Evolution Technologies EVOLUTION MK-425C, MK-449C, MK-461C Getting Started
Getting Started
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Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of your Evolution USB keyboard. You can use it to play
virtual instruments on PCs and Macs, and to control external MIDI hardware like
synthesizers, sound modules, drum machines and sa mplers.
Your Evolution keyboard is more than just a keyboard. You can control many different
parameters. It sends MIDI Continuous Controller data or CCs, RPN / NRPN data, MIDI
Bank change LSB and MSB and Program Changes on 16 different MIDI channels so you
can easily control your studio using only the keyboard.
There is even a librarian included to help you organise patches to suite your studio,
download more setups via the intern et and bac kup set ups for differ ent purpo se s.
Here is a snapshot of the powerful features implemented in your Evolution keyboard:
Ports:
x MIDI O U T
x USB MIDI OUT/IN
Power:
x USB powered
x DC IN for external PSU
Keyboard:
x 25, 49 or 61 note velocity sensitive
keyboard (MK-425C, MK-449C and
MK-461C respectively)
x 9 velocity curves
Controls:
x 12 programmable rotary dials (8 on
MK-425C and MK-449C)
x 9 full size programmable faders
(MK-449C & MK-461C only)
x 10 programmable buttons
x Pitch bend and modulation wheels,
both fully MIDI assignable
x Foot switch, fully MIDI assignable
MIDI Data from controllers
x MIDI control number
x RPN/NRPN
x Program, Bank LSB, Bank MSB
x Pitch Bend
x GM/GM2/XG SysEx Message s
MIDI Data from buttons:
x Note on
x Note on/off Toggle
x MIDI CC on/off Toggle
x Program, Bank LSB, Bank MSB
presets
x MIDI Machine Control functions
x GM/GM2/XG SysEx Message s
“On the fly” features:
x Program and bank changes
x Snap shot sends current status for
all controllers
x Drawbar mode for faders (MK-449C
and MK-461C only)
x Controller Mute, mutes controller
output to avoid parameter jumps
Other features:
x Memory Dump via Sys Ex
x Dedicated Sys Ex Librarian for
storing and organizing setups
x 10 memory locations stores
all settings
x MIDI out USB interface
Introduction
Features List MK-425C/MK-449C & MK-461C
Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
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Introduction................................................................................................. 1
Features List............................................................................................... 1
Contents - Getting Started ........................................................................ 2
Contents - Advanced User Guide ............................................................. 3
MK-425C Graphic Illustration..................................................................... 4
MK-449C Graphic Illustration..................................................................... 5
MK-461C Graphic Illustration..................................................................... 6
Installation
What’s In The Package?.........................................................................................8
About The Manual ..................................................................................................8
Before You Connect Your Keyboard.......................................................................8
Power & Connecting Via USB.................................................................................8
Windows XP & Mac OS X....................................................................................... 8
Installing Drivers For Windows 98/ME....................................................................9
Installing Drivers For Windows 2000 ......................................................................9
Installing Drivers For Apple Mac OS 9.x.................................................................9
Installing The MK-425C/449C/461C OMS USB Driver.........................................10
OMS Setup...........................................................................................................10
Using An External Power Supply..........................................................................10
Quick Guide
MK-425C/449C/461C Overview............................................................................11
MIDI Out ...............................................................................................................11
Testing The MK-425C/449C/461C With Your Software ........................................11
Setting The Global MIDI Channel.........................................................................11
Setting The Keyboard Velocity Curve...................................................................12
Octave ..................................................................................................................12
Transpose.............................................................................................................12
Pitch Bend Wheel .................................................................................................13
Modulation Wheel.................................................................................................13
Foot Switch...........................................................................................................13
Recalling Presets ..................................................................................................14
Sending Snap Shot...............................................................................................14
Draw Bar Mode.....................................................................................................15
Muting All Controllers............................................................................................15
Program Changes.................................................................................................16
Bank Changes......................................................................................................16
Getting More Out Of Your Sound Blaster..............................................................16
Saving And Organizing Presets............................................................................17
Basic Programming Operations............................................................................17
Trouble-Shooting..................................................................................................19
Contact Evolution..................................................................................................20
Contents - MK-425C/449C/461C Getting Started
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My Evolution hardware suddenly stopped working after having performed fine since
installation.
Switch off the unit and leave for 10 seconds. Then restart your computer and try again. If the
problem persist you may have to re-install drivers for the unit.
My drivers are listed in the Device Manager and are said to be working OK, but the
keyboard is not recognised in any software.
Win2000 and XP have a limitation to how many MIDI device drivers you can have installed at
any one time. There is no indication that you are using the maximum number of drivers - the
drivers will install as if there is not a problem.
To fix this problem: Go to http://www.evolution.co.uk/support/faq/index.html and locate the
above question. You will find a link to an exe file that will solve this problem for you.
I have plugged in a sustain pedal to my Evolution keyboard, but it works the wrong
way round.
The polarity of the sustain pedal is calculated by the keyboard when it is powered up. On
power up, the sustain pedal is assumed to be in the OFF position. So, if you want the sustain
pedal to be off when it is unpressed, make sure the pedal is unpressed when you power up.
When I press a key, there is a delay before I hear any sound.
This delay is known as latency.
Latency with MIDI signals is due to the soft-synth you are using. MIDI data is simply control
data. The MIDI is read by the soft-synth. The soft-synth then completes a large number of
complex calculations, in order to produce the sound you hear. All this takes time.
