What can I do with a Roland EM-101 Synth Module from '80s?

[DanLuedke]

I just came across a free Roland EM-101 Synth Module made in the early '80s. I can't find a product page for it. I wasn't alive when they made these and don't know anything about analog synthesizers.

Is it of much use for contemporary music production?

Also, I use a small, 2 octave M Audio Oxygen25 midi keyboard that only has a usb output to be plugged straight into the computer (the square kind on the keyboard and the rectangle kind on the computer. Anybody know if I can connect this to my new Roland which only had MIDI in and 1/4" in? If so, what's the best way?

Thanks,

Dan

[Silversun]

I wasn't alive when they made these and don't know anything about analog synthesizers.

Firstly...thanks for making me feel really old

I think from memory thats a string module really, based on the string machines from the 70's. I suspect it would sound quite nice. Search on you tube and there are bound to be loads of demos.

You could use it via midi no problem assuming it works okay. All you have to do is get hold of a cheap usb midi interface and midi lead. Plug the midi out from the interface to the midi in on 101 and you should be good to go. Just assign a midi track output to a relevant midi channel (1-16) and you should be able to play it via your usb keyboard.

Of course if your keyboard has a midi out socket you could also just plug it straight to the 101 and record the outputs as an audio track also...That way all you need is a midi lead

[AlpacaRoom]

Wow, that's a great find. Vintage synths are super hot in indie pop / rock right now. Those ARP-style strings are great as pads or to support guitars, and I'll always have a soft spot for the "Jump" brass patches... although I don't know that they're coming back quite as much.

But yeah, you're going to need a USB MIDI interface--the good news is that the most basic ones only run about $40 or so.

[Russell Landwehr]

Here is a link to the EM-101 manual in pdf

http://media.rolandus.com/manuals/EM-101_OM.pdf

Russell

[DanLuedke]

Firstly...thanks for making me feel really old

My bad, Silversun. I'm just excited to have something vintage in my studio.

All you have to do is get hold of a cheap usb midi interface and midi lead.

you're going to need a USB MIDI interface--the good news is that the most basic ones only run about $40 or so.

Thanks, guys.

I have a midi lead. My problem is getting the midi keyboard to hook up to the interface/synth because it only has usb out (you know, the square kind that it also gets power from.) All the USB/MIDI interfaces I have found online go from MIDI to USB and don't even have a square USB thing. Perhaps I am misunderstanding though.... Would I be better off trying to find a keyboard with a MIDI out?

-Dan

[AlpacaRoom]

I have a midi lead. My problem is getting the midi keyboard to hook up to the interface/synth because it only has usb out (you know, the square kind that it also gets power from.) All the USB/MIDI interfaces I have found online go from MIDI to USB and don't even have a square USB thing. Perhaps I am misunderstanding though.... Would I be better off trying to find a keyboard with a MIDI out?

Ah, well if you want to use the keyboard to perform live with the Roland without a PC, yeah, you'll need a keyboard with MIDI out. But with your setup, if you just want to trigger the module with the keyboard for recording, you can plug the keyboard into your PC, which will create a logical MIDI In, which you can then route to the Roland module via whatever MIDI Out your PC provides (I had assumed there wasn't one, in which case you'd need a USB MIDI dongle to create the both the logical and physical outputs).

More-or-less the same as triggering any virtual instrument with the keyboard, except that you need to route the MIDI signal back out to the module.

[DanLuedke]

Thanks, Alpacaroom. That was helpful because it didn't occur to me that I could do it that way. But let me make sure I understand:

MIDI keyboard connects to usb on computer

Computer out to synth module via USB/MIDI interface

Synth module out to digital interface

Digital interface to computer for recording?

[AlpacaRoom]

MIDI keyboard connects to usb on computer

Computer out to synth module via USB/MIDI interface

Synth module out to digital interface

Digital interface to computer for recording?

Yup, that sounds right to me. Another thought--your interface doesn't have MIDI already? I use an old Focusrite interface that does, although I guess a lot of the two-in-two-out interfaces don't.

[DanLuedke]

Yup, that sounds right to me. Another thought--your interface doesn't have MIDI already? I use an old Focusrite interface that does, although I guess a lot of the two-in-two-out interfaces don't.

My little M Audio Fast Track Pro interface has MIDI in and out, but I have yet to get anything from my computer back out to the Fast Track Pro. Why?

[AlpacaRoom]

My little M Audio Fast Track Pro interface has MIDI in and out, but I have yet to get anything from my computer back out to the Fast Track Pro. Why?

Oh man... I wish I could answer that. If you're on a Mac you could use out Audio/MIDI Setup to get the keyboard talking to your output, but if you're on a PC ... hopefully somebody else can help. Sorry!