Roland A-49 User Manual
Owner’s Manual
For the following languages, a PDF version of the Owner’s Manual can be found on the CD-ROM.
Deutsch, Français, Italiano, Español, Português, Nederlands
What is MIDI?
MIDI is an internationally recognized standard for exchanging performance information between
electronic musical instruments and computers.
For example, in the illustration below, a MIDI signal meaning “the ‘C’ key on the MIDI keyboard was
pressed” passes through the A-49 and is received by the computer’s software sound module, and
then the software sound module plays the note “C.”
MIDI signal
Information meaning “the ‘C’
key was pressed”
“C” is played
Software sound module
“C” key is pressed
In this way, MIDI is used to send performance information to other instruments; for example
“the ‘C’ key was pressed with a certain amount of force,” “the instrument was changed to a violin
sound,” “the volume was raised/lowered,” “the pitch was raised/lowered,” etc. In other words, MIDI
is the “language of musical instruments.”
MIDI signals are merely performance instructions, therefore a MIDI sound module, such as a
software sound module, is required to produce sound.
All software sound modules and DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software support MIDI.
MEMO
DAW software is a term that refers to music production software, such as SONAR.
Note
Do not connect the A-49 to the computer until the driver has been installed (p. 13).
Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled:”USING THE UNIT SAFELY” (p. 3) and “IMPORTANT
NOTES” (p. 4). These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit.
Additionally, in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your
new unit, Owner’s Manual should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a
convenient reference.
2
USING THE UNIT SAFELY
About WARNING and CAUTION Notices
Used for instructions intended to alert the
user to the risk of death or severe injury
should the unit be used improperly.
Used for instructions intended to alert the
user to the risk of injury or material
damage should the unit be used
improperly.
* Material damage refers to damage or
other adverse effects caused with
respect to the home and all its
furnishings, as well to domestic animals
or pets.
ALWAYS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING
WARNING
Do not disassemble or modify by yourself
Do not open or perform any internal
modications on the unit.
Do not repair or replace parts by yourself
Do not attempt to repair the unit, or
replace parts within it (except when this
manual provides specic instructions
directing you to do so). Refer all servicing
to your retailer, the nearest Roland
Service Center, or an authorized Roland
distributor, as listed on the “Information”
page.
Do not use or store in the following types of
locations
Subject to temperature extremes (e.g.,
direct sunlight in an enclosed vehicle, near
a heating duct, on top of heat-generating
equipment); or are
• Damp (e.g., baths, washrooms, on wet
oors); or are
• Exposed to steam or smoke; or are
• Subject to salt exposure; or are
• Humid; or are
• Exposed to rain; or are
• Dusty or sandy; or are
• Subject to high levels of vibration and
shakiness.
About the Symbols
The symbol alerts the user to important instructions or
warnings.The specific meaning of the symbol is
determined by the design contained within the triangle. In
the case of the symbol at left, it is used for general
cautions, warnings, or alerts to danger.
The symbol alerts the user to items that must never be
carried out (are forbidden). The specific thing that must
not be done is indicated by the design contained within
the circle. In the case of the symbol at left, it means that
the unit must never be disassembled.
The symbol alerts the user to things that must be
carried out. The specific thing that must be done is
indicated by the design contained within the circle. In the
case of the symbol at left, it means that the power-cord
plug must be unplugged from the outlet.
WARNING
Do not place in an unstable location
Make sure you always have the unit
placed so it is level and sure to remain
stable. Never place it on stands that could
wobble, or on inclined surfaces.
Don’t allow foreign objects or liquids to enter unit;
never place containers with liquid on unit
Do not place containers containing liquid
on this product. Never allow foreign
objects (e.g., ammable objects, coins,
wires) or liquids (e.g., water or juice) to
enter this product. Doing so may cause
short circuits, faulty operation, or other
malfunctions.
Turn o the unit if an abnormality or malfunction
occurs
Immediately disconnect the USB cable,
and request servicing by your retailer,
the nearest Roland Service Center, or an
authorized Roland distributor, as listed on
the “Information” page when:
• Objects have fallen into, or liquid has
been spilled onto the unit; or
• If smoke or unusual odor occurs; or
• The unit has been exposed to rain (or
otherwise has become wet); or
• The unit does not appear to operate
normally or exhibits a marked change
in performance.
