Kurzweil PCX1INST User Manual

Kurzweil PCX-1

Polyphony Expansion Kit Installation Guide

Second Edition, December 1, 2000

©2000 All rights reserved. Kurzweil is a product line of Young Chang Co.; Kurzweil, PC2,
PC2X, PC2R, and PCX-1 are trademarks of Young Chang Co. All other products and brand
names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Product
features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Part Number: 910353 Rev. B

Young Chang Distributors

Contact the nearest Young Chang office listed below to locate your local Young Chang/ Kurzweil representative.

Young Chang America, Inc.

P.O. Box 99995
Lakewood, WA 98499-0995
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Young Chang Co., Ltd.

178-55 Gajwa-Dong
Seo-Ku, Inchon, Korea 404-714
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Young Chang Akki Europe GmbH

Industriering 45
D-41751 Viersen
Germany
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Young Chang America, Inc. (Canadian Division)

3650 Victoria Park Ave. Suite 105
Toronto, Ontario Canada M2H 3P7
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

ii

The Polyphony Expansion Kit

Thanks for purchasing the PCX-1 Polyphony Expansion Kit! This kit (part number 140071)
doubles the polyphony of Kurzweil PC2s—from 64 voices to 128. This document contains
instructions for installing the PCX-1 in all PC2 models: the 76-key PC2, the 88-key PC2X, and
the rack-mount PC2R.

Please read the all of the introductory information (through Tools and Materials Required for

Installation ) before proceeding with the installation. Then go to Installing in Keyboard Models on

page 6 if you’re installing the PCX-1 in a keyboard, or Installing in Rack-Mount Models on page 13
if you’re installing it in a rack unit.

Contents of the Kit

In addition to this document, your PCX-1 kit should contain the following items:

• Polyphony Expansion board (PCX-1 board)

• Two screws (not needed for keyboard models)

• Floppy disk containing PC2 operating system and boot block software upgrades

• Floppy disk containing PC2 soundware upgrades

Safety Precautions

To prevent risk of electrocution, make sure that the PC2 or PC2R is disconnected from its power
supply before you begin disassembling the instrument.

Static electricity, even in small amounts, can cause damage to electronic components (especially
memory). Before disassembling the instrument, touch a conductive metal surface to discharge
any static electricity that you may have built up.

Saving Y our Data

You may need to update one or more PC2 software components as part of your PCX-1
installation (see Checking Software Versions on page 4). If you do need to update any software,
you’ll need to do a hard reset after the update. This deletes all user-defined data (programs,
setups, and effects) from the PC2’s memory. If you want to keep your user data, you should do a
SysEx dump of all objects before you update your software.

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The Polyphony Expansion Kit

System Requirements

System Requirements

All PC2 series instruments contain three main software components.

Operating system software Defines the performance and editing characteristics of the PC2.

Soundware Defines the characteristics of programs and setups. Must be

Boot block software Contains diagnostic software and other functions (like software

If you have a PC2R (the rack-mount model), you’ll need to check the version of the operating

system software , as described below (you don’t need to check the versions of the soundware or

boot block software, since all PC2Rs have at least Version 2.0 of these software components). If
you have any of the keyboard models, you’ll need to check the versions of all three software
components.

Must be Version 2.1 or later to work correctly with the PCX-1.

Version 2.0 or later to work correctly with the PCX-1.

updates) not related to performance or editing. Must be Version

2.0 or later to work correctly with the PCX-1.

Checking Software Versions

PC2 and PC2X (Keyboard)

You need to check the versions of all three software components. As you check each software
component, make a note of whether you need to update it. If you need to update one or more
components, turn to Updating Software on page 6. If you don’t need to update any components,
proceed to Removing the Access Panel on page 10.

PC2R (Rack-Mount)

Remember, you already have Version 2.0 or later of the soundware and boot block software, so
all you need to check is the version of your operating system software (see Checking the Operating

System Software Version on page 5). If the operating system software needs updating, turn to
Updating Software on page 13. If it doesn’t need updating, turn to Removing the Top Panel on

page 15.

Checking the Boot Block Software Version (Keyboards only)

The boot block isn’t accessible during normal PC2 operations, since the only time you’ll need to
use it is when you want to run diagnostics, install a ROM sound option, or update software.

