Roland MKS-50, Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Information - Your One Stop Resource For MKS-50, Alpha Juno and SynthPlus Synthesizers

*** * * FAQ: MKS-50 / Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 (HS-10) / SynthPlus 80 (HS-80) * * ***
QUESTION	ANSWER
Where Can I Find An Owner's Manual For MKS-50, Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Synthesizers?	MKS-50 Owner's Manual (v.86-11) Alpha Juno-1 Owner's Manual (v.85-12) Alpha Juno-2 Owner's Manual (v.88-2) Deutsche Bedienungsanleitungen für Alpha Juno-1 und Alpha Juno-2 SynthPlus 10 [HS-10] Owner's Manual (v.86-2) SynthPlus 80 [HS-80] Owner's Manual (v.86-4) FREE Owner's Manuals for almost every synthesizer and effects device can be found at MidiManuals.com: midimanuals.com
Where Can I Find Service Manuals And Schematics?	MKS-50 Service Notes (v.87-1) Alpha Juno-1 / SynthPlus 10 Service Notes (v.85-12) Alpha Juno-2 Service Notes (v.86-1) Gigantic collection of Service Manuals w/schematics may be downloaded FREE at this link. These are the highest quality PDF's on the Internet synfo.nl
What Do The MKS-50, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, SynthPlus 10 And SynthPlus 80 Synthesizers Sound Like?	André Vézina put together an incredible video demo which shows these powerful synthesizers in action *http://youtu.be/TKpC13qdnbQ*
How Do I Restore The Factory Preset Tones Into The Internal Memory Of An MKS-50, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, SynthPlus 10 Or SynthPlus 80?	It's important to note that instructions in the Roland Owner's Manual for performing a BULK LOAD will not work when using a computer! A certain button sequence is needed to ensure the following message appears in the LCD window For MKS‑50: *BulkLoad (Notice the Asterisk !!!) For Alpha Juno, SynthPlus 10 & SynthPlus 80: Bulk Load MIDI.o (Notice the lowercase 'o' !!!**)
To restore the factory preset Tones, you will need a Mac or a PC with a generic SysEx loader program * Note: If your synth locks up at the Bulk Load MIDI.o* message, try adjusting the transmit settings of your SysEx program to a slower speed* MKS-50 [ *WARNING!!! Everything in the internal memory will be erased!* ] 1) Connect MIDI Out and MIDI In cables between the MKS-50 and the computer 2) Press [ TUNE/MIDI ] and the display will read TUNE > 442 < 3) Press [ PARAM ∇ ] and then press [ VALUE ∇ ] until all of the settings look like this; MIDI CHANNEL= 1 MIDI OMNI = OFF MIDI PROG.CG= ON PCH ASG MODE= ON TX C.M. APR = ON TX PATCH APR= ON TX TONE APR = ON MEM. PROTECT= OFF 4) Press [ DATA TRANSFER ] then press [ PARAM ∇ ] until the Display reads *BulkLoad (Notice the Asterisk !!!) 5) Press [ VALUE ∇ ] until the Display reads BulkLoad [T-a]* *(Notice the Asterisk* !!!) 6) Press [ WRITE ] and the display will read BulkLoad -Run-* 7) Use a SysEx loader program on your computer to send the SysEx file to the MKS-50 (See the *TONES* page for Factory Preset .SYX Files) 8) The MIDI MESSAGE LED on the MKS-50 front panel should now be flashing while the data is being sent Successful Transmission?* The display reads *BulkLoad ..END.** Failed Transmission? The display reads Bulk DT-MISMATCH This indicates the wrong transfer mode was selected or the .SYX file is not valid. Try it again using BulkLoad [T-a] not BulkLoad [P-A]. Re-check your settings and/or the .SYX file. Optional To Load Patch Parameter Files and Chord Memory files, use the same procedures as shown above for loading Tones but instead use; *BulkLoad [P-A] for Patch Parameter Files or BulkLoad [CM ]* for Chord Memory Files Select an appropriate companion file to match your Tone file names These factory Patch Parameter files and Chord Memory files are included in the MKS50_Alpha_Juno_Collection-A.zip file available for downloading at the *TONES* page; *x-PatchParameters-MKS50-FACTORYA.SYX* *x-PatchParameters-MKS50-FACTORYB.SYX* *x-ChordMemory-MKS50.SYX* There is also an undocumented shortcut to quickly transfer all of the Tone names in Tone Group 'b' to Patch Group 'B' however, it will erase all of the Tones in Tone Group 'a' and restore them to the factory defaults 1) Load a bank of Tones into Tone Group 'b' then hold the [4] + [8] buttons during the next power-up 2) All Group 'b' Tone names will overwrite all Group 'B' Patch names leaving all the Tone Group 'b' data intact Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 [ *WARNING!!! Everything in the internal memory will be erased!* ] 1) Connect MIDI OUT and MIDI IN cables between the Alpha Juno (or SynthPlus) and the computer 2) Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH on the back of the keyboard to the OFF position 3) Press [ MIDI ] and the display will read MIDI CH = # 4) Turn the α-Dial until all of the settings look like this; MIDI CHANNEL= 1 MIDI OMNI = OFF MIDI LOCAL = ON MIDI AFTER = ON MIDI BENDER = ON MIDI EXCL = ON MIDI HOLD = ON MIDI PROG C = ON MIDI VOLUME = ON MIDI PORTA = ON 5) Press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK LOAD ] until the display reads Bulk Load MIDI.o (Notice the lowercase 'o' !!!) 6) Use a SysEx loader program on your computer to send the SysEx file to the Alpha Juno or SynthPlus (See the TONES* page for Factory Preset .SYX Files) Troubleshooting BULK LOAD (Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-1 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 Only) If you press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK LOAD ] and the display shows "Bulk Load Cancel" try this sequence: 1) Set MEMORY PROTECT switch ON 2) Power OFF the Alpha Juno-1 3) Power ON the Alpha Juno-1 4) Set MEMORY PROTECT switch OFF 5) Press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK LOAD ] If that doesn't work, with the power ON, set MEMORY PROTECT switch ON then set to OFF and try Step #5 until the display reads Bulk Load MIDI.o
How Do I Save Tone Banks Of An MKS-50, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, SynthPlus 10 Or SynthPlus 80?	It is important to note that instructions in the Owner's Manual for performing a BULK DUMP will not work when using a computer! You need to push a certain button sequence and ensure that the following message appears in the LCD window For MKS‑50: *BulkDump (Notice the Asterisk !!!) For Alpha Juno, SynthPlus 10 & SynthPlus 80: Bulk Dump MIDI.o (Notice the lowercase 'o' !!!**)
MKS-50 1) Set the MKS-50 as shown above for the procedure "Restore The Factory Preset Tones" 2) Run any generic SysEx capture program on your computer and set it to record SysEx data 3) Press [ DATA TRANSFER ] then press [ PARAM ∇ ] until the Display reads *BulkDump (Notice the Asterisk !!!) 4) Press [ VALUE ∇ ] until the LCD Display reads BulkDump [T-a]* *(Notice the Asterisk* !!!) 5) Press [ WRITE ] and the display will read BulkDump -Run-* 6) Your generic SysEx program should now be capturing SysEx data from the synthesizer 7) When the LCD Display Window displays *BulkDump -End-, save the data as a SysEx file Alternatively, you can also; • Save 'Tone Bank b' by setting the LCD Display to read BulkDump [T-b]* • Save Patch Parameters using *BulkDump [P-A] or BulkDump [P-B]* • Save Chord Memory using *BulkDump [CM ] Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80** 1) Connect MIDI OUT and MIDI IN cables between the Alpha Juno (or SynthPlus) and the computer 2) Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH on the back of the keyboard to the ON position 3) Press [ MIDI ] and the display will read MIDI CH = # 4) Turn the α-Dial until all of the settings look like this; MIDI CHANNEL= 1 MIDI OMNI = OFF MIDI LOCAL = ON MIDI AFTER = ON MIDI BENDER = ON MIDI EXCL = ON MIDI HOLD = ON MIDI PROG C = ON MIDI VOLUME = ON MIDI PORTA = ON 4) Run any generic SysEx capture program on your computer and set it to record SysEx data 5) Press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK DUMP ] The following will appear in the LCD Display Window: Bulk Dump MIDI.o (Notice the lowercase 'o' !!!) 6) Your generic SysEx program should now be capturing SysEx data from the synthesizer 7) When the LCD Display Window displays Bulk Dump MIDI.End, save the captured data as a SysEx file Troubleshooting BULK DUMP (Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-1 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 Only) If you press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK DUMP ] and the display shows "Bulk Dump Cancel" try this sequence: 1) Set MEMORY PROTECT switch ON 2) Power OFF the Alpha Juno-1 3) Power ON the Alpha Juno-1 4) Set MEMORY PROTECT switch OFF 5) Press and hold in order [ DATA TRANSFER ] - [ WRITE ] - [ BULK DUMP ] If that doesn't work, with the power ON, set MEMORY PROTECT switch ON then set to OFF and try Step #5 until the display reads Bulk Dump MIDI.o
I Can't Get My Synth To Communicate With My Computer When Using A SysEx Librarian Or Other Program. What Should I Check?	The MIDI Send and Receive settings on your computer might be too fast for the MKS-50/Alpha Juno MIDI buffer to handle. The MKS-50/Alpha Juno synths was designed back in Medieval times when the processor speed of a home computer was only 20MHz... much slower than the models of today at 4GHz. Try setting the MIDI transmit speed in your computer's SysEx program to a smaller value. Recommended values for Snoize, Bome and MIDI‑OX are 390ms
