Fatar SL-880 User Manual

SECTION 1.

Introduction: ,

Why and how do we use MIDI Controllers? What are Zones? Uses and Applications.

Congratulations on your new purchase of the SL-880 Studio Logic Master Controller by FATAR.
In this manual we will explain the concepts and techniques of using Master MIDI Controllers
to greatly expand your flexibility, creativity, control and productivity in your live or studio
keyboard setup. Whether you are using one multi-timbral sound module or a rack full of them,
this

Master Controller Keyboard and all

tly expand your professional and creative abilities.
The concept of a controller is to centralize your accessibility to your MIDI modules. It gives

you a central point of control over your slave modules in a given setup.

Have you ever tried to line up patches in your sound modules so that when you selected a
patch on your keyboard your other sound modules called up the right patch? Ever tried to
locate a patch position to write over a sound that you hopefully won't need later? Tired of
bending down to squint and see the display and program a module at the bottom of your rack?

All of these scenarios are greatly reduced when using a Master Controller.
The concept of ZONES, SPLITS and LAYERS is as follows:

A ZONE

consists

parameter messages that are communicated to your slave module(s), this reduces the need to
write and store patches on your module. These parameters may consist of the following infor­mation: patch number, volume setting, velocity curve, transposition value, pedal enable,
wheels enable,
tion

is

sent
four (4) completely independent zones, meaning each zone can transmit all of its own infor­mation on any given MIDI channel. The range of notes in each zone can be setup to be adja­cent

to

another

ZONE

starts)

introduce

of a specified range of keys on your keyboard. That range of

etc....

When

a patch

to

your modules instantly. The Studio

ZONES

range of

or assigned

the

concept

to

overlap each

of

LAYERS

the

other Studio Logic Controllers by

is

selected

notes

( one

ZONE

other

and SPLITS.

FATAR

notes

on your Master Controller all of

Logic

SL-880 Master Controller by

ends, going up

or

any

part

of each

the

keyboard,

other's

ranges.

will

is

assigned

this

informa-

FATAR

as

Thus we

grea-

has

another

A

SPLIT

is

when

one

ZONE'S

range of

ple

would

be

Bass in

be

any amount of consecutive

two

or more

LAYERS
and modules have to offer. Let's say we have a big pop ballad that needs your special touch?
We

want
re keyboard's range of
patch: (1) dark rich Electric Piano, (2) bright ringy Electric Piano, (3) slow attack String Pad
with the release rate up slightly. If one or more patches are not in the same octave as the
others
to line it up properly with the others. Something sounds a little mushy when playing Piano
parts
riment with disabling
deep, rich, rather large and musically useful sounding patch to use on your ballad.
Are you beginning to see the possibilities here? Please step inside the manual and we'll take

you through the simple yet versatile features of the Studio Logic 880 Master Controller by

FATAR.

are

to

it's

using

ZONE'S
the
create

easy

the

the

left

hand and Piano in

range of

way we can build

a "Pad

to

fix.

SUSTAIN PEDAL?

notes

Piano"

notes.

Using

Go

to

that

the

SUSTAIN PEDAL

notes

ends

and another

the

notes

regardless of where another

overlap we call

fat

lush

patches

sound

to

cover

the

three

ZONE'S

Try

transpose feature and move

going

to

for

this a LAYER.

using

the

ZONES,

the

ZONE

that

zone.

ZONE'S

right hand.

the

song. Assign each

assign each of them

for

Within

A ZONE'S

ZONE'S

full

potential

the

"non Piano" sound and

moments you should have

begins. A simple

range of

notes

of

ZONE

to

to

it

up or down 12

notes

begin.

what

your

cover

the

play a different

exam-

can

When

synths

enti-

steps

expe-

a

SECTION 2.

