Radio Shack LK-1261 Electronic Keyboard User Manual


 
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MIDI
What is MIDI?
The letters MIDI stand for Musical Instrument Digital
Interface, which is the name of a worldwide standard for
digital signals and connectors that makes it possible to
exchange musical data between musical instruments and
computers (machines) produced by different manufacturers.
MIDI compatible equipment can exchange keyboard key
press, key release, tone change, and other data as messages.
Though you do not need any special knowledge about MIDI
to use this keyboard as a stand-alone unit, MIDI operations
require a bit of specialized knowledge. This section provides
you with an overview of MIDI that will help to get you going.
MIDI Connections
MIDI messages are send out through the MIDI OUT terminal
of one machine to the MIDI IN terminal of another machine
over a MIDI cable. To send a message from this keyboard to
another machine, for example, you must use a MIDI cable to
connect the MIDI OUT terminal of this keyboard to the MIDI
IN terminal of the other machine. To send MIDI messages
back to this keyboard, you need to use a MIDI cable to connect
the other machine’s MIDI OUT terminal to the MIDI IN
terminal of this keyboard.
To use a computer or other MIDI device to record and
playback the MIDI data produced by this keyboard, you must
connect the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT terminals of both
machines in order to send and receive data.
MIDI Channels
MIDI allows you to send the data for multiple parts at the
same time, with each part being sent over a separate MIDI
channel. There are 16 MIDI channels, numbered 1 through
16, and MIDI channel data is always included whenever you
exchange data (key press etc.).
Both the sending machine and the receiving machine must
be set to the same channel for the receiving unit to correctly
receive and play data. If the receiving machine is set to
Channel 2, for example, it receives only MIDI Channel 2 data,
and all other channels are ignored.
With this keyboard, messages received over MIDI Channels
1, 2, 3, 4, and 10 can be used for multi-timbre play of up to
five different instrument parts. The tone and volume settings
for these five channels must be controlled by messages sent
from an external device.
Conversely, keyboard operations are sent to external devices
over MIDI Channel 1.
General MIDI
General MIDI standardizes MIDI data for all sound source
types, regardless of manufacturer. General MIDI specifies
such factors as tone numbering, drum sounds, and available
MIDI channels for all sound sources. This standard makes it
possible for all MIDI equipment to reproduce the same
nuances when playing General MIDI data, regardless of the
manufacturer of the sound source.
Though the sound source of this keyboard is not General
MIDI compatible, you can still connect the keyboard to a
computer or other MIDI equipment to playback General MIDI
data that is widely available in stores, over computer
networks, and from other sources.
NOTE
General MIDI data made up of a large number of parts may not
play correctly on this keyboard.
You will have most success playing back General MIDI data
that has few parts and is made up of parts on channels 1, 2, 3,
4, and 10.
Messages
There is a wide variety of messages defined under the MIDI
standard, and this section details the particular messages that
can be sent and received by this keyboard.
MIDI IN MIDI OUT
MIDI IN MIDI OUT
648U-E-031A
Computer etc.
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