Korg C-900 Owner's Manual

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Page 1

KORG DIGITAL PIANO

GENERAL

Owner’s Manual

Please read this manual first

INSTRUMENT

AI2 Synthesis System

Page 2

Introduction

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING — When using electric products, basic precautions should always be followed, including the following.

1. Read all the instructions before using the product.

2. Do not use this product near water — for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, or the like.

3. This product should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by the manufacturer.

4. This product, either alone or in combination with an ampliﬁer and headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at high volume level or at a level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.

5. The product should be located so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.

6. The product should be located away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, or other products that produce heat.

7. The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the product.

8. This product may be equipped with a polarized line plug (one blade wider than the other). This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact an electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the plug.

9. The power-supply cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.

10.Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled onto the enclosure through openings.

11.The product should be serviced by qualiﬁed service personnel when:

A. The power-supply cord or the plug has been

damaged; or

B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled

into the product; or C. The product has been exposed to rain; or D. The product does not appear to operate nor-

mally or exhibits a marked change in perfor-

mance; or E. The product has been dropped, or the enclo-

sure damaged.

12.Do not attempt to service the product beyond that described in the user-maintenance instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualiﬁed service personnel.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

ATENTION – POUR ÉVITER LES CHOCS ÉLECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU’ AU FOND.

The lightning ﬂash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” sure that may be of sufﬁcient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

xclamation point within an equilateral triangle is

The e intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (ser ture accompanying the product.

within the product’s enclo-

vicing) instructions in the litera-

Page 3

CE mark for European Harmonized Standards

CE mark which is attached to our company’s products of AC mains operated apparatus until December 31, 1996 means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and CE mark Directive (93/68/EEC).

And, CE mark which is attached after January 1, 1997 means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC), CE mark Directive (93/68/ EEC) and Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC).

Also, CE mark which is attached to our company’s products of Battery operated apparatus means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/ 336/EEC) and CE mark Directive (93/68/EEC).

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM

As the colours of the wores in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

• the wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured black.

• the wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured red.

• Do not connect the wire to earth terminal of a three-pin plug.

THE FCC REGULATION WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Unauthorized changes or modiﬁcation to this system can void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Back-up Battery

The C-900 uses a back-up battery to prevent memory loss when the power is turned off. If the display shows “Lo”, the battery should be replaced. Consult the nearest Korg Service Center or dealer.

Data handling

Unforeseen malfunctions can result in the loss of memory contents. Please be sure to save important data on an external data ﬁler (storage device). Korg can accept no responsibility for any loss or damage which you may incur as a result of data loss.

Page 4

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

1. Controls and basic operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Front panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Operating panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Before you use the C-900

Preparations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2. Floppy disks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Floppy disk types and formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Floppy disk handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Floppy disk write protect slider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Inserting floppy disks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Removing floppy disks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Cleaning the disk drive heads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

1. Play the keyboard of the C-900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Selecting a different sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Splitting the keyboard in two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Making it easier to play or sing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2. Listening to the C-900’s automatic playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Demo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Song Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Connect a mic and sing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3. Playing while adding automatic accompaniment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Synchro start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Synchro stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Tap tempo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Keyboard lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

4. Recording your own playing on the C-900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Saving your recorded performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

5. Editing your performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

6. You can input notes one by one to create musical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

7. Playing a melody and letting the C-900 automatically add an

accompaniment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4. Basic concepts of the C-900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

1. Modes and pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

What is a Mode? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

What is a Page? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

2. Styles/Arrangements/Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

What is an Arrangement? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

What is a Program?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

5. Operating the C-900 while looking at the display . . . . . . . . . . .37

1. Moving the cursor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

2. Adjusting “loudness” or “speed”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

6. Interactive composition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

1. Settings for the Interactive Composition function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

2. Adding chords to the melody that you play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

7. Functions, operations and terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

iii

Page 5

Table of Contents

8. MIDI Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Using the C-900 with an external sequencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Using the C-900 to control other MIDI instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

What is General MIDI? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

About Standard MIDI Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

9. Connections with a computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Connection to an IBM PC (compatible) via the AG-001B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Connection to an Apple Macintosh via the AG-002B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Korg MIDI Driver installation and setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

1. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into Windows 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

2. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

3. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into a Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

10. Specifications and options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Page 6

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Korg C-900.

C-900 is a versatile piano that goes far beyond previous automatic accompani-

The ment electronic instruments. It provides high-quality stereo-sampled piano sounds and many other instrument sounds (a total of 327 programs), 16 dr of automatic accompaniment data, and two stereo digital multi-effect processors with 48 types of effects.

In addition to a Piano mode that allows the ventional electronic piano, the lets you automatically add a sophisticated musical accompaniment simply by specifying easily ﬁngered chords. It also provides a Backing Sequence function with recording and editing capabilities, an SMF Song Play function for playing back commercially available Standard MIDI File format music software, an Interactive Composition function that automatically adds chor interface that lets you connect the tures a full complement of easily accessed functions that enhance your composition and performance, such as a karaoke function that lets you connect a microphone to sing along with your music.

In order to enjoy long and tr

C-900 also provides an Arrangement Play function that

d progressions to the melody that you play and an

C-900 to your computer. In addition, the C-900 fea-

ouble-free use, please read this manual.

C-900 to be used in the same way as a con-

um kits, 192 types

Owner’s Manual

This owner’s manual begins with explanations of each section of the C-900. It also contains chapters which discuss basic procedures and concepts, and explains how to connect the

C-900 to external devices for even more possibilities.

Reference Guide

The Reference Guide explains the various functions and settings of the C-900 organized by the displays that appear in the front panel LCD. Lists of the sounds and accompaniment data are also included at the end.

* In the documentation for the

ment numbers and names, parameters and values shown in these LCDs are given only as examples. Please be aware that improvements in the speciﬁcations and voice programs may mean that the example displays printed in the documentation do not match the displays that actually appear on the C-900.

C-900, the explanations often include diagrams of the LCD. The program or arrange-

Page 7

1. Controls and basic operation

Front panel

7 8

9 2 3 4 5

1. Operating panel

The operating panel of the C-900 contains numerous key switches which access a variety of functions. Some keys have two or more different functions. For the names and general functions of each key, refer to “Operating panel” on the following page. Details on the function of each key are given in “Functions, operations and terminology” beginning on p.47.

2. ACC VOLUME (Accompaniment Volume)

In Arrangement Play mode, this adjusts the backing volume of tracks other than the keyboard track. When the selected part is muted in Song Play mode, the ume of the other parts.

The volume when muted will be the “10” setting regar position. When you subsequently move VOLUME, the setting will change to reﬂect the actual position of the contr

ACC VOLUME will adjust the vol-

dless of the ACC VOLUME

ACC

ol.

3. MASTER VOLUME

This adjusts the overall volume of the entire C-900 (speakers, headphones, and outputs).

4. POWER switch ☞p.8

This switch turns the power of the C-900 on and off.

5. Headphone jack (located on the bottom of the instrument)

By connecting a pair of stereo headphones to this jack, you can play and listen to the being heard by others. Up to two pairs of headphones can be connected simultaneously. If you use commercially available headphones, select a set of stereo headphones with a phone plug connector

C-900 without

11 12

6. POWER indicator

This will light when the C-900 power is on.

It will go out when the power is turned off.

7. Music stand ☞p.8

8. LCD

This displays various messages which indicate the status of the C-900, and indicates the current settings.

Details on the displayed contents are given in the

ence Guide.

Refer

9. ECHO LEVEL

When a mic is connected to the mic input jack, this slider adjusts the amount of echo that is applied to the microphone’s signal.

10. MIC VOLUME

When a mic is connected to the mic input jack, this slider adjusts the mic volume.

11. Floppy disk drive

A 3.5 inch double sided double density (2DD) or double sided high density (2HD) ﬂoppy disk can be inserted here.

For details on ﬂoppy disk handling, refer to “Floppy disks” beginning on p.9.

12. Mic input jack (located on the bottom of the instrument)

A microphone or a Korg Interactive Harmony “ih” unit can be connected here. If you are using an “ih,” please also refer to the “ih” manual.

Page 8

1. Controls and basic operation

Operating panel

The number of stars following the name of each key switch indicates the level of familiarity with the C-900 required for its use. ★ These keys are used for basic operations. In order to use the C-900 as a conventional electronic piano, it is necessary to understand how

these keys work.

★★ You will use these keys after you become more familiar with using the C-900 as a conventional electronic piano, and wish to take advantage

of the automatic accompaniment functions and to record your own playing.

★★★ These keys are used to add various adjustments to automatic accompaniment, or to make detailed settings for recording and other func-

tions interactively with the display.

Many of the key switches perform functions in addition to those listed on this page. For details of the function and operation of each key, refer to “Functions, operations and terminology” beginning on p.47.

654

1110

1. ARRANGEMENT GROUP/ARRANGEMENT SELECT

Use these to select the type of automatic accompaniment.

★★

2. Style element ★★★

(Variation 1–4, Fill 1&2, Intro/Ending 1&2) During automatic accompaniment, these keys let you add variety to your song by inserting introductions, ﬁll-ins, and endings. In step recor key switches are used to specify the length of the note to be entered. Refer to the explanations of each key beginning in chapter 7.

ding, these

3. START/STOP ★

This key starts or stops the automatic accompaniment and recording.

4. BASS INVERSION/TIE ★★★

When the Chord Scanning function is in use, you can press this key to specify a bass note other than the root of the chord. This key is also used in step recording to tie two notes together.

☞p.49

☞p.57

5. ENSEMBLE/REST ★★

When the Chord Scanning function is in use, this lets you add harmony to the note being played, as determined by the detected chord. This key is also used in step recording to input a rest.

☞p.57

☞p.51

6. SPLIT POINT ★★

When the Chord Scanning function or Keyboard Assign has been used to split the keyboard into left and right zones, this key lets you specify the point at which the keyboard will be divided. ☞p.57

7. BACKING SEQ REC ★★

This is used for making various settings in the preparation of recording your own performance.

789

12 13

8. SYNCHRO START/STOP ★★

This allows automatic accompaniment to start the moment you touch a note on the keyboard. The accompaniment will be halted during the time that your hand is taken off the keyboard.

9. FADE IN/OUT/INS ★★

When you are playing with automatic accompaniment, this causes the sound to become gradually louder when the song begins, and to become gradually softer when the song ends.

In event editing, this is also used to insert an

☞p.51

event.

10. CHORD HOLD/√√√√ ★★

This key causes the automatic accompaniment chords to be held even after you release your hand from the keyboard. Since you only need to press the keyboard when the chord changes, this makes performance easier.

This key is also used in step recording to move thr

ough steps, and when modifying the name of

an arrangement or backing sequence.

☞p.49

11. SOUND HOLD/®®®® ★★★

This key causes the sound played in the left hand to be held after you have released your hand from the keyboard, or lets you add a bass note. This will function differently depending on the Disk/Global mode settings.

☞Reference Guide p.65

This key is also used in step recording to move through steps, and when modifying the name of an arrangement or backing sequence.

☞p.56

12. KEYBOARD LOCK/DEL ★★

This key lets you lock the keyboard so that the sound being played by the keyboard and the playback tempo will not change even if you change the arrangement (type of accompaniment).

Page 9

1. Controls and basic operation

In event editing, this is used to delete an event. ☞p.51

13. TAP TEMPO/NO ★

This lets you adjust the tempo of the metronome, automatic accompaniment, or automatic playback by repeatedly tapping the key.

When a conﬁrmation display appears, this key can also be used to cancel the operation.

☞p.58

☞p.54

20 21

16. VOLUME/MUTE/TRACK/CHANNEL ★★

These keys are used to adjust the volume of the instrument for each part of the keyboard, automatic accompaniment, or automatic playback. The Mute key temporarily mutes the sound. These keys are also used to specify the track whose settings you wish to modify, or a MIDI channel of 1–16.

17. PAGE ★★

These keys are used to select “pages” (display screens in which the functions of each mode are grouped) in the LCD.

18. CURSOR ★

Use these keys to select the desired item from the choices that appear in the LCD.

14. EXIT ★

Use this to return to the ﬁrst page of the display.

15. RESET/YES ★

This key returns various settings to their original state.

☞p.55

When a conﬁrmation display appears, this key can also be used to execute the operation.

2622 23

28 29

24. PROGRAM GROUP/PROGRAM SELECT ★

Use these to select the sound that you wish to play.

25. DEMO ★

By pressing this key switch, you can hear a demonstration of the

C-900. ☞p.18

26. INTERACTIVE COMP. ★★★

This key activates the Interactive Composition function. A melody that you are playing or had previously recorded is automatically analyzed by the C-900, and accompaniment chords appropriate for that melody are added. The chords which are added can be used for automatic accompaniment, and many different types of chords can be assigned to match the style of the song.

☞p.39

☞p.59

19. TEMPO/VALUE ★

Use these keys to modify the speed (tempo) of the metronome, automatic accompaniment, or automatic playback. These are also used to increase/ decrease numerical values, or to select alternatives.

20. KEYBOARD ASSIGN ★★

This lets you select different keyboard assign modes such as layering sounds, playing split sounds, or playing different percussive instruments from each note, etc.

☞p.53

21. CHORD SCANNING ★★

This lets you select the area of the keyboard in which the Chord Scanning function will be active, allowing you to use simple ﬁngering to play complex chords.

☞p.49

22. METRONOME ★

A metronome sound can be generated based on the tempo shown in the LCD.

23. PIANO MODE ★

Turn this key switch on when you wish to use the C-900 as a conventional electronic piano.

27. MODE keys ★★

These keys are used to switch between the four major operating modes of the playing or automatic accompaniment, use Arrangement Play mode ( own playing or to create automatic accompaniment data, use Backing Sequence mode ( To playback Standard MIDI File format data from a ﬂoppy disk, use Song Play mode ( settings for other functions such as MIDI applications and ﬂoppy disk management, use Disk/Global mode ( LED located at the left of the key will light, indicating the mode the

☞p.50). When you press a mode key, the

C-900 is currently in.

C-900. For piano

☞p.48). To record your

☞p.56). To make

28. TRANSPOSE ★

Use these keys when you wish to transpose the pitch of the keyboard or the automatic accompaniment.

29. OCTAVE ★

These keys let you shift the pitch of the keyboard or the automatic accompaniment up or down in units of an octave.

☞p.49).

Page 10

1. Controls and basic operation

Rear panel

5642 317

MIDI cable

EC5

MIDI OUT

AUX IN

L R

Audio equipment

1. OUTPUT

External equipment such as your stereo or keyboard mixer can be connected here to listen to the sound of the

C-900 through these devices.

For stereo connections, the left and right signals will be output from the L/MONO jack and the R jack. For mono connections, use the L/MONO jack.

Use the master volume to adjust the level.

2. INPUT

Signals from an external device such as a tone generator module, cassette recorder, or CD player can be input to the C-900’s built-in speakers, headphones, or an audio system connected to the external outputs.

For stereo connections, use the L/MONO and R jacks. For mono connections, use the L/MONO jack.

The volume of the external device connected to the INPUT jacks can be adjusted by the volume contr

ol of the external device.

C-900, and heard through the

OUTPUT

L R

MIDI tone generator module

(synthesizer)

MIDI IN

4. EC5

A separately sold Korg EC5 external controller can be connected here. In Disk/Global mode, you can assign a different function to each of the ﬁve switches of the EC5.

5. MIDI

These connectors are used to exchange data with other MIDI devices such as keyboards and computers. In order to make these connections, you will need separately sold MIDI cables. MIDI IN receives MIDI messages fr OUT transmits MIDI messages to other devices. ☞ p.61 “8. MIDI Applications”

6. TO HOST

This interface connector allows the C-900 to be directly connected to a computer which does not have a MIDI interface. To make this connection, you will need a separately sold connection cable that is compatible with your computer. Connections with a computer”

MIDI keyboard

☞Reference Guide p.64

om other devices. MIDI

☞p.63 “9.

3. ASSIGN PDL/SW (Assign pedal/switch)

A separately sold Korg XVP-10 or EXP-2 pedal controller or PS-1 foot switch can be connected here. The function of these pedals can be speciﬁed by settings in Disk/Global mode. ☞Reference Guide p.63

7. PEDAL

Insert the pedal connector of the ST-900 stand here.

Page 11

1. Controls and basic operation

Before you use the C-900

Please carefully read the sections “Safety,” “Preventing ﬁre, shock, and personal harm,” “Precautions,” and “Warnings” located in the beginning of this manual.

Preparations

Check the included items

Make sure that you have each of the following items included with the C-900.

• “Owner’s Manual” (this book)

• “Reference Guide”

• Floppy disk CFD-01P......................................... This contains sounds and ﬁve types of

automatic accompaniment data for the C-900.