3
IMPORTANT NOTES
WARNING
Adults must provide supervision in places where
children are present
When using the unit in locations where
children are present, be careful so no
mishandling of the unit can take place. An
adult should always be on hand to provide
supervision and guidance.
Do not drop or subject to strong impact
Protect the unit from strong impact.
(Do not drop it!)
Do not use a CD-ROM in an audio CD player or DVD
player
DO NOT play a CD-ROM disc on a
conventional audio CD player. The
resulting sound may be of a level that
could cause permanent hearing loss.
Damage to speakers or other system
components may result.
Manage cables for safety
Try to prevent cords and cables from
becoming entangled. Also, all cords and
cables should be placed so they are out of
the reach of children.
Avoid climbing on top of the unit, or placing heavy
objects on it
Never climb on top of, nor place heavy
objects on the unit.
Disconnect everything before moving the unit
Disconnect all cords coming from external
devices before moving the unit.
IMPORTANT NOTES
CAUTION
Power Supply
• To prevent malfunction and equipment failure,
always make sure to turn o the power on all your
equipment before you make any connections.
Placement
• This device may interfere with radio and television
reception. Do not use this device in the vicinity of
such receivers.
• Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight, place
it near devices that radiate heat, leave it inside
an enclosed vehicle, or otherwise subject it to
temperature extremes. Excessive heat can deform
or discolor the unit.
4
• When moved from one location to another where
the temperature and/or humidity is very dierent,
water droplets (condensation) may form inside
the unit. Damage or malfunction may result if
you attempt to use the unit in this condition.
Therefore, before using the unit, you must allow it
to stand for several hours, until the condensation
has completely evaporated.
• Do not allow objects to remain on top of the
keyboard. This can be the cause of malfunction,
such as keys ceasing to produce sound.
• Depending on the material and temperature of
the surface on which you place the unit, its rubber
feet may discolor or mar the surface.
You can place a piece of felt or cloth under the
rubber feet to prevent this from happening. If you
do so, please make sure that the unit will not slip
or move accidentally.
IMPORTANT NOTES
• Do not put anything that contains water on this
unit. Also, avoid the use of insecticides, perfumes,
alcohol, nail polish, spray cans, etc., near the unit.
Swiftly wipe away any liquid that spills on the unit
using a dry, soft cloth.
Maintenance
• For everyday cleaning wipe the unit with a soft,
dry cloth or one that has been slightly dampened
with water. To remove stubborn dirt, use a cloth
impregnated with a mild, non-abrasive detergent.
Afterwards, be sure to wipe the unit thoroughly
with a soft, dry cloth.
• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of
any kind, to avoid the possibility of discoloration
and/or deformation.
Repairs and Data
• Please be aware that all data contained in this
unit’s memory will be initialized when it is sent for
repairs. Roland assumes no liability concerning
such loss of data, nor any obligation to recover it.
Additional Precautions
• Please be aware that the contents of memory can
be irretrievably lost as a result of a malfunction, or
the improper operation of the unit.
• Roland assumes no liability concerning such loss
of data, nor any obligation to recover it.
• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the
unit’s buttons, sliders, or other controls; and when
using its jacks and connectors. Rough handling
can lead to malfunctions.
• When disconnecting all cables, grasp the
connector itself—never pull on the cable. This way
you will avoid causing shorts, or damage to the
cable’s internal elements.
• To avoid disturbing others nearby, try to keep the
unit’s volume at reasonable levels.
• When you need to transport the unit, package
it in the box (including padding) that it came
in, if possible. Otherwise, you will need to use
equivalent packaging materials.
• Use only the specied expression pedal (EV-5,
EV-7; sold separately). By connecting any other
expression pedals, you risk causing malfunction
and/or damage to the unit.
• The usable range of D-BEAM controller will
become extremely small when used under strong
direct sunlight. Please be aware of this when using
the D-BEAM controller outside.
Handling CDs / DVDs
• Avoid touching or scratching the shiny underside
(encoded surface) of the disc. Damaged or dirty
CD/DVD discs may not be read properly. Keep your
discs clean using a commercially available CD/
DVD cleaner.
Copyrights/Licences/Trademarks
• Before you open the included CD-ROM or
DVD-ROM, you must read the “license agreement.”
Opening the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM will be taken to
mean your acceptance of the license agreement.
• MMP (Moore Microprocessor Portfolio) refers to a
patent portfolio concerned with microprocessor
architecture, which was developed by Technology
Properties Limited (TPL). Roland has licensed this
technology from the TPL Group.
• Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with
permission from Microsoft Corporation.
• Roland, SuperNATURAL are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Roland Corporation in
the United States and/or other countries.
• Cakewalk is a registered trademark of Cakewalk,
Inc. in the United States.
• Sonar is a trademark of Cakewalk, Inc.
• Company names and product names appearing
in this document are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright © 2012 ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.
5
Quick Page Reference Table
Performing
Changing the A-49’s
Settings
Switching the operating mode
(PLAY/FUNCTION/SuperNATURAL/MIDI Visual Control)
Setting the MIDI transmit channel (MIDI CHANNEL) p. 26
Switching sounds ([S1][S2] knobs) p. 26
Performing —
Octave Shift, Transpose p. 28
Pitch Bend, Modulation p. 29
D-BEAM p. 30
[C1][C2] knobs p. 31
Hold, Expression p. 32
Aftertouch p. 33
Halting stuck notes p. 33
Performing with a SuperNATURAL sound module p. 24
Controlling MIDI Visual Control-compatible video equipment p. 25
Changing the velocity curve (VELO CURVE) p. 35
Specifying the keyboard velocity value (KEY VELO) p. 36
Assigning functions to the knobs, buttons, and jacks p. 37
Switching the function of the [C2] knob in SuperNATURAL mode (SN
SETTING)
Changing the direction of value increases for the knobs, D-BEAM controller,
buttons, and pedals (CTRL DIR)
Selecting the dedicated driver or the generic driver p. 40
Restoring the factory settings (FACT RESET) p. 41
p. 22
p. 36
p. 40
6
Contents
USING THE UNIT SAFELY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
IMPORTANT NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Quick Page Reference Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Contents of the Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Verify That You Can Hear Sound . . . . . . . . . . 19
Checking with a SONAR Soft
Synths (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Checking in GarageBand (Mac OS X)
MIDI Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
About the Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Switching the Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . 22
PLAY Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
FUNCTION Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SuperNATURAL Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
MIDI Visual Control Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Performing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Setting the MIDI Transmit Channel
(MIDI CHANNEL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Switching Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Shifting the Pitch of the Keyboard . . . . . . . 28
Using the Lever to Modify the Sound . . . . 29
Using the D-BEAM to Modify the Sound . . 30
Using the Knobs to Modify the Sound . . . . 31
Using the Pedals to Modify the Sound . . . 32
Using Aftertouch to Modify the Sound . . . 33
Halting Stuck Notes (PANIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
. 20
Changing the A-49 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Changing the Velocity Curve
(VELO CURVE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Specifying the Keyboard Velocity Value
(KEY VELO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Switching the Function of the [C2]
Knob in SuperNATURAL Mode
(SN SETTING) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Assigning Functions to the Knobs,
Buttons, and Jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Assigning a Program Change
Message (PRGM CHANGE) . . . . . . . . . 37
Assigning Aftertouch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Assigning a Control Change
Number (CC#) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Changing the Direction of Value
Increases for the Knobs, D-BEAM
Controller, and Pedals (CTRL DIR) . . . . . . . . 40
Selecting the Dedicated Driver or the
Generic Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Restoring the Factory Settings
(FACT RESET ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Problems When Installing the Driver . . . . . 42
Problems When Using the Unit . . . . . . . . . . 43
Changing Computer Settings to Avoid
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Driver Signing Options Setting
(Windows XP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Power Management Settings . . . . . . 46
Reinstalling the Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Deleting the Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Lightening the MIDI Load (Windows) . . . . 49
Main Specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
MIDI Implementation Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7
How to read the procedural explanations
Press the [FUNCTION] button. Press the key that has “PRGM
Press the keys that have
“NUMERIC ENTRY” printed above
them.
CHANGE” printed above it.
0–9
Value 1–128
Press the key that has “ENTER”
printed above it.
Using NUMERIC ENTRY to enter a value
0–9
Value 0–127
* If you specied a value that’s outside the acceptable range, the valid value
that had been entered before you pressed ENTER will be used.
NUMERIC ENTRY keys pressed in
this order
6, 4, ENTER 64
1, 2, 7, ENTER 127
1, 2, 8, ENTER 28
9, 3, 5, 7, ENTER 57
This value is
entered
Explanation of the icons
Icon Explanation
8
Rotate a knob.
Step on the pedal switch.
Raise or lower the expression pedal.
Contents of the Package
After you open the package, please check that all items are present.
(If any accessories are missing, please contact the place of purchase.)
