Ulitmate WIreless V-Accordion Setup
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- A comprehensive tutorial and test on how to setup a completely wireless Roland FR-8X V-accordion on a somewhat "budget" price. Includes detailed instructions and range test.
00:00 - Intro
01:39 - Hardware
6:52 - The Software
7:40 - Intro to the variations
10:21 - Variation #1
13:53 - Variation #2
15:45 - Variation #3
20:38 - Variation #4
30:46 - Songbook + Mystery Settings
37:25 - Mini Range Test setup
41:45 - Range test
45:50 - Conclusion
48:28 - End
It is absolutely amazing the effort, time and expertise you put into these amazing instructional videos. Very well produced and extremely educational for anyone looking to do what you've done here ! Bravo, Jerry !
I'm always trying to learn new things, it's a big part of what I find pleasurable!
Excellent explanations. Also, great advice concerning testing the equipment and having a backup plan.
Thanks Bill, highly appreciated!!
Fabulous! I learned so much from you Jerry! Thank you, much appreciate your dedication to the instrument and sharing your knowledge :)
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and let me know you are enjoying!
Edward, thank you for taking the time to put this video. is there another option for the custom cables. I am mechanically challenged to do that.
In terms of custom cables, it doesn't get any easier than wireless transmitters!
Thanks for your efforts in sharing this, Jerry. Interesting to see what you are doing. You confirm my suspicion with your comment to the effect that blue tooth is probably not the most robust/professional solution for midi wireless. But, I'm not sure what it is about the technology that makes this so. In your case, are the midi transmitter and receiver paired? I have had great luck with the Midi Jet Pro from Classic Organs in Canada. But it requires that the signal fed into from the accordion bulkhead connector obeys midi protocol. I am wondering if there exist out there any wireless digital systems that will convey digital signals which don't necessarily conform to midi protocol. This is often the case with legacy midi accordions which pass a proprietary digital signal from the accordion to the outboard module through a wire. (In that case, the midi protocol is available only from the module, rendering it useless as a strolling instrument.) There is one contemporary commercial brand accordion that passes the proprietary wireless signal from accordion to the offboard module (where midi is available again off board of course). But that communication is via built-in blue tooth, which would necessarily be subject to the limitations of blue tooth.
Bluetooth was not made with reliable range in mind, first coming out as a way to connect your phone to a single ear bud. it has grown a lot, but is still low powered and not designed for range, that said, I can get reliable NON-PROFESSIONAL service from it as long as I respect it’s limitations. Thanks for posting.
Jerry, have you made a video about controlling the FR-8X with the song list on the IPAD and no BK7m?
Yes sir, I have! Search my channel for "Ultimate Wireless", I made 1 very substantial video and an additional one that shows some changes/improvements over the first one. Thanks for reaching out!
Hi, is there any good wireless transmitter receiver for the accordion with L/R output ?
Hi Matt, thanks for posting! I actually mention right in this video that I use a wireless STEREO transmitter and though it is very reliable and good sounding in short distances (under 50 feet), it is also quite affordable. Professionals, though, traditionally use individual mono transceivers with greater distance ranges, however, those are also a lot more expensive. It all depends on the size of your wallet. :)
Hi Jerry, did you have by the chance a video of how to connect/setup the BK-7m and the WIDI master? Please advise. Thank you.
Raymundo, need more detail, because the process is supposed to be ridiculously easy. We need 2 WIDI masters to create a "wireless MIDI cable". You connect the WIDI master out in to the MIDI out of the BK-7m and the WIDI master in in to the MIDI in of the BK-7m and the same thing on the V-accordion. Turn on the BK and then turn on the V-accordion, they automatically connect!
@@JerryPH My accordion it's a Roland FR-18 diatonic, and just have one MIDI in/out connection port, that doesn't power it my WIDI Master. However, the only way I can makes the WIDI Master works in my BK-7m is connected backwards as the way you shown in your video, I'm totally lost, any advise will be highly appreciated. Thank you.
OK, that kind of explains it. Your accordion has no dedicated dual MIDI in-out ports. Basically, the WIDI MASTER is the wrong product for you because your accordion doesn't have a MIDI in and out that work at the same time. Now, I am NOT intimately familiar with the FR-18, but I think what you need is the WIDI UHOST, a product that uses the USB-B port of your accordion for the MIDI in-out, that way you connect that to your accordion and the WIDI master to the BK-7's in-out and you should be good.
When I try to put the bk7m on and the Roland 8x midiwrench won't except the bluetooth the software does not like it and just crashes please can anyone help
I"m sorry that this is happening to you, I don't have a solution, however, what I am doing is using the iPad Pro with MIDIWrench turned on first... Usually I am in theBluetTooth settings and turn on one at a time... turn on BK-7m, see it appear, touch "not connected", turn it to connected, THEN turn on accordion, when it appears as unconnected, I touch that and it changes to connected. After that it all works... but you have to have the option "ECHO EVERYTHING" in MIDIWrench for it to work.
