not satisfied and want to record
the piece again, first press [RESET¥|√], then
return to step Don page 18.
Recording using a synthesizer, digital
piano, etc.
The MR-200 can take care of a lot of MIDI set-
tings in the background, so that you do not
have to worry about them. Let us now look at
how to record something using another MIDI
instrument than a Rodgers organ.
AConnect the external instrument to the
MR-200’s MIDI sockets (see page 15).
In the illustration on page 15, replace
“Rodgers series organ” with “your key-
board”.
BSwitch on the MR-200 and your external
keyboard.
When you switch on the MR-200, it con-
tains no data at all. Its song memory is
therefore empty. After playing back a song
on floppy disk, however, you need to select
“All” mode to erase the data of the previ-
ous song. Before doing so, ask yourself
whether you have changed that song and
whether you wish to preserve the new ver-
sion. If you do, save the song before pro-
ceeding (see page 22).
There are two things you can do:
• Perform the following step, then set the time
signature and tempo –OR–
• Switch off the metronome.
See “Recording without the metronome”
and “Recording with the metronome” on
page 19 for a discussion of these two
options.