Akai Advance 25 User Manual
User Guide
English
Manual Version 1.1
Table of Contents
(Click a chapter/section to skip to it.)
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Box Contents ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Support ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
About This User Guide .................................................................................................................................. 5
Initial Setup ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
1. Software/Driver Download and Installation ........................................................................................... 6
2. Controller Setup ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3. Software-Controller Configuration .......................................................................................................... 7
With VIP in Your DAW ................................................................................................................................. 7
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) ......................................................................................... 8
With Your DAW Only ................................................................................................................................... 8
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer) ................................................................................ 8
Features .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Top Panel ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Rear Panel .................................................................................................................................................... 11
2
Operation .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Setup Scenarios .......................................................................................................................................... 13
With VIP in Your DAW ............................................................................................................................... 13
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW) ....................................................................................... 13
With Your DAW Only ................................................................................................................................. 14
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer) .............................................................................. 14
Display and Navigation ............................................................................................................................... 15
Basic Functions ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Loading DAW Presets ............................................................................................................................... 16
Loading Patches ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Controlling Your Patch or Your DAW ....................................................................................................... 17
Controlling Multiple Instances .................................................................................................................. 18
Modes ........................................................................................................................................................... 19
Main Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 19
Selecting the Browser or Setlists ........................................................................................................... 20
Loading Patches .................................................................................................................................... 20
Loading and Saving DAW Presets ......................................................................................................... 21
Editing Various Global Settings .............................................................................................................. 22
Setup Mode .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Loading and Saving DAW Presets ......................................................................................................... 23
Editing Various Global Settings .............................................................................................................. 24
Browser Mode .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Selecting Tag Categories ....................................................................................................................... 25
Loading Patches .................................................................................................................................... 26
Loading Multi Slots ................................................................................................................................ 26
Global Mode ............................................................................................................................................. 27
Available Global Settings........................................................................................................................ 27
Control Mode ............................................................................................................................................ 29
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 30
Adjusting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 30
Pad Layout ............................................................................................................................................ 30
3
Control Edit Mode ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 31
Editing Control Parameters .................................................................................................................... 31
Available Control Parameters ................................................................................................................. 32
Learn Mode ........................................................................................................................................... 35
MIDI Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 36
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 36
Adjusting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 36
MIDI Edit Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Selecting Controls ................................................................................................................................. 37
Editing Control Parameters .................................................................................................................... 37
Available Control Parameters ................................................................................................................. 38
Multi Mode ................................................................................................................................................ 43
About Multis .......................................................................................................................................... 43
Creating and Editing Multis .................................................................................................................... 43
Adjusting Multi Channels ........................................................................................................................ 45
Adjusting Bus Sends ............................................................................................................................. 45
Adjusting Inserts .................................................................................................................................... 45
Multi Edit Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 46
Editing Multi Slot Parameters ................................................................................................................. 46
Available Multi Slot Parameters .............................................................................................................. 47
Key Control Mode ..................................................................................................................................... 48
Available Key Control Parameters .......................................................................................................... 48
Timing Functions ......................................................................................................................................... 49
Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 49
Tempo ................................................................................................................................................... 49
Tap Tempo ............................................................................................................................................ 49
Time Division ......................................................................................................................................... 49
Transport Control .................................................................................................................................. 49
Arpeggiator ............................................................................................................................................... 50
Note Repeat .............................................................................................................................................. 50
Technical Specifications ................................................................................................................................. 51
Trademarks and Licenses .............................................................................................................................. 51
4
Introduction
Box Contents
Advance 25
USB Cable
Software Installation Card
Quickstart Guide
Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and
product registration, visit akaipro.com.
About This User Guide
This User Guide was written to help you get familiar with the Advance 25 hardware.
For consistency and to help prevent confusion, we used a uniform set of symbols to show topics of interest
or significance:
Important/Note/Tip: Important or helpful information on a given topic.
Buttons, controls, parameters, and other important items are usually indicated in bold characters.
Examples: Press Multi.
Turn the Data Dial.
Select the Mode field.
Some text refers to other relevant sections, shown in blue, bold italic characters. Click the text to jump to
that part of the User Guide.
Examples: Make sure your Advance 25 box includes all of the items listed above in Box Contents.
5
For descriptions of Advance 25’s controls, please see the Features chapter.