With the widi master plugged into the accordion and BK7, will I have stereo sound with a mixer and speakers?
Hi! MIDI is digital, it has no sound, it is the control pulses to send pulses to send what chords will be played on the arranger or, later, what UPG to set the accordion to. What defines if you get stereo sound to the mixer is the wires from the 2 stereo outputs of the 8X to 2 channels in to your mixer. In the case of the setup I use, it uses a STEREO analog transmitter to a stereo wireless receiver on my mixer.
is there a setting on the FR8X that enables a Midi thru?
Hi there, thanks for reaching out! On the 8X there is no way to make any of the MIDID in or out jacks that a MIDI-THU, which I why I use the iPad and MIDI Wrench to do that function for me.
Jerry my widi jacks disconnect when I select a performance. They worked for about 4 months. But now they connect until I select a performance. Then I have to turn on and off to reconnect. Got any fix for this?
Thanks for posting! Perhaps you could experiment with changing MIDI channels?
@@JerryPH. Jerry. Thanks for idea of trying different channel but sure how to do that. I did support from midi jack folks but they couldn’t fix it. So I’m back to using midi cable. Wish I could go wireless. I’ll look into changing channels.
Thank you Jerry for your great Videos! Great work! Is there a Songbook Pro Version for Android or a comparable App with almost the same features. ? Kindest regards.
Songbook does come in an android version. A quick google will take you right to the proper page. :)
@@JerryPH Hi Jerry, I found it. Thank ou very much. Got my Fr-8x yesterday. Your tutorials will help me a lot. Thank you! Kindest regards.
I wish you many pleasurable hours on your 8X!!
Unfortunately my fr-3x is not capable of putting out power via the midi out. So I need to purchase a widi Jack and a small usb power supply in order to use the midi via Bluetooth. I already use several widi masters in my studio setup for my synths and also my iPad. I do have a zivic puc+ wireless midi system which powered on 2 aa batteries, but it’s more bulky and looks ugly. Also there is a wireless midi made by a company called Quicco. It’s the Quicco sound mi.1. This is a great piece of gear as both the in and the out are extremely low profile, and when you have it connected there’s no way you can knock it with your knee or anything else and damage your midi ports. It will work with any of the widi range as well. Just power up your accordion with the mi.1 first then when you turn on the bk-7m or any other midi device you are using as a slave it will automatically pair with the accordion.
Just for my own education, I'll check them out... thanks Stephen!
Hi, Jerry. This is Emile from Belgium. I appreciated the detailed explanations and the splendid results you managed to get. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I've got 2 questions, though.1. The stereo Getaria Gws-28 can't be found anywhere. Would you happen to know another make or another model? 2.You send wirelessly the sounds of the BK7m and those of your accordion to a mixer. Does it mean that you have 2 double Getaria systems connected, one for the BK7M and one for your accordion? Thanks again.
1 - they are available on AMAZON but with a smaller plug... but they are still stereo!
2 - I do not send wireless from the BK to the mixer, those are hard-wired... no reason to have it wireless since they are usually 2-3 inches apart on the same desk. I use 1 set of the Getaria units. :)
Thank-you for posting!!
@@JerryPH Thanks a lot for your complete answers. I really appreciate. If I can still ask you a last question, I tell you my problem with teh FR8X and the BK7M. The sounds of both devices are amazing, but when you want to change the smallest element (volume, tremolo.....), it is so complicated. it takes hours to surf back and back and back until you finally land on the element you're looking for. In the past, you just had to turn a button or a slide. It is all very well if youre ready to spend hours on the programmation before your performance, but it is a pity when you play live and want to change a detail.
I know that it can be complicated, but it all comes down to getting to know not all the features, but the features that are important to you. Once you do the research, document it and save it somewhere, it makes he process easier AND you end up learning more! :)
Hi Jerry....Just out of curiosity, did you ever have the Elka Wilgamat III drum machine? The reason I ask is because I see the 4 function Elka foot pedal in your video is the same one that came with my Elka Wilgamat when I bought it back in 1983 along with my Iorio Accorgan (same as Elkavox 83). I still have the foot pedal and also like you modified it for use when I upgraded to the Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger in 1989. Great video!
