Roland MKS-20 User manual

Roland
dial SOUND MODULE
DIGITAL PIANO
{MK®
Owner's Manual
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Roland has succeeded in the development of the
Structured Adaptive System which is adigital
technology taht analyzes and extracts the acoustic
sound then synthsizes highly expressive sounds.
The Roland Structured Adaptive System makes it
possible to analyze and extract the tone color
alteration of the acoustic piano sound in each note
caused by the difference of the key touch pres-
sure, then reproduces the most natural tone color
alteration, according to the note played and its key
pressure.
FEATURES
•The Roland MKS-20 MIDI Digital Piano Sound
Module features highly expressive sounds
owing to its SA sound source.
•The MKS-20 includes the Chorus and the Tre-
molo effects and an equalizer which serve to
make wider variation of tone colors.
®The MKS-20's memory capacity is 8preset tone
colors which cannot be rewritten and 56 which
can be programmed to your taste.
®The 64 original tone colors can be saved on the
Memory Cartridge (M-16C).
®The back-lighted LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
makes the operation on adark stage easier.
»The XLR (Balanced type) connectors allow
setup with professional equipment.
CONTENTS
[T] PANEL DESCRIPTION 3
\2\ CONNECTIONS 5
SOPERATION 6
1. Basic Operation 6
a. Setting the receive channel 6
b. Tone Color Selection 7
1) Tone Color Selection with Buttons
on the MKS-20 8
2) Tone Color Selection with MIDI
Program Change 9
c. Tuning 10
d. Octave Shift 11
e. Chorus/Tremolo 11
1) Chrous 11
2) Tremolo 11
2. Editing aTone Color 12
a. Calling aParameter 12
b. How to Edit 12
c. Parameters 13
1) Voice Level 13
2) Equalizer Section 13
Treble Equalizer 13
Treble Level 13
Middle Equalizer 13
Frequency 13
Middle Level 13
Band Width 13
Bass Equalizer 14
Bass Level 14
3) Chorus 14
Rate 14
Depth 14
4) Tremolo 14
Rate 14
d. Memory Cartridge 15
1) Saving 15
2) Loading 16
[I] MIDI Functions 16
[|] Other Functions 17
[s] Specifications 23
Pliease readi the separate volumef "MIDI", before reading this owner's manual.
Copyright ©1986 by ROLAND CORPORATION
All riahts reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in
any torm without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

PANEL DESCRIPTION
<Front Panel >
©Tune Button
OContrast Knob ©Display
iteRo^nd piGITAI, PIAfMO
©Parameter Indicators
daDial
%Voice Selector Buttons
(1 to 8)
%Bank Button
<E) Volume Knob ©Write Button
©Headpones Jack
®Function Button
(D Edit Button
®Load Button
fB Tremolo Button
®Memory Cartridge
Holder
IRffiSS
<B Chrous Button \\^ Save Button
©Power Switch
'© MIDI Message Indicator
<Rear Panel>
CAUTION :»ii,Ma>Kf«s
Roland
®AC Inlet ©MIDI OUT Connector
riUl,
#Output Jacks 'XLR Output Connectors
)MIDI mConnector ®Output Level Switch

