Alan Townsend, head of product demonstration and tuition for Roland UK, tackles some of the many technical enquiries from the Roland mailbag.

Spirits for Synths?

Dear Sir,
Thank you for sending me the Roland Amps and P.A. catalogue; my main instrument is the guitar but I also want to buy a synth. I am particularly interested in the Spirit 25A & 30. Could you please tell me if these amps could be used with a synth without a great loss of sound quality.
Michael Shepherd

Dear Michael,
Roland Spirit amplifiers may work quite well with synthesizers, but bear in mind that they are guitar amplifiers and could distort at high volumes. (Hooligan guitar players tend to like this sort of thing.)

As you write from Norwich I suggest that you pop into Carlsbro Sound Centre, Anglia Square and ask Colin if you can try one with a synthesizer. I'm sure he won't mind and then you can make your own decision. AT.

Club Call

Dear Roland UK,
I purchased a Jupiter-6 in the February of last year and I have never looked back — previously I tried a Yamaha DX-9 which I sold in the space of two weeks as I missed the sound of my Juno 6 so much.

Anyway, getting to the real point, I was wondering whether there is a Jupiter users club or a Roland users club. If not, is there any possibility of starting one, either organised by Roland or by owners? I think it would be a good idea for such a club to be formed as it would bring both amateur and professional musicians together and enable them to learn from each other. It could include such things as:

1. Swapping Memory patches (on paper and on tape)
2. News and Information on Roland Gear
3. Articles on particular subjects (Rhythm machines, MIDI etc)

I would be willing to help run the club and start it up if you would give me advice, information and ideas.
Jonathan Evans

Dear Jonathan,
I too think it would be a very good idea to have a Roland users club for the exchange of information, ideas and patches.

I think that such a club should be independent of Roland (UK) Ltd but if you were to form the club we would be as helpful as possible in keeping you up-to-date with news and information. AT.

Juno an Arpeggiator

Dear Sir,
I recently purchased a Juno 106 and am extremely pleased with its sounds and facilities. I am writing to you to find out whether there is any device I could add on to my Juno to make it play automatic arpeggios.
Geoffrey Gain

Dear Geoffrey,
The Roland Contemporary Keyboard range has a device called the Rhythm Plus PB-300 which, although specifically designed to work with electronic pianos, is controlled through MIDI and is therefore compatible with a MIDI equipped synthesizer such as the Juno 106.

By playing a chord on the bottom 19 keys the PB-300 will give automatic arpeggios and, where desired, rhythmic chords and bass patterns. There is a rhythm unit with 16 different preset rhythms.

As a synthesizer can make such a wide range of sounds not all of them maybe appropriate for this use so be careful to choose one that is in the correct octave and not too 'boomy'. AT.

Through the Gate

Dear Sirs,
I currently own a Roland SH-101 and would like to expand on this if possible.

I do not fully understand the uses of the GV/Gate inputs and outputs. I would be grateful if you could tell me whether there is any way of controlling my SH-101 by using a larger keyboard. I would also like to know whether there is anything I could add to the SH-101 to make it polyphonic, and if a Boss DR-110 can be connected to the EXT CLK IN socket.

Please send me any information on appropriate effects and accessories.
Yours sincerely, Matthew Harvey

Dear Matthew,
The purpose of the CV/Gate inputs and outputs on your SH101 is to enable it to be connected to other devices. The outputs for example would allow you to play 2 SH101's from one keyboard or to programme a digital sequencer. The inputs allow the SH101 to be played by a sequencer like the CSQ600 or MC202. A longer keyboard that had CV and Gate output would be able to play the SH101 but I don't know of any that are available. As the SH101 only has one oscillator and filter there is no way of making it polyphonic.

The accent trigger output of the DR110 can be connected to the "external clock in" socket so that the sequence programme on yourSH101 can be synchronised to the rhythm pattern.

We enclose a Boss catalogue and MC202 leaflet. AT.

ROLAND U.K. Ltd., (Contact Details).