BOSS SY-200 Guitar Synthesizer Owner’s Manual

BOSS SY-200 Guitar Synthesizer

Specifications

• Display: Shows various information
• Memory knob: Adjust parameter values
• Menu button: Access the menu screen
• Exit button: Return to previous screen/cancel function
• D. Level knob: Adjust volume of direct sound
• E. Level knob: Adjust volume of effect sound
• Variation knob: Select variations
• Type knob: Switch between synth sound types
• On/Off switch: Turn effect on/off
• Memory/Ctl 1 switch: Switch between memories/footswitch function
• Input jack: Connect guitar, bass, or effect unit
• Send/Return jacks: Send/receive signals to/from external effect unit

Panel Descriptions
The top panel includes various controls such as display, memory knob, menu button, exit button, volume adjustment knobs, variation selector, type selector, and on/off switches.

Preventing Accidental Operation (Panel Lock)
By holding down the Exit button, you can lock or unlock the knobs and buttons to prevent accidental operation. The display will indicate “LOCKED” when the unit is locked.

Saving and Initializing Memories
Press both the Menu and Exit buttons simultaneously to access the Write Utility screen where you can save, exchange, and initialize memories.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I switch between different synth sound types?
A: Use the Type knob on the top panel to switch between various synth sound types like Lead, Pad, String, Bell, Organ, Bass, and more.

Owner’s Manual
Before using this unit, carefully read “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and Owner’s Manual (p. 17)). After reading, keep the document(s) where it will be available for immediate reference.

Panel Descriptions

Top Panel

• Display
  Displays various information such as the current memory number.

• [MEMORY] knob

  • MEMORY (turn the knob)
    Turn the knob to switch between memories 1–128 (p. 7).
    To change a value in larger steps, turn a knob while pressing it.

  • ENTER (press the knob)
    Press this knob to confirm the setting or perform other tasks.

• [1]–[3] knobs
  Use these knobs to set the parameter values shown in the screen.
  To change a value in larger steps, turn a knob while pressing it.

• [MENU] button
  The menu screen appears.

• [EXIT] button

  • Returns you to the previous screen. In some screens, this cancels the function currently being executed.
  • Preventing accidental operation (panel lock)
  • By holding down the [EXIT] button, you can switch between enabling (unlocking) or disabling (locking) the knobs and buttons.
  • If you use these controls while the unit is locked, the display indicates “LOCKED.”
    MEMO
    Press both the [MENU] and [EXIT] buttons together to display the WRITE UTILITY screen, where you can save, exchange and initialize the memories (p. 7).

• [D. LEVEL] knob
  This adjusts the volume of the direct sound.

• [E. LEVEL] knob
  This adjusts the volume of the effect sound (synth sound).

• [VARIATION] knob
  This selects variations for the type that is selected.

• Type knob
  Use this knob to switch between different synth sound types.

Type                    Explanation

LEAD| Suitable for playing solos or leads
PAD| Soft sounds used as sonic fill-ins
STRING| Synth strings sounds
BELL| Sounds with metallic resonance
ORGAN| Organ sounds
BASS| Bass synth sounds
DUAL| Fat sounds
SWEEP| Sounds with a characteristic vibration
NOISE| Noise sounds
SFX| Sound effects and distinctive sounds
SEQ| Sounds whose pitch or character changes rhythmically
ARPEGGIO| Arpeggio phrases that play

• [ON/OFF] switch
  Turns the effect (synth sound) on/off.

• MEMORY/CTL 1] switch
  Switches between memories (p. 7).
  Holding this down makes it function as the [CTL 1] switch.

MEMO
You can change the footswitch function with the “FUNCTION” (ON/OFF FUNCTION/CTL FUNCTION) parameter.

Rear Panel

• To prevent malfunction and equipment failure, always turn down the volume, and turn off all the units before making any connections.

• A INPUT jack
  Connect your guitar, bass, or effect unit here.
  Turning on/off the power
  The INPUT jack also serves as the power switch. The power turns on when you insert a plug into the INPUT jack.

