Kurzweil SPS4-8 User Manual [ru]

Musician’s Guide

TM

®

©2012 Young Chang Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Kurzweil ® is a product line of Young Chang Co., Ltd. Kurzweil ®, Young
Chang®, V. A. S. T. ®, and SPS4-8™ are trademarks of Young Chang Co., Ltd. All other trademarks and copyrights are property

of their respective companies. Product features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

You may legally print up to two (2) copies of this document for personal use. Commercial use of any copies of this document is

prohibited. Young Chang Co. retains ownership of all intellectual property represented by this document.

Part Number 910543-001 Rev. A

i

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
"dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER.

NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended
to alert the user to the presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the product.

IMPORTANT SAFETY & INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO THE RISK OF FIRE ELECTRIC SHOCK , OR INJURY TO PERSONS

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

1. Read all the Safety and Installation Instructions and Explanation
of Graphic Symbols before using the product.

2. This product must be grounded. If it should malfunction or
break down, grounding provides a path of least resistance for
electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This product
is equipped with a power supply cord having an equipment­grounding conductor and a grounding plug. The plug must be
plugged into an appropriate outlet which is properly installed and
grounded in accordance with all local codes and ordinances.

DANGER: Improper connection of the equipment-grounding
conductor can result in a risk of electric shock. Do not modify the

plug provided with the product – if it will not t the outlet, have a
proper outlet installed by a qualied electrician. Do not use an

adaptor which defeats the function of the equipment-grounding
conductor. If you are in doubt as to whether the product is properly

grounded, check with a qualied serviceman or electrician.

3. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

9. 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.

10. The power supply cord of the product should be unplugged
from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time. When
unplugging the power supply cord, do not pull on the cord, but
grasp it by the plug.

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

12. The product should be serviced by qualied service personnel
when:

A. The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged;

B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the

product;

C. The product has been exposed to rain;

D. The product does not appear to be operating normally or

exhibits a marked change in performance;

E. The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.

13. Do not attempt to service the product beyond that described in
the user maintenance instructions. All other servicing should be

referred to qualied service personnel.

14. WARNING: Do not place objects on the product’s power supply
cord, or place the product in a position where anyone could trip
over, walk on, or roll anything over cords of any type. Do not
allow the product to rest on or be installed over cords of any type.

Improper installations of this type create the possibility of a re

hazard and/or personal injury.

RADIO AND TELEVISION INTERFERENCE

WARNING: Changes or modications to the instrument not expressly

approved by Young Chang could void your authority to operate the
instrument.

IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/or
other equipment use only high quality shielded cables.

NOTE: This instrument 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 instrument
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 instrument does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the instrument off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

ii

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the instrument and the receiver.

• Connect the instrument into an outlet on a circuit other than the

one to which the receiver is connected.

• If necessary consult your dealer or an experienced radio/television

technician for additional suggestions.

NOTICE

This apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise
emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

AVIS

Le present appareil numerique n’emet pas de bruits radioelectriques
depassant les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques de la
class B prescrites dans le Reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique
edicte par le ministere des Communications du Canada.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1) Read these instructions.

2) Keep these instructions.

3) Heed all warnings.

4) Follow all instructions.

5) Do not use this apparatus near water.

6) Clean only with dry cloth.

7) Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including

amplifiers) that produce heat.

9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two

blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding
prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit
into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet

10) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

11) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

12) Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer,
or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/

apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of
time.

14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been

damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.

Warning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. Do
not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases,

are placed on the equipment.

To completely disconnect this equipment from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from
the AC receptacle.

iii

Kurzweil International Contacts

Contact the Kurzweil office listed below to locate your local Kurzweil representative.

US Customers:

American Music & Sound
22020 Clarendon Street, Suite 305
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Customers outside the US:

Kurzweil Co., LTD.

9th Floor, Bldg 102, I-Park,
Jeongja-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do

463-859 South Korea

Tel: [phone]

www.kurzweil.com
www.youngchang.com
www.ycpiano.co.kr

WORLD-WIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Email: [e-mail].

iv

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................1-1

Main Features .....................................................................................................................................1-1

Keyboard and Controllers .........................................................................................................1-1

Pedals (Optional) ........................................................................................................................1-2

Staying Current ..................................................................................................................................1-2

Do You Have Everything? ............................................................................................................... 1-2

Chapter 2

Getting Started ..........................................................................................................................................2-1

Before You Start… ............................................................................................................................2-1

Quick Start ..........................................................................................................................................2-1

Make Connections ......................................................................................................................2-1

Use Your SPS4 ............................................................................................................................2-2

Start Up Details:

The Rear Panel ...................................................................................................................................2-2

The MIDI (IN and OUT) Ports ...............................................................................................2-2

The Pedal Jacks ...........................................................................................................................2-2

The Sustain (FOOT SW) Jack ...........................................................................................2-2

The CC PEDAL Jack ..........................................................................................................2-3

The USB Port ..............................................................................................................................2-3

The Audio Out (LEFT/MONO and RIGHT) Jacks ...........................................................2-3

The Audio In Jacks .....................................................................................................................2-3

The DC Power Jack .................................................................................................................... 2-3

The HEADPHONES Jack (left cheekblock) .........................................................................2-3

Connecting the Power Cable (Line Cord) ......................................................................................2-4

Connecting to an External Audio System .....................................................................................2-4

Connecting Pedals .............................................................................................................................2-6

Connecting a Switch Pedal ........................................................................................................2-6

Connecting Dual Switch Pedals .........................................................................................2-6

Connecting a Control Pedal ......................................................................................................2-7

Connecting MIDI ..............................................................................................................................2-8

Basic MIDI Hookup ..................................................................................................................2-8

Connecting More Sound Modules ...........................................................................................2-8

Connecting to a Computer Sequencer ....................................................................................2-9

v

Chapter 3

Features of the SPS4 ................................................................................................................................3-1

The Front Panel .................................................................................................................................3-1

Pitch and Mod Controllers ...............................................................................................................3-2

Pitch Touchpad ...........................................................................................................................3-2

Mod Slider ....................................................................................................................................3-2

Function Buttons ...............................................................................................................................3-2

Program Button ..........................................................................................................................3-3

Setup Button ................................................................................................................................3-3

Edit Setup Button .......................................................................................................................3-3

Global Button ..............................................................................................................................3-3

Save Button ..................................................................................................................................3-3

Split (Zone 1) Button .................................................................................................................3-4

Layer (Zone 2) Button ...............................................................................................................3-4

Transpose (Zone 3 and Zone 4) Buttons ................................................................................3-4

Shift Button .................................................................................................................................3-4

The Control Knob.............................................................................................................................3-5

Display and Value Buttons ...............................................................................................................3-6

Previous (–) and Next (+) Value Buttons ...............................................................................3-6

Chan / Param Buttons ......................................................................................................................3-6

Object Select Buttons .......................................................................................................................3-7

Bank Select Button .....................................................................................................................3-8

Group Select Buttons .................................................................................................................3-8

Sound Select Buttons .................................................................................................................3-8

Alphanumeric Data Entry .........................................................................................................3-9

Double Button Presses .....................................................................................................................3-9

Reset Transposition / Lower by an Octave ............................................................................3-9

Jump Value .................................................................................................................................3-10

Jump Parameter .........................................................................................................................3-10

MIDI Program Change ...........................................................................................................3-10

Demo ..........................................................................................................................................3-11

Panic ............................................................................................................................................3-11

vi

Chapter 4

Terminology ..............................................................................................................................................4-1

Chapter 5

The Operating Modes ..............................................................................................................................5-1

Program Mode ...................................................................................................................................5-1

Setup Mode .........................................................................................................................................5-2

Edit Setup Mode ................................................................................................................................5-2

Global Mode ......................................................................................................................................5-3

System Mode ......................................................................................................................................5-3

Functions ............................................................................................................................................5-4

The Split Function ......................................................................................................................5-4

The Layer Function ....................................................................................................................5-4

MIDI Program Change Function ............................................................................................5-5

Differing Program Numbers..............................................................................................5-5

Demo Function ...........................................................................................................................5-6

Chapter 6

Program Mode ..........................................................................................................................................6-1

About Program Mode ....................................................................................................................... 6-1

Table of Programs.............................................................................................................................6-2

Selection ..............................................................................................................................................6-3

Using the Object Select Buttons ..............................................................................................6-3

Bank Select Button ..............................................................................................................6-4

Group Select Buttons ..........................................................................................................6-5

Sound Select Buttons ..........................................................................................................6-5

Alphanumeric Data Entry .........................................................................................................6-5

Transposition ......................................................................................................................................6-6

The Control Knob.............................................................................................................................6-6

The Split Function .............................................................................................................................6-7

Split Program ........................................................................................................................ 6-8

Split Volume .........................................................................................................................6-8

Split Key ................................................................................................................................6-8

Split Transposition ...............................................................................................................6-8

The Layer Function ...........................................................................................................................6-9

Layer Program ......................................................................................................................6-9

Layer Volume ........................................................................................................................ 6-9

Layer Transposition ...........................................................................................................6-10

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel ........................................................................................6-10

Saving in Program Mode ................................................................................................................6-10

Chapter 7

Setup Mode ...............................................................................................................................................7-1

About Setup Mode ............................................................................................................................7-1

Table of Setups ..................................................................................................................................7-2

Selection ..............................................................................................................................................7-3

Using the Object Select Buttons ..............................................................................................7-3

Bank Select Button ..............................................................................................................7-4

Group Select Buttons ..........................................................................................................7-4

Sound Select Buttons ..........................................................................................................7-5

Alphanumeric Data Entry .........................................................................................................7-5

About Zones ......................................................................................................................................7-5

Muting Zones ..............................................................................................................................7-6

Transposition ......................................................................................................................................7-6

vii

The Control Knob.............................................................................................................................7-7

The Split Function .............................................................................................................................7-8

Split Program ........................................................................................................................ 7-8

Split Volume .........................................................................................................................7-8

Split Key ................................................................................................................................7-9

Split Transposition ...............................................................................................................7-9

The Layer Function ...........................................................................................................................7-9

Layer Program ....................................................................................................................7-10

Layer Volume ......................................................................................................................7-10

Layer Transposition ...........................................................................................................7-10

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel ........................................................................................7-10

Saving in Setup Mode .....................................................................................................................7-11

Chapter 8

Edit Setup Mode .......................................................................................................................................8-1

About Edit Setup Mode ...................................................................................................................8-1

The Parameters of a Setup ...............................................................................................................8-2

The Zone-specific Parameters .........................................................................................................8-4

Local Program ............................................................................................................................. 8-4

Channel .........................................................................................................................................8-4

Destination ...................................................................................................................................8-4

MIDI Bank ..................................................................................................................................8-5

Differing Program Numbers..............................................................................................8-5

MIDI Program ............................................................................................................................ 8-6

Differing Program Numbers..............................................................................................8-6

Bank Mode ...................................................................................................................................8-7

Zone Status ..................................................................................................................................8-7

Entry Program Change ..............................................................................................................8-7

Aux Send Level ...........................................................................................................................8-8

Transpose .....................................................................................................................................8-8

Entry Pan .....................................................................................................................................8-8

Entry Volume ..............................................................................................................................8-8

Low Velocity ................................................................................................................................ 8-8

High Velocity ...............................................................................................................................8-9

Low Key .......................................................................................................................................8-9

High Key ......................................................................................................................................8-9

Bend Range Down .....................................................................................................................8-9

Bend Range Up ...........................................................................................................................8-9

Continuous Controller Parameters ........................................................................................8-10

Destination ..........................................................................................................................8-10

Entry Value .........................................................................................................................8-12

Exit Value ............................................................................................................................8-12

The Foot Switch Parameters ...................................................................................................8-13

Destination ..........................................................................................................................8-13

viii

Mode ....................................................................................................................................8-13

Entry State ..........................................................................................................................8-13

Exit State .............................................................................................................................8-13

About Auxiliary Effects ..................................................................................................................8-14

Common Parameters ......................................................................................................................8-14

Aux Effect Override .................................................................................................................8-14

Aux Effect Channel ..................................................................................................................8-15

Saving in Setup Mode .....................................................................................................................8-15

Chapter 9

Global Mode .............................................................................................................................................9-1

Selecting and Editing Parameters ....................................................................................................9-2

The Global Parameters .....................................................................................................................9-3

Tuning ...........................................................................................................................................9-3

Velocity Map (VMap) .................................................................................................................9-3

FX Select (FXSel) .......................................................................................................................9-4

Channel Enable (ChanEn) ........................................................................................................9-4

Destination (Dest) ......................................................................................................................9-4

Bank Select (BankSel) .................................................................................................................9-5

Program Change (ProgChg) ......................................................................................................9-5

Local Keyboard Channel (LclKbdChan) ................................................................................9-6

Sysex ID .......................................................................................................................................9-6

The “Hard Reset?” Dialogue ...........................................................................................................9-7

The “Save All?” Dialogue .................................................................................................................9-7

The “Load All?” Dialogue................................................................................................................9-8

Chapter 10

System Mode ...........................................................................................................................................10-1

Buttons in System Mode ................................................................................................................10-2

Run SPS4 ...........................................................................................................................................10-2

Update Software ..............................................................................................................................10-2

Update ........................................................................................................................................10-2

Restore ........................................................................................................................................10-3

Run Diagnostics ...............................................................................................................................10-3

System Reset .....................................................................................................................................10-3

File Utilities .......................................................................................................................................10-4

Chapter 11

Tutorials ...................................................................................................................................................11-1

Creating a Setups from a Program ................................................................................................11-1

Creating a Split Setup from a Program .................................................................................11-1

Creating a Layer Setup from a Program ................................................................................11-4

Creating a Layer Setup with Velocity-dependent Zones ...........................................................11-6

ix

Controlling Multiple Modules with a Single Setup .....................................................................11-7

Other Tutorials ...............................................................................................................................11-11

Connecting to an External Audio System ...........................................................................11-11

Connecting MIDI ...................................................................................................................11-11

Managing Object Data ...........................................................................................................11-11

Updating Software ..................................................................................................................11-11

Restoring Factory Defaults ....................................................................................................11-12

Chapter 12

Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................................................12-1

Maintenance .....................................................................................................................................12-1

Common Problems .........................................................................................................................12-1

Power Problems ........................................................................................................................12-1

Audio Problems ........................................................................................................................12-3

MIDI Problems .........................................................................................................................12-4

Pedal Problems.................................................................................................................................12-5

Switch Pedal Problems .............................................................................................................12-5

Control Pedal Problems ...........................................................................................................12-6

Use the Right Impedance, Taper, and Range ...............................................................12-6

If None of the Above... .................................................................................................................12-6

Service Centers ..........................................................................................................................12-7

Restoring Factory Defaults ......................................................................................................12-7

Diagnostics ................................................................................................................................12-7

Appendix A

MIDI Implementation ............................................................................................................................A-1

Appendix B

Physical Specifications ............................................................................................................................A-3

Index .............................................................................................................................................................. 1

x

Chapter 1
Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of a Kurzweil SPS4!

This manual will help you get acquainted with your new instrument. Be sure to keep the
manual on hand as you continue to familiarize yourself with the features and functions of
the SPS4.

Introduction

Main Features

Main Features

The SPS4 is a professional performance instrument. It boasts 128 excellent sounds
(including the famous Kurzweil Grand Piano) already on-board and ready to be played. It is
also a capable MIDI controller ideally suited for controlling additional sound modules and as

input to a sequencer.

Keyboard and Controllers

The SPS4 has an 88-key graded hammer-weighted keyboard action that provides you with

a piano-like feel without adding excessive weight to the instrument. The array of physical
controllers includes:

• a pitch touchpad

• a modulation slider

• an assignable control knob, which can control a parameter of your choosing

1-1

Introduction

Staying Current

Pedals (Optional)

As described above, the SPS4 has two jacks on the rear panel for optional pedal controllers.
One of these jacks is for one or two switch pedals, which are typically used to control
two-state (i.e., on / off) parameters such as sustain and mute zone. The other jack is for a

continuous control (or CC) pedal typically used to control a multi-state (i.e., “continuous”)

parameter such as filter frequency or LFO amount.

