MIDI Target Manufacturer(s): Roland
The Roland GR-55 guitar synthesizer was officially announced on January 13, 2011, at the Winter NAMM Show, and it began shipping to stores in March 2011. Which means that this device is now 15 years old.
So, why keep this piece of gear that can be qualified as outdated? Because it’s still the only polyphonic synth offering guitar alternate tunings. Plus, coupled with Godin MultiVoice Guitars, tracking is not an issue (thanks to RMC piezo pickups)
GR55 amp sims and effects are outdated. So, the secret is to set AMP/MOD to “bypass” in preset and send signal to your preferred amp or modeler/profiler. Personally, I’m using Kemper Profiler Stage coupled with HeadRush FRFR amplified cab. Guitar output is used for electric modeling and normal pickups and connected to Profiler Stage guitar input.
Now let’s go deeper in MIDI Designer (MD) advantages.
Note that my layout matches my requirements but any user can expand what you want to control with MD. You can pick this layout and make it yours .
- Presets selection
- Create an easy to scroll preset list that matches what you setup in GR55 MIDI PGM Change list.
- Electric guitar model selection.
- GR55 MIDI implementation allows user to send CC messages so they can select any one of 10 models proposed:
- Classic Stratocaster (SSS)
- Modified Stratocaster (SSH)
- H&H Stratocaster (H+H)
- Telecaster
- Les Paul
- P90 equipped Gibson
- Danelectro Lipstick Pickups
- Rickenbaker
- Gibson ES 335
- Gibson L4 ES
- Acoustic (steel strings) model selection
- GR55 MIDI implementation allows user to send CC messages so they can select any one of 5 models proposed:
- Martin D28
- Martin 000-28
- Gibson J-45
- Gibson B-25
- Guild D40
- Acoustic Steel Guitar tweaking
- Using AC Steel Body and AC Steel Tone, you can set the depth and tone of the modeled guitar “on the fly” without having to enter GR55 edit mode. Once you’re satisfied with result, just press WRITE button on GR55.
- Nylon string guitar tweaking.
- Same as above but for Classical Nylon modeled guitar.
- Tranpose
- You can transpose any preset (not only those related to modeled guitar).
- Very convenient when the singer wants the song transposed “on the fly” and you don’t want to physically retune your guitar. Note that this works only with GR55 modeled Electric, Acoustic Steel Guitars and Nylon guitars.
- Let’s do the maths.
- Modeled guitars
- 10 Electric Guitar
- 5 Acoustic Steel Guitar
- 1 Nylon Guitar
- Potential Built-in alternate tunings:
- Open D
- Open E
- Open G
- Drop-D
- D-Modal (DADGAD)
- -1 step (half tone down)
- -2 step (one tone down)
- Baritone
- Nashville
- -1 Octave
- +1 Octave
- User
- If I want all alternatives saved on GR55, it will requires, at least, 176 presets.
- Now, let say I need half step down Nashville preset “on the fly”. I will have to use empty preset slot and save that specific tuning, for specific modeled guitar (Electric, Acoustic Steel or Nylon)
What if…
- Let say crowd requires “Black Sea” (open E) from Tea Party but I only have open D preset. Don't panic!!!
- I select Preset EG Open D.
- I select Les Paul modeled Guitar
- I use Transpose Control to step down 1 tone (from D to E)
- And that’s it: All the rest is managed using right amp rig on Kemper.
- Let say crowd requires “Kashmir” (DADGAD) from Led Zep but my singer is more comfortable 1 tone down.
- I select Preset DADGAD.
- I select Danelectro LIPS model
- I use Transpose Control to step down 1 tone (DADGAD to EGEAGE)
- And that’s it: All the rest is managed using right amp rig on Kemper.
In attached examples I’m using:
- Transpose (from standard tuning)
- DADGAD (used when playing Kashmir)
- Open D
- Drop D.