To learn how to change an encoder’s minimum and maximum value, please see Modes >
Control Edit Mode.
r
Initial Setup
1. Software/Driver Download and Installation
To download and install the required drivers, VIP software application, and virtual instruments:
1. Go to akaipro.com and register your product. If you don’t have an Akai Professional account yet, you
will be prompted to create one.
2. In your Akai Professional account, download the Advance Driver and VIP Plus (containing the VIP
software application and bundled virtual instruments).
3. Open the file and double-click the installer application: .exe (Windows) or .dmg (macOS).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note: By default, VIP will be installed in [your hard drive] \ Program Files \ VstPlugins (Windows) or
Applications (macOS). A shortcut will be created on your Desktop, as well.
To download additional plugins and audio content:
1. Open VIP.
2. In VIP, click the Store tab to view the virtual store of additional plugins and audio content to download
and use within VIP or your DAW.
3. Select and download the plugins and audio content you want to use with VIP. Follow the on-screen
instructions for each selection.
Important: When installing these plugins, we recommend installing them on your computer’s internal
hard drive rather than on an external hard drive.
2. Controller Setup
Here is just an example of how to use Advance 25 to your setup. Items not listed under Introduction > Box
Contents are sold separately.
Expression Pedal
Powe
(optional)
(optional)
Sustain Pedal
(optional)
External MIDI
Computer
6
Sound Module
(optional)
3. Software-Controller Configuration
This section describes how to start using your Advance 25. We recommend using Advance 25 with the
included VIP software which you can use to perform with, create, edit, and manage multiple plugin patches
simultaneously. To learn more about how you can use Advance 25 in each kind of setup, please see the
Operation chapter.
Make sure you have installed the software (described earlier in 1. Software/Driver Download and
Installation) and connected Advance 25 to your computer, external MIDI equipment, and/or other devices
(described earlier in 2. Controller Setup).
With VIP in Your DAW
To set up Advance 25 with VIP in your DAW:
1. Power on your Advance 25, and open your DAW in your computer.
2. Make sure Advance 25 is selected as a controller in your DAW—you can usually do this in your DAW’s
Preferences, Device Setup, or Options.
3. In your DAW, create a new MIDI track (i.e., not an audio track).
4. Open VIP in your DAW as you would open a standard plugin. By default, VIP is installed in the following
location, depending on your operating system and desired plugin format:
• Windows (VST): [your hard drive]\Program Files\VstPlugins
• macOS (VST): Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST
• macOS (AU): Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components
• macOS (AAX): Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins
5. In VIP, click the Settings menu and select Plugin Manager.
6. At the bottom of the Plugin Manager window, click one of the Plugin Folder fields, and then select the
folder where your instrument plugins are located on your computer. You can select up to two locations
(one for each Plugin Folder field).
7. Click Scan. VIP will scan the folder/folders for available plugins, which will appear in the list. When the
process is complete, click OK to close the Settings window. VIP will return to its main window and begin
importing the patches (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes.
8. On Advance 25, turn the Dat
appear under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.
To learn more about how you can use Advance 25 in this kind of setup, please see Operation > Setup
Scenarios > With VIP in Your DAW.
a Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will
7
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW)
To set up Advance 25 with VIP in Standalone Mode:
1. Power on your Advance 25.
2. Open VIP. By default, VIP is installed in [your hard drive]
Applications (macOS).
3. In VIP, click the Settings menu and select Plugin Manager.
4. At the bottom of the Plugin Manager window, click one of the Plugin Folder fields, and then select the
folder where your instrument plugins are located on your computer. You can select up to two locations
(one for each Plugin Folder field).
5. Click Scan. VIP will scan the folder/folders for available plugins, which will appear in the list. When the
process is complete, click OK to close the Settings window. VIP will return to its main window and begin
importing the patches (presets) for all of your scanned plugins. This can take several minutes.
6. On Advance 25, turn the Data Dial to browse your list of patches in the display (the plug-in name will
appear under the patch name). Press the Data Dial to load one.
To learn more about how you can use Advance 25 in this kind of setup, please see Operation > Setup
Scenarios > With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW).
\ Program Files \ VstPlugins (Windows) or
With Your DAW Only
To set up Advance 25 with your DAW only:
1. Power on your Advance 25, and open your DAW in your computer.
2. Make sure Advance 25 is selected as a controller in your DAW—you can usually do this in your DAW’s
Preferences, Device Setup, or Options.
