December 12, 2016

My knowledge of the FR-8x is slowly growing, but my setup is also starting to get more complex. To help me know what is where in terms of settings, set locations and so on, I am making this page of notes.

Please note, currently this page is as yet incomplete and likely won’t ever be always 100% up to date as I am often making changes that I don’t document here.

Addendum October 12, 2025:

I’ve added a 2nd Roland FR-8X to my collection on the last week of September 2025. This is the backup to have a digital accordion if my original 8X stops working for whatever reason. An advantage is that it comes from Kraft Music, therefore it contains the Dale Mathis sets as well as the Michael Bridge sets. Of coure I promise to respect all laws and personal rights and not divulge any proprietary info, just as I always have for Richard Noel, it will give me additional programming knowledge and insights into the ways that all three of these good men.

Again, just as with my original 8X, I need to know what is where, and so I have added at the bottom of this page a similar section for both accordions.

The 1st Roland FR-8X

Current Expansion sets installed:

1 – Alpine (manual)
2 – Dallape (manual)
3 – AccOrchestra (manual)
4 – Balkan (manual)

The 8x has the ability to store 100 sets. So what sets are installed in what slots? Also don’t forget, each SET has a minimum of 14 different options (one per register!) or more (ORCH 1 and 2 have options for 2 presses per register button!)

SETS

1 – Concerto
2 – Classic
3 – Jazz
4 – FJazz
5 – “I” Scala
6 – Bajan
7 – “I” Folk
8 – “D” Folk
9 – “F” Folk
10 – “SP” Folk
11 – Ballroom
12 – Bandoneon
13 – Alpine
14 – Cajun
15 – Tex Mex
16 – Old Paris
17 – Ciao Rome
18 – Diat Folk
19 – Studio
20 – Trdition
21 – Baroque
22 – Romantic
23 – Concertin
24 – Scottish
25 – Irish
26 – Celtic
27 – XLowReed
28 – HalfValv
29 – Future
30 – Musette
31 – Bassoon
32 – Master
33 – V-Set
34 – Fin Cass
35 – Kravatti
36 – Balkan
37 – WOA1-Ac
38 – GOLA (Hohner Gola imitation)
39 – Scand S6 (Scandalli Super VI imitation)
40 – Dallape – 1871 (manual)
41 – Dallape – Centenario (manual)
42 – Dallape – Liturgica_1 (manual)
43 – Dallape – Liturgica_2 (manual)
44 – Dallape – Organtone (manual)
45 – Dallape – Super M1965 (manual)
46 – Dallape – Super M2010 (manual)
47 – AccOrchestra – Elektro_1 (manual)
48 – AccOrchestra – Elektro_2 (manual)
49 – AccOrchestra – E_Keys (manual)
50 – AccOrchestra – E_Mallet&Percussion (manual)
51 – AccOrchestra – E_Strings&Guitars (manual)
52 – AccOrchestra – E_Synth (manual)
53 – AccOrchestra – E_Wind&Brass (manual)
54 – Balkan 1 (m anual)
55 – Balkan 2 (manual)
56 – Balkan 3 (manual)
57 – Balkan 4 (manual)
58 – German Set – Akkorch_1 (manual, page 1)
59 – German Set – Akkorch_ 2 (manual, page 1)
60 – German Set – Akkorch_3 (manual, page 1)
61 – German Set –  Akkorch_4 (manual, page 1)
62 – German Set –  Akkorch_5 (manual, page 1)
63 – German Set –  Akkorch_6 (manual, page 1)
64 – German Set –  Akkorch_7 (manual, page 1)
65 – German Set –  BassTrb_1 (manual, page 1)
66 – German Set –  BassTrb_2 (manual, page 1)
67 – Richard Noel Euro
68- Richard Noel Jazzy
69 – 100 are currently EMPTY

NOTE: Sets #58-66 are sets originally intended for a Roland FR-4x, and though they work on the 8x, they are not 100% functional. In certain registers in the display you will see a “NOT FOUND” message in the ORCH1 and/or ORCH2 sections here and there. This is addressable by modifying the set with any instrument of your choice, and saving the set. As of this date, I have not touched this but I likely will make some changes later. Also don’t forget, each SET has at least 14 or different options (one per register, some orchestral sounds have 2 registrations, so if you hit the same register a 2nd time, you get a different sound!)

Don’t forget, each UPG has 14 different options (one per register!) and Sets have up to 28 different options (two per register!).

