EM-55_UK Page 1 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM r ENGLISH EM-55 Interactive Keyboard Owner’s Manual ENGLISH ENGLISH Thank you for choosing a Roland EM-55 Interactive Keyboard, the perfect arranger instrument for countless hours of pure, unadulterated fun. Thanks to its novel integration of DJ-like functions, the EM-55 will take your musical endeavours to a completely new level. Copyright © 2001 ROLAND EUROPE. All rights reserved.
EM-55_UK Page 2 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:08 PM Features Features Session Partner function The EM-55’s new Session Partner concept encompasses three functions: you can switch on/mute the Arranger’s accompaniment parts; you can select from among 8 phrase patterns to be played either in isolation or together with the selected Music Style; or you can use the eight Session Partner buttons DJ style: to create remixes of existing phrases.
EM-55_UK Page 3 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 1. Important notes In addition to the items listed under “Important Safety Instructions”, please read and observe the following: • 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.
EM-55_UK Page 4 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Contents Contents 1. Important notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2. Panel descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Rear panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3. First steps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Setting up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Demo songs . . . . . .
EM-55_UK Page 5 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 2. Panel descriptions A B f ENGLISH D ENGLISH E F C G H I Q R S ENGLISH J K L M N P U O T g V b W Z ENGLISH a c X Y e d A POWER ON button Press this button to switch the EM-55 on and off. B BENDER/MODULATION lever By performing left/right movements, you can bend your solo notes down (left) or up (right).
EM-55_UK Page 6 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Panel descriptions L STYLE button Press this button if you want to select Music Styles. By activating this button, you also specify that the [INTRO], [ORIGINAL], etc., buttons are used for selecting a Style Division, while the [1]~[8] buttons can be used to select the desired Style memory (11~64). In DJ PAD mode, the [STYLE] button can be used for selecting the desired DJ phrase set. Note: Styles can also be selected via the EZ Search function (see p. 15).
EM-55_UK Page 7 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual g Disk drive This is where you can insert a 2DD or 2HD floppy disk with Standard MIDI Files (SMF) or Music Styles. It also allows you to save your User Program settings and the Songs you record. ENGLISH The [VARIATION] button also doubles as [STYLE DISK] button (after pressing the [STYLE] button). See p. 26. The numeric keypad also allows you to enter file names.
EM-55_UK Page 8 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM First steps 3. First steps Setting up The first thing you need to do is connect the supplied ACJ adapter to a suitable wall outlet. (1) Unpack the EM-55 and place it on a stable surface. (2) Connect the small end of the adapter cable to the EM-55’s DC IN jack, and the other end to a suitable wall outlet. (3) Press the [POWER ON] button to switch on the EM-55. Demo songs Your EM-55 comes with 16 Tone demos and 8 Style demos.
EM-55_UK Page 9 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:08 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Playback of a Style demo song: (1) Press the [STYLE] button. ENGLISH (2) Press a numeric button [1]~[8]. Each button selects a different Style demo song (there are eight). Playback of the selected demo song starts automatically. After a copyright message, the name of the selected song will be displayed. You can now press [START/STOP] to stop playback of the currently selected song.
EM-55_UK Page 10 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM First steps Choosing other sets (5) If necessary, use the BANK/NUMBER [1]~[8] buttons to select a different set. 2, Rap, Techno 1 and Techno 2. The illustration above shows you which button you need to press to select the desired set.
EM-55_UK Page 11 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Guess Note ENGLISH ENGLISH After pressing “OK“ (see step (4) above), the EM-55 plays a note, while the display shows “Listen”. The score graphic in the left part of the display shows the note sounded by the EM-55. (1) Play a note on the keyboard. After applauding (or playing the crashing Next, the EM-55 sounds four other notes. sound), the EM-55 returns to the level indiPlay them too. cation.
EM-55_UK Page 12 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM First steps To specify the Type: • Press the “2” button. The display now shows the message “2 Type”. • Use the √ ® buttons to select the chord type (“7”, for example). The complete name of this chord appears in the ARRANGER CHORD field of the display, while the keyboard and score graphics also show the notes. ARRANGER CHORD Black keys you need to press are temporarily displayed as white keys (see the Bb/A# in the illustration).
