M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 User Guide

Keystation Pro 88 Advanced Guide

Contents:

1 Getting Started

2 Terminology

3 Performance Operations of the Keystation Pro 88

• Sending Program Changes During Performance

• Sending Bank Changes During Performance

• Sending Snap Shot

• Muting All Controllers

• Drawbar Mode

• Changing Zones

4 Programming and Editing the Keystation Pro 88

• Introduction to Programming Options

• Selecting a Controller for Editing

• Assigning MIDI CCs

• Assigning an Individual MIDI Channel

• Changing the Global Channel

• Setting Toggle Values for the Buttons

• RPN/NRPN, SysEx and Other Advanced Messages

• Assigning MMC Control to a Button

• Assigning RPN/NRPN to a Fader/Rotary Controller

• Assigning a Note to a Button

• About SysEx Messages and Device ID

• Non-Volatile Memory

• Memory Dump

• Assigning Device ID

• Resetting to the Factory Default Setting

• Save/Recall of Individual Groups of Controllers

• Programming Zones

• How to Transpose or Change the Octave of a Zone

• The Program, Bank LSB and Bank MSB of a Zone

• Setting the Channel of a Zone

• Group A Controllers

5 The Evolution Librarian

• About the Librarian Software

• Installing the Librarian Software

• Setting Up the Librarian Software

• Librarian Overview

• Organizing Presets Received from a Device

• Viewing The Contents of a Memory

• Saving a Setup

• Loading a Setup

6 MIDI In/Out and MIDI Messages Explained

• MIDI In / Out Signal Flow Diagram

• About the MIDI In Port

• About the MIDI Out Port

• Program and Bank Changes Explained

• RPN / NRPRs Explained

• SysEx Explained

7 Appendices

• Appendix A – MIDI Implementation Chart

• Appendix B1 – Assignable MIDI CC’s (Faders & Rotary Controllers)

• Appendix B2 – Assignable MIDI CC’s (Buttons)

• Appendix C – Hexadecimal Conversion Chart

• Appendix D1 – General MIDI Instruments

• Appendix D2 – MIDI Note Numbers

• Appendix E – Standard MIDI Controller Numbers (MIDI CC’s)

1 Getting Started

Before you begin the Keystation Pro 88 Advanced Guide, we suggest that you take the
time to familiarize yourself with the Getting Started Guide, a printed manual that
accompanied your Keystation Pro 88. (You can also download the Getting Started
Guide from www.m-audio.com.)

The Getting Started Guide provides an explanation of the Keystation Pro 88’s layout and
basic functions. This manual builds on the Getting Started Guide to give you a full
understanding of the powerful features of the Keystation Pro 88.

2 Terminology

In order to get the most out of this Guide, please familiarize yourself with the following terms:

Edit Mode:

Edit Mode describes the short period of time (three seconds) after a function button has
been pressed, during which time the parameters of that function can be altered via the
numeric keypad. No data is sent out of the Keystation Pro 88 when it is in Edit Mode,
except for Program and Bank Changes. LCD symbols shown in Edit Mode indicate that
a particular parameter can be edited. If a number is partially entered and a new
controller turned, that number will become the relevant parameter number for the new
controller and the three second editing period will retrigger.

Default Mode:

Default Mode describes the state of the Keystation Pro 88 when no function buttons
have been pressed within the last three seconds. In Default Mode, the LCD shows the
controller symbol, and the two-digit display shows the last selected controller. The three­digit display shows the currently assigned MIDI CC number.

Zone Edit Mode:

Zone Edit Mode describes the period of time between the pressing of a Zone Range
button—or the selection of a Group A controller—and when the operation becomes
complete. During Zone Edit Mode, the LEDs above the Zone buttons will flash to indicate
that the Zones can be selected for editing. The LCD will also flash the Zones that are
currently selected for editing.

3 Performance Operations of the Keystation Pro 88

Sending Program Changes During Performance

You can send out a Program Change message to your sound module, instrument or any
other device that will receive this standard MIDI message. The Program Change will be
sent on the Zones that are active at that time.