Features:

A guided tour through the Studio Logic 880's Controls and Features, j

THE KEYBOARD ^P

The

Studio

version

has a very dynamic yet quick response to it. The velocity sensitive action can be modified with

several

key

action

THE WHEELS ^

The PITCH and MODULATION WHEELS are the standard style, however, they are made with a

new rubberized

sation during performing and programming for a more musical response. \

THE ZONES ^

The SL-880 has

to any range of keys across the SL-880's keyboard. As discussed in the introduction to this

manual,

ZONES consists of:

1. ZONE ENABLE/DISABLE BUTTON: Located on the front panel above the keyboard itself.

These are used
independently of each other. In other words, you can have any combination of ZONES on or

off

at

any

Logic 880 has a 88 key

of

the

classic

FATAR

VELOCITY

the

CURVE

of

the

SL-880

texture.

ZONES

to

point

They have been designed

(3)

three

are

the

turn

the

by accessing these

response

will

FATAR

action.

independent

heart

It

settings

transmit

of

creating

ZONES

on and

ZONE

semi-weighted

is

an extremely

that

will

channel

AFTERTOUCH

ZONES

with

musically

off

in

switches.

piano

musical

be discussed

to

give

each

useful

PERFORMANCE

feeling

on

the

player a more

of

them

Layers and

action.

later

all

ZONES.

capable

mode.

It

is a new,

piano

in

this

Splits.

Each

style

manual.

solid

of

being
Each

switch

improved

action

The

tactile

assigned

of

the

functions

that

88

sen-

(3)

'

J

While

in

EDIT mode,

editing,

you

2.

the

3.

can
sound

4. PROGRAM CHANGE: Patch selection can be made for each ZONE while in the EDIT mode.
Each ZONE can be set to select (send) patch changes 1 to 128 (some manufacturers use a numbe­ring scheme 0 to 127, so you may need to add (1) to each patchtt to achieve the desired results).

5.

(keys)
points can overlap thus creating LAYERS.

6 .TRANSPOSE: Each ZONE can be set to transpose its key range up or down 24 semitones. In
other words, up or down 2 octaves from the synth module's original setting.

7 .SUSTAIN PEDAL ENABLE / DISABLE SELECT: You can set each ZONE to respond or not
respond

8. WHEELS ENABLE / DISABLE SELECT: You can set each ZONE to respond or not respond to
PITCH and MODULATION WHEEL information. This is done in the EDIT mode for each ZONE.

only

select

MIDI

CHANNEL

16

MIDI

BANK

SELECT:

initiate

module

SPLIT or

for

each

to

each

or select

KEY

sustain

the

ZONE BUTTONS

one

ZONE

at a time

ZONE

SWITCH

SELECT:

channels

After

you

are accessing. More on

NOTE

ZONE.

pedal

While

available.

selecting a MIDI

BANK

Changes. The commands are

RANGE:

The

ZONES

information.

are used

can be selected and

for

editing.

in

EDIT mode each

Only one

This

MIDI

channel

edit

function

are

completely

This

BANK

is

done

to

select

ZONE

channel

to

transmit

SELECT

allows

independent

in

the

the

desired

the

buttons

can be

can be

transmitted

on,

different

later

in

you

to

EDIT mode

now

set

and

depending

this

select

of

each

ZONE

to

toggle

to

transmit

at a time

while

manual.

the

range

other

for

each

be

in

EDIT

on

of

and

ZONE.

edited.

on and

on any

per

mode,

the

external

active

their

While

off

as

of

ZONE.

you

notes

split

9. AFTERTOUCH ENABLE / DISABLE SELECT: You can set each ZONE to respond or not respond

CHANNEL AFTERTOUCH information. This is done in the EDIT mode for each ZONE.

10.

SHAPE:

velocity
There are 8 preset velocity curves to choose from that vary the dynamic response of the key­board. Again, these settings are specific to each ZONE and are accessed while in the EDIT
mode.

Velocity

information

curve

from

settings

the

keyboard

specific

will

to

each

be

transmitted

ZONE.

These

to

setting

the

will

receiving

alter

MIDI

the

way

channel.

GLOBAL

the dynamic response of the entire keyboard across all (4) zones. There are 8 global settings
to choose from. Again, these setting are accessed while in the EDIT mode.

SUSTAIN PEDAL: The Studio Logic SL-880 has a connection jack on the rear panel for a
SUSTAIN

VOLUME PEDAL: The Studio Logic SL-880 has a connection jack on the rear panel for a stan-

dard
POWER

plied

VELOCITY

PEDAL

VOLUME

POWER

PEDAL

INPUT:

SUPPLY

input.

