04 Roland-Ready GR-700 Turbo Synth - Final Release Version 5 Roland Factory Software

YouTube Uploaded by WayneJoness on Feb 7, 2011

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"There are four documented versions of GR-700 software noted in the GR-700 service manual. Version four (1.4) is the most common software found in the GR-700. However, some of the last GR-700s made by Roland shipped with the rare, version 5 (1.5) software. The GR-700 Turbo has the rare version 5.0 software! Unlike the earlier upgrades, version 5.0 software does not add any new features, but instead improves on the most neglected aspect of the GR-700: faster and more accurate tracking. On average, version 5.0 is 1.5 milliseconds faster than version 4.0. The GR-700 Turbo does not reach the speed and accuracy of modern synthesizers, but it is an improvement over earlier versions, and includes the final revisions of the GR-700 factory patches."

"Interface and Sound Board Chips (2 chips total) + 128 Additional Patches
Rare, final version 1.5 operating system EPROM chips
Improves on speed and tracking of previous versions
28.53 ms (version 1.5) average response time versus 29.87 ms (version 1.4)
Easy to install and replace
Allows change in reference pitch from the original A=442 standard (improvement over version 1.1)
Fixes sustain level failure when in EDIT mode (improvement over version 1.2)
Adjusts pitch range for "B" to be same as all other notes (improvement over version 1.3)
Includes final revisions of the factory patches for banks 1-4
PLUS - 2 Complete banks of original Roland GR-700 alternate sounds on print outs, 18 pages (64 patches x 2)
More information on hardware and software revisions on the GR-700 resource webpage
Questions? Feel free to email me!

About these Roland GR-700 Version 1.5 software EPROM chips:
I have been able to document five different versions of software for the GR-700. The most common version in my experience is version 4. The GR-700 service notes explain the differences for versions 1, 2, 3 and 4. I have seen a few GR-700s with version 5 software. What version software does your synth have? This is easy to check! Power up the GR-700 while holding down the STRING SELECT NO. 4 button. The display will show the software version, 1-4 means version 4. 1-2 indicates version 2 software. Incidentally, the patch corresponding to the software version will be selected when doing this procedure.

Initializing Patches:
It is possible to reinitialize the first four banks of patches for the GR-700, banks 1 though 4. There is no way to recover patches in banks 5 through 8 if they have been lost. To reinitialize patches in banks 1 - 4, turn on the power switch while pressing down the WRITE (copy) button. Be sure to have the memory protect turned off.

Roland GR-700 - Final Release Version 5 Roland Factory Software
Roland made it very easy to change or upgrade the operating system in the Roland GR-700 guitar synthesizers. There are two main boards in the GR-700, the interface board, which attaches to the top of the GR-700, and which connects to the switches, output jackes, display, etc. And the sound or voice board. The voice board is on the bottom on the GR-700.

Each board uses a 64K EPROM chip for its operating system/operating parameters. One chip is marked as "IF" for the interface board, and "SH" for the sound or voice board. Simply open the GR-700 up, remove the existing chips and install the new chips, then power the GR-700 up. There is no special initialization procedure. The software is loaded when the unit is turned on. These chips also contain the bank 1-4 factory patches. Initializing the sound banks in the GR-700 will load these patches from the "SH" chip."