3. In your DAW, create a new MIDI track (i.e., not an audio track).
To learn more about how you can use Advance 25 in this kind of setup, please see Operation > Setup
Scenarios > With Your DAW Only.
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer)
To set up Advance 25 with external MIDI equipment:
1. Power on your Advance 25 and your external MIDI device.
2. If you are using a standard power adapter connected to Advance 25’s Power Input, you can start
playing immediately. Advance 25 is automatically set to send all of its MIDI messages to your external
MIDI device via the MIDI Out.
If you are using a USB charger to power Advance 25, set any relevant controls to send their MIDI
messages out of the MIDI Out. Any controls set to transmit only over the USB Port will not be sent to
your external MIDI device.
To learn more about how you can use Advance 25 in this kind of setup, please see Operation > Setup
Scenarios > With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer).
8
Features
Top Panel
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1. Keyboard: This 25-note keyboard is velocity- and pressure-sensitive and, in conjunction with the
Octave Up/Down buttons, can control a 10-octave range.
2. Octave Down/Up: Use these buttons to shift the keyboard’s range up or down. Press both buttons
simultaneously to reset the octave shift to “zero.”
3. Pitch-Bend Wheel: Moving this wheel sends MIDI Pitch Bend information on a selected MIDI channel
and port.
4. Modulation Wheel: Moving this wheel sends continuous controller data—MIDI CC #01 (modulation), by
default.
5. Arp / Config: Press this button to enable or disable the internal Arpeggiator whose rate is based on the
current Tempo and Time Division settings. The Arpeggiator will function on notes being played on the
keyboard only. You can also sync the Arpeggiator to an internal or external MIDI Clock source. Press
Shift and this button to configure the Arpeggiator’s settings.
6. Latch: Press this button to activate or deactivate the Arpeggiator’s Latch feature. When the Arpeggiator
is on and Latch is enabled, you can press a combination of keys on the keyboard and the Arpeggiator
continue to arpeggiate these notes even after you release the keys. Pressing a new combination of keys
will start a new arpeggiation.
Tip: While holding down a combination of keys on the keyboard, add more notes to that arpeggiated
chord by pressing additional keys.
7. Encoders: Use these 360º knobs to send MIDI CC or Increment/Decrement messages to your software
or external MIDI device.
8. Switches: Use these switches to send MIDI CC, Program Change, or Program Bank messages to your
software or external MIDI device. They can function as momentary or toggle (latching) switches. If Time
Division is activated, these switches select the time division of the Arpeggiator and Note Repeat
features.
9
9. Pads: Use these pads to send MIDI Note messages to your software or external MIDI sound module.
The pads are pressure- and velocity-sensitive, which makes them very responsive and intuitive to play
when triggering drum hits or other samples.
10. Pad Bank: Use this button to select Pad Bank A, B, C, or D. Between these 4 banks with 8 pads per
bank, you can access up to 32 MIDI events.
11. Time Div: Use this button and the switches to select the current Time Division, which determines the
rate of the Note Repeat and Arpeggiator features. While Time Division is active, the switches will not
send any of their normal MIDI CC, Program Change, or Program Bank messages.
12. Full Level: Press this button to activate or deactivate Full Level. When Full Level is active, the pads
always play at their maximum velocity no matter how hard or soft you hit them.
13. Note Repeat / Config: Use this button to activate or deactivate Note Repeat. While Note Repeat is
active, striking a pad causes its note to retrigger at a rate based on the current Tempo and Time Division
settings. You can also sync Note Repeat to an internal or external MIDI Clock source. Press Shift and
this button to configure Note Repeat’s settings.
14. Tap Tempo: Tap this button at the desired rate to enter a new tempo.
Important: This feature does not work when the Advance 25 is set to External sync.
15. Display: Use this full-color display to view Advance 25’s menus, options, parameters, and settings.
16. Page Left/Right: Use these buttons to move between the available pages in the display.
17. Data Dial: Use this dial to change parameter values, settings, etc. in the display. Pressing the dial also
functions as an Enter button.
18. Cursors: Use these buttons to navigate through the menus and options in the current page in the
display.
19. Mode Buttons: Press one of these buttons to enter its primary mode (labeled above the button). Press
and hold Shift and then press one of these buttons to its secondary mode (labeled under the button).
See Operation > Modes for more information.
