Kurzweil Forte GETTING STARTED GUIDE
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GETTING STARTED GUIDE
is Getting Started Guide is designed to cover both the Forte and Forte7 pianos. ese instruments share common
features and the term “Forte” is used to cover a description of both. Where there are dierences, we use the name
“Forte7” to help instruct owners of that instrument.
is Guide will help you hook up the Forte to your sound system and MIDI system, give you a quick overview, and
show you how to start playing music with the Forte. A full manual for either instrument can be obtained in electronic
format from www.kurzweil.com.
Specications
Forte and Forte7 are Kurzweil’s new 128 voice pianos featuring FlashPlay technology, and are Kurzweil’s most
advanced stage pianos to date. Some of the key specications and improvements over Kurzweil’s previous instruments
include:
• New FlashPlay technology.
• Support for up to 16GB of Sound ROM.
• Two new high denition pianos.
• New high denition electric pianos.
• Improved modelled organ emulation.
• More eects resources.
• 4.3” 480x272 pixel color display.
• High speed USB ports.
• New improved user interface design.
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It’s the sound.
Before You Start…
Don’t connect anything until you make sure the Forte is properly and safely situated. If your
Forte keyboard has been out in the cold, give it time to warm up to room temperature before
starting it, since condensation may have formed inside.
Setting up the Forte/Forte7
1. Set the keyboard on a hard, at, level surface.
2. Four adhesive-backed rubber feet are provided with Forte. Carefully turn the keyboard
over onto a soft surface, remove the paper backing from the rubber feet and attach them.
Before You Start…
NOTE : Unless the instrument will always be used with a keyboard stand,
attachment of the rubber feet is strongly advised. Otherwise protruding
screws may scratch the tabletop.
3. Connect the AC power cord to the Forte. Before plugging the cable into the power outlet,
check that the power is compatible with the Forte. e Forte runs on AC power and
works with voltages from 100-240 volts at 50–60 Hz. e voltage level is detected and
set automatically by the Forte. If your power source does not have the standard three hole
outlet, you should take the time to install a proper grounding system. is will reduce the
risk of a shock. If your power outlet is not within these ranges it is recommended you use
an appropriate adaptor.
4. Plug the power cable into the wall.
5. Plug the Switch Pedal into the marked SW1 (Sustain) Pedal jack on the Forte rear panel.
6. Connect stereo headphones to the headphone jack on the front left panel, or connect the
audio outputs to your mixer or amplier inputs using standard (1/4-inch) audio cables
(use the Left out for mono). Balanced (“TRS” or “Stereo”) cables are recommended if your
mixer or amp supports balanced inputs.
7. Make sure your sound system is at a safe volume level. Also make sure that the Forte
Master Volume slider (on the far left side of the front panel) is all the way down.
GS-1
The Rear Panel
Using the Forte/Forte7
Using the Forte/Forte7
1. Power up the Forte using the power switch on the rear left side of the instrument, and then
raise the Master Volume slider, and mixer/amp volume. Your Forte keyboard starts up in
Program Mode by default. Press one of the buttons under the “Mode” label to the right of
the display to switch Modes.
Master Volume Slider Mode Selection
2. If you are connected to a mixing board and hear distortion, reduce the gain level on your
mixing board, or use the pad (a switch that decreases the input audio signal level, typically by
20dB) if it has one.
3. To hear the capabilities of the Forte, you can play the demo songs. Press the Hybrid and
Misc Category buttons simultaneously to listen to a demo song.
4. In Program Mode, scroll through the Programs using the Alpha Wheel, the Previous and
Next buttons, or press a Category button to audition the sounds in the Forte. e Forte
has short demos for each of the factory Programs. To hear a Program Demo for the current
Program, press the Voices and Mallets Category buttons simultaneously.
The Rear Panel
e power switch and most of the Forte/Forte7 connections are located on the rear panel.
GS-2
e headphone connection on the Forte is located on the front left side underneath the Pitch
& Modulation wheels. On the Forte7 it is on the left side, on the rear panel.
The AC Power Jack
Please refer to “Setting up the Forte/Forte7” on page GS-1.
The USB Ports
Use the “Computer” USB ports to connect the Forte to a computer/tablet in order to do the
following:
• Use the Forte as a MIDI controller to play software instruments on a computer.
• Use a computer program to sequence multitrack songs on the Forte.
• Use a computer/tablet to manage the user data contents of the Forte.
• Update the software and sounds of the Forte.
Use the “Storage” USB Port to store custom Programs and Multis on a USB ash drive.
Be sure to check the Kurzweil Music Systems website at www.kurzweil.com for new
documentation and software updates before using your new instrument.
The Rear Panel
The AC Power Jack
The MIDI Ports (In / Thru / Out)
Use the MIDI ports to communicate with other MIDI modules and controllers. e Out port
is the MIDI transmitting port, and the In port is the MIDI receiving port. Use the ru port
to pass MIDI data through the Forte to other instuments or modules.
By sliding the switch on the rear panel from ru to Out, the Forte sends MIDI Out messages
on both the ru and Out ports. e USB ports can also be used to transmit MIDI messages.
GS-3
The Rear Panel
Basic MIDI Port Hookup
Basic MIDI Port Hookup
To use the Forte as a MIDI controller for another sound module, use a MIDI cable to connect
the MIDI port marked “OUT” to the MIDI input port of the module that you want to
control.
To control the Forte using another MIDI controller, use a MIDI cable to connect the MIDI
port marked “IN” to the MIDI output port of the controller that you will be using.
Using Forte MIDI Out
Using Forte MIDI In
For other MIDI connection scenarios, please refer to the Forte User Manual.
The Pedal Jacks
Use the ve pedal jacks to connect controller pedals to the Forte.
Although optional Kurzweil pedals are recommended, it is possible to use most switch or
controller pedals that adhere to the following specications.
Switch Pedals
Continuous Control
(CC) Pedals
GS-4
1/4 inch tip-sleeve (mono) plug
10-kOhm linear-taper potentiometer, 1/4 inch tip-ring-sleeve
(stereo) plug with the wiper connected to the tip.
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