Additional Troubleshooting Info MKS-50 1) Is the MIDI Channel set to 1? Press [ TUNE/MIDI ] and the display will read TUNE > 442 < Press [ PARAM ∇ ] and use [ VALUE ∇ ] until the display reads MIDI CHANNEL= 1 2) Is the computer Sound Card, MIDI Controller, SysEx Librarian, etc... set to MIDI Channel 1? 3) Is the computer Sound Card, MIDI Controller, SysEx Librarian, sending MIDI data to the MKS-50? 4) Make sure the patch librarian or SysEx program can send and receive SysEx data to and from the MKS-50 5) Do you have two MIDI cables connected? Two are required because SysEx uses both MIDI IN and MIDI OUT Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 The most common communication errors are with System Exclusive so start with that one; 1) Is System Exclusive turned ON? Press [ MIDI ] until MIDI EXCL appears. Turn the α-Dial until until the display reads MIDI EXCL = ON 2) Is the MIDI Channel set to 1? Use the same procedure as above until the display reads MIDI CHANNEL= 1 3) Is the computer Sound Card, MIDI Controller, SysEx Librarian, etc... set to MIDI Channel 1? 4) Is the computer Sound Card, MIDI Controller, SysEx Librarian, sending MIDI data to the Alpha Juno? 5) Make sure the patch librarian or SysEx program can send and receive SysEx data to and from the Alpha Juno 6) Do you have two MIDI cables connected? Two are required because SysEx uses both MIDI IN and MIDI OUT 7) Is the MIDI interface connected to a USB hub? USB hubs are notorious for transfer glitches. Plug straight into the computer * Note: If your synth locks up at the Bulk Load MIDI.o* message, try adjusting the transmit settings of your SysEx program to a slower speed* And... ... ... Another thing to check is the MIDI INTERFACE connected to your computer. Some inexpensive MIDI interfaces which look similar to this piece of shit are unable to properly regulate the buffering of MIDI data. Some of these inexpensive MIDI interfaces will work fine with simple messages such as CC, Note On, Note Off, etc... However, when you try to send SysEx messages which are much longer, the SysEx data cuts off after only sending a few bytes. Investing in a higher quality MIDI interface may solve Load/Save errors and other communication problems. If you have a cheapo MIDI interface which looks that one... throw this piece of shit in the trash! Do It Now. Seriously! This thing is total junk and you get what you pay for
*I Changed The Internal Battery But I'm Still Getting The "Check Battery!!"* Error Message. What's Wrong?**	After changing a battery, the synth needs to have its RAM initialized. This procedure will initialize the RAM and set the TUNE / SYSTEM / MIDI parameters back to their factory defaults. During this procedure, all existing Tones in RAM will be erased so make sure you have backed them up somewhere
MKS-50 With the power OFF, press and hold the [ PATCH A↔B ] and [ DATA TRANSFER ] buttons and then power ON the synthesizer The LCD shows *RAM check OK !!* This clears the old CHECK BATTERY!!! message and tests the RAM. Any errors will display RAM wr/rd ERR !! Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 Power ON the synthesizer Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH on the back of the keyboard to the OFF position Power OFF the synthesizer and wait 30 seconds Press and hold the [ PORTAMENTO ] and [ DATA TRANSFER ] buttons and then power ON the synthesizer The LCD will briefly display *"Initlz Funct ram"* This next step will overwrite all Tones in user memory Turn the Alpha Juno OFF and wait 30 seconds Press and hold down the [ KEY TRANSPOSE ] and [ PORTAMENTO ] buttons while turning the POWER button ON The display will briefly show [ Copy Prest → Memry ] SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 Power ON the synthesizer Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH on the back of the keyboard to the OFF position Power OFF the synthesizer Press and hold the [ BRILLIANCE ] and [ DATA TRANSFER ] buttons and then switch the power on To resume normal operation, cycle the power and verify the "Check Battery!!" error message no longer appears Note: If you continue to see the "Check Battery!!" error message after following all the steps shown above, double check these items: Did you press the the buttons down hard enough? Over time, the tact switches are less responsive and need to be pressed down firmly Before starting any reset procedures, did you set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH* to the OFF position and then turn the power OFF?* Verify the new battery is actually a new one, not defective and measures near 3.0V on a Voltmeter
The LCD In My Alpha Juno And HS-10 Has An Annoying High Pitched Shrill. How Do I Stop It?	The high Voltage inverter circuit which supplies power to the LCD backlight is making that annoying sound. This means the inverter circuit and/or the Electroluminescent light (EL) on the LCD is failing
Alpha Juno‑1 With a $4 buydisplay.com BLACK/WHITE LCD Installed A temporary solution is to pull the cable out of connector CN2 on the Power Supply Board. You will no longer have a backlight but you will regain your sanity. I have put together a comprehensive DIY guide showing how to replace your failing LCD with an inexpensive modern day LCD which uses a super bright LED backlight instead. This solution completely removes the high Voltage inverter circuit. If you have a medium skill set using a soldering iron, this DIY is super easy for an Alpha Juno‑2. The Alpha Juno‑1 and HS‑10 will require that you make your own bracket to mount the new LCD and it's a *LOT* more work. The MKS‑50 and HS‑80 use a completely different LCD so don't attempt this DIY with those two models Alpha Juno & HS-10 LCD DIY (PDF)
The Buttons On My MKS‑50 Are Working Intermittently Or Sticking. Is There A Way To Fix Them?	30 Years later, the buttons (tact switches) are starting to fail. The best solution is to replace all of them at the same time because if you only replace a few, others are bound to fail soon after. eBay and other vendors sell complete sets of tact switches and these range anywhere from $30 USD to $92 USD. Ouch! You can save a lot of money buying them instead from an electronics supplier such as *mouser.com*
A total of 18 switches are needed (Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spares because... shit happens) Brand Name: ALPS Manufacturer P/N: SKHHBSA010 Mouser P/N: 688-SKHHBS (about $3 USD for a set of 18) Operating Force: 2.6 Newton Operating Life: 200,000 cycles Size: 9.5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D) Original MKS-50 factory tact switches had a 2.6 Newton Operating Force (Roland P/N: 13159154 - ALPS P/N: SKHHBS) This same switch is also used on the MKS-70 synth The Operating Life for these switches is realistically, probably 10 years until stress and/or oxidation starts to set in and they become intermittent . Removing old tact switches from the PCB is a matter of personal preference. The method I prefer is; Use a small sharp pair of diagonal flush wire cutters and cut all four leads off from the top side of the PCB. Take extra care not to wedge the wire cutters in‑between the base of the tact switch and the PCB when cutting the leads. This places excess force on the eyelet trace on the underside of the PCB causing possible damage. Use a solder sucker, a fine tipped soldering iron or a stainless steel hollow desoldering needle and remove the leftover pins from the PCB holes. Remove any excess solder remaining in the holes. The eyelet traces on the brittle 30‑year old PCB are very fragile. Take extra care not to lift them off the surface of the PCB while desoldering. Using too much heat or keeping the soldering iron too long in one spot usually leads to this type of problem. Also, use caution when removing and replacing the four black button assemblies on the Panel Board. The thin tabs are quite fragile and as you can imagine, replacement buttons are nearly impossible to find As an extra measure of making sure the buttons provide good response, I also added an extremely small amount of very fine oil on the plastic areas on the side of the buttons where they rub together. It's important not to overdo the oil because it has no place to go as it's not absorbed and all surfaces are flat. Sewing machine oil is ideal. Don't use WD‑40 because it's too harsh and will remove the ink used to stencil the button text MKS-50 Panel Board before and after the tact switches are removed *Note:* I've include this image with D19 (MIDI MESSAGE LED) and CN2 highlighted for a reason. Be sure to inspect the solder connections on the backside of your Panel Board at these two locations. On my MKS‑50, there were two pins at D19 and CN2 which were never soldered onto the circuit board at the factory! This explains why my MIDI MESSAGE light never worked!!! I wonder how many units rolled off the Roland assembly line with this same problem?
The Buttons On My Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, HS‑10, SynthPlus 10, HS‑80, SynthPlus 80 Are Working Intermittently Or Sticking. Is There A Way To Fix Them?	30 Years later, the buttons (tact switches) are starting to fail. The best solution is to replace all of them at the same time because if you only replace a few, others are bound to fail soon after. eBay and other vendors sell complete sets of tact switches and these range anywhere from $30 USD to $92 USD. Ouch! You can save a lot of money buying them instead from an electronics supplier such as *mouser.com*
