Roland Corporation PC-70 Owner's Manual

Owner’s Manual

Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the Roland
PC-70.
The PC-70 is an easy-to-operate, dedicated keyboard
controller for GS compatible sound modules.

Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled:
“USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT
NOTES” (p. 3; p. 6). 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.

Copyright © 2000 ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form
without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

GS ( ) is a registered trademark of Roland Corporation.

For EU Countries

This product complies with the requirements of European Directive 89/336/EEC.

For the USA

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
– Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the users authority to operate this equipment.
This equipment requires shielded interface cables in order to meet FCC class B Limit.

For Canada

NOTICE

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

AVIS

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

IMPORTANT: THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE.

BLUE:
BROWN:

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
Under no circumstances must either of the above wires be connected to the earth terminal of a three pin plug.

NEUTRAL
LIVE

For the U.K.

2

USING THE UNIT SAFELY

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.

001

• Before using this unit, make sure to
read the instructions below, and the
Owner’s Manual.

..................................................................................................

002c

• Do not open (or modify in any way)
the unit or its AC adaptor.

..................................................................................................

003

• Do not attempt to repair the unit, or
replace parts within it (except when
this manual provides specific 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.

..................................................................................................

004

• Never use or store the unit in places
that are:

• 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 floors); or are

• Humid; or are

• Exposed to rain; or are

• Dusty; or are

• Subject to high levels of vibration.

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 power­cord plug must be unplugged from the outlet.

007

• 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.

..................................................................................................

008c

• Be sure to use only the AC adaptor
supplied with the unit. Also, make
sure the line voltage at the installation
matches the input voltage specified on
the AC adaptor’s body. Other AC
adaptors may use a different polarity,
or be designed for a different voltage,
so their use could result in damage,
malfunction, or electric shock.

..................................................................................................

009

• Do not excessively twist or bend the
power cord, nor place heavy objects
on it. Doing so can damage the cord,
producing severed elements and short
circuits. Damaged cords are fire and
shock hazards!

..................................................................................................

011

• Do not allow any objects (e.g.,
flammable material, coins, pins); or
liquids of any kind (water, soft drinks,
etc.) to penetrate the unit.

3

012c

• Immediately turn the power off,
remove the AC adaptor from the
outlet, and request servicing by your
retailer, the nearest Roland Service
Center, or an authorized Roland
distributor, as listed on the "Infor­mation" page when:

• The AC adaptor or the power-

supply cord has been damaged; or

• Objects have fallen into, or liquid

has been spilled onto the unit; 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.

..................................................................................................

013

• In households with small children, an
adult should provide supervision until
the child is capable of following all the
rules essential for the safe operation of
the unit.

..................................................................................................

014

• Protect the unit from strong impact.

(Do not drop it!)

..................................................................................................

015

• Do not force the unit’s power-supply
cord to share an outlet with an unrea­sonable number of other devices. Be
especially careful when using
extension cords—the total power used
by all devices you have connected to
the extension cord’s outlet must never
exceed the power rating (watts/
amperes) for the extension cord.
Excessive loads can cause the
insulation on the cord to heat up and
eventually melt through.

..................................................................................................

016

• Before using the unit in a foreign
country, consult with your retailer, the
nearest Roland Service Center, or an
authorized Roland distributor, as
listed on the "Information" page.

101b

• The unit and the AC adaptor should
be located so their location or position
does not interfere with their proper
ventilation.

..................................................................................................

102d

• Always grasp only the plug or the
body of the AC adaptor when
plugging into, or unplugging from, an
outlet or this unit.

..................................................................................................

103b

• Whenever the unit is to remain
unused for an extended period of
time, disconnect the AC adaptor.

..................................................................................................

104

• 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.

..................................................................................................

106

• Never climb on top of, nor place heavy
objects on the unit.

..................................................................................................

107d

• Never handle the AC adaptor body, or
its plugs, with wet hands when
plugging into, or unplugging from, an
outlet or this unit.

..................................................................................................

108b

• Before moving the unit, disconnect the
AC adaptor and all cords coming from
external devices.

..................................................................................................

109b

• Before cleaning the unit, turn off the
power and unplug the AC adaptor
from the outlet (p. 10).

..................................................................................................

110b

• Whenever you suspect the possibility
of lightning in your area, disconnect
the AC adaptor from the outlet.

4

Table of Contents

USING THE UNIT SAFELY .....................................................................3

IMPORTANT NOTES...............................................................................6

About the PC-70................................................................................................... 7

What is the General MIDI?................................................................................. 7

What is the General MIDI 2?.............................................................................. 7

What is the GS Format? ...................................................................................... 7

Main Features....................................................................................................... 8

Panel Descriptions................................................................................. 9

Power..................................................................................................... 10

Setting Up the PC-70............................................................................ 10

Sound Module Setup......................................................................................... 10

Desk Top Music Setup ...................................................................................... 11

Powering Up.......................................................................................... 12

Setting the MIDI Channel (MIDI Transmit Channel)...........................12

Selecting Sounds on a GS Sound Module

(Sending Program Change/Bank Select Messages) .........................13

Features Useful When Playing............................................................ 15

Changing Octaves................................................................................ 16

Controlling a Sound Module with the DATA ENTRY Slider..............17

Troubleshooting................................................................................... 23

Specifications....................................................................................... 26

5

IMPORTANT NOTES

291a

In addition to the items listed under “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” on page 3, please read and
observe the following:

Power Supply

301

• Do not use this unit on the same power circuit
with any device that will generate line noise
(such as an electric motor or variable lighting
system).

302

• The AC adaptor will begin to generate heat
after long hours of consecutive use. This is
normal, and is not a cause for concern.