EM-55_UK Page 13 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 4. Playing with accompaniment Let us now take advantage of the EM-55’s accompaniment function. This function is called “Arranger”. Starting/stopping the Arranger (5) Press the following buttons to use other patterns of the currently selected Music Style: ENGLISH (1) Press the KBD MODE [ARRANGER] button (its indicator lights). ARRANGER Function INTRO Playback of an introduction. Press this button before activating [START/STOP].
EM-55_UK Page 14 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Playing with accompaniment Changing the tempo (6) Use the [TEMPO/DATA] dial to decrease (turn left) or increase (turn right) the tempo (if necessary). To return to the Music Style’s default tempo, press and hold [EXECUTE/TAP TEMPO] for a few seconds. Alternatively, you can also press the [EXECUTE/TAP TEMPO] button several times at the desired tempo. Stopping Arranger playback (7) Press [START/STOP] again to stop playback. You can also press [ENDING].
EM-55_UK Page 15 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Style selection via EZ Search Another easy way of selecting Music Styles goes like this: (1) Press the [EZ SEARCH] button (indicator lights). Example: to select a Music Style from the “POP” bank, press [3]. ENGLISH Note: EZ Search only works for the “A” group (the Styles in the EM-55’s internal memory). ENGLISH The display now shows the number and name of the currently selected Music Style.
EM-55_UK Page 16 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:08 PM Playing with accompaniment (3) Press the numeric button [4] to select bank “4”. Piano 2 Note: The name (“Piano 2” in the illustration) still refers to the previously selected Tone. (4) Press the numeric button [1] to select the “HeavenKey” Tone. HeavenKey Notice how the Tone name in the display changes. If you now play in the right half of the keyboard, you will hear the “HeavenKey” Tone. Note: See p. 28 for how to select Tone Variations.
EM-55_UK Page 17 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 5. Playing one sound (Piano) Here is how to play one sound via the entire keyboard. This mode is automatically selected when you switch on the EM-55. As it was mainly meant to use the EM-55 like a digital piano, this mode is called “PIANO”. PIANO (2) See “Selecting sounds for the right hand” (p. 15) for selecting a different sound. At first, only the [UPPER 1] indicator lights, which means that the part of the same name is active.
EM-55_UK Page 18 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Drumming on the keyboard 6. Drumming on the keyboard Here is how to assign drum and percussion sounds to the entire keyboard. (1) Press the [M.DRUMS] button. With the left-most key, you can play a bass drum sound (also called “kick”). The white key next to it triggers a snare drum sound, etc. Try it out by pressing several keys, either in succession or simultaneously. M.DRUMS Its indicator lights. Play a few notes on the keyboard.
EM-55_UK Page 19 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 7. Using the D Beam Controller The D Beam Controller allows you to control various aspects of your performance, or to add something to the music, by moving your hand, head, etc., in the air. You only need to make sure that you do so over the two “eyes” and within a 40cm (±16”) range. Your movements are translated into musical expression. ON/OFF DJ GEAR SOUND EFX Note: See p. 34 for details about the D Beam Controller.
EM-55_UK Page 20 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Recording your music 8. Recording your music Your EM-55 contains a 16-track Recorder you can use for recording your own songs. Feel free to use the Arranger to add an accompaniment to the melodies you record. Here, you will learn how to record your melody and the Arranger accompaniment. (1) Press the [ARRANGER] button. (The [RECORD≈∏] and [1]~[16] icons flash.) The indicator lights.
EM-55_UK Page 21 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 9. Additional Music Style functions Apart from the basic Music Style functions covered on page 13 and following, your EM-55 also provides the following functions. The following are only available after pressing the [ARRANGER] button (its indicator must light). The EM-55’s SESSION PARTNER section can also be used for “playing” with the Arranger parts, or adding a ninth accompaniment phrase to the Arranger’s 8-part accompaniment.
EM-55_UK Page 22 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Additional Music Style functions Adding yet another Arranger part (Style Pad) The SESSION PARTNER buttons can also be used for the “STYLE PAD” function. That allows you to add a part to Arranger playback, which is not part of the Music Style itself (either in ROM or on floppy). Like the DJ PAD function (see p. 9), the STYLE PAD function provides eight different phrases you can access via the SESSION PARTNER buttons [1/9]~[8/16].