Alpha Juno‑1 / Alpha Juno‑2 / HS‑10 / SynthPlus 10 A total of 34 tact switches are needed for the Alpha Juno‑1 and 35 are needed for the Alpha Juno‑2. However, there are two different types used on each synth. One type is used underneath the Membrane selections (BANK, NUMBER, PRESET, MEMORY, MIDI, MOD RATE, etc...) and another type is used underneath the Buttons on the left side of the case above the Bender Bar (DOWN, NORMAL, PORTAMENTO, and CHORD MEMORY). Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spares of each because... shit happens 30 Of These Switches Are Needed for the Alpha Juno‑1, HS‑10 and SynthPlus 10 (BANK, NUMBER, PRESET, MEMORY, MIDI, MOD* RATE, etc...)* 31 Of These Switches Are Needed for the Alpha Juno‑2 (CARTRIDGE, BANK, NUMBER, PRESET, MEMORY, MIDI, MOD* RATE, etc...)* Brand Name: ALP Manufacturer P/N: SKHCBHA010 Mouser P/N: 688-SKHCBHA010 Operating Force: 2.6 Newton Operating Life: 500,000 cycles Size: 4.3mm (H) x 12mm (W) x 12mm (D) (Original part numbers, now obsolete ‑ Roland: 13129704 / ALPS: SKHCAB131A) (This same factory installed tact switch was also used on the JX‑10) For unknown reasons, the ALPS price has recently tripled As of , OMRON P/N: B3F-4005 is the best value Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 Panel Board A and B (Note: Panel Board B is for an Alpha Juno-1 - The CARTRIDGE tact switch is missing) Alternate Tact Switches: ALPS P/N: SKHCBFA010 (1.3 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3F-4000 (1.3 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3F-4005 (2.6 Newton) 4 Of These Switches Are Needed for the Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, HS‑10 and SynthPlus 10 (DOWN, NORMAL, PORTAMENTO, and CHORD MEMORY) Brand Name: ALPS Manufacturer P/N: SKHHARA010 Mouser P/N: 688-SKHHAR Operating Force: 2.6 Newton Operating Life: 200,000 cycles Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D) (Original part numbers, now obsolete ‑ Roland: 13169633 / ALPS P/N: SKHHAD039A) (This same factory installed tact switch was also used on the D‑70, Juno‑106, S‑10, S‑50, S‑550, S‑750, and W‑30) Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 Volume Board Alternates: ALPS P/N: SKHHAMA010 (1.6 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3W-1000S (1.6 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3W-1002S (2.3 Newton) HS‑80 / SynthPlus 80 A total of 32 tact switches are needed for the HS‑80 and SynthPlus 80 and these are all the same part number. Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spares of each because... shit happens Brand Name: ALPS Manufacturer P/N: SKHHARA010 Mouser P/N: 688-SKHHAR Operating Force: 2.6 Newton Operating Life: 200,000 cycles Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D) (This same factory installed tact switch was also used on the D‑70, Juno‑106, S‑10, S‑50, S‑550, S‑750, and W‑30) Alternates: ALPS P/N: SKHHAMA010 (1.6 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3W-1000S (1.6 Newton) OMRON P/N: B3W-1002S (2.3 Newton) The Operating Life for these switches is realistically 10 years until stress and/or oxidation starts to set in and they become intermittent . Removing old tact switches from the PCB is a matter of personal preference. The method I prefer is; Use a small sharp pair of diagonal flush wire cutters and cut all four leads off from the top side of the PCB. Take extra care not to wedge the wire cutters in‑between the base of the tact switch and the PCB when cutting the leads. This places excess force on the eyelet trace on the underside of the PCB causing possible damage. Use a solder sucker, a fine tipped soldering iron or a stainless steel hollow desoldering needle and remove the leftover pins from the PCB holes. Remove any excess solder remaining in the holes. The eyelet traces on the brittle 30‑year old PCB are very fragile. Take extra care not to lift them off the surface of the PCB while desoldering. Using too much heat or keeping the soldering iron too long in one spot usually leads to this type of problem ** Original Alpha Juno‑1 and Alpha Juno‑2 factory installed tact switches had a 1.3 Newton Operating Force HS‑10 / SynthPlus 10 / HS‑80 / SynthPlus 80 Even though most of the buttons on the front panel of the HS‑10 / SynthPlus 10 / HS‑80 / SynthPlus 80 are labeled the same as the Alpha Juno‑1 / Alpha Juno‑2, there is a big difference with the way they are pressed, i.e. Membrane Buttons (Juno‑1 / Juno‑2 / HS‑10 / SynthPlus 10) vs. Regular Buttons (HS‑80 / SynthPlus 80). All 32 buttons on the HS‑80 / SynthPlus 80 are the same part number Tact Switch Reference Page For Other Roland Synths/Samplers
The Aftertouch Stopped Working On My Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 80 Keyboard. How Do I Fix It?	This is a very common problem with Alpha Juno‑2 and SynthPlus 80 keyboards and is usually one or more of these three problems;
❖ Problem #1 - Aftertouch JST Or Ribbon Cable Connectors Are Damaged And/Or Not Connected To The Daughterboard PCB Aftertouch Ribbon Cable Damage Daughterboard PCB (click for larger image) Some owners have reported finding that a small 2‑conductor ribbon cable has popped out of it's connector. This small ribbon cable connects the Aftertouch circuit to a very tiny Daughterboard PCB and then runs to the Main Board. Some well traveled synths are susceptible to this ribbon cable popping out while on the road or being shipped somewhere. Also, previous owners and service techs have sometimes neglected to plug it back in. It's quite easy to overlook during keyboard reassembly. The Aftertouch circuit on a Roland U‑20 has an identical setup. Look here for an image of the ribbon cable and its connector. Another issue with this small connector is the solder connections have broken loose over time. Use a magnifying glass and check the bottom of the Daughterboard PCB for hairline solder cracks. There is also a small white 2‑pin JST connector which accepts a 2‑wire cable that runs to the Main Board. On my synth these wires are Red and Brown. Make sure this JST connector has not been removed by the previous owner or service tech. Another related problem if the thin ribbon cable is inserted and re‑inserted repeatedly, over time the thin layer of graphite on top will wear off ❖ Problem #2 - Aftertouch Tone Parameters Are Set To Zero Some Tones by default have their Aftertouch set to ZERO so if you create a new Tone, these non-working settings will carry over to the new Tone. Press the PARAMETER SELECT button and check the settings for DCO AFTR, VCF AFTR, VCA AFTR and MIDI AFTR. For best results, I keep all of these set to 15 and MIDI AFTR set to ON ❖ Problem #3 - Aftertouch Strip Oxidation Buildup Over time, oxidation will build up on the carbon contact strips and they need to be cleaned. The actual solution is a simple fix but it is a very, VERY time consuming process to gain access to the Aftertouch strip: 1) Disassemble the synth as shown in Steps 1 and 2 of the Battery Replacement Guide Use extreme caution when removing the Keyboard Chassis so that the Main PCB is not damaged! 2) Remove all the springs on the keyboard. The springs for black keys and white keys are different so keep them separated 3) Remove the transparent plexi covers holding the keys in place 4) Remove all the keys and keep them in order. Maybe even write down the number sequence on the underside of each key 5) Remove the long felt strip to expose the carbon contact strips 6) Use a Q‑Tip and a 50/50 diluted mix of distilled water & 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean the carbon contact strips and the top cover DO NOT overclean the carbon contact strips because you might rub off all of the carbon layer! I will repeat this DO NOT* overclean the carbon contact strips! One very light swipe should be plenty* 7) Reassemble everything and remember to plug in the small 2-conductor ribbon cable back into the tiny Connector Board Note: If the suggestions above don't work for you, there are some very good tips and tricks from Roland JX‑10 owners who have repaired the aftertouch on their keyboard using Zoflex and graphite powder. You may find some useful information at the Supersynthprojects.com website and also at the JX‑10 Aftertouch Page webpage since the same principles of restoring Aftertouch apply here
How Difficult Is It To Repair Or Replace A Defective Rotary Encoder On The Alpha Juno‑1 And Alpha Juno‑2?	Good Question! Guy Wilkinson has put together an incredibly detailed DIY for replacing the encoder on a JX-10 and MKS-70. With a few wire swaps, those same instructions can also be used to replace an Alpha Juno encoder for less than $2! I've put together an image which details the wire swaps
