How to Have the FR-8X Communicate To The V3 Sound Accordion Master XXL

[John M]

I am interested in buying a V3 Sound Accordion Master XXL. I talked to a tech at V3 Sound in Germany today to answer my question. I asked him how I can get sound selections such as Organ, Piano, etc. directly from my FR-8X. He said I needed to get their V3 Control software application that runs on a tablet or smart phone that uses a Bluetooth connection. I told him I didn’t want to do that, but wanted to control directly from the FR-8X. He said there is a “Midi” sound list table published with the V3 Sound Manual, but he didn’t know if the Roland could be programmed to interface to it.

I see in the FR-8X Manual, there are 16 Midi Channels. How do I program them to talk to the V3 Sound? Do I need any PC editing software that will allow me to program the FR-8X?

Any help would be appreciated.

John M.

P.S. Once I have the FR-8X controlling the V3 Sound, can I switch back to the FR-8X sound sets without disconnecting the Midi Cables?

 

[Ventura]

there are usually 2 types of "MIDI" instrument/sound tables on any given
sound making device

the first is GM or General MIDI soundset, which is common to ALL
and exists so that all devices have a basic agreed upon selection protocol
to allow them to hit the ground running in a pinch, or to be substituted
device for device without additional need for program adjustment

then many specific devices also have internal "maps" of extended sounds
or combinations of sounds, being alternative to the GM soundset,
or sometimes thought of as pre-sets

these all presume a MIDI controller that is designed to take advantage
of these protocols

the Roland V-Accordions are not Controllers, they are device specific instruments
and their protocols are setup to their own best advantage... while they DO transmit
many pieces of MIDI information, specific and single instrument "patches" are not
their primary concern. There are ways to get around this, and there are some
layered pages with controls you can set or use to achieve somewhat your goal,
but it is difficult, or awkward to achieve. More typically, pressing anything on the
Roland usually sends out a MIDI change you do not want

Often, when desiring to control individual patch changes on an outboard Sound device,
it is easier to filter ALL MIDI patch messages FROM being transmitted out of the Roland,
then using a separate discreet device, or the front panel of the device, to select patches/sounds
so the "app" mentioned is probably the best advice

in the past i have used a MIDI Filter, then an ALesis Patch generator for this purpose

if you insist on doing it the way you want, try renting borrowing purchasing an actual
MIDI Accordion, as they will do exactly what you are asking for
but
when using the Rolands, you have to take them as they are,
including their many limitations,
including their many advantages

i can understand the desire to try one of these small but powerful devices, Ketron
had a similar device a decade ago... but they have no front panel controls.

There are also many many really good Expander modules on the Used market
like the Ronald Sound Canvas, or Sonic Cell, or the Korg M, N, and X series desktop
modules... Yamaha had a few and so did Kawai... all these have enough front panel
buttons to allow for patch changes, and often they have their own Filtering built in
and easily programmed

ALan and others can point you in the direction of Virtual Modules you run on
a Computer and access through MIDI, with tons of control and filtering

good luck

 

[John M]

Ventura, thank you for your detailed reply. Now, I have a better picture how the interface works. What got me started on this was Piotr's post on this forum:
https://www.accordionists.info/threads/musictech-digibeat-xxl-master-accordion-v3-sound.6516/
I thought he was controlling the V3 sound from his accordion, but it must have been from an "app" on his smart device. I really liked the tones he got--also the demo sounds on the V3 Sound website. Of course, I can't play like Piotr, so I am sure the V3 Sound module wouldn't sound as good if I were using it.

John M.

 

[JohnC]

John M, I agree with Ventura reply. I have a 3x and recently purchased one of the V3 family of modules, the Squeeze Easy Pro (just released a few weeks ago). I had the module for a week in advance of the app being released. Like you I thought the midi interface in the 3x would let me control the V3 from the Roland. Sadly, that wasn’t the case due to a rather narrow Roland view of midi implementation. The app and dongle has worked quite well. I’ve had it for a couple of days and got it working eventually (the manual is quite shocking). I haven’t got the set up responding to the bellows yet but early days.

 

[Jibberin]

Would a sipario midi controller help?

 

[JohnC]

Thanks Jibberin you're possibly correct. I bought the app on the understanding it more or less did the same thing as Sipario, and after a few days, it's doing enough for me, we'll enough. In another thread Ventura pointed me in the right direction, and now sorted. Thanks to all for inputs.