when i download Roland styles to my computer zip drive from the internet, my VA76 won't read them even when they are downloaded into style folder on Zip. When i download same files to floppy the VA76 reads them o.k. Anybody help here. Chalky.

Hi Chalky,

I have the same problem on my VA-7 and it's really weird and annoying. I tried to let the VA-7 format the Zipdisk.. but that also doesn't matter. So far I don't know a solution. Just copying from the floppy to the zip within the VA.

Regards,
Sander

You need to use the Roland database to organize files on zip. The only other way is transfer them direct from floppy. Roland is big on propriety.

You can download the ZIP database manager from the Roland site of Italy; here is the link: http://www.roland.it/download_arranger.htm

beware: the file exceeds 6 Mb in size.
The ZIP database doesn't "see" automatically a style file, even if the style is phisically present on the ZIP disk; the only way to make it "see" it is to save the file from a floppy disk into the ZIP disk (this way the keyboard adds the style to its database).
Even using the ZIP data base manager, however, you cannot import styles from the hard disk (the import function works only for songs or midifiles, which have a separate database).
This is really annoying; I am going to try another way and see if it works: I will try to create a new database for styles, import again all the styles from the ZIP disk and then rename a few styles to match the name of the style present on the ZIP disk (but not acknowledged by the ZIP data base); the name that really matters is the last one (in the right column, because this is the identifying name of the file).
The final step is to merge the renamed styles
into the original style database.
(All this can sound a bit confusing maybe, but once you have the program installed on the computer you will understand).
Regards,
Andrea

Dreamer...If I may add to your comments. Styles added via floppy to the keyboards zip automatically changes the style extension from .stl to.sth. This could be a possible reason that copying styles via the PC to Zip then keyboard does not recognise the styles.

Graham UK

This very topic has just come up in the Roland Arrangers Group (R-A-G). Once you have gone through the long process of getting the Roland Database file onto your computer hard disk, you just work with that one, adding files, etc. Then export it. Here are step-by-step instructions for using RDBM, courtesy of Frank Bertram from the Netherlands.

Here is a step by step approach on how to Edit a G-1000 Zip disk on a PC.

Here is what you need:

1. Roland Database manager (RDBM)installed on your PC.
This program can be downloaded from various Roland Web sites e.g.
(http://www.roland.it/download.htm).
The FAQ page of the RAG gives some background on what it does.
2. An IOMega 100 M Zip drive installed on your PC.
This drive should be up and running before you even try this.
So make sure you can copy a file to the device and vice versa.
3. A G-1000 (or EM-2000) keyboard (never take anything for granted(sic.)).

Before we begin a remark:
The whole proces will only work with a Zip-disk FORMATTED ON THE G-1000(OR
em-2000)!!!!!

1. Start up the G-1000.
2. Take out the Zip disk:
Press F5-Disk/ DEVICE/ UNMOUNT/ EXECUTE/ and press the release button on
the Zip-Drive.
Now you may use this disk in the coming process to edit, or you may want
to use an empty one (step 3)
3. Put in a Zip disk that can be overwritten!!! and Format it.
Press F5-Disk/ SHIFT F3-Utility/ F3-Format/ Turn the knob to ID5/
PROCEED/QUICK FORMAT
I always use QUICK FORMAT. The full format should only be used on
non-formatted disks (I have never seen one)
This will take some time (1-2 minutes)
Take out the disk (see step 1.)
You may want to put on some styles from floppy to have some sample data
to experiment with.
4. Put the disk in the Zip-Drive on the PC.
Have a look at the file structure using windows explorer or something of
that nature.
5. Start Roland Database Manager.
6. Load the contents of the disk into the RDM database.
FILE/IMPORT/ Drive letter of the zip disk F: in my case.
Switch ON Song Database AND Style Database Unless you know what you are
doing.
Leave OFF Music assitant database (This is only for the VA-7/76)
Press OKE
This will take some time (5-15 minutes) depending on the number of
styles/midi files on the disk and depending on your configuration.
The External Zip Plus is VERY slow.
7. Once this process is completed you will find that you have two databases,
one with the styles and one with the midi-files (songs).
The databases will be named Rdbm2 and Rdbm3 or something alike.
You may prefer to consolidate the two databases to one.
Select Rdbm2/EDIT SELECT ALL/EDIT COPY... Select Rdbm3/ EDIT PASTE
8. Now save the database to the hard disk on your PC
FILE/SAVE or FILE SAVE As
9. Now you can Edit the database by deleteing styles/songs from it,
but more likely you will want to add songs/styles.
You can do this using FILE/ADD (Select Mid for Midi files, STL for
styles, or STH for styles from another zip)
Select the file names and Click on OPEN.
Do NOT forget to save the database every now and then.
10. Once the editting is ready, you can write the database to the Zip Disk
again.
Use FILE/EXPORT select the drive letter (F: in my case) and Click
Export.
N.B. This is a destrucyive process. it will OVERWRITE your zip disk, so
you may want to use
an empty disk (formatted on the G-1000).
This again might take some time depending on the number of files.
11. Now close down RDBM .
You may want to have a look on the zip disk here using explorer.
12. Insert the disk in your G-1000 and mount it (F5-Disk/DEVICE/SCAN)
13. Now use the disk as usual and do not forget to enjoy it.

Thanks for all your replies, i already have the database manager so will follow your instructions. Seems Roland need to have a look at this annoying problem. Chalky.