click for larger image This encoder replacement DIY is quite easy and the price is way, *WAY* low!!! As a bonus, I find working with the new Bourns encoder is better than the original. Why? The original encoder resolution is 40 Pulses Per Rotation (PPR) and the new one is 24 PPR which makes Tone values easier to select due to the slightly slower rotary swipes. These instructions are for the Alpha Juno‑2 and HS‑80 but with a little sleuthing and wire matching, they will also work for the Alpha Juno‑1, HS‑10 and S‑10. All these synths/samplers use the same encoder. Just from looking at the Alpha Juno‑1 and HS‑10 schematics, it appears that the 3-pin JST connector wiring is identical. Please send me an eMail with details if you update your Alpha Juno‑1 or HS‑10 so I can update this documentation for other synth owners Bourns Rotary Encoder P/N: *PEC11R-4015F-N0024* (24 PPR / 15mm Flatted Shaft / No Switch / No Detent / 2 Channels) You will initially need to reference the supersynthprojects.com website then use this new image for the wire connections (click for larger image) Update July 2019: One online visitor sent me an image of his encoder replacement which is much easier than my method shown in the PDF file below because there are no wires to cut. I opted to remove my encoder board because I wanted to resell the part on eBay (click for larger image) With a suggestion by Ray Bellis, I've designed a replacement encoder board which is "almost" a drop‑in solution. This new PCB uses the existing connector and wiring harness on the Alpha Juno. Simply solder the new $2 Bourns encoder and the old encoder wire harness onto this new PCB and pop it in place Quick Tip: To remove the Alpha Dial easily, use two small screwdrivers or chopsticks and press through the two holes to pop the wheel out through the other side I've set the price of this PCB with zero markup costs. The PCB ships anywhere in the USA for FREE. Shipping is also FREE outside of the USA but some countries may have customs and handling fees added onto the final price. My investment costs in producing this PCB is zero... only my design time. You can *order the PCB from OSHPark* at a minimal cost and the installation instructions are printed on the PCB. Because these PCB's are so tiny, OSHPark will only sell a minimum of three PCB's at a time. The price works out to about $1 per PCB. Still a bargain, especially if you own more than one Alpha Juno! The other question is, "How hard it is to repair a defective encoder?" I've never opened up an Alpha‑Dial encoder myself, but here are some detailed images courtesy of Nikolaus Riehm at *studiorepair.com. From the looks of it, if it's a minor problem like cleaning the contacts, the outer case can be opened up easily. However, I recommend getting the replacement encoder since the original is 30+ years old (click images for larger versions)* *Some More Cool And Very Detailed Alpha Juno Pics Are Here*
My Bender Bar / Modulation Bar Is Acting Bizarre. How Do I Fix It?	Sometimes, the Bender Bar / Modulation Bar on the Alpha Juno‑2 will become mis‑aligned if it takes a hard knock during transport or shipment
Alpha Juno-2 Bender Bar Wiring (click for larger image) There is a hex screw and also an additional metal shaft underneath the bender bar. Both of these can become loose. Jim Atwood provides some excellent tips for Alpha Juno‑2 Bender Bar / Modulation Bar alignments and cleaning *Jim Atwood In Japan* I have added the image on the right as a wiring reference after one online visitor reported that his Bender Bar was completely broken off as a result of shipping damages to his Alpha Juno‑2. All of the wires were snapped off from the precision potentiometer. Yeow!!! Even with a schematic, that's a tough one to solve without having another Alpha Juno‑2 nearby to reference Ouch!!!
I want To Create Custom Tone Banks. Can I Save Individual Tones Via SysEx And Load Them Back Into My Synth At Different Locations Using A Generic SysEx Program?	The answer is Yes and No. Mostly No. Roland does weird things with their older synths and SysEx commands, especially with the Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, HS‑10, HS‑80. The bottom line is that it is possible to load individual Tones (and Patches) back into these five synths. However, it's impractical because for every Tone and Patch, the Write button needs to be pressed each time. It's even more impractical when using the Alpha Juno or HS because Tone names need to be entered again manually
Alpha Juno‑1 / Alpha Juno‑2 / HS‑10 / HS‑80 Only In short, you can save individual Tones to a Mac or PC in individual SysEx files using a generic SysEx program like Snoize or SendSX, load them back into the Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, HS‑10 or HS‑80 and save them back to a different Tone location. However... the original Tone names are missing whenever you save it!!! Sheesh! In the Alpha Juno‑1 and Alpha Juno‑2 Owner's Manual in the MIDI Implementation Chart at the back of the book: Section 4 ‑ Recognized Exclusive Messages All Tone Parameters WITHOUT* Tone Names* It's really screwy with Roland's design. I have no idea why they implemented it this way. Everything is sent to the synth and the Tone name even appears in the LCD window but it won't save the Tone name when pressing the WRITE button. It might be because the designers ran out of room on the EPROM chip. Dunno. Screwy. The way to do that, if needed, is below. This procedure might be useful for a one‑shot use of sending and saving Tone parameters but it's a giant waste of time to reorganize an entire bank of 64 Tones or Patches since you will need to change the Tone name for each one Press the MIDI button and set and set these parameters as shown MIDI LOCAL = ON MIDI EXCL = ON Set the MEMORY PROTECT switch on the back of the synth to the OFF position Ensure that both MIDI In and MIDI Out cables are connected Call up the Tone you want to save (i.e. Press the PRESET* button then 8 [BANK] then 3 [NUMBER] on the synth to get T-83 TwiliteZne)* Set the SysEx program on the computer to capture data from the synth. Ensure the capture buffer is empty If using Snoize, press "Record One" Press the [BANK] button of the Tone (i.e. press 8 [BANK]) and a stream of Tone data is sent to the SysEx program) NOTE: It is important to press only one* button when sending Tone data from the synth. More than one button press will send too much SysEx data* Save the SysEx file to your computer Press the MEMORY button then 1 [BANK] then 1 [NUMBER] Use your SysEx program to send the same SysEx file back to the synth You will notice the LCD now reads *M‑11 TwiliteZne The asterisk indicates the current Tone data has changed Play a key and you will hear the TwiliteZne Tone at location M‑11** All of the Tone data parameters were sent and also the Tone name. However, when you save the new Tone to Memory location 1 1, (i.e. Press and hold the MIDI* button and press 1 [BANK] then 1 [NUMBER]), you will discover (unfortunately)* the Tone name reverts back to whatever was originally stored at Memory location 1 1 but the parameter data *has* changed. When you save the new Tone to Memory location 1 1, it saves all of the new parameter data just fine but not the Tone Name! Very Weird, Indeed. You will need to edit the Tone name manually and re-save it to Memory location 1 1. A really screwy process. Thanks Roland! For detailed info about how this SysEx file save/load process works, refer to the Release Notes of the Alpha Juno & HS APR Patch Reader Utility MKS‑50 Only MKS-50 MIDI implementation does transmit Tone names and Patch names but it does not automatically save anything. You will need to manually save the Patch and Tone data by pressing memory location numbers and the WRITE button for every Tone and every Patch Press the TUNE/MIDI button and set these parameters as shown TX C.M. APR= ON TX PATCH APR = ON TX TONE APR = ON MEM. PROTECT = OFF Ensure that both MIDI In and MIDI Out cables are connected Press the PATCH A←→B button Call up a Patch you want to save such as P‑A83 TwiliteZne i.e. Press 8 then 3 on the front panel to get P-A83 TwiliteZne Set the SysEx program on the computer to capture data from the synth. Ensure the capture buffer is empty If using Snoize, press "Record Many" Press the two numbers of the Patch you want to save (i.e. Press 8 then 3 on the synth to get P-A83 TwiliteZne) and data is sent to the SysEx program NOTE: It is important to press only two number buttons when sending Patch data from the MKS‑50 More than one button press will send too much SysEx data Save the SysEx file to your computer and use the .SYX extender To place the Patch you just saved (P‑A83 TwiliteZne) into a different location in the MKS‑50 For example, to place it in location P-A12 Send the .SYX file from your SysEx program to the MKS-50 You will notice the LCD shows *T=a83TwiliteZne** (The asterisk indicates the Tone in the temporary area has been changed) Press WRITE - Screen says T-a83 -> a83 ok ? Press 1 then 2 Press WRITE The LCD reads *T:‑a12TwiliteZne Press the PATCH A←→B button Press WRITE and the LCD shows P-A11 → A11 ok ? Press 1 then 2 Press WRITE and the LCD shows P:A12TwilightZne* (The colon indicates the Patch in the temporary area has been changed) All of the Patch, Tone and User Definable Chord Data has now been saved to memory slot P-A12 For detailed info about how this SysEx file save/load process works, refer to the Release Notes of the MKS‑50 APR Patch Reader Utility
What Are The Main Differences Between The Five Synths?	Keyboard Keyboard Keyboard Keyboard Dynamics Tape M-64C Built-In Size Aftertouch Velocity And Pressure Save Save Speakers ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------------- ---- ----- -------- Alpha Juno-1 49 Keys MIDI ONLY MIDI ONLY EV-5 & MIDI YES NO NO SynthPlus 10 49 Keys MIDI ONLY MIDI ONLY EV-5 & MIDI YES NO NO Alpha Juno-2 61 Keys YES & MIDI YES & MIDI YES & MIDI NO YES NO SynthPlus 80 61 Keys YES & MIDI YES & MIDI YES & MIDI YES NO YES MKS-50 NO KEYBOARD MIDI ONLY MIDI ONLY MIDI ONLY YES NO NO