EM-55_UK Page 23 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual One Touch The One Touch function automates quite a few tasks: • The Arranger selects the preset Style tempo. • Suitable Reverb and Chorus settings. • The EM-55 selects Tones for the Upper 1 and Upper 2 parts that are is suitable for the selected Style. There are 4 One Touch memories per Style with different settings for the above parameters. Here is how to select one: (1) Select the desired Music Style (see p. 14).
EM-55_UK Page 24 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Additional Music Style functions Melody Intelligence The Melody Intelligence function adds a second voice (harmony notes) to the melodies you play with your right hand. In fact, MELODY INTELL uses both halves of the keyboard to determine which notes to play: • It looks at the melody notes in the right half; and… • It analyzes the chords you play in the left half to see which notes it must add to your melody.
EM-55_UK Page 25 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Orchestrator The Orchestrator function allows you to vary the accompaniment patterns played by the Arranger. You can leave out parts, thin out the drum part, or even use a totally different accompaniment – in realtime (i.e. while you are playing). ENGLISH The simplest accompaniment Drum & Bass that only contains the drum and bass lines. Combo Accompaniment pattern with only a few instruments (i.e. a band).
EM-55_UK Page 26 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Additional Music Style functions Selecting another “B” Style As stated earlier, the “B” Style is prepared automatically whenever you select an “A” Style, so that the Style Morphing function is ready whenever you are.
EM-55_UK Page 27 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Note: If the Style on disk does not fit into the EM-55’s RAM memory, the “Err – Too Big!” error message is displayed, and the Style will not be loaded. (7) Press [START/STOP] to start playback of the style on disk. ENGLISH Note: The selection of the Style Disk memory will be written to a User Program (see p. 47). This, however refers to the memory address rather than its contents.
EM-55_UK Page 28 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM More Keyboard part functions 10. More Keyboard part functions Using the Upper 2 part The EM-55’s Upper 1 part is assigned to the right half of the keyboard (in ARRANGER mode) or to the entire keyboard (PIANO mode). In all modes except M.DRUMS, you can add a (3) To use both Upper 1 and Upper 2, switch second part (Upper 2) to Upper 1 by pressing the on both [UPPER 1] and [UPPER 2]. [UPPER 2] button.
EM-55_UK Page 29 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Using the multi-effects processor (M-FX) Your EM-55 contains a multi-effects processor that can be assigned to the Keyboard parts (Upper 1/2, Lower). You can select one type and decide which Keyboard part(s) should use the effect. The M-FX can be used simultaneously with the Reverb and Chorus effects. (1) Press the [M-FX EFFECTS] button.
EM-55_UK Page 30 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM More Keyboard part functions Assigning the M-FX to other Keyboard parts As stated above, the M-FX can be assigned not only to the Upper 1 part (default) but also to the Upper 2 and Lower parts. Doing so is easy (though you could also use the FUNCTION menu): (1) Switch on the M-FX (see above). (2) Press and hold the [M-FX EFFECTS] button. (3) While still holding [M-FX EFFECTS], press [LOWER] and/or [UPPER 2].
EM-55_UK Page 31 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Chorus (1) Press and hold the [FUNCTION] button, while pressing the BANK/NUMBER [7] button. 7 This selects the “CHR” function: VALUE Chorus 3 Off Chorus 1 Chorus 2 Chorus 3 Chorus 4 FB Chorus Flanger S-Delay SDelayFb ENGLISH (2) Use the [TEMPO/DATA] dial to select one of the available types. Select “OFF” if you do not need the Chorus effect.
EM-55_UK Page 32 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM More Keyboard part functions Transpose The Transpose function changes the pitch of the notes and chords you play. Instead of figuring out what other keys you need to press to accommodate the singer or an instrumentalist, you can set the required Transpose value and go on playing the song the way you practised it while sounding in a different key. See the example below. No transposition (C major) (1) Press the [TRANSPOSE] button (indicator lights).
EM-55_UK Page 33 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 11. Performance functions Keyboard Velocity Kbd Velo ENGLISH VALUE ENGLISH Note: Quite a few Tones use “velocity switching”. This means that your striking force sometimes selects a different sound. So only switch off this parameter if doing so makes you feel more comfortable. Note: Keyboard Velocity applies to all parts you can play yourself (the “Keyboard parts”): Upper 1/2, Lower, M.Bass (page 43), and M.Drums (page 18).
