User manual ROLAND AX-1

[. . . ] The Roland AX-1 is a MIDI keyboard controller. It does not contain any sound-generating circuitry. It is designed to transmit note messages, program changes, bank select messages as well as a variety of other MIDI messages (such as Reverb and Chorus Send levels) to an external sound module. To avoid confusion, let's agree to. . . [. . . ] Configuring the AX-1 Your AX-1 comes with a great many MIDI parameters, or message types, that can be transmitted so as to control your MIDI rig to your liking. Most of the following parameters can be set for the Upper and Lower sections independently ­ and most of them can be saved to a Patch memory (see p. 17). Note: The available EDIT parameters will be presented in the order they can be selected. See page 14 if all you want to do for the time is being is assign different MIDI channels to the Upper and/or Lower sections. You will also find a list of the available parameters on the AX-1's bottom panel. Selecting the parameter to be edited The AX-1's Edit parameters can be accessed via three buttons: (3) Use the [0]~[9] buttons or [DOWN]/[UP] to select a parameter. Button Function [CONTROL] Provides access to all parameters related to (page 11) the available performance functions, like Expression Bar, Touch Controller, Data Entry, etc. [DATA] (page 14) Provides access to more specific and static MIDI parameters: transmit channel, volume, etc. , but also the Dump function. [PRGCHG] Allows you to set and transmit memory (page 16) selection clusters (Bank Select, Program Change) and to set the MIDI tempo. When none of the above buttons lights, you are in "play mode" (i. e. where you cannot change the above parameters). That also means that the PATCH SELECT keypad ([A/B], [1]~[8]) can be used for selecting Patch memories. After pressing [CONTROL], [DATA], or [PRGCHG], however, the buttons [0] (A/B) [1]~[8] and [9] (TRANSPOSE) allow you to select the desired parameter. These numbers appear below the buttons and are printed in grey Here is how to select the desired parameter: (1) Look at the list on the bottom panel to find out which EDIT button you need to press. After about three seconds, the display shows the value currently set for the selected parameter. (4) Press [LOWER] or [UPPER] to select the keyboard section whose settings you wish to change. Note: It is now no longer possible to select a different KEYBOARD MODE. 0ff: The section in question does not respond to the EXPRESSION BAR. The EXPRESSION BAR could then be used for "locking" the value generated by the D Beam controller (see also p. 12). ENGLISH ENGLISH [4] Uel (Velocity) Upper, Lower [1] hld (Hold) Upper, Lower This parameter allows you to specify (for Upper and Lower separately) whether the selected section should (0N) or should not (0ff) transmit Hold (CC64) messages when you press the Sustain button on the bottom panel. [2] tch (Touch Control) Upper, Lower This parameter allows you to specify whether the selected section should (0N) or should not (0ff) transmit Pitch Bend messages when you use the AX-1's ribbon (TOUCH CONTROL strip). This parameter allows you to assign a velocity curve to the selected section. The AX-1's keyboard is velocity sensitive and very responsive to nuances of your playing. You may, however, be controlling a MIDI instrument that does not interpret the velocity values in the desired way. Rather than reprogram the sound (if that is at all possible), you can simply select another curve on the AX-1 so that your striking force is translated in a different way and thus more usable for the part you wish to play. Select L (light) if the section in question should send high velocity values even when you strike the keys with light-to-medium force. M (medium) is the default setting, which produces a natural response. H (heavy), is the way to go if the external MIDI instrument is too loud/bright when you play normally. ENGLISH ENGLISH 1 1 Configuring the AX-1 Select LL if all note messages of the section in question are to be transmitted with more or less the same velocity value. Extreme differences in dynamics (hitting very hard and very soft) will, however, allow you to trigger velocity switches if the receiving MIDI instrument supports that feature. This setting is thus not the same as "off" on other instruments ­ but it is very similar. [5] oct (Octave) Upper, Lower This parameter is especially useful in Split mode (see p. [. . . ] until the current transposition interval is dis(3) Once the desired interval has been set, you played. can switch it off by pressing the [TRANSPOSE] (2) Keep holding the [TRANSPOSE] button while button. Press it again to switch the Transpose you press the key assigned to the note you function back on. wish to assign to every C key (­6~5 semiThe indicator lights to signal that the Transpose tones, i. e. [. . . ]