Ernie, thanks for posting! Yes I had it and as a matter of fact, *still* have the Wilgamat III drum machine and it is in 100% as new condition. During its hey-day, it was considered "state of the art"... of course now it is well outdated and considered a legacy piece. The 4-part foot pedal I also still have but have modified it to work with my old Solton Programmer 24, the next generation drum machine after the Wilgamat. :)
@@JerryPH I still have mine as well, also in as new condition! My understanding is that in order to get the full usage out of it (bass lines & accompaniment) you needed to connect it to the generator of either the Iorio Accorgan or Elkavox 83. I had the Iorio Accorgan. Did you have either one of these? Thanks
I have both the Iorio Accorgan AND the Elka 83. Pics on my website at www.AccordionMemories.com ... that said, as nice as it was when it came out new, it is now truly a vintage piece... no way it could keep up to the current line offerings on the market. :)
Wish Widi would make a rechargeable Bluetooth midi. I know they make one you can power from usb, for us fr3x or less Roland users but I have enough to lug about, and as I am already using a usb battery to power the accordion it would be nice if they made a rechargeable transmitter. You could use a m to f midi breakout cable with an l shaped male jack and Velcro the female jack to the accordion body so your midi transmitter do t stick out as far. I use an iPhone as a sound module, using a Korg plug key as the midi interface. It also sends the audio back out from the iPhone and throw /4 inch jacks to my amp.
I think that the reason they do it that way is that the vast majority of users have a MIDI in-out jacks. The FR-4x and lower don’t, so hence the need for external power. That said, an enterprising person could likely build something that couple place the WIDI inside the accordion and also power it using the internal power… but that’s a bit beyond me. :)
@@JerryPH now according to the people who make Widi the fr-4x will put out power when in normal midi out mode. I have a zivic puc+ that powers on 2 aa batteried but 1 its bulky and 2 it seems to have stopped working since i last uded it. I need to get one of the usb powered widi jacks or whwtever they are called anyway for my ewi usb, i wold hwve just not to hwve tge extra weught. Although i could always attach the bsttery ypto my belt.
Right, but the 4x has only 1 MIDI jack, so it is in OR out so functionality is cut a bit because the power is turned on when you use the MIDI in, the direction that is the least used generally speaking. As for the battery, depends on how long you need it to last. External batteries will last a lot longer, especially of you gig a lot, a small $5 Walmart external battery will last 2-3 full days powering WIDI adapter.
@@JerryPH thanks Jerry. So if I have this right,what your saying is that when the midi is switched to out on the 4x it does not output any power from the eon connector, but when it is switched to in, it outputs power. That’s very strange as it’s normally the reverse on midi equipment with the out sending the power. While on the subject of power do you know anything about the Roland cube street ex. I wanted to power mine from an external power pack, but I can’t for the life of me find the right connector to make up a lead. I emailed Roland customer support years ago to see if they would sell m a connector but they never replied. My old cube street has a normal input jack and I can power that fine. At the moment I have a couple of battery casings for the ex that I can swap at will, but I would much prefer to use a power pack. I might need up butchering my mains power supply for the jack, as I only power on batteries, if I’m playing indoors I usually use a separate PA system.
Hello, Jerry. This is Emile from Belgium. I do have a serious problem with my Fr-8XB at the moment. I changed the battery recently but when I try to switch it on disconnected, nothing happens unless I first put it on the AC. Afterwards I can disconnect without any problem and play for several hours on the battery only. I guess you know many people and many accordionists. Maybe one of them has experienced the same problem and has been able to solve it? If this is the case, please let me know. Have a nice day.
Hi Emile, thanks for reaching out. It is very hard to troubleshoot such an issue over the internet, but I have a few suggestions:
- Please make sure you have a good battery. Sometimes even new batteries have issues.
- You can try to do a backup of your setup and then do a factory reset and restore your settings to see if that helps
- you may ultimately need to reach out to a Roland authorized repair center if nothing else is working.
Good luck!
Hello Jerry. Thanks again for your help and concern about my problem.
The battery is brand new and I loaded it carefully according to the manual instructions. I measured the tension from the adapter=> says 24V, which is correct. Tension from the battery reads 25.2V, which is correct, too.
I first try that factory reset. I must say i'm a bit scared at the result and the perspect of losing everything, even though I've made all the necessary backups, but you never can tell. Electronics is such a mysterious science sometimes.
If I don't get the expected result, I'll eventually get in touch with a Roland authorized repair center. Thanks again for all.
Hi Jerry. This is Emile again. I did what you said, i.e. I did a full factory reset and restored my settings. Surprisingly enough, when I turned on the accordion on the battery it started!!! But after a first reload, I got the same problem as before. Could not start the accordion on the battery. I had first to connect it to an AC plug. It's like having a brand new car but still having to carry the crank around, just to start it. It drives me crazy. Hope a Roland authorrized repair center will be able to solve the problem.
BK-7M is discontinued !!
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes I knew that the BK is no longer being made years ago, but then again, so is the 8X... that in no way diminishes the pleasure I took in making my video or in the fact that I can control the complete setup wirelessly. :)