Note that switch pedals can be used to control continuous parameters just as continuous
control pedals can be used to control two-state parameters.

Your Kurzweil dealer stocks the following pedals:

• on the rear panel, two jacks for optional pedal controllers: one for a switch pedal and

the other for a continuous controller pedal.

• FS-1 Standard box-shaped switch pedal

• KFP-1 Single piano-style switch pedal

• KFP-2S Double piano-style switch pedal unit (one stereo plug)

• CC-1 Continuous pedal

Staying Current

Be sure to check the Kurzweil Music Systems website at www.Kurzweil.com for new
documentation and software updates before using your new instrument.

Do You Have Everything?

Your SPS4 package should contain the following in addition to your instrument:

• Power cable and 19V 3.42A power adapter

• Sustain pedal

• USB cable (Type-A-to-Type-B)

•  Musician’s Guide (this book)

• Warranty card

If you don’t have all of these components, please contact your Kurzweil / Young Chang

dealer.

Your SPS4 has a built-in sound system so it is ready to play with only the factory provided

accessories required. The next chapter tells you how to get started with your new instrument.

1-2

Chapter 2
Getting Started

This chapter will help you hook up your SPS4 to your external sound system (if desired) and

MIDI system. If hooking up new gear is familiar to you, then simply read the following two
sections in this chapter. If you need more information, then be sure to read this chapter in

its entirety.

Getting Started

Before You Start…

Before You Start…

Don’t connect anything until you make sure your SPS4 is properly and safely situated. If
your SPS4 has been out in the cold, give it time to warm up to room temperature before

starting it, since condensation may have formed inside.

Quick Start

Make Connections

1. Set the keyboard on a hard, at, level surface.

2. Connect the power cable to the adapter then plug the adapter’s DC power cord into your

SPS4. Finally, plug the power cable into the wall.

3. Make sure your it is at a safe volume level. Also make sure that the SPS4’s MASTER
VOLUME slider (on the left side of the front panel) is all the way down.

4. If using an external sound system, run standard (1/4-inch) audio cables from your

amplifier or mixer to the Audio Outputs on the SPS4 (use the Left out for mono).
Balanced (“TRS” or “Stereo”) cables are recommended.

5. If you wish to use a CD or MP3 player or connect a second keyboard to the amplifier/
speaker of your SPS4, use a pair of standard 1/4” cables from your player or keyboard
to the SPS4’s Audio Inputs.

2-1

Getting Started

Pedal JacksAudio Jacks

USB PortMIDI Ports

DC Power Jack

Start Up Details: The Rear Panel

Use Your SPS4

1. Power up your SPS4 first, and then raise the MASTER VOLUME slider. The SPS4 starts
up in Program mode by default. Press one of the Function buttons to the left of the

display to switch Modes.

2. If you hear distortion, in your external sound system, reduce the gain 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. Scroll through the program list with the Previous and Next buttons under the display,

or with the dedicated Bank, Group Select, and Sound Select buttons, and try the SPS4’s

many sounds. Take note that the User Bank is initially empty.

Start Up Details:
The Rear Panel

All of the connections take place on the rear panel of the SPS4, pictured below:

2-2

The MIDI (IN and OUT) Ports

Use the MIDI ports to communicate with other MIDI modules and controllers. The OUT
port is the MIDI transmitting port, and the IN port is the MIDI receiving port.

The Pedal Jacks

Use the two pedal jacks to connect controller pedals to the SPS4.

The Sustain (FOOT SW) Jack

Use the FOOT SW jack to connect a switch pedal. A switch pedal is a physical controller

typically used to control two-state (i.e., “on / off”) parameters, such as sustain and mute

zone. Note that switch pedals can be used to control “continuous” parameters as well.

The jack will also accept a dual switch pedal having a single stereo plug that is available

separately (Kurzweil KFP-2S). For more information on connecting pedals, see Connecting 
Pedals on page 2-6.

The CC PEDAL Jack

Use the CC PEDAL jack to connect a continuous control (or CC) pedal. A CC pedal is a

physical controller typically used to control multi-state (i.e., “continuous”) parameters such

as filter frequency or LFO amount. Note that CC pedals can be used to control “on / off ”

parameters as well.

For more information on connecting pedals, see Connecting Pedals on page 2-6 below.

The USB Port

Use the USB port to connect the SPS4 to a computer in order to do the following:

• Use the SPS4 as a MIDI controller with a sequencer computer program.

• Use the computer to manage the user data contents of the SPS4.

Getting Started

Start Up Details:The Rear Panel

• Update the software and sounds of the SPS4.

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 Audio Out (LEFT/MONO and RIGHT) Jacks

Use the LEFT/MONO and RIGHT audio jacks to connect the SPS4 to an external
amplifier or mixer.

The Audio In Jacks

Use the LEFT and RIGHT Audio Input jacks to connect a CD or MP3 player or the audio
from a second keyboard to the sound system of your SPS4. These are “TRS” balanced
inputs. Using 1/4” balanced (stereo) cables will usually lessen extraneous noises such as

power line hum.

The DC Power Jack

Use the DC power jack to connect the DC power supply.

The HEADPHONES Jack (left cheekblock)

Use the HEADPHONES jack to listen to the SPS4 on stereo headphones. You will need a

1/4-inch-to-1/8-inch adapter in order to use headphones with a mini plug.

2-3

Getting Started

Connecting the Power Cable (Line Cord)

Connecting the Power Cable (Line Cord)

The SPS4 runs on 19 volts DC power and requires 3.4 amps to power the built-in amplifier.

Your dealer will provide the voltage adapter and power cord to match the AC power in your
area: 100, 120, 230, or 240 volts at 50–60 Hz. Plug the adapter into a wall outlet, and then

connect the adapter to the DC power jack.

Connecting to an External Audio System

Although your SPS4 contains a built-in high quality amplifier and speakers suitable for solo

playing in a small room, you may wish to use a more powerful external sound system for

large rooms and group playing. Needed are a pair of audio cables with 1/4” plugs on one
end and plugs compatible with your sound system on the other. If connecting to a mixer,
“balanced” (stereo) cables may transfer a stronger signal and lessen noise.

After you’ve turned down the level on your sound system, connect the SPS4’s analog audio
outputs to your sound system using a pair of stereo or mono audio cables. Mono cables will
always work, but if you’re going into balanced inputs, use stereo cables for a better signal-to­noise ratio and a bit more volume: the SPS4’s analog outputs are balanced.

You’ll find two 1/4-inch balanced audio output jacks on the rear panel. For now, connect
one end of each audio cable to your mixing board or PA system inputs, and connect the
other end to the jacks marked LEFT and RIGHT on the rear panel of the SPS4. If you have
only one input available, use the SPS4’s Left output to get the full signal in mono. Use the
front-mounted jack marked HEADPHONES to listen to the SPS4 on headphones. Note
that when headphones are plugged in, the built-in speakers are muted but sound still comes
through the LEFT and RIGHT audio jacks.

SPS4 connected to powered speakers and headphones

MP3,

CD Player,

Sound Module

Left and Right

SPS4

Left and Right

Audio Inputs

Audio Outputs

Left Speaker Right Speaker

2-4

Headphones

Getting Started

Connecting to an External Audio System

Your SPS4 features Left and Right audio input jacks for connecting to external signal sources
such as CD or MP3 players or a second keyboard. The audio input signal is mixed with
the SPS4’s own signal then the mixture is sent to the speakers, headphone jacks, and audio
output jacks. Note that the VOLUME slider only affects the volume of the SPS4 signal.

The Audio Input jacks are balanced so if your signal source has a balanced output and
balanced cables are used to connect, extraneous noises such as power line hum, are greatly

reduced.

SPS4 connected to a mixer, powered speakers and headphones

Right Mixer Out

Left Mixer Out

MP3,

CD Player,

Sound Module

SPS4

Headphones

Left and Right

Audio Inputs

Right
Mixer

In

Left

Mixer

In

Left and Right
Audio Outputs

Left Speaker

Right Speaker

2-5

Getting Started

Connecting Pedals

Connecting Pedals

Plug your switch or continuous pedals into the corresponding jacks on the SPS4’s rear panel.
We recommend using the Kurzweil pedals described in Pedals (Optional) on page 1-2, but you
can use almost any switch or continuous pedal that adheres to the following specifications

(as most pedals do):

Switch pedals 1/4-inch tip-sleeve (mono) plug

Continuous (CC) pedals 10-kOhm linear-taper potentiometer, 1/4-inch tip-

The pedals are independently assignable within each zone of every setup. Here are the

default settings for the three pedals you can use with the SPS4:

Switch Pedal 1 Controller 64 (Sustain)

Switch Pedal 2 Controller 66 (Sostenuto)

ring-sleeve (stereo) plug with the wiper connected to
the tip

CC Pedal Controller 11 (Expression / Volume)

NOTE: Be sure not to step on the switch pedals when powering up your Stage Piano!

Connecting a Switch Pedal

When plugged into the SW PEDAL jack on the rear-panel, a single switch pedal will, by
default, act like a sustain pedal. Of course this can be changed by programming, as described

in Setup Mode on page 7-1.

If you use a third-party (non-Kurzweil) switch pedal, make sure it’s connected before you

turn on your SPS4. This ensures that the pedal will work properly (it might function in

reverse—off when it’s down and on when it’s up—if you turn on your SPS4 before plugging
in the pedal). Similarly, don’t press any of your switch pedals while powering up, as the SPS4
verifies each pedal’s orientation during power up—if you’re pressing a pedal, you might

cause it to work in reverse.

See Switch Pedal Problems on page 12-5 if you are having trouble with your switch pedal.

Connecting Dual Switch Pedals

The jack will also accept a dual switch pedal having a single stereo plug. The plug should be

wired so that the left pedal connects to the ring contact and the right pedal to the tip contact.

It’s also possible to use two single pedals with this jack: first buy a 1/4-inch stereo-to-dual­mono Y adapter (this will have two mono 1/4-inch phone jacks and a stereo 1/4-inch plug);
then, plug the pedal you wish to use for sustain into the left jack and your sostenuto pedal
into the right jack. Note that the “left” pedal goes into the right jack and vice-versa.

2-6

By default, the right pedal will control sustain as before and the left pedal will control the
sostenuto function. If you’re not familiar with traditional piano technique, the sostenuto
(center) pedal on a grand piano allows one to hold chords in the bass while continuing

to play the melody without the latter notes sustaining. Any keys that are down when you

depress the pedal will sustain when you let go of the keys, but new notes played afterward
will not be sustained. Releasing the pedal puts things back to normal. Of course it can be

programmed to do other functions as well.

Connecting a Control Pedal

A control pedal can be very useful for controlling volume, vibrato, or other effect by foot.
The Kurzweil CC-1 control pedal will work best with the SPS4, but it is also possible to use
third-party control pedals designed for synthesizers. Note that a volume pedal may or may
not be satisfactory depending on how it is constructed.

See Control Pedal Problems on page 12-6 if you are having trouble with your control pedal.

Getting Started

Connecting Pedals

2-7

Getting Started

Out In

Connecting MIDI

Connecting MIDI

In addition to being a performance-suited musical instrument, the SPS4 is a powerful, but
intuitive and easy-to-use MIDI controller. For descriptions of how to customize your SPS4
as MIDI controller, and how to use its MIDI controller capabilities to their fullest potential,

see Setup Mode on page 7-1.

Basic MIDI Hookup

To use the SPS4 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.

You may also connect the audio output of the module to the SPS4’s sound system with two
audio cables, see “Connecting to an External Audio System” on page 2-4. Even if you are not
using the SPS4’s speakers, it will mix the module’s sounds with your SPS4’s own sounds and
present the mix on the Audio Output jacks.

SP4 Module

Out In

To control the SPS4 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.

Module SP4

Connecting More Sound Modules

In order to connect multiple sound modules to be controlled by a single MIDI controller,
your SPS4 must either be (1) used as the controller or (2) be the last module in the MIDI
daisy chain. This is because the SPS4 does not include a THRU MIDI port; however, this
simply means that the SPS4 must be at the start or at the end of the MIDI daisy chain.

Using the SPS4 as the controller, connect the MIDI OUT port to the MIDI IN port of the
first module, and then connect that module’s MIDI THRU port to the input of the next
module, and so on, until the last module is connected. The MIDI chain should end in the
MIDI IN port of the last module.

2-8

Getting Started

Module 1

Module 2

Last Module

Connecting MIDI

Module 1

MIDI Thru

MIDI In

Scenario 1: SPS4 as the MIDI controller

MIDI In MIDI Thru

Module 2

MIDI Out

SPS4

MIDI In

Last Module

Scenario 2: SPS4 as the last module in the MIDI chain

MIDI Thru

MIDI In

MIDI In MIDI Thru

MIDI Out

MIDI In

MIDI Controller

Connecting to a Computer Sequencer

To connect your SPS4 to a computer as a MIDI controller, simply connect the SPS4 to your
computer using the provided cable. If you wish to use your own cable, make sure that it is
a Type-A-to-Type-B USB cable (the USB port of the SPS4 being Type B). By default, the
SPS4 will act as a MIDI controller (rather than a hard drive) when connected to a computer.

If you are using a software synthesizer (“Plug-in”) or MP3 playback application on your
computer, you may connect the computer’s Line Out audio output to the Audio In jacks
of your SPS4 to use it’s sound system. This is especially useful if using your SPS4 as a high
quality native sound source and as a controller for a soft synth because both sounds will

come from the same speakers.

2-9

Getting Started

Connecting MIDI

2-10

Chapter 3
Features of the SPS4

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the features of the SPS4. Many of

these features have both general functions and Mode-specific functions. For more in-depth

descriptions of these features, refer to the chapters on the individual Modes.

Features of the SPS4

The Front Panel

The Front Panel

On the front panel of the SPS4 are all of its controls, both musical and navigational.

Mod

Slider

Control

Pitch
Touchpad
(on left cheekblock)

Knob

Function

Buttons

Display

Value Buttons

Bank

Select

Buttons

Chan/Param

Buttons

Group Select

Buttons

Sound Select

Buttons

3-1

Features of the SPS4

Pitch Touchpad

(on left cheekblock)

Mod Slider
(on front panel)

Pitch and Mod Controllers

Pitch and Mod Controllers

Pitch Touchpad

The pitch touchpad is located on the left cheekblock. It works much like a traditional pitch
wheel or pitch bender lever but is more compact and less prone to wear out.

Like a bend lever or wheel, when not touched it is virtually centered and true pitch is heard.
Touching above the horizontal embossing will bend pitch upward, up to a whole tone sharp.
Touching below the embossing will bend pitch downward, up to a whole tone at. Smooth
bends are achieved by placing your finger where the horizontal and vertical embossings
cross and then sliding your finger along the vertical embossing while maintaining contact. To
restore normal pitch smoothly, slide back toward center. Or, simply release and the bend will
spring back to center (none).

Mod Slider

The mod slider is the leftmost slider control on the front panel. The mod slider is not spring
loaded so its handle remains where last released. Typically, the mod slider is assigned to a

parameter that alters some aspect of the sound (e.g., vibrato, filter depth) when changed.

Function Buttons

The Function buttons are located beneath the “Function” label on the left side of the front
panel. In addition to changing operating Modes, these buttons serve Mode-specific

secondary functions.

3-2

Program Button

Pressing the Program button will take you into Program Mode (described in The Operating 
Modes on page 5-1 and, in further detail, in Program Mode on page 6-1). In Program Mode, you can

select and play different sounds (or “Programs”).

This button’s LED will be illuminated when you are in Program Mode.

Setup Button

Pressing the Setup button will take you into Setup Mode (described in The Operating Modes 
on page 5-1 and, in further detail, in Setup Mode on page 7-1). In Setup Mode, you can select different

configurations (or “Setups”) of Programs, controller assignments, and MIDI channel

assignments.

This button’s LED will be illuminated when you are in Setup Mode.

