Roland MC-505 Operating System Handbook

Factory Resetting the MC-505

Power on the 505 while holding [SHIFT]. Select (with [INC]/[DEC] or the alpha-dial) between the following types of factory reset:

• ALL - resets all of the below.
• PATCH - returns the user banks (patch and pattern) to their factory configuration
• SYSTEM - restores the Operating System from a backup copy (I assume this backup copy because it does NOT restore the original OS - once you've upgraded you are permanently at the upgrade level)

Generally if you find your 505 acting up, you need only do a SYSTEM reset. This way you keep your patches and, most often, fix any sluggishness, etc. with the 505. I've never known anyone to need to do a full reset to solve their problems (I would imagine you'd only need to do that if your USER memory got corrupted).

Displaying the Operating System (OS) Version

Turn on the 505. When it displays the pattern screen (i.e. fully booted) then press and hold [TEMPO/MIXER] + [PTN/SONG] + [PATCH] + [12] + [14] + [16] to display the SYS (operating system) version. For a v1.07 updated MC-505 bought in 1997/8 the result is:

SYS Version=1.07
Bld=118 98/07/27

Pressing [16] again will display the CPU version.

CPU Version=1.00
Bld=022 97/08/18

Pressing [16] once more will display the DAT (data) version.

DAT version=1.00
Bld=030 97/09/29

Operating System Bug Fixes

v1.05 this information from an informal source

1. Sometimes deleting or erasing didn't work, that was fixed.
2. User Memory Full was reported wrong by the Memory Info page.
3. Information during bulk dump was sent twice.
4. Possible freezing in stepwrite mode was fixed.
5. Copying in Pattern edit, the beats are different and prevent copying.

The following from the 505 service manual

v1.06 the following bugs have been cured:

1. When set groove quantize in pattern edit, the timing will change but the velocity will not.
2. When use roland original card and execute patch write without formating, it could "write" but the patches on the card become unreadable when re-turning on the power.

Effective no production

v1.07 the following bugs have been cured:

1. The LCD display of user patch B and user rhythm may be corrupted when execute backup load.
2. When repeat "write" and "initialize" pattern to a card, it becomes unable to write to the card.
3. After executing backup load, the system parameter of the sound generator may not reflect.

To above 1: and 3: will be recovered from re-turning on the power.

Effective BL40100 up (from september 1998 production)

Source: (issued by RJA) 1998-08-05 / info no 101052D

Updating the OS

By MIDI

Hook the MIDI OUT of a sequencer into the MIDI IN of the 505.

Turn on the 505 while holding [TEMPO/MIXER] + [PTN SET] + [PATCH]. The display will read:

MC-505 Sys-VerUp
Y= ENTER/N= EXIT

Pressing [ENTER] will put the 505 into receive mode. (Pressing [EXIT] boots the 505 as normal).

Send the Standard MIDI files from the MC-505 OS v1.07 package.

(If you need a program to send these MIDI files with, PC users can use the UpdateSMF utility).

The target total checksum is 0F25. The following are the progressive checksums:

By SmartMedia Card

Turn on 505 while holding [TEMPO/MIXER] + [RPS SET] + [PATCH]. The display will show:

Updt v=1.000
Card -> Enter

Pressing [ENTER] updates the 505 OS to the OS on the SmartMedia card. (Pressing [EXIT] boots the 505 as normal).

NOTE: If you have a floppy adaptor you can download the MC-505 Operating System v1.07 (for PC) in SmartMedia format and copy it to a SmartMedia card, then perform the above to update the 505.

NOTE: See also the section about backing up the 505 to SmartMedia.

If anyone can explain the v=1.000 that some v1.07 OS 505 display, it'd be nice.

Backing Up the 505

By MIDI

The only way to back up any aspect of the 505 by MIDI is to press [SHIFT] + [16] to bulk dump the SETUP, SETUP&PATCH, or ALL. Then perform this function for each pattern you wish to backup. To restore this backup you would press [SHIFT] + [16] until the 505 goes into RECEIVE mode. Then send (by external sequencer) the previously dumped sysex data.

The Dumpster utility will help with sending and receiving SYSEX if your sequencer doesn't do this task.

By SmartMedia Card

There seem to be two ways of backing up the 505 to SmartMedia:

1. You can press [SHIFT] + [15] twice until you see "User Backup". Pressing [ENTER] will copy the entire 505 USER memory (both patterns and patches) to the card, including system settings (D-Beam settings, MIDI settings, etc.). I'm not sure if this backup includes the OS (I doubt it).

2. You can turn on the 505 holding [TEMPO/MIXER] + [RPS SET] + [PATCH], which leads to a display of:

Updtv=1.000
Card -> Enter

NOTE: see the section about Updating the 505 OS from SmartMedia about this screen.

Then press bank buttons ([PRESET], [USER], and [CARD]) for:

MC-505 CARD WRTE SYSTEM -> CARD
MC-505 CARD WRTE DAT HALF1 -> CARD
MC-505 CARD WRTE DAT HALF2 -> CARD

But nobody really has any clue exactly what each setting backs up.

• SYSTEM is very likely the OS.
• My guess is that DAT means the PRESET memory, because you can check the DAT version when you check OS and CPU versions. This must mean it is the original memory, not USER or CARD memory, otherwise a version number would be useless. What exactly DAT HALF1 and DAT HALF2 mean, nobody knows. Maybe someone with a SmartMedia floppy adaptor can dump DAT HALF1 and DAT HALF2 and then take a look with their computers?

Test Mode

To enter the MC-505's test mode, turn on the 505 while holding Beam ON, D-Beam Type, and FUNC. All the lights on the 505 will briefly light and the display will show:

MC-505 Test Mode