Irish musette tone on the Roland FR-1X

by Craig Mitchell

Dec 5, 2020

I have recently purchased a Roland FR-1X, my first "virtual" accordion. So far I am really impressed with it but still a little lost navigating through the configuration. perhaps I need to download a video tutorial???

Anyway, my question is how can I find or setup an Irish musette sound as typically used in Irish ballads and jigs. Such as this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobJMAJUC4Y  

Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.  As i am such a novice I may need some directions.

Thanks

 

  • Craig Mitchell

    After some investigation i found this gem of information. A big thank you to Pete Young and Liam Harris. Setting "Folk" accordion sound on the FR-1X

    1. 'D Folk', Musette
    33, 3b
    'D Folk', Musette

    2. 'F Folk', Musette
    32, 3d
    SOS Musette

    ie.
    1. 'D Folk', Musette
    33, 3b
    'D Folk', Musette

    I.E.
    1. Press SET once
    2. Press 3 and then find 33 by pressing third register.
    Press SET again and 33 disappears on the LCD or just Wait and 32 disappears on the LCD
    3. Pressing the third register select 3B

    2. 'F Folk', Musette
    32, 3d
    SOS Musette

    I.E.
    1. Press SET once
    2. Press 3 and then find 32 by pressing third register.
    Press SET again and 32 disappears on the LCD or just Wait. 32 disappears on the LCD
    3. Pressing the third register select 3D

    It's been a good few years since I looked. Re: creating a sound: there is a de-tune parameter on the FR1X, if I remember rightly and I think, possibly three voices can be fiddled with using de-tune to create a Musette.

    Further to the above try the ‘I Folk’ set 31. This is based on a Paolo Soprano accordion which is closer to what most Irish and many Scottish players use than the ‘D Folk’ which I believe is modelled on a Hohner Morino V. (With the honourable exception of the greatest of all Scottish players, Jimmy Shand).

    There is also a ‘Scottish’ set U4, unless it has been overwritten in which case a reset will bring it back. I read somewhere that U4 is based not on samples of an actual accordion, but a combination of samples with the Musette parameter cranked up to max. I’m not a great fan of that particular preset though.

    Speaking of the Musette parameter, it is called ‘dEt ‘ . You access it by holding down the SET register until it goes into programme mode, then scroll down using Register 4 until ‘dEt’ is flashing in the display. It’s quite near the top. It will then show you the value for the currently selected set, which you can increase or decrease at your leisure. p.45 of The Fine Manual is your friend here.

    Dec 6, 2020