Edit Setup Button

Features of the SPS4

Function Buttons

Pressing the Edit Setup button will take you into Edit Setup Mode (described in The 
Operating Modes on page 5-1 and, in further detail, in Edit Setup Mode on page 8-1). In Edit Setup

Mode, you can edit or create Setups.

This button’s LED will be illuminated when you are in Edit Setup Mode.

Global Button

Pressing the Global button will take you into Global Mode (described in The Operating Modes 
on page 5-1 and, in further detail, in Global Mode on page 9-1). In Global Mode, you can edit

parameters that control the entire SPS4. These include tuning, transposition, and velocity
and aftertouch sensitivity. Additionally, you can perform a hard reset in this Mode.

CAUTION: PERFORMING A HARD RESET WILL DELETE ALL USER-CREATED
PROGRAMS, SETUPS, AND GLOBAL SETTINGS.

This button’s LED will be illuminated when you are in Global Mode.

Save Button

Pressing the Save button will allow you to save any custom Programs or Setups that you’ve
created, or save any changes made to the current Program or Setup. This button’s LED will

appear illuminated once you have made changes to the current Program or Setup.

3-3

Features of the SPS4

Function Buttons

Split (Zone 1) Button

Pressing the Split button will perform the Split Function. With the Split Function, you can
split the keyboard into up to four Zones, and assign different programs, MIDI settings, and
transpositions to each Zone. The Split Function is described further in The Split Function on

page 5-4.

When in Setup Mode, holding down the Shift button while pressing the Split button will
mute or unmute (depending on the state of the zone) Zone 1 of the current setup.

Layer (Zone 2) Button

Pressing the Layer button will perform the Layer Function. With the Layer Function, you
can layer up to four different programs and setups – each layer is a new Zone, of which you

can have a maximum of four. The Layer Function is described further in The Layer Function 
on page 5-4.

When in Setup Mode, holding down the Shift button while pressing the Layer button will
mute or unmute (depending on the state of the zone) Zone 2 of the current setup.

Transpose (Zone 3 and Zone 4) Buttons

Pressing the Transpose + button will transpose the current program or setup up by one
semitone; pressing the Transpose – button will transpose the current program or setup
down by one semitone. Pressing both Transpose + and Transpose – simultaneously will
restore the current program or setup to having no transposition; if these two buttons are

simultaneously pressed when there is already no transposition, then the current program or

setup will be transposed down by one octave (12 semitones).

When in Setup Mode, holding down the Shift button while pressing the Transpose –
button will mute or unmute (depending on the state of the zone) Zone 3 of the current

setup. Holding down the Shift button while pressing the Transpose + button will mute or
unmute (depending on the state of the zone) Zone 4 of the current setup.

Shift Button

When in Setup Mode, holding down the Shift button activates the secondary functions (i.e.,
Zone mute) of the Split, Layer, Transpose –, and Transpose + buttons. When holding
down the Shift button, the button of each active zone will be illuminated and the button of

each muted zone will be blinking.

3-4

The Control Knob

The assignable control knob is a powerful and exible—yet intuitive—feature of the SPS4.
It provides you with real-time control of five parameters. In Program Mode and Setup
Mode, these parameters are preset. In Edit Setup Mode, you can change what these

parameters are.

The control knob gives you real-time control of five different parameters—the currently
selected parameter is indicated by the column of LEDs. By default these five parameters are:

Features of the SPS4

The Control Knob

• 1 Timbre

• 2 Mod

• 3 Envelope

• 4 Effect

• 5 Reverb

You can change what these five parameters are in Edit Setup Mode (see Edit Setup Mode on 

page 8-1).

Pressing the Control Select button (located beneath the column of LEDs) changes the

currently selected parameter that is affected by the control knob.

3-5

Features of the SPS4

Display and Value Buttons

Display and Value Buttons

The alphanumeric display and Value buttons below it are located close to the center of the

front panel.

Previous (–) and Next (+) Value Buttons

Use the Next and Previous buttons to scroll through the list of items on the display.
Pressing both the Next and Previous buttons simultaneously will jump to the first entry of

the next category of items in the list. For example, when in Program Mode with program 1
Studio Grand currently selected, pressing Next and Previous simultaneously will jump up

the list of program to program 8 Stevie’s Rhds, the first of the Electric Piano programs.
Pressing the two buttons again will jump up to program 16 Supasticious, the first of the

Clavinet programs.

Chan / Param Buttons

In Program Mode, pressing the Chan / Param Up () button will change the MIDI
transmit channel from the current channel to the next one; pressing the Chan / Param
Down () button will change the MIDI transmit channel from the current channel to the

previous one.

In the all of the Modes other than Program Mode and Setup Mode—i.e., Edit Setup, Global,

and System—pressing the Chan / Param buttons will scroll through the parameter list of
the current Mode.

3-6

Object Select Buttons

The Object Select Buttons are located on the right side of the front panel. Note that there
are three types of Object Select Buttons: Bank Select, Group Select, and Sound Select. The

Programs and Setups of the SPS4 are organized in three levels of organization: eight Sounds

make up a Group, eight Groups make up a Bank. The following figure illustrates this

organization using the Program 42 Jump! 0bx as an example:

Features of the SPS4

Object Select Buttons

Bank

1

2

User

Group Sound

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Piano

E. Piano

Clav

Organ

String

Synth

Voice

Pad

A

41 PolyTeknobrth

B

C

43 ‘80s End Cred

D

44 ‘80s AreanSyn

E

45 SynBell Morph

F

G

H

48 ChoirComplete

42 Jump! 0bx

46 Fat Syn Orch

47 SickoSynco

For all objects, the currently selected Bank, Group, and Sound are indicated by a lit LED.
The example above (42 Jump! 0bx)would appear as follows:

3-7

Features of the SPS4

Object Select Buttons

Bank Select Button

Pressing the Bank Select button will cycle through the three object banks: Bank 1, Bank 2,
and User. The column of LEDs indicates the currently selected bank. In Program Mode,

Bank 1 contains programs 0-63, Bank 2 contains programs 64-127, and User Bank contains

user-created programs numbered 128-191. In Setup Mode, Bank 1 contains setups 0-63 and
User Bank contains user-created setups numbered 64-127.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI
Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting bank change and program change
MIDI messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Group Select Buttons

As pictured below, there are eight Group Select buttons. Note that each button corresponds
to a different Group depending on the currently selected bank.

Each bank is divided into eight Groups. Pressing the Group Select button immediately
beneath each Group label will select that Group within the current bank. The LED of the
currently selected Group’s button will be lit.

Sound Select Buttons

3-8

Each of the Sound Select buttons corresponds to one Sound in the currently selected
Group; pressing one of these buttons will select that Sound. The LED of the currently
selected Sound’s button will be lit.

Alphanumeric Data Entry

When editing parameters or naming Objects, you can use the Group and Sound Select
buttons for alphanumeric data entry. Note that on each button the secondary function is

printed in gray ink.

Features of the SPS4

Double Button Presses

Double Button Presses

Several pairs of the buttons on the SPS4 have timesaving secondary functions when pressed
simultaneously—think of them as keyboard shortcuts. For convenience of reference,
descriptions of all of the double-button press functions appear below.

Reset Transposition / Lower by an Octave

Pressing both Transpose + and Transpose – simultaneously will restore the current
program or setup to having no transposition. If these two buttons are simultaneously
pressed when there is already no transposition, then the current program or setup will be
transposed down by one octave (12 semitones).

3-9

Features of the SPS4

Double Button Presses

Jump Value

Pressing both Next and Previous Value buttons simultaneously will jump to the next
category of items in the list. For example, when in Program Mode with program 1 Studio
Grand currently selected, pressing Next and Previous simultaneously will jump up the list
of programs to program 8 Stevie’s Rhds, the first of the Electric Piano programs. Pressing

the two buttons again will jump up to program 16 Supasticious, the first of the Clavinet

programs.

Jump Parameter

Pressing both the Chan / Param Up () and the Chan / Param Down () buttons
simultaneously will jump to the beginning of the next category of items in the parameter list.

MIDI Program Change

3-10

Pressing Sound Select Buttons A and B takes you to the MIDI Program Change Function
page (described in further detail in MIDI Program Change Function on page 5-5). With the
MIDI Program Change Function, you can send a MIDI Program Change message to any
sound modules in a MIDI chain connected to the SPS4.

Demo

Pressing Sound Select Buttons E and F performs the Demo Function (described in further
detail in Demo Function on page 5-6). With the Demo Function, you can hear a demo
sequence that showcases many of the features of SPS4.

Panic

Features of the SPS4

Double Button Presses

Pressing Sound Select Buttons G and H deactivates all sounding notes and control messages

and sends an “All Notes Off ” message to all connected modules.

3-11

Features of the SPS4

Double Button Presses

3-12

Chapter 4
Terminology

This chapter provides definitions and descriptions for all of the SPS4-specific terms use
in this manual. Note that some of the terms are also used by other manufactures. Since
there are no standard definitions for some of these terms, they are described here to avoid

confusion. All of these terms appear capitalized as proper nouns in this manual to make it

easy to distinguish between the generic term and the SPS4-specific term.

Terminology

Object Anything that can be named, saved, deleted, or

edited (i.e., a Program or a Setup). See Program Mode 
on page 6-1 and Setup Mode on page 7-1 for more

information on Objects.

Program A factory-preset or user-programmed sounds

stored in ROM or ash memory, each with five
parameters that can be changed in real-time with the
control knob. See Program Mode on page 6-1 for more

information on Programs.

Setup A factory-preset or user-programmed MIDI

performance presets consisting of up to 4 Zones,

each with its own keyboard region, Program, MIDI

channel, and controller assignments. See Setup Mode 
on page 7-1 for more information on Setups.

Zone A keyboard region of a Setup that has its own

Program, MIDI channel, and controller assignments.

See Setup Mode on page 7-1 for more information on
Zones.

Split A division of Zones in a Setup. See The Split Function 

on page 5-4 for more information on Splits.

Layer An overlap of Zones in a Setup. See The Layer 

Function on page 5-4 for more information on Layers.

4-1

Terminology

Bank The first and highest level of Object organization;

contains eight Groups and thus 64 Sounds; different
from a “MIDI Bank”, which will be referred to

as such. See Using the Object Select Buttons on page 6-3
or Using the Object Select Buttons on page 7-3 for more

information on Banks and Object organization.

MIDI Bank The highest level of Object organization by the

MIDI standard; contains 128 Objects; different from

a “Bank”.

Group The second level of Object organization; contains

eight Sounds. See Using the Object Select Buttons on page 
6-3 or Using the Object Select Buttons on page 7-3 for more

information on Groups and Object organization.

Sound The third lowest level of Object organization; can

be either a Program or a Setup depending on the

current Mode. See Using the Object Select Buttons on page 
6-3 or Using the Object Select Buttons on page 7-3 for more

information on Sounds and Object organization.

Mode An operating status with a unique group of

operations. See The Operating Modes on page 5-1 for more
information on Modes.

4-2

Chapter 5
The Operating Modes

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the operating modes of the SPS4. Each

of the five Modes (Program, Setup, Edit Setup, Global, and System) has its own individual
chapter—the four Functions (Split, Layer, MIDI Program Change, and Demo) are described

in this chapter in Functions on page 5-4.

The Operating Modes

Program Mode

Program Mode

Program mode is the default mode of the SPS4. In this mode, you can select, play, and edit

programs. To enter Program mode from another mode, press the Program Function
button.

For more detailed information on Program mode, see Program Mode on page 6-1.

5-1

The Operating Modes

Setup Mode

Setup Mode

Setup mode allows you to select and play setups. Setups are configurations of up to four

zones, each of which may have its own program and controller assignments. To enter Setup
mode from another mode, press the Setup Function button.

For more detailed information on Setup mode, see Setup Mode on page 7-1.

Edit Setup Mode

Edit Setup mode allows you to create setups or edit preexisting setups. To enter Edit Setup
mode from another mode, press the Edit Setup Function button.

For more detailed information on Edit Setup mode, see Edit Setup Mode on page 8-1.

5-2

Global Mode

CAUTION: READ Global Mode on page 9-1 BEFORE USING GLOBAL MODE. THIS
MODE CONTAINS CERTAIN OPERATIONS THAT CANNOT BE UNDONE.

Global mode allows you to edit global parameters and MIDI settings, or restore factory
defaults with a hard reset. To enter Global mode from another mode, press the Global
Function button.

The Operating Modes

Global Mode

System Mode

CAUTION: READ System Mode on page 10-1 BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER SYSTEM
MODE. THIS MODE CONTAINS CERTAIN OPERATIONS THAT CANNOT BE
UNDONE.

System Mode allows you manage and upgrade the OS software of your SPS4 as well as

perform diagnostic tests of the instrument’s various internal systems and processes. Note

that the functions that you have access to in System Mode govern the operation of your
SPS4, so only use System Mode when you must perform essential maintenance tasks.

To enter System Mode, follow these steps:

1. Power off your SPS4.

2. Press and the hold the Shift button, and power on the unit. Make sure to keep holding

the Shift button unit the text “SPS4 bootloader vx.x” (where x.x is the version of the
bootloader software) scrolls across the display.

3. Release the Shift button—at this point, you are in System Mode.

5-3

The Operating Modes

Functions

Functions

In addition to the five primary Modes, there are four Functions. These Functions are not as
complex as the primary Modes and are described below.

The Split Function

Pressing the Split Function button while in either Program or Setup mode will perform the
Split Function. The Split Function allows you to split programs and setups such that keys in
one region of the keyboard produce different sounds than another region.

Creating Splits in Program Mode is slightly different from creating Splits in Setup Mode. See
The Split Function on page 6-7 (for Splits in Program Mode) and The Split Function on page 7-8
(for Splits in Setup Mode).

The Layer Function

Pressing the Layer Function button while in either Program or Setup mode will perform the
Layer Function. The Layer Function allows you to layer programs and setups such that more
than one sound can be produced by striking one key.

5-4

Creating Layers in Program Mode is slightly different from creating Splits in Setup Mode.
See The Layer Function on page 6-9 (for Layers in Program Mode) and The Layer Function on 
page 7-9 (for Layers in Setup Mode).

MIDI Program Change Function

Pressing both the Sound Select A and Sound Select B buttons simultaneously will take you
into the MIDI Program Change Function page.

With this Function, you can send a MIDI Program Change message to connected sound

modules. Doing so will not affect the local sound (that is, it will not affect the currently

selected program on the SPS4). Using the secondary functions of the Group Select and
Sound Select buttons, you can enter program numbers from 0 to 2,097,152—this seemingly
random number comes from the fact that, by the General MIDI Standard, you can send
Program messages for up to 16,384 MIDI Banks, each containing up to 128 programs.

The Operating Modes

Functions

When a message is sent with the MIDI Program Change Function, any Global setting that
might disable MIDI Transmit or might disable MIDI Program Change is ignored. After the
MIDI Program Change message is sent, the SPS4 will automatically return to the previous

mode.

A MIDI Program Change message can be canceled by pressing any button other than the
Numeric Entry buttons or the Value buttons.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI
Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting MIDI Bank Change and MIDI
Program Change messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Differing Program Numbers

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 0 and 127, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter for the MIDI Program Change Function:

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number] - 1

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 594—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83 - 1.

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 1 and 128, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter in MIDI Program Change mode:

5-5

The Operating Modes

Functions

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 595—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83.

Demo Function

Pressing the Sound Select E and F buttons simultaneously performs the Demo Function.

Entering this mode, the SP4 will play a built-in demo sequence designed to demonstrate
the capabilities of the instrument. While the demo sequence plays, the display will show the
text “Demo Mode,” and the Sound Select E and Sound Select F button LEDs will blink,
indicating that the instrument is in Demo Mode. Pressing any button will return to the

previous mode.

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number]

5-6

Chapter 6
Program Mode

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the features of Program mode.

Programs are essentially the different sounds of a MIDI instrument—they are preset sound
Objects equivalent to the “patches,” “presets,” or “voices” that you find on other synths.

On the SPS4, you can have up to 192 different Programs organized in three different Banks:
Bank 1 (Programs 0-63) and Bank 2 (programs 64-127) provide you with 128 ready-to-play
factory Programs, and the User Bank provides you with 64 slots for user-created Programs.