  • Once everything is properly connected (p. 4), be sure to follow the procedure below to turn on their power. If you turn on equipment in the wrong order, you risk causing malfunction or equipment failure.

  • Before turning the unit on/off, always be sure to turn the volume down. Even with the volume turned down, you might hear some sound when switching the unit on/off. However, this is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.
    When powering up

  • Turn on equipment such as your guitar amp last.
    When powering down

  • Turn off equipment such as your guitar amp first.

• B SEND/RETURN jacks
  This unit sends signals from the SEND jack to an external effect unit, and receives signals from an external effect unit via the RETURN jack.
  You can switch the SEND/RETURN function using the “SEND/RETURN” parameter.

• C OUTPUT jack
  Connect this jack to your amp or monitor speakers.

• D CTL 2, 3/EXP jack

  • Using the jack as CTL 2/3
    You can connect a footswitch (sold separately: FS-5U, FS-6 or FS-7) and assign it to control a variety of functions (p. 9).

  • Using the jack as EXP
    You can connect an expression pedal (EV-30, Roland EV-5 or similar, sold separately) and use it to control the volume or tonal character of the synth sound (p. 12).

• Use only the specified expression pedal. By connecting any other expression pedals, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to the unit.

  • E DC IN jack
    Use this jack to connect an AC adaptor (PSA-S series, sold separately).

    • Use only the specified AC adaptor (sold separately: PSA-S series) and plug it into an AC outlet of the correct voltage.
    • If the AC adaptor is connected while the batteries are installed, the power supply is drawn from the AC adaptor.

  • F Ground terminal

• Connect this to an external earth or ground if necessary.

Side Panel

• G MIDI jacks
  Use a TRS/MIDI connecting cable (BMIDI-5-35, sold separately) to connect an external MIDI device. You can use an external MIDI device to switch between memories on this unit.
  Do not connect an audio device here. Doing so will cause malfunctions.

• H USB port
  Connect your computer using a commercially available USB cable that supports USB 2.0.

  • Do not use a micro USB cable that is designed only for charging a device. Charge-only cables cannot transmit data.
  • Used only for updating programs.

Saving and Switching Between Memories

Saving to a Memory

You can save the settings you’ve edited.

1.  Press the [MENU] and [EXIT] buttons at the same time.
   The WRITE UTILITY screen appears.

2. Use the [1] knob to select “WRITE.”

3. Use the [1] knob to select the memory (1–128) to which you will save the settings, and press the [MEMORY] knob.
   You can also edit the name here.

4. Press the [MEMORY] knob.
   The current settings are saved.

Switching Between Memories

Here’s how to recall a saved memory.

1. Turn the [MEMORY] knob.
   The memory number changes in ascending order (1 ).

MEMO
5 Hold down the [MEMORY] knob to switch between screen

• Turn the [MEMORY] knob to move the cursor and edit the tempo.

Exchanging Memories

You can change the order of saved memories by exchanging them.

1. Turn the [MEMORY] knob to select the memory to exchange.

2. Press the [MENU] and [EXIT] buttons at the same time.
   The WRITE UTILITY screen appears.

3. Press the [2] knob and select “EXCHANGE.”

4.  Turn the [1] knob to select the memory to exchange.

5. Press the [MEMORY] knob.
   This exchanges the memories you selected in steps 1 and 4.

Initializing a Memory

You can return (initialize) a memory to its standard settings. This is useful when you want to create a new tone from scratch.

1. Turn the [MEMORY] knob to select the memory to initialize.

2. Press the [MENU] and [EXIT] buttons at the same time.
   The WRITE UTILITY screen appears.

3. Use the [3] knob to select “INITIALIZE.”
   The memory is initialized.

Various Settings (Menu)

Basic Operations

1.  Press the [MENU] button.
   The unit enters MENU mode.

2. Press knobs [1], [2] and [3] to select the item to edit.
   Hold down the [MEMORY] knob to switch between the setting pages.

