On 01/28/2017 01:11 PM, Len Ovens wrote:
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.
Sounds a bit proprietary to me. Even if a technology isn't patented or
otherwise legally restricted - if no one else uses it, it's effectively
proprietary.
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)
That's possible. Never underestimate the power of hardware to break!
Haven't most modern/current MIDI devices switched to USB? If so, do the
old MIDI hardware transmission speed limits still apply?
--
David W. Jones
gnome(a)hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community
http://dancingtreefrog.com