Roland GR-Series 24-Pin Connectors

Roland 24-Pin Connector

Pin GR-300 GR-700 GM-70/MC1 GK-1 Korg Z3 Pin GR-300 GR-700 GM-70/MC1 GK-1 Korg Z3

1 red +15 V +15 V +15 V +15 V +15 V 13 red/white N/C N/C CV# 3 N/C N/C

2 black -15 V -15 V -15 V -15 V -15 V 14 brown/white Vib CV Vib CV CV# 4 N/C N/C

3 green GND GND A GND GND GND 15 yellow/black Dis SW MODE 1 MODE 1 N/C N/C

4 green/black N/C GND A GND GND GND 16 red/black Syn SW MODE 2 MODE 2 N/C N/C

5 green/white N/C GND A GND GND GND 17 brown Dis Sig N/C N/C N/C Program

6 grey/black GND GND D GND GND GND 18 white SIG GT SIG GT SIG GT SIG GT SIG GT

7 purple/white N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C 19 orange SIG 1-E SIG 1-E SIG 1-E SIG 1-E SIG 1-E

8 black/white M Vol M Vol M Vol M Vol M Vol 20 blue SIG 2-B SIG 2-B SIG 2-B SIG 2-B SIG 2-B

9 pink Syn Vol Syn Vol Syn Vol Syn Vol N/C 21 yellow SIG 3-G SIG 3-G SIG 3-G SIG 3-G SIG 3-G

10 pink/black GT Vol GT Vol GT Vol GT Vol N/C 22 purple SIG 4-D SIG 4-D SIG 4-D SIG 4-D SIG 4-D

11 orange/black Cutoff CV Cutoff CV CV# 1 CV# 1 N/C 23 grey SIG 5-A SIG 5-A SIG 5-A SIG 5-A SIG 5-A

12 orange/white Reso CV Edit CV CV# 2 CV# 2 N/C 24 light green SIG 6-E SIG 6-E SIG 6-E SIG 6-E SIG 6-E

Pin	GR-300	GR-700	GM-70/MC1	GK-1	Korg Z3	Pin	GR-300	GR-700	GM-70/MC1	GK-1	Korg Z3
1 red	+15 V	+15 V	+15 V	+15 V	+15 V	13 red/white	N/C	N/C	CV# 3	N/C	N/C
2 black	-15 V	-15 V	-15 V	-15 V	-15 V	14 brown/white	Vib CV	Vib CV	CV# 4	N/C	N/C
3 green	GND	GND A	GND	GND	GND	15 yellow/black	Dis SW	MODE 1	MODE 1	N/C	N/C
4 green/black	N/C	GND A	GND	GND	GND	16 red/black	Syn SW	MODE 2	MODE 2	N/C	N/C
5 green/white	N/C	GND A	GND	GND	GND	17 brown	Dis Sig	N/C	N/C	N/C	Program
6 grey/black	GND	GND D	GND	GND	GND	18 white	SIG GT	SIG GT	SIG GT	SIG GT	SIG GT
7 purple/white	N/C	N/C	N/C	N/C	N/C	19 orange	SIG 1-E	SIG 1-E	SIG 1-E	SIG 1-E	SIG 1-E
8 black/white	M Vol	M Vol	M Vol	M Vol	M Vol	20 blue	SIG 2-B	SIG 2-B	SIG 2-B	SIG 2-B	SIG 2-B
9 pink	Syn Vol	Syn Vol	Syn Vol	Syn Vol	N/C	21 yellow	SIG 3-G	SIG 3-G	SIG 3-G	SIG 3-G	SIG 3-G
10 pink/black	GT Vol	GT Vol	GT Vol	GT Vol	N/C	22 purple	SIG 4-D	SIG 4-D	SIG 4-D	SIG 4-D	SIG 4-D
11 orange/black	Cutoff CV	Cutoff CV	CV# 1	CV# 1	N/C	23 grey	SIG 5-A	SIG 5-A	SIG 5-A	SIG 5-A	SIG 5-A
12 orange/white	Reso CV	Edit CV	CV# 2	CV# 2	N/C	24 light green	SIG 6-E	SIG 6-E	SIG 6-E	SIG 6-E	SIG 6-E

This table shows the assignments for the 24-pin connectors used on the Roland GR-Series controllers and synthesizers. As you can see, there are slight variations between guitar synthesizers. Please note that the Korg Z3 ignores all of the controller signals, only recognizing the Master Volume control voltage. Also, the Korg Z3 uses Pin 17, the Hex Fuzz Distorted signal, to transmit program up and down change commands. This really puzzles me. Why they did not make the Korg Z3 use the Pin 15 and Pin 16 switches is a real mystery to me.

Special note on Pitch Bend Control Voltage (Pin 13):

It is also worth noting that Pin 13, which is used by the GM-70 and MC-1 as CV# 3 (control voltage #3, typically assigned to pitch bend), is also noted as Pitch Bend on the both the STK-1/G-707 and GR-700 schematic, though this pin output is not connected to anything in the STK-1/G-707 and GR-700. So Roland literally had this feature on the drawing board well before the release of the GM-70. The GR-700 does have a foot pedal input for pitch bend, so much of the necessary circuitry to use control voltage #3 is already in the GR-700. Perhaps there was not the time to add this feature to the GR-700.

The Ibanez IMG2010, released after the GR-700, was the first, and so far only, controller ever built that actually transmits CV# 3. Not surprisingly, CV# 3 is controlled by the virtual whammy bar on the Ibanez IMG2010. The virtual whammy bar on the IMG2010 is bi-directional, bending the pitch up and down, like a real whammy bar. When the whammy bar is pulled "up," or away from the guitar, the output of control voltage #3 goes from zero to positive 15 volts. When the whammy bar is pushed "down," or towards the guitar, the output goes from zero to minus 15 volts. Note, the foot pedal pitch input on the GR-700 only bends the pitch in one direction.

Special note on response to volume change commands for US-2 users:

Roland specified three signals for controlling volume: Master Volume (Pin 8), Synth Volume (Pin 9), and Guitar Volume (Pin 10). Only the GR-100 and GR-700 respond to all three control voltages.

This is particularly important to users of the US-2 switcher. The US-2 actually works by turning the Synth Volume control voltage on and off. This works great for Roland gear, and engineering wise, it is a simple and elegant solution for managing control voltages. However, if you use non-Roland equipment, your results may vary, depending on the combination of equipment you use. The Korg Z3, for example, will not respond to commands from the US-2, since the Z3 only responds to changes in the Master Volume control voltage, and not the Synth Volume control voltage. Here is a brief summary of how these units respond to volume changes:

GR-100: The GR-100 responds to all three control voltages.

GR-300: The GR-300 ignores the Master Volume control voltage, and only uses Syn Volume and Guitar Volume control voltages to set the output levels.

GR-700: The GR-700 responds to all three control voltages.

GM-70: The GM-70 responds to the Master Volume and Syn Volume control voltage, but ignores the Guitar Volume control voltage.

MC1: The MC1 responds to all three control voltages.

Z3: The Z3 only responds to the Master Volume control voltage.

NOTE: N/C = Not Connected

Controls on the IMG2010 and the Roland G-Series Guitars

This diagram shows the controls on the Ibanez IMG2010 and various Roland guitars. Notice the layout is basically the same. Also, note the IMG2010 does not have touch plates to activate modulation. The vibrato (or modulation) knob, CV#4, is always active on the IMG2010.