• (Separate carton) stand

ST-900 ........................ This stand is specially designed for the

C-900. Please refer to the assembly instructions for proper use.

Removing the instrument

Remove the two styrofoam packing blocks from the carton, and place the instrument on the blocks.

Place the styrofoam blocks so as to protect the power cable located on the bottom of the instrument.

Leave it in this position until you are r

eady to attach it to the stand.

Power cable

Styrofoam blocks

Page 12

1. Controls and basic operation

Assembling the stand

Caution

Two or more persons are required in order to assemble the instrument.

When placing the instrument on its stand, be careful not to pinch your hand.

Carefully follow the assembly procedure, being careful to place the correct part in the correct orientation.

Be aware that if you apply excessive pressure to the front of the instrument before tightening the screws, the instrument may fall over.

1. You will need a Phillips (+) screwdriver (not included).

2. Make sure that you have all the parts.

3. During assembly, be sure to place the back of the stand on a ﬂat ﬂoor surface etc. as shown in the following diagram.

Align the left side panel 1 and the right side panel 2 to the pedal box 3 , and use the four long screws 5 to fasten them together.

• Screw the adjuster 6 all the way into the pedal box 3.

• Pull out the pedal cable.

4. Partially screw three of the short screws 7 into the pedal box 3 .

• Sidepanel

(left)1

• Long screws ✕4 5 (M6 x 75)

• Adjustable bolts ✕2 8

• Backpanel4

• Pedalbox3

• In the plastic bag

• Adjuster 6

• Medium screws ✕2 9 (M6 x 20)

• Sidepanel

(right)2

• Short screws ✕10 7 (3.5 x 20)

• Cable holder 0



• Approximately 8 mm

• Do not tighten the screws all the way.

• Do not put a screw here.

5. Attach the back panel 4 .

Slide the slots of the back panel 4 onto the screws 7 that were partially inserted. Use six more short screws

7 to fasten the back panel 4 using the pilot holes that

are drilled in the side panels. Completely tighten the three short screws the last short screw



• Finished surface toward the front

7 which were left untightened. Use

7 to attach the cable holder 0 .

• Fit back panel 4 onto screws

• Fasten the cable holder 0 together with the back panel

Page 13

1. Controls and basic operation

6. Attach the keyboard unit.

Place the keyboard unit so that the screw holes on the bottom of the keyboard unit are aligned with the screw holes on the stand.

Use the two adjustable bolts

8 and the two medium

screws 9 to fasten the keyboard unit from the underside.

• Rotate the adjuster so that the bottom of the adjuster is firmly in contact with the floor. Unless the adjuster is firmly in contact with the floor, the pedal may become unsteady, or rattling may appear in the sound.

7. Connect and fasten the pedal cable.

Check after assembly

Are any parts left over?

If any parts are left over, refer to the diagrams to see where they should go.

Check that all screws are tightened correctly.

Caution

Cautions when moving the instrument

When moving the instrument, remove the keyboard unit from the stand and move them separatel placing the instrument in its new location, refer to the above assembly instructions and re-assemble the instrument. Also, please take note of the following points when moving the instrument.

• Bundle the power cable. If the cable is left unbundled, it may catch on an object, which could produce broken connections, short circuits or other malfunctions.

• Be careful that the pedal cable does not catch on a doorknob or other object.

If the screws loosen

As you continue using the piano for an extended period of time

, the scre

ws in various parts of the stand may gradually loosen, causing the stand to sway. If this occurs, re-tighten the screws.

Disassembly

To disassemble the instrument, re

verse the procedure for attaching the keyboard unit and assembling the stand. Then keep all screws and other parts in a safe place.

y. After

•Thereisasmallgapinthe



•Usethecableholderto

fastenthepedalcable.



upperpartofthebackpanel.

• Withthearrowonthepedalcableconnector

pointingupward,plugitintothePEDALjack locatedontherearofthekeyboardunit.

Page 14

1. Controls and basic operation

Preparing for play

1. Plug in the power cable.

Plug the power cable into an AC outlet.

Be sure to use an AC outlet of the correct voltage for your instrument.

2. Open the key cover.

Carefully lift the center of the front edge, and slide it gently away from you.

To close the key cover and slide it toward you.

When opening or closing the key cover, be careful not to pinch your hands or ﬁ

The cover may be damaged by excessive force, or if it is opened or closed roughly.

Do not open or close the key cover of the ﬂoppy disk is protruding part way from the disk drive.

, lift the center of the front edge

ngers.

C-900 when a

■ When using headphones

When headphones are connected, no sound will be heard from the internal speakers.

You can use headphones when you do not wish to be heard by other people, such as when practicing at night.

Since there ar listen to the instr

Connect the plug (phone plug) of the headphones to the headphone jack located under the instrument on the left side.

If you use headphones with a miniplug sure to grasp the base of the adapter plug when connecting or disconnecting the headphones.

When using headphones, protect your hearing by avoiding extended periods of listening at high volumes.

e two headphone jacks, two people can

ument.

→phone plug adapter, be

■ Using the music stand

Place the music stand upright, and use the two stoppers on the back of the stand to keep it from falling back down.

3. Turn on the power.

1. Press the POWER switch to turn on the power.

When the power is turned on, the POWER indicator located on the left fr

ont of the instrument will

light.

At this time, the pedals will be initialized, so do not press the pedals until a display appears in the LCD.

2. To turn the power of once again.

When the power is turned of located at the left front of the instrument will go dark.

f, press the POWER switch

f, the POWER indicator

4. Adjust the volume.

Raise the MASTER VOLUME slider to approximately the center position. Moving the slider toward the right will increase the volume, and moving it toward the left will decrease the volume. At the “0” position there will be no sound. While you play the keyboar ume to an appropriate level.

The MASTER VOLUME slider contr phone jacks, and the rear panel OUTPUT jacks.

d, adjust the vol-

soft loud

ols the volume of the internal speakers, the head-

Page 15

2. Floppy disks

The disk CFD-01P contains automatic accompaniment data and voice program data. The information on these disks can be read by the ﬂoppy disk drive of the

You can also use commercially available blank disks to store your own performances (including the automatic accompaniment) as data.

In addition, data that you r cially available music disk can be loaded into the

When using ﬂoppy disks, please observe the cautions given below. Incorrect disk handling may result in loss of the recorded data.

ecorded or Standard MIDI File format data from a commer-

C-900 and played back.

Floppy disk types and formats

The C-900 can use two types of 3.5 inch ﬂoppy disk: 2DD or 2HD.

A new disk or one that has been used by a different device cannot be used by the C-900. Such disks must ﬁrst be “formatted” before they can be used by the C-900.

For the formatting procedure, refer to the topic “FORMAT (Format Disk)” on p.58 of the Reference Guide.

C-900.

Floppy disk handling

• Do not open the disk shutter or touch the magnetic surface inside the ﬂoppy disk. If the magnetic disk becomes soiled or scratched, it will be impossible to read or write data.

• Never transport the Vibration may cause the disk drive heads to scratch the ﬂoppy disk, making it unusable.

• Do not put ﬂoppy disks near a magnetic ﬁeld, such as televisions, computers, computer displays, speakers, or power transformers. Doing so may erase the data

ded on the disk.

recor

• Avoid using or storing ﬂoppy disks in locations of high temperature or humidity locations with excessive dust or dirt.

• Do not place objects on top of a ﬂoppy disk.

• Floppy disks should be stored in an appropriate case.

• While the ﬂoppy disk drive is operating, do not move the piano.

C-900 with a ﬂoppy disk inserted in the ﬂoppy disk drive.

, or

Page 16

2. Floppy disks

Floppy disk write protect slider

Floppy disks have a small window called a “write protect hole,” which helps prevent accidental erasure or rewriting of the data.

In order to prevent erasure of the data on a disk, move the tab downward after saving, to the “write prohibit” position.

Write prohibit: Lower the tab so that the write protect hole is open

Write permit: Raise the tab so that the write protect hole is covered

Inserting ﬂoppy disks

Insert a ﬂoppy disk into the disk drive with the label facing up. Push it all the way into the drive until it clicks into place. Forcing a disk in will cause malfunction. Disks must be inserted gently, and straight in.

Removing ﬂoppy disks

To remove a ﬂoppy disk from the disk drive, ﬁrst check to make sure that the drive is not operating (i.e., that the LED of DISK/GLOBAL key is not blinking, and that no message such as “Loading” or “Saving” is displayed). Then press the eject button to remove the disk.

If the disk does not come out when you press this button, do not attempt to remove the disk by for

Never r BAL key is blink. Otherwise, the disk drive or data on the ﬂoppy disk may be destroyed.

ce. Contact your dealer.

When the power is turned on, this LED will light.

emove a ﬂoppy disk from the disk drive when the LED of DISK/GLO-

Eject button

Cleaning the disk drive heads

If the heads of the disk drive are dirty, errors may occur when saving or loading. It is important to regularly clean the heads. To do so, use a commercially available wettype 3.5 inch dual-sided head cleaning disk. Using a single-sided cleaning disk will damage the drive.

For the cleaning procedure, refer to the manual for your cleaning disk.

Continuing the cleaning process for an extended period of time will damage the disk drive.

Page 17

Don’t worry if the displays are different

If things don’t work as you expect

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

3. Getting acquainted with

the C-900

For those who are playing the C-900 for the ﬁrst time, this chapter provides a step by step introduction to its basic functionality.

Place this manual beside the step.

Numbers and program names etc. that appear in the LCD of your be somewhat different than those printed in this manual. There is no need to worry about this. The actual displays will depend on what you did in the previous step.

If you get lost in the displays and the EXIT key located to the immediate left of the LCD. Or, you can press the START/STOP key to make the START/ST depend on where you were, and this will let you continue working.

C-900, and operate the controls to actually perform each

C-900 will probably

C-900 does not work as you expect, press the

OP LED is dark. The status to which you will return will

Page 18

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

1. Play the keyboard of the C-900

Using the C-900 as a conventional electronic piano

Although the C-900 provides a wide variety of features, such as automatic playback and assisting you to compose, you can also enjoy it simply by playing the keyboard like a conventional electronic piano.

Take time to fully enjoy the sounds of the

C-900 before proceeding to the next step.

1. Enter Piano mode

Enter Arrangement mode If the ARR PLAY LED is red, the C-900 is in Arrangement Play mode.

Enter Piano mode Once you are in Arrangement Play mode, you can use the C-900 as a conven-

tional electronic piano when the PIANO MODE LED is also red. This status is called Piano mode.

In Piano mode,

• Selecting a program will automatically select the most suitable effect for that sound. Also, the Pedal Simulation (

• Muting will be canceled for the right (KB1) and left (KB2) areas of the keyboard, so that both halves of the keyboard will produce sound.

• Keyboar

• The upper line of the display will show the number of the sound program within the group, and the name of the sound. The lower line will show the metronome’s tempo, time signatur

When you turn the

If you are not in Arrangement Play mode, press the ARR PLAY key located in the right on the operating panel.

→1. The ARR PLAY LED and the PIANO MODE LED will light.

→2. The following display will appear.

d Assign will be set to SINGLE.

C-900 power on, it will automatically be in Piano mode.

If a disk containing a Standard MIDI File (SMF) or other ﬁle that can be played in Song Play mode is already inserted when the power is turned on, the instrument will automatically be in Song Play mode.

☞Reference Guide p.51) will be turned on.

e and volume.

Piano mode display

Arrangement Play mode display

Group, number and name of the sound currently in use

KB1: Pf00 GrandPiano

=120 METRO 4/4 L99

When this type of display appears, the C-900 is in Piano mode.

If you are in Arrangement Play mode and are not in Piano mode, the following display will appear.

Number and name of the arrangement currently in use

Number

Name

ARR: 0 8 Beat 1

=120

In this case, press the PIANO MODE key located in the right side of the operating panel.

→1. The PIANO MODE LED will light.

→2. The KBD LOCK LED will light.

→3. The Piano mode display will appear.

2. Once you are in Piano mode, play the keyboard.

You will hear the sound (program) that is currently displayed in the screen.

Page 19

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Changing the sound program

Selecting a different sound

Here’s how to temporarily change the sound (program) that is produced when you play the keyboard.

1. Press one of the PROGRAM GROUP keys and one of the PROGRAM SELECT keys, which are located on the right side of the operating panel.

→ The following display will appear. (The group, number and name of the sound

will depend on the keys that you pressed, or the number of times that the keys were pressed.)

Group, number and name of the selected sound program

NumberGroup

KB1: Be01 Glocken

=120 METRO 4/4 L99

The sounds of the SELECT keys select sounds from within each group.

2. Play the keyboard once again.

You will hear a different sound.

C-900 are organized into 18 program groups. The PROGRAM

Name

Page 20

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Splitting the keyboard in two

The C-900 lets you split the keyboard at any note, so that the low range (left hand) and high range (right hand) can be used separately. This lets you play different sounds in the left and right hands. The location of the split can be set freely.

Let’s try it out.

1. Set KEYBOARD ASSIGN to SPLIT.

In the right side of the operating panel, press the KEYBOARD ASSIGN switch until the LED indicates SPLIT.

2. Change the sound of the left keyboard area.

Below the LCD, press the lower switch located under KBD2/LOWER once.

The following display will appear.

Next, press the PROGRAM GROUP key GUITAR/BASS twice.

If the LED at the left of BASS is not lit, press it again.

The following display will appear.

KB2: Pf00 GrandPiano

=120 METRO 4/4 L99

Split Point display

＋

KB2: Ba00 WoodBass

=120 METRO 4/4 L99

An acoustic bass sound will now be played by the keyboard to the left of middle C4. The right half of the keyboard will play a piano sound.

To change the sound in the right half of the keyboard, press KBD1/UPPER, make sur that the LCD has changed from KB2 to KB1, and select a sound in the same way as you did for the left half of the keyboard.

3. Press and hold the SPLIT POINT key located to the left of the operating panel.

→ As long as you continue pressing the key, the following display will appear.

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:0

LOWER UPPER

While this display appears, you can press any note on the keyboard and then release the SPLIT POINT key. This will cause the KB2 sound to be played by notes to the left of the note you pressed, and the KB1 sound by notes to the right.

After you try this, hold down the SPLIT POINT key and press the C4 note to restore the original setting.

Muting

Simultaneously press the two keys located below KBD2/LOWER. The following display will appear. (The normal display will reappear after approximately 7 seconds.)

KB2: Ba00 WoodBass

Volume=127 ----- 0

Page 21

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Notice that the keyboard area to the left of the split point now makes no sound.

Repeat the operation, and the sound will reappear.

When Piano mode is turned off, the left keyboard area will be muted. (There may be sound in some cases, depending on the arrangement that is selected.) This is so that during automatic accompaniment, the notes you play to input chords are not sounded.

Making it easier to play or sing

You can modify the pitch of the C-900 in steps of semitones or octaves.

When you wish to play a song that is too high or too low for a vocalist’s range or other instruments, you can simply change the pitch of the ent key using the same ﬁngering.

1. Press the OCTAVE UP key.

→1. The following display will appear

C-900 to play the song in a differ-

Changing the octave

Transpose

KB1:Pf00 GrandPiano

Volume=103 UPPER+1

Octave setting

→2. The pitch produced by the C-900 keyboard will be one octave higher.

The OCTAVE UP and OCTAVE DOWN keys allow you to adjust the octave over a range of –2 to +2 octaves.

If no other keys are pressed, the previous LCD will reappear after approximately 7 seconds.

In the above display, if you press the OCTAVE UP or OCTAVE DOWN keys again, the octave setting will increase or decrease through the values

+2 / +1 / 0 / -1 /-2

and the pitch of the keyboard will change correspondingly.

2. Press the TRANSPOSE +1 key.

→1. The following display will appear.

Transpose setting

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:+1

LOWER UPPER

→2. The pitch of the C-900 will raise one semitone.

The –1/+1 keys allow you to adjust the transposition over a range of –11 to +11.

If no other keys are pressed, the previous LCD will reappear after approximately 7 seconds.

If you press the TRANSPOSE +1 or TRANSPOSE –1 keys again, the transpose value will change in semitone steps

XPOSE: +1 / XPOSE 0 / XPOSE -1 -----

and the pitch of the keyboard will change correspondingly.

Page 22

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Example 1) Suppose that you wanted to play a song that contained the following

chord progression. As you can see, all these chords use many black notes. The transpose function lets you play this song in a key that is easier to play.

( i )

If the entire song were four semitones higher, the chord progression would be as follows.

( ii )

This is much easier to play, but of course the pitch would be four semitones higher than it should be.

In this case, you simply need to lower the pitch of the piano by four semitones.

C#C#D#

1. Press the TRANSPOSE –1 key once.

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:-1

----- UPPER

2. Press the TRANSPOSE –1 key three more times.

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:-4

----- UPPER

The pitch of the C-900 is now four semitones lower.

