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I used one of these synths many years ago and wish that I still had one. The sounds were very 70's but I still loved it. I like many others changed over to the newer breed of synths as they became available (but newer is not always better).
The MKS-7 Super Quartet is a multitimbral synth module with dedicated sections. The Melody section: 2 voice polyphony, 100 presets; Chord section: 4 voice polyphony, 100 presets; Bass section: monophonic, 20 presets; Rhythm section: 11 PCM sounds.
The beauty of using this sound module is that all 4 sections are available at once. Drums, bass, leads and pads can all play independent parts and patches together making this a very nice all-in one vintage Roland tone module. Just like the Juno 106, the MKS-7 is also controllable via MIDI and System Exclusive messages for editing. Most Juno 106 editors will work for the MKS-7 too.
Synths sections are derived from the Juno 106 and rhythm PCM samples from the TR707.
mono bass part (with 20 preset sounds)
4 note poly chords part (with 100 preset sounds)
2 note poly melody part (sounds as per chords part, except without noise source)
Whole Mode
The MKS-7 has a "Whole Mode". The Melody and Chord sections are combined and act as a six voice synthesizer. In this mode there is no sound from the Melody Section. To turn on the Whole Mode, use the following procedure:
Press the MIDI CH button so the RHYTHM, BASS, CHORD and MELODY buttons are flashing.
While holding the CHORD button, press the MELODY button.
NOTE: The CHORD and MELODY indicators under the LED display should now both be lit.
Press the MIDI CH button to exit.
Contrary to popular belief you *can* edit the MKS7 from the front panel (via engineer mode) but this is very tedious
Engineer mode is used to edit each paramter of the MELODY, CHORD, BASS on the synthesizer
Entering engineer mode
While holding down one of the sound source selector buttons - MELODY, CHORD or BASS to be edited, depress the midi MIDI CH. The button flashes, indicating the machine is in engineering mode.
Editing
1: Using Tables 1 and 2, find out the number corresponding to a parameter to be altered. Eneter the number on the numerical pad. The display shows the number.
2: DYNAMIC SENS serves as an edit knob, and the new number is represented in the display window as a number between 00 and 127. The numbers above 100 are in lower two digits (eg 123 = 23) In the case where paramters functioning in place of switch, a parameter can effectively open or close the switch when the value exceeds the predetermined figure. For example, CHORUS is turned ON when the value decreases below 63, and OFF when above 64.
Returning to normal mode
Push the MIDI channel button to Normal Functioning.
TABLE 1 - MELODY and CHORD BLOCK PARAMETER
No.
Parameter
01
LFO
Rate
02
Delay time
03
DCO
LFO Modulation
04
PWM
05
VCF
Cutoff frequency
06
Resonance
07
ENV Modulation
08
LFO Modulation
09
Key follow
10
VCA
Level
11
ENV
Attack time
12
Decay time
13
Sustain time
14
Release time
15
Dynamic select
VCF, VCA/VCF/VCA/OFF
17
Range
4'/8'/16'
18
PWM
LFO/manual
19
Rectangular
ON/OFF
20
Sawtooth
ON/OFF
21
Sub
Level: 0/1/2/3
22
HPF
ON/OFF
23
VCF
ENV: /\+ \/- (Juno 106 owners know what this is)
24
VCA
ENV/GATE
25
CHORUS
ON/OFF
26
Noise (Melody)
ON/OFF
TABLE 2 - BASS BLOCK PARAMETER
No.
Parameter
04
DCO
Pulse width
05
VCF
Cutoff frequency
06
Resonance
07
ENV Mod
09
Key follow
10
VCA
Level
11
ENV
Attack time
12
Decay time
13
Sustain time
14
Release time
20
Wave Select
Rectangular/Sawtooth
Thankfully a full sysex spec allows detailed patch editing over MIDI. However, some genius at Roland decided against a backup battery for user RAM (no flash RAM back then!) so all patches are lost on power off.
The rear panel features four seperate mono outputs for each section plus mono & stereo out. MIDI In & Thru only. Modulation and bender sensitivity can be adjusted from the rear panel.
Preset Patch Details
Melody/Chord Section:
00 Piano Plus 10 Trumphet 20 Arco Violin
01 Electronic Piano 11 Trombone 21 Quick Violin
02 Celesta 12 Horn 22 Pizzicato Violin
30 Flute 40 Jazz Organ 50 Baritone Solo
31 Clarinet 41 Rock Organ 51 Peak
32 Oboe 42 Cool Organ 52 Square Wave
33 Sax 43 8' Organ 53 Organ Lead
34 Baritone Sax 44 Church Organ 54 Punk Tom
35 Rez Lead 45 Human Voice #1 55 Fuzz Orchestra
36 Flute Lead 46 Human Voice #2 56 Effect Sound #1
37 Soft Lead 47 Pulse Width Shout 57 Rez Clarinet
38 Baritone Lead 48 Accordian 58 Wood
39 Fat Lead 49 Pan Pipe 59 Solid State
60 Pick Wood 70 Synth Brass #1 80 Filter Flow
61 Pick Width 71 Synth Brass #2 81 Delay Lead
62 Rez Pick 72 Wah Brass 82 Dawn
63 Mosquito 73 Wah Lead 83 Mirage
64 Glockenspiel 74 Fat 84 Tension
65 Baritone Pick 75 Synth Lead #3 85 Effect Sound #3
66 Short Pick 76 Synth Lead #4 86 Effect Sound #4
67 Effect Sound #2 77 Space Miaow 87 Effect Sound #5
68 Synth Lead #1 78 Funky Strings 88 Funky Drum
69 Synth Lead #2 79 Funky Clavinet 89 Star Chime
90 Effect Sound #6
91 Effect Sound #7
92 Electric Twitter
*93 Electric Tom
*94 Bomb #1
*95 Bomb #2
*96 Big Wave
*97 Blizzard
*98 Effect Sound #8
99 Silence
NOTE: The tones with an (*) use Noise. Therefore, they do not sound at all
in the Chord section. The tone colors from 80-89 use VCF oscillation, therefore
exact pitches cannot be expected. Tone #99 "Silence" can be effectively used
when you want no sound.
I found some sound samples on the web and have added them here for so that you can hear what this synth is capable off. I do not have any tracks that you can hear the MKS-7 on anymore sorry.
Sample Track 1
Sample Track 2
Sample Track 3
Sample Track 4
Sample Track 5
Sample Track 6
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