Shponglefan wrote on 2018-03-11, 16:11:
derSammler wrote:"not to be confused with simply selecting the SC-55 map"
I should read more closely shouldn't I? 😵
But how is the SC-55 mode otherwise set on the SC-88 Pro? I know there's an SC-88 compatibility mode, but not aware of how to set an SC-55 one.
I don't have direct knowledge of the SC-88Pro, but I think they may have been confusing the map for a single channel with remapping all channels. At least, that's how it's done on my SC-8850. I press both PART arrows at the same time to access ALL parts, and select the INST MAP, after that, to make the entire synth use the other sounds. It doesn't revert the map automatically even when sent a GS reset. You can reset the map through the SHIFT+Part Left Arrow->Initialize All, though, or just by setting it with the method I already mentioned. Still, if that is what they were saying, it is too confusingly worded to be left unsaid, as it really is just using the map of its predecessors (along with the throwback sounds that are used when you change the map of any one part/channel).
Edit: 2023-04-23
Just in advance of me being able to test the SC-88 Pro, I stumbled onto the details of its compatibility mode (which is what they truly meant): Roland SC-88 Pro (hopefully) helpful hints
On page 112 of the SC-88 Pro manual ("Creating compatible data for the unit / SC-88"), it says that holding SELECT while pressing ALL, and subsequently pressing either SC-55 MAP or SC-88 MAP, puts it in this compatibility mode. There, it infers the uses of the Bank Select LSB message (CC#32). When set to 0 (and also by default), it will be using the MAP you've selected on each part. It seems to me, that this is just the SC-88 Pro's method for changing the front-panel user-selected MAP for all parts. With compatibility mode disabled (hold SELECT and only press ALL without pressing a MAP button), it appears it would be using the SC-88 Pro ("Native") MAP for a CC#32 value of 0, which of course would mean the selected MAP for all parts is the SC-88 Pro ("Native") MAP.
The SC-8850 and SC-8820 always use the front-panel user-selected MAP when a CC#32 message of value 0 is set. So, I believe, this compatibility mode is only a different interface to change the selected MAP for all parts.
Of course, CC#32 may be set to 1-3 or 1-4 to force a specific MAP on the SC-88 Pro and SC-8850/20, respectively.
However, the CC#32 set to 0 is most important as, aside from it being the default MAP, it's how sequences are made to be device independent. If a newer GS synth is used, it's no problem for the Native MAP which will have the older variations. On the other hand if it's older, and it doesn't have the variations being used, this would work best when a device actually has variation fallback. While only the original SC-55 (and contemporary devices like the CM-300/500) have variation fallback, they also don't have alternate MAPs. Luckily, they aren't adversely affected by this slightly more modern concept of the GS Bank Select LSB CC#32, and ignore it.
While the SC-88 manual appears to be missing the mention of the SC-88 Pro's compatibility mode, on page 125 (in the Appendix: 7 - 21) it lists all the MAPs used with the LSB values. The SC-55 MAP is selected with values of both 0 and 1, and the SC-88 MAP is selected only with the value of 2. Although that seems troublesome, it's refuted on page 133 (7 - 31 in the SysEx section of the Appendix), where it says the front-panel user-selected MAP is chosen by a value of 0 (and is the default), the SC-55 MAP by the value 1, and the SC-88 MAP by 2, just like the later GS synths are for those values.
Also, it's important to note that the SC-88 and newer only use "almost the same sounds" as the SC-55mkII when using the SC-55 MAP, otherwise Roland wouldn't have gone out of their way to state it nearly everywhere it's mentioned in the SC-88 Pro manual.
I hope that helps,
Lucas