Program Mode

About Program Mode

About Program Mode

Program mode is the default mode of the SPS4—the SPS4 starts up in this mode. To enter
Program mode from another mode, press the Program Function button. While you are in
Program mode, the Program button’s indicator LED is illuminated. Also by default, the
SPS4 starts up with Program 0 Grand Piano selected. If you enter Program mode from
another mode, the last selected Program will be the current Program.

6-1

Program Mode

Table of Programs

Table of Programs

ID Name Group Sound ID Name Group Sound

BANK 1

0 Standard Grand
1 Studio Grand B 59 SynOrcWhale D
2 Horowitz Grand C 60 So Lush Pad E
3 Piano & Pad D 61 Add a Pad 1 F
4 Blues Piano'74 E 62 Add a Pad 2 G
5 Rock Piano '74 F 63 Heaven&Earth H
6 Upright Piano G
7 Piano & String H
8 Duke's Rhds
9 Hotrod Rhds B 65 Electric Kit B
10 Classic Wurly C 66 Gated Kit C
11 Super Wurly D 67 HeadhuntersKt D
12 Fuzz Wurly E 68 Produced Kit E
13 FM E Piano F 69 60'sRock&Soul F
14 Rich EP+Pad G 70 RocAFella Kit G
15 UK Pop CP70 H 71 MP Brush Kit H
16 Wah Clav
17 Joe's Clav B 73 Modern Perc B
18 BlackCow Clav C 74 Timp&OrchPerc C
19 Stevie Fuzz D 75 Marimba D
20 Orch Harp E 76 Vibes E
21 Harpsichord F 77 Glockenspiel F
22 Celeste G 78 Steel Drums G
23 Celeste/Glk H 79 Xylophone H
24 The Ninth Bar
25 Gregg's B B 81 SalsaSection B
26 Ole Gospel B C 82 1-NotePwrRiff C
27 Prog B3 Perc D 83 P*Funk Horns D
28 Sly's Revenge E 84 Solo Trumpet E
29 Farsa F 85 Mute Trumpet F
30 All Stops G 86 Brass Fanfare G
31 Pipe Stops H 87 Gothic Climax H
32 LA Strings
33 Lead Strings B 89 Lead Oboe B
34 Pizzicato C 90 Solo Clarinet C
35 Adagio Strngs D 91 Solo Bassoon D
36 Tremolando E 92 English Horn E
37 Tron Strings F 93 Bari/TenorSec F
38 Solo Violin G 94 Piccolo G
39 Solo Cello H 95 Tron Flutes H
40 Classic Comp
41 ARP2500 Brass B 97 Real Nylon B
42 Mono Trekkies C 98 Fluid Guitar C
43 OBX Jump! D 99 Comp'd Phaser D
44 80's Synth E 100 Emo Verser E
45 Synth Bell F 101 Vox'd Elec12 F
46 Synth Orch G 102 Rock Lead MW G
47 SickoSynco H 103 Rockin' Lead H
48 Full Choir
49 Cathedral Vox B 105 Flea/Bootsy B
50 Aaahlicious C 106 Jaco Frtless C
51 Jazzy Ballad D 107 Upright Bass D
52 Manhattan Vox E 108 Octave Frtls E
53 BrightSyn Vox F 109 BowhSaw Bass F
54 Tron Choir G 11 0 KneeDeepMini G
55 Ahh Chorus H 111 Big Dummy H

Piano

E. Piano

Clav

Organ

String

Synth

Voice

56 Slo QuadraPad
57 BladerunnrARP B

A 58 Slo Syn Orch C

Pad

BANK 2

A 64 Solid Kit

Drum

A 72 Natural Perc

Perc

A 80 PowerPopHorns

Brass

A 88 Solo Flute

Wind

A 96 Ac Guitar

Guitar

A 104 E-Bass

Bass

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

6-2

ID Name Group Sound ID Name Group Sound

112 Saw+Mogue 4P
113 Emerson Lead B 121 MellowAccord B
114 MicroMogue + C 122 WindsHornStr C
115 V Sync Lead D 123 Strs&Silver D
116 Toot Lead E 124 China Flower E
117 MWheel Lead F 125 Blues Harp F
118 12SAWLeadMW G 126 Touch Koto G
119 Square Lead H 127 Magic Mbira H

Selection

In Program mode, the display shows the current Program. Use the Value buttons below

the display to change the current Program—pressing Previous will scroll down the list and
pressing Next will scroll up the list. Pressing both Next and Previous simultaneously will

jump to the first Program of the next Group.

A 120 BrazilAccord

Lead

USER BANK

ID Name Group Sound

128–191 (User Programs) A–H A–H

Program Mode

Selection

A

Misc

The display and Value buttons below it are located close to the center of the front panel.

Using the Object Select Buttons

6-3

Program Mode

Selection

The Object Select Buttons are located on the right side of the front panel. Note that there
are three types of Object Select Buttons: Bank Select, Group Select, and Sound Select. The

Programs of the SPS4 are organized in three levels of organization: eight Sounds make up a
Group, eight Groups make up a Bank. The following figure illustrates this organization using
the Program 42 Jump! 0bx as an example:

Bank

1

2

User

Group Sound

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Piano

E. Piano

Clav

Organ

String

Synth

Voice

Pad

A

41 PolyTeknobrth

B

C

43 ‘80s End Cred

D

44 ‘80s AreanSyn

E

45 SynBell Morph

F

G

H

48 ChoirComplete

42 Jump! 0bx

46 Fat Syn Orch

47 SickoSynco

For all objects, the currently selected Bank, Group, and Sound are indicated by a lit LED.
The example above (42 Jump! 0bx) would appear as follows:

6-4

Bank Select Button

Pressing the Bank Select button will cycle through the three Object Banks: Bank 1, Bank
2, and User. The column of LEDs indicates the currently selected Bank. In Program Mode,

Bank 1 contains programs 0-63, Bank 2 contains programs 64-127, and User Bank contains

user-created programs numbered 128-191.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI
Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting MIDI Bank Change and MIDI
Program Change messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Program Mode

Selection

Group Select Buttons

As pictured below, there are eight Group Select buttons. Note that each button corresponds
to a different Group depending on the currently selected Bank.

Each Bank is divided into eight Groups. Pressing the Group Select button immediately
beneath each Group label will select that Group within the current Bank. The LED of the
currently selected Group’s button will be lit.

Sound Select Buttons

Each of the Sound Select buttons corresponds to one Sound in the currently selected
Group; pressing one of these buttons will select that Sound. The LED of the currently
selected Sound’s button will be lit.

Alphanumeric Data Entry

When editing parameters or naming Objects, you can use the Group and Sound Select
buttons for alphanumeric data entry. Note that on each button the secondary function is

printed in white ink.

6-5

Program Mode

Transposition

Transposition

Pressing the Transpose + button will transpose the current Program up by one semitone;
pressing the Transpose – button will transpose the current Program down by one semitone.

Pressing both Transpose + and Transpose – simultaneously will restore the current
Program to having no transposition; if these two buttons are simultaneously pressed when
there is already no transposition, then the current Program will be transposed down by one

octave (12 semitones).

The LEDs of the Transposition buttons indicate whether the current Program is transposed

up (when Transpose + is lit) or transposed down (when Transpose – is lit). When there is

no transposition, then neither Transposition button is lit.

The Control Knob

The control knob gives you real-time control of five different parameters—the currently
selected parameter is indicated by the column of LEDs. By default these five parameters are:

• 1 Timbre

• 2 Mod

6-6

• 3 Envelope

• 4 Effect

• 5 Reverb

You can change what these five parameters are in Edit Setup Mode (see Edit Setup Mode on 

page 8-1).

Pressing the Control Select button (located beneath the column of LEDs) changes the

currently selected parameter that is affected by the control knob. Note that when you make
a change to the current Program using the Control Knob, the Save button LED will light up
indicating that a change has been made to the Program. For more information on the Save
button and its LED states, see Saving in Program Mode on page 6-10.

The Split Function

Pressing the Split Function button while in Program mode will perform the Split Function.
The Split Function allows you to split Programs such that keys in one region of the
keyboard produce different sounds than another region.

Program Mode

The Split Function

When you create a Split in a Program, you are in fact creating a Setup (see Setup Mode on page 

7-1 for more information on Setups). As previously described, Setups are configurations

of four Zones, each of which may have its own Program and controller assignments. Once

you’ve created a Split in a Program, creating another Split will activate another Zone within
what is now a Setup. If the Setup already has its maximum of four active Zones and you

press the Split Function button, then a message will appear on the display indicating that
you have reached the maximum of four active Zones. The Split Function is convenient, as
you do not need to go through Edit Setup Mode to delineate Zones, assign Programs, etc.
You can simply hit the Split Function button, and the SPS4 automatically activates another
Zone in the Setup for you, with default values for parameters of the Split.

The newly-activated Zone is the “Secondary Voice”. The currently active Zone(s) constitute
the “Primary Voice”.

There are four parameters (described below) that determine the behavior of the Split. You
can view these parameters by scrolling through them using the Chan / Param buttons.
To edit them, use the Value buttons or the secondary alphanumeric entry functions of the
Object select buttons.

6-7

Program Mode

The Split Function

Split Program

This parameter determines the Program for the Secondary Voice (left-hand side) of the
Split—the current Program is the Program for the Primary Zone (right-hand side) of the

Split, and is also the default Split Program. Any of the Programs can be chosen for this

parameter.

Split Volume

This parameter determines the relative volumes of the Secondary and Primary Voices—it

can be set to any number between -127 and 127. By default, the Split Volume is set to 0,
which results in both Voices having the same volume. When set to a positive number, the

volume for the Secondary Voice is increased while the volume for the Primary Voice is
decreased—doing the opposite has the opposite effect on the relative volumes of the Voice.

Split Key

This parameter determines the boundary of the Split—it can be set to any number between
20 (G#0) and 108 (C8). By default, the Split Key is set to 60 (C4, or middle C). The chosen
key is the highest note in the Secondary Voice—one note above this note is the lowest note
in the Primary Voice. In addition to using the Value buttons, you can directly select the Split
Key by holding down the Sound Select H (aka Enter) button and then striking the desired
key on the keyboard.

Split Transposition

This parameter determines the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of
the Primary Voice—it can be set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24. By default, Split Transposition
is set to 0. Note that if the Primary Voice is transposed, then the Secondary Voice will be

transposed by the same amount in addition to being transposed by the amount set for the

Split Transposition.

6-8

The Layer Function

Pressing the Layer Function button while in Program mode will perform the Layer
Function. The Layer Function allows you to layer programs and setups such that more than
one sound can be produced by striking one key.

When you create a Layer in a Program, you are in fact creating a Setup (see Setup Mode on page 

7-1 for more information on Setups). As previously described, Setups are configurations

of up to four Zones, each of which may have its own Program and controller assignments.

Once you’ve created a Layer in a Program, creating another Layer will create activate another
Zone within what is now a Setup. If the current Setup already has its maximum of four

active Zones and you press the Layer Function button, then a message will appear on the
display indicating that you have reached the maximum of four active Zones. The Layer
Function is convenient, as you do not need to go through Edit Setup Mode to delineate
Zones, assign Programs, etc. You can simply hit the Layer Function button, and the SPS4
automatically activates another Zone in the Setup for you, with default values for parameters
of the Layer.

Program Mode

The Layer Function

There are three parameters (described below) that determine the behavior of the Layer. You
can view these parameters by scrolling through them using the Chan / Param buttons.
To edit them, use the Value buttons or the secondary alphanumeric entry functions of the
Object select buttons.

Layer Program

This parameter determines the program for the Secondary Voice—the current program is

the program for the Primary Voice. Any of the programs can be chosen for this parameter.

Layer Volume

This parameter determines the relative volumes of the Secondary and Primary Voices—it

can be set to any number between -127 and 127. By default, the Layer Volume is set to 0,
which results in both Voices having the same volume. When set to a positive number, the

volume for the Secondary Voice is increased while the volume for the Primary Layer is
decreased—doing the opposite has the opposite effect on the relative volumes of the Layers.

6-9

Program Mode

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel

Layer Transposition

This parameter determines the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of
the Primary Voice—it can be set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24. By default, Layer Transposition
is set to 0. Note that if the Primary Voice is transposed, then the Secondary Voice will be

transposed by the same amount in addition to being transposed by the amount set for the

Layer Transposition.

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel

Pressing the Chan / Param Up () or Down () button will change the MIDI transmit
channel, incrementing or decrementing it respectively. Pressing both Chan / Param Up ()
and Down () at the same time will reset the current MIDI channel to 1.

The MIDI channel will be shown briey in the display before the display changes back to
showing the current Program on the selected MIDI transmit channel.

Saving in Program Mode

When you make a change to the current Program using the Control Knob, the Save button
LED will light up indicating that a change has been made to the Program. To save the
current Program, press the Save button once. The Save button LED will blink to indicate
that a save operation is underway, and the User Bank LED will also be lit. If the program is

an edited Factory Program (i.e., a Program in Bank 1 or Bank 2), the default save location

will be the next available location in the User Bank. If all 64 User Bank slots are taken, then

6-10

Program Mode

Saving in Program Mode

the Program is saved in the last slot in the User Bank, overwriting what was previously in

that slot. If the current Program is a Program already in the User Bank, then the Program is

saved in its current Program slot. At this point, you can rename the new Program using the

secondary alphanumeric functions of the Group Select and Sound Select buttons.

When the Save button LED is blinking (which means that you pressed Save, and a save
operation is underway), pressing Save again will cause the system to save the current

Program to the indicated Group and Sound in the User Bank. If you want to save it to a
different location in the User Bank, select the location via the Group Select and Sound Select
buttons (or using the Value buttons) before pressing Save again.

Pressing any other button while the Save button is blinking will cancel the save operation.

6-11

Program Mode

Saving in Program Mode

6-12

Chapter 7
Setup Mode

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the features of Setup mode.

Setups are configurations of four Zones (explained below in About Zones), each of which
may have its own Program, controller assignments, and MIDI transmit channel. You can
have up to 128 different Setups organized in two different banks: Bank 1 (Setups 0-63) and

User Bank (Setups 64-127). These provide you respectively with 64 ready-to-play factory
Setups and 64 slots for user-created Setups.

Setup Mode

About Setup Mode

About Setup Mode

To enter Setup mode from another mode, press the Setup Function button. While you are in
Setup mode, the Setup button’s indicator LED is illuminated. By default, when you enter
Setup mode after a start-up of your instrument, Setup 0 will be the current Setup. If you
enter Setup mode from another mode, the last selected Setup will be the current Setup.

7-1

Setup Mode

Table of Setups

Table of Setups

ID Name Group Sound ID Name Group Sound

0 BritePno/Slap
1 BritePno/Jaco B 33 Vibes/UpBass B
2 JazzPno/UpBs C 34 Mbira/GlkHarp C
3 PadPno/Levin D 35 Steel/Marimba D
4 PnoStrng/UpBs E 36 CagePerc/Glck E
5 Rhodes/E-Bs F 37 Mbira/NatPerc F
6 S Tramp/E-Bs G 38 Magic/CagePerc G
7 FM EP/E-Bs H 39 Silver/GlockHarp H
8 CP70/Levin
9 Clav/Slap B 41 Luscious EP B
10 PhzClav/E-Bs C 42 Luscious EP2 C
11 GregKB/E-Bs D 43 Swank CP70 D
12 ProgKB/UpBs E 44 Sndtrack Xylo E
13 SlyKB/SlpBs F 45 Rich Stack F
14 Church1/Strgs G 46 Harp/Marimba G
15 Church2/Strgs H 47 Pizz Marimba H
16 Horns/SynBs
17 Horns/SlapBs B 49 Sparkle Harp B
18 Orc/SynBs1 C 50 Plucked Ivory C
19 Orc/SynBs2 D 51 Intense SynLd D
20 LushPad/Bs E 52 Intense Comp E
21 Strngs/E Bs F 53 Rich Voices F
22 Voices1/SynBs G 54 VIP Accordian G
23 Voices2/SynBs H 55 Fantasy Koto H
24 Voices3/UpBs
25 Voices3/E-Bs B 57 VIP Mooger Ld B
26 Voices4/SynBs C 58 VIP Sync Lead C
27 A Guit/E Bs D 59 VIP KE Lead D
28 Fluid/Upright E 60 VIP ED Lead E
29 E Guit3/E-Bs F 61 VIP GH Lead F
30 Q Pad/Levin G 62 Clear Setup G
31 Heaven/SynBs H 63 Default Setup H

BANK 1

A 32 Comper2/SynBs

A

A 40 WindsStr/Mini

B

A 48 Big Dance Syn

C

A 56 VIP Square Ld

D

126 Internal Voices H G

E

F

G

H

A

A

A

A

7-2

USER BANK

ID Name Group Sound

128–191 (User Programs) A–H A–H

Selection

In Setup mode, the display shows the current Setup. Use the Value buttons below the display

to change the current Setup—pressing Previous will scroll down the list and pressing Next

will scroll up the list. Pressing both Next and Previous simultaneously will jump to the first
Setup of the next Group.