Now you can use the chords of ﬁgure (ii) to produce the pitches of ﬁgure (i).

Example 2) Suppose that this song is too low to sing comfortably, and you would

like to sing it at a pitch three semitones higher.

( iii )

DmDmC

Page 23

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:+1

----- UPPER

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:+3

----- UPPER

If the song were raised three semitones, the chords would be as follows.

( iv )

These chords are a bit difﬁcult to play.

In this case, you can use the transpose function to simply raise the pitch of the piano

ee semitones.

by thr

FmFmD#

1. Press the TRANSPOSE +1 key once.

2. Press the TRANSPOSE +1 key two more times.

The pitch of the C-900 is now three semitones higher.

Now you can use the chords of ﬁgure (iii) to produce the pitches of ﬁgure (iv).

Page 24

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

2. Listening to the C-900’s automatic

Demo

The demonstration can be heard when in any mode.

Initially, the master volume should be set at about 1 or 2.

When playback begins, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.

playback

Start demo playback

1. Press the DEMO key located at the right side of the operating panel.

→1. The DEMO LED will light, and the LED’s of the ARRANGEMENT GROUP

keys and the PROGRAM GROUP keys will light sequentially.

→2. The following display will appear.

D E M O

KORG C-900

→3. Press one of the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys, the PROGRAM GROUP

keys, or the START/STOP key. The and the START/STOP LED will blink. For details on the demo songs, refer to p.101 of the Reference Guide.

If you pressed one of the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys, demo songs using Styles will playback consecutively. Two demo songs are assigned to each key. Pressing a key once will playback the song assigned to the upper arrangement group, and pressing the key twice will playback the song assigned to the lower arrangement group.

If you pressed one of the PROGRAM GROUP keys, classical demo songs will playback consecutively. Two demo songs are assigned to each key. Pressing a key once will playback the song assigned to the upper pr will playback the song assigned to the lower program group.

If you press the START/STOP key, demo songs will be played back consecutively, fr

om the demo songs which use Styles, to the classical demo songs.

C-900 will begin playing a demo song,

ogram group, and pr

essing the key twice

Stop demo playback

2. To stop automatic playback during the song, press the blinking ARRANGEMENT GROUP key or PROGRAM GROUP key.

You can also stop demo playback by pressing the START/STOP key. If you press a group key which is not lit, the demo song selected by that key will playback.

3. To exit Demo mode, press the DEMO key once again.

Alternatively, you can press any other mode key to move to that mode.

Page 25

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Song Play

The C-900 is able to load Standard MIDI File (SMF) format song data directly from a ﬂoppy disk and play it back conveniently.

1. Enter Song Play mode.

If the SONG PLAY LED is lit, the C-900 is in Song Play mode.

When a ﬂoppy disk is inserted in Arrangement Play mode, or when the power is turned on with a ﬂoppy disk already inserted, the Play mode.

If the ﬂoppy disk is removed, the mode.

If it is not in Song Play mode, press the SONG PLAY key located on the right on the operating panel.

→1. The SONG PLAY LED will light.

→2. The following display will appear.

C-900 will automatically enter Arrangement Play

SONG PLAY

-------- =120 M001

C-900 will automatically enter Song

Select a song

Begin automatic playback

2. Press either UP or DOWN of the TEMPO/VALUE keys located to the right on the display.

→1. The names of the data on disk will be read by the C-900.

→2. When the names have been read, the names (ﬁle names) of the songs on the

disk will appear in the LCD.

The song names will be displayed successively each time you press the UP key.

3. When the song that you wish to playback appears in the display, press the START/STOP key located in the left of the operating panel.

(For SMF format 0)

Playback will begin immediately when you press the START/STOP key.

(For SMF format 1)

• When you press the START/STOP key, the START/STOP LED will rapidly blink

red, and data will be read from the disk. At this time, the backing sequence data will be erased. If you don’t want to lose the backing sequence data, you should save it to a different disk beforehand. (

• When the data has been read, playback will begin.

While data is being read from the ﬂoppy disk, the START/STOP LED will rapidly blink red. During this time, never attempt to remove the ﬂoppy disk. If you remove the ﬂ will be damaged.

ou can modify the tempo.

You can adjust the volume of each instrument.

oppy disk while it is being read, the ﬂoppy disk or the disk drive

☞Reference Guide p.57)

☞p.58 “Tap tempo,” “Tempo/Value”

☞p.59 “VOLUME/MUTE”

Stop automatic playback

4. To stop automatic playback during the song, press the START/STOP key.

Page 26

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Connect a mic and sing

By connecting a mic to the C-900 you can add vocals to the music. Try singing along with songs from the separately sold Korg SMF/GM library, or commercially available SMF/GM data.

1. Lower the MIC VOLUME slider located at the right of the piano to “0.”

2. Connect the mic to the mic input jack located under the piano at the right side.

(If your mic has an on/off switch, turn it on.)

3. Use the MIC VOLUME slider to adjust the mic level.

4. Use the ECHO LEVEL slider to adjust the amount of echo.

5. Insert a ﬂoppy disk containing an SMF song ﬁle into the

C-900’s disk

drive.

6. If you are not in Song Play mode, press the SONG PLAY key.

The SONG PLAY key LED will light.

7. Press the TEMPO/VALUE UP or DOWN key once.

The disk will be checked, and the names of the song ﬁles on the disk will be displayed.

8. Press the UP or DOWN key to select the desired song title.

The data of the separately sold Korg SMF/GM library disks is in format 0. Most commercially available SMF/GM data is also in format 0. Thus, we will assume that you are playing back a format 0 song ﬁle. If you ar song ﬁle, refer to p.19.

e playing back a format 1

9. Mute (silence) the vocal (melody) part.

If you don’t know which is the vocal part, use the following procedure.

1 Press the START/STOP key to begin playback.

2 Press any of the VOLUME/MUTE keys located in the center of the operating panel

to select the channel of a part.

3 Simultaneously press the ▲ and ▼ keys of the selected channel to mute the part of

that channel (refer to p.14). Was the vocal part silenced? If not, simultaneously press the

4 Press a VOLUME/MUTE key to select the part of a different channel, and try mut-

ing it. Check each part in this way and mute the vocal part.

5 If you do not ﬁnd the vocal part among channels 1–8, press the SONG PLAY key

once again. The LED of the SONG PLAY key will blink, and now you can select the parts of channels 9–16. Use the same procedure to check each track, and mute the vocal part.

6 Press the START/STOP key to stop playback.

▲ and ▼ keys to un-mute that part.

10.Press the RESET/YES key to return to the ﬁrst measure.

11.Press the START/STOP key, and sing along with the playback.

The LED of the START/STOP key will blink in time with the tempo.

Page 27

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

12.If the pitch is inappropriate, press the TRANSPOSE key to adjust the key.

The pitch will decrease by one semitone each time you press the –1 key, and increase by one semitone each time you press the +1 key.

13.When the song ﬁnishes playing back, press the START/STOP key.

If you are not using this function, lower the MIC VOLUME slider and the ECHO LEVEL slider to “0,” and unplug the mic from the MIC INPUT jack.

The volume of the device connected to the MIC INPUT jack is affected only by the MIC VOLUME slider. The MASTER VOLUME slider does not affect the volume of the INPUT jack.

The MIC INPUT jack is monaural. If you wish to connect a stereo output device such as a synthesizer to the use the INPUT (L/MONO, R) jacks located on the rear panel.

The following conditions may cause appropriate adjustments.

The characteristics of the mic. / The mic is aimed at the close to the

C-900. / The mic volume or echo level is too high.

C-900 and listen to it through the built-in speakers,

feedback (a squeal or whine). Make the

C-900. / The mic is too

Playing along with song data (Minus-one Play)

1. Insert the ﬂoppy disk which contains the SMF song ﬁle into the disk drive of the

When a ﬂoppy disk is inserted in Arrangement Play mode, or when the power is turned on with a ﬂoppy disk already inserted, the Play mode.

C-900.

C-900 will automatically enter Song

2. If you are not already in Song Play mode, press the SONG PLAY key.

The SONG PLAY key LED will light.

3. Press the TEMPO/VALUE UP key or DOWN key once.

The disk will be detected, and the LCD will show the names of the song ﬁles on the ﬂoppy disk.

4. Press the UP or DOWN key to select the song ﬁle that you wish to playback.

Songs of the optional Korg SMF/GM library are saved in format 0. If you wish to

playback a song ﬁle in format 1, refer to p.19.

5. Mute (silence) the part that you wish to play by yourself.

For the muting procedure, refer to p.20 “9. Mute (silence) the vocal (melody) part.”

6. Press the START/STOP key, and then play along with the song on the keyboard.

The LED of the START/STOP switch will blink in time with the tempo.

Use the ACC volume to adjust the volume of the parts which were not muted.

7. When playback ﬁnishes, press the START/STOP key.

Page 28

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

3. Playing while adding automatic

Adding an accompaniment is actually quite simple.

While listening to the automatic accompaniment (arrangement play) produced by the C-900, you can also play sounds from the keyboard at the same time.

You can also make changes to the arrangement to suit your playing.

accompaniment

Enter Arrangement Play mode

Turn off Piano mode

1. Enter Arrangement Play mode.

If the ARR PLAY LED is lit, the C-900 is in Arrangement Play mode.

If you are not in Arrangement Play mode, press the ARR PLAY key located to the right side on the operating panel.

2. Turn off Piano mode.

In order to play with automatic accompaniment, you must ﬁrst turn off Piano mode.

If the PIANO MODE LED is lit, the

If you are in Piano mode, press the PIANO MODE key located in the right side of the operating panel.

→1. The PIANO MODE LED will go out.

→2. The following display will appear.

Number and name of the arrangement currently in use

C-900 is in Piano mode.

Number

Name

ARR: 0 8 Beat 1

=120

3. First select an arrangement.



Press one of the ARRANGEMENT GROUP and ARRANGEMENT SELECT keys located in the left side of the panel.

→ The following display will appear. (The number and name of the displayed

arrangement will depend on the keys that you pressed and the number of times that they were pressed.)

Number and name of the currently selected arrangement

ARR: 1 Foxtrot 2

=137

Tempo of the currently selected arrangement (playback speed)

The arrangements of the C-900 are organized into 17 arrangement groups. Within each group, use the ARRANGEMENT SELECT keys to select arrangements.

Page 29

Using the left hand to control the accompaniment

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

4. Press one of the notes in the lower (left-hand) range of the keyboard.

→1. A chord name will appear in the display.

ARR: 1 Foxtrot 2

=134 C

Chord name

The above display is an example of a C major chord being detected. ☞p.49 “Chord Scanning”

The chord you play in the left hand can be abbreviated; simply press one note to indicate a major chord, or two notes simultaneously to indicate a minor chord or a sus4

d. There is no need for all the notes of the chor

chor

A complete list of how the notes is given in the appendix of the Reference Guide, “List of detected chords.” Please refer to this list.

☞Reference Guide “Appendix C”

C-900 will detect chords from various combinations of

d to be pressed.

Start

5. Press the START/STOP key located in the left of the panel.

→1. The rhythm, bass, and accompaniment will begin playing.

→2. The START/STOP LED will continue blinking at the time signature of the

style, red on the ﬁrst beat and green on other beats.

You can modify the tempo. ☞p.58 “Tap Tempo,” “Tempo/Value”

The bass and accompaniment that started when you pressed a note(s) in the left hand are being played automatically. The mine the chord, and produces an automatic accompaniment for that chord based on the current arrangement.

Even if you take your hand away from the keyboar tinue to play until the next note is pressed. ☞p.49 “Chord Hold”

C-900 analyzes the note(s) you played to deter-

d, that chord and bass will con-

6. While pressing various chords, play a melody in the upper (right hand) range of the keyboard.

You can change the sound of the instrument. ☞p.55 “Program Group,” p.55 “Program Select”

You can adjust the volume of each instr

You can use the ACC volume to adjust the overall volume of the entire accompaniment.

How does it sound? This example shows you how the accompaniment to your playing.

ument.

☞p.59 “Volume/Mute”

C-900 can add an automatic

Stop

7. To stop the accompaniment, press the START/STOP key once again.

Page 30

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Synchro start

Instead of pressing the START/STOP key before you begin playing, this setting will make the arrangement begin playing at the moment that you touch the keyboard.

1. With arrangement play stopped, press the SYNCHRO START/STOP key located in the left side of the panel.

→ The SYNCHRO START/STOP LED will light.

2. Play a chord in the lower the lower hand range.

→1. Arrangement play will begin at the instant that you touch the keyboard.

→2. When play begins, the SYNCHRO START/STOP LED will go out.

Synchro stop

This setting will make the arrangement stop playing at the moment that you release the keyboard.

1. While arrangement play continues, press the SYNCHRO START/STOP key.

Automatic play at the speed you tap

→ The SYNCHRO START/STOP LED will light, and play will stop.

2. While the SYNCHRO START/STOP LED is lit, play a chord in the lower hand keyboard range.

→ Arrangement play will begin according to the chord that you played.

3. Take your hand off the lower hand keyboard range.

→1. Play will stop immediately.

→2. The SYNCHRO START/STOP LED will stay lit.

In this situation, if you play a note in the left hand keyboard range, arrangement play will begin again (Synchro Start). When you take your hand off the keyboard area, play will stop immediately (Synchro Stop).

4. To turn off Synchro Stop, press the SYNCHRO START/STOP key once again.

→ The SYNCHRO START/STOP LED will go out.

Now you can use the START/STOP key to start/stop arrangement play as before.

Tap tempo

☞p.58

The tempo of arrangement play can be adjusted using the TEMPO/VALUE UP and DOWN keys located in the right side of the LCD. However, a more musical way to set the tempo is to press the TAP

It is also possible to set the tempo by pressing a separately sold assignable pedal/ switch or an EC5 external controller, instead of the TAP TEMPO key.

☞Reference Guide p.63 “Pedal Parameters”

TEMPO key at the desired tempo.

Page 31

Prevent the tempo or sound from changing

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Keyboard lock

☞p.53

The instrumental sounds and tempo used in arrangement play are set to the most appropriate settings for each arrangement. This means that if you switch to a different arrangement while playing, the tempo and the sounds being played by the keyboar will also change to match the newly selected arrangement.

If you wish to select various arrangements without changing the tempo or the sound of the keyboard, pr make the KBD LOCK LED light.

ess the KBD LOCK key located at the left on the operating panel to

Page 32

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

4. Recording your own playing on the

C-900

Record your playing with tape recorder-like operation

Select an arrangement

The C-900 can record your playing (including the accompaniment) in a way similar to using a tape recorder. Using the following procedure, try recording and playing back your own performance.

1. Enter BACKING SEQ (backing sequence) mode.

If the BACKING SEQ LED is lit, the C-900 is in Backing Sequence mode.

If you are not in Backing Sequence mode, press the BACKING SEQ key located to the right on the operating panel.

→1. The BACKING SEQ LED will light.

→2. The following display will appear.

Backing Sequence number and name

Number

Name

Measure number

BSQ0:BSequence0 M001

=120

Tempo

2. Use the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys and ARRANGEMENT SELECT keys located to the left on the operating panel to select the arrangement you wish to use.



→ The arrangement display will appear.

Prepare for recording

Arrangement number and name

Number

Name

ARR: 0 8 Beat 1

=120

< To record without automatic accompaniment >

If at this point you press the PIANO MODE key, you will be able to record your own playing without automatic accompaniment. In this case, the PIANO MODE LED will blink, and the ARR GROUP LED will go out. (The previous setting will reappear if you press the PIANO MODE key once again.) The display will show an arrangement name of “Acc Mute.” To cancel this status, select another variation.

3. Press the BACKING SEQ REC key located on the left of the panel.

→ The BACKING SEQ REC LED will light.

→ The following display will appear.

Track select

Keyboard track

Chord track

Control track

Atr REC REC REC

=120 Q:HI

Tempo Quantize

Page 33

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Recording begin

End recording

Playback

Blinking green

4. Now we are ready to begin recording. Press the START/STOP key.

→1. The following display will appear.

BSQ0:BSequence0 M-2

=120

→2. After a two-measure metronome count, the arrangement will start.

When you begin playing, your performance will be recorded just as you hear it. If automatic accompaniment is being added, the automatic accompaniment will also be recorded.

→ The START/STOP LED will blink in synchronization with the time signature

of the arrangement: red on the ﬁrst beat, and green on other beats.

5. To stop recording, press the START/STOP key once again.

→ The BACKING SEQ REC LED will go out.

→ The measure number will return to 001.

6. Now let’s playback the performance that you just recorded.

Simply press the START/STOP key once again, and the recorded performance will be played back from the beginning.

