[LAU] Roland A500S: snd-usb-audio error -5

[Len Ovens]

On Sat, 28 Jan 2017, david wrote:

> On 01/28/2017 12:39 AM, Francesco Ariis wrote:
>> On Sat, Jan 28, 2017 at 09:45:27AM +0100, Francesco Ariis wrote:
>>> Hello linux-audio users,
>>>
>>>     I recently acquired a roland a-500s midi keyboard and I have problems
>>> using it under linux. [...]
>> 
>> I found the solution. Apparently every Roland series 500 keyboard has
>> an ADVANCED MODE switch. Turning it off solved the problem.
>> 
>> The switch is on the left side of the keyboard, I suspect this 'trick'
>> holds true for many A-xyz Roland keyboard.
>> 
>> I'll add a few more words to make this pop up on search engines:
>> my Roland a-500 (a-500s, a-800pro) keyboard was not recognised, but I
>> solved the problem.
>
> That's interesting. I wonder of their "Advanced" term is just a synonym for 
> "Proprietary"?

>From the manual:
 	"This mode utilizes the A-500S’s special, advanced MIDI driver.
 	This advanced driver uses *FPT technology for rapid, high-performance
 	MIDI transmissions."

Standard driver:
 	"This mode uses the standard MIDI driver included with
 	the OS. Use this if you do not have the special driver
 	installed. This setting can be used only when running Windows XP."

The manual does not claim this is Roland technology or that it is licenced 
from someone else. Looking up FPT USB MIDI on the web does only return 
Roland/Cakewalk pages for as long as I looked.

I did find that this is the advanced mode in the Roland UM-ONE which I 
used to have (it is on loan right now) as well. I remember trying that 
MIDI interface in Linux with both modes and MIDI seemed to work just fine 
either way.... However, I would also point out that the speed was limited 
to real MIDI speeds in any case so it may have been a compatablity mode in 
case there was a Roland kb plugged in as well, and not the full advanced 
mode. Who knows... (maybe my switch was broken too)

--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net