Roland RD-88 Notes

My notes as an occasional end-user of a Roland RD-88. 

Roland RD-88 Editor Panel 

URL: https://aka-v-c-f.blogspot.com/2023/09/roland-rd88-editor.html 

This is an unofficial editor for the Roland RD-88 built with Ctrlr. It works great! I used it to edit my Scenes (adjust splits/layers, select tones, choose proper effects...). 

For it to work for me, I had to do a few things:  

1. Edit the RD-88 System Config for MIDI under System -> MIDI and right arrow to MIDI TX (PC/Bank/Edit: ON) and right arrow to MIDI RX (PC/Bank/Exclusive: ON)
2. Edit the RD-88 System Config under System --> General and choose the USB Driver: VENDOR
3. Install the Roland driver on my Mac

See also: https://www.presetpatch.com/article/ctrlr-editors,-vsts-and-panel-saving-tools 

Expansions Packs

Note that I had to uninstall the factory-installed EXZ001 Stage Piano pack to make room for the two (better ones) that I use:

1. EXZ008 Vintage Keys
2. EXZ011 Classic EPs

Keybed

Some people love the PHA-4 but I have mixed feelings about it. 

Note that I changed the default velocity setting from Medium to Heavy (Menu: System -> Key Touch) because I don't want to have huge sound spikes if I play too hard, something I tend to do on this keybed... 

See Also: Yamaha GHS vs Roland PHA vs Korg RH3.

MIDI Control

Sending a MIDI program change from SongBook for Mac to choose a specific Scene:

{midi: CC0.85@16, CC32.0@4, PC35@16} # RD-88 Program Change

The RD-88's Sound List manual helps to identify the proper MSB/LSB/PC numbers to use. 

Pedals

I use a Roland DP-10 as a Half-Damper pedal and a Nektar NX-P as Expression Pedal. They both work well.

Preferred Sounds

(future section)