When playback reaches the end, it will automatically stop, and you will return to measure 001.

7. If you wish to redo the recording, press the BACKING SEQ REC key to return to the beginning of the recording procedures.

Simply repeat the procedure from step 4 to re-record as many times as you wish.

Saving your recorded performance

If you now turn off the power of the C-900, the performance you just recorded in Backing Sequence mode will be lost.

If you wish to keep your recorded performance, you will need to save the musical data to ﬂoppy disk.

☞Reference Guide p.57 “Page 1–2 Save”

Page 34

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

5. Editing your performances

Very detailed editing is possible

Looking at data events

Musical data can be edited as many times as you wish after it has been recorded into

C-900.

the

This means that if necessary, you can even make very ﬁne adjustments to the pitch or timing of individual notes without having to re-recor

These functions can be used to edit your performance data to perfection.

It may be difﬁcult to take full advantage of these complex functions in the beginning. So ﬁrst, let’s take a look at how the individual notes you played are kept in memory.

d anything.

1. In Backing Sequence mode, record a performance into the C-900. ☞p.26

Of course, if the data you recorded in “4. Record your own playing on the C-900” is still in memory, you may use that performance.

2. Use the PAGE + or – key to get to the following display.

EVENT EDIT

KBTr (REC+S/S)

3. Press the BACKING SEQ REC key, and then press the START/STOP key.

→ The following display will appear.

Measure number Event number

EVENT M001#00

== BAR 1 4/4==

Time signature

BAR 1 is a marker indicating that this is where measure 1 begins.

4. Move the cursor to the measure number, and press the TEMPO/VALUE UP key once.

→ The following display will appear.

Measure number

Event number

Beat

Event location

EVENT M001#01 1:02

F5 V068 0:12

Pitch

This is the data for the ﬁrst note in the musical performance that you recorded. Even if notes were played simultaneously, such as for chords, they are stored as individual notes as shown here. By modifying the various numbers that appear in this display you can adjust individual notes, change their pitch, note length or strength, and correct minute inaccuracies in timing.

For details on modifying data, refer to the Event Edit page in the Reference Guide. ☞Reference Guide p.32 “Page 8 Event Edit”

Strength (velocity)

Note length

Page 35

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

6. You can input notes one by one to create musical data

Input notes one by one

Select the arrangement



Access the Step Recording page

This section explains step recording: the process by which you can enter individual notes, specifying the pitch, length, and force of each one without recording from the keyboard.

Of course, this is more time-consuming than dir way in which people unfamiliar with the keyboard can enter musical data accurately without having to worry about inaccuracies in timing or wrong notes.

ectly playing the keyboard, but it is a

1. Enter Backing Sequence mode.

2. Use the Arrangement Group and Arrangement Select keys located to the

left on the panel to select the arrangement that you wish to use.

3. Use the PAGE + keys to access the Step Recording page.

→ The following display will appear.

STEP RECORDING

KBTr M001(REC+S/S)

Track Measure number

4. Press the BACKING SEQ REC key, and then press the START/STOP key.

Begin input

→ The following display will appear.

Measure number Beat

Note location

STEP M001 1:00

4/4 - V090 085%

Time

Note length

signature

This LCD is telling you that a quarter note with a velocity of 90 and a length of 85% of a quarter note can now be entered at the beginning of the ﬁrst beat of measure 1.

Note strength (velocity)

5. Now input a note into the ﬁrst beat.

Play the keyboard once. You may play either a single note or a chord.

→ When you release your hand from the keyboard, the following display will

appear.

Note Data (the name of the note)

Length of sound

Beat

STEP G4 M001 2:00

4/4 - V090 085%

The display shows the note you just played. (If you played a chord, one note in that chord.)

In the above display, a G4 note was played.

You will notice that at the same time, the beat has advanced by one. This means that you ar

e now ready to enter the next note at the second beat.

Page 36

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

6. Continue playing notes.

Notice that each time you press and release the keyboard, the beat number advances by one.

Although this will depend on the time signature of the arrangement that you selected, the time signature in this example is 4/4, meaning that each measure consists of four beats. This means that when you have input the fourth beat, the measur then advance by one, taking you to the ﬁrst beat of the next measure.

e number will

Finish input

Playback

You can input more complex melodies

7. When you have input enough notes, press the START/STOP key.

8. Now let’s hear what you have input so far.

Press the EXIT key.

→ The following display will reappear.

BSQ0:BSequence0 M001

=120

Press the START/STOP key once more to playback from the beginning.

When playback is complete, it will automatically stop, and the measure number will return to 001.

In this example, all of the notes that you input were quarter notes, and the velocity and note length were all input with the same value.

Obviously, it would be possible to modify these settings for note length and velocity etc. each time that you enter a note. Inputting notes in this way would allow you to create more complex r

Also, using the same simple procedure as in Arrangement Play, you can input chords into the chord track to determine the bass and accompaniment.

For details on these procedur Guide.

☞Reference Guide p.21 “Page 2 Step Recording”

hythms and dynamics.

es, refer to the Step Recording page in the Reference

Page 37

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Interactive composition

Just play the melody and an accompaniment will be added automatically

Select an arrangement

7. Playing a melody and letting the C-900 automatically add an accompaniment

The Interactive Composition function allows you to play any melody, and the C-900 will analyze the melody, automatically determine the chords, and play the appropriate bass and accompaniment.

1. Enter ARR PLAY (Arrangement Play) mode.

If you are in Piano mode, you will need to turn Piano mode off.

If you are in Piano mode, press the PIANO MODE key to make the indicator go dark.

2. Before you begin playing, select an arrangement. Set the tempo to a

speed that is comfortable for you to play.

3. Press the INTERACTIVE COMP. key located to the right on the operating

panel.

→ The INTERACTIVE COMP. LED will light.

→ The following display will appear.

Key setting

Select the chord analysis mode

Frequency of chord changes

Start

C/A Maj Easy1 S

=120

Tempo

4. Press the START/STOP key located in the left of the operating panel.

→ Arrangement play will begin.

5. Play a melody in the right hand range of the keyboard.

For now, play only the white keys.

The secret to helping the

→ Chords will automatically be assigned to the melody, and an automatic accom-

paniment will play.

→ The display will show the chords assigned by the Interactive Composition

function.

C-900 analyze your melody is to play short, precise notes.

C/A Maj Easy1 S

=120 F

Automatically assigned chord

By specifying the mood or key of the song, you can modify the way in which chords are assigned.

You can select the type of chords from among several dif ☞p.40 “IC Type”

You can specify the frequency at which chords will change during the song. ☞p.40 “Chord Follow”

By ﬁrst recording the melody into the you can help the

☞p.42 “Backing Sequence IC”

☞p.40 “Key,” “Major/Minor”

ferent patterns.

C-900 and performing the melody analysis later,

C-900 to assign more appropriate chords.

Page 38

3. Getting acquainted with the C-900

Page 39

4. Basic concepts of the C-900

4. Basic concepts of the

C-900

1. Modes and pages

What is a Mode? What is a Mode?

You have probably noticed that the word “mode” appears throughout our explanations of the

Look up the word “mode” in the dictionary, and it will tell you that it means “style” or “method.”

In the context of the performed” or “a condition in which certain functions are active.” To simplify further, you might just think of a mode as a “condition.”

For example, Arrangement Play mode is the “condition” in which you can use the C-900’s keyboard to play melody and chords. Backing Sequence mode is the “condition” in which functions determining the sound, pitch, and note length etc. are active so that you can construct your own song or arrangement.

When refer modes selected by pressing the mode keys:

Sequence mode

appears in Arrangement Play, where a condition especially suited to piano playing is called

When you are in a certain mode, the LED of that mode key will light, indicating that the

C-900 is now in that mode (condition).

Entering a mode The act of pressing a mode key to select a mode is referred to as “entering” the mode.

The act of moving from a mode to another condition (perhaps by pressing a different mode key) is referred to as “leaving” the mode.

C-900.

C-900, a mode is “a condition in which certain operations can be

ence is made simply to the

, Disk/Global mode, and Song Play mode. Another use of the word

Piano mode.

C-900’s modes, this is talking about the four

Arrangement Play mode, Backing

Page 40

4. Basic concepts of the C-900

What is a Page?

Each of the C-900’s modes (Arrangement Play, Backing Sequence, Song Play, Global) contain many functions.

The functions in each mode are organized into a number of display screens which appear in the LCD.

What is a Page? Within each mode, each display screen for a function is called a “display page.”

Using the PAGE keys to ﬂip pages When you want to use a speciﬁc function that is found in a certain mode, you must

ﬁrst select the page within that mode that displays the desired function.

1. Each time you press the PAGE + (plus) or – (minus) keys located at the lower right of the LCD, you will step sequentially through the display pages.

Continue using the PAGE keys until you reach the page that contains the desired function.

Directly specifying the page number If you press the key of the currently selected mode, the display will indicate the num-

ber of the page that is currently accessed.

2. If you already know which page of the mode is the one you want, you can specify the page number and jump directly to that page.

The eight PROGRAM GROUP keys correspond to page numbers 1, 2, 3, ... 8.

The eight ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys correspond to page numbers 9, 10, 11, ... 16.

PROGRAMGROUP PAGE1〜8

ARRANGEMENTGROUP PAGE9〜16

To display the desir ARRANGEMENT GROUP page number.

“Opening” a page To display a page in this way is referred to as “opening” the page.

When you move to another mode * The number of the page last selected in a mode is remembered for each mode as

long as the

For example, suppose that from page 7 of Arrangement Play mode,

ed page, simultaneously press the key for that mode, and the

key or PROGRAM GROUP key that corresponds to that

C-900’s power remains on.

28:Exciter 58

01:Hall FX

you press the BACKING SEQ key to move to Backing Sequence mode.

BSQ0:BSequence0 M001

=160

Page 41

Open page 7 of Backing Sequence mode,

4. Basic concepts of the C-900

＋

SHIFT NOTE

KBTr 001 001 Sh=+00

and then press ARR PLAY key to return to Arrangement Play mode. Notice which page appears.

28:Exciter 58

01:Hall FX

Just as it was before moving to Backing Sequence mode, page 7 is still selected.

If you now return to Backing Sequence mode,

SHIFT NOTE

KBTr 001 001 Sh=+00

you will see that page 7 is still selected here as well. The page number for each mode is maintained even if you move to a different mode.

Returning immediately to the ﬁrst page

Sub pages In some cases, a page will allow you to select additional displays within that page.

* In any page of any mode, you can pr

to jump instantly to the ﬁrst page of that mode.

Such pages are called “sub pages.”

ess the EXIT key located at the left of the LCD

☞p.51 “Exit”

EDIT 1 (Press Yes)

(DEL) (INS) (ERASE)

Delete measure

In the above display, the characters in parentheses indicate sub pages. You can open these sub pages by moving the cursor to the corresponding area and pressing RESET/ YES. To return fr TEMPO/NO key.

om a sub page to the original page, press the EXIT key or the TAP

Insert measure

Erase measure

Page 42

4. Basic concepts of the C-900

2. Styles/Arrangements/Programs

What is an Arrangement?

Arrangement The combination of a Style and two keyboard timbre settings (single, layer, split etc.) is

referred to as an Arrangement.

The

C-900 has 128 preset arrangements organized in 16 groups, and 64 arrangements

contained in 1 user group.

Each arrangement contains a variety of settings, such as program (instrumental sound), volume, pan, effect, tempo, and mute.

The 64 arrangements in the user group can hold modiﬁ they can be loaded with completely new data from a separately sold sound/song library ﬂoppy disk (XIP series, IFD series).

Style On the C-900, a “style” refers to musical source material from which a song or accom-

paniment is created.

A style is a collection of standar and pop or ethnic music, ancient and modern, eastern and western.

Each style contains four variations, two intros (introductions), two endings, and two ﬁll-ins.

In other words, a style is not simply a fragment of an accompaniment pattern or a rhythm pattern — selecting a style will provide you with all the ingredients you need to put together an entir

In addition, styles have the ﬂexibility of receiving chord information from the keyboard of the the chord at any given moment.

Style elements The ingredients such as variations, intros, ﬁll-ins, and endings that make up a style are

referred to as “style elements.”

Styles consist of a total of six musical tracks: drums (the standard drum set widely used in popular music), percussion (all percussion instr bass (the lowest instrument), accompaniment 1 (a standard accompaniment instrument), accompaniment 2, and accompaniment 3.

Backing tracks These musical tracks are referred to as backing tracks, since they provide the accompa-

niment.

C-900, and changing their accompaniment pattern to be most suitable for

e song.

d patterns from a wide variety of musics such as r

ed versions of these settings, or

ock

uments other than drums),

What is a Program?

Program Each of the instrumental sounds that can be played on the C-900 is referred to as a pro-

gram.

C-900 contains 407 programs, organized into 18 groups (including 1 user group).

The

Of these, program data from separately sold disks can be loaded into the 64 programs of the user group and into Dr 19 and Dr 20.

Page 43

5. Operating the C-900 while looking at the display

As you have seen, the C-900 has a variety of keys arrayed across its operating panel that let you add various effects and modiﬁcations as you play. But in addition to the functions directly controlled by these keys, many more functions can be utilized by adjusting the various settings that appear in the LCD.

This chapter explains how to set and select items that appear in the LCD.

1. Moving the cursor

What the cursor does A single screen in the LCD will contain settings for two or more numerical or on/off

items.

In such cases, you will notice that a small horizontal line (the cursor) will appear below one of the displayed items.

The item indicated by the cursor is the setting that can be adjusted at the present time.

Moving the cursor If you press the CURSOR keys located in the right side of the LCD, the cursor will step

through the different settings.

Pressing CURSOR key

®®®® moves the cursor from left to right.

√√√√ moves the cursor from right to left.

Cursor

EVENT M001#01 1:14

D5 V094 0:80

When the cursor has moved to the item that you wish to adjust, press the TEMPO/ VALUE UP one of these keys, the setting of the item selected by the cursor will step through its possible settings.

For some items, settings can be made by using keys other than the TEMPO/VALUE keys, or by using the keyboard. For details, refer to the explanations for the mode and display of each item.

By using the cursor to specify an item that appears in the display many dif

In other words,

adjusted using the TEMPO/VALUE keys

key or DOWN key located to the right of the LCD. Each time you press

☞p.38 “2. Adjusting “loudness” or “speed””

, you can modify

ferent settings that contr

any item in the display to which the cursor can be moved can be

ol the

C-900’s functionality.

Page 44

5. Operating the C-900 while looking at the display

2. Adjusting “loudness” or “speed”

Selecting/setting values or items There will be times that you want to make adjustments to the numerical values that

appear in the display, for example to make the drums a bit louder or to slow down the tempo of the automatic playback.

Or, there will be times when you want to select one of several possible settings, for example to select an ef recording page.

The TEMPO/VALUE keys are used to modify the values of the various settings that ar

e selected by the cursor in the display, such as arrangement playback tempo.

Each time you pr If you continue pressing the DOWN key, the value of the selected item will continue to decrease.

Each time you press the UP continue pressing the UP key, the value of the selected item will continue to increase.

If you simultaneously press both the DOWN key and the UP key together, the selected item will be r (Some items, such as the backing sequence tempo, will not be reset.)

Keys that adjust the volume When playing an arrangement, a backing sequence, or SMF song data, you may want

to adjust the volume of each track or channel. You can do so by using the eight pairs of VOLUME/MUTE keys. These keys raise or lower the volume of the corresponding track or channel, and function essentially in the same way as the TEMPO/VALUE keys.

For example when you press the KB1

eset to the original value (i.e., when the cursor was moved to that item).

fect in the effect select page, or specify the r

ess the DOWN key, the value of the selected item will decrease by 1.

key, the value of the selected item will increase by 1. If you

▲ key, the following display will appear.

ecording track in the

KB1:Br00 Trumpet

Volume=108 UPPER -1

Volume

If you continue pressing the ume of KB1 will also increase.

The same display will appear when you press the ▼ key.

If you continue pressing the ume of KB1 will also decrease.

The operation of the VOLUME/MUTE keys differs from that of the TEMPO/VALUE keys in what happens when you press both up and down keys simultaneously. When the TEMPO/V when the VOLUME/MUTE keys are pressed simultaneously, the corresponding track (channel) will be muted or un-muted.

The TEMPO/VALUE keys and VOLUME/MUTE keys are not the only way to adjust or modify settings. For example in step r use the style element keys and the keyboar chords or notes. For details on these operations, refer to the explanations for each key or for each mode in the Reference Guide.

ALUE keys are pr

▲ key, the value of Volume= will increase, and the vol-

▼ key, the value of Volume= will decrease, and the vol-

essed simultaneously, the value is reset. However

ecording of Backing Sequence mode, you can

d to more efﬁciently specify the type of

Page 45

6. Interactive composition

What does it mean to “assign chords”?