IMPORTAWT NOTES
Power Supply
»The appropriate voltage to be used is shown on
the name plate on the rear panel. Be sure that it
nneets the voltage system in your country.
•Do not use the same socket that is used for any
noise generating device, such as amotor, or
variable lighting system.
•When setting up the MKS-20, be sure that all
the units are turned off.
•This unit might not work properly if the power
cable is plugged in with the unit turned on. If
this happens, simply turn the unit off, and turn it
on again in afew seconds.
•This unit might get hot while operating, but
there is nothing to worry about it.
Power Cord
When disconnecting the power cord from the soc-
ket, do not hold the cord but the plug. When the
unit is not to be used for along period, disconnect
the power cord.
Location
•Operating the MKS-20 near aneon or fluores-
cent lamp may cause noise interference. If so,
change the angle or position of the MKS-20.
Avoid using the MKS-20 in extreme heat or
humidity or where it may be affected by dust.
Cleaning
•U^ asoft cloth and clean only with amild
detergent.
»Do not use solvents such as paint thinner.
Memory Backup
®The MKS-20's memory back-up system is fully
supported by abattery. Normally, the battery
replacement is required every five years, but
the first replacement may be needed even
before that depending how many months had
passed before you bought it. Please ask for
your local Roland dealer for replacement.
Save the data in memory onto acartridge or
make asynthesize memo of each tone color,
before having the MKS-20 repaired. The data
may be accidentally lost during repairing pro-
cess, and if it happens, there is no way to re-
trieve it.
Bescheinigung des Herstellers /importeurs
Hiermit wird bescheinigt, daB der/die/das
ROLAND DIGITAL PIANO MODULE MKS-20
(Gerat, Typ. Bezeichnung)
in Ubereinstimmung mit den Bestimmungen der
Amtsbl. Vfg 1046 /1984
{Amtsblattvertiigungl
funk-entstort ist.
Der Oeutschen Bundespost wurde das Inverkehrbringen dieses Gerates
angezeigt und die Berechtigung zur Uberpriifung der Serie auf Einhaltung
der Bestimmungen eingeraumt.
Roland Corporation Osaka /Japan

CONNECTIONS
Set up the MKS-20 as shown below.
Computer
To Device with
MIDI IN
MIDI Interface
MPU-401 etc.
^^ MIDI
IN
MIDI
OUT
The exact copy of the signal fed into
MIDI IN is sent out through MIDI THRU.
CAUTION •.•.«,.,«..„,<>«»..
Roland
MIDI
Keyboard
Recorder
~^^
o
@
MIDI
Keyboard
Controller
MIDI
OUT MIDI
OUT
Rttl
AUXIN
LINE IN
Amplifier
O
<Output Level Switcli>
HML
nir
®Keyboard Amplifier M/H
®Recording Equipment H
®Mixer 17M/H
®Guitar Amplifier l/M
etc.
The Output Level Switch does not work on the
balanced output (XLR Output Connectors ®) but
on the unbalanced output (Output Jacks ®).

3] OPERATION
The MKS-20 has mainly two modes. Function and
Edit. In the Function mode, you can call atone
color or aparameter, and in the Edit mode, the
value of the parameter can be edited. To change
the modes, use the Function Button ®and Edit
Button ®. The corresponding indicator lights up
to tell you which mode is currently selected.
1. Basic Operation
a. Setting the Receive Cfianriei
It is critical to set the MIDI channel number of the
receive unit (MKS-20) and the transmit unit (exter-
nal MIDI device) to the same number.
How to set the receive channel
After making all the necessary connections, turn
the amplifier's volume to zero, then switch the
MKS-20 on.
The Display will react as shown below.
®Push the Function Button ®.
If you find it difficult to see the Display, adjust the
contrast with the Contrast Knob ®.
m
Rotate the aDial ®until the MIDI RX-CH of
the Parameter Indicators lights up.
9Contrast Knob
czi
TUNE
VOLUME
NOTE:
For about two seconds after the MKS-ZO is turned
on, the muting circuit works.
The Display responds with:

(3) Push the Edit button ®.
Push the Edit Button,
and the Edit Indicator
lights up showing the
MKS-20 is in the Eidt
mode.
The Edit Indicator lights up.
Any nunnber of 1to 16 is valid for receive MIDI
channel. When it is set to channel 1, OMNI ON or
OFF can be selected. When OMNI ON is selected,
the Display will respond with:
While MIDI signal is being received, the MIDI
Message Indicator is lighted.
MIDI MESSAGE
>^^>.
"/^
b. Tone Color Selection
The MKS-20 retains 64 tone colors: 8basic voices
and other 7variations for each voice. There are
two methods for calling atone color; by using the
Voice Selector Buttons 1to 8and the Bank Button,
or by sending the MIDI program change message
from the external device.
en
23
CD
4
5
en
6
CD
73BANK
4
Voice Selector Buttons Bank Button
8different tone colors are preprogrammed in the
voices 1to 8of Bank 1as shown below. Each tone
color has another 7variations (Bank 2to 8).
That is, there are altogether 8variations for one
tone color.
VOICE 1
VOICE 2
VOICE 3
VOICE 4
VOICE 5
VOICE 6
VOICE 7
VOICE 8
PIANO 1
PIANO 2
PIANO 3
HARPSICHORD
CLAVI
VIBRAPHONE
E. PIANO 1
E. PIANO 2