The

CURVE:

Studio

The

input.

input.

This

VP-26

Logic

VELOCITY

by Fatar

SL-880 has a

CURVE

is

recommended.

setting

connection

is a global

jack

on

the

one, meaning

rear

panel

for

it

affects

the

sup-

MEMORY

powered down. All programmed settings are transmitted when the unit is powered up. There
is no need to store edited information, simply exiting the edit mode causes the information
to be stored.

STORAGE:

The

Studio

Logic SL-880

will

remember

all

of

your preset information when

SECTIONS.

Rear Panel Connections and Features:
Powering up. Connecting Pedals and hooking up with your other gear.

POWER INPUT

POWER SWITCH

SUSTAIN PEDAL

VOLUME PEDAL

The Studio Logic SL-880 has a connection jack on the rear panel for the AC POWER SUPPLY
INPUT.

The

AC

adapter

minimum current of 200 mA.

The Studio Logic SL-880 has its POWER SWITCH located on the back panel next to the POWER
SUPPLY

INPUT.

There

board all preset data is transmitted out through the MIDI OUT connections.

The

Studio Logic SL-880

This jack

SUSTAIN
pedal is presently connected to the keyboard, regardless of polarity (e.g. PS100 or VFP1). Note:
SUSTAIN

The Studio Logic SL-880 has a connection jack on the rear panel for a standard VOLUME PEDAL
input
ge

that

the

will

function

PEDALS.
PEDAL

must

uses a stereo or balanced jack

volume

equally

POWER

SUPPLY

is

also a red

has a connection jack on

Upon

be

across

properly

powering up

plugged

all

with

in

three

supplied

LED

to

either

the

prior

ZONES

with

indicate

type of "normally closed" or "normally open"

Studio Logic SL-880

to

powering up

(e.g.

VP-26

simultaneously.

this

the

unit

the

rear

by Fatar).

unit

is a positive

is on.

Upon

powering up

panel for a SUSTAIN

will

recognize whichever type

to

properly

This

sense

volume

tip

&V

PEDAL

polarity.

control

DC

the

will

with

key-

input.

chan-

a

of

MIDI OUT CONNECTIONS

MIDI OUT Connections: The MIDI OUT jacks are where you connect your Studio Logic SL-880
Master Controller to your various MIDI sound sources. Using a standard 5 pin DIN MIDI cable,
connect the Studio Logic MIDI OUT to your MIDI input jack on your synthesizer, sound modu­le or other MIDI equipped keyboard. You may use the THRU (daisy chain) feature on your MIDI
gear to connect to other MIDI modules if you like. Avoid daisy chaining more than 2 modu­les, if possible, to reduce the possibility of MIDI log jam or timing delays. The Studio Logic
SL-880 conveniently is supplied with two parallel (identical) MIDI OUT jacks on the rear panel
to help reduce the possibility of timing delays when connecting to multiple MIDI sound modu­les. When connecting multiple devices to your SL-880 allocate them equally across the two
MIDI OUT connections on this keyboard.

ZONE SELECT

SECTION 4.

Description of Front Panel Controls and Features:
What are they, what do they do and how do I use them?

Located on
the
The LED indicators will be lit up when its corresponding zone is active or selected for editing.

three

the

top

keyboard

panel

ZONES

there

are

the

(3)

ZONE

buttons

while in play mode and (2)

for

the

selecting

(1)

enabling and disabling of

the

ZONES

while in

EDIT

MODE.

In PLAY mode any combination of ZONES may be on or off at any point in time. However, in

EDIT

mode

the

ZONE

switches may only

at a time

mode.
sponding ZONE BUTTONS.

Please note that you may only press a zone button and disable or^nable a zone while no notes
are depressed on the keyboard or while the sustain pedal is being depressed.

may

You

are

be

edited

able

and

to

jump from

therefore

ZONE

be

only

to

used

one

ZONE

to

select

ZONE

while in

one

ZONE

light may

edit

at a time.

be

lit

at a time

mode by depressing

Only

while in

one

the

ZONE

EDIT

corre-