UPGs

1 –  Factory Original
2 – Factory Original
3 – Richard Noel Set #3 – ACCORD1
4-   Richard Noel Set #4 – ACC+
5-   Richard Noel Set #5 – STRINGS (bowed bass)
6-   Richard Noel Set# 6 – PARTRIOTIC
7-   Richard Noel Set# 7 – DIXIE (banjo chord)
8-   Richard Noel Set# 8 – COUNTRY (picked bass)
9-   Richard Noel Set# 9 – BLUES (heavy drums)
10- Richard Noel Set# 10 – FOXTROT
11- Richard Noel Set #11 – Jazz (Jazz Drums)
12- Richard Noel Set# 12 – SOFT BALLADS
13- Richard Noel Set# 13 – WALTZ (percussion)
14- Richard Noel Set #14 – VALTZ (no percussion)
15- Richard Noel Set# 15 – LATIN1 (rhumba/samba)
16- Richard Noel Set# 16 – LATIN2 (tango/bossa)
17- Richard Noel Set #17 – ITALIAN
18- Richard Noel Set #18 – FRENCH
19- Richard Noel Set #19 – GERMAN
20- Richard Noel Set# 20 – IRISH
21-  Richard Noel Set# 21 – MEXICAN+
22-  Richard Noel Set# 22 – ROCK
23-  Richard Noel Set# 23 – CLASSICAL
24-  Richard Noel Set# 24 – WORLD
25-  Richard Noel Set# 25 – SONGS: Big Band +
26-  Richard Noel Set# 26 – SONGS: Rock
27-  Richard Noel Set# 27 – SONGS: Movies 1
28-  Richard Noel Set# 28 – SONGS: Spanish
29-  Richard Noel Set# 29 – SOFTLY (brushes)
30-  Richard Noel Set #30 – CHRISTMAS
31- Richard Noel Set# 31 – EFFECTS
32-  Richard Noel Set #32 – ACCORDALL
33-  Alpine 2.1 (manual)
34 – Alpine 2.2 (manual)
35 – Krainer_1 (manual)
36 – Krainer_2 (manual)
37 – Alpmakai (manual, page 2)
38 – 100 are currently EMPTY

The 2nd Roland FR-8X

Current Expansion sets installed:

1 – Alpine (manual)
2 – AccOrchestra (manual)
3 – 8X SP PNO&KBRD (manual) *
4 – 8X SP GTR&BRS (manual) *

(* – different from the first 8X!)

The 8x has the ability to store 100 sets. Don’t forget, each UPG has 14 different options (one per register!) and Sets have up to 28 different options (two per register!).

SETS

The 8x has the ability to store 100 USER PROGRAM sets. So what sets are installed in what slots? Also don’t forget, each UP has 14 different options (one per register!)

UPGs

1 – Dale Mathis – General (manual)
2 – Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
3 – Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
4- Dale Mathis – Theater Organ (manual)
5- Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
6- Dale Mathis – Italian & French (manual)
7- Dale Mathis – Cordovox Accordion (manual)
8- Dale Mathis – Oom-pah Polka (manual)
9- Dale Mathis – Gospel Organ (manual)
10- Dale Mathis -Jazz & Blues (manual)
11- Dale Mathis – Musette (manual)
12- Dale Mathis – Big Band (manual)
13- Dale Mathis – Hymn (manual)
14- Dale Mathis – Sustain Strings (manual)
15- Dale Mathis – Classic Country (manual)
16- Dale Mathis – Tijuana (variation on Bank 1) (manual)
17- Dale Mathis – Hawaiian/Orchestral (manual)
18- Dale Mathis – Euro Polka (manual)
19- Dale Mathis – Accordion/SAX on all palm bar (manual)
20- Dale Mathis – Orchestra (manual)
21- Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
22- Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
23- Dale Mathis – Irish (manual)
24- Dale Mathis – Polka with String Bass (manual)
25- Dale Mathis – Special Songs (manual)
26- Dale Mathis – Oktoberfest (manual)
27- Dale Mathis – Dale’s Old Roland FR-7 (manual)
28- Dale Mathis – Mellow Synth with Boom Bass (manual)
29- Dale Mathis – Synth with Pick Bass (manual)
30- Dale Mathis – Synth with String Bass (manual)
31- Dale Mathis – Christmas Bell Left Hand (manual)
32- RDale Mathis – Free Bass (manual)
33- Dale Mathis – Repeat of bank 19 with drums (manual)
34 – Dale Mathis -Repeat of bank 19 with soft drums (manual)
35 – Dale Mathis – Love is Blue and others (manual)
36 -Dale Mathis – Theater (manual)
37 – Dale Mathis – Latin Percussion (manual)
38 – Dale Mathis – Synth with “Basic Needs” bass (manual)
39 – Dale Mathis – Mix with a few “Jingle Bell” bass (manual)
40 – Dale Mathis – Home Organ (manual)
41 – Dale Mathis – More Synth (manual)
42 – Dale Mathis – Same as 41 but with drums added (manual)
43 – 44 EMPTY
45 – Copy of Bank 2 (Special Songs)
46-49 – EMPTY
50 – Michael bridge – BIG ORGAN PIPES (manual)
51 – Michael bridge – Accordions (manual)
52 – Michael bridge – Symphony (manual)
53 – Michael bridge – Galaxy (manual)
54 – Michael bridge – Variety (manual)
55 – Michael bridge – Bands (manual)
56 – COPY OF #55 – Michael bridge – Bands (manual)
57-89 – EMPTY
90 – DALE ON – copy of default turn-on set (manual)
91-94 EMPTY
95 – DALE ON – copy of default turn-on set (manual)
96 – DALE ON – copy of default turn-on set (manual)
97 – EMPTY
98 – Dale Mathis SYNTH (Synth98) (manual)
99 – DMmellow (same as 100 but more mellow) (manual)
100 – DALE ON – default turn-on set for the MATHIS accordion setup (manual)