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Evolution MK-425C/449C/461C Advanced User Guide
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The original GM MIDI specification catered for only 128 voices, numbered from 0-127.
It is possible to access a different voice by sending a program change.
In order to expand on the GM set of voices, Bank changes were devised. Each bank
contains 128 patches, that can be accessed using a program change. There are
16,384 banks available, accessible by sending a 14-bit Bank change message. The
first 7 bits of this message are sent in a single byte known as the Bank LSB. The last
7 bits are specified by another byte known as the Bank MSB. The BANK LSB is the
most commonly used. This allows for 128 bank changes, and often there is no need to
send a Bank MSB.
You will find almost all MIDI devices respond to the program change, but some that do
not conform to the GM set of voices use the program change message for other
purposes. Many VST instruments have adopted this approach, allowing you to use a
program change to change the instrument patch. The FM7 by Native Instruments is a
good example of this.
Bank changes are more rarely used, although they do exist. Bank changes are useful
in manufacturer’s extensions to the MIDI specification, such as Roland’s GS
specification and Yamaha’s XG specification. Both of these require you to specify a
Bank change, in order to access the extra voices and effects that these specifications
provide.
Sending Program, Bank LSB and Bank MSB data is made simple using the
Mk-425C/449C/461C. Simply press the PROGRAM, DATA LSB or DATA MSB button
and enter the program or bank change you wish to send.
Non-registered parameter numbers (NRPN’s) are device specific messages that
enable the control of synths via MIDI. The MIDI specification defines parameter
numbers to allow scope for manufacturers to specify their own controllers. The more
common of these have been registered by the MIDI Manufacturer’s Association and
are part of the MIDI specification (hence the term Registered Parameter
Numbers – RPN's). (See Appendix F.)
MIDI controllers 98 and 99 represent the NRPN LSB and MSB respectively, while 100
and 101 represent the RPN LSB and MSB. This can be seen from the MIDI controllers
list in Appendix D. To transmit an NRPN/RPN, these two controller messages are sent
along with their user-specified values. A further controller message and value needs
to be sent to specify the (coarse or fine) value adjustment.
This is specified by controller number 6 (Data entry) for coarse adjustments or number
38 for fine adjustments.
Program & Bank Changes Explained
RPN/NRPN’s Explained
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Evolution MK-425C/449C/461C Advanced User Guide
Before you start using the Librarian, check that the MK-425C/449C/461C has been
selected as input and output device.
1. Select MIDI Setup from the Options menu.
2. Ensure the USB driver for you MK-425C/449C/461C is selected in the
“Inputs” Column.
If you are using native drivers this may be named “USB Audio Device”.
1. In the “Outputs” column, select the USB driver for you MK-425C/449C/461C
If you are using native drivers this may be named “USB Audio Device”.
You should now be ready to use the Librarian software with you Evolution keyboard.
As you can see from the screenshot of the Librarian on page 16, you can save, load,
receive or send the complete content to and from either Bank columns.
To transmit the complete content of your MK-425C/449C/461C to the librarian,
simply press the “Receive” button on the Librarian software.
This process can only be completed successfully if the USB drivers for your keyboard
have been selected correctly, as described in the “Setting Up The Librarian Software”
section.
Once you have Received data from the keyboard, the memories are displayed in the
column.
You can name the memories as you like. To re-name a memory, double-click on the
memory. You can then move memories around by dragging them to a new position, or
using the copy buttons between the two windows.
These buttons are defined below:
Will copy the selected memory in Bank 2 to Bank 1.
Will copy the selected memory in Bank 1 to Bank 2.
Will copy all memories in Bank 2 to Bank 1.
Will copy all the memories in Bank 1 to Bank 2.
Will undo the last copy you made. Only the last copy is remembered.
It’s a good idea to decide which column is your master column, to avoid confusion and
maybe loosing hours of work.
Setting Up The Librarian Software
Librarian Overview
Organising Presets Received From A Device