Roland SC-7: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox module
{{Infobox module
| name = Roland SC-7
| name = Roland SC-7
| image = [[File:Roland SC-7.jpg|300px]]
| image = [[File:Roland SC-7 and Roland SC-88VL.jpg|300px]]<br>SC-7 (powered on) with an SC-88VL (powered off) as a size comparison.
| dimensions = 168 × 35 × 203<ref name=sc7-manual-specs />
| dimensions = 168 × 35 × 203<ref name=sc7-manual-specs />
| rackunits = ~0.79U, ~0.34 wide
| rackunits = ~0.79U, ~0.34 wide

Revision as of 06:30, 30 August 2024

Roland SC-7

SC-7 (powered on) with an SC-88VL (powered off) as a size comparison.
W × H × D (mm) 168 × 35 × 203[1]
Rack units ~0.79U, ~0.34 wide
Type GM sound module
Manufacturer Roland
Release date 1992
Standards General MIDI
Parts 16[1]
Max polyphony 28[1]
Normal presets 128[1]
Drum presets 6[1]
Effects Reverb/Delay, Chorus[1]

The Roland SC-7 is a General MIDI sound module by Roland, released in 1992. Unlike other SC series devices, it is not Roland GS compliant. Perhaps for this reason, it is not branded as a "Sound Canvas", only a "sound module".

Its sounds and feature set are very similar to the Roland SC-55, particularly the SC-55mkII, but with some notable omissions:

  • No panel controls or display (just a volume knob and blinking LED)
  • No MIDI out port (SysEx responses might be receivable with the serial port?)
  • No GS variation tones (GM1 capital tones only)
  • The JAZZ, ROOM and SFX GS drumkits are missing
  • No MT-32/CM-64 map
  • Mostly does not respond to GS System Exclusive messages (not even GS Reset)
  • Non-drum voice editing NRPNs are not supported

Compared instead to basic General MIDI, it adds:

  • Reverb/Delay and Chorus effects with per-channel sends (controlled by same CCs as GS) and editable parameters (controlled by SC-7-specific SysEx)
  • Five extra drumkits: Power, Electronic, TR-808, Brush, Orchestra
  • Drum editing via NRPNs (must be enabled via SC-7-specific SysEx)
  • SC-7-specific SysEx configuration of Channel Aftertouch behaviour (can be set to control filter cutoff, allowing cutoff sweep effects)
  • Voice reserves (same SysEx format as SC-55)

It is physically considerably smaller than the SC-55, and is beige rather than black. It has feet on one side, allowing it to stand vertically as well as horizontally.

For controlling the SC-7 via SysEx, hikari_no_yume's SoundPalette tool may be useful.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Roland SC-7 Owner's Manual, page 40.

External links