Do I Understand This Correctly About the Roland GAIA?

[AJP]

... that the GM soundset can only be accessed via MIDI, and never from the local keybed? Just curious at this point.

[Bernard]

... that the GM soundset can only be accessed via MIDI, and never from the local keybed? Just curious at this point.

 

Yes and No

 

There is a very easy to select GM mode of 8 sounds (sound like a higher quality than normal set of GM sounds) that can be then switch with the 8 (bank patch) buttons. They also feature basic editing and can sound good depending on your tastes.

 

If you have a midi unit that can receive and send back midi (e.g. MV8800) then you can access the midi GM sounds and use the GAIA keyboard, you can also on the MV use the default assignable sliders to control the key patch items as if you had a traditional rompler...

 

All works fine...

 

Some users are bothered by the GM sounds as it burns up midi channels.

 

One person has said the Roland midi commands to turn off the GM engine, which would then free up the 15 other channels for other gear on the midi channels does not work.... well when I have time I will also test that... No biggy if you like the GM sounds, the drums sound good to me and they are better than nothing..