I recorded this MIDI file on the BK-9 (currently in MP3 format for your review). It has a drum track and an E Piano.

Question: What is the code that will trigger the MFX for the E Piano within the MIDI track?

Let me know if you have experience with this, 'cause I'd like make that E Piano sound richer, as it does while I'm playing it live.

I hardly know anything about MFX, so hopefully Diki or someone else will chime in. However... if the MFX settings are stored with a "performance" (User Program), then there are ways to set up a foot pedal or push button that will call up a specific performance when pressed. You'll have to use performance holds to prevent other things (like the style) from changing, but it will achieve your intended effect.

Of course with all of those performance holds enabled, it will prevent you from using performances to change other while playing a song. So you will have to rely on one-touch settings or favorite tones for that purpose. My $.02.

Thanks Teds for your 2 cents input, you should round it up to 5 cents ...

There's a couple of ways to do this. A lot depends on your MIDI and 16 Track Sequencer settings before you start to record.

It's all a bit clunky, as the BK9 isn't really set up well to integrate with an external sequencer. But the EASIEST way to add MFX to sequences already mostly finished in a DAW is to export the DAW's SMF back to the BK9 (write to the stick, put the stick in the BK9, open the sequence in the Makeup Tools).

Now it's easy to do a bunch of stuff there's really no external editor for BK9 to do. Mess around with the drum kit (change sounds, tuning, effects, offset velocity, EQ etc) add up to three different MFX to any or all Parts. EQ the Parts etc.

I've done a lot of sequencing in external DAW's, but I always tend to return it all to the Makeup Tools for final polishing.


Secondly...

There's a way, if capturing say a style, to tell the BK9 to send via MIDI the Style and KEYBOARD Parts. Now, whatever Keyboard sounds have MFX1 F MFX2 assigned to, when you play back from the DAW, those will go to the Keyboard Parts, not the song Parts. It's a bit complicated, off the top of my head I can't give you an exact step by step, but read CAREFULLY the manual's sections on MIDI transmission and reception, and how the internal sequencer sets up initially to either record the arranger output in total, or just track by track in the sequencer.

The only thing you have to do with this second method is, after you've set up the Keyboard sounds with the two MFX you want to use (remember, 2 MFX available for the Keyboard Parts, another 3 MFX can be inserted on Song/Style Parts) you MUST save the Performance and load it up each time you want the DAW to play the MIDI into it. The instructions for the MFX's aren't recorded in the SMF until you use the Makeup Tools and save (and reimport to the DAW).

As you can see, clunky either way, but doable...

I misunderstood your question. My response suggests how to apply MFX on the fly while playing live. Sorry for any confusion!

Thank you Diki, let me try your first suggestion with the make up tools. The second one is a little complicated for me.

I was hoping that there might be a "code" that would bring up the MFX at the beginning of the SMF, like some of those SYSEX codes do. I was hoping that manually I could write the code into the SMF.

But anyway, you gave me a good idea with the make up tools. I assume that whatever MFX I select, will only apply if the SMF is played back on the BK-9, which I don't mind since that's the only key'brd I'm using.

Teds, no worries. The SMF won't be tied to any performance. I just want each track (besides Track 10) to be able to trigger an MFX, since there are 84 of them. If you listened to the attached recording, the E Piano sounds a little dry...

If you have an iPad, Roland make a free editor app which allows you to fully edit all the Keyboard Parts. Including selecting MFX, editing MFX, EQ's etc.

Now, while this won't work on the Song Parts, you might be able to record its output (use through from the BK9 to your DAW). This would give you a sysex string that you only need to change the header part to address the 3 Song/Style MFX's..

But, bottom line, you really need to dig into the MIDI implementation manual. The codes for inserting MFX and all their parameters are there. Back in the Sound Canvas days (which powered Roland arrangers up to the G1000) that was the only way to do it, roll your own!

It's a complete PITA, but nowadays there aren't any better supported Roland keyboards that use the same sound engine as the BK9. It's very much a Frankenstein monster, made from bits of this, bits of that, so an editor for something like an Integra7 won't work on the BK9.

Quite honestly, I tend to deal with the MFX last in the process, when I mix the project in the Makeup Tools. The DAW I just mostly use for editing the notes.