Custom-built multi-bank Roland M-256/M-512 memory cards

[aladan]

Hello,
When they are available I would like to buy a few of these. I have 8 matching devices (D-10, D-550, JV-880, JV-1080 x 2, U-110, U-220, R70) , but I think I can only afford 4 cards at the moment
Please add me to the list...
Thanks,
A.

[ʝɵʝɵ]

Keen on one of these for my JD800 also. Great project! and good work reverse engineering these cards. Now if we could work out the waveform and patch card format...... that would be amazing!

Well, for some synths the patch data format has been reverse-engineered, e.g. D-50. It shouldn't be that complicated to do it for any other of those old synths as well, but surely a lot of work.

[localhero]

Hi everybody,
First post here.
As an owner of a JD990 and a D5 I would be very interested in these cards.
Let me know if you need a test with the JD.
Best regards
David

[Headless68]

Have switched to a later Roland V processor so won't need a card but I will keep the thread updated in the Vguitar forum site as others are interested

Cheers
Phil (Headless)

[Valentine]

I have a lot of Roland synth's this will fit in I can supply pictures of a JV-80 / U-20 and maybe some more if needed.

Question: can one of these cards be used with multiple synths? Say Bank A & B for my D-50 and C & D for another synth? That would be cool

[ʝɵʝɵ]

Yes, since the banks simply represent different chunks of memory and each bank acts as a card on its own, you can use the completely independently for different synths. In theory, if you have synths that natively use M-512 cards and others that use M-256, you can use one M-512 card for all of them, but you will waste half a bank on the M-256 synths.

[Valentine]

Great I'm definitely interested in one or two of these cards!

[Anarkand]

Hi there

Im interested. Bought an old D550 with a ROM card. But it was pretty much witout any of the factory settings or anything. Great idea, i'd love to support. Live in Denmark.

Where is my "soundtrack"

[dojoe]

Update time!

bax99 confirmed that the card works in his synth electrically even though the mechanical side needs some work Thanks to baz99 for testing, which involved taking the synth apart to see what would be needed to make a new card revision fit!

I have updated the card layout and fixed all problems found so far. I hope to have time next Wednesday to add the last finishing touches and order six rev.B prototype PCBs. That'll take 6ish weeks, most of that shipping, but it'll give me time to finish the test harness I have started work on -- gonna need a way to quickly and reliably test those cards once I start batch production, right?

I have 8 matching devices (D-10, D-550, JV-880, JV-1080 x 2, U-110, U-220, R70) , but I think I can only afford 4 cards at the moment

That's quite a bit. You're hereby enlisted for testing a rev.B prototype

Here is a list of all Roland devices which can use the card
[...]

Cool, thanks for digging that up!

Have switched to a later Roland V processor so won't need a card but I will keep the thread updated in the Vguitar forum site as others are interested

And also thanks for keeping the VG forum in the loop!

[ʝɵʝɵ]

aladan: I don't think the U-220 qualifies here. It has two ROM card slots for samples, I confirmed that the card fits these slots but of course it will be unreadable, and cannot be written to.

[baz99]

bax99 confirmed that the card works in his synth electrically even though the mechanical side needs some work Thanks to baz99 for testing, which involved taking the synth apart to see what would be needed to make a new card revision fit!

You are welcome, I'm glad I was of help to you!

I can't wait to get my Rev.B card after having experienced how practical it is to have several banks of sounds available at the flick of a switch.

[dojoe]

I just sent the rev.B design to the PCB fab. Fingers crossed!

[Anarkand]

Wow. Good luck! Fingers are crossed.

By the way is the memory card of the d50 compatible with the r-8 drum machine and vice versa?

[ʝɵʝɵ]

Our memory card works with anything that can take a M-128, M-256 or M-512 card. If the R-8 takes such cards, then yes, you can use it with the R-8 as well.

[dojoe]

Here is a list of all Roland devices which can use the card

ROLAND M-512E MEMORY CARD FOR THE FOLLOWING :
[...]
Drums
R-8/70
[...]

Guess that's a yes