Roland GS: Difference between revisions

From DTM Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Add remarks about lack of public spec)
(mention it is also called the “GS Format”)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Roland GS logo.png|200px|right|thumb|The Roland GS logo.]]
[[File:Roland GS logo.png|200px|right|thumb|The Roland GS logo.]]
'''Roland GS''' is an expansion of the [[General MIDI]] standard, made by Roland.
'''Roland GS''', or the '''GS Format''', is an expansion of the [[General MIDI]] standard, made by Roland.


It was introduced with and primarily used by the [[Roland Sound Canvas]] series, starting with the [[Roland SC-55]]. Some [[Yamaha XG]] devices provide unofficial support for it via the [[TG300B mode]].
It was introduced with and primarily used by the [[Roland Sound Canvas]] series, starting with the [[Roland SC-55]]. Some [[Yamaha XG]] devices provide unofficial support for it via the [[TG300B mode]].

Latest revision as of 00:20, 12 September 2024

The Roland GS logo.

Roland GS, or the GS Format, is an expansion of the General MIDI standard, made by Roland.

It was introduced with and primarily used by the Roland Sound Canvas series, starting with the Roland SC-55. Some Yamaha XG devices provide unofficial support for it via the TG300B mode.

According to Roland, the main features of the GS standard (excluding ones common to GM) include:

  • Multiple drumset types,[1] accessed with a Program Change message[2]
  • Support for additional MIDI messages like Mono mode and Portamento[2]
  • Variation instrument specification with bank selects[1][2]
  • Adjustable Reverb and Chorus effects[2][3]
  • Tone editing[3]

Since it lacks these features, Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth is (despite the name) probably not compliant with GS.

There doesn't seem to be a publicly accessible specification defining what is and isn't part of the GS format. Comparing the feature sets of various hardware products with the GS logo suggests, however, that the minimum spec corresponds roughly to that of the Roland SC-55 or SC-55mkII, but without the CM-64 compatibility banks.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Roland SC-55 Owner's Manual, page 61.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Roland SC-55 Owner's Manual, page 62.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Roland SC-55mkII Owner's Manual, page 81.

See also