ESI K.ON User Manual

Expandable Controller Keyboard

User’s Guide

Revision 1, November 2007

www.esi-audio.com

K.ON ESI

INDEX

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4

1.1 Main Features.......................................................................................................................................................4

2. Hardware Installation .................................................................................................................5

3. Software Installation.................................................................................................................... 5

4. Features & Functions...................................................................................................................6

4.1 Function Buttons..................................................................................................................................................6

4.2 Additional Functions............................................................................................................................................9

4.3 Pitch and Modulation Wheels............................................................................................................................10

4.4 Pedal Connectors ...............................................................................................................................................11

4.5 Controller Knobs & Faders................................................................................................................................11

4.6 Transport Controls.............................................................................................................................................12

4.7 Controller Assignment.......................................................................................................................................12

4.8 Save & Load Functions......................................................................................................................................13

5. Tables with Default Values .......................................................................................................15

5.1 Controller Knob Default s (K Nx - FUNC_A).....................................................................................................15

5.2 Faders Default (CSx - FUNC_B)....................................................................................................................... 15

5.3 Transport Controls MIDI Parameter..................................................................................................................15

5.4 MIDI Controller List..........................................................................................................................................15

6. General Information..................................................................................................................17

K.ON ESI

1. Introduction

Thank you for purchasing K.ON. K.ON is an expandable USB controller keyboard. Equipped with a stable aluminium cabinet, K.ON

is not only stylish, but perfectly optimized for professional usage live on stage or in any studio environment. Various faders and dials as controllers are provided, allowing remote control of software and hardware synthesizers. K.ON has a total of 4 expansion slots, compatible with existing synthesizer modules from other vendors.

Please note that this document covers the basics of the K.ON installation as well as the usage of the various built-in functions. However, this manual is not intended to explain the basics about MIDI, MIDI controller messages, MIDI programs, MIDI channels or anything about typical audio-/MIDI sequencing software. If you need to get more information about MIDI (i.e. you don’t know what a MIDI controller actually is for example), a good start is usually the manual of your notation or sequencing software (i.e. the included Cubase LE 4.0). In addition there are a lot of details about MIDI on the Internet. A good technical resource and great starting point is details are typically also provided in various forums about audio / MIDI and home recording.

www.midi.org, some

1.1 Main Features

· 88 keys professional hammer action keyboard, with channel after touch function

· 8 assignable controller knobs, with presets for Cutoff, Resonance, Attack, Release, Pan, Reverb,

Chorus, and Tempo

· 9 assignable controller faders, with presets including control of volume of channel 1-16 and the

master volume

· 6 remote control buttons for audio and sequencer software, providing real-time remote control of

Record, Play, Stop, Fast Forward, Skip Backward and Return

· Pitch and Modulation wheels

· possibility to able to save/load 10 user parameter groups

· various function buttons

· LED data display, displaying the current state

· one MIDI output

· USB port, support USB 1.1, directly powered via USB bus

· 3 available expansion slots

· bundled with Cubase LE 4.0 DVD-ROM

· compatible with various Windows versions and Mac OS X

K.ON ESI

2. Hardware Installation

Before driver installation, please locate your original Windows CD (if you are using Windows), as you may need it during installation. Please also make sure to install the chipset drivers for your motherboard if you have not done so already.

Find the USB port on your computer. A sample USB port is pictured below. It is typically located next to the PS/2 or serial ports on the back of your computer.

Plug the K.ON USB cable (Series A plug type) into the USB port of your computer. The other end of the cable will be connected with K.ON.

K.ON gets the power from the computer via USB cable by default when connected to a computer and after you have switched it on. The LEDs of K.ON will be turned on once the unit is powered and connected to your PC.

MIDI connection

If you are not using the USB connection to your computer, you can also use the MIDI out port with a standard MIDI cable. This will be connected to the MIDI input of your MIDI interface or soundcard for example.

3. Software Installation

After K.ON has been connected to your computer, you can immediately start using it. Under Windows, a new MIDI input device called USB Audio Device will be available in all your MIDI compatible applications. Under Mac OS X, a new device called K.ON will be available.

This device can be selected as MIDI input source in all MIDI compatible applications. How this is done, varies from application to application, so please consult the manual for your audio/MIDI or notation software for more details.

K.ON ESI

4. Features & Functions

4.1 Function Buttons

K.ON has various function buttons on the control surface. This section explains each of them.

PROGRAM

You can change the MIDI program (instrument) with the PROGRAM button. After pressing it, the LED above the button is on and the numeric display shows the currently selected program. You can change it with the selection master knob under the numeric display, by entering numbers via the numeric keypad or with the + / - buttons. All 128 standard MIDI voices are available in the range from 0 ~ 127.

CHANNEL

Via the CHANNEL button the MIDI channel (1 ~ 16) can be selected. After pressing it, the LED above the button is on and the numeric display shows the currently selected channel. You can change it with the selection master knob under the numeric display, by entering numbers via the numeric keypad or with the +/- buttons.

TRANSPOSE

The TRANSPOSE button allows you to transpose the key range of K.ON in the +/- 12 semitone (+/- 1 octave) range. After pressing it, the LED above the button is on and the numeric display shows the current value. The default value is 00. You can change it with the selection master knob under the numeric display or via the +/- buttons.

OCTAVE

The OCTAVE adjusting button allows you to change the main octave pitch of K.ON over a range of +/-3 semitones. After pressing it, the LED above the button is on and the numeric display shows the current value. You can change it with the selection master knob under the numeric display or via the +/- buttons.

CURVE

The CURVE button allows you to adjust the velocity curve. K.ON provides 5 different velocity curves (0 ~ 4). After pressing it, the LED above the button is on and the numeric display shows the current value. You can change it with the selection master knob under the numeric display or via the +/- buttons.

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