3. Use the [1], [2], [3] and [MEMORY] knobs to edit the settings for each item.

4. When editing parameters besides “SYSTEM” (p. 13), “MIDI” (p. 13), and “MIDI PC MAP” (p. 14), operate the unit as shown in “Saving to a Memory” (p. 7).

• If you do not do this, the changes are lost when you switch memories. 5. Press the [EXIT] button.
  The unit exits MENU mode.

Assigning functions to an external pedal
You can connect a footswitch (FS-5U, FS-6 or FS-7, sold separately) to the CTL 2, 3/EXP jack, and use it to tap-input the tempo or to switch memories.
The settings for this are in the “CTL FUNCTION,” found in the menu (p. 10).

Parameter List

Parameter                           Value

FUNCTION| Sets the function of the switch.

5 ON/OFF : Effect on/off

5 MEMORY: Switches between memories.

5 MEM/ON: Switches between memories. Hold down the switch to switch to the effect on/off function.

Parameter                           Value

PARAM

| Sets how the switch operates.

ON/OFF:

5 TOGGLE: Switches the effect with each press of the switch.

5 MOMENT: Switches the effect only while the switch is pressed.

MEMORY:

5 INC: Increments the memory number according to the MEMORY EXTENT MIN/MAX setting.

5 DEC: Decrements the memory number according to the MEMORY EXTENT MIN/MAX setting.

5 1–128: Switches to the specified memory.

PREF

| 5 MEMORY: Changes the settings per memory.

5 SYSTEM: Makes the settings the same for all memories.

CTL FUNCTION

Use this to configure the functions of the [MEMORY/CTL 1] switch and the footswitch connected to the CTL 2, 3/EXP jack.

Parameter                           Value

FUNCTION| Selects which function the switch controls, as follows.

MEMORY: Selects the memory.

S.HOLD: Holds (sustains) the sound. This makes the sound you play sustain.

PITCH: Applies a pitch-bend effect.

TAP: Tap tempo. You can set the tempo according to the beat (intervals) at which you press the footswitch.

TEMPO: Edits the tempo in BPM (beats per minute).

ON/OFF: Effect on/off

PARAM 1| Configures the effect.

MEMORY: INC, DEC, 1–128

PITCH:

5 -24–0–+24: Sets how much the pitch changes in semitones.

TEMPO:

5 40–250: Sets the BPM value.

PARAM 2

| Adjusts the effect.

PITCH:

5 0–100: Adjusts the time over which the pitch changes.

Parameter                           Value

SW MODE

| Sets how the switch operates.

5 TOGGLE: Switches the effect with each press of the switch.

5 MOMENT: Switches the effect only while the switch is pressed.

• This cannot be selected when FUNCTION is set to “MEMORY” or “TAP.”

5

PREF

| MEMORY: Changes the settings per

memory.

5 SYSTEM: Makes the settings the same for all memories.

MEMO
Hold the [MEMORY/CTL 1] switch down to switch between settings for two functions.

• MEM /HLD: Increment memory, sound hold
• MEM =/PT: Increment memory, pitch bend
• MEM =/TAP: Increment memory, tap tempo
• MEM =/TMP: Increment memory, tempo (BPM)
• MEM =/ON: Increment memory, effect on/off
• MEM /HLD: Decrement memory, sound hold
• MEM /PT: Decrement memory, pitch bend
• MEM /TAP: Decrement memory, tap tempo
• MEM /TMP: Decrement memory, tempo (BPM)
• MEM /ON: Decrement memory, effect on/off

EXP PDL FUNCTION
Specifies the function of the expression pedal connected to the CTL 2, 3/EXP jack.

Parameter                           Value

FUNCTION

| Select the function of the pedal.