The display and Value buttons below it are located close to the center of the front panel.

Using the Object Select Buttons

Setup Mode

Selection

The Object Select Buttons are located on the right side of the front panel. Note that there
are three types of Object Select Buttons: Bank Select, Group Select, and Sound Select. The

Setups of the SPS4 are organized in three levels of organization: eight Sounds make up a
Group, eight Groups make up a Bank. The following figure illustrates this organization using
the Setup 19 as an example:

Bank

1

(none)

User

Group Sound

A

0-7

B

8-15

C

16-23

D

24-31

E

32-39

F

40-47

G

48-55

H

56-63

A

16 Horns/SynBass

B

17 Horns/SlapBass

C

18 Orc/SynBass1

D

19 LushPad/Bass

E

20 Orc/SynBass4

F

21 Strngs/EBass

G

22 Voices1/SynBs

H

23 Voices2/SynBs

7-3

Setup Mode

Selection

For all objects, the currently selected Bank, Group, and Sound are indicated by a lit LED.
The example above (Setup 19) would appear as follows:

Bank Select Button

Pressing the Bank Select button will cycle through the three Object Banks: Bank 1, Bank 2,
and User. The column of LEDs indicates the currently selected Bank. In Setup Mode, Bank
1 contains Setups 0-63 and User Bank contains user-created programs numbered 64-127.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI
Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting MIDI Bank Change and MIDI
Program Change messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Group Select Buttons

As pictured below, there are eight Group Select buttons. Note that each button corresponds
to a different Group depending on the currently selected bank.

Each bank is divided into eight Groups. Pressing the Group Select button immediately
beneath each Group label will select that Group within the current bank. The LED of the
currently selected Group’s button will be lit.

7-4

Sound Select Buttons

Each of the Sound Select buttons corresponds to one Sound in the currently selected
Group; pressing one of these buttons will select that Sound. The LED of the currently
selected Sound’s button will be lit.

Alphanumeric Data Entry

When editing parameters or naming Objects, you can use the Group and Sound Select
buttons for alphanumeric data entry. Note that on each button the secondary function is

printed in gray ink.

Setup Mode

About Zones

About Zones

Zones are the independent regions of the keyboard that make up a Setup. A Setup has
four Zones, each one having its own Program, controller assignments, and MIDI transmit
channel. Zones can be mutually exclusive regions of the keyboard, or they can overlap. You
cannot, however, have “blank” regions of the keyboard that do not belong to a Zone—you
can achieve this effect by muting Zones.

7-5

Setup Mode

Transposition

Muting Zones

You can use the secondary functions of the Split, Layer, and both Transposition buttons
to mute (and unmute) Zones of the current Setup. To do so, press and hold down the

Shift button. When you hold down the Shift button, the Zone buttons of unmuted Zones
illuminate—pressing one of these unmuted Zone buttons will mute its Zone and its
indicator LED will turn off. If a Zone is already muted, then, when holding down the Shift
button, its Zone button LED will ash on and off—pressing one of these muted Zone
buttons will unmute its Zone and its indicator LED will illuminate.

For example, consider a Setup with Zones 1, 2, and 4 active and Zone 3 muted. While
pressing down the Shift button, the Zone buttons will appear as follows:

Lit Lit LitBlinking

Transposition

Pressing the Transpose + button will transpose the current Program up by one semitone;
pressing the Transpose – button will transpose the current Program down by one semitone.

Pressing both Transpose + and Transpose – simultaneously will restore the current
Program to having no transposition; if these two buttons are simultaneously pressed when
there is already no transposition, then the current Program will be transposed down by one

octave (12 semitones).

The LEDs of the Transposition buttons indicate whether the current Program is transposed

up (when Transpose + is lit) or transposed down (when Transpose – is lit). When there is

no transposition, then neither Transposition button is lit.

7-6

Note that the Setup transposition is relative to each Zone’s preset transposition. For instance,

if a Zone has a +2 semitone transposition and the Setup has a +4 semitone transposition,
then that Zone will have a +6 semitone transposition.

The Control Knob

The control knob gives you real-time control of five different parameters—the currently
selected parameter is indicated by the column of LEDs. By default these five parameters are:

• 1 Timbre

• 2 Mod

Setup Mode

The Control Knob

• 3 Envelope

• 4 Effect

• 5 Reverb

You can change what these five parameters are in Edit Setup Mode (see Edit Setup Mode on 

page 8-1).

Pressing the Control Select button (located beneath the column of LEDs) changes the

currently selected parameter that is affected by the control knob. Note that when you make
a change to the current Setup using the Control Knob, the Save button LED will light up
indicating that a change has been made to the Setup. For more information on the Save
button and its LED states, see the section Saving in Setup Mode on page 7-11 below.

Each Zone of the Setup may have its own unique Control Knob parameters—you can
change what these five parameters are in Edit Setup Mode (see Edit Setup Mode on page 8-1).
Note that when you make a change to the current Setup by turning the Control Knob, the
Save button LED will light up indicating that a change has been made to the Setup. For
more information on the Save button and its LED states, see Saving in Setup Mode on page 7-11.

7-7

Setup Mode

The Split Function

The Split Function

Pressing the Split Function button while in Setup mode will perform the Split Function.

When you create a Split in a Setup, you are in fact activating a Zone within the current Setup.

If the current Setup already has its maximum of four active Zones and you press the Split
Function button, then a message will appear on the display indicating that you have reached

the maximum of four active Zones. The Split Function is convenient, as you do not need to
go through Edit Setup Mode to delineate Zones, assign Programs, etc. You can simply hit
the Split Function button, and the SPS4 automatically activates another Zone in the Setup
for you, with default values for parameters of the Split.

The newly-activated Zone is the “Secondary Voice”. The currently active Zone(s) constitute
the “Primary Voice”.

There are four parameters (described below) that determine the behavior of the Split. You
can view these parameters by scrolling through them using the Chan / Param buttons.
To edit them, use the Value buttons or the secondary alphanumeric entry functions of the
Object select buttons.

Split Program

This parameter determines the Program for the Secondary Voice. Any of the Programs can

be chosen for this parameter.

Split Volume

This parameter determines the relative volumes of the Secondary and Primary Voices—it

can be set to any number between -127 and 127. By default, the Split Volume is set to 0,
which results in both Voices having the same volume. When set to a positive number, the

volume for the Secondary Voice is increased while the volume for the Primary Voice is
decreased—doing the opposite has the opposite effect on the relative volumes of the Voices.

7-8

Split Key

This parameter determines the boundary of the Split—it can be set to any number between
20 (G#0) and 108 (C8). By default, the Split Key is set to 60 (C4, or middle C). The chosen
key is the highest note in the Secondary Voice—one note above this note is the lowest note
in the Primary Voice. In addition to using the Value buttons, you can directly select the Split
Key by holding down the Sound Select H (aka Enter) button and then striking the desired
key on the keyboard.

Split Transposition

This parameter determines the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of
the Primary Voice—it can be set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24. By default, Split Transposition
is set to 0. Note that if the Primary Voice is transposed, then the Secondary Voice will be

transposed by the same amount in addition to being transposed by the amount set for the

Split Transposition.

The Layer Function

Setup Mode

The Layer Function

Pressing the Layer Function button while in Setup mode will perform the Layer Function.

When you create a Layer in a Setup, you are in fact activating a Zone within the current

Setup. If the current Setup already has its maximum of four active Zones and you press the
Layer Function button, then a message will appear on the display indicating that you have

reached the maximum of four active Zones. The Layer Function is convenient, as you do
not need to go through Edit Setup Mode to delineate Zones, assign Programs, etc. You can
simply hit the Layer Function button, and the SPS4 automatically activates another Zone in
the Setup for you, with default values for parameters of the Layer.

The newly-activated Zone is the “Secondary Voice”. The currently active Zone(s) constitute
the “Primary Voice”.

There are three parameters (described below) that determine the behavior of the Layer. You
can view these parameters by scrolling through them using the Chan / Param buttons.
To edit them, use the Value buttons or the secondary alphanumeric entry functions of the
Object select buttons.

7-9

Setup Mode

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel

Layer Program

This parameter determines the program for the Secondary Voice. Any of the Programs can

be chosen for this parameter.

Layer Volume

This parameter determines the relative volumes of the Secondary and Primary Voices—it

can be set to any number between -127 and 127. By default, the Layer Volume is set to 0,
which results in both Voices having the same volume. When set to a positive number, the

volume for the Secondary Voice is increased while the volume for the Primary Voice is
decreased—doing the opposite has the opposite effect on the relative volumes of the Voices.

Layer Transposition

This parameter determines the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of
the Primary Voice—it can be set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24. By default, Layer Transposition
is set to 0. Note that if the Primary Voice is transposed, then the Secondary Voice will be

transposed by the same amount in addition to being transposed by the amount set for the

Layer Transposition.

Changing the Transmit MIDI Channel

Pressing the Chan / Param Up () or Down () button will change the MIDI transmit
channel, incrementing or decrementing it respectively. Pressing both Chan / Param Up ()
and Down () at the same time will reset the current MIDI channel to 1.

The MIDI channel will be shown briey in the display before the display changes back to
showing the current Program on the selected MIDI transmit channel.

7-10

Saving in Setup Mode

When you make a change to the current Setup using the Control Knob, the Save button
LED will light up indicating that a change has been made to the Setup. To save the current
Setup, press the Save button once. The Save button LED will blink to indicate that a save
operation is underway, and the User Bank LED will also be lit. If the Setup is an edited
Factory Setup (i.e., a Setup in Bank 1), the default save location will be the next available
location in the User Bank. If all 64 User Bank slots are taken, then the Setup is saved in the
last slot in the User Bank, overwriting what was previously in that slot. If the current Setup

is a Setup already in the User Bank, then the Setup is saved in its current Setup slot. At this
point, you can rename the new Setup using the secondary alphanumeric functions of the

Group Select and Sound Select buttons.

Setup Mode

Saving in Setup Mode

When the Save button LED is blinking (which means that you pressed Save, and a save
operation is underway), pressing Save again will cause the system to save the current Setup

to the indicated Group and Sound in the User Bank. If you want to save it to a different
location in the User Bank, select the location via the Group Select and Sound Select buttons
(or using the Value buttons) before pressing Save again.

Pressing any other button while the Save button is blinking will cancel the save operation.

7-11

Setup Mode

Saving in Setup Mode

7-12

Chapter 8
Edit Setup Mode

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the features of Edit Setup Mode

About Edit Setup Mode

NOTE: Before you read this chapter, be sure to read Setup Mode on page 7-1 for a full
description of Setups.

Edit Setup Mode

About Edit Setup Mode

Edit Setup mode allows you to edit and create Setups—it gives you access to a Setup’s
common parameters and Zone-specific parameters. In this mode, you can customize the
Program, controller assignments, and MIDI transmit channel (in addition to many other

parameters) of the Zones in a Setup. Any Setup edited or created in Edit Setup mode is
saved to one of the 64 User Bank slots.

To enter Edit Setup mode from another mode, press the Edit Setup Function button. While
you are in Edit Setup mode, the Edit Setup button’s indicator LED is illuminated.

8-1

Edit Setup Mode

The Parameters of a Setup

The Parameters of a Setup

A Setup has 43 Zone-specific parameters for each of four Zones, and two common
parameters—altogether, there are 174 parameters whose configurations determine the
behavior of the Setup. As you scroll through the list of parameters using the Chan / Param
Up () button, the parameters appear in the following order (the parameters of course

appear in the reverse order if you scroll through the list with Chan / Param Down ()
button):

43 43 43 43 2

Zone 1

Parameters

Zone 2

Parameters

Zone 3

Parameters

Zone 4

Parameters

Common

Parameters

List No.
Z. 1 Z. 2 Z. 3 Z. 4

1 44 87 130 Local Program Program List 0 Grand Piano
2 45 88 131 Channel 1 to 16 1
3 46 89 132 Destination Local, MIDI,

4 47 90 133 MIDI Bank 0 to 127 Bank of Local

5 48 91 134 MIDI Program 0 to 127 Program Number of

6 49 92 135 Bank Mode None, Ctl0, Ctl32,

7 50 93 136 Zone Status Active, Muted Active
8 51 94 137 Entry Program

9 52 95 138 Aux Send Level 0 to 127 20
10 53 96 139 Transpose -128 to 127 ST 0
11 54 97 140 Entry Pan 0 to 127 64
12 55 98 141 Entry Volume 0 to 127 127
13 56 99 142 Low Velocity 1 to 127 1
14 57 100 143 High Velocity 0 to 127 127
15 58 101 144 Low Key C-1 to G9 (none)
16 59 102 145 High Key C-1 to G9 (none)
17 60 103 146 Bend Range Down 0 to 127 ST 12 ST
18 61 104 147 Rend Range Up 0 to 127 ST 12 ST
19 62 105 148 Mod Wheel Destina-

20 63 106 149 Mod Wheel Entry

21 64 107 150 Mod Wheel Exit Value 0 to 127 (none)
22 65 108 151 Control Knob Func-

23 66 109 152 Control Knob Func-

24 67 110 153 Control Knob Func-

25 68 111 154 Control Knob Func-

26 69 112 155 Control Knob Func-

27 70 113 156 Control Knob Func-

Parameter Range of Values Default Value

Local+MIDI

Local+MIDI

Program

Local Program
Ctl0/32

Ctl0/32, K2600

Off, On On

Change

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion

0 to 127 (none)

Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion 1 Destination

0 to 127 (none)

tion 1 Entry Value

0 to 127 (none)

tion 1 Exit Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion 2 Destination

0 to 127 (none)

tion 2 Entry Value

0 to 127 (none)

tion 2 Exit Value

8-2

Edit Setup Mode

The Parameters of a Setup

List No.
Z. 1 Z. 2 Z. 3 Z. 4

28 71 114 157 Control Knob Func-

29 72 115 158 Control Knob Func-

30 73 116 159 Control Knob Func-

31 74 117 160 Control Knob Func-

32 75 118 161 Control Knob Func-

33 76 119 162 Control Knob Func-

34 77 120 163 Control Knob Func-

35 78 121 164 Control Knob Func-

36 79 122 165 Control Knob Func-

37 80 123 166 CC Pedal Destination MIDI Destination List (none)
38 81 124 167 CC Pedal Entry Value 0 to 127 (none)
39 82 125 168 CC Pedal Exit Value 0 to 127 (none)
40 83 126 169 Foot Switch Destina-

41 84 127 170 Foot Switch Mode Momentary, Toggled Toggled
42 85 128 171 Foot Switch Entry

43 86 129 172 Foot Switch Exit

173 Aux Effect Override Prog, 0 to 999 Prog
174 Aux Effect Channel (Channels used in

Parameter Range of Values Default Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion 3 Destination

0 to 127 (none)

tion 3 Entry Value

0 to 127 (none)

tion 3 Exit Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion 4 Destination

0 to 127 (none)

tion 4 Entry Value

0 to 127 (none)

tion 4 Exit Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion 5 Destination

0 to 127 (none)

tion 5 Entry Value

0 to 127 (none)

tion 5 Exit Value

MIDI Destination List (none)

tion

None, On, Off None

State

None, On, Off None

State

(Channel of Zone 1)

Setup)

Note the state of the indicator LEDs in the Zone buttons. If you are currently editing a
Zone-specific parameter, then the LED of that Zone button will be illuminated. If you are
currently editing a common parameter, then the LEDs of all four Zone buttons will be lit.