To activate the boot block, turn the instrument on, and watch the display (if it’s already on, turn
it off then on again). When you see
starts the boot block. After a few seconds, you’ll see another message indicating that you’re
running the boot block. The bottom line of the display shows the version of the boot block
software. This message doesn’t remain visible for long, so check it quickly. If the version number
is lower than 2.0, you need to update your boot block (see page 7).

Please|wait...

, press and release the Panic button. This

To return to normal operation, press the Right cursor button until you see
bottom line of the display, then press Yes .

Run|engine

in the

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The Polyphony Expansion Kit

Tools and Materials Required for Installation

Checking the Operating System Software Version

There are two ways to check the version of the operating system software. The first is to watch
the display as the instrument powers up. During powerup, the display shows several messages.
One of these messages is
operating system software on the bottom line of the display.

The second way to check the version of the operating system software is to check the value of
one of the parameters in the Global menu. Press the Global button, then press the Right cursor
button until you see a parameter called OS Version.

Whichever method you use, if the operating system version is lower than 2.1 , you need to
update your operating system software. See Updating Operating System Software on page 8 (for
keyboards) or page 14 (rack-mount).

Welcome|to|the|PC2

; this message also indicates the version of the

Checking the Soundware Version (Keyboards only)

To check the version of your soundware, select Program 127 in the User bank (Bank 1). This is a
sine wave that the PC2 uses in its internal diagnostics. The program name should be Sine v2.0
(or a higher number). If the number is lower than 2.0 , you need to update your soundware (see
page 8).

Tools and Materials Required for Installation

• #1 (small) Phillips screwdriver

• Two thick foam pads (keyboard models only)

You’ll need a flat work area large enough to accommodate the disassembled instrument. Most
tabletops will work for the PC2R, but keyboard models require more space—up to 60-by-30
inches, depending on the length of the keyboard. The foam pads listed in the required materials
will protect the Alpha Wheel and sliders on keyboard units.

Tools and Materials Required for Software Updates

If you own a keyboard model and you need to update your operating system software,
soundware, or boot block, you’ll also need the following:

• Stand-alone sequencer or MIDI file player that has a floppy drive and can send System
Exclusive (SysEx) data—or a personal computer (either Windows-compatible or a
Macintosh or other computer capable of reading DOS disks and files) equipped with MIDI
interface, floppy disk drive, and sequencing software capable of sending SysEx data.

• MIDI cable

Sequencer Software for Windows-Compatible Computers

For Windows-compatible computers, we recommend using Windows Media Player, which you
can download from the following site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/Download/default.asp

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The Polyphony Expansion Kit

Installing in Keyboard Models

We’ve also tested Cakewalk and Logic, although some versions of Cakewalk send the SysEx
data too quickly for the PC2 to process. If you use Cakewalk and you’re unable to update, please
see Cakewalk’s on-line help, which describes how to modify an INI file to reduce the SysEx
transmission speed.

Sequencer Software for Macintosh

We’ve tested MIDIGraphy 1.4.3, which you can download from the following site (note that
there’s no “ www ” in this URL):

http://member.nifty.ne.jp/mmaeda/e/works.html

Older versions of MIDIGraphy tend to crash with Mac OS 8 and 9. Additionally, Windows
Media Player for the Macintosh does not work at all.

We’ve also tested Performer 5.0.1 (at tempos up to 215 BPM), and Logic.

Installing in Keyboard Models

If you haven’t checked the versions of your boot block software, operating system software, and
soundware, do so before beginning installation. To function properly, the PCX-1 requires
Version 2.0 or later of the soundware and boot block software, and Version 2.1 or later of the
operating system software.

See Checking Software Versions on page 4 to learn how to check software versions. If you need to
update one or more software components, see Updating Software below. Otherwise, turn to

Removing the Access Panel on page 10.

Updating Software

You’ll need to update any software components that aren’t current with the system
requirements listed on page 4. Updating the software is extremely convenient; all you have to
do is load one or more MIDI files into the PC2’s flash ROM using a sequencer application.
Here’s how to set it up.

Saving Objects

Updating software components requires you to do a hard reset before resuming normal
operations. This deletes all user-defined information from the PC2’s memory. You should dump
all user-defined programs, setups, and effects to an external memory source (like a computer
sequencer) before updating your software. Otherwise, they’ll be lost.

See the programming chapter in your PC2 Musician’s Guide for information about dumping
programs and other objects.

Preparing Y our Computer

1. Connect a MIDI cable from the MIDI Out port on your personal computer or MIDI
interface to the PC2’s MIDI In port.

2. Launch the sequencer application on the personal computer.

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