20. Shift: Press and hold this button to enable secondary functions of certain other buttons on Advance 25.
21. Transport Control Buttons: These three buttons are dedicated buttons for sending conventional
transport control commands: Stop, Play, and Record. These can be set to send MIDI (MIDI Start/Stop),
CC (pre-assigned MIDI CC values), MMC (MIDI Machine Control), and MMC/MIDI. The PTEX setting is
for use with Avid
®
Pro Tools® Express only.
22. Loop: Press and hold this button to activate the Loop or Repeat feature in your software. This button is
considered a transport control, so it can be set to send the same messages as the other transport
control buttons: MIDI (MIDI Start/Stop), CC (pre-assigned MIDI CC values), MMC (MIDI Machine
Control), and MMC/MIDI. The PTEX setting is for use with Avid
®
Pro Tools® Express only.
Important: Your software must be able to loop or repeat in order to use this feature. Also, configure the
Transport Format in Global Mode so it communicates properly with your software.
10
Rear Panel
1. Cable Restraint: You can secure a power adapter
cord to this restraint to help avoid disconnecting it
accidentally.
1
2. Power Button: Press this button to power the
Advance 25 on or off.
3. Power Input: Connect this power input to a power outlet using an optional power adapter (6V DC, 1A,
center-positive, sold separately). Alternatively, if you want to use Advance 25 to control an external MIDI
device and without a computer connection, you can connect Advance 25’s USB Port to a power outlet
using a standard USB charger (sold separately).
Important: If you use a USB charger to power Advance 25, set any relevant controls to send their MIDI
messages out of the MIDI Out. Any controls set to transmit only over the USB Port will not be sent to a
device connected to the MIDI Out.
4. USB Port: Use a standard USB cable to connect this USB port to your computer. The computer’s USB
port provides ample power to Advance 25. If you connect it to a USB hub, make sure it is a powered
hub. This connection is also used to send and receive MIDI data to and from your computer.
You can also power Advance 25 by connecting this USB port to a power outlet using a standard USB
charger (sold separately). If you do this, set any relevant controls to send their MIDI messages out of the
MIDI Out. Any controls set to transmit only over the USB Port will not be sent to a device connected to
the MIDI Out.
When using Advance 25 with external MIDI equipment:
• If an external device is connected to the MIDI Out, your computer can send MIDI messages out
along this path: Computer Advance 25 External Device.
• If an external device is connected to the MIDI In, the external device sends MIDI messages in along
this path: External Device Advance 25 Computer. MIDI messages can then be sent to an
external device via the MIDI Out, but they must pass through the computer first.
9
2
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5
6
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5. MIDI Out: Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this MIDI Out to the MIDI In of an external MIDI
device (e.g., a synthesizer, sequencer, drum machine, etc.). Please see the above USB Port description
for information about how MIDI messages are routed while using Advance 25.
6. MIDI In: Use a standard five-pin MIDI cable to connect this MIDI In to the MIDI Out of an external MIDI
device (e.g., another MIDI controller). The MIDI messages sent to this MIDI In will be sent to your
computer via the USB port. Please see the above USB Port description for information about how MIDI
messages are routed while using Advance 25.
7. Sustain Pedal Input: Connect an optional 1/4” (6.35 mm) TS sustain pedal to this input.
8. Expression Pedal Input: Connect an optional 1/4” (6.35 mm) TRS expression pedal to this input.
®
9. Kensington
other surface.
Lock Slot: You may use this Kensington lock slot to secure the Advance 25 to a table or
11
Operation
This chapter describes how you can use Advance 25 in your studio or performance setup.
Read Setup Scenarios to learn how Advance 25 can function with software or hardware (with or without a
DAW, with or without VIP, etc.).
Read Display and Navigation to get a better understanding of Advance 25’s full-color display and how to
move through its various menus and panels.
Read Basic Functions to learn how to do some simple tasks with Advance 25.
Read Modes to learn about each of Advance 25’s modes, which let you browse and select your plugins and
patches, assign/edit controllers and parameters, adjust global settings, and more.
Read Timing Functions to see an overview of Advance 25’s time-related features. This section also
describes how to configure the settings for the Arpeggiator and Note Repeat features.
12
Setup Scenarios
With VIP in Your DAW
The included VIP software lets you get the most control and function out of your Advance 25. VIP is
essentially a host for your plugins, a hub where you can create, edit, and manage your patches (presets) for
your various plugins. When VIP is used as a plugin, as in this scenario, all audio from VIP will be sent into
your DAW on its track. You can switch between Advance 25’s Control Mode to control VIP or MIDI Mode to
control your DAW (see the Modes section for more information).
