Kenton TR-808(supplied prior to mid 1990) - Manual

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MIDI INTERFACE
ROLAND TR808 DRUM MACHINE
MIDI - - -
First - a few words about Midi. Midi is an acronym of Musical
Instrument Digital Interface. It is a system for transferring
information between synths or other equipment. The information is
sent in digital format using codes laid down by the international
Midi committee.
Your TR808 drum is now equipped to send and receive Midi information.
When turned on, it will be in it's default state - that is,
the machine will function normally, sending out note information on
channel 1 and receiving note information on the channel set on the
internal D.I.L. switch (currently omni off channel 16).
Midi timing and stop start information is not channel sensitive and
is sent and received at all times (unless disabled).
With the rear panel switch set to normal (up) the TR808 drum will run
from it's own internal clock and will send out Midi timing information
at a rate determined by the tempo control. With the rear panel switch
in the down position however, it will run from Midi sync at the rate
set by the MIDI device connected. If no Midi timing information is
present then the TR808 drum will not run.
Some drum machines/sequencers may not send start/stop codes, in this
case pressing the start switch on the TR808, will make it wait until
Midi clock/sync is present.
You can make the TR808 ignore start/stop codes by selecting it from the
programming mode described in the next paragraph, when set to disable
the TR808 will neither respond to, nor send start/stop codes - when enabled
(the default condition) start/stop codes will be both sent and received.
CHANGING TRANSMIT/RECEIVE CHANNELS
As mentioned earlier, the Midi interface defaults to transmit channel
one and as supplied receives on channel 16 - omni off mode - however
the default receive channel can be changed internally as can the mode
(omni on/off).
Changing channels in normal use is achieved by pressing the red push
button on the back of the unit, and then pressing keys on an external
keyboard. On the next page is a table of what each key will do on a
standard 61 note keyboard (DX7 D50 etc.). Note that after selecting a
channel or other function, top C will need to be pressed to return the
unit to playing mode.
2) Pressing the red button once and holding
for a couple of seconds
enters transpose mode. Then the next key press on the remote keyboard
will set the transpose amount, and return you to playing mode.
The interval
between the note you press and middle C will be the
amount by which the interface will transpose Midi signals in.
e.g.
If you press the B immediately below middle C, then any note
received from another unit will be transposed down a semitone.
Transpose
mode cannot be entered from program mode.
N.B. The red button can be "pressed via Midi - see last page.