If you have no particular knowledge of chords, how do you go about adding appropriate chords to a melody that you’ve created?

There is actually a close relationship between chords and melody. However there is no

d and fast rule that things must be done in a certain way

har

It is true that in each musical style or genre, there are many rules and forms that direct how chords will be assigned to a given melody, or how chor not all music is created in this way.

And now we come to the

a melody, this function will:

1. Analyze that melody, and according to a previously-selected style and various

patterns, determine “appropriate” chords for that melody.

2. According to the chords that were determined, the

play an accompaniment to that melody.

This accompaniment can be played at the same time that you are playing the melody on the keyboard. It is also possible to record the melody into the Sequence mode and add the accompaniment during playback.

Generating the accompaniment while the melody is being played ( result in different chords than when the accompaniment is generated from a previously-recorded melody (

More appropriate chords will be generated if the melody is previously recorded.

We have been speaking about determining chor ody, but the chords by analyzing the melody based on generally-known harmonization and chord progressions. However, not all music is created in this nature.

This means that the chords that the be the “right” chords for your melody.

You should think of the vide a choice for the chord progression when you are creating a song.

C-900’s Interactive Composition function determines the “appropriate”

C-900’s Interactive Composition function. When you play

Backing Sequence IC).

ds that are “appr

C-900 has determined to be “appropriate” may not

C-900’s Interactive Composition function as a means to pro-

ds follow each other. But

C-900 will automatically

C-900 in Backing

Realtime IC) may

opriate” for the mel-

Page 46

6. Interactive composition

IC settings.

1. Settings for the Interactive Composition function

First let’s look at the settings for using Interactive Composition.

In Arrangement Play mode, press the INTERACTIVE COMP. key located at the right on the operating panel.

→1. The INTERACTIVE COMP. LED will light.

→2. If you are in the ﬁrst page, the following display will appear.

Key / key candidate (for automatic key detection)

C/A Maj Easy1 S

=108

Key [ANL, C/A, C#/A#, D/B, ... B/G#]

Specify the key of the song you wish to play.

The tonic of the major key is shown to the left of the slash, and that of the minor key to the right.

If this is set to AUTO, the setting if you are not sure of the key.

C-900 will automatically determine the key. You can use this

Major / Minor

☞p.41 “Automatic key detection”

Type

Chord Follow

Major/Minor [Maj, Mm, min, mM]

Specify whether the song you wish to play is in a major or minor key.

Maj.............. The song is in a major key. Chords will be mostly major.

Mm............. The song is in a major key. Some minor chords will appear.

min ............. The song is in a minor key. Chords will be mostly minor.

mM............. The song is in a minor key. Some major chords will appear.

IC type [Easy 1–2, General 1–4, Special 1–2]

Specify the types of chords that will be assigned by the Interactive Composition function.

Easy............ The most common and safe chords will be assigned. 2 will tend to assign

somewhat mor

General

Special........ Distinctive chords will be assigned. 1 and 2 will tend to assign chords dif-

...... Common chords will be assigned. The settings from 1 to 4 will assign

chords with slightly differ suitable for your song.

ferently depending on the major/minor setting. Try them out, and use the one most suitable for your song.

e complex chords than 1.

ent types. Try them out, and use the one most

Chord follow [S, F]

Specify how frequently the chords assigned to the melody by the Interactive Composition function are switched.

Normally there will be no problem leaving this at “S.” If you are playing a song with many notes at a slow tempo, try the “F” setting.

A chor

S ..................

F .................. A chor

d will be assigned at the beginning of each measure; i.e., one type

of chord will be assigned for each measure.

d will be assigned at the beginning and in the middle of each mea-

sure; i.e., up to two types of chords will be assigned for each measure.

Page 47

6. Interactive composition

Adding chords while you play the melody

2. Adding chords to the melody that you play

Now let’s use the Interactive Composition function to add chords to a melody that you play.

● Realtime IC

i) First, in Arrangement Play mode, select any desired arrangement.

Select an arrangement. Use the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys and the ARRANGEMENT SELECT keys to

select an arrangement that you think would match the melody you are about to play.

ii) With the ﬁrst display page showing in the LCD, press the INTERACTIVE COMP.

key located at the right of the operating panel.

→ The INTERACTIVE COMP. LED will light.

→ The following display will appear.

C/A Maj Easy1 S

=106

iii) Referring to the explanations in the preceding section 1, make settings for the

key, major/minor, IC type, and chord follow parameters in the display.

Start

iv) Press the START/STOP key located at the left on the panel.

→ Arrangement play will begin.

v) Play a melody in the right hand range of the keyboard.

→ Chords will automatically be assigned to the melody, and will be played as an

accompaniment and bass.

→ The display will show the chords that have been assigned by the Interactive

Composition function.

When using Realtime IC, the secret to helping the C-900 analyze your melody is to play short, clean notes.

Start

● The keyboard range used by Interactive Composition

The range of the keyboard used to play the analyzed melody will depend on the chord scanning setting.

With a setting of OFF or FULL.................The melody will be analyzed over the entir

keyboard.

With a setting of LOWER or UPPER .......The melody will be analyzed in the range

above (to the right of) the split point.

● Automatic key detection

If you select AUTO as the key setting, automatic key detection will operate.

If you are not sure of the key of the song you are playing, you can use automatic key detection to determine the key.

i) In Arrangement Play mode, select the desired arrangement. ii) Press the INTERACTIVE COMP. key located in the right of the operating panel. iii) In the display, set the key parameter to AUTO.

For the remaining parameters (major/minor, IC type, and chord follow), refer to the explanation on

iv) Press the START/STOP key.

→ Play will begin. However, only the rhythm will playback automatically.

☞p.40 and make appropriate settings.

Page 48

6. Interactive composition

Stop

key detection

v) Play a melody in the right hand area of the keyboard.

At this time, Chord Scanning and Interactive Composition will not operate.

vi) When you ﬁnish playing, press the START/STOP key once again. vii) Use the CURSOR √√√√ or ®®®® key to move the cursor in the display to the Key

parameter.

viii)Press the TEMPO/VALUE UP key.

→ Each time you press the UP key, the possible choices for the key of the melody

you just played will appear in the order of their probability.

If while playback is stopped you press the RESET/YES key, the order of the detected choices will be canceled.

ix) When you have decided on the key, begin playback once again.

Press the START/STOP key.

→ Playback will begin. If you now play the melody, accompaniment and bass

will be played using the chords for the determined key.

● Backing sequence IC

Assigning chords to a recorded melody

Specify the arrangement

Start

i) In Backing Sequence mode, select any desired arrangement.

Use the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys and the ARRANGEMENT SELECT keys to select an arrangement that you think would match the melody you are about to play.

ii) Press the INTERACTIVE COMP. key.

→ The INTERACTIVE COMP. LED will light.

→ The following display will appear.

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

=106

Replay type (only for Backing Sequence IC) [1, 2, 3, 4]

This setting determines how the melody will be analyzed and processed when the interactive composition function assigns chords to the melody you recorded in Backing Sequence mode.

This parameter is not used when chords are assigned at the time that the melody is played (Arrangement Play mode).

1 ..................This is basically the same processing as

curacies in timing will be corrected before analysis. This means that chord processing can be carried out more accurately than in r timing of the performance was somewhat inaccurate.

2 ..................

3 ..................Chords will be assigned in basically the same way as method 2. However,

4 ..................Chords will be assigned in basically the same way as method 2. However

Note: In the case of these settings, the chord may change twice within a single mea-

★

Chords will be assigned after the melody has been analyzed for the entir measure. This method produces more natural chord assignments than the realtime method, where it is only possible to analyze the melody that was played up to the point of the chord.

for some melodies it is possible that uncommon chords may appear.

the way in which chords change (the chord progression) will be analyzed further, producing a richer and more natural chord progression.

sure even if the Chord Follow setting is set to “S.”

iii) In the display, make appropriate settings for the key, major/minor, IC type, and

chord follow parameters, referring to the explanation on p.40.

iv) Press the BACKING SEQ REC key, and then press the START/STOP key.

→ Play will begin.

Arrangement Play mode, but inac-

ealtime, even if the

★

☞p.40 “Chord Follow”

Page 49

Stop

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

Replay (Yes/No)?

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

=106

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

=106

G/E Mm Generall 3S

Replay (Yes/No)?

6. Interactive composition

v) Play a melody in the right hand range of the keyboard.

→ Chords will be automatically assigned to the melody, and will be played as

accompaniment and bass.

→ The chords assigned by the interactive composition function will be shown at

the right of the tempo in the display.

When Backing Sequence IC is used, playing very quick notes may cause the C-900 to think that these notes were pressed accidentally, which will result in the melody not being analyzed correctly.

vi) When you ﬁnish playing, press the START/STOP key once again.

→ The following display will appear.

vii) If you wish to listen to your performance with the assigned chords, press RESET/

YES key.

Pressing TAP TEMPO/NO will stop playback.

viii)You can modify the settings for key, major/minor, IC type, replay type, and

chord follow.

Use the CURSOR √√√√ and ®®®® keys to select the item you wish to change, and use the TEMPO/VALUE UP and DOWN keys to modify the settings of the item.

When you ﬁnish making changes, press the START/STOP key.

If you now press the RESET/YES key, playback will begin with the chords re-assigned according to the new settings that you have made. However, be awar press RESET/YES key, the chord progression that was recorded will be lost.

Pressing the TAP TEMPO/NO key in the above display will stop playback, and the settings in the display will r

emain as you set them.

e that when you

Page 50

6. Interactive composition

● Assigning chords to a previously recorded performance

The Interactive Composition function can be used to assign chords to a musical performance that was previously recorded in Backing Sequence mode.

BACK.SEQ

i) In Backing Sequence mode, record a musical performance into the C-900. ii) Press the INTERACTIVE COMP. key located at the right on the operating panel,

and then press the START/STOP key.

→ The INTERACTIVE COMP. LED will light.

→ The following display will appear.

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

Replay (Yes/No)?

iii) If you wish to hear the performance with the assigned chords, press the RESET/

YES key.

→ Playback will begin in accordance to the chords assigned by the Interactive

Composition function.

In the above display, pressing the TAP TEMPO/NO key will stop playback without any further operation.

iv) You can modify the settings of key, major/minor, IC type, and chord follow.

Automatic key detection in Backing Sequence mode

Comparing chord assignments

C/A Maj Easy1 1S

=106

Use the CURSOR √√√√ and ®®®® keys to select the item you wish to modify, and use the TEMPO/VALUE UP and DOWN keys to modify the value of each item.

When you have ﬁnished making changes, press the START/STOP key.

G/E Mm Generall 3S

Replay (Yes/No)?

If you press the RESET/YES key, chords will be re-assigned to the musical performance data in accordance with the modiﬁed settings.

If you press the TAP TEMPO/NO key in the above display, the modiﬁed settings will remain.

If the key setting is set to AUTO, key detection of the musical data will be performed as on p.41. In this case, chords will not be re-assigned.

If you wish to use automatic key detection in Backing Sequence mode, record the melody to be analyzed on the keyboard track. Automatic key detection cannot be executed if the melody is recorded on an extra track (the display will indicate Keyboard Track Empty). If you have alr Copy Measure function (Reference Guide p.30) or the Bounce function (Reference Guide p.31) to transfer the data to the keyboard track before executing automatic key detection.

There may be times when you would like to try out several different ways of assigning chords to a given melody, and later compare the results.

By saving the backing sequence each time you modify the settings and change the

d assignments, you can later switch between backing sequences and compare

chor them.

In such cases, use the backing sequence Copy function.

By copying the backing sequence with the assigned chor sequence and then repeatedly re-assigning chor tive chord assignments.

eady recor

☞Reference Guide p.27 “Copy Backing Sequence”

ded the melody on an extra track, use the

ds to a different backing

ds, you can create a number of alterna-

Page 51

6. Interactive composition

In the pages that follow, we will be introducing several songs as examples that will help you understand how Interactive Composition works. Each song is a simple one, but you will see the way in which chords are assigned. The way that the release the keys. Examples of parameter settings are given for each song, and you can try out various ways of playing with various settings, at tempo speeds that are comfortable for you. Once you get the feeling of the appropriate playing technique, you will be able to take advantage of the Interactive Composition function.

C-900 analyses the melody will change depending on when you press and

Page 52

6. Interactive composition

Little Brown Jug

Arrangement Key Major/Minor Chord Follow IC Type





 









Traditional







BALLROOM DANCE 1 Foxtrot 2 C/A Maj S General 1, 2, 3















CF G7C







FG7CC







CFG7 C













 





 



Arrangement Key Major/Minor Chord Follow IC Type





 









 



 

I’ve Been Working







Traditional

 



POP 2 1 Motown F/D Maj S Easy 1, 2 General 1, 2, 3





 



















 



 

FFFB

CFCC7

 







  



 



 

 







 



 



 



 



 



FF F







 





 



Page 53

7. Functions, operations and terminology

The pages that follow contain alphabetically arranged explanations of the functions and basic terms that you will need to understand to take full advantage of the C-900. Each of the keys on the

• Headings in boldface indicate explanations of basic terms or concepts.

Example) ARRANGEMENT

• Boxed headings indicate explanations of the function of an operating panel key.

Example) ARRANGEMENT GROUP

A function effective in Arrangement Play mode

C-900’s operating panel is also explained in detail.

ARR.PLAY

BACK.SEQ

SONGPLAY

A function effective in Backing Sequence mode

A function effective in Song Play mode

A function effective in Disk/Global mode

The status of this key is indicated by an LED. In most cases, the LED will alternate between lit and dark each time the switch is pressed, and the function of that key is in effect when the LED is lit. For some keys, the LED will sometimes b

link to indicate a special status.

Page 54

7. Functions, operations and terminology

ACCOMPANIMENT

The word “accompaniment” means something that is “played along with” a musical part.

On the mental sounds other than drums, percussion and bass, and to the tracks used by these sounds.

ARRANGEMENT

The combination of a style and two keyboard timbre settings (single, layer, split etc.) is referred to as an arrangement.

The ments organized into 16 groups, and 64 user arrangements.

Each arrangement contains a variety of settings such as program (instrumental sound), volume, pan, ef the settings of the 64 user arrangements can be freely modiﬁed, or replaced by completely new settings that are loaded from a separately sold sound/ song library ﬂ

ARRANGEMENT GROUP

1. These keys are used to select the arrangement group.

Arrangements are or 16 preset arrangement groups and 1 user arrangement gr upper of the two LEDs will light, indicating that the upper gr

If you press the same key again, the upper and lower LEDs will light alternately, switching between the upper and lower groups.

2. These keys ar

By holding down a mode key and pressing one of these keys, you can jump directly to the page (9–16) within that mode corresponding to the key that you pr

C-900, accompaniment refers to the instru-

C-900 provides a total of 128 preset arrange-

fect, tempo, and mute. Of the arrangements,

oppy disk.

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

ganized by musical genre into

oup. When you press one of these keys, the

oup is selected.

e used to select page displays.

essed.

ARR. PLAY (arrangement play)

When this key is pressed, you will enter Arrangement Play mode.

Select this mode when you wish to play the keyboard by itself, or to add automatic accompaniment while you play.

ARRANGEMENT PLAY MODE

This is the most basic mode of the C-900, used when you wish to play the keyboard by itself or to add automatic accompaniment while you play.

This is also the mode in which you can temporarily modify arrangement settings, or stor arrangement in the user bank.

e a modiﬁed

ARRANGEMENT SELECT

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

Use these keys to select an arrangement from the gr

oup that you selected using the arrangement

group keys.

ess the up/down keys to select the desired

Pr arrangement fr contains 8 arrangements.

The arrangements contained in each arrangement gr

oup are listed in appendix D at the end of the Refence Guide.

om the selected group. Each gr

ARRANGEMENT TRACK

The six tracks for accompaniment together with the two keyboard tracks for performance (KBD1/ UPPER, KBD2/LOWER) are collectively referred to as the arrangement tracks.

☞ Keyboard tracks

☞ Backing tracks

BACKING SEQ (backing sequence)

ARR.PLAY

C-900’s

oup

BACK.SEQ

10 11 12

1. When this key is pressed you will enter Backing Sequence mode.

Select this mode when you want a performance you play on the accompaniment, or when you want to modify or create new musical data.

By pressing this key in Backing Sequence mode, you can switch the LED between lit and blinking. This allows you to select the tracks whose volume

C-900 to be recorded together with the

Page 55

7. Functions, operations and terminology

will be set by the VOLUME/MUTE keys: either the arrangement tracks (KBD, ACC, PERC, DRUMS, etc.), or the extra tracks (ETr1–ETr8).

The LEDs will blink to indicate that the volume of the extra tracks can now be set.