How Does The MKS-50 Tone And Patch Structure Differ From The Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Keyboards?	All five synthesizers use nearly identical electronics and with a few slight differences, share the same MIDI System Exclusive data structure. The main difference is the way the MKS‑50 stores Tones and Patches when saving .SYX files. The Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno-2, SynthPlus 10 and SynthPlus 80 are identical in that they both have 64 Tones stored in RAM and 64 Tones hard‑coded on ROM. Just like the the other four synths, the MKS‑50 also has a 128 Tone configuration but all of the Tones are stored in RAM. The MKS‑50 also has an additional 128 Patch settings and 64 Chord Memory settings. The MKS‑50 saves both Tone banks, both Patch banks, and the Chord Memory data separately. The additional Patch settings control parameters such as Portamento Time, Detune, MIDI Aftertouch, etc... If you use one of the other four synths and have found that you can't load some of the .SYX files floating around on the Internet, it is most likely because those files contain Patch or Chord Memory data for an MKS-50. Some of the culprit files on the Internet which won't load into the other four synths are MKS50_P1.SYX* through MKS50_P7.SYX. When trying to load these, an error message appears in the display which reads Bulk DT‑MISMATCH or Bulk Load ERR! Another file floating around the Internet is direct from Roland and contains the factory presets for the MKS‑50. One would think that this will load into the other four synths but it will not. The filename is MKS50rig.MID and is in a MIDI sequencer file format, not SysEx. Roland chose the MIDI sequencer file format to distribute these datasets because they can fit the equivalent of five data files into one file. This file contains five datasets; Tone Group 'a', Tone Group 'b', Patch Group 'A', Patch Group 'B' and Chord Memory. When played using a sequencer, it loads these five datasets one after the other. In my opinion, this file is a big waste of time trying to troubleshoot connectivity problems. Just use .SYX files, save yourself some time and be done with it. I chose not to make this file available for downloading on the TONES page The MKS‑50 stores all 128 Tones in RAM but also has an additional 64 Tones hard-coded onto ROM. These 64 Tones are not accessible during normal use but are designed to be copied from ROM IC7 to RAM IC8 during an Initialization Reset back to a default factory setting (when the [ 4 ] + [ 8 ] buttons are held down during a power‑up and the LCD display reads "FACTORY PRESET"). The 64 Tones stored on ROM IC7 are the same Tones in the .SYX file called FACTORYA.SYX* and are copied into Tone Group 'a'
Why Does My MKS‑50 And/Or Other MIDI Instruments Act Sluggish?	If you have more than three MIDI devices plugged into the your chain of MIDI THRU connectors, use an optional MIDI THRU box
If I Don't Have An External Keyboard Or Computer Connected via MIDI, How Do I Check If My MKS-50 Is Working?	Select any Tone from the front panel and then press the [ VALUE Δ ] button to simulate a MIDI Note ON. You will hear what the currently selected Tone sounds like (the 'A' note above Middle C will sound)
I'm Having Problems Saving And Loading Tones Using The Tape Interface On The MKS-50, Alpha Juno-1 And SynthPlus 10. What Can I Do To Fix It?	Seriously? It's the 21st Century! Use a computer to save and load your sounds. The tape interface feature was added because back in the mid-1980's computers were expensive and not everyone could afford to have one in their music studio. Cassette was king in the 1980's and it was an inexpensive way to save data
How Do I Change The Internal Back-Up Battery?	I recommend that you take your synthesizer to a Roland Authorized Service Center because installing a new battery is a tedious task. The battery is soldered onto the main circuit board. But...... if you're a real sicko like me and insist on saving pennies because you have that foolish "I can do that myself" attitude...... then...... detailed instructions are available. A big advantage of taking it to a Roland Authorized Service Center is that if they accidentally "pop" an IC because of static discharge, the cost is on them; Battery Replacement Guide
How Do I Replace A Broken Key And/Or Troubleshoot Non-Working Keys On My Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, SynthPlus 10 Or SynthPlus 80?	Erick Tejkowski has created an excellent photo DIY guide for replacing broken keys: *Key Replacement Guide* Jim Atwood provides some tips for keyboard problems including PCB repairs, dead key troubleshooting and cleaning key contacts: *Jim Atwood In Japan*
The Chord Memory Feature Is Not Saving Any Of The New Chords I Create. What's Wrong?	Alpha Juno‑1 / Alpha Juno‑2 / HS‑10 / HS‑80 Set the MEM PROTECT switch on the back of the synth to the OFF position (These four synths can only store one Chord at a time in memory) MKS‑50 Press the TUNE/MIDI button and set MEM. PROTECT= OFF (The MKS-50 is great because you can store 16 different Chord Memories!) *CREATING AND PLAYING NEW CHORDS* For The Alpha Juno‑1 / Alpha Juno‑2 / HS‑10 / HS‑80 To create a new Chord, hold the CHORD Button and then press the WRITE Button The red LED on the CHORD button will start blinking The LCD will display "Write CHORD" Play a chord on the keyboard The red LED on the CHORD Button will turn off and the LCD will briefly display "Write Complete" The new chord is now saved saved to memory Press the CHORD Button and then play one key at a time to activate For The MKS‑50 There's a lot going on. Way too many things to explain here Refer to pages 39, 40 & 41 of the MKS‑50 Owner's Manual for detailed instructions
Is There A Way To Adjust The LCD Contrast For A Better Viewing Angle On An MKS-50?	(click for larger image) There is nothing built-in to the MKS-50 O/S which will allow contrast adjustments. However, a very long time ago when web browsers were a new thing, there was a website in Norway which had a vast amount of Alpha Juno and MKS-50 material online. This is a mod which was featured on that website (which is no longer active). I have not tried this mod myself but other MKS‑50 owners have reported success
Where Can I Get MKS-50, Alpha Juno And HS Questions Answered?	Two of the most popular online forums for getting a lot of synthesizer related questions answered is at gearsz.com and Facebook http://gearsz.com *"Roland Alpha Juno" group on Facebook*