☐ A-49
☐ A-Series Keyboard CD-ROM
This contains the USB driver and PDF les of the owner’s manual.
☐ Cakewalk SONAR LE DVD-ROM
DAW software allows you to record or play audio data on a computer.
For details on using SONAR LE, user registration, and obtaining a registration code, refer to the
installation guide (included on the DVD-ROM), or to the Help function of the software.
* Avoid touching or scratching the shiny underside (encoded surface) of a disc. Damaged or
dirty discs may not be read properly. Use a commercially available CD-ROM/DVD-ROM cleaner
to keep your disc clean.
* You need DAW software for Mac OS X.
☐ Cakewalk SONAR LE installation guide
This explains the installation and user registration process for the software included on
the Cakewalk SONAR LE DVD-ROM. Unless you complete the user registration and obtain a
registration code as directed in this guide, you won’t be able to use the software for more than
thirty days after installation.
Windows
Windows
☐ USB cable
Use this cable to connect the A-49 to the USB connector of your computer.
* Please use only the included USB cable. If you require a replacement due to loss or damage,
please contact the nearest Roland Service Center, or an authorized Roland distributor, as listed
on the “Information” page.
☑ Owner’s Manual
This is the document you’re reading. Keep it at hand for reference when needed.
9
Panel Descriptions
Panel
D-BEAM (p. 30)
D-BEAM
controller
Move your hand above
this to apply various
eects to the sound.
POWER indicator
This will light if the A-49
is connected to your
computer via USB.
[FUNCTION] button
If you press this button so
it’s lit, you can change the
MIDI channel or transmit
a program change by
pressing the appropriate
keys (p. 23).
[S1][S2] buttons
You can switch sounds by
pressing these buttons
(p. 26).
[PITCH]
button
If this is turned
on, the D-BEAM
controller will
control the pitch.
[VOL] button
If this is turned
on, the D-BEAM
controller will control
the volume.
[ASSIGN] button
If this is turned on, the
D-BEAM controller will
control the function you’ve
assigned. (Factory setting:
aftertouch)
[C1][C2] knobs
Turn this knob to use the
function you’ve assigned
(p. 31).
[SuperNATURAL] button
If this is turned on, you’ll be
able to control a connected
SuperNATURAL sound module
(p. 24).
[Pitch Bend/Modulation]
lever
Use this lever to vary the pitch or
to apply vibrato (p. 29).
10
Panel Descriptions
[TRANSPOSE] button, OCTAVE/TRANSPOSE indicator, [+][–] buttons
In PLAY mode (p. 22), you can press the [TRANSPOSE] button to switch the function of the OCTAVE/TRANSPOSE
indicator and the [+] [–] buttons.
When the [TRANSPOSE] button is turned on, the transposition setting is enabled. When the [TRANSPOSE] button
is turned o, the transposition setting is disabled.
Button Function OCTAVE/TRANSPOSE indicator
[+][–] buttons Change the octave setting (p. 28) Indicates the octave setting
[TRANSPOSE] +
[+][–] buttons
Change the transpose setting(p. 28) Indicates the transpose setting
The OCTAVE/TRANSPOSE indicator and the setting it shows
-6
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Unlit Lit
11
Panel Descriptions
Rear Panel
HOLD jack
You can connect a pedal
switch (DP-2, DP-10; available separately) here and
use it as a hold pedal (p. 32).
USB COMPUTER port
Use a USB cable to connect
the A-49 to your computer.
* Install the driver in your
computer before you make
this connection (p. 13).
EXPRESSION jack
You can connect an expression
pedal (EV-5, EV-7; available
separately) here and use it to
control various parameters and
functions (p. 32).
* Use only the specied expression pedal (EV-5,
EV-7; sold separately). By connecting any other
expression pedals, you risk causing malfunction
and/or damage to the unit.
* To prevent malfunction and equipment failure, always turn down the volume, and turn o all
the units before making any connections.
MIDI OUT
connector
You can connect
this to the MIDI IN
connector of another
MIDI device so that the
A-49 can transmit MIDI
messages to it.
12
Driver Installation
Windows Mac OS X
Note
Do not connect the A-49 to the computer until you are directed to do so.
A “driver” is software that transfers data between the A-49 and application software
running on your computer when your computer and the A-49 are connected.
1. Start up the computer without the A-49 connected.
Disconnect all USB cables other than those for a USB keyboard and/or USB mouse (if used).