Zone 2 Parameter SelectedZone 1 Parameter Selected

Zone 4 Parameter SelectedZone 3 Parameter Selected

Common Parameter Selected

8-3

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

To edit the currently selected parameter, simply use the Next and Previous Value buttons
below the display. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will jump to a different
value depending on the parameter—the jump value is mentioned in each of the parameter
descriptions below. Additionally, you can use the secondary numeric functions of the Group
Select and Sound Select buttons.

The Zone-specic Parameters

Each of the four Zones in Setup has 43 parameters that determine its behavior. Since the

Zones of a Setup are independent of each other, changing a parameter for a certain Zone
will not affect the parameters of any other Zone.

Local Program

The Local Program parameter determines the Program to be loaded for the currently
selected Zone. You can set this parameter to any of the 192 Programs (0-191). Note that
the display shows only the Program number but not the name. Pressing both Value buttons

simultaneously will set this parameter to 0 (0 Grand Piano)

Editing this parameter also changes the MIDI Bank and MIDI Program parameters,
described below.

Channel

The Channel parameter determines the MIDI transmit channel for the currently selected
Zone. You can set this parameter to any of the 16 MIDI channels (1-16). Pressing both
Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to 1.

Destination

The Destination parameter determines whether MIDI data generated by the currently
selected Zone is sent to the SPS4 sound engine, through the MIDI OUT port, or both. You

can set this parameter to any of the three destinations for this parameter:

Local MIDI data is sent only to the SPS4 sound engine.

MIDI MIDI data is sent only through the MIDI OUT port.

The MIDI OUT port is disabled.

The sounds of the current Zone are disabled.

8-4

Local+MIDI MIDI data is sent both to the SPS4 sound engine

and through the MIDI OUT port.

Select the desired destination depending on your needs. If you want to play the SPS4, but
not send any MIDI information to other MIDI instruments, then select Local. If you want
to use the SPS4 strictly as a MIDI controller for the other modules in your MIDI chain,
then select MIDI. If you want to make use of the SPS4’s sounds as well as use it as a MIDI

controller, then select Local+MIDI.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Local+MIDI.

MIDI Bank

The MIDI Bank parameter determines the MIDI Bank change message that the currently
selected Zone sends when the Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to a MIDI Bank

change message from 0 to 127.

When using the SPS4 as a MIDI controller, sending a MIDI Bank change message (along
with a MIDI program change message) when a Setup is loaded ensures that the Program
loaded on the other sound modules in your MIDI chain is the Program that you want. For
example, if you’ve configured a Setup to work in a specific way with Program 32 in Bank 5
of a connected sound module, then set MIDI Bank to 5 and MIDI Program to 32. This way,

whenever you load this Setup, the sound module will automatically load Program 32 in Bank

5.

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to the Bank number of

the currently select Local Program.

NOTE: When you change the Local Program parameter, the MIDI Bank and MIDI
Program parameters will automatically change to match the Bank and Program numbers of

the Program that you select for Local Program. For example, if you choose Program 178,

then MIDI Bank will change to 1 and MIDI Program will change to 50.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI

Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting MIDI Bank Change and MIDI
Program Change messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Differing Program Numbers

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 0 and 127, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter for the MIDI Program Change Function:

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number] - 1

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 594—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83 - 1.

8-5

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 1 and 128, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter in MIDI Program Change mode:

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 595—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83.

MIDI Program

The MIDI Program parameter determines the MIDI Program change message that the

currently selected Zone sends when the Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to a

MIDI Program change message from 0 to 127.

When using the SPS4 as a MIDI controller, sending a MIDI program change message
(along with a MIDI bank change message) when a Setup is loaded ensures that the Program
loaded on the other sound modules in your MIDI chain is the Program that you want. For
example, if you’ve configured a Setup to work in a specific way with Program 32 in Bank 5
of a connected sound module, then set MIDI Bank to 5 and MIDI Program to 32. This way,

whenever you load this Setup, the sound module will automatically load Program 32 in Bank

5.

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number]

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to the Program number

of the currently select Local Program.

NOTE: When you change the Local Program parameter, the MIDI Bank and MIDI
Program parameters will automatically change to match the Bank and Program numbers of

the Program that you select for Local Program. For example, if you choose Program 178,

then MIDI Bank will change to 1 and MIDI Program will change to 50.

NOTE: A “Bank” is a SPS4-specific term not to be confused with the general “MIDI

Bank”, which contains 128 Objects. When transmitting MIDI Bank Change and MIDI
Program Change messages, always think in terms of “MIDI Banks” rather than “Banks”.

Differing Program Numbers

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 0 and 127, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter for the MIDI Program Change Function:

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number] - 1

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 594—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83 - 1.

8-6

If the programs on your connected sound module are organized by MIDI Bank with each
program number being between 1 and 128, then use the following formula to determine
what number to enter in MIDI Program Change mode:

So for example, if you want to send to a MIDI Program Change message for Program 83 in
MIDI Bank 4, you would enter the number 595—this number is equal to 4 * 128 + 83.

Bank Mode

The Bank Mode parameter determines the controller number with which MIDI Bank
change messages are transmitted. For MIDI Bank change messages, various manufacturers
have chosen different MIDI controller numbers. Most have chosen 0, 32, or both. In the
case of the Kurzweil K2600, it has its own unique controller number that it responds to.

You can set this parameter to any of the five controller IDs:

None MIDI Bank change messages are disabled.

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

[MIDI Bank number] * 128 + [program number]

Ctl0 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with controller

Ctl32 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with controller

Ctl0/32 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with both

K2600 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with the

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Ctl0/32.

Zone Status

The Zone Status parameter determines whether the currently selected Zone is active or
muted. You can set this parameter to either of two states: Active or Muted. Pressing both
Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Active.

Entry Program Change

number 0.

number 32.

controller numbers 0 and 32.

Kurzweil K2600 Bank change controller number.

The Entry Program Change parameter determines whether or not the currently selected

Zone can send a MIDI Program change message when the Setup is loaded. You can set this
parameter to either Off or On. When set to On, the Zone will send a MIDI Program change
message with the Program specified for the MIDI Program parameter (described above).
Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to On.

8-7

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

Aux Send Level

The Aux Send Level parameter determines the send level for the auxiliary effects of the
currently selected Zone. You can select any level from 0 to 127. Pressing both Value buttons
simultaneously will set this parameter to 20.

For a description of the auxiliary effects of a Setup, see About Auxiliary Effects on page 8-14 and
Common Parameters on page 8-14.

Transpose

The Transpose parameter determines the transposition for the currently selected Zone. You
can set this to any value from -128 semitones to 127 semitones. Pressing both Value buttons
simultaneously will set this parameter to 0.

Entry Pan

The Entry Pan parameter determines the Pan MIDI message that the currently selected

Zone sends when the Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to any pan setting from 0
(full left pan) to 127 (full right pan). For zero panning, select 64 for this parameter. Pressing
both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to 64.

Entry Volume

The Entry Volume parameter determines the Volume MIDI message that the currently

selected Zone sends when the Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to any volume
setting from 0 to 127. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to

127.

Low Velocity

The Low Velocity parameter determines the lowest velocity that a keystroke must have
in order to trigger a note in the currently selected Zone. You can set this parameter to
any velocity between 1 and 127. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this
parameter to 1.

If, for example, you set Low Velocity to 20, then only keystrokes with velocities of 20 or
above will trigger a note. Keystrokes with velocities lower than 20 will not trigger a note.

8-8

High Velocity

The High Velocity parameter determines the highest velocity that a keystroke must have
in order to trigger a note in the currently selected Zone. You can set this parameter to
any velocity between 0 and 127. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this
parameter to 127.

If, for example, you set High Velocity to 80, then only keystrokes with velocities of 80 or
below will trigger a note. Keystrokes with velocities higher than 80 will not trigger a note.

Low Key

The Low Key parameter determines the lower boundary of the currently selected Zone.

You can set this parameter to any note from C-1 to G9. Pressing both Value buttons
simultaneously will set this parameter to C-1.

If, for example, you set Low Key to C4, then only keys at or above C4 will trigger a note for
the currently selected Zone. Keys below C4 will not trigger a note.

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

High Key

The High Key parameter determines the higher boundary of the currently selected Zone.

You can set this parameter to any note from C-1 to G9. Pressing both Value buttons
simultaneously will set this parameter to G9.

If, for example, you set High Key to C4, then only keys at or below C4 will trigger a note for
the currently selected Zone. Keys above C4 will not trigger a note.

Bend Range Down

The Bend Range Down parameter determines the lower bend of the Pitch Wheel. You can
set this parameter to any value between 0 semitones and 127 semitones, or to Prog, which
uses the Bend Range of the currently selected Program for the Zone. Pressing both Value
buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to 12 semitones.

Bend Range Up

The Bend Range Up parameter determines the upper bend of the Pitch Wheel. You can
set this parameter to any value between 0 semitones and 127 semitones, or to Prog, which
uses the Bend Range of the currently selected Program for the Zone. Pressing both Value
buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to 2 semitones.

8-9

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

Continuous Controller Parameters

The SPS4 has seven continuous controllers:

• Mod Slider

• Control Knob Function 1

• Control Knob Function 2

• Control Knob Function 3

• Control Knob Function 4

• Control Knob Function 5

• The CC Pedal

In Edit Setup mode, each of these controllers has the same three parameters:

Destination

The Destination parameter determines the MIDI destination for the currently selected

controller in the currently selected Zone. You can select from the following destinations:

Controller
Number

0 OFF/Bank By default, when you enter 0 or Clear for the Destination

1 MWheel Default assignment for Mod Wheel

2 Breath Default assignment for breath controller in compatible synths

3 MIDI 03 MIDI Controller 3

4 Foot Default assignment for continuous foot controller in compatible

5 PortTim Monophonic SPS4 programs respond to this Controller if

6 Data Almost all SPS4 programs have this Controller assigned to

7 Volume MIDI Volume

8 Balance MIDI Balance

9 MIDI 09 MIDI Controller 9

10 Pan MIDI Pan

11 Express MIDI Expression—Default assignment for CC Pedal 1—In

12 MIDI 12 MIDI Controller 12

13 MIDI 13

14 MIDI 14 Default destination for Control Knob Function 1 (Timbre)

15 MIDI 15 Default destination for Control Knob Function 2 (Mod)

16 Ctl A Default destination for Control Knob Function 3 (Envelope)

17 Ctl B Default destination for Control Knob Function 4 (Effect)

18 Ctl C Default destination for Control Knob Function 5 (Reverb)

19 Ctl D

Destination
Name

Description

parameter, the destination will be assigned to OFF. To select
Bank as the destination, use the Value buttons.

synths

portamento is turned on.

lter frequency or brightness.

most programs it acts as a volume control. It scales between 0
and the current value of Volume.

8-10

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

Controller
Number

20–31 MIDI 20–31 MIDI Controllers 20–31

32 MIDI Bank MIDI Bank change message

33–63 MIDI 33–63 MIDI Controllers 33–63

64 Sustain Default destination for Footswitch 1

65 MIDI 65

66 Sostenut Default destination for Footswitch 2—sustains notes that are

67 Soft Lowers the volume by a preset amount and may soften the

68 Legato Forces mono playback.

69 Freeze Envelopes freeze at current state.

70–79 MIDI 70–79 MIDI Controllers 70–79

80–83 MIDI 80–83 MIDI Controllers 80–83

84 Portamen Standard MIDI controller for setting Portamento starting note

85–90 MIDI 85–90 MIDI Controllers 85–90

91 GM Reverb Reverb send level

92 MIDI 92 MIDI Controller 92

93 GM Chorus Chorus send level

94–95 MIDI 94–95 MIDI Controllers 94–95

96 Data Inc Equivalent to pressing the Next Value button

97 Data Dec Equivalent to pressing the Previous Value button

98 NRegParL Non–Registered Parameter Least Signicant Byte

99 NRegParM Non–Registered Parameter Most Signicant Byte

100 RegParL Registered Parameter Least Signicant Byte

101 RegParM Registered Parameter Most Signicant Byte

102–119 MIDI 102–119 MIDI Controllers 102–119

120 Sound Off Stops all sound in the corresponding channel.

121 RstCtls Resets Controllers to defaults in the corresponding channel.

122 Local

123 Notes Off Sends Note Off Message to all playing notes in the corre-

124 Poly

125 Omni

126 Mono On

127 Mono Off

128 Pitch Values above 64 and below 64 bend the pitch up and down,

129 PitchRev Values above 64 and below 64 bend the pitch down and up,

130 PitchUp Values above 0 bend the pitch up

131 PitchDwn Values above 0 bend the pitch down

132 Pressure Pressure

133 Tempo Tempo

134 KeyNum Triggers playback of notes by Key Number—e.g., C4 is 60.

Destination
Name

Description

currently down, but not notes played subsequently.

timbre as well.

sponding channel.

respectively.

respectively

Send a velocity rst with Destination135, KeyVel.

8-11

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

Controller
Number

135 KeyVel Key Velocity

136 ProgInc Program Increment—increments current program number.

137 ProgDec Program Decrement—decrements current program number.

138 ProgGoto Go to Program—selects program.

139 SetupInc Setup Increment—increments current setup number.

140 SetupDec Setup Decrement—increments current setup number.

141 SetpGoto Go to Setup—selects setup.

142–144 MIDI 142–144 MIDI Controllers 142–144

145 TransUp Transpose Up (ST)

146 TransDown Transpose Down (ST)

147–148 MIDI 147–148 MIDI Controllers 147–148

149 MuteZn Mute Zone – values above 64 will mute the zone, values

150–160 MIDI 150–160 MIDI Controllers 150–160

161 Panic Panic

162 SoloZn Solo Zone

163–178 MIDI 163–178 MIDI Controllers 163–178

Destination
Name

Description

below or equal to 64 will unmute the zone.

Entry Value

The Entry Value parameter determines the value of the continuous controller that is sent

as a MIDI message when the current Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to any
number between 0 and 127, or to None. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set

this parameter to None.

If Entry Value is set to None, then when you load the current Setup, the controller will be
at whatever value corresponds to its current position. If you specify an Entry Value, then a
MIDI controller message with this value will be sent when you load the current Setup.

Exit Value

The Exit Value parameter determines the value of the continuous controller that is sent as a

MIDI message when the current Setup is exited. You can set this parameter to any number
between 0 and 127, or to None. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this

parameter to None.

If Exit Value is set to None, then when you leave the current Setup, the controller will be
at whatever value corresponds to its current position. If you specify an Exit Value, then a
MIDI controller message with this value will be sent when you close the current Setup.

8-12

The Foot Switch Parameters

There are four parameters that affect the behavior of the Foot Switch controller:

Destination

The Destination parameter determines the MIDI destination for the currently selected
controller in the currently selected Zone. For a list of the MIDI destinations and their

descriptions, see Destination on page 8-10.

Mode

The Mode parameter determines the switching action of the Foot Switch. You can set this
parameter either of two settings:

Momentary A momentary switch is one that is only in the “on”

Toggled A toggled switch is one that maintains its state after

Edit Setup Mode

The Zone-specic Parameters

state when it is pressed. As soon as you release the
switch, it goes into the “off ” state.

it is pressed. So, if the switch is currently in the
“off ” state, pressing it once will put it in the “on”

state. Pressing it again will put it back in the “off ”

state.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Toggled.

Entry State

The Entry State parameter determines the state of the Foot Switch that is sent as a MIDI

message when the current Setup is loaded. You can set this parameter to None, On, or Off.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to None.