*** * * SPECS * * ***
DIMENSIONS	WIDTH	DEPTH	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
MKS‑50	18 7/8" (480 mm)	11 7/16" (290 mm)	1 3/4" (44 mm)	7 lb. 12 oz. (3.5 kg)
Alpha Juno‑1 SynthPlus 10	31 1/2" (802 mm)	9 1/2" (240 mm)	3 1/8" (79 mm)	11 lb. 14 oz. (5.4 kg)
Alpha Juno‑2	38 1/4" (972 mm)	9 5/8" (246 mm)	3 3/8' (85 mm)	16 lb. 9 oz. (7.5 kg)
SynthPlus 80	38 9/16" (980 mm)	13 3/16" (350 mm)	3 15/16" (100 mm)	30 lb. 14 oz. (14.0 kg) Built-In Stereo Speakers And Amplifier

AUDIO	POWER	AUDIO OUTPUT	ANALOG LOWPASS FILTER		POLYPHONIC VOICES
MKS‑50	16W	-3dBm	-24dB/oct		6
Alpha Juno‑1 Alpha Juno-2 SynthPlus 10	12W	-3dBm	-24dB/oct		6
SynthPlus 80	45W	-3dBm	-24dB/oct		6

PRODUCTION	YEAR	RETAIL PRICE (USD)	KEYBOARD	MEMORY
MKS‑50	1986	$749 USD	None (Velocity, Dynamics and Aftertouch via MIDI)	128 Tones (RAM) / 128 Patches (RAM) 16 Chords (RAM) / 64 System Init Tones (ROM) *More
Alpha Juno‑1 SynthPlus 10	1985 1986	$999 USD	49 Keys - 4 Octaves (Velocity, Dynamics and Aftertouch via MIDI)	64 Tones (ROM) / 64 Tones (RAM)
Alpha Juno‑2	1985	$1,299 USD	61 Keys - 5 Octaves (Velocity, Dynamics and Aftertouch)	64 Tones (ROM) / 64 Tones (RAM) 64 Tones (Optional RAM Cartridge)
SynthPlus 80	1986	$1,699 USD	61 Keys - 5 Octaves (Velocity, Dynamics and Aftertouch)	64 Tones (ROM) / 64 Tones (RAM)

INTERNAL BATTERY**			POWER CABLE (USA)
P/N: CR2032	Battery Replacement DIY**		2-Prong Power Connector 110V / 117V ROLAND P/N: 2P-AC1 HOSA P/N: PWC-178 8-Foot Cable is available at sweetwater.com + always FREE Shipping / NO Minimum!
Tired of always looking for that oddball 2-Prong AC power cable? I was... and I did something about it. Here's a super simple mod that will let you use the more common 3‑Prong AC cable. The mod is so simple that all it needs is a picture to explain. It's easy as 'connect the dots'. If you buy the correct sized AC power adapter, it's a 1 for 1 swap, no case modification and no sheet metal to cut. There's even a pre-drilled hole in the case for the ground wire. Just piggy‑back onto one of the screw holes used for the serial number plate. Easy! In addition to always being able to find the right AC cable, this mod adds ground circuit protection. Why is that important? Just ask some MKS‑50, Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, HS‑10, and HS‑80 owners who connected their synth to an ungrounded mixing board. The audio output transistors on their synths were toasted!!! The image shows the mod for an MKS‑50 but this should also work with an Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2, SynthPlus 10, SynthPlus 80, JX‑10, and MKS‑70. If you are using a synth with something running other than 110/117VAC, please note... this mod has NOT been verified to work on a synth running 220V/240V. This mod is only for those with electronics experience. Author accepts no liability if you damage your synth or kill yourself. Always keep one hand behind your back while working with electricity. It's the best way to stay alive. AC Power Receptacle Replacement DIY

High Quality Replacement Power Switches [ Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 ]
Power Rating: 6A @ 250VAC Type: SPST w/Solder Lugs Panel Opening: 13mm x 19mm
P/N @ mouser.com		633-CWSA11AANS*	633-CWSA11AAN1S	633-CWSA11AAN2S	633-CWSA11AAN3S
* The original rocker switch has no actuator markings on the face like some of these replacements. The original switch has a red bar which appears on the lower side when the switch is turned on. It's a totally useless design because you can't even see the red bar unless your eyelevel is underneath the synth! Weird!! I've concluded that the power switch was installed upside‑down at the factory because when you view the label on the switch from inside the Alpha Juno‑1 & Alpha Juno‑2 case, the lettering is upside‑down (every Alpha Juno‑1/2, JX‑10 and U‑20 I've ever seen is the same way as shown here) The replacement switch most similar to the original is Mouser P/N: 633‑CWSA11AANS but it does not have the red bar. I've always hated the original switch because it was so difficult to see against the dark backplate. I opted to replace mine with P/N: 633‑CWSA11AAN1S because it has a little more visibility. The price for P/N: 633‑CWSA11AAN1S as of April 2020 was $1.97 (USD). The original rocker switch (Roland P/N: 13149108) was also used on a zillion other Roland synths and devices some of which include the Super JX‑10, JX‑8P, Juno 60/106, U‑20, JV‑80, JD‑800, D‑10/20/50/70, MK‑80, and MPU‑101
Average Quality Replacement Power Switches [ Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 ]
Power Rating: 6A @ 250VAC Type: DPST w/Solder Lugs Panel Opening: 13mm x 19mm
SKU# @ taydaelectronics.com		A-5091		A-5092
I'm posting these two alternative switches from Tayda because of the low cost and high visibility of the red switch A‑5092. These are DPST switches, have the same power rating and will work equally well as the switches from Mouser. The price for these as of April 2020 was only 26¢. After evaluating all types, I prefer the higher quality switches from Mouser