OFF, TONE, RESONANCE, PITCH, RATE, TEMPO, DEPTH, E.LEVEL, D.LEVEL, MULTI

5 OFF: No operation.

5 MULTI: You  can control the settings for knobs [1], [2], [3], [D. LEVEL] and [E. LEVEL] with the expression pedal.

*  The functions assigned to knobs [1], [2] and [3] differ for each memory.

*  “MULTI” is shown only if PREF is set to “MEMORY.”

MIN| Set the minimum (MIN) value
MAX| Set the maximum (MAX) value

PREF

| 5 MEMORY: Changes the settings per memory.

5 SYSTEM: Makes the settings the same for all memories.

Here’s how to set the multi settings.

1. Set the minimum (MIN) value using the [1], [2], [3], [D.
   LEVEL] and [E. LEVEL] knobs.

2. Press the [MEMORY] knob.

3. Set the maximum (MAX) value using the [1], [2], [3], [D.
   LEVEL] and [E. LEVEL] knobs.

4. Press the [MEMORY] knob.

SEND/RETURN
Sets the function for the SEND/RETURN jack.

Parameter                           Value

SEND/RETURN| 5 SEND: Selects the signal that is output to the SEND jack.

DIRECT, EFFECT

• When this is set to DIRECT, you can adjust the RETURN volume using the [D. LEVEL] knob. When this is set to EFFECT, you can make adjustments using the [E. LEVEL] knob.

5 PREFERENCE: If you want to change the SEND settings per memory, set this to “MEMORY.”

MEMORY, SYSTEM

SYSTEM

Parameter                           Value

MODE

| Switches to settings that are suitable for a guitar or a bass.

GUITAR, BASS

EFFECT OUTPUT

| You can switch to settings more appropriate for playback devices. Use the “AMP” setting for guitar/bass amps, and the “LINE” setting for equipment like monitor speakers.

AMP, LINE

DISPLAY CONTRAST| Adjusts the contrast of the display.

1–16

MEMORY EXT MIN| Sets the minimum (MIN) and maximum (MAX) values for selectable memories.

1–128

• You can select all memories with [MEMORY] knob.

MEMORY EXT MAX

EXP PDL HOLD

| Specifies whether or not the operational status of the EXP PEDAL’s FUNCTION is carried over when memories are switched.

ON, OFF

• You can adjust this if the EXP PEDAL’s PREF parameter is set to MEMORY.

MIDI

Parameter                           Value

RX CH

| Specifies the MIDI receive channel.

If this is “OFF,” MIDI messages are not received.

1–16, OFF

TX CH

| Specifies the MIDI transmit channel.

If this is “OFF,” MIDI messages are not transmitted. When set to “Rx,” the unit transmits on the same channel as the RX CH.

1–16, Rx, OFF

PC IN

| Sets whether program change messages are received (ON) or not (OFF).

ON, OFF

PC OUT

| Specifies whether program change messages are transmitted (ON) or not (OFF).

ON, OFF

CC IN

| Specifies whether control change messages are received (ON) or not (OFF).

This unit can use CC messages it receives to control the same operations as a knob or footswitch via MIDI.

ON, OFF

CC OUT

| Specifies whether control change messages are transmitted (ON) or not (OFF).

ON, OFF

__**PARAM1 CC |
**PARAM2 CC __|
__**PARAM3 CC |
**D. LEVEL CC __|
__**E. LEVEL CC | Specifies the controller number
**ON/OFF SW CC __| corresponding to each controller.
__**CTL1 CC | OFF, #1–31, #64–95
**CTL2 CC __|
__**CTL3 CC |
**EXP CC __|
EFFECT CC|

SYNC

| Specifies the tempo clock to which this unit synchronizes.

INTERNAL: Synchronizes to the internal tempo.

AUTO: Normally synchronizes to the internal tempo, but if a MIDI clock is received via the MIDI IN connector, the tempo synchronizes to the MIDI clock.

If you’re using the SY-200 as a remote device, choose “AUTO.”

CLOCK OUT| Sets whether to output the internal clock.

