The concept refers to many things, the most obvious being a connector type that is used by musical instruments and effects devices to exchange messages relating to the act of making music. Every time you play on the HP-130/ep-85's keyboard or start the Pianist, your instrument will send MIDI data to its MIDI OUT port. If you connoct that port to the MIDI IN port of another instrument, that instrument may play the same notes as the HP-130/ep-85. MIDI is a language that translates every action relating to music into binary digits that can be transferred via a MIDI cable. It is a universal standard, which means that musical data can be sent to and received by instruments of different types and manufacturers. Furthermore, MIDI allows you to conncct your HP-130/cp-85 to a computer or hardware sequencer. Requirements for receiving and transmitting MIDI data MIDI messages are transmitted and received using two (sometimes three) connectors and special MIDI cables: HP-130/ep-85 External MIDI device MIDI IN: This connector receives mes- sages from other MIDI devices. MIDI OUT: This connector transmits MIDI messages generated on your HP-130/ep-85. MIDI THRU: This connector "echoes back" all MIDI messages received via MIDI IN (not available on the HP-130/ер-85). 130/ep-85 itself, except that the external sound doesn't use your HP-130/ep-85's voices (it is 28-voice polyphonic). You can connect the HP-130/ep-85 to a computer with sequencer software or a hardware sequencer and have it play back the notes transmitted by the sequencer (software). If you play back GM/GS compatible Standard MIDI Files, the HP-130/ep-85 will function as 16-part multitimbral sound module (like a Roland Sound Canvas). Your HP-130/ep-85 receives un all 16 MIDI channels and can play back as many as 16 parts using different sounds (a feature referred to as multi-Hinbra!). To be able to transmit MIDI data to a receiving device, connect the HP-130/ep-85's MIDI OUT port to the external module's/sequencer's MIDI IN port. HP-130/ep-85 Externa! MIDI device In the case of a sequencer, you may also want to connect the external device's MIDI OUT port to the HP-130/ep~85's MIDI IN port. (When recording sequences, you need to switch off the sequencer's MIDI Thru function.) Explaining MIDI in great detail lies beyond the scope of this manual. There is a booklet called MIDI Guide available from vour Roland dealer that tells vou the ins and outs of MIDI. Here is what MIDI allows you to do: You can play on the HP-130/ep-85's keyboard and have another instrument play exactly the same notes (usually with a different sound). That is the same as layering two sound on the HP- 14 HP-130/ep ti5 To be able to receive MIDI data from an external synthesizer, sequencer, etc. connect the HP-130/ ep-85 as follows: HP-130/ep-B5 External MIDI device Note: PI cate usededicated MIDI cables, such as the Roland MSC-15/25/50 (aptianal). Program changes "Program changes" arc MIDI messages that tell the receiving instrument to select another sound (or memory) and also contain information about which Tone to select. Using program changes is a convenient way of ensuring that a given song is played back with the desired sound. Your HP-130/ep-85 receives and transmits the following program change numbers (when used as a piano rather than a GS module): 01 Piano 1 02 Piano2 05 E. Piano 12 Vibraphone 07 Harpsichord 20 Organ 49 Strings 53 Choir See the end of this manual for a list of all available GM/ GS sounds and Drum Sets as well as their program change and bank select messages 15 Owner's Manual HP-130 ep-85 Keyboard 88 keys, velocity sensitive Polyphony 28 voices Sounds 8 selectable via dedicated front-panel buttons {HANOI, PIAN02, E.PIANO, VIBRAPHONE, HARPSICHORD, ORGAN, STRINGS, CHOIR) 241 Tones + 9 Drums Sets (selectable via MIDI) Digital effects Digital Chorus, Digital Reverb Recorder Records and plays back note and pedal data as well as tempo changes. 1 song (±1000 notes ) Tuning function ±50 cents (TUNE knob) Controls BRILLIANCE slider (brightness) VOLUME slider (global volume) Pianist VOLUME A/T buttons Music Style selection buttons (Ballad, Pop, SI Swing, Swing, BossaN, Rock'N Shuffle, SI Rock, Latin, SI Waltz, Rag Time) METRONOME (on/off) button INTRO/ENDING button TEMPO/KEY TRANSPOSE A/T buttons KEY START/STOP button Recorder REC, PLAY/DEMO buttons Tone selection buttons (Pianol, Piano2, E.Piano, Vibraphone, Harpsichord, Organ, Strings, Choir) CHORUS, REVERB buttons KEY TOUCH LIGHT/HEAVY buttons (Rear panel) TUNE knob VOLUME slider (global volume) Pianist VOLUME A/T buttons Music Style selection buttons (Ballad, Pop, SI Swing, Swing, BossaN, Rock'N Shuffle, SI Rock, Latin, SI Waltz, Rag Time) METRONOME (on/off) button INTRO/ENDING button TEMPO/KEY TRANSPOSE A/T buttons KEY START/STOP button Recorder REC, PLAY/DEMO buttons Tone selection buttons (Pianol, Piano2, E.Piano, Vibraphone, Harpsichord, Organ, Strings, Choir) CHORUS, ...