Connecting the Roland RD-700GX Digital Piano to the Yamaha GENOS

The GENOS MIDI Implementation makes it trivial to connect any external controller keyboard.

The GENOS has two MIDI IN ports (A & B).

This makes it easy to connect an external 88-key controller to MIDI IN Port A while you can connect an external foot controller to MIDI IN Port B.

Using the Roland RD-700GX Digital Piano as an example, use a MIDI Cable to connect the MIDI OUT 1 port of the RD-700GX to the MIDI IN Port A of the GENOS.

Use a second MIDI cable to connect the Pacer MIDI Out to the MIDI IN Port B of the GENOS.

By default the RD-700GX is set to transmit on MIDI Channel 1.

Set the GENOS to receive MIDI messages on MIDI Channel 1.

MENU | Menu 2 | MIDI | Receive

You will find a listing of 32 MIDI Channels spanning Port 1 and Port 2.

Select Port1 Channel 1 and set the Part to KEYBOARD.

This is all that is needed to instruct the GENOS to receive MIDI messages from the RD-700GX.

Your RD-700GX will be triggering the LEFT, RIGHT 1, RIGHT 2 and RIGHT 3 Voices.

The default split point on the GENOS is F#2

Set the Split Point on the RD-700GX to F#3. This will mirror the split point on the GENOS.

The RD-700GX supports layering of 2 voices on the Lower Keyboard and the layering of 2 voices on the Upper Keyboard.

In conjunction with the GENOS, this allows you to layer 3 voices on the Lower Keyboard and 5 voices on the Upper Keyboard if you so wish.

As you play a few notes on the RD-700GX you will notice that the green LED will flash in the Receive Monitor on Port 1 (MIDI A/USB1/WLAN), Channel 1.

Assuming you have connected the Pacer Foot Controller to MIDI IN Port B, Channel 16, you would expect the green LED to flash in the Receive Monitor on Port 2 (MIDI B/USB2), Channel 16 as you operate the pedals.

The green LED will not flash. Do not be concerned! This is by design.

When you open the External Controller Settings and select a Port and a MIDI Channel, this channel gets reserved for exclusive use by the Foot Controller.

In this example, the External Foot Controller is using MIDI IN Port B, Channel 16.

Now that you have got your 88-key controller keyboard and MIDI Foot Controller to interface with your GENOS, there is just one more essential step remaining to complete this integration.

MENU | Menu 2 | Keyboard/Joystick | Keyboard

The factory setting for the Initial Touch is Normal

Cycle through the options to see which setting feels right to you.

For me I found it best to use Touch Curve = Easy1

The factory setting for After Touch is Medium

I found the Soft setting to work better for me.

With the RD-700GX connected to the GENOS you have the best of both worlds. You can use the RD-700GX for playing piano voices while you can use the GENOS synth action key bed to play all other voices.