ON, OFF

MIDI PC MAP
Use the program change map to customize which memories on the SY-200 correspond to which program change messages sent from an external MIDI device, switching to the memory in question.

Parameter                           Value

PC#1–PC#128

| OFF, 1–128: Sets the memory number (1–128) that corresponds to the program number.

If this is “OFF,” the effect turns off.

Appendix

Restoring the Factory Settings (Factory Reset)

Here’s how to restore the SY-200 to its factory defaults. You can also restore just the system settings or part of the memories. Select the range to initialize using the “FROM” and “TO” parameters.

1. Press the [MENU] button.
   The unit enters MENU mode.

2. Select “FACTORY RESET.”

3. Turn knobs [1] and [3] to edit the range you wish to initialize.
   

4. Use the [MEMORY] knob to select “OK,” and then press the [MEMORY] knob.

Changing the Batteries

Insert the batteries facing the correct way, as shown in the illustration.

• Batteries should always be installed or replaced before connecting any other devices. This way, you can prevent malfunction and damage.
• If operating this unit on batteries, please use alkaline batteries.
• Even if batteries are installed, the unit will turn off if you connect or disconnect the power cord from the
• AC outlet while the unit is turned on, or if you connect or disconnect the AC adaptor from the unit. When this occurs, unsaved data may be lost. You must turn off the power before you connect or disconnect the power cord  or AC adaptor.
• When turning the unit over, be careful so as to protect the buttons and knobs from damage. Also, handle the unit carefully; do not drop it.
• If you handle batteries improperly, you risk explosion and fluid leakage. Make sure that you carefully observe all of the items related to batteries that are listed in “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (leaflet “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and the Owner’s Manual).
• BATTERY LOW” will appear on the display if the batteries are low. Replace them with new ones.

Attaching the Rubber Feet

You can attach the rubber feet (included) if necessary. Attach them in the locations shown in the illustration.

• When turning the unit over, be careful so as to protect the buttons and knobs from damage. Also, handle the unit carefully; do not drop it.
• Using the unit without rubber feet may damage the floor.

Main Specifications

• 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
• This document explains the specifications of the product at the time that the document was issued. For the latest information, refer to the Roland website. https://roland.cm/sy-200_spec

USING THE UNIT SAFELY/IMPORTANT NOTES

CAUTION
Keep small items out of the reach of children
To prevent accidental ingestion of the parts listed below, always keep them out of the reach of small children.

• Accessories
  Rubber foot x 4 (p. 16)

Handle the ground terminal carefully
If you remove the screw from the ground terminal, be sure to replace it; don’t leave it lying around where it could accidentally be swallowed by small children. When refastening the screw, make that it is firmly fastened, so it won’t come loose.

Repairs and Data

• Before sending the unit away for repairs, be sure to write down the needed information. Although we will do our utmost to preserve the data stored in your unit when we carry out repairs, in some cases, such as when the memory section is physically damaged, restoration of the stored content may be impossible. Roland assumes no liability concerning the restoration of any stored content that has been lost.

Additional Precautions

• Any data stored within the unit can be lost as the result of equipment failure, incorrect operation, etc. To protect yourself against the irretrievable loss of data, try to make a habit of writing down the needed information.
• Roland assumes no liability concerning the restoration of any stored content that has been lost.
• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the display.
• When disposing of the packing carton or cushioning material in which this unit was packed, you must observe the waste disposal regulations that apply to your locality.
• Do not use connection cables that contain a built-in resistor.

USING THE UNIT SAFELY/IMPORTANT NOTES

Intellectual Property Right

• This product includes third party open source software. Copyright (c) 2009-2017 ARM Limited. All rights reserved. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the “License”);
  You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

• Roland and BOSS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Roland Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

• Company names and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

SUPPLIER’S DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY Compliance Information Statement

• Model Name : SY-200
• Type of Equipment : Guitar Eects
• Responsible Party :Roland Corporation U.S.
• Address : 5100 S. Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90040-2938
• Telephone : 5100 S. Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90040-2938

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