1. Press the PROGRAM button.

2. Select the Zones that the Program Change should be sent on. If left alone, the
Program Change will be sent to all active zones.

3. Type in the Program number you wish to send, using the numerical keypad or the
+/- keys.

Example: The LCD display the PROG symbol indicating that the PROGRAM button has
been pressed. The program value sent is 00 and it is sent on the Global MIDI Channel

01. Zone 1 is flashing, indicating the Program Change affects Zone 1.

You can also program the assignable buttons to send out fixed Program messages to
individual MIDI channels. For additional information on this method, please go to the
“Programming and Editing” section of this manual.

Sending Bank Changes During Performance

If your receiving MIDI device has more than 128 presets, you may be able to access the
additional banks by sending out Bank Change LSB and MSB messages.

1. Press the DATA LSB or DATA MSB button.

2. Select the Zones that the Program Change should be sent on. If left alone, the Bank
Change will be sent to all active zones.

3. Type in the Bank number you wish to send, using the numerical keypad or the +/- keys.

Note: Please check the documentation for your receiving MIDI device to ensure that it will respond to
these messages. For more information on Data LSB and MSB messages, please see the “Program
and Bank Changes Explained” section of this guide.

Sending Snap Shot

A Snap Shot sends the current controller assignments and their values to a receiving
device. To send a Snap Shot, press the +/- buttons on the keypad at the same.

When you send a Snap Shot, the LCD will display the Snap Shot symbol (below) and the
data for an individual controller will be sent on the MIDI channel that controller has been
assigned to.

Snap Shot is an effective way to synchronize the receiving device with the Keystation
Pro 88 and can be used as a creative tool. The data sent when SNAP SHOT is pressed
can be viewed in your sequencer’s list editor. Set your sequencer to record and press
SNAP SHOT. Then open the list editor and ensure it is set to display controller data.

Muting All Controllers

The Control Mute function allows you to alter the position of a MIDI controller without
affecting the settings in your software. To Mute all faders and rotary controllers, press
the CTRL MUTE buttons.

The Control Mute function does not affect buttons. If an assignable button, a function
button, or a key is pressed, the controllers are turned back on and the Control Mute
function is terminated until the Control Mute buttons are pressed again. Alternatively, to
deactivate the Control Mute function you can press the CTRL MUTE buttons a second
time and turn the controllers back on.

When you first press the CTRL MUTE buttons, you will see that the LCD display list is
“OFF.” This indicates that the Keystation Pro 88 is not sending out MIDI data. This is a
very useful feature if you decide to switch between presets on the Keystation Pro 88
when the controllers are out of position. Control Mute enables you to move the controller
to a position relative to the software's controller value, rather than causing the software's
controller value to jump.

You can also use this feature for creative mixing or live performance. If you use the
Keystation Pro 88 as a conventional volume mixer, engage the Control Mute function,
change the volume up or down on various channels and press the SNAP SHOT buttons.
This method of mixing is very dynamic and cannot be done via a conventional mixer.

Drawbar Mode

When in Drawbar mode, the sliders of the Keystation Pro 88 will be reversed such that 0
is at the top, while 127 is at the bottom.

To engage Drawbar mode, press the CHANNEL ASSIGN and PROGRAM buttons
simultaneously.

When Drawbar mode is engaged, the LCD display shows the fader symbol (below).
Press the DRAWBAR buttons again to disengage Drawbar mode.

Drawbar mode is meant for use with Hammond organ synths that have drawbars.
Note: When recalling a preset, Drawbar Mode is only recalled as part of Group C. For
more information on Groups, please reference the “Programming and Editing” section of
this guide.

Changing Zones

The four Zones of the Keystation Pro 88 can be used to split the keyboard into sections.

For example, call up Preset 2 (the GM mixer):

1. Press the RECALL button

2. Press “2” on the numerical keypad, or use the +/- buttons to enter “2.”

On this preset, Zone 1 controls a piano sound; Zone 2 controls a string sound, Zone 3
controls a bass sound and Zone 4 controls an organ sound.