EM-55_UK Page 34 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Performance functions Footswitch/Expression The EM-55’s FOOTSWITCH/EXPR socket (rear panel) allows you to connect optional DP-2, DP-6, or BOSS FS-5U footswitch, or an EV-5 expression pedal. Footswitch Expression An optional footswitch can be used for sustaining the notes you are playing (default), as Soft or Sostenuto pedal, to switch the Rotary effect speed (M-FX), and more. See “FSW (Footswitch Assign)” (p. 45).
EM-55_UK Page 35 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:10 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual INSTRUMENTS In this case, the D Beam will play musical notes. The pitch and chords of those patterns depend on the notes you play in the left half of the keyboard (in Arranger mode). Harp, Marimba, Mandolin, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, JazzScat, Bell, BassDrum, LoFi Rave, Sweep, Beep.
EM-55_UK Page 36 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Recorder functions 12. Recorder functions The EM-55 comes with a 16-track Recorder that can be used in several ways. On p. 20 we showed you the most straightforward way of using the Recorder. Here, you will get to know nuts and bolts.
EM-55_UK Page 37 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual More about ALL mode In addition to what you learned on p. 20, here are a few considerations: After pressing [● REC], the 16 track and [RECORD∏] icons start flashing, signalling that all 16 tracks are available for recording.
EM-55_UK Page 38 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Recorder functions SINGLE recording mode This mode is only available if the EM-55’s Song memory already contains data. When you press [● REC], the [RECORD≈∏] icon and icon of the first empty track flash. This means you could record a new part straight away. (If all tracks already contain data, Track 1 will be selected.) You can, however, also substitute an already recorded part with a new version. (1) Press the [● REC] button.
EM-55_UK Page 39 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual The [● REC] indicator, the [RECORD≈∏] icon and the icon of the selected track flash. (6) When the Recorder reaches the measure where you wish to start recording, press [● REC] again. ARRANGER CHORD MEASURE 001 TONE KEYBOARD VELOCITY REVERB CHORUS MELODY INTELL RECORD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 INVERSION (7) Play the passage you want to redo. (8) Press [● REC] again to deactivate recording.
EM-55_UK Page 40 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Recorder functions Fast Forward, Rewind, and Reset • To fast forward (jump to a measure later in the song), press [®®]. • To rewind (return to a measure that lies before the current position), press [√√]. The measure indication in the upper right corner of the display will help you locate the measure you need. • Press [|√] (Reset) to jump back to the first measure of the song. You need to stop playback before using the [|√] button.
EM-55_UK Page 41 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Playing back Standard MIDI Files The EM-55 allows you to play back commercially available music data files (called Standard MIDI Files) or your own songs you saved to disk. In fact, when you save a song to disk, it is saved as Standard MIDI Format 1 file and can also be played back using any other SMF compatible sequencer (or software). Press this button once again to stop playback. See also “Fast Forward, Rewind, and Reset” (p.
EM-55_UK Page 42 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:11 PM Function menu 13. Function menu The EM-55’s Function mode contains more advanced settings you may not need every day. They allow you to fine-tune your instrument’s response. It would therefore be a good idea to familiarize yourself with these parameters. All settings (except Mstr Tune, EP Chord, Local and Resume) can be written to a User Program (see p. 47).
EM-55_UK Page 43 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual ■ AccDrums, AccBass, Accomp: volume (0~127, Default setting: 100) Use this parameter whenever you think the metronome is too loud/soft with respect to the music. The default value is usually an appropriate setting. (0~127, Default setting: 90 AccDrums, 90 AccBass, 127 Accomp) These three parameters allow you to set the volume of three Music Style sections: the drums, the bass and the Accomp parts (1~6).
EM-55_UK Page 44 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Function menu ■ LWR Mem (Lower Chord Memory) (On/Off, Default setting: Off) The Lower Chord Memory function memorizes the chords you play while the Lower part is on and holds the corresponding notes until you play another chord. If you need this Hold function for the Lower part, switch it on.
EM-55_UK Page 45 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual ■ Rev UP1 ■ Chr UP1 (0~127, Default setting: 0) This parameter allows you to set the Chorus Send Level for Upper 1 (i.e. how much Chorus should be added to the Upper 1 notes). If you want this part to be processed by the Chorus effect, you need to select a value different from “0”. This parameter is not used when “M-FX UP1” is set to “On”.