Windows
Log on to the computer with a user account that has administrator privileges.
Windows 8
Switch to the “Desktop.”
2. Exit all applications that are running.
3. Insert the included CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
4. Of the following, double-click the relevant le on the included CD-ROM to
start the installer.
Operating System File
Windows [Setup] in the [WinDriver] folder
Mac OS X [A-SeriesKeyboard_USBDriver] in the [MacDriver] folder
Refer to the Roland website for the latest USB drivers and information about compatibility
with the latest operating system versions.
http://www.roland.com/
Windows
Mac OS X
users
users
page 14
page 16
13
Driver Installation
Windows
5. When a conrmation screen regarding user account control appears, click [Yes] or
[Continue].
6. When “The A-Series Keyboard Driver will be installed on your computer” appears,
click [Next].
7. Click [Next] again.
Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Vista
If a dialog box regarding Windows security appears, click [Install].
Windows XP
If the “Software Install” dialog box appears, click [Continue] to proceed with the installation.
If you cannot proceed, click [OK] to cancel the installation. Change the settings as described
in “Driver Signing Options Setting (Windows XP)” (p. 46) and try installing again.
8. When “Ready to install the driver.”
appears, connect the USB cable of the
A-49 to the computer.
* Turn down the volume on any peripheral
devices before connecting the USB cable.
* This unit is equipped with a protection
circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds)
after turning the unit on is required before
it will operate normally.
It may take several minutes for the driver to be installed.
A-49
rear panel
14
Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Vista
If other messages appear, follow the instructions on the screen. The driver will be installed
automatically.
Windows XP
“Found new hardware” will appear in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 8/Windows 7/Windows Vista
9. When “Installation has been completed.” appears, click [Close].
Close the “A-Series Keyboard Driver Setup” dialog box.
If the “Change System Settings” dialog box appears, click [Yes] to restart Windows.
Windows XP
9. If a dialog box that asks whether you want to
connect to Windows Update appears, select [No,
not this time] and click [Next].
Driver Installation
page 19
10. Select [Install the software automatically (Recommended)] and click [Next].
11. If the “Hardware Installation” dialog box appears, click
[Continue Anyway] to proceed with installation.
12. When “Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard” appears, click [Finish].
13. When “Installation has been completed.” appears, click [Close].
Close the “A-Series Keyboard Driver Setup dialog box.
If the “System Settings Change” dialog box appears, click [Yes] to restart Windows.
page 19
15
Driver Installation
Mac OS X
If a dialog box requesting a password appears during installation, enter a computer
administrator’s user name and password and click the [Install Software] button or [OK] button.
5. When “Welcome to the A-Series Keyboard Driver installer” appears, click
[Continue].
6. If the screen for selecting the installation destination appears, select the startup
disk and click [Continue].
7. When the installation type appears, click [Install] or [Upgrade].
8. Click [Continue Installation] in the next screen.
9. When installation has nished, click [Restart] to restart the Mac.
It may take some time for the computer to restart.
10. After the Mac restarts, connect the
USB cable of the A-49 to the Mac.
* Turn down the volume on any peripheral
devices before connecting the USB cable.
* This unit is equipped with a protection
circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds)
after turning the unit on is required
before it will operate normally.
A-49
rear panel
11. Open the [Applications] folder and then the [Utilities] folder, and then double-
click [Audio MIDI Setup].
The “Audio MIDI Setup” dialog box will appear.
12. Open the MIDI device settings dialog box.
Operating System Operation
Mac OS X v10.6 or later
Mac OS X v10.5 or earlier Click the [MIDI Devices] tab.
16
Select [Show MIDI Window] in the [Window] menu.
(The “MIDI Studio” window will appear.)
Driver Installation
13. Conrm that [A-Series Keyboard] appears in the “MIDI Studio” window or the
“Audio MIDI Settings” dialog box.
If [A-Series Keyboard] does not appear or if it is grayed out, it means that the A-49 is not being
detected properly. Click [Rescan MIDI]. Also try disconnecting and reconnecting the A-49’s USB
cable.
14. Click [Add Device] two time.
Two [New Device] items will appear.
15. Specify device names for the newly added [New Device].
1. Click each newly added [New Device] to select it, and then click [Show Info].
2. Enter the desired name in the [Device Name] eld, and then click [Apply].
Enter the following for each [New Device].
New Device Device Name
First Keyboard
Second MIDI OUT
14
15
13
16
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