If Entry State is set to None, then when you load the current Setup, the Foot Switch will be
at whatever value corresponds to its current position. If you specify an Entry State, then a
MIDI controller message with this value will be sent when you load the current Setup.

Exit State

The Exit State parameter determines the state of the Foot Switch that is sent as a MIDI

message when the current Setup is exited. You can set this parameter to None, On, or Off.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to None.

If Exit State is set to None, then when you close the current Setup, the Foot Switch will be
at whatever value corresponds to its current position. If you specify an Exit State, then a
MIDI controller message with this value will be sent when you close the current Setup.

8-13

Edit Setup Mode

About Auxiliary Effects

About Auxiliary Effects

Programs and Setups both have an auxiliary effect. An auxiliary effect is an effect that is not
in the direct path of the sound, but rather, it “receives” the sound, and then outputs effect­altered sound, which is mixed back with the original sound. The following diagram illustrates

the signal path of a sound through the auxiliary effect:

Sound

(no FX)

Aux Send Level

Common Parameters

Signals

Combined

Sound

(with FX)

Aux

FX

In addition to the Zone-specific parameters described above, a Setup has two parameters

common to all of its Zones. These two parameters determine the auxiliary effect of the
Setup.

Aux Effect Override

The Aux Effect Override parameter determines whether or not the auxiliary effect of the
Setup is overridden with another effect. You can set this parameter to either Prog or to any
Chain Effect number between 0 and 999.

Setting this parameter to Prog results in the auxiliary effect of one of the Programs of

Setup being used—you specify which Program with the other common parameter Aux
Effect Channel, which is described below. Setting Aux Effect Override to any of the Effect
Chains allows you to select an auxiliary effect not present in any of the Programs being used

in the Setup. Either way, the same auxiliary effect is used for all of the Zones of the Setup.

8-14

Aux Effect Channel

With Prog selected for the Aux Effect Override parameter, the Aux Effect Channel

parameter allows you to choose which Zone’s auxiliary effect is used for the entire Setup.
You can set this parameter to any of MIDI channels of the Zones currently in use within

the Setup.

Selecting the channel of one of the active Zones within the Setup will load the auxiliary

effect of that Zone’s Program as the auxiliary effect of the Setup. Note that changing this
parameter only results in a change in sound if Prog is selected for Aux Effect Override. If
an Effect Chain is specified for Aux Effect Override, then that effect—not the effect on the
channel specified for Aux Effect Channel—will be in use.

Saving in Setup Mode

Edit Setup Mode

Saving in Setup Mode

When you make a change to the current Setup using the Control Knob, the Save button
LED will light up indicating that a change has been made to the Setup. To save the current
Setup, press the Save button once. The Save button LED will blink to indicate that a save
operation is underway, and the User Bank LED will also be lit. If the Setup is an edited
Factory Setup (i.e., a Setup in Bank 1), the default save location will be the next available
location in the User Bank. If all 64 User Bank slots are taken, then the Setup is saved in the
last slot in the User Bank, overwriting what was previously in that slot. If the current Setup

is a Setup already in the User Bank, then the Setup is saved in its current Setup slot. At this
point, you can rename the new Setup using the secondary alphanumeric functions of the

Group Select and Sound Select buttons.

When the Save button LED is blinking (which means that you pressed Save, and a save
operation is underway), pressing Save again will cause the system to save the current Setup

to the indicated Group and Sound in the User Bank. If you want to save it to a different
location in the User Bank, select the location via the Group Select and Sound Select buttons
(or using the Value buttons) before pressing Save again.

Pressing any other button while the Save button is blinking will cancel the save operation.

8-15

Edit Setup Mode

Saving in Setup Mode

8-16

Chapter 9
Global Mode

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the features of Global mode.

Global Mode gives you access to the global parameters of the SPS4—that is, it allows you to
edit the master settings of the unit. It also allows you to restore factory defaults on the unit
by performing a Hard Reset.

CAUTION: PERFORMING A HARD RESET WILL DELETE ALL USER-CREATED
PROGRAMS, SETUPS, AND GLOBAL SETTINGS.

Global Mode

To enter Global mode from another mode, press the Global Function button. While you are
in Global mode, the Global button’s indicator LED is illuminated. When you enter Global
mode, the last selected parameter since power-up (or the Tuning parameter if you’re entering
Global mode for the first time since power-up) will be the currently selected parameter.

9-1

Global Mode

Selecting and Editing Parameters

Selecting and Editing Parameters

To scroll through the parameters (and dialogues) of Global mode, use the Chan / Param
buttons.

Parameter or
Dialogue

Tuning -100 to 100 Cents 0 Cents

Velocity Map (VMap) Linear, Light 1, Light

FX Select (FXSel) Performance,

Channel Enable
(ChanEn)

Destination (Dest) Local, MIDI,

Bank Select (Bank­Sel)

Program Change
(ProgChg)

Local Keyboard
Channel (LclK­bdChan)

SysEx ID 0 to 127 0

Hard Reset?

Load All?

Range of Values Default Value

2, Light 3, Hard 1,
Hard 2, Hard 3, Piano
Touch, Easy Touch,
GM Receive

Multitrack

Enable, Disable Enable

Local+MIDI

None, Ctl0, Ctl32,
Ctl0/32

On, Off On

1 to 16 1

(See corresponding sections below)Save All?

Medium

Performance

Local+MIDI

Ctl0/32

9-2

To edit the currently selected parameter, simply use the Next and Previous Value buttons
below the display. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will jump to a different value
depending on the parameter—the jump value is mentioned in each of the parameter
descriptions below. Additionally, you can use the secondary numeric functions of the Group
Select and Sound Select buttons:

The Global Parameters

The following are the global parameters of the SPS4. The settings of these parameters are in

effect regardless of what Program or Setup you have currently selected.

Tuning

The Tuning parameter allows you to fine-tune the unit in cents—one cent is one hundredth

of a semitone (100 cents comprise a semitone). You can select any tuning from -100 cents to
100 cents. By default this parameter is set to 0. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously
will set this parameter to 0.

Velocity Map (VMap)

The Velocity Map (VMap) parameter determines the way the SPS4 generates MIDI velocity
information. Different maps generate different MIDI velocity values for the same physical

key strike velocity (note that this setting is applied to notes on top of any velocity settings
made per Setup, per Zone). The default map (Linear) provides the widest range of velocity

expression, but you may want to choose different map if the default does not suit your

playing style You can select from any of the following settings:

Global Mode

The Global Parameters

Linear The MIDI output velocity is directly proportional

to the strike velocity. The highest possible MIDI
velocity will be output from the fastest velocity that
the physical keys can detect, and the lowest possible
MIDI velocity will be output from the slowest

velocity that the physical keys can detect. All other

MIDI and strike velocities are evenly spaced between

these two extremes in the Linear map, allowing for

an even distribution of strike and MIDI velocities.

Light 1
Light 2
Light 3

Hard 1
Hard 2
Hard 3

The MIDI output velocity is higher than with the

Linear Velocity Map. From Light 1 to Light 3, it

is easier to produce high MIDI velocity values for
the same key strike velocity (with Light 3 being the
easiest). These maps are best suited for ensemble

playing.

The MIDI output velocity is lower than with the

Linear Velocity Map. From Hard 1 to Hard 3, it

is harder to produce high MIDI velocity values for

the same key strike velocity (with Hard 3 being the
hardest).

9-3

Global Mode

The Global Parameters

Piano Touch The MIDI output velocity is similar to the strike

Easy Touch This Velocity Map is similar to the Light Maps and

GM Receive This Velocity Map mimics the Velocity Map

velocity response of an acoustic piano, and is best

suited for playing acoustic piano programs.

make high MIDI velocities easier to produce. But, it

allows more sensitive control over producing high

MIDI velocities by not boosting the MIDI velocity

for fast strike velocities as much as it does for
medium strike velocities.

commonly used by keyboards that use the General
MIDI (GM) sound set. The GM Receive Map

makes medium strike velocities produce higher

MIDI velocities compared to the Linear map. GM
Receive affects notes from the SPS4’s keyboard as

well as those from the MIDI in port.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Linear.

FX Select (FXSel)

The FX Select (FXSel) parameter determines how the SPS4 responds to interrupts with
regards to effects. You can set this parameter to either Performance or Multitrack.
Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Performance.

With FX Select set to Performance, the SPS4 minimizes disruption of existing effects
when changing Programs, and entry values will not disrupt sustained notes when changing
Programs in Program Mode. When controlling the SPS4 from an external sequencer in
Program Mode, setting FX Select to Multitrack will minimize effect disruption.

Channel Enable (ChanEn)

For each of the 16 MIDI channels, you can set the Channel Enable (ChanEn) parameter
to either Enable or Disable. For each channel, setting this parameter to Enable enables
the channel to transmit and receive MIDI messages and setting it to Disable disables such
functions. Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Enable.

9-4

Destination (Dest)

The Destination parameter determines the destination of MIDI data generated by striking
keys or activating controllers. This data can be sent to the SPS4 sound engine, through the
MIDI out ports, or both. You can set this parameter to any of the three destinations for this

parameter:

Local MIDI data is sent only to the SPS4 sound engine.

MIDI MIDI data is sent only through the MIDI OUT port.

Local+MIDI MIDI data is sent both to the SPS4 sound engine

Select the desired destination depending on your needs. If you want to play the SPS4, but
not send any MIDI information to other MIDI instruments, then select Local. If you want
to use the SPS4 strictly as a MIDI controller for the other modules in your MIDI chain,
then select MIDI. If you want to make use of the SPS4’s sounds as well as use it as a MIDI
controller, then select Local+MIDI.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Local+MIDI.

Bank Select (BankSel)

Global Mode

The Global Parameters

The MIDI OUT port is disabled.

The sounds of the SPS4 are disabled.

and through the MIDI OUT port.

The Bank Mode parameter determines the controller number with which MIDI Bank
change messages are transmitted. For MIDI Bank change messages, various manufacturers
have chosen different MIDI controller numbers. Most have chosen 0, 32, or both.

You can set this parameter to any of the following four controller IDs:

None MIDI Bank change messages are disabled.

Ctl0 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with controller

Ctl32 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with controller

Ctl0/32 MIDI Bank change messages are sent with both

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to Ctl0/32.

Program Change (ProgChg)

The Program Change (ProgChg) parameter determines whether or not entry MIDI Program

Change messages are sent for Setups. You can set this parameter to either On or Off.

Pressing both Value buttons simultaneously will set this parameter to On.

number 0.

number 32.

controller numbers 0 and 32.

Note that when you perform a MIDI Program Change through MIDI Program Change
Mode, the setting of the Global Program Change parameter (as well as the setting of the
Global MIDI Transmit parameter) is ignored.

9-5

Global Mode

The Global Parameters

Local Keyboard Channel (LclKbdChan)

Changing the setting of the Local Keyboard Channel parameter is useful only when
your SPS4 is receiving MIDI information from an external source. Perhaps you have a
favorite MIDI keyboard that you use to control all the gear in your studio, or you use a lot
of outboard sequencing. If you’re using the SPS4 as a standalone music workstation or
performance keyboard, you can ignore this parameter.

The local keyboard channel enables the SPS4 to receive MIDI information on a single

channel, then rechannelize that information so you can play and control all four zones of

a setup, even if your MIDI source transmits on only one channel. When you’re in Program
mode, the local keyboard channel remaps incoming information to the SPS4’s current
channel. When using the local keyboard channel all the MIDI information received on the
Local Keyboard Channel also gets sent—after being remapped—to the SPS4’s MIDI and

USB Out ports.

You may find it more convenient to use the local keyboard channel. In this case, the SPS4
remaps incoming MIDI to the SPS4’s current channel, so in Program mode, you’ll always
play the program on the SPS4’s current channel. Incoming MIDI also gets sent to the SPS4’s
MIDI and USB Out port. On the other hand, in this case your MIDI source’s transmitting
channel must match the SPS4’s local keyboard channel for anything to work.

Things are a bit different for playing Setups. In this case, you must use the Local Keyboard
Channel to be able to play and control all of the Setup’s zones. Set LclKbdChan to match
the channel your external MIDI source is using (if for example your MIDI source transmits
on Channel 1, set LclKbdChan to 1). All MIDI information that the SPS4 receives on the
local keyboard channel gets remapped to the channels and control destinations used by the

zones in the setup.

The SPS4 also remaps certain MIDI Controller messages that it receives on the Local
Keyboard Channel, so that they correspond (in most cases) to the default assignments
for the SPS4’s physical controllers (Mod Wheel, control knob, etc.). Physical controller
assignments are handled by Setups, and are defined per Zone in Edit Setup Mode. Each

Zone of a setup has its own controller assignments.

Sysex ID

The SysExID parameter determines the ID number for the unit if you are using more than
one device with the same MIDI manufacturer ID number. You can set this parameter to any
number from 0 to 127.

Unless you have multiple SPS4s receiving Sysex messages from a single source, you will not
need to change the Sysex ID from the default setting of 0.

9-6

If you do have multiple SPS4s receiving Sysex messages from a single source, make sure
each SPS4 has a different Sysex ID. This will allow you to direct Sysex messages to the
appropriate SPS4 by specifying which unit with the Sysex ID byte that’s included with every

Sysex message.

To have the unit respond to Sysex messages regardless of the Sysex ID, set Sysex ID to 127.

The “Hard Reset?” Dialogue

CAUTION: PERFORMING A HARD RESET WILL DELETE ALL USER-CREATED
PROGRAMS AND SETUPS AND WILL RESTORE ALL PARAMETERS TO
DEFAULT VALUES. THIS ACTION CANNOT BE UNDONE.

The “Hard Reset?” dialogue allows you to restore factory defaults to the SPS4. Pressing

Next in this dialogue will change the display to “Confirm?” Pressing Next in the “Confirm?”

dialogue will result in a hard reset—pressing Previous in the “Confirm?” dialogue will recall
the “Hard Reset?” dialogue.

Be sure to save your work off to external storage (See “The “Save All?” Dialogue” on page 

9-7). Once deleted, the files are completely removed from the SPS4 and there is no way to

retrieve them.

Global Mode

The “Hard Reset?” Dialogue

To exit the Hard Reset dialogue, simply select another parameter using the Chan / Param

buttons, or enter another Mode using the Mode Functions buttons.

The “Save All?” Dialogue

The “Save All?” dialogue allows you to save every User-bank Program and User-bank Setup
to a computer connected to the unit via USB. You can select Yes by pressing the Next Value
button—pressing Previous will do nothing.

If a computer is connected and you select Yes, the display will show the message “Press
Next for saving the file”. Pressing Previous will cancel the save operation and recall the

“Save All?” dialogue. Pressing Next will save to the SPS4 temporary drive and the display

will show the message “The file is in the temporary drive, copy it to your hard disk”. If an

error occurs during the save operation, then the display will show the error message “Save
Error”.

If the SPS4 is not connected to a computer, the display will show the error message “Please

connect the unit to the computer”. Pressing Previous will recall the “Save All?” dialogue—
pressing Next will retry to connect.

9-7

Global Mode

The “Load All?” Dialogue

The “Load All?” Dialogue

The “Load All?” dialogue allows you to load a file containing previously saved User-bank
Program and User-bank Setup from a computer connected to the unit via USB. You can
select Yes by pressing the Next Value button—pressing Previous will do nothing.

If a computer is connected and you select Yes, the SPS4 will appear on the connected
computer as a temporary drive and the display will show “Put the file to be loaded into the

temporary drive”. Pressing Previous will cancel the load operation and recall the “Load
All?” dialogue. Pressing Next will load the file and the display will show “File loaded”. If

no file is in the SPS4 temporary drive during the load, the display will show the message
“Nothing loaded”. If an error occurs during the load operation, then the display will show

the error message “Load Error”.

If the SPS4 is not connected to a computer, the display will show the error message “Please

connect the unit to the computer”. Pressing Previous will recall the “Load All?” dialogue—

pressing Next will retry to connect.

9-8

Chapter 10
System Mode

CAUTION: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN SYSTEM MODE
UNTIL YOU HAVE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTOOD THIS ENTIRE CHAPTER.

This chapter will help you familiarize yourself with the functions of System Mode.