You can change the selected Zone by pressing the corresponding zone button. The
LEDs above the Zone buttons indicate which Zones are active. To activate a Zone,
press that Zone’s button and the LED above the button will light. To de-activate a Zone,
press that Zone’s button again and the LED above the button will turn off.

On the preset example from above, the Zones are layered across the entire keyboard.
This means that all the Zones are active and you will be able to play four instruments at
the same time.

It is possible to limit the section of a keyboard denoted by each Zone, or split the
keyboard into various Zones. This will allow you to assign a separate section of the
keyboard to each instrument. You can even change the octave, transpose the
keyboard, or select a different instrument for each Zone individually.

For more information on programming and Zone features, please see the “Programming
and Editing” section of this manual.

4 Programming and Editing the Keystation Pro 88

Introduction to Programming Options

Each of the 60 controllers on the Keystation Pro 88 can send MIDI CC, RPN/NRPN, GM
1 and 2 or SysEx messages. The controllers can also be assigned to individual MIDI
channels. MIDI CC (continuous controller) numbers are part of the standard MIDI
specification and typically used to control the real-time changes of parameters in MIDI
musical equipment.

For a complete list of standard MIDI controller numbers from 0 to 131, please see Appendix E.

Any of the 60 real-time controllers on the Keystation Pro 88 can be assigned to a MIDI
CC number. However, the assigning options for the 22 assignable buttons differ from
those of the 9 faders and the 24 rotary controllers.

The following two charts show the MIDI transmit messages you can program for each of the
assignable faders, rotary controllers and MIDI buttons. Please review this chart so you can
follow the principles of controller programming in the upcoming instructions and examples.

Please pay extra attention to the differences between how you program the faders or
rotary controllers and how you program the buttons. Once the controller you want to edit
has been selected, you can change the assigned MIDI CC number as described in the
next sections.

Selecting a Controller for Editing

Before you can assign a MIDI CC to one of the Keystation Pro 88’s assignable
controllers, you will need to select the controller for editing. There are two ways to select
a controller:

1. Press the CONTROL SELECT buttons (GLOBAL CHANNEL + CHANNEL ASSIGN).
The LCD will display the CONTROLLER symbol. The LCD symbol will flash to
indicate the controller settings can be altered (Edit Mode). The three-digit display will
show the number of the currently selected controller.

2. Type in the number of the controller using the numeric keypad or the +/- buttons.

or

1. Simply move a fader, a rotary controller, or press an assignable button.

Assigning MIDI CCs

1. Press CONTROL ASSIGN. The LCD will flash the CC symbol and the three-digit
display will indicate the currently assigned MIDI CC number.

2. Type in a new MIDI CC value using the numeric keypad or the +/- buttons. The MIDI
controller number you select will be assigned to the currently selected controller,
shown by the number on the small, two-digit display.

Note: If you have a Group A controller selected, it is possible to assign a different MIDI CC for each
zone. For more information on Group A controllers, please refer to the Group A controllers section of
this guide.

Assigning an Individual MIDI Channel

1. Select the controller you want to edit as described earlier.

2. Press CHANNEL ASSIGN. The LCD will display the CHAN symbol and the 3-digit
display will show the current channel assignment of the selected controller. This will
be preceded by a “c,” (for channel) or a “z” if the controller is assigned to a Global
Zone channel.* The small two-digit display will show the currently selected controller
number (each fader, rotary knob and button has its own controller number listed next
to it) for assignment.

3. Type the MIDI channel number (00-20) you want the controller to send on, using the
numeric keypad or the +/- keys.

Note: If you select channels 17-20, the controller is assigned to the Global Zone channel for
Zone 1, 2, 3, or 4 respectively.

Changing the Global MIDI Channel

If one of the controllers is assigned to channel 00, it will transmit on the Global MIDI
Channel. The Keystation Pro 88’s Global MIDI Channel affects only the controllers that have
the individual MIDI channel assigned to value 00, as described in the previous section.

To change the Global MIDI Channel:

1. Press the GLOBAL CHANNEL button once. The LCD will display the KEYBOARD
