Nathan Sheldon

Hidden Features

Undocumented key combinations on the XP-80 for version information, memory and controller diagnostics, screen captures and a full hardware test.

ROM and CPU version

  1. Turn the unit on and open SYSTEM / System Information (press SYSTEM, then F6 Info).
  2. Hold F6 and press 0.
  3. A box shows the ROM and CPU versions and the revision date. Press EXIT to close it.

Memory dump

Shows the unit’s RAM as hexadecimal values and ASCII text.

  1. Turn the unit on and open SYSTEM / System Information (press SYSTEM, then F6 Info).
  2. Hold F6 and press 7.
  3. The Memory Dump screen shows hex values on the left and the matching ASCII on the right. Set the starting address in the Address field at the top right.
  4. Press F6 to return.

A/D information and calibration

Shows the state of every analog-to-digital converter that reads the XP-80’s controllers, and lets you calibrate the pitch bend/modulation lever.

  1. Turn the unit on and open SYSTEM / System Information (press SYSTEM, then F6 Info).
  2. Hold F6 and press 1.
  3. To calibrate, move the lever to its extremes for both pitch bend and modulation. These values are lost at power-off. You can also adjust them with the VALUE dial and INC/DEC.
  4. The pitch bend Mid-L:H values must be set by hand. They define the resting “dead zone” in which no pitch bend is sent, and they are kept at power-off.
  5. Press F6 to return.

LCD screenshots

Saves the XP-80’s video RAM to floppy in a proprietary format.

  1. Turn the unit on and open SYSTEM / System Information (press SYSTEM, then F6 Info).
  2. Hold F6 and SHIFT and press 9.
  3. Confirm LCD Data Filing Mode with ENTER, or cancel with EXIT.
  4. The LOOP indicator blinks, and the button no longer does its usual loop functions. Turn the power off to leave this mode.

Diagnostics (XP-80 TEST)

  1. Turn the unit off.
  2. Hold EFX, UTILITY and RHYTHM while switching it on, until “XP-80 TEST” appears.

This tests all of the hardware and A/D converters, including the LCD, buttons, lever calibration and disk drive. When you finish or exit, you’re offered the option to initialize RAM to factory settings.

XP-80s with Flash ROM

Some XP-80s have Flash ROM, so the operating system can be updated in software instead of by swapping chips. According to Roland US, these serial numbers have it:

  • ZI-10100 through ZI-10199
  • ZI-42854 through ZI-53099