December 2018

SBC-1324 Roland 24 or 13 Pin Input to 13 and 24 Pin Output
Back in 2009 I was approached by a very talented Canadian guitarist who wanted to be able to control both vintage Roland 24 pin GR-series synthesizers and modern Roland 13 pin GK-series synthesizers with one guitar, either a 13 or 24 pin guitar.

The SBC-1324 is the unit I built to meet this need. The unit has both 13 and 24 pin inputs, and a master analog switch to select between the two. There are six amplifiers for each string input, used primarily to boost the 13 pin signals to the 24 pin format, but they can also be used individually to amplify any single string input, whether 13 or 24 pin.
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Journey guitarist Neal Schon was frequently seen in the early eighties playing a Roland G-505 guitar paired with the GR-300. Schon is not usually thought of as a 'Strat' player, much less a guitar synthesist, but he makes great use of the G-505/GR-300. An outstanding track is the tune 'Valley of the Kings', using the 'Duet' mode of the GR-300.
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Roland GR-300 Emulation with Kontakt 5 or Roland SR-JV80-04 / SRX-04 Ultimate Keys / INTEGRA-7. Download a complete Kontakt 5 patch and trigger a GR-300 with MIDI! Or check out a demo of the Roland GR-300 patch created by the legendary Scott Summers.
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More about the Ibanez MIU8:

Features and Specifications
Introduction
Links
Photos
Schematics - Service Bulletins - Repairs
Video

Ibanez MIU8 MIDI Interface Unit

Features and Specifications:

Input: MIDI IN (5 pin DIN) & Remote (6 pin DIN).
Output: MIDI OUT (8 x 5 pin DIN)
Power Requirements: DC 9 volts, 170 ma
Dimensions: 189 mm (W) x 88 mm (D) x 36 mm (7.44" x 3.46" x 1.42")
Options: AC109 AC Adaptor
Weight: 480 grams (1.1 lbs)

Introduction to the Ibanez MIU80:

Of all the devices profiled on the Vintage Roland Guitar Synth website, the Ibanez MIU8 is the most obscure, rare, hard-to-find item featured.

Similar to the way the Roland FC-100 and FC-100 MKII can be used as stand alone MIDI pedals with the Roland RMC-1, the IFC60 has the ability to be used as a stand-alone MIDI foot controller when used with the MIU8 MIDI Interface.

The very rare MIU8 is a really cool box, that could double as a 1-in, 8-out MIDI thru box, or as a MIDI interface/breakout box for the IFC60. The MIU8 has both a MIDI input and a 6-pin Remote input for the IFC60.

Modes of Operation:

Based on my tests, the MIU8 has two modes of operation, with and without the IFC60:

Without the IFC60: The MIU8 works as a basic, one input, eight output, MIDI thru box. I was able to transmit MIDI notes and MIDI patch change information from the input to all eight outputs.

With the IFC60: MIDI input is ignored, and only messages from the REMOTE (IFC60) input are used. I was able to send patch changes from the IFC60 with no problem, but the MIDI INPUT was ignored.