Tip: You can use Control Edit Mode to assign some knobs to MIDI CC messages instead of VST parameters.
This lets you control your plugin and your DAW while in Control Mode. See Modes > Control Edit Mode for
more information.
Tip: As with other plugins, you can use multiple instances of VIP in your DAW, each on its own track.
MIDI Mode
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Control Mode
VIP
Plugin Plugin Plugin Plugin
Plugin Plugin Plugin Plugin
With VIP in Standalone Mode (Without a DAW)
You can use VIP in Standalone Mode without a DAW. This works the same way as when used as a plugin
(described earlier) except the audio is routed to your computer’s sound card instead of to your DAW. You
can use Advance 25’s Control Mode to control VIP (see the Modes section for more information).
Control Mode
VIP
Plugin Plugin Plugin Plugin
Plugin Plugin Plugin Plugin
13
With Your DAW Only
You can use Advance 25 as a standard USB MIDI controller for your music creation software. We’ve created
presets for several popular DAWs so you can use Advance 25 with your projects in the most logical and
intuitive way possible. You can use Advance 25’s MIDI Mode to control your DAW (see the Modes section
for more information).
MIDI Mode
Digital Audio Workstation
(DAW)
With External MIDI Equipment (Without a Computer)
You can connect an external MIDI device (synth, drum machine, etc.) to Advance 25’s MIDI Out, letting you
use Advance 25 to control it, whether or not you’re connected to a computer. If you aren’t connected to a
computer, though, remember to power Advance 25 externally (see Features > Rear Panel > Power Input).
You can use Advance 25’s MIDI Mode to control your external MIDI device (see the Modes section for more
information).
14
Display and Navigation
Data Dial
Display
Advance 25’s display shows information about its current mode and operations. You can navigate its
different modes, pages, etc. by using the following controls:
• Data Dial: Use this dial to change a selected parameter values, settings, etc. in the display. Press the
dial to enter or confirm a command or setting. You can also use this dial to scroll through lists, menus,
and browsers.
• Cursors: Use these buttons to navigate through the menus and options in the current page in the display.
• Page Left/Right: Use these buttons to move between the available pages in the display. When there is a
page available to the left or right of the current one, the corresponding button will light up.
• Mode Buttons: Press one of these buttons to enter its primary mode (labeled above the button). Press
and hold Shift and then press one of these buttons to its secondary mode (labeled under the button).
The display contains the essential information you’ll need during performance, recording, or production.
When using VIP, though, the VIP software window on your computer may contain additional information,
depending on the current mode. Keep this in mind while exploring the different modes in VIP (see the Modes
section for more information).
Page Left/Right
Mode Buttons
Cursors
15
Basic Functions
Loading DAW Presets
We’ve pre-mapped several presets that let you use Advance 25 to control your DAW in the most logical and
intuitive way possible.
Setup Mode will show a list of presets that let you use Advance 25 to control your DAW. If you are not using
VIP, you can see this list in Main Mode, as well.
To load a DAW preset:
1. Press Shift and the Main (Setup) mode button to enter
Setup Mode. If you are not using VIP, you can also press
Main to enter Main Mode.
2. Use the Cursors to select the DAW Preset Browser (the list
of DAW presets in the right half of the display).
3. Turn the Data Dial to scroll through the list.
4. Press the Data Dial to load a DAW preset. The loaded
preset will be highlighted.
Loading Patches
While using VIP with Advance 25, you can load a patch using the Patch Browser (the right half of the
display), which will show all available patches or multis currently in VIP’s Patch Browser or in a setlist
(described in Main Mode > Selecting the Browser or Setlists).
To load a patch:
1. Press the Main mode button to enter Main Mode.
2. Use the Cursors to select the Patch Browser (the list of
patches in the right half of the display).
3. Turn the Data Dial to scroll through the list.
4. Press the Data Dial to load a patch. The loaded patch will
be highlighted.
Note: The patches shown in the Patch Browser are based
on both the currently selected tags and the text in the
Search field in VIP (above its own Patch Browser). If you
think some patches are missing from the Patch Browser,
make sure that (1) VIP’s Search field is empty and (2) the
correct tags are selected. To learn about tags, see
Browser Mode > Selecting Tag Categories.
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