Replacement Power Switch [ MKS-50 Only ]
Power Rating: 5A @ 250VAC Type: ON/OFF w/Solder Lugs
P/N:		ALPS: SDGA3P Sony/JVC/Panasonic: 554-880-12 Roland: 13129124
If your old switch is experiencing problems, don't bother trying to repair it. Some of the parts inside this model are sealed in plastic and other parts are wired in place. Repairing it is a lost cause. This power switch works with the MKS‑50 and a wide selection of other Roland synths and samplers including the D‑110, D‑550, GM‑70, JV‑880, MKS‑20, MKS‑70, MKS‑80, MKS‑100, S‑220, S‑550 and U‑220. In the 1980's and 1990's, this power switch was also used with a variety of Sony/JVC/Panasonic TV's and component stereo devices. This power switch is quite robust and therefore more expensive than most. Replacements can be found on eBay for about $10 (USD). Do a keyword search for "ALPS SDGA3P"

Fuse Replacements
Detailed fuse info specific to Roland gear is at this link: *Fuse Reference Webpage For Roland Synths/Samplers*

*** * * ACCESSORIES * * ***
PG-300 PROGRAMMER The PG‑300 programmer gives easy access to all of the editing features on all five synths. Most MKS‑50 owners prefer this editing device compared to software editors or the Alpha‑Dial because of ease of use and functionality. The PG‑300 allows real-time editing which enables the user to change sounds while playing live. It is also possible to use the PG‑300 to send editing parameters via MIDI for live MIDI sequencing. Unlike the PG‑800 Programmer for the JX‑10 and MKS‑70 synthesizers, this device does not need a proprietary 8‑Pin DIN cable. It uses standard MIDI cables for communication with it's host. This external plug‑in device is extremely hard to find on the used market at a reasonable price. The original retail price in 1986 was $264
MPG-50 PROGRAMMER Retroaktiv has designed a hardware programmer specifically designed for Alpha Juno, HS and MKS‑50 synths. Sends MIDI data via SysEx and MIDI CC protocol. It sports an OLED screen display and billions of knobs and sliders to tweak. Loaded with features! *Visit the Retroaktiv webpage for detailed info about the MPG‑50*
BEHRINGER BCR2000 Compared to a PG‑300 or KIWI PE, the BCR2000 is a low cost alternative Patch editor and MIDI controller. Plus, the BCR2000 is multi‑tasking and it works with several other synths I use this BCR2000 SysEx File and Template Overlays from Anlage‑E for my Alpha Juno‑1, Alpha Juno‑2 and MKS‑50 synths. It works great and is highly recommended! Note: There are no instructions in the ZIP file detailing how to load this SysEx file into the BCR2000 so I've put together a short Help File with step‑by‑step commands* BCR2000 Alpha Juno Resource Pack Help File - Loading A SysEx File Into The BCR2000
MEMORY CARTRIDGE M-64C / Symphony 128 S64 [ Alpha Juno‑2 Only ] **NOTE: ALWAYS SET THE PROTECT SWITCH TO THE "ON" POSITION BEFORE INSERTING OR REMOVING AN M‑64C OR SYMPHONY 128 CARTRIDGE If you have an M‑64C which was used on a different piece of Roland gear (TR‑707, GR‑700, etc...) and you want to use it with your Alpha Juno‑2, set the PROTECT switch to the 'OFF' position. Use the WRITE procedure twice. This same procedure is needed when initializing a blank M‑64C cartridge for the first time The M‑64C cartridge is compatible with several Roland synthesizers and drum machines including the Alpha Juno‑2, Super JX‑10, MKS‑70, MKS‑80, JX‑8P, MKS‑20, MKS‑30, TR‑707, TR‑727, TR‑909, DDR‑30, GR‑700, and GR‑77B Back in the 1980's, a company called Symphony Series, Inc. made a fantastic product called the Symphony 128/S64. The cool thing about this item was that it had two DIP switches to choose between four banks of Roland cartridge data. It was the equivalent of having four M‑64C cartridges available at the same time on an Alpha Juno‑2, JX‑10, MKS‑70 or four M‑16C cartridges available at the same time on a JX‑8P, TR‑707, TR‑727, GR‑700, MKS‑20, MKS‑30 and more. Another good design feature was that it used a common CR2032 battery which was much easier to replace than a soldered battery with pins. Nice! BATTERY REPLACEMENT M‑64C cartridges use an internal lithium battery to hold the Tones in memory. One day that battery will die and the Tones will be lost. The life span of the battery is projected anywhere from five to ten years. Mine is still working fine after 29+ years. Amazing! The internal battery is factory soldered in place onto the cartridge circuit board. M‑64C Lithium Battery Replacement Part Number: CR‑1/3N NOTE: DO NOT UNSOLDER THIS LITHIUM BATTERY! THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXPLOSION RISK! To remove the old battery, use a small pair of wire cutters and carefully cut both battery leads from the circuit board then discard the battery. Unsolder the leads left behind and remove all solder from the holes. Ensure the holes are large enough for the leads on the new battery. When soldering the new battery in place, use one or two heat sinks, eye protection and make very quick solder joints. Do not leave the soldering iron tip on any one spot for very long. No more than three or four seconds Replacement CR‑1/3N lithium batteries should be ordered with the 'PCB Pins**' option	An instruction sheet and a high resolution schematic for the M-64C cartridge is *here* Symphony 128/S64 4-Bank RAM cartridge. A full-page ad from an old Electronic Musician magazine is *here*
EV-5 EXPRESSION PEDAL [ Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Only ] Depending on which synthesizer you are using, this foot pedal containing variable resistors can control different Tone parameters in real-time Alpha Juno‑1 / SynthPlus 10 The FOOT CONTROL jack is configured by pressing the TUNE/FUNCTION button and selecting FOOT CNT which allows three options; VOLUME - Varies the Min/Max Volume, just like moving the Volume Slider AFTER - Aftertouch sensitivity control for DCO, VCF and VCA parameters DYNMCS - Controls the Dynamics sensitivity for DCO, VCF and VCA parameters* * The Dynamics effect is determined by the position of the pedal when the key is played This means that the Dynamics effect is not affected by the pedal once the key is played Alpha Juno‑2 / SynthPlus 80 When plugged into the EXP PEDAL jack, the EV‑5 or EV‑7 varies the Min/Max Volume... just like moving the Volume Slider by hand. No Aftertouch or Dynamics control is possible When plugged into the PEDAL SW jack, the EV‑5 or EV‑7 will cycle through Tones in ascending order When plugged into the PEDAL HOLD jack, the EV‑5 or EV‑7 will sustain a note or multiple notes Note: The Alpha Juno‑2 Owner's Manual contains an error on page 14. There is no option available to select FOOT CONTROL when pressing the TUNE/FUNCTION button. Someone at Roland blundered and accidentally Cut & Paste a page from the Alpha Juno-1 Owner's Manual The EV‑5 retails for the outrageous price of $119 USD and the EV‑7 retails for even more at $279 USD. It is a very simple circuit and it is quite easy to make an equivalent tabletop hand controlled input device using a couple of inexpensive potentiometers, a 1/4" stereo plug, an enclosure and 2‑conductor shielded cable. Instead of buying the 1/4" stereo plug and 2‑conductor shielded cable separately, I suggest that you buy an inexpensive, ready‑made cable on eBay and snip off one end. That way, you'll have a 1/4" plug already soldered onto a cable which will eliminate extra work on your part. I have found this to be the least expensive route. I was able to build one for under $11 - and that includes the shipping charges! Granted, it's not a true foot controller but, it's still a useful real‑time input device	EV-5 Owner's Manual (Japanese and English) EV-7 Owner's Manual
Notes: ❖ Also works great with the Roland W‑30, JX‑10, U‑20, S‑50 and the Synthrotek MST Expressor Eurorack module ❖ There is an optional add‑on polarity switch mod which enables EV‑5 compatibility with non‑Roland gear. Details for adding this optional switch into the circuit are here ❖ The image shown on the right is a dual EV‑5 hand controller. This variation on the original design uses one 1/4" stereo output jack and one 3.5mm stereo output jack (hidden from view). Using output jacks instead of hard‑wiring the output cables was preferred since I already had several existing ready‑made cables. The knobs on top are the Main Controllers (VR1)	EV-5 DIY Parts List (Hand Controller Version) P/N: A-1982 - 10K Ohm Linear Pot P/N: A-1983 - 50K Ohm Linear Pot P/N: A-5081 - 1/4' Stereo Plug P/N: A-5166 - 1590A Enclosure 2-Conductor Shielded Cable (Where The Shield = Ground) *taydaelectronics.com* Variation: DIY Dual hand controller with optional output jacks
Adjusting the EV-5 Minimum Volume Knob
DP-6 PEDAL [ Momentary Switch ] DP-8 / DP-10 PEDAL [ Momentary Switch + On/Off Switch ] [ Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Only ] This is a momentary foot‑switch for controlling different Tone parameter functions. Depending on how the Performance Control Functions are set by pressing the TUNE/FUNCTION button, this foot pedal can control PROGRAM SHIFT, PORTAMENTO* or CHORD MEMORY* parameters when plugged into the PEDAL SW Jack. When plugged into the PEDAL HOLD Jack, this momentary switch will retain the sound even after the key is released The DP-6 and DP-8 have been discontinued but the DP‑10 will function in the same manner as the DP‑6 and DP‑8. Just set the Function Select switch to the "Switch" position (located on the side of the DP‑8 / DP‑10). The DP-10 is equipped with a rubber plate on the bottom surface of the pedal. The DP‑8 does not have a rubber plate. This plate improves the stability of the pedal in use, making it less likely to slip even when used on a hard floor. To use, rotate the plate 90 degrees. The DP‑10 has a long 2.2 meter pedal cable. The DP‑8's cable length is 1.3 meters. Other than the points described above, the DP‑10 is identical to the DP‑8 in size and features. Both pedals are equipped with a Function Select Switch to adjust the pedal's functionality: Half‑Damper Control: Set the Select Switch to the Continuous Position to use the pedal to control half‑damper capability Switch Control: Set the select switch to the Switch position to use the pedal as an on/off switch * When the PORTAMENTO or CHORD MEMORY parameters are selected, the effects are ON while the pedal is being depressed. If you wish to turn the effect ON and OFF alternately by depressing the pedal, use the optional Foot Switch FS‑1	DP-8 Owner's Manual DP-10 Owner's Manual
DP-2 PEDAL SWITCH [ Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Only ] Same function as the DP‑6 pedal but the DP‑2 model costs less and is made mostly of plastic parts
FS-1 FOOT SWITCH [ Alpha Juno And SynthPlus Only ] This is an ON/OFF switch and is made mostly of metal parts * When the PORTAMENTO or CHORD MEMORY parameters are selected, the effects are turned ON and OFF alternately
Pedal Model Description Product Status ----------- ------------------ -------------- FS-1 On/Off Discontinued DP-2 Momentary Current DP-6 Momentary Discontinued DP-8 Momentary + On/Off Discontinued DP-10 Momentary + On/Off Current EV-5 Variable Resistor Current EV-7 Variable Resistor Current EV-10 Variable Resistor Discontinued