1) Tone Color Selection with the Voice
Selector and the Bank Buttons
To select abasic tone color (Voice), push the
appropriate Voice Selector Button.
o23
5
C3
678
e.g.) Selecting the tone color of Voice 3
(Piano 3) in. Bank 7
®Push the Voice Selector 3utton 3.
1
CD
234
56
cz
"'\ /
To select other variation of that voice, hold, the
Bank Button down and push the corresponding
Voice Selector Button. Here, the Voice Selector
Buttons 1to 8correspond to the bank numbers.
The Display responds with:
While holding the Sank Button down, press
the Voice Selector Button 7. This procedure
selects the Bank 7.
1
C3
2
C3
3
nn
56
C3 CZ]
a
(T) While holding the Bank Button down.
(2) Push aVoice Selector Button (1 to 8) to
Select aBank.
When you select the tone color of the Bank 1and
the tone color is not edited at all, "PRESET" will
be shown at the lower right of the Display. If the
same tone color is even slightly edited, "PRESET"
goes away and does not appear unless the unit is
turned off and on again.
The tone colors In Bank 1(= basic voices) are
non-volatile, that is, it can be edited but the edited
tone color is erased when the unit is turned off. On
the other hand, any of the tone colors of Bank 2
to 8can be edited and retained even after the unit
is turned off by battery backup.

2) Tone Color Selection with MIDI
Program Change
The MIDI program change messages sent from
the external device can change the tone colors on
the MKS-20.
The table below shows how the Bank/Voice num-
bers on the IVIKS-20 correspond to the program
change numbers.
1234567 8
BANK 1i2345678
BANK 2910 II 12 13 14 15 16
BANK 317 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
BANK 425 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
BANK 533 34" 35 36 37 38 39 40
BANK 641 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
BANK 749 50 51 52 53 54 55 56
BANK 857 58 59 60 61 62 63 64
*The MKS-20 receives the program change num-
bers 1to 64 but ignores 65 to 128.

c. Tuning
Procedure
®Push the Tune Button @.
The Tune Indicator lights up showing that the
MKS-20 is in the Tune mode.
While in the Tune mode, the Chorus and Tremolo
effects are turned off.
(2) Using the aDial, tune the IVIKS-20.
The MKS-20's Tune mode allows the tuning in the
range of A=438 to 446Hz in 0.1 Hz step. The value
is shown in the Display.
(D When the tuning is completed, push the Tune
Button.
d. Octave Shift
The MKS-20 features the Octave Shift function
that allows to shift the received Note On/Off mes-
sages from -2 to 2octaves in an octave step.
Procedure
®Push the Tune Button
The Display responds with as shown below.
(2) Push the Voice Selector Button 1.
\i m
Now the Tune mode is cancelled and the previous
Chorus and Tremolo effects set before entering
the Tune mode are returned.
Now, the Display changes to as shown below, and
the entire keyboard is shifted one octave up.
Pushing the Voice Selector Button 1again here
will shift one more octave, that is two octaves up.
10

Push the Tune Button. e. Chorus/Tremolo
To return to the normal condition, use the Voice
Selector Button 5instead of 1, and the Display will
respond with as shown below.
The MKS-20 contains the Chorus and Tremolo
effects.
1) Chorus
Push the Chorus Button, and the indicator lights
up showing the Chorus effect is turned on.
To shift downwards, take the same produre as ®
to (3), but using the Voice Selector Button 5instead
of 1. WCD
TREMOLO
UP
oC3
2o3
CD
4
DOWN 56
CD
7
CD
8
The Octave Shift you have set will be retained
even after the MKS-20 is switched off.
To turn the Chorus effect off, simply push the
chorus Button again. The indicator goes out.
2) Tremolo
Push the Tremolo Button, and the indicator lights
up showing the Tremolo effect is turned on.
To turn the Tremolo effect off, simply push the
Tremolo Button again. The indicator goes out.
11