EM-55_UK Page 46 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Function menu Note: This function is not available if you connect an optional EV-5 expression pedal instead. Sustain: Also called “Hold” or “Damper”, this function allows you to use the footswitch to hold the notes you play on the keyboard in much the same way as on an acoustic piano.
EM-55_UK Page 47 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 14. Working with User Programs The EM-55 is equipped with 64 User Program memories that allow you to store almost all settings (or registrations) you make on the front panel and via the Function menu (see p. 42). Note: MIDI settings (see p. 49) are not saved to a User Program because the EM-55 memorizes them automatically. It is a good idea to write your settings frequently, even if you still need to do some editing afterwards.
EM-55_UK Page 48 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Working with User Programs Selecting a User Program Though the User Program memory you specified above is already selected, there will be times when you need to select another memory. In that case, here is what you need to do: (1) Briefly press [USER PROGRAM/WRITE]. Do not hold this button down because doing so will start the Write procedure (see above). To actually select a User Program… (2) Press one numeric button [1]~[8] to select the bank.
EM-55_UK Page 49 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 15. MIDI functions ENGLISH MIDI is short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. The word refers to many things, the most obvious being a connector type that is used by musical instruments and other devices to exchange messages relating to the act of making music.
EM-55_UK Page 50 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM MIDI functions Off In this case, the EM-55 is not synchronized with other MIDI devices. It is thus impossible to start/stop it via MIDI. On Arranger playback and Song recording/ playback are synchronized if the EM-55 receives MIDI Start and Stop messages followed by MIDI Clock signals. If the EM-55 receives only a Start message, it will wait a moment to see if there are also MIDI Clock messages coming. If there are, it will synchronize to them.
EM-55_UK Page 51 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 16. Using the outputs and an optional pedal If you like, you can also record your performance (or the Recorder song) to cassette, MD, etc. To this end, you need to connect the EM-55’s STEREO OUTPUT sockets to the external device’s REC IN jacks. ENGLISH Cassette deck, power amplifier, HiFi amplifier, MA series active speakers, etc.
EM-55_UK Page 52 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Disk functions 17. Disk functions The EM-55’s Disk functions allow you to save the Recorder Song in the internal Song RAM memory to disk, to save and load your User Programs to and from disk, to format floppy disks, to delete files on a floppy disk, and to copy disks. Though you can use 2DD or 2HD floppies, 2HD disks have twice the capacity of 2DD disks, so use 2HDs whenever you can.
EM-55_UK Page 53 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Though you could save the file with the current default name (“SONG_001”, or “USPR_000”), a proper name will help you identify the file at all times. We therefore suggest you take the time to specify a meaningful name. You forgot to insert a floppy disk into the drive. Disk Prot See above. Disk Full The remaining disk capacity does not allow to save your data to this disk.
EM-55_UK Page 54 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Disk functions Disk Copy (copying an entire disk) This function allows you to make backup copies of important disks. WARNING: The Disk Copy function uses the RAM memory and erases the Recorder song and its Style Disk memory. Before using Disk Copy, save your song to disk if you haven’t already done so (see p. 52). Disk Copy copies all files of the Source disk (see below) to the Destinat disk. (1) Press [DISK] to select the Disk mode.
EM-55_UK Page 55 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual Format Before being able to save files to a disk, you need to prepare a floppy disk. This is called “formatting”. If the floppy you are about to use is IBM PC formatted, there is no need to format it, though disk access is faster with EM-55 formatted disks. Otherwise proceed as follows: Note: If you do not want to format your floppy, press [DISK] to return to the first Disk function (“LOAD Upr”).
EM-55_UK Page 56 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Miscellaneous 18. Miscellaneous Functions for educational purposes The EM-55 provides two functions that may come in handy for music teachers or for those who use the EM-55 in class: Deactivating or activating the Demo function The EM-55’s Demo function can be switched off so that pressing the [DEMO] button will have no effect at all. This may be useful in situations where the EM-55 is used in class.
EM-55_UK Page 57 Thursday, January 10, 2002 8:12 PM EM-55 Owner’s Manual 19.
EM-55_UK Page 58 Sunday, October 7, 2001 10:16 PM Index 20.