System Mode allows you manage and upgrade the OS software of your SPS4 as well as

perform diagnostic tests of the instrument’s various internal systems and processes. Note

that the functions that you have access to in System Mode govern the operation of your
SPS4, so only use System Mode when you must perform essential maintenance tasks.

System Mode

To enter System Mode, follow these steps:

1. Power off your SPS4.

2. Press and the hold the Shift button, and power on the unit. The display will show the
text “Loading...” as if you were normally starting up the unit. Make sure to keep holding

the Shift button until the text “SPS4 bootloader vx.x” (where x.x is the version of the
bootloader software) scrolls across the display. After this splash screen, you will be

offered with the option “Run SPS4”.

3. Release the Shift button—at this point, you are in System Mode.

Using the Chan / Param buttons, you can scroll through the list of actions of System
Mode:

• Run SPS4

• Update Software

• Run Diagnostics

• System Reset

• File Utilities

CAUTION: THE System Reset AND File Utilities OPERATIONS BOTH ERASE ALL

USER OBJECTS.

10-1

System Mode

Buttons in System Mode

Buttons in System Mode

The following buttons have the following functionalities in System Mode:

Previous Move to parent menu. Similar to a “cancel” button.

Next Make selection and move into sub-menu if any. Like

Chan / Param Up Move to “previous” menu option within a menu/

Chan / Param Down Move to “next” menu option, when in a menu or

Run SPS4

an “OK” button.

sub-menu or scroll up to read diagnostic or other

results/messages, when diagnostics are complete.

scroll down to read diagnostic or other results/
messages, when diagnostics are complete.

This is first option that System Mode offers. Pressing Next will load the OS and the SPS4
will start up as if you just switched on the unit (except for the “Loading...” message that
happens when you first start up the unit).

Update Software

This group of operations is used to install OS and Object updates from Kurzweil. The
Update files have an extension “KUF”, which is a compressed archive of all software

updates required for the system.

Update

1. Obtain the Update file from the Kurzweil website or another reliable source, save it in a
known folder or directory your computer.

2. Connect the SPS4 (powered off) to your computer with a USB cord. Then enter System
Mode as specified on page 10-1. The SPS4 will appear as drive on your computer.

3. Press Chan / Param Down once. This will take you to the next option which is
“Update Software”. Press Next to select this group of operations. This will give you
with the option “Update”.

10-2

4. Press Next to start the Update operation. The displayed message will ask you to copy

the Update file to the SPS4 drive on your computer. Copy the file. Once copied, “Safely
Remove” or “Unmount” the removable disk/drive from your computer.

5. Press Next on your SPS4. If the KUF file is valid, then the SPS4 will display the

6. Once you see a “Done” message, power cycle unit or press Previous to go back to

Restore

Whenever you update the SPS4’s software, a backup of the currently installed software is
made. This is in case of a need to revert back to the old software, such as if the new update
has problems or for simply for troubleshooting.

NOTE: Only the previously installed version of the software is backed up. When you
perform a Restore operation again, the current version is backed up. So, it’s possible to go
back and forth between versions.

Unlike the Update operation, the Restore operation can be performed without a computer

connected to the SPS4:

1. Start off by entering System Mode as specified on page 10-1.

System Mode

Run Diagnostics

message “Updating”. This will take a minute or two.

System Mode main menu.

2. Press Chan / Param Down once. This will take you to the next option which is
“Update Software”. Press Next to select this group of operations. This will give you
with the option “Update”.

3. Press Chan / Param Down once. This will take you to the next option which is
“Restore”.

4. Press Next to perform the Restore operation.

Run Diagnostics

You will most likely not need to use the Run Diagnostics operations in normal cases.

These operations are mostly used at the factory and service centers by engineers for
troubleshooting problems with hardware. But, in some cases you might be required to run
these diagnostics for troubleshooting and diagnosing symptoms. In these cases, follow the

direction of an authorized Kurzweil technician.

System Reset

CAUTION: THIS OPERATION ERASES ALL USER OBJECTS.

If you’ve made many, complex updates to your Objects, and have saved a number of files

off to external storage, you might want to restore the instrument to its default state. This

is especially helpful if you’re having problems getting sound programs or setups to work
properly, or think there may be some kind of underlying hardware problem.

10-3

System Mode

File Utilities

To clear all user objects and restore the factory default state, select the System Reset utility
using the Chan / Param buttons, and then press the Next Value button. The SPS4 will ask
you to confirm this action. Press the Next Value button to complete the system reset, or
press the Previous Value button to stop the operation.

Remember to save your work off to external storage using Global Mode (See The “Save All?” 
Dialogue on page 9-7). Once deleted, the files are completely removed from the SPS4 and

there is no way to retrieve them.

File Utilities

CAUTION: THIS OPERATION ERASES THE OPERATING SYSTEM, ALL
FACTORY OBJECTS AND ALL USER OBJECTS.

File Utilities has only one operation: Format. Performing this operation will format the

SPS4’s system ash memory and erase the OS software as well as all Objects. Do not do

this unless you think it is necessary in order to improve the performance of your SPS4.

Should you decide to do so, be sure to back up all of your files and software. After you do
this, System Mode will still be available, so you can run updates and get your SPS4 up-and­running again. After a Format the unit will come up in System Mode by default.

To perform a Format, follow these steps:

1. Start off by entering System Mode as specified on page 10-1.

2. Press Chan / Param Up once. This will take you to the previous option which is “File
Utilities”. Press Next to select this operation. The unit display the message “Delete
All?”.

3. Press Next to perform the Format operation.

10-4

Chapter 11
Tutorials

This chapter contains tutorials on editing Objects. By going through them step-by-step, you
will better understand the process of the editing Setups. Additionally, this chapter will point

you in the right direction for descriptions on performing certain technical tasks.

Creating a Setups from a Program

Tutorials

Creating a Setups from a Program

These tutorials will help you create a two-Zone Setup (as either a Split or a Layer) from a
Program. Recall that when you create a Split or Layer while in Program Mode, you are in fact
creating a Setup. These Functions are convenient, as you do not need to go through Edit
Setup Mode to delineate Zones, assign Programs, etc. You can simply hit the Split or Layer

Function button, and the SPS4 automatically creates a two-Zone Setup for you, with default

values for parameters of the Split or Layer.

Creating a Split Setup from a Program

As an example for this tutorial, let’s consider creating a Split Setup with a synth Program for
the left-hand keyboard region (aka, the Secondary Voice) and a guitar Program for the
right-hand keyboard region (aka, the Primary Voice). Let’s make the division of regions be at
B2 (an octave and a half-step below C4, or middle-C) so that the right-hand region has a lot
of “room” for soloing. Finally, let’s have the right-hand region be slightly louder than the
left-hand region, and have the left-hand region lowered by an octave. The following figure

illustrates this scenario:

C3B2

C4A0 C8

Synth

Guitar

(Louder)

11-1

Tutorials

Creating a Setups from a Program

To create this Split Setup follow these steps. Be careful not to exit any of the Split parameter

pages before the Split Setup is complete. If you do, then simply exit Program Mode and then

enter it again and start from step 1:

1. Enter Program Mode by pressing the Program Function button. Using the Value

buttons or Object Select buttons, choose the Program you want for the Primary Voice
of the Split. For our example, let’s choose Program 102 Rockin’ Lead.

2. Press the Split Function button. Doing this makes the SPS4 create a Setup with a two
active Zones split at middle-C. At this point, both Voices are identical (except for their
keyboard regions and MIDI transmit channels): they have the same Program, Volume,
and Transposition. The following figure illustrates our current Split Setup:

A0 C8

C4

C4

C#4

C#4

102 Rockin’ Lead 102 Rockin’ Lead

Note that as soon as we hit the Split Function button, the Save button illuminates. This
simply indicates that a change has been made. The Save button will be involved in the
final step of this process.

3. Let’s now change the Split Program. Recall that the Split Program determines the
Program for the Secondary Voice. At this point the display should read “Split Program:

102 Rockin’ Lead”. Use the Value buttons or Object Select buttons to choose a Program.
For our example, let’s choose Program 40 Classic Comp for the Split Program. The
following figure illustrates our current Split Setup:

A0 C8

40 Classic Comp

C4

C4

C#4

C#4

102 Rockin’ Lead

11-2

Tutorials

Creating a Setups from a Program

4. Let’s now change the Split Volume. Recall that the Split Volume determines the relative
volumes of the two Voices: positive values increase the volume of the Secondary Voice

and decrease the volume of the Primary Voice. Negative values decrease the volume of

the Secondary Voice and increase the volume of the Primary Voice.

First, use the Chan / Param buttons to select the Split Volume parameter. Then, use the

Value buttons to set the Split Volume. For our example, since we want our guitar to be
slightly louder than our synth, let’s set this parameter to -20.

5. Let’s now change the Split Key. Recall that the Split Key determines the lowest note in
the Primary Zone—one note below this note is the highest note in the Secondary Zone.

First, use the Chan / Param buttons to select the Split Key parameter.

NOTE: You can directly select the Split Key by holding down the Sound Select H (aka
Enter) button and then striking the desired key on the keyboard (you can also use the

Value buttons to set this parameter).

For our example, let’s select B2 by the method just described or by using the Value
buttons to set Split Key to 47 (recall that middle-C, or C4, has a note number of 64).

The following figure illustrates our current Split Setup:

C4C3B2A0 C8

40 Classic Comp 102 Rockin’ Lead

6. Let’s now change the Split Transposition. Recall that the Split Transposition determines
the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of the Primary Voice. It can be

set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24.

First, use the Chan / Param buttons to select the Split Transposition parameter. Then,
use the Value buttons to set the Split Transposition. For our example, since we want our
synth to be one octave lower than normal, let’s set this parameter to -12.

7. Finally, let’s now save our newly-created Setup. Recall that the Save button is illuminated.
To save our Setup, press the Save button once. The Save button LED will blink to

indicate that a save operation is underway, and the User Bank LED will also be lit. The
default save location will be the next available location in the Setup User Bank. If all

64 User Bank slots are taken, then the Setup is saved in the last slot in the User Bank,

overwriting what was previously in that slot. If the current Setup is a Setup already in

the User Bank, then the Setup is saved in its current Setup slot. At this point, you can

rename the new Setup using the secondary alphanumeric functions of the Group Select
and Sound Select buttons.

11-3

Tutorials

Creating a Setups from a Program

When the Save button LED is blinking (which means that you pressed Save, and a save
operation is underway), pressing Save again will cause the system to save the Setup to

the indicated Group and Sound in the User Bank. If you want to save it to a different
location in the User Bank, select the location via the Group Select and Sound Select
buttons (or using the Value buttons) before pressing Save again.

Pressing any other button while the Save button is blinking will cancel the save

operation.

Your Split Setup is now complete!

Creating a Layer Setup from a Program

As an example for this tutorial, let’s consider creating a Layer Setup with a layer of vibes
and a layer of ute. Let’s have the vibes be slightly louder than the ute, and have the ute
lowered by an octave. For our example, we’ll refer to the vibes as the Primary Voice and the
ute as the Secondary Voice. The following figure illustrates this scenario:

Vibes

Primary Voice

Flute

Secondary Voice

To create this Layer Setup follow these steps. Be careful not to exit any of the Layer

parameter pages before the Layer Setup is complete. If you do, then simply exit Program

Mode and then enter it again and start from step 1:

1. Start by entering Program Mode by pressing the Program Function button. Using the

Value buttons or Object Select buttons, choose the Program you want for the Primary
Voice. For our example, let’s choose Program 88 Real Vibes.

2. Press the Layer Function button. Doing this makes the SPS4 create a Setup with a two
Zones with the same keyboard regions--i.e., overlapping keyboard regions. At this point,
both Voices are identical (except for channel): they have the same Program, Volume, and
Transposition. The following figure illustrates our current Setup:

88 Real Vibes

Primary Voice

11-4

88 Real Vibes

Secondary Voice

Tutorials

Creating a Setups from a Program

Note that as soon as we hit the Layer Function button, the Save button illuminated. This
simply indicates that a change has been made. The Save button will be involved in the
final step of this process.

3. Let’s now change the Layer Program. Recall that the Layer Program determines the
Program for the Secondary Voice. At this point the display should read “Layer Program:

88 Real Vibes”. Use the Value buttons or Object Select buttons to choose a Program.
For our example, let’s choose Program 88 Solo Flute for the Layer Program.

The following figure illustrates our current Layer Setup:

88 Real Vibes

Primary Voice

88 Solo Flute

Secondary Voice

4. Let’s now change the Layer Volume. Recall that the Layer Volume determines the relative
volumes of the two Voices: positive values increase the volume of the Secondary Voice

and decrease the volume of the Primary Voice. Negative values decrease the volume of

the Secondary Voice and increase the volume of the Primary Voice.

First, use the Chan / Param buttons to select the Layer Volume parameter. Then, use

the Value buttons to set the Layer Volume. For our example, since we want our vibes to
be slightly louder than our ute, let’s set this parameter to -20.

5. Let’s now change the Layer Transposition. Recall that the Layer Transposition
determines the transposition of the Secondary Voice relative to that of the Primary
Voice. It can be set to -24, -12, 0, 12, and 24.

First, use the Chan / Param buttons to select the Layer Transposition parameter. Then,

use the Value buttons to set the Layer Transposition. For our example, since we want our
ute to be one octave lower than normal, let’s set this parameter to -12.

6. Finally, let’s now save our newly-created Layer Setup. Recall that the Save button is
illuminated. To save our Layer Setup, press the Save button once. The Save button LED

will blink to indicate that a save operation is underway, and the User Bank LED will
also be lit. The default save location will be the next available location in the Setup User
Bank. If all 64 User Bank slots are taken, then the Setup is saved in the last slot in the
User Bank, overwriting what was previously in that slot. If the current Setup is a Setup

already in the User Bank, then the Setup is saved in its current Setup slot. At this point,
you can rename the new Layer Setup using the secondary alphanumeric functions of the
Group Select and Sound Select buttons.

When the Save button LED is blinking (which means that you pressed Save, and a save
operation is underway), pressing Save again will cause the system to save the Layer Setup

11-5

Tutorials

Creating a Layer Setup with Velocity-dependent Zones

to the indicated Group and Sound in the User Bank. If you want to save it to a different
location in the User Bank, select the location via the Group Select and Sound Select
buttons (or using the Value buttons) before pressing Save again.

Pressing any other button while the Save button is blinking will cancel the save

operation.

Your Layer Setup is now complete!

Creating a Layer Setup with Velocity-dependent
Zones

This tutorial will help you create a Setup with two active Zones such that one Zone will

be heard when the Setup is played softly and the other Zone will be heard when the Setup
is played loudly. As an example for this tutorial, let’s consider creating a Setup in which an

acoustic guitar is heard when the Setup is played softly, and an electric guitar is heard when

the Setup is played loudly. Additionally, let’s have our example Setup be louder when the

electrical guitar is heard.

1. First we need a Setup with two active Zones. The easiest way to create such a Setup

that will serve the purpose of this tutorial is by creating a two-Layer Setup (see Creating 
a Layer Setup from a Program on page 11-4). For our example, let’s choose Program 96 Ac

Guitar for our Primary Voice and Program 102 Rockin’ Lead. Set the following Layer
parameters like so:

Layer Program 102 Rockin’ Lead

Layer Volume 20

Layer Transposition 0

Remember to save your Setup!

Alternatively, we could edit a factory Setup. This, however, would take longer since we

would have to check all of the parameters for both active Zones to make sure that they
are equal before we start editing the parameters that differ between Zones.

Let’s now go into Edit Setup Mode by pressing the Edit Setup Function button. In this

Mode, we will alter the velocity ranges of the Zones in our Setup. See Edit Setup Mode on 
page 8-1 for more information on the parameters of a Setup.

For Zone 1 (our acoustic guitar Zone), set the following two parameters like so (use the
Chan / Param buttons to select the parameters and the Value buttons to edit them):

Low Velocity 1

11-6

High Velocity 96

For Zone 2 (our acoustic guitar Zone), set the following two parameters like so (again,