Kenton BX-3 User Manual

KENTON

electronics

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MIDI INTERFACE

KORG BX3 ORGAN

USING THE MIDI INTERFACE

When you turn on the synthesizer for the first time, you will be in omni-on mode for receive (all channels). When
you select a receive channel or other set-up, this will be stored in memory and will be remembered for when you
subsequently turn on the synth - all parameters listed on the next page are stored.

If you want to put the machine back to the factory default settings at any time, switch the synth on whilst holding
the red push button pressed - hold for a couple of seconds then release.

RED PUSH BUTTON

Two modes are available by pushing the red push button. Before you press the red button however, make sure
that no notes are pressed on the synth otherwise the results may be unpredictable.
The keyboard notes required for set-up & transpose modes should be sent via MIDI from an external keyboard.
(DX7/D50 etc. etc.)

1) SET-UP MODE

Setting MIDI channels and assignments. Give the red push button one short press (half a second) - then release.
Follow this with a note or sequence of notes as detailed on page 2. After selecting a channel you will b e
automatically returned to playing mode but after making assignments you will need to press the ENTER key (Top
C) to return to playing mode. This is to enable you to make the multiple key presses required when re-assigning
sources to destinations. (N.B. set-ups are stored in non volatile memory).

2) TRANSPOSE MODE

Press and hold the red push button for four seconds - then release. Middle C will sound on the synth and
continue to sound until you press a key. The note that you press will be the new middle C for MIDI IN. You can set
any value up to two octaves up or down. Settings outside this range will be ignored. Note that transpose mode
cannot be entered from set-up mode.

C Receive channel 1 [ Bottom C on DX 7] MIDI note number 36
Db " " 2
D " " 3 Factory default is
Eb " " 4 Lower = MIDI channel 1
E " " 5 Upper = MIDI channel 2
F " " 6
Gb " " 7
G " " 8 Selecting a receive channel
Ab " " 9 will automatically put the
A " " 10 MIDI into omni off mode.
Bb " " 11 That is, it will receive on
B " " 12 the selected channel only.
C " " 13
Db " " 14
D " " 15
Eb " " 16
E Omni-on mode (puts both manuals in omni-on mode)
F Receive Channel 1 Upper manual - [MIDI note 53]
Gb " " 2
G " " 3
Ab " " 4
A " " 5
Bb " " 6
B " " 7
C " " 8
Db " " 9
D " " 10
Eb " " 11
E " " 12
F " " 13
Gb " " 14
G " " 15
Ab " " 16
A Not Used - - ­Bb " "
B " "
C " "
Db " "
D " "
Eb Program change OFF
E " " ON (default)
F Mod wheel OFF
Gb Not Used - - ­G Mod wheel ON (default)
Ab Not Used - - ­A " "
Bb " "
B " "
C " "
Db " "
D " "
Eb " "
E " "
F " "
G" "
A" "
B" "
B" "
C ENTER key Press and release. [ Top C ] MIDI note no. 96

NOTES

1) Program changes are treated as follows:­ 1 = preset I
2 = preset II
3 = preset III
4 = drawbars
5 = percussion 4’ on
6 = percussion 4’ off
7 = percussion 2 2/3’ on
8 = percussion 2 2/3’ off
9 = rotor effect on | rotor effect can
10 = rotor effect off | be controlled by
11 = rotor effect fast | either (both)
12 = rotor effect slow | manuals
13 = chorus/vibrato on
14 = chorus/vibrato off

all other values are ignored

2) The modulation wheel of a synth can also be used to control the rotor effect as follows:­mod wheel value 0 - 63 = rotor effect on & slow
mod wheel value 64-127 = rotor effect on & fast

3) Program changes etc. are treated separately for each manual (except for Rotor effect) - i.e. if the upper

manual is assigned to MIDI channel 7, then incoming program changes etc. on channel 7 will be directed to the
upper manual only - if omni-on is selected (factory default) then incoming MIDI data will affect both manuals the
same.

4) Receive channel and omni-on setting will return you directly to playing mode, all other keys will let you stay in

SET-UP mode until you press the ENTER key (Top C)

5) Control change commands recognised - (numbers in decimal)
123 all notes off 01 modulation wheel
124 omni mode off (always poly)
125 omni mode on (always poly) 94 select transpose mode
126 (mono mode) = all notes off 95 select set-up mode
127 (poly mode) = all notes off

6) Other commands recognised - (numbers in hexadecimal)
8nH notes off 9nH notes on
BnH control change (see above) CnH program change
FEH active sensing

MIDI CONTROL OF RED PUSH BUTTON

The red push button can be "pressed" via MIDI as MIDI switch number 95 (5Fh) for regular program mode or 94
(5Eh) for transpose mode. The selection of the push button is enough, it doesn’t matter if it is being turned on or
off.

In hexadecimal BX - 5F - 00 = program mode
In hexadecimal BX - 5E - 00 = transpose mode

Where X is the current MIDI channel.

[N.B. whilst in program/transpose modes the MIDI is in omni on mode]

MIDI CONNECTORS

MIDI IN should be connected to a MIDI OUT or a MIDI THRU similarly MIDI OUT should be connected only to a
MIDI IN and a MIDI THRU should also be connected only to a MIDI IN.

MIDI OUT is the signal from the synthesizer (or drum machine etc.) that is to be sent to another instrument. MIDI
IN is a received signal that contains MIDI information from another synth, and MIDI THRU is an exact copy of
information arriving at the MIDI IN socket. This allows several instruments to be connected together.

If you want to wire your own MIDI cables the following information may be useful.

1) Although a 5 pin connector is used, only two connections plus an

earth connection are required.

2) If you look at the din plug from the wiring side you will see that the pins are numbered. From left to right (or

clockwise) these are 1 - 4 - 2 - 5 - 3.

3) The pins numbered 1 & 3 are not used.

4) The screen (earth) is connected to pin 2 (centre pin)

5) Pin 4 of one plug should be connected to pin 4 of the other

6) Pin 5 of one plug should be connected to pin 5 of the other

7) You should now have a working MIDI lead

8) It is preferable to label one end of the cable MIDI IN & the other end MIDI OUT, to avoid confusion.

WARRANTY

All Kenton MIDI Kits come with a 12 month (from purchase date) back to base warranty, (i.e. customer must
arrange and pay for carriage to and from Kenton Electronics).

Copyright (c) KENTON Electronics & John Price 1986-2001

KENTON

electronics

Brookfarm House, Station Road, South Wimbledon, London, SW19 2LP, UK.

Tel [phone] Fax [phone]

www.kenton.co.uk

e. & o. e. KBX34111/9107111905/JKP