2. Editing aTone Color
All the 64 tone colors in memory can be edited by
using the aDial. The tone colors in Bank 1, how-
ever, cannot be rewritten, that is, the edited tone
color is erased when the MKS-20 is switched off.
The tone colors in Banks 2to 8are automatically
rewritten by editing operation.
a. Calling aParameter
®Push the Function Button.
b. How to Edit the Parameter
Call the parameter you wish to edit as
explained in "a. Calling aParameter".
FUNC-
TION
R
(2) Call the parameter you wish to edit by rotaitng
the aDial.
Rotating the aDial will show the Parameter's
name and its value in the Display.
Parameter Name Parameter Value
(2) Push the Edit Button.
The Edit Indicator lights up showing that the MKS-
20 is now in the Edit mode.
@Change the value of the parameter by rotaing
the aDial.
If you wish to return the Display to BankA/oice
indication, simply push any Voice Selector Button
or the Bank Button.
C3
2o34WRITE
5
CZ3
6
CD
78BANK
Push the Voice Selector Button (1 to 8) or
the Bank Button to select atone color.
12

c. Parameters
1) Voice Level
16different voice levels are available for each tone
color from -13 to +2dB in IdB step.
*The level based on (OdB) is that of the tone col-
ors in Bank 1.
2) Equalizer Section
This is the progrannmable equalizer. Each tone
color can individually have its own equalizing.
®Treble Equalizer
This is the shelving type equalizer with 10kHz
cutoff frequency.
Treble Level
15 different levels are available for boosting or cut-
ting the cutoff frequency fronn -10.5dBto +10.5dB
in 1.5 steps.
9Middle Equalizer
This is aparametric equalizer that allows to
change the center frequency from 400Hz to 4kHz.
Frequency
The center frequency of each band is 400Hz, 560Hz,
770Hz, 1kHz, 1.4kHz, 2kHz, 2.8kHz or 4kHz.
Middle Level
The frequency selected with the ''Frequency" can
be boosted or cut in 1.5dB steps from -10.5 to
+10.5dB.
Band Width (Q)
This determines the intensity of the equalizing. 1
to 8are available, and at 8, the bigger number
makes the slope of the boosting or cutting steeper.
13

#Bass Equalizer
This is ashelving type equalizer with the 100Hz
cutoff frequency.
Bass Level
15 levels are available for boosting or cutting the
cutoff frequency from -10.5 to +10.5dB in 1.5dB
steps.
3) Chorus
The On/Off setting, rate or depth of the Chorus
effect can be set.
Rate Depth
15 levels are available for the rate of the Chorus
effect.
15 levels are available for the depth of the Chorus
effect.
4) Tremolo
The On/Off setting, Rate and Depth of the Tremolo
effect can be set.
Rate Depth
15 levels are available for the rate of the Tremolo
effect.
15 levels are available for the depth of the Tremolo
effect.
To set the tone colors in all the Banks 1to 8to the
tone colors of the Bank 1, turn the MKS-20 on
while holding the Bank Button down.
14

d. Memory Cartridge
Using the Memory Cartridge {M-16C), the edited
data of all the banks (1 to 8) on the MKS-20 can be
saved.
The saved data can be loaded back to the MKS-20
at any time.
1) Saving
®Make sure the Protect Switch on the Memory
Cartridge is set to the ON position.
(2) Securely connect the Memory Cartridge to the
Memory Cartridge Holder Qon the front panel
with the Protect Switch side facing upward.
.,ss^
Usually, the Protect Switch
should be set to the ON
position.
@Set the Protect Switch on the Memory Car-
tridge to the OFF position.
Now, the Memory Cartridge is ready to accept the
data from the MKS-20's memory.
®While holding the Save Button ®down,
push the Write Button ®.
When the saving Is completed, the Display
responds with:
(5) Return the Memory Protect Switch on the
Memory Cartridge to the ON position.
If the Memory Protect Switch has not been set to
the OFF position, the Display will react as shown
below and the saving cannot be done.
Set the Protect Switch
on the Memory Cartridge
to the OFF position.
If this happens, set the Protect Switch on the
Memory Cartridge to the OFF position, then repeat
the saving procedure.
15

