M-Audio ProKeys 88sx Electronic Keyboard User Manual


 
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2.4 MIDI Connections
The MIDI Out jack allows connection of a standard 5-pin DIN-type MIDI plug. Such cables are available from most
professional audio retailers.
The MIDI Out jack can be used to connect your ProKeys 88sx to a sequencer or an external synthesizer, allowing the
ProKeys 88sx to trigger the various sounds of the synth or tone module.
2.5 Local Mode
You may find it useful to turn Local mode off when using the ProKeys 88sx as a MIDI controller. When Local mode is turned off, the keyboard of your
ProKeys 88sx will not control the internal sounds. However, it will continue to send and receive MIDI data to and from both the USB MIDI port (if you
are connecting your ProKeys 88sx to a computer) and MIDI output port (when connecting to a MIDI interface or external MIDI device).
Setting Local mode to off does not mean that the internal sounds of your ProKeys 88sx are completely disabled. The internal sounds will continue
to respond to incoming MIDI messages from the USB port.
By default Local mode is on. Note that this will be the case each time you turn your ProKeys 88sx on. To turn Local mode off:
< Press the Advanced Functions button
< Press the Local Off function key, key A#2 (see Appendix B).
< Performance mode will resume. However, playing the keyboard will no longer trigger the internal sounds.
< To turn Local mode back on, repeat the three steps outlined above.
2.6 MIDI Channel
The ProKeys 88sx’ default MIDI channel is set to “1.” However, you are able to transmit on any channel from 1 to 16. The ProKeys 88sx will only
transmit on one channel at a time and cannot transmit on multiple channels simultaneously. If you are using a computer, often the MIDI software
will be receiving on all channels. However, with external MIDI synthesizers, sound modules and some virtual instruments, you will need to match
the transmit channel of your ProKeys 88sx with the receiving channel of your MIDI device in order for things to work properly.
To change the transmit channel of your ProKeys 88sx:
< Press the Advanced Functions Button
< Press one of the white Channel keys, which run from D1 to E3. These are labelled as CH1 to CH16 in Appendix B.
Alternatively you can set the + and – buttons to control the MIDI transmit channel:
< Press the Advanced Functions button
< Press the DATA = CHANNEL key, C#2 (see Appendix B).
< Performance mode will resume.
< You can now use the Transpose + and - buttons to change between different channels.
Controlling Percussion Sounds – Setting the transmit channel of your ProKeys 88sx to channel 10 will allow you to control percussion sounds on your
external GM, GS, or XG module or synthesizer.
Turning Velocity Off - You may prefer not to use velocity sensitivity when playing drums or percussion programs, especially if you are playing sounds
from original sound-generating devices that cannot respond to velocity information changes. Turn velocity off by pressing the Velocity Curve button
until the LED above it turns off.
2.7 Program, Bank LSB, and Bank MSB Messages
Program messages (commonly referred to as program changes) are used to select different instrument sounds in a MIDI device. Program messages
cover a range of 128 instruments. These instruments are accessed by sending program numbers 0 to 127.
Some MIDI devices have more than 128 instruments. If this is the case, the instruments tend to be separated into banks. You can send bank MSB
and bank LSB messages from the ProKeys 88sx to access these different banks. Please consult the user manual of your MIDI device to see the bank
numbers and program numbers that map to the different instruments that are available to you.
To Send a Program Change:
< Press the Advanced Functions button.
< Press the Program function key, F#4 (see Appendix B).
< Use the white data entry keys, F3 to B4 to enter the number of the program change you want to send.
< Press C5 to accept the value and return to Performance Mode.
Alternatively,
< Press the Advanced Functions button.
< Press the ‘DATA = PROGRAM’ key, F#1 (see Appendix B).
< Performance mode will resume.
< You can now use the Transpose + and - buttons to change between different Programs.
Part 2: The ProKeys 88sx as a MIDI Controller