Roland A33 Editor/Librarian

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Introduction

The Roland A-33 is a MIDI keyboard controller. It has no sounds of its own, but can be used to control other sound modules. The A-33 has 32 patches with numerous parameters that can be stored for each patch.
Unfortunately, the A-33 has no LCD panel (nor any graphical display), so this controller is rather difficult to setup, since you need to poke at the buttons somewhat blindly. Furthermore, setting certain parameters requires numerous button pushes, and some of the buttons have multiple uses. It is therefore difficult to setup the A-33 using only the buttons upon its front panel.

Fortunately, the A-33 has a MIDI System Exclusive implementation that makes it easy for computer software to edit the A-33 parameters, and save/load those settings upon your computer's storage devices.
The A-33 Editor allows you to edit and save these parameters by way of a user-friendly, graphical interface, which clearly shows all settings. An easy to use librarian maintains the 32 patches. It allows cut/copy/paste between all of them.

The program is written in Tcl/Tk. It runs under Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 environments.

Overview

If you haven't already, you must first connect your computer and A-33 together with the appropriate MIDI cables. Ensure that your MIDI cables are connected correctly. The OUT cable should connect to the IN port on the device, and the IN cable should connect to the OUT port. Select the current Input/Output device with the "Option" menu command.
Run the A33 program. You will notice that the main dialog consists of 4 areas:

• The Patch select area from which patches can be direct selected.
• The global parameter area which provides access to some global MIDI settings.
• The upper section parameter settings.
• The lower section parameter settings.

For the first time you should receive a bulk dump of your currently selected A-33 data. Select "MIDI/Receive All Patches". Follow further messages.

Now, feel free to edit your patches. By pressing the "Write" button store the changed data back to your A-33.

Download

• a33.zip (1.7 Mbyte)
• a33man.zip A33 manual pages PDF (1.7 Mbyte)

Installation Instructions

1. Download a33.zip from these location.

2. Copy the compressed library package into a temporary directory. Unpack it dependent on operating system. Use Winzip for windows platforms.

3. Run the a33.exe under a33\bin

Examples

Give all patches a name to better, print a label, cut it out and stick it to your A-33! The label is automatically generated.