Yeah, the NS5R has one of the worst menu systems ever 🤣.
[Edit]-> Preset -> [Edit] -> Then use the wheel to select what mode you want. Push [Edit], confirm and [Edit] again.
GM Mode On = Standard NS5R Mode
NS5R Reset (R) = Roland GS
NS5R Reset (Y) = Yamaha XG
Factory Preset = Full Factory Reset
Other useful stuff:
[Edit] -> Global ->NS5R Setup -> BankMap
Default = NS5R Mode (GM-A) OR 05R/W (GM-B) Map Mode
Next to this you will see FX. Followpart. Default is 0 which means special effects will be disabled! Set to 01 for games.
But some stuff sounds better with it off imo. Experiment!
Also under Global, push [Part Left] or [Part Right] to reach RX Switch
Here you can choose to accept or ignore GM, GS, and XG Reset messages. You can assign your screen color of choice to each even.
Internal Wave Blaster daughterboard use:
[Edit] -> PartEdit -> [Edit] -> Common [Edit] -> [Part Right] -> MIDI To Port
The big grid assigns where all of the channels go.
Port A = NS5R Main
Port B = Ns5R Sub
Port C = Wave Blaster Daughterboard
So yes you can say install a dreamblaster and use it's guitars while the Korg does everything else.
Cool module to play with once you get used to it.
The Akai also auto-saves everything by the way. For game use it's helpful to factory reset it every time.
Simply hold both the Up and Down buttons while pushing the power switch. You will see CLR appear on the display.
I adore my Akai. It's patches are incredibly unbalanced compared to all the Japanese Module makers. This makes for some
very clashing in your face music. It's like each instrument is trying to uppercut the others. Games like Rise of the Triad are just perfect
on it.
Modules: CM-64, CM-500, SC-55MkII, SC-88 Pro, SY22, TG100, MU2000EX, PLG100-SG, PLG150-DR, PLG150-AN, SG01k, NS5R, GZ-50M, SN-U110-07, SN-U110-10, Pocket Studio 5, DreamBlaster S2, X2, McFly, E-Wave, QWave, CrystalBlaster C2, Yucatan FX, BeepBlaster