However, volume or mute settings can be made only when the r ﬁrst page) is open.

ealtime recor

d/playback page (the

BACKING SEQUENCE MODE

In this mode, a performance you play on the C-900 can be recorded together with the accompaniment, and you can modify the data in various ways or create completely new musical data.

This mode is also where the data you create can be converted into Standard MIDI File format.

BACKING SEQ REC (backing sequence

BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

recording)

1. When this key is pressed, the record. Use the key in the same way for either realtime recording or step recording.

2. If this key is pressed when a user bank is selected in Arrangement mode, data will be written to the selected arrangement. ARR__?” will appear, so if you wish to write the data, press the RESET/YES key.

C-900 will be ready to

A message of “W

rite to

BACKING TRACK

The six tracks that make up a style (three accompaniment tracks, and the three tracks for bass, percussion and drums) are collectively referred to as backing tracks, since they pr the melody.

ovide the backing for

BASS INVERSION

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

When this key has been pr the lowest note that you press on the keyboard as the bass note, and will detect this separately from the chord form. This allows you to specify chords such as Am7/G or F/C, in which the bass note is independent.

If you take your ﬁnger off the bass note when Chor

d Scanning is set to FULL, the previous bass note will r speciﬁed.

emain in effect until the next bass note is

essed, the

C-900 will use

CHORD

Chords (chord names) are one way of indicating a group of harmonically related notes.

In the context of the usual sense unless otherwise speciﬁed.

CHORD HOLD/√√√√

1. Chord hold

When playing an arrangement, you can press this key so that when you release your left hand from the keyboar tinue to sound until you press the keyboard again. Since this lets you avoid having to rapidly change your ﬁngering to play the next chor nient for those who may not be accustomed to playing the keyboard.

√√

2. √√

Each time you pr Sequence step r step being edited) will move backwar tion.

In the Arrangement Play mode function Rename Arrangement ( ing Sequence mode function Rename Backing Sequence ( the cursor which speciﬁes the character to be changed.

d, the current chord and bass will con-

☞Reference Guide p.24

☞Reference Guide p.37), this key moves

CHORD SCANNING

Chord scanning is the function that monitors the keyboard (the entire keyboard or part of it), and detects a chord from the notes that are being pressed.

You can select one of thr scanning: Upper Chor range to the right of the split point, Lower Chord Scanning in the range to the left of the split point, and Full Chord Scanning over the entire keyboard.

CHORD SCANNING

This key determines the area in which chord scanning (the function that detects chords from the notes you pr

Each time you press the key, the mode will step through the choices: LOWER/UPPER/FULL/off (chords will not be detected from the keyboard).

ess) will be active.

C-900, the word is used in this

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

d, it is conve-

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

ess this key when in Backing

ecording, the displayed step (the

ds one posi-

☞Reference Guide p.9) and the Back-

ee possibilities for chord

d Scanning detects in the

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

Page 56

7. Functions, operations and terminology

Upper Chord Scanning detects in the range to the right of the split point, Lower Chord Scanning in the range to the left of the split point, and Full Chord Scanning over the entire keyboard.

If Upper Chord Scanning or Full Chord Scanning ar

e selected, chords will detected when you simul-

taneously pr

Chords played in the left hand (Lower Chord Scanning) may be abbreviated, with one ﬁnger indicating a major chord and two ﬁngers indicating a minor or sus4 chor the component notes of the chord.

For details on which chord will be detected from each combination of notes, r the end of the Reference Guide, “List of detected

ds.”

chor

ess 3 or more notes.

ou do not need to press all

d. Y

efer to appendix C at

CURSOR

The cursor is the blinking horizontal line that appears below the item in the LCD that is selected for modiﬁcation.

The CURSOR keys located immediately right of the LCD can be used to move the cursor to left/right or up/down.

The setting of the item indicated by the cursor can be modiﬁed using the TEMPO/V

ALUE keys.

CURSOR (√√√√, ®®®®)

p.37), pressing this key will delete the character where the cursor is located in the arrangement name, backing sequence name, or ﬁ

lename.

DEMO

When this key is pressed, a demonstration of the C-900’s automatic playback will begin. You may listen to the demonstration from any mode.

DISK/GLOBAL

When this key is pressed you will enter Disk/Disk/ Global mode.

Press this key when you wish to save and load the C-900 musical data to and from ﬂoppy disk, to specify the pitch or scale of the entire settings for various basic functions, set the function of external foot switches or pedals, or make MIDI settings.

C-900, make

DISK/GLOBAL MODE

This is the mode in which you can make various settings that affect the entire C-900. Data management operations related to the ﬂoppy disk or MIDI are also performed here.

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Use these keys to move the cursor to select the item in the display that you wish to set.

When you press these keys, the cursor will cycle through the settable items in the display.

Pressing the right.

Pressing the to left.

If you press the item in that display, the cursor will then “wrap around” to the ﬁrst item.

®®®® key will move the cursor from left to

√√√√ key will move the cursor from right

®®®® key to move the cursor to the last

DEL (delete)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

In Backing Sequence event editing, press this key to delete the currently displayed step.

☞Reference Guide p.32 “Event Edit”

During the procedures for Rename Arrangement (

☞Reference Guide p.9), Rename Backing Sequence ☞Reference Guide p.37), Save (☞Reference Guide

( p.57), and Convert to SMF (

☞Reference Guide

EDIT

The word “edit” is probably most familiar to you in the meaning of making changes to a piece of writing. On the functions in Backing Sequence mode to change or transform musical data is referred to as editing.

☞ Event edit

EFFECT

C-900 has two independent “effect systems”

The which can add “effects” such as reverb or echo to the sound, adding richness and ﬁnish to your music.

The type of effect can be selected in the effect pages of

Arrangement Play mode, Backing Sequence

mode, and Sequence Play mode.

C-900, the process of using various

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Page 57

ENDING

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

This refers to the last part of a song. On the C-900, each style has two endings; ENDING 1 and ENDING 2.

ENDING1 is an ending with a chord progression.

ENDING2 is an ending without a chord progression. Thus, this ending can be used when you wish to change chords yourself during the ending.

The two operating panel keys INTRO/ENDING 1 and 2 let you add an ending to your song.

During arrangement play, pr key will cause an ending to be played, and then play will stop automatically

essing an ENDING

7. Functions, operations and terminology

during a sequence of key operations to cancel that function.

If you press this key in the ﬁrst page of Backing Sequence mode, the curr will be displayed. After appr the previous display will reappear.

☞Reference Guide p.15

ently selected arrangement

oximately 7 seconds

EXTENSION

The extension (ﬁlename extension) is the period and three characters which are added to the end of a ﬁlename in order to distinguish between different types of data, such as grams, and backing sequences.

☞File ☞Reference Guide p.54 “Data saved on disk”

C-900 arrangements, pro-

ENSEMBLE

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

If this key has been pressed, a harmony as determined by the curr to the melody that you play on the keyboar

ent chord scanning will be added

EVENT EDIT

Musical data recorded in Backing Sequence mode consists of a large number of instructions which are used to control the be to play a particular note at beat number ‘x’ of measure ‘y’ and hold it for so long, or to switch to another program at measure ‘z.’ Each of the instructions is referred to as an event.

In Backing Sequence mode you can perform very detailed editing by modifying individual events, adding new events, or deleting existing events.

The process of editing these events is referred to as event editing.

C-900. Such instructions might

EXIT

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

1. In all modes, when any page is open, pressing this key will r

2. When you ar mode (a page related to an editing operation), or a sub-page of Disk/Global mode (a disk-related page), pr est page.

3. In display screens (pop-up displays) such as the Octave or Transpose settings which appear only for a speciﬁc interval of time, or in a display which allows you to select a program (a bank or number selection display), pr ately return you to the previous display.

In addition to these cases, you can press this key

eturn you to the ﬁrst page.

e in a sub-page of Backing Sequence

essing this key will return you to the high-

☞p.35

essing this key will immedi-

FADE IN/OUT

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

If you begin play by pressing this key instead of the START/STOP key, the playback volume will start from silence and gradually grow louder.

If you end play by pressing this key instead of the ST

ART/ST

ally diminish and ﬁnally disappear.

FILE

Data used by the C-900 such as programs, arrangements, and backing sequences can be assigned a name and saved on ﬂoppy disk for convenient management.

In the context of computers, a collection of data which has been assigned a name in this way is called a “ﬁle.”

FILL (ﬁll-in)

A ﬁll-in is a short phrase that is added (often improvised) between melodic sections to “spice up” the song.

The FILL 2. The FILL 1 and 2 keys on the operating panel let you insert ﬁll-ins into your playing.

For some styles, a ﬁll-in can also be used in place of an intr

The Arrangement Play mode’s Fill setting can be set so that when a ﬁll-in is inserted into the playback of a variation, a differ cally selected after the ﬁll-in ﬁnishes playing.

OP key, the playback volume will gradu-

C-900 has two ﬁll-ins for each style: FILL 1 and

ent variation will be automati-

Page 58

7. Functions, operations and terminology

FILL (1, 2)

1. Fill-in

By pressing one of these keys during arrangement play, you can insert two types of ﬁll-in.

When a ﬁll is inserted, the LED of the variation that had been playing will blink.

For some styles, a ﬁll-in can also be used in place of an intr

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

2. Step input

In Backing Sequence mode Step Recording, these keys let you directly specify the step (note value).

☞Reference Guide p.21 “Page 2 Step Recording”

FILL 1 = (16th note)

FILL 2 = (32nd note) 



BACK.SEQ

INTERACTIVE COMPOSITION

This is the function that automatically analyses the melody you play on the keyboard, and adds appropriate chords or chord progressions.

INTERACTIVE COMP. (interactive composition)

When this key is pressed, the melody you play on the keyboard, automatically determine chords, and play an automatic bass and accompaniment according to these chords.

There are two ways to use this function: one is in Arrangement Play mode, wher ment will be added simultaneously as you play, and the other is in Backing Sequence mode, where you will ﬁrst recor paniment added to it. These two methods may assign chor

☞p.31, p.39 “Interactive Composition”

d a melody and then have the accom-

ds differ

ently, even to the same melody.

C-900 will analyze the

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

e the accompani-

INTRO

GM (General MIDI)

General MIDI (GM) is a standard speciﬁcation that deﬁnes a common set of instrumental sounds (programs) and ways to control the sound (volume settings etc.). Musical data that was created for a GMcompatible MIDI instrument can be played back on any GM device to produce essentially the same musical r

☞p.62 “What is General MIDI?”

esult.

INS (insert)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

During event editing, you can press this key to insert a new note or event after the currently-displayed step.

☞Reference Guide p.32 “Event Edit”

During the Rename Arrangement ( Guide p.9), Rename Backing Sequence ( Guide p.37), Save ( Convert to SMF ( tions, pressing this key will insert a character into the arrangement name, backing sequence name, or ﬁlename at the location of the cursor

☞Reference Guide p.57) and

☞Reference Guide p.37) opera-

☞Reference

This refers to the introduction of a song. The C-900 provides two intros, INTRO 1 and INTRO 2, for each style.

INTRO1 contains a chord progression.

INTRO2 does not contain a chord progression.

The two INTRO/ENDING 1 and 2 keys located on the operating panel of the an intro to your playing.

By pressing an INTRO key before you begin arrangement play, you can specify whether or not an intro will be played befor

C-900 allow you to add

e variation play begins.

INTRO/ENDING (1, 2)

1. Intro/Ending

1. By pressing one of these keys before you begin arrangement play an intro will be played befor

The LED of the selected intro will light while the intr

o is playing, and will go out when variation

play begins. Each style has two intros.

If you pr being played, that intr This will be canceled when you pr INTRO key, VARIATION key or a FILL key.

2. If you press one of these keys during arrangement play matically. Each style has two endings.

The LED of the selected ending will continue blinking until play switches to that ending. Once the ending begins, the LED will stay lit until play ends.

ess the same INTRO key while the intro is

, the ending will begin, and play will stop auto-

, you can specify whether or not

e variation play begins.

o will continue repeating.

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

ess another

Page 59

7. Functions, operations and terminology

2. Step input

BACK.SEQ

In Backing Sequence mode Step Recording, you can press this key to directly specify the step (note value).

☞Reference Guide p.21 “Page 2 Step Recording”

INTRO/ENDING 1 = dotted …the speciﬁed note value will be multiplied by 1.5

INTRO/ENDING 2 = triplet…the speciﬁed note value will be cut to 2/3

Key

1. In this manual, the switch buttons on the operating panel of the C-900 are referred to as keys; e.g., “the START/STOP key” or “a PROGRAM NUMBER key.”

2. In the context of musical theory, key refers to the key signatur

Keys can be classiﬁed as major or minor

Depending on the position of the tonic, there are 12 major keys (C major, C# major, D major etc.) and 12 minor keys (C minor

If the key of a song is too low or too high for you to sing or for another instr C-900 provides a Transpose function that lets you raise or lower the key in semitone steps. “Transpose”

Also, when you need to specify the key for the Interactive Composition function, you can use the automatic key detection function if you are not sure of the key

KEYBOARD

☞p.41

, C# minor, D minor, etc.).

ument to accompany, the

☞p.58

KEYBOARD ASSIGN

Use this key to specify how the two keyboard timbres of the

Single mode assigns the same sound to the entire keyboard. Split mode lets you assign differ bres to the right hand (upper) and left hand (lower) ranges of the keyboard, bounded by the split point. Layer mode lets you assign two timbres to each note of the keyboar play a different percussion instrument sound from each note of the keyboard.

Each time you press this key, the mode will cycle thr

ough the choices: SINGLE, LAYER, SPLIT

M.DRUMS (manual drums).

C-900 will be assigned to the keyboard.

ent tim-

d. Manual Drum mode lets you

KBD LOCK (keyboard lock)

By pressing this key, you can keep the tempo and keyboar when you switch to a dif

When this key is pressed, the tempo, program, octave, keyboar inversion, keyboard assign, split point, transpose, chor ters will all be locked.

☞p.25

d sound of the current arrangement even

ferent arrangement.

d track mute/unmute status, bass

d scan, volume, pan, send, and effect parame-

KEYBOARD TIMBRE

The basic components of the sound that is heard when you play the keyboard are called keyboard timbres. Keyboard timbres produce various sounds according to the programs that are selected.

The

C-900 has two keyboard timbres, and these two can be sounded in combination. The way in which these are combined is determined by the KEYBOARD ASSIGN key.

, and

ARR.PLAY

In general, this refers to the set of black and white notes on a keyboard instrument, or to the instrument itself. In the context of the refers to the black and white notes.

C-900, “keyboard”

KEYBOARD ASSIGN

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

Keyboard Assign is the function which lets you specify how the two keyboard timbres of the will be assigned to the keyboard. Split mode lets you assign different timbres to the right hand (upper) and left hand (lower) ranges of the keyboard (bounded by the split point), and Layer mode lets you assign two timbr board.

es to each note of the key-

C-900

Keyboard tracks

The areas of the C-900 sequence which record melodies you play on the keyboard are referred to as keyboard tracks. In addition to these tracks, there is also a chor control track which records operations of the panel switches.

d track which records chord data, and a

LAYER (Layer mode)

The C-900 can be set to produce two different sounds simultaneously when you press a single note. The two sounds are normally determined by the arrangement, but you may change them if you wish.

Page 60

7. Functions, operations and terminology

When Keyboard Assign is set to LAYER, two sounds will be layered in this way. This condition is referred to as Layer mode.

☞ Keyboard assign

LOAD

The process of copying C-900 arrangement, program, backing sequence, or other data from a ﬂoppy disk into the “loading” data from a ﬂoppy disk.

The loading procedure is performed in the Data Load page of Disk/Global mode. ( Guide p.55)

☞ Disk/Global mode

C-900 memory is referred to as

☞Reference

M.DRUMS (manual drums)

The C-900 lets you play different percussion instruments from each note of the keyboard, just as if you were playing a set of percussion instr drum kit).

When Keyboard Assign is set to M.DRUMS, you can play a dr This condition is referred to as Manual Drum mode.

Chord scanning is not performed in Manual Drum Mode.

☞p.53 “Keyboard assign”

um kit from the keyboar

uments (a

d in this way.

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Press this key when you wish to select “no” in response to a conﬁrmation display asking you whether or not to execute an operation or continue a process.

When a sub-page is open, pressing this key will return to the pr

☞p.35

evious display.

OCTAVE (DOWN/UP)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

By pressing these keys, you can raise or lower the pitch range of the tracks (Bass, Acc1, Acc2, Acc3) of the automatic accompaniment, in one-octave steps over a range of ±2 octaves.

The octave setting can be viewed in the LCD.

When you press the UP or DOWN key, the following display will appear.

The normal display will reappear approximately 7 seconds after you take your hand off the key.