MIDI Functions
2) Loading
(T) Securely connect the Memory Cartridge to the
Memory Cartridge Holder Qon the front panel
with the Protect Switch side facing upward.
*The loading procedure should be done with the
Protect Switch on the Memory Cartridge set to
the ON position.
The MKS-20 receives the Program Change and
Chorus/Tremolo ON/OFF messages. It, however,
is possible to set the MKS-20 to the mode of ignor-
ing these messages.
PROCEDURE
While hold the Voice Selector Button 1down,
switch the MKS-20 on.
@While holding the Load Button ®down,
push the Write Sutton ®.
CHORUS
POWER
When the loading is completed, the Display
responds with: hirf
If you try to save or load without the Memory Car-
tridge connected, the Display will react as shown
below.
NOTE:
When connecting or disconnecting the Memory
Cartridge, be sure that its Protect Switch is set to
the ON position. If not, the data saved on the
Memory Cartridge might be erased.

Other Functions
Voice Preserve
The MKS-20 features the Voice Preserve function,
that is, while you are playing the keyboard using a
certain tone color, you can assign the next tone
color to be used, without changing the tone colors
until you release all the keys.
When aProgram Change message is sent to the
MKS-20 with the Note or Damper ON, the tone
color does not change. (The indicator of the cor-
responding tone color flashes.) To change the
tone colors, turn all Notes and the Damper OFF.
(Now, the indicator of the new tone color is
lighted.)
The Voice Preserve function can be turned on or
off by taking the following procedure.
When the Voice Preserve function is off, the tone
colors change the moment the Program change is
received.
Procedure
To turn the Voice Preserve On:
Switch the MKS-20 on while holding the Voice
Selector Button 2down.
IMOTE:
This Voice Preserve function is not available on
the tone color selection using the Voice Selector
Buttons.
e.g.) Changing from Piano 1to Clavi
®With Note and Damper ON, send the Program
Change 5(bank-1 /Clavi) from the external
MIDI device.
The indicator of the voice 5flashes. The Piano 1
still remains.
glowing steadily
,
CZ! CD
23
CD
7
5^r CD 7
CD
8
/~^
POWER
mi
To turn the Voice Preserve Off:
When you wish to change to Clavi, release all
the keys and turn the Damper ON. Switch the IVIKS-20 on while holding the Voice
Selector Button 3.
The indicator of the voice 5stops flashing and
lights steadily.
flashing
P
POWER
mil
17

«Sound Samples»
#VOICE 1:PIANO 1
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
11000 1310 OFF 10 3OFF
21000 ii2ON 88OFF
31000 118ON 23ON
4-1.5 2000 +4.5 37.5 65OFF 88OFF
52770 -6.0 1-10.5 48OFF 88OFF
6-4 770 +10.5 148OFF 88OFF
71000 -7.5 4+4.5 33OFF 44OFF
82800 +3.0 4+3.0 !1ON 88OFF
#VOICE 2:PIANO 2
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON /OFF
11000 1310 OFF 10 3OFF
21000 112ON 88OFF
31000 118ON 23ON
4-1.5 2000 +4.5 3+7.5 65OFF 88OFF
52560 -^3.0 1-10.5 48OFF 88OFF
621000 +9.0 148OFF 88OFF
7+3.0 1000 -10.5 5+6.0 33OFF 44OFF
8400 -1.5 1+1.5 I1ON 88OFF
#VOICE 3:PIANO 3
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
11000 310 OFF 10 3 OFF
21000 12ON 88OFF
31000 11ON 10 5ON
4-3 +1.5 2800 +10.5 +10.5 65.OFF 88OFF
51000 -10.5 48OFF 88OFF
61400 +7.5 88OFF 88OFF
72770 -7.5 3+9.0 33OFF 44OFF
82800 +4.5 588OFF 88OFF
18

«Data Sheet
»
\
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
BANK\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE ,DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
19

bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
\
bankX
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TRFRI FCHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL LEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
bank\
NO. \
VOICE EQUALIZER EFFECT
MEMO
BASS MIDDLE TREBLE CHORUS TREMOLO
LEVEL LEVEL FREQ LEVEL QLEVEL RATE DEPTH ON/OFF RATE DEPTH ON/OFF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
20