*** * * MKS-50 ERROR MESSAGES * * ***
ERROR MESSAGE	RESOLUTION
Check Battery!!	This is caused by one of three problems; 1) The battery has died *Battery Replacement Guide* 2) The battery was replaced and a RAM Initialization is needed *RAM Initialization Procedure* 3) A Full System Initialization is needed *See Step #9 Of This Guide - 'Special Power-Up Sequence'*
Memory Protected	The MEMORY PROTECT setting is turned ON. To turn it OFF; MKS-50 Press the [ TUNE/MIDI ] button Press the [ PARAM ∇ ] button and the display will read MEM. PROTECT= OFF Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 Locate the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH on the back of the keyboard and change it to the OFF position
TAPE Load ERR	Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH = OFF, check the playback level, connections and verify you are using good quality tape
TAPE Vrfy ERR	The data group to be loaded is different from the data group on the tape. Use a different tape
TAPE DT MISMATCH	Set the MEMORY PROTECT SWITCH = OFF
Bulk Load ERR	Check the MIDI cables, the receiving device, MIDI Channel #1, System Exclusive = ON, Write Protect = OFF
Bulk Dump ERR	Check the MIDI cables, the receiving device and MIDI Channel #1
Bulk DT MISMATCH	While loading Tone, Patch or Chord Memory data; The .SYX file you are trying to load is incompatible / corrupted -or-* The DATA TRANSFER mode was not set correctly MKS-50 When pressing the [ DATA TRANSFER ] button, there are five different settings to choose from to load data: *BulkLoad [ T-a ] - Choose this to load Tones into Tone Bank a BulkLoad [ T-b ]* - Choose this to load Tones into Tone Bank b *BulkLoad [ P-A ] - Choose this to load Patch parameters into Patch Bank A BulkLoad [ P-B ]* - Choose this to load Patch parameters into Patch Bank B *BulkLoad [ CM ] - Choose this to load Chord Memory data Notice the Asterisk !!!** If you choose a setting without the asterisk you won't be able to load or save any data on a computer or other external devices. The setting without an asterisk is only used if you have two MKS-50 modules and you want to transfer data from one to the other
Insert Cartridge	You have tried to use the Cartridge Group without connecting the Cartridge
Cart Protected	You have tried to write into the cartridge with the protect switch on the cartridge set to the ON position

If you find any of the SysEx info above "interesting", you might like the following list. I searched the web for a list of synthesizer and sampler 'Format Type', 'Format ID#' and 'Model ID#' codes. I struck out... nowhere to be found so... I started compiling my own list. This list is useful when coding for several synthesizers and samplers. (NOTE: All values are shown as Hexadecimal)

OBERHEIM (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 10)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# ‑ MODEL ID#
Matrix-12 / Xpander	02
Matrix-6 / Matrix-6R / Matrix-1000	06

E-MU (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 18)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
Proteus 1 / Proteus 2 / Proteus 3 / Proteus FX	04

CLAVIA (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 33)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
Nord Lead	04

KAWAI (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 40)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
K5 / K5m	02
K1 / K1m / K1r	03
K4 / K4r	04

ROLAND (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 41)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
JP-8000	06
MKS-100, S-10, S-220	10
D-50 / D-550	14
D-5 / D-10 / D-110 / D-20 / MT-32 / GR-50	16
S-50	18
S-330 / S-550	1E
MKS-80	20
JX-8P	21
Alpha Juno-1 / Alpha Juno-2 / SynthPlus 10 / SynthPlus 80 / MKS-50	23
U-110 (Note: This "23" differs from the Alpha Juno series because of the byte positioning)	23
JX-10 / MKS-70	24
U-20 / U-220	2B
S-750 / S-760 / S-770 / SP-700	34
Rhodes Model 660 / Rhodes Model 760	35
D-70	39
JD-800	3D
JX-1	3E
JV-35 / JV-50	42
JV-30	42 or 4D
JV-80 / JV-90 / JV-880 / JV-1000	46
VK-1000	48
GR-1	54
JD-900 / JD-990	57
JV-1010 / JV-1080 / JV-2080 / XP-50 / XP-60 / XP-80	6A
XP-10	7B

KORG (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 42)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
M1 / M1R	19
Poly-800 / EX-800	21
M3 / M3R	75
T1 / T2 / T3	26
A1	2C
A2	2D
Triton	50
Wavestation / Wavestation SR / Wavestation A/D	28
01/W	2B
03R/W	30
05R/W	36

YAMAHA (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 43)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
FB-01	75

AKAI (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 47)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
S-700	47
S-1000 / S-2000 / S-2800 / S-3000 / S-3000XL / S-3200 / S-3200XL	48
S-900 / S-950	64
S-5000 / S-6000	5E

BEHRINGER (MIDI Manufacturer ID = 00 20 32)	FORMAT TYPE / ID# - MODEL ID#
BCF2000	14
BCR2000	15

*** * * BONUS * * ***
*BONUS "HOOVER"* MATERIAL!**	If you made it this far down the page, here's some extra stuff for you. Watch Eric Persing explain the origins of the *'Hoover'* sound. You might be be surprised! (Note: The video automatically skips ahead to 11:54)

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