C-900’s keyboard and the backing

METRO (metronome)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

When this key is pressed the metronome will sound.

However, Song Play mode and Disk/Global mode are exceptions.

MODE

On the C-900, “mode” generally refers to the four conditions which are selected by pressing one of the mode keys: Arrangement Play, Backing Sequence, Disk/Global, and Song Play. Each of these conditions or “modes” provides a different set of procedures or functions.

In addition to these modes, mention is also made of “Piano mode,” and the various Keyboar modes. For details on these, r tions of each item.

☞p.55 “Piano mode”

☞p.53 “Keyboard Assign”

efer to the explana-

d Assign

Keyboard timbre 1 setting

KB1:Pf04 BritePiano

Volume=103 UPPER +1

Volume

Each time you pr octave setting will rise or fall by 1.

If you press the UP and DOWN keys simultaneously, the octave setting will immediately be reset to 0.

ess the UP or DOWN key, the

Octave setting

PAGE

The functions within each of the four modes of the C-900 (Arrangement Play, Backing Sequence, Song Play, and Disk/Global) are organized into display screens called “pages.”

If you wish to use a certain function within a mode, you must ﬁrst select the page of that mode that contains the desired function.

Page 61

7. Functions, operations and terminology

PAGE (–, +)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

In any mode, use these keys to select the desired page.

Each time you press the + key, the next page will appear

Each time you press the – key will appear.

By simultaneously pressing the key of the curr mode together with one of the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys or PROGRAM GROUP jump directly to a speciﬁc page of that mode. Refer to the explanation of “Selecting pages ” found on the ﬁrst page of the explanation of the various modes in the Reference Guide.

, the previous page

ent

keys, you can

☞p.34

PIANO MODE

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

Press this key when you wish to play the ply as a conventional electronic piano without using functions such as automatic accompaniment.

1. In Arrangement Play mode,

pressing this key will ...

• Automatically assign the effect most suitable for that sound when you select a program. Pedal Simulation (

☞Reference Guide p.51) will also be set.

• Cancel muting for the areas to the right (KB1) and left (KB2) of the center of the keyboard, so that playing the keyboard will pr

• Keyboard Assign will set to SINGLE.

• Display the sound program group number and sound name in the upper line of the LCD, and the tempo and metronome time signature and volume in the lower line of the display

2. In Backing Sequence mode ...

Press this key when you wish to record without automatic accompaniment.

An arrangement “Acc Mute” will be selected, and you can record without automatic accompaniment.

The entire keyboard will produce sound.

oduce sound.

C-900 sim-

PROGRAM

The instrumental sounds that you can play on the C-900 are referred to as “programs.”

The programs provided by the total of 327 instrumental sounds organized into 16 groups, and 16 types of drum kit.

Of these programs, program data from separately sold disks (Kor 64 user programs and two dr tents of the data can be modiﬁed.

g IFD series) can be loaded into the

C-900 consist of a

um kits, and the con-

PROGRAM GROUP

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

1. Use these keys to select the program group.

Programs are organized into 17 preset program groups (including 1 drum pr program group. When you press one of these keys, the upper of the two LEDs above the key will light, indicating that the upper group has been selected.

If you then press the same key again, the lower and upper LEDs will light alternately between the upper and lower groups.

2. Use these keys to select page displays.

By holding down a mode key and pr these keys, you can jump directly to the corresponding page display 1–8.

To jump to page displays 9–16, use the ARRANGEMENT GROUP keys.

ogram), and 1 user

☞p.47

, letting you switch

essing one of

PROGRAM SELECT

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Use these keys to choose programs from within the group selected by the program gr

By pressing the up/down keys, you can choose the desired program fr A list of the programs in each program group is given in appendix D at the end of the Reference Guide.

The number of programs included in each program gr

oup differs by the gr

om the selected program group.

oup.

oup keys.

RESET

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

By pressing this key, you can

1. Reset a sound selection that was modiﬁed in Arrangement Play to its original setting.

2. Return immediately to the ﬁrst measure of a backing sequence.

3. Return to a condition in which a chord has not been speciﬁed (the condition in which notes ar being played in the chord scanning ar board).

In addition to these, you can also use this key to turn off any “stuck notes” that may occur due to MIDI connections.

e not

ea of the key-

Page 62

7. Functions, operations and terminology

REST

performance that you wish to switch between.

When step recording a backing sequence, press this key to insert a rest for the currently displayed step. ☞Reference Guide p.21

SAVE

The process of writing C-900 data for an arrangement, program, or backing sequence etc. to a ﬂoppy disk is referred to as “saving” the data.

The save pr page of Disk/Global mode.

☞Disk/Global mode

☞Reference Guide p.57

Unlike other types of data, backing sequence data is erased from the turned off. This means that if you create backing sequence data on the save the data to disk. It is also a good idea to make a habit of periodically saving data to disk as you are creating the data.

ocedure is performed in the Data Save

C-900 memory when the power is

C-900, you should be sure to

BACK.SEQ

SONG PLAY

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

When this key is pressed you will enter Song Play mode.

Press this key when you wish to load and play Standard MIDI File (SMF) format song data directly fr

om disk.

Each time you press this key in Song Play mode, you will alternate between selecting channels 1–8 or channels 9–16 as the channels whose volume or mute settings will be contr MUTE keys.

When the volume/mute settings for channels 9–16 are available, the LED will blink.

olled by the VOLUME/

SONG PLAY MODE

The C-900 is able to directly load and playback Standard MIDI File (SMF) format data from a ﬂoppy disk.

If you have a SMF format data disk, you can insert it into the back.

C-900 and easily enjoy automatic play-

SCALE

In general, the sequence of notes C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C is referred to as the scale, but on the C-900, you can set the Disk/Global mode parameter Scale to use not only the conventional equal tempered scale, but also scales of ancient music or ethnic music. In addition, you can adjust the pitch of each of the 12 notes in the octave over a range of ±50 cents. erence Guide p.67 “Page 12 User Scale”

SEQUENCER

A sequencer is a device (or a function within a device) that stores the performance of a MIDI instrument as a sequence of data indicating the pitch, length, and velocity of notes, and plays back this data on demand.

Sequencers perform a function somewhat similar to a tape r “sound,” they digitally record the “performance.” This makes it possible to make very detailed changes that would be difﬁcult or impossible on a tape recorder, such as modifying the pitch or timing of an individual note, or re-recording or cutting and replacing a speciﬁc portion of the data.

In Backing Sequence mode, the only tracks to record your performance, but also a chord track to record and playback the chords of the accompaniment, a control track that records panel operations, an arrangement track, and 8 extra tracks that can be used to temporarily hold portions of a

ecorder

, but instead of recording the

C-900 provides not

☞Ref-

SOUND HOLD/ ®®®®

1. Sound hold

If this key and the Chord Hold have both been

essed, the note (or chord) and bass note you pr

pr in the left hand will continue to sound until the next time the keyboard is pressed.

This differs from the case in which Chord Hold is used alone in that the left hand sound and bass note will sound even when arrangement play is stopped. This can be very ef intro without r

When arrangement play starts, the bass note will be replaced by the automatic playback of the accompaniment track, but the left hand notes will continue to sound. This is a useful way to add richness to arrangement play

The Disk/Global mode parameter Sound Hold allows you to specify whether the keyboard notes that you pr note, whether the notes you pr chord-scanned and play the chord sound, or whether the notes you press will play only the bass sound.

☞Reference Guide p.65

When using this function, ...

1. Set Chord Scanning to LOWER.

2. If KBD2/LOWER is muted, simultaneously press ▲ and ▼ keys to cancel muting.

the

hythm before starting the song.

ess will sound together with the bass

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

fective when you wish to play an

ess will also be

ess

Page 63

7. Functions, operations and terminology

3. Since the chord changes are ﬁxed for INTRO 1 and ENDING 1, this function cannot be used.

®®

2. ®®

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

In Backing Sequence step recording, pressing this key will advance the displayed step (the step that can be edited).

In the Arrangement Play mode function Rename Arrangement ( ing Sequence mode function Rename Backing Sequence ( to move the cursor to specify the character you wish to change.

☞Reference Guide p.21

☞Reference Guide p.9) and the Back-

☞Reference Guide p.37), this key is used

SPLIT (Split mode)

The C-900 allows you to divide the 88 notes of the keyboard into right hand (higher) and left hand (lower) ranges, and play different sounds in each hand. The sounds of the left and right hands are normally determined for each arrangement, but you can change these later if you wish.

If Keyboard Assign is set to SPLIT, the keyboard will be split between the left and right hands. This condition is r

☞p.53 “Keyboard Assign”

eferred to as Split mode.

Standard MIDI File (SMF)

Standard MIDI File format (SMF) is a data format for sequencer (recorder) music data, which allows data to be exchanged via ﬂoppy disk between any device, regardless of its manufacturer or model.

Standard MIDI Files include three types of formats. Of these, the Commercially available data disks can be insert into the

C-900 and played if they are in either format 0 or format 1. Also, backing sequence data that you create on the Standard MIDI File.

C-900 can use format 0 and format 1.

C-900 can also be saved to disk as a

START/STOP

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

This key is used to start or stop playback of an arrangement or SMF song, or recording or playback of a backing sequence. Demonstration playback can also be stopped by this key

When playback or recording begins, the LED will blink in the time signatur ﬁrst beat and gr

Also, this LED will rapidly blink red while format 1 SMF data is being loaded fr

een on other beats.

e of the data, red on the

om ﬂoppy disk.

STEP RECORDING

SPLIT POINT

When the keyboard assign mode is set to Split or Chord Scanning, the division between high and low ranges is referred to as the Split Point.

The Split Point is indicated as the lowest note of the right half of the divided keyboar

SPLIT POINT

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

If you hold down this key and press a note on the C-900’s keyboard, that note will become the Split Point.

Use this key to divide the two keyboard timbres of the

C-900 to left and right in Split mode, or to specify the range in which chord scanning will take place.

The Split Point setting can be viewed in the LCD.

While you continue to press this key, the following display will appear

In the above example, the upper range is the C4 note and notes to the right (higher), and the lower range is the B3 note and notes to the left (lower).

This is one of the methods of recording musical data into the entered by specifying the pitch, length, and velocity etc. of each note. This allows you to create accurate data even if you are unfamiliar with the keyboard.

In contrast to this, the method in which your playing on the keyboard is recorded just as you play it is referr

ed to as Realtime Recording.

C-900, in which individual notes are

STYLE

Styles refer to collections of standard patterns of a variety of types of music, which are the basic ingredients for constructing a song or accompaniment on the

C-900.

☞p.48 “Arrangement”

Style element

Each element included in a style, such as variation, intro, ﬁll-in, and ending, is referred to as a Style Element.

Page 64

7. Functions, operations and terminology

SYNCHRO START/STOP

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

If you begin playback by pressing this key instead of the START/STOP key, arrangement play will begin the instant you play the keyboard, and arrangement play will stop when you take your hand off the keyboard.

☞p.24

TAP TEMPO

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

By tapping this key at the desired tempo, you can set the playback tempo in the range of 40–240.

When you successively tap the TAP TEMPO key several times, the playback tempo will be automatically set to the timing of your taps. At the same time, that tempo will be shown in the LCD.

The TAP TEMPO can be used to specify the tempo during playback or when playback is stopped.

☞p.24

TRACK/CHANNEL

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Use these keys to specify the track or channel when you ar

e making settings such as volume, instru-

mental sound, damper pedal operation, ster

eo position, octave etc. for the part that you wish to play from the keyboard or a part (track or channel) such as bass, per

cussion, or drums.

For volume settings, refer to “Volume/Mute” (p.59). For other settings, refer to the explanations for “Track settings” of Arrangement Play mode or Backing Sequence mode in the Refer

ence Guide.

TIE

BACK.SEQ

During backing sequence step recor

ding, pressing this key will connect (tie) the currently-displayed step to the previous step (even acr

oss a bar line).

☞Reference Guide p.21

TRANSPOSE (–1/+1)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

TEMPO/VALUE (DOWN, UP)

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

1. During playback in each mode, use these keys to temporarily modify the tempo.

Pressing the DOWN key will slow down the tempo, and pressing the UP key will speed up the tempo.

If you simultaneously pr UP keys, the tempo will be set to AUT if a backing sequence is being played back, or to REC if you ar recording.

☞Reference Guide p.20

* By using the KBD LOCK function, you can con-

tinue playing at the same tempo even when a different arrangement is selected. LOCK”

2. Use these keys to increase or decrease the value of the setting selected by the cursor, or to select possible settings.

Pressing the DOWN key will decrease the value, or move backward through the list of possible settings.

essing the UP key will increase the value, or

Pr move forward through the list of possible settings.

If you simultaneously pr UP keys, the selected item will be reset to the value it had when you selected it (when the cursor was moved to that item).

ess both the DOWN and

☞p.53 “KBD

ess both the DOWN and

By pressing these keys, you can shift the pitch of the C-900’s keyboard or automatic playback in semitone steps over a range of 11 semitones.

The transpose settings can be viewed in the LCD.

When you press the –1 or +1 key, the following display will appear.

The normal display will reappear approximately 7 seconds after you r

Split point Transpose setting

SPLIT:C4 XPOSE:-1

elease this key.

---- UPPER

Muted/unmuted status of lower timbre

If you simultaneously press both the –1 and +1 keys, the transpose setting will be immediately reset to 0.

Muted/unmuted status of upper timbre

Page 65

7. Functions, operations and terminology

VARIATION (1, 2, 3, 4)

1. Variation

These keys let you select 4 variations to the styles of the C-900.

While an arrangement is playing, pressing one of these keys to select a different variation will switch playback to the selected variation either immedi-

, or from the next beat (depending on the type

ately of variation).

By setting the Fill parameter of Arrangement Play mode, you can add variety to the development of the song by causing a dif selected automatically after a Fill has been played.

☞Reference Guide p.8 “Variation Change”

The LED of the selected variation will continue blinking until playback switches to that variation.

ferent variation to be

2. Step input

In step recording of Backing Sequence mode, you can press these keys to directly specify the step (note value). Recording”

VARIA

VARIATION 2 = (half note)  VARIATION 3 = (quarter note)  VARIATION 4 = (eighth note) 

☞Reference Guide p.21 “Page 2 Step

TION 1 = (whole note)



ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ

BACK.SEQ

When either a display will appear.

Track Sound program name

▲ or ▼ key is pressed, the following

Program group

and number

KB1: Pf00 GrandPiano

Volume=127 UPPER 0

Volume value Play/mute Octave

The upper line of the display shows the arrangement track or extra track (for backing sequence mode) corr and the sound pr track. However in Song Play mode, not the track, but the MIDI channel and the sound program assigned to that MIDI channel will be displayed.

The left side of the lower line shows the volume of the channel as a number fr 127 (maximum) and as a small bar graph.

The right side of the lower line shows whether that track can be played (PLA number indicating the octave setting. However if a KBD1/UPPER or KBD2/LOWER key was pressed, this ar (UPPER) or the left hand range (LOWER) can be played (instead of an indication of PLAY).

If no other keys are pressed, this display will return to the normal display after appr onds.

esponding to the key that you pressed,

ea will indicate whether the right hand range

Volume (bar graph)

ogram that is assigned to that

om 000 (minimum) to

Y) or is muted (----), and a

oximately 7 sec-

VOLUME/MUTE

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Use these keys to adjust the volume or muting for the program selected for each track (or channel, in the case of Song Play mode). However in Backing Sequence mode, volume and mute settings can be made only if the Realtime Recording/Playback page (the ﬁrst page) is open.

For any track or channel, pressing the raise the volume of the program, and pressing the ▼ key will lower the volume of the program. If you continue to hold these keys, the value will change continuously.

In addition, by simultaneously pressing both the and

▼ keys, you can toggle between muting and

unmuting the sound.

Change in the volume and play/muted status are indicated in the LCD as numerical values and bar graphs.

▲ key will

▲

YES

ARR.PLAY BACK.SEQ SONGPLAY

Press this key to reply Yes to a conﬁrmation message in the LCD that asks you whether to execute an operation or continue a process. In Backing Sequence mode step recor pressed to ﬁnalize a chord you have input.

In displays that allow you to select a sub-page, you can pr

ess this key to open the sub-page indicated by

the cursor.

☞p.35

ding, this key can be

Page 66

7. Functions, operations and terminology

Page 67

8. MIDI

8. MIDI Applications

If you want to use additional keyboards or sound modules:

Computer

Applications

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is the standard interface used to link electronic musical instruments together.

This chapter deals with possible applications of MIDI and the MIDI, there are many well-written books available on the subject.