We recommend getting a proper soundcard. You can get a decent one these days for under
£30. If you already have an adequate sound card, try re-installing the latest drivers for the
sound card, or try reducing the buffer sizes of the audio drivers. You can do this in the Sound
Studio II and Sound Studio Pro II programs by going to 'Audio' – 'Audio system settings'
where you can reduce the buffer sizes of the MME or ASIO drives.
I can’t get any sound from my Evolution Software.
In your software go to Options|Devices. Here you will see a list of MIDI Inputs and MIDI
outputs.
If you have MIDI inputs available, if no driver names appear in the Output column, you need
to re-install your soundcard or update the soundcard drivers.
The output column allows you to choose which output driver you want for generating the MIDI
sounds. Most soundcards will have an option such as "FM synth" or "SBLive Synth". Click on
these driver names to use the sounds of your soundcard for playback of MIDI data. If you just
have a sound chip, the software synth to select may be like "Microsoft SW synth". Click on
the driver name of your choice.
Rule of Thumb: If you have numerous output drivers enabled (highlighted in blue) and
cannot hear any output, de-select all but one of them and try again. Repeat this
process until you hear some sounds.
Trouble-Shooting
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Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
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Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
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MK-425C Graphic Illustration
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2
10
8
7
6
4
3
5
MK-425C Dimensions: 48 x 21 x 10 cm
Feature descriptions on page 7.
Once you have familiarized yourself with the Evolution keyboard presets you may want to
save and reorganize the order to suit your setup.
Before we start, please note that the factory presets are stored in ROM within the
keyboard and can therefore be restored at any time.
Lets move preset 10 “XG/GS preset” to location 03 by carrying out the
following procedure:
1. Press the function button (7) “Recall”.
2. Type “10” on the numerical keypad (3).
3. Press the function button (6) “Store”.
4. Type “03” on the numerical keypad (3).
This will save or store the current setup to preset location 03.
If you want to reset the MK-425C/449C/461C back to the factory defaults, just hold down
the ‘+/-’ buttons on the numerical keypad while switching the keyboard on.
Note: Restoring the Factory presets will erase all setups stored to memory.
You can also organise your presets using the Evolution Librarian Software (PC only,
please check www.evolution.co.uk for Mac version) included with your Evolution key-
board. Insert the Evolution CD-ROM in to your computer’s CD-ROM drive and run the
installer.
Now that you have learnt how to use the factory presets, its time to look at how to pro-
gram and modify your own basic setups.
We will use the B4 again for the purpose of this exercise.
1. Launch the B4 and make sure its receiving data from your keyboard.
4. On the MK-425C/449C/461C, press the function button (6) “Recall”.
5. Type “02” on the numerical keypad (3).
This selects the preset for the B4.
6. Move the modulation wheel (2).
While moving the modulation wheel, the display shows the positional value. When
you stop moving the wheel, after a short delay the display shows the controller
number in small digits and 01 in large digits. This tells you that the modulation
wheel currently is assigned to controller number 001.
7. Press the function button (6) “ CONTROL ASSIGN”.
8. Type “011” on the numerical keypad (3).
If you now move the wheel you should see the display show modulation wheels
controller number in the left hand corner and 11 in large digits.
Moving the modulation wheel should now control the B4’s Swell parameter.
Saving And Organizing Presets
Basic Programming Operations
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Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
MK-449C Graphic Illustration
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2
10
9
8
7
6
3
4
5
MK-449C Dimensions: 80 x 21 x 10 cm
Feature descriptions on page 7.
Evolution MK-425C/MK-449C/MK461C Getting Started
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MK-461C Graphic Illustration
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2
10
9
8
7
6
3
4
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MK-461C Dimensions: 97 x 21 x 10 cm
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In DRAW BAR mode, the faders of the keyboard will be reversed – such that 0 is at the
top, while 127 is at the bottom.
To engage DRAW BAR mode, press the dual press function
buttons (7) labelled accordingly.
When DRAW BAR mode is engaged, the LCD display indicates this by dis-
playing the FADER symbol. Press the CHANNEL and RECALL buttons to disengage
DRAW BAR mode. DRAW BAR MODE is meant for use with Hammond organ type
synths that have draw bars. In fact, the B4 preset you used in the previous sections al-
ready has drawbar mode engaged, which is why the faders moved in the direction you
would expect. This feature is not applicable to the MK-425C.
To Mute all faders and rotary controllers, press the dual press function
buttons labelled CTRL MUTE buttons (7).
This feature allows you to alter the position of any fader or rotary controller without
affecting the settings of your software. CTRL MUTE does not affect buttons, the foot
switch or the keyboard. As soon as an assignable button, a function key or the keyboard
is pressed, the controllers are turned back on. While Controller Mute is engaged, the
LCD displa y “Off”
This is a very useful feature if you are switching between presets with the controllers out
of position. You will be able to move the controller to a position relative to the software's
controller value, rather than causing the software's controller value to jump.
You can also use this feature for creative mixing and interesting DJ type control. If for
instance you use the faders for conventional volume mixer, try engaging the controller
mute function, change the volume up or down of various channels and press the SNAP
SHOT buttons. This form of mixing is very dynamic and can not be done using a
conventional mix er.
Draw Bar Mode
Muting All Controllers
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