307

• Before connecting this unit to other devices,
turn off the power to all units. This will help
prevent malfunctions and/or damage to
speakers or other devices.

Placement

352

• This device may interfere with radio and
television reception. Do not use this device in
the vicinity of such receivers.

354a

• 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.

355

• To avoid possible breakdown, do not use the
unit in a wet area, such as an area exposed to
rain or other moisture.

358

• 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.

Maintenance

401a

• 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.

402

• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or
solvents of any kind, to avoid the possibility
of discoloration and/or deformation.

Additional Precautions

553

• 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.

554

• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the
display.

556

• When connecting / 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.

558a

• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to
keep the unit’s volume at reasonable levels.
You may prefer to use headphones, so you do
not need to be concerned about those around
you (especially when it is late at night).

559a

• 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.

• When you turn on the power, never push
keys or buttons. This can be the cause of
malfunction.

6

■

About the PC-70

The Roland PC-70 is a MIDI keyboard controller. It does not contain any sound-generating
circuitry, since it is designed to provide for the convenient transmission of Program Change
and Bank Select messages, as well as a variety of other MIDI messages (such as reverb and
chorus information) to an external sound module. It is particularly suited for controlling
sound modules that comply with the GS Format. (Called simply “GS sound modules” in the
following.)

■

What is the General MIDI?

General MIDI is a set of recommendations which seeks to provide a way to go beyond the
limitations of proprietary designs, and standardize the MIDI capabilities of sound generating
devices. Sound generating devices and music files that meet the General MIDI standard bear

the General MIDI logo ( ).
Music files bearing the General MIDI logo can be played back using any General MIDI sound

generating unit to produce essentially the same musical performance.

■

What is the General MIDI 2?

The upwardly compatible General MIDI 2 ( ) recommendations pick up where the
original General MIDI left off, offering enhanced expressive capabilities, and even greater

compatibility.
Issues that were not covered by the original General MIDI recommendations, such as how
sounds are to be edited, and how effects should be handled, have now been precisely
defined. Moreover, the available sounds have been expanded.
General MIDI 2 compliant sound generators are capable of reliably playing back music files
that carry either the General MIDI or General MIDI 2 logo.
In some cases, the conventional form of General MIDI, which does not include the new
enhancements, is referred to as “General MIDI 1” as a way of distinguishing it from General
MIDI 2.

■

What is the GS Format?

The GS Format ( ) is Roland’s set of specifications for standardizing the performance of
sound generating devices. In addition to including support for everything defined by the

General MIDI, the highly compatible GS Format additionally offers an expanded number of
sounds, provides for the editing of sounds, and spells out many details for a wide range of
extra features, including effects such as reverb and chorus. Designed with the future in mind,
the GS Format can readily include new sounds and support new hardware features when
they arrive.

About the Sounds Contained in a GS Sound Module

A GS sound module contains 128 basic sounds (Capital Tones) and a number of Variation
Tones. The mapping for the Capital Tones is compatible with Level 1 of the General MIDI
System. Capital Tones are stored in Bank 0, while the Variations are stored in Banks 1
through 127. The selection of Variation Tones that are made available will be different
depending on the sound module. You should check the manual for any module you are
going to use, and familiarize yourself with the sound collection it contains.

7

About the Drum Sets Provided by a GS Sound Module

The Drum Channel (ch. 10) provides for the use of several Variation Sets in addition to the
basic Drum Set (Standard Set: PC #1). Drum Sets are selected using Program Change
messages. The types of Variation Sets that are made available will be different depending on
the sound module. Refer to the manual for the module you are using so you know what
kinds of drum sets it contains.

* If a Variation Tone or Variation Drum Set you have requested is not found in the GS module you are

using, the module may not sound at all, or an incorrect sound may be played.

■

Main Features

Superb Playability and Expressiveness

Since this standard 49-key keyboard also provides response to velocity, it allows you to
express even the finest nuances. In addition, an Octave Shift feature allows you to
conveniently shift the soundable range up or down by an octave. Moreover, it is equipped
with a pitch/modulation wheel, and provides a jack for connecting a damper pedal.

Complete Range of Control Features

Since the keyboard provides for sound selections that use combinations of Program Change
and Bank Select messages (value for CC 00 and CC 32), you can also select any of the
Variation Tones that may be available on a GS sound module.
In addition, a variety of continuous controllers (Control Changes) can be assigned to the data
entry slider. The slider can then be used for variable control over the desired parameter
(reverb or chorus depth, for example) on a GS sound module.
Viewing the contents of the LED display allows you to operate easily and precisely.

Makes Desk Top Music (DTM) More Enjoyable

The PC-70 is very compact, so it requires only a minimal amount of desktop space. The
keyboard is sure to become an invaluable part of any DTM setup, since it can be used for
real-time or step recording, as well as for practice while listening to “minus-one” playback.

8

Panel Descriptions

fig.Panel.e

[1] PITCH / MODULATION Wheels
[2] OCTAVE UP / DOWN / STANDARD Buttons

[3] MIDI / SELECT Button
[4] DISPLAY(LED)

[5] DATA ENTRY Slider
[6] MIDI CHANNELS (1 to 16)

[7] AFTERTOUCH
[8] VELOCITY
[9] CHORUS LEVEL

[10] REVERB LEVEL

[11] PANPOT
[12] VOLUME

[13] CC SELECT(Select Control Change)
[14] CC32

[15] CC00
[16] PC(Program Change)

[17] NUMERIC ENTRY Section (0 to 9)

[22] AC Adapter Jack

[21] SUSTAIN SWITCH Jack

[20] MIDI OUT Connector

[18] CANCEL
[19] ENTER

[23] POWER Switch

9