Using the C-900 with an external sequencer

As you know, you can use the C-900 Backing Sequence mode for recording sequences, and the Song Play mode to play back Standard MIDI File sequences. However, you may want to use a computer software sequencer to record your compositions. Usually, these sequencers offer advanced editing capabilities, but no interactive functions.

If you will be using the data into the computer sequencer, make the following connections:

C-900. For those interested in the details of

C-900 keyboard to enter note

Computer

MIDI Interface

MIDI OUT

MIDI IN

MIDI Interface

MIDI OUT MIDI IN

MIDI IN

MIDI THRU

MIDI IN MIDI OUT

In this setup, data from the from the

C-900 MIDI OUT jack, and is received by the

C-900 keyboard is sent

MIDI IN jack of the computer’s MIDI interface. When playing back sequences, MIDI data from the computer is sent via the MIDI interface’s MIDI OUT jack, and is received by the sound module’s MIDI IN jack. This data is then passed on from the sound module’s MIDI THRU jack to the

C-900 MIDI IN jack.

The Global channel for Backing Sequence mode and the MIDI channels for each track can be set in Disk/ Global mode. When r nal device to play the ﬁguration of the

eceiving SMF data from an exter-

C-900, set the MIDI channel con-

C-900 in Song Play mode. You can

specify initial program, volume, panpot, and effect send values in the song itself, or you can send these messages from the computer via MIDI.

For a list of the

C-900’s programs and the MIDI bank number and MIDI program number that corresponds to each program, refer to the “Program list” in appendix D of the Reference Guide.

MIDI IN MIDI OUT

In this setup, data from the from the

C-900 MIDI OUT jack, and is received by the

C-900 keyboard is sent

MIDI IN jack of the computer’s MIDI interface. When playing back sequences, MIDI data from the computer is sent via the MIDI interface’s MIDI OUT jack, and is received by the

C-900 MIDI IN jack.

When using the above setup, it is recommended to set the C-900 Local Control parameter to OFF. (This parameter can be found in Disk/Global mode.) Set the computer sequencer to echo the data it receives from the MIDI IN jack, back to the MIDI OUT jack. The parameter that controls this function has a different name depending on the software you use. Some common names are echo back, patch thru, echo on, etc.

By turning Local Control off C-900 keyboard and its tone generator. This way, the C-900 acts as a separate MIDI keyboard and independent tone generator. The sequencer’s echoing function allows you to play the generator, as well as the MIDI sound module’s tone generator, from

C-900 keyboard. If the sequencer’s echoing function is turned

the on, and the notes will be played by the sent out from its keyboard.

C-900 Local Control parameter is also set to ON, two

, you break the connection between the

C-900 tone

C-900 tone generator for every one note

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8. MIDI Applications

Using the C-900 to control other MIDI instruments

You can use other MIDI instruments to play the C-900 arrangements and backing sequences. Just make sure to match the MIDI channels to the correct tracks. Also, use the Track Status parameter of each mode to determine whether the addition to those of the other MIDI device.

You can ﬁnd the Track Status parameter on Page 4 of Arrangement Play mode.

When this parameter is set to OFF, the corr track will not play at all. When set to INT, only internal C-900 sounds will be played. When set to EXT, signals will be sent to external MIDI instruments only. When set to BOTH, both internal instrument sounds will play.

Be aware that playback results will vary depending on the MIDI instruments used. For example, the drum mapping feature may not produce the sounds you expect if the external MIDI instrument does not have the same drum kit layout.

C-900 will play its own sounds in

esponding

C-900 and external MIDI

C-900

What is General MIDI?

About Standard MIDI Files

Refer to “Functions, operations and terminology” p.57.

Standard MIDI ﬁles can be played back in Song Play mode. ☞Reference Guide p.39 “Song Play Mode”

Use the Song Play mode to play a standard MIDI ﬁle. Use the Convert to SMF function to convert and save a backing sequence into a format 0 Standar ☞Reference Guide p.37 “Page 14 Converting to a Standard MIDI File”

d MIDI File.

The C-900 is compatible with the GM system.

GM (General MIDI System Level 1) is a world-wide standard which standardizes the sound map of tone generators etc. to ensur beyond individual manufacturers and speciﬁc models.

MIDI tone generators and song data which are compatible with GM will carry the “GM” logo. Song data carrying this logo can be played back on any tone generator which carries the “GM” logo to produce essentially the same musical result.

On the (GM Kit) correspond to these sounds.

On the patible sounds. (MIDI bank numbers 1, 3, and 4 contain C-900 original programs, and bank number 2 contains drum kits.) For a list of these sounds, refer to “Program list” in appendix D.

★ Playing GM sequence data

You can use Song Play mode to play GM sequences directly from the sequences have been saved as format 0 Standard MIDI Files.

You can also use the sequence data from an external sequencer.

C-900, the 128 GM sounds and DRUM KIT “01”

C-900, MIDI bank number 0 contains GM com-

e basic consistency that goes

C-900 disk drive, as long as the

C-900 Song Play mode to play GM

Page 69

9. Connections with a computer

Connection to an IBM PC (com-

9. Connections with a computer

If a special cable is used to connect the C-900 to a computer, you can play the record keyboard playing from the puter.

IBM PC (compatible):

Connection kit AG-001B (connection cable and “Korg MIDI Driver” driver software)

Apple Macintosh series:

Connection kit AG-002B (connection cable and “Korg MIDI Driver” driver software)

* Depending on the type of computer and the applica-

tion software, such use may not be possible.

* Do not connect both the MIDI OUT and the TO

HOST connectors of the device. Be sure to connect only one or the other.

C-900 from the computer or

C-900 into the com-

C-900 to the same external

patible) via the AG-001B

Use the special connection cable (AG-001B) to connect the serial port (COM port) of the IBM PC (compatible) to the TO HOST connector of the

IBM PC (Compatible)

COM

Dedicated connection cable (AG-001B)

* Be aware that such use may not be possible, depend-

ing on the type of computer or application (sequencer). Applications which are not compatible with W connection.

* If the serial port of your computer has a 25 pin con-

nector, you will need to use a 9 pin–25 pin adapter.

When connecting the set the Disk/Global mode Host BR parameter to “38.4 k” (

If you are using Windows, you will need to install the Korg MIDI Driver. For the installation pr to p.64.

indows cannot be used with this method of

C-900 to an IBM PC (compatible),

☞Reference Guide p.60).

C-900.

TO HOST

ocedure, refer

Connection to an Apple Macintosh via the AG-002B

Use the special cable (AG-002B) to connect the modem port or printer port of the Apple Macintosh to the TO HOST connector of the

Apple Macintosh

Modem port or printer port

When connecting the the Disk/Global mode Host BR parameter to “31.25 k” (

☞Reference Guide p.60).

C-900.

Dedicated connection cable (AG-002B)

C-900 to an Apple Macintosh, set

TO HOST

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9. Connections with a computer

HOST BR settings

1. Press the DISK/GLOBAL key to enter Disk/Global mode.

2. Use the PAGE +/– keys to access the Local/Clock/ Host BR display.

3. Use the CURSOR

√√√√/®®®® keys to select Host BR.

4. Use the VALUE UP/DOWN keys to set the value.

31.25k: Connection to an Apple Macintosh

38.4k: Connection to an IBM PC (compatible)

Wiring diagrams for special connection cables

(1) AG-001B (for IBM PC or Compatible)

Mini DIN 8-pin

3 4

(2) AG-002B (for Macintosh)

Mini DIN 8-pin

D-SUB 9-pin

8 7 2 5

Mini DIN 8-pin

Korg MIDI Driver installation and setup

1. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into Windows 95

1 Click the [Start] button in the taskbar, and in [Set-

tings], click [Control Panel].

2 In the control panel, double-click the [Hardware]

icon to start up the hardware wizard, and then click [Next>].

3 In response to the question “Automatically detect

new hardware?” be sure to reply “No,” and then click the [Next>] button.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2 1 5 4 3 8 7 6

4 Select [Sound, video and game controllers], and

click the [Next>] button.

Page 71

9. Connections with a computer

5 Click [Have Disk].

A dialog box will appear, allowing you to specify the drive and directory.

6 Insert the disk included with the AG-001B into the

disk drive of the computer. If the disk was inserted into drive A, type “A:\” (or if drive B, type “B:\”) and click the [OK] button.

7 Click the [OK] button and click [OK].

Modifying the Korg MIDI Driver setup for Windows 95

1 In the control panel, double-click the [Multimedia]

icon, and the multimedia properties dialog box will appear.

2 Click the [Advanced] tab located at the upper right.

3 Click the [+] for [MIDI Devices] (the display will

change to [–]), and click [KORG PC I/F MIDI Port].

4 Click the [Properties] button.

The KORG PC I/F MIDI Port properties will be displayed.

5 Click the [Settings] button.

8 Perform the setup as directed in “Setting up the

Korg MIDI Driver (Windows)” (refer to p.66) and click the [OK] button.

9 Be sure to restart your computer so that the driver

will take effect.

Perform the setup as directed in “Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver (Windows),” and click the [OK] button.

If you have modiﬁed the settings, you must re-start Windows.

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9. Connections with a computer

2. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into Windows 3.1

1 In the control panel, double-click the Driver icon.

2 Click the [Add...] button.

3 In the driver list, select [Unlisted or updated driver]

and click the [OK] button.

Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver (Windows)

1 For the Serial Port setting, select the serial port to

which the C-900 is connected ([COM1]–[COM4]). If you wish to use the serial port for another purpose after installing the Korg MIDI Driver, select [None] to disable the driver

2 If [Independent Synth/MIDI Out] box is checked,

uncheck it. If this box is checked, malfunctions will occur.

3 [MIDI Out Messages] allows you to select the types

of message that will be transmitted to the C-900.

4 When you ﬁnish making settings, click the [OK]

button. If you wish to cancel your settings, click [Cancel].

4 Insert the disk included with the AG-001B into the

disk drive of the computer. If you inserted the disk into drive A, type “A:\” (for drive B, type “B:\”), and click the [OK] button.

5 Select Korg PC I/F Driver, and click the [OK] but-

ton. The setup window will appear. Follow the directions in “Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver

indows)” to perform the setup.

6 After setup is complete, remove the disk and select

[Restart] to make the newly installed driver available.

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9. Connections with a computer

3. Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into a Macintosh

In order to use the Korg MIDI Driver, the Apple MIDI Manager and PatchBay must already be installed. Use the versions of Apple MIDI Manager and PatchBay that are included with your MIDI application. They ar AG-002B.

When the Korg MIDI Driver is used, the “Modem MIDI Out/Port setting” dialog box will allow you to specify the MIDI channels and types of messages which will be transmitted to the you do not need this functionality, you can simply use the Apple MIDI Driver without the Korg MIDI Driver. When using the Apple MIDI Driver or when using a MIDI application (sequencer) which does not use the Apple MIDI Manager.

1 Copy the Korg MIDI Driver from the disk included

with the AG-002B into the system folder of your startup disk.

e not included with the

C-900. If

2 In PatchBay, double-click the KORG MIDI Driver

icon. The setup dialog box will appear.

3 Check the Port Enable box for the port to which the

C-900 is connected, and specify [1 MHz] .

not select [KORG PCIF].

Since the

C-900 does not contain a KORG PC IF, do

4 Press the [Out Port Setting] button.

The following dialog box will appear. Here you can select the MIDI channels/messages which will be output to each port. Only those channels/messages whose box is checked will be output.

2 If there is a copy of Apple MIDI Driver in your sys-

tem folder, either delete it, or move it to another folder. Be careful not to delete or move the

Apple

MIDI Manager.

The Korg MIDI Driver includes the functionality of the Apple MIDI Driver.

3 From the Special menu, select “Restart.”

Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver (Macintosh)

1 Start up PatchBay.

Time Port MIDI In Port

Connected Port Modem Port Printer Port

If installation has been performed correctly, the KORG MIDI Driver icon shown above will appear in the PatchBay window when PatchBay is started up. (The modem and printer ports will be displayed dif

ferently depending on the setup condition.)

MIDI Out Port

5 When you have ﬁnished making settings, click the

[OK] button.

6 Start up your MIDI application (sequencer), and

drag the mouse from the “w“ of the your MIDI application’s Out Port to connect it to the MIDI Out of the MIDI Driver.

For details on using PatchBay, refer to “About PatchBay...” etc. in the Apple menu.

To use the Apple MIDI Driver, you must ﬁrst delete or move the Korg MIDI Driver if it exists in your system folder. Then start up PatchBay, double-click the Apple MIDI Driver icon that appears, check Enabled for the Port to which the C-900 is connected, set Interface Type to [1 MHz], and close the dialog box. In PatchBay, drag the mouse from the OutPort “

w“ of the MIDI appli-

cation (sequencer) to connect it to MIDI Out.

If you are using a MIDI application (sequencer) which does not use Apple MIDI Manager,

select the Port to which the

C-900 is connected,

and set the Clock setting to [1 MHz].

Page 74

9. Connections with a computer

Using PC Exchange to convert SMF data

Most commercially available Standard MIDI File (SMF) song data is saved in MS-DOS format.

You can use PC Exchange to make MS-DOS format SMF song ﬁles recognizable by the Macintosh.

1 In the control panel, open PC Exchange.

The PC Exchange control panel will appear.

2 Press the [Add...] button.

The [Specify application associated with DOS extension] window will appear.

3 Input “.MID” into the DOS extension ﬁeld.

In order to distinguish different types of ﬁle, MSDOS adds an extension consisting of a period and thr

ee characters to the end of the ﬁlename. It is customary for SMF data to have an extension of “.MID”

4 From the list that appears in the lower part of the

dialog box, select your SMF-compatible MIDI application (sequencer). The selected icon will appear in the Application ﬁeld.

5 From the [Document type] popup menu, choose

[Midi], and click the [OK] button. The item which was added to the PC Exchange window will appear, and has now been register

Now when an MS-DOS SMF disk is inserted into the disk drive, it can be used immediately.

For details refer to the documentation for “Macintosh PC Exchange.”

ed.

About the MIDI File Translator included with the AG-002B

If the Macintosh you are using does not have PC Exchange but does have Apple File Exchange, you can use the MIDI File Translator included with the AG-002B to convert MS-DOS SMF data.

1 Put the MIDI File Translator into the same folder as

Apple File Exchange.

2 Double-click Apple File Exchange to start it up.

3 Insert the MS-DOS disk that you wish to convert

into the disk drive. Be sure to insert the MS-DOS format disk into the disk drive only after Apple File Exchange has already started up.

4 Select the song ﬁle that you wish to convert.

5 Press the “<<Convert<<” (or “>>Convert>>”) but-

ton located in the center. Conversion will begin. When the bar graph reaches 100%, conversion is complete. The converted ﬁ will appear in the left-hand box.

6 Exit Apple File Exchange.

Page 75

10. Specifications and options

10. Speciﬁcations and options

Tone generation method AI2 synthesis (full digital processing)

Tone generator 32 voice, 32 oscillator (single mode)

16 voice, 32 oscillator (double mode)

Keyboard 88 note (velocity sensitive)

Waveform memory 14 Mbytes of PCM ROM

Effects Two stereo digital multi-effect systems, 48 effect types

Programs 128 GM programs and 1 GM drum program built into

ROM 199 programs and 13 drum programs in ROM 64 user programs and 2 user drum programs in RAM

Arrangements 128 types in ROM

64 user arrangements in RAM

Backing sequences 10 sequences in RAM

Backing sequence capacity 40,000 events

Song data 16 channels, 16 timbres (dynamic voice allocation)

Controllers Assignable pedal/switch, EC5

Audio output OUTPUT (L/MONO, R) *1, Headphones × 2

Audio input INPUT (L/MONO, R), MIC INPUT

MIDI IN, OUT

PC interface TO HOST

Floppy disk drive 3.5 inch 2DD/3.5 inch 2HD (IBM PC 1.44 MB)

LCD Backlit LCD, 20 characters × 2 lines

Main amp 40 W × 2

Speakers 20 cm × 2, 5 cm × 2

Power supply 117 V 220~240 V

Power consumption 100 W 95 W

Included items Preloaded program data disk CFD-01P, Special stand

Dimensions 1,412 (width) × 528 (depth) × 906 (height) mm

Weight 62.0 kg (including stand)

Optional items EC5 external controller, DS-1H damper pedal, PS-1

pedal switch, EXP-2 expression pedal, XVP-10 expression pedal

: Phone plug

Speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice.

Page 76

NOTICE

KORG products are manuf actured under strict specif ications and v oltages required by each

country . These products are w arranted by the K ORG distrib utor only in each country . Any number disqualif ies the and liability . This requirement is for your o wn protection and safety .

KORG product not sold with a w arranty card or carrying a serial

product sold from the manuf acturer’ s/distrib utor’ s warranty

KORG INC.

15 - 12, Shimotakaido 1 - chome, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

1002 GH Printed in Japan