MIDI Keyboard
Owner’s Manual
Please read before using this equipment.
MD500 MIDI Keyboard
with Mini-Size Keys
1
CONTENTS
Features .................................................................................................................................. 2
The FCC Wants You to Know ........................................................................................... 2
Preparation ............................................................................................................................. 3
Connecting Power ............................................................................................................ 3
Using Batteries .......................................................................................................... 3
Using AC/DC Power .................................................................................................. 3
Connecting Headphones .................................................................................................. 4
Listening Safely ......................................................................................................... 4
Connecting an External Amplifier ..................................................................................... 4
A Quick Look at Your Keyboard ........................................................................................... 5
Operation ................................................................................................................................ 5
Basic Operation ................................................................................................................ 5
Playing the Prerecorded Tunes ........................................................................................ 6
Playing Back a Prerecorded Tune ............................................................................. 6
Using DEMO ............................................................................................................. 6
Using the Preset Tones .................................................................................................... 7
Selecting/Playing a Preset Tone ................................................................................ 7
Using the Preset Auto-Rhythms ....................................................................................... 7
Selecting/Playing an Auto-Rhythm ............................................................................ 7
Using SYNC .............................................................................................................. 8
Using FILL-IN ............................................................................................................ 8
Using Auto Accompaniment ............................................................................................. 8
Single Fingering ........................................................................................................ 8
Standard Fingering .................................................................................................... 9
Learning to Play ............................................................................................................... 9
Using the Metronome ............................................................................ ......................... 10
Using BEA T..................................................................................................................... 10
Special Features .................................................................................................................. 10
Recording ....................................................................................................................... 10
Using One-Touch Setting ................................................................................................ 10
Using Sustain ............................................................ ... ... .................................... ............ 11
Percussion Pads .................................. .................................... ... .................................... . 11
Using a Percussion Pad ........................................................................................... 11
Recording/Playing a Percussion Pad Sound ............................................................ 11
Transposing ..................................................................................................................... 11
Using MIDI ............................................................................................................................ 12
About MIDI ..................................................................................................................... 12
Making the MIDI Connections ........................................................................................ 12
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................... 13
Care ................................................................................................................................ 13
Chord Charts ........................................................................................................................ 14
Specifications ...................................................................................................................... 16
2
Features
Features
Your RadioShack MIDI Keyboard is a state-
of-the-art keyboard with many exciting fea-
tures. You can set the keyboard to sound like
50 different musical instruments. To accom-
pany your music, the keyboard has 30
rhythms, as well as auto accompaniments
and percussion sounds.
Your keyboard also includes a MIDI (Musical
Instrument Digital Interface) OUT feature,
which lets you connect it to other MIDI-
equipped musical instruments or devices —
even your personal computer.
Music Information Display
— shows you
the notes and chords as you play them,
along with the current tone, rhythm, and tem-
po.
Sustain Function
— lets you extend the
length of a played note, providing added flex-
ibility as you make music.
Recording/Playback
— lets you record your
own tunes and play them back at any time.
Metronome
— the keyboard sounds the
beat, making it easy to keep time with the
music.
Tempo Controls
— let you speed up or
slow down the tempo of any selected music
pattern.
Note:
This Owner’s Manual explains how to
use this electronic keyboard. It does not
teach music.
THE FCC WANTS YOU TO
KNOW
This equipment complies with the limits for a
Class B digital device as specified in Part 15
of
FCC Rules
. These limits provide reason-
able protection against radio and TV interfer-
ence in a residential area. However, your
equipment might cause TV or radio interfer-
ence even when it is operating properly. To
eliminate interference, you can try one or
more of the following corrective measures:
• reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna
• increase the distance between the
equipment and the radio or TV
• use outlets on different electrical circuits
for the keyboard and the radio or TV.
Consult your local RadioShack store if the
problem still exists.
You must use shielded interface cables with
this equipment.
©
2001 RadioShack Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack, Adaptaplug, and RadioShack.com are trademarks used by RadioShack Corporation.
3
Preparation
Preparation
To connect a MIDI device to your keyboard,
see “Making the MIDI Connections” on
Page 12.
CONNECTING POWER
You can power your keyboard in any of these
ways:
• internal batteries
• standard AC power using an optional
AC adapter
• a vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket using
an optional DC adapter
Notes
:
• Connecting an AC or DC adapter auto-
matically disconnects internal batteries.
• Always disconnect the AC or DC
adapter when you finish using the key-
board.
Usin
g
Batteries
Your keyboard can use six C batteries (not
supplied) for power. For the best perfor-
mance and longest life, we recommend
RadioShack alkaline batteries.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required
size and recommended type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries, differ-
ent types of batteries (standard, alka-
line, or rechargeable), or rechargeable
batteries of different capacities.
1. Slide
POWER
to
OFF
.
2. Press the tabs on the battery compart-
ment cover on the bottom of the key-
board and pull up the cover to remove it.
3. Place the batteries in the compartment
as indicated by the polarity symbols (+
and
–
) marked inside the compartment.
4. Replace the cover.
When the keyboard stops operating properly,
replace the batteries.
Warning:
Dispose of old batteries promptly
and properly. Do not burn or bury them.
Caution:
If you do not plan to use the key-
board with batteries for a week or more, re-
move the batteries. Batteries can leak
chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.
Usin
g
AC/DC Power
You can power the keyboard using an op-
tional 9V, 300-mA AC or DC adapter and a
size M Adaptaplug™ adapter (none sup-
plied). All are available at your local
RadioShack store.
Cautions:
You must use a Class 2 power
source that supplies 9V DC
and delivers at least 300 mA.
Its center tip must be set to positive and
its plug must fit the keyboard's
DC 9V
jack. Using an adapter that does not
meet these specifications could damage
the keyboard or the adapter.
• Always connect the AC or DC adapter to
the keyboard before you connect it to
AC power or vehicle battery power.
When you finish, disconnect the adapter
from AC power or vehicle battery power
!
4
Preparation
before you disconnect it from the key-
board.
1. Slide
POWER
to
OFF
.
2. Set the AC or DC adapter’s voltage
switch to 9V.
3. Insert the Adaptaplug adapter into the
adapter’s cord so it reads + TIP.
4. Connect the AC or
DC adapter’s bar-
rel plug to the
DC
9V
jack on the
back of the key-
board.
5. Plug the AC or DC adapter’s other end
into a standard AC outlet or your vehi-
cle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
CONNECTING
HEADPHONES
To listen to your keyboard with out disturbing
others, you can connect an optional pair of
stereo headphones with a
1
/8-inch (3.5-mm)
plug. Your local RadioShack store sells a
wide selection of headphones.
Insert the headphones’ plug into the
PHONE
jack on the back of the keyboard.
Note
: Connecting headphones disconnects
the keyboard’s built-in speakers.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these guide-
lines when you use headphones.
• Set the volume to the lowest setting
before you begin listening. After you
begin listening, adjust the volume to a
comfortable level.
• Do not listen at extremely high volume
levels. Extended high-volume listening
can lead to permanent hearing loss.
• Once you set the volume, do not
increase it. Over time, your ears adapt
to the volume level, so a volume level
that does not cause discomfort might
still damage your hearing.
CONNECTING AN
EXTERNAL AMPLIFIER
To amplify your keyboard’s sound, you can
connect it to an optional external amplifier
using an audio cable with a
1
/8-inch (3.5-mm)
plug (not supplied).
To connect an external amplifier to your key-
board, insert the cable’s plug into the
PHONE
jack on the back of the keyboard, and con-
nect the cable’s other end to the amplifier’s
input jack(s) (such as AUX IN or TAPE IN).
Your local RadioShack store sells a full line
of amplifiers, speakers, and connection ca-
bles.
DC 9V
5
A Quick Look at Your Keyboard
A Quick Look at Y our Keyboard
Operation
BASIC OPERATION
1. To turn on the keyboard, set
POWER
to
ON
.
The POWER indicator lights.
Important:
To prevent hearin g damage,
always set the keyboard’s volume to its
lowest level before you begin playing it
after changing any settings.
Note:
To remind yo u to save p ower dur-
ing operation, the keyboard automati-
cally sounds a tone about every 5
minutes if you do not press a key.
2. To hear a sample of the keyboard’s
many sounds, play a prerecorded tune
(see “Playing the Prerecorded Tunes”
on Page 6). To make your own music,
simply begin playing the keyboard.
Notes:
• The keyboard automatically selects
the tone Grand PIANO (No. 01) when
you turn the power on. To select a dif-
ferent tone, see “Selecting/Playing a
Preset Tone” on Page 7.
• To select an au to-rhythm, see “Using
the Preset Auto-Rhythms” on Page 7.
• To play auto accompaniment, see
“Using Auto Accompaniment” on
Page 8.
POWER
Speaker
Speaker
SONGS
PERCUSSION
Keys
TONES
RHYTHMS
VOLUME
List
Number
Keys
List
START/
STOP
SYNC/
FILL-IN
List
TEMPO
CHORD
LEARNING
METRO
BEAT
RECORD
PLAY
DEMO
TONE
RHYTHM
SONG
O.T.S.
SUSTAIN
MIDI
TRANSPOSE
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