For use in place of Roland M-128, M-256, M-512 data memory card. Can act as 8(eight) M-512 cards or 16(sixteen) M-256/M-128 cards.
Table of Contents
About this product
This product (P/N: FR04) is a battery-less multi-bank RAM card based on the dojoe M-RAM card, with 7-seg display to show card number (orientation can be flipped), detachable display, rotary switch.
Compatible Hosts
This card is designed to be compatible with all Roland synthesizer which have slot for M-128/256/512 series RAM cards. However, not all hosts are tested. Green means the combination of hardware revision and host is tested to work, while orange means partial or complete incompatibility. Blank means it’s not tested but should work, feedback are welcome.
| Synthesizer | Compatibility |
| A-90 | Not tested |
| D-5 | Yes |
| D-50 | Yes |
| D-550 | Yes |
| D-10 | Not tested |
| D-110 | Not tested |
| D-20 | Not tested |
| D-70 | Not tested |
| GR-1 | Not tested |
| GR-50 | Not tested |
| JD-800 | Yes |
| JD-990 | Yes |
| JV-880 | Yes |
| JV-1000 | Yes |
| JV-1080 | Yes |
| JV-2080 | Yes |
| PM-16 | Not tested |
| R-880 (GC-8) | Not tested |
| R-8M | Not tested |
| TR-626 | Not tested |
| U-20 | Not tested |
| Akai MX-1000 | Not tested |
| Akai VX600 | Not tested |
| Roland TD-10, TD-20, Roland VG-8, Peavey Tubefex | No |
Parts and Function
Within the package you should have received the card itself, the handle for the rotary switch, a piece of 3M 300LSE double-sided tape, and a cable for split display connection.
Installation
To avoid shipping damage the handle of the rotary switch is not mounted and you’ll need to mount it before using the card. To mount the handle, align the notch on the handle with the digit currently indicated with the arrow on the switch itself and push the handle firmly in until it sits flush.
Optional: Split Display Installation
Warning: Fiberglass content
If you want to install the display onto your equipment, you can snap off the display section, connect it to t he card by using the supplied cable, and tape it to the front of your equipment by using the supplied double-sided tape.
The supplied tape is 3M 300LSE. Do not stick onto silkscreened part to avoid damaging printed patterns. 300LSE provides high bond strength to most surfaces, including many low surface energy material. However you may want to supply your own higher or lower strength tape.
Note: Please wear glove to avoid cutting yourself. If you would like to trim the excess from snapping, please wear glove, mask and eye protection. Wet the area with water to avoid fiberglass escaping. Use vacuum cleaner to clean afterwards.
Optional: Flip Display Orientation
Delicate craft work and soldering is required.
If you want to flip the display orientation (for keyboarded synth use), there are 6 solder jumpers on the back side of the card. The center pad and default pad (indicated by little triangle) are connected by copper trace. To flip the display, you need to cut the trace (with x-acto knife or similar), and then connect the center pad with the other pad (not indicated with triangle) with solder. This will flip the display 180°.
Configuration and Usage
Selecting Card Size
You can select between 16 x 256 (M-256 equiv.) or 8 x 512 (M-512 equiv.) size bank. To change bank size you need to use an appropriate, point-headed tool to move the switch handle.
Write Protection
Whenever you would like to prevent writing to the card, you can move the “WRITE PROTECTION” switch to “WP” position.
Please note: same as original Roland RAM card, the card does not actually inhibit writes to the card and it relies on your host synthesizer “respecting” the write protection signal. If the signal cannot be transmitted due the connector is dirty or other reasons, the write protection will fail. So try this function first.
Selecting Card
The 7-segment display use 0~7 along with the dot to indicated 16 positions. To change bank, rotate the rotary switch.
- In 256 mode, each detent represents a card, and the dot on the display is to be included.
- In 512 mode, every 2 detent represent a card, and the dot on the display is ignored.
| Switch Position | Display | Card No. in 256 mode | Card No. in 512 mode |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 . | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 . | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 2 . | 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 3 . | 7 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| 9 | 4 . | 9 | 4 |
| A | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| B | 5 . | 11 | 5 |
| C | 6 | 12 | 6 |
| D | 6 . | 13 | 6 |
| E | 7 | 14 | 7 |
| F | 7 . | 15 | 7 |
Usage
Insert the card into the RAM card slot and start using the card. On certain synths it can be difficult to insert the card as the card slot has degraded and warped due to its age. Do not force it, instead slowly and firmly push the card in. It’s recommended to replaced or repair the slot plastic part if possible, or you can file either the chip on the card or the slot.
Open Source Hardware
https://github.com/connorzheng97/d50-fram
This design has referenced dojoe’s design of the M-RAM card. I’ve reused the card outline and the contact footprint. You can find the original dojoe design here: https://github.com/dojoe/roland-mram-card and the product info page for the original dojoe card here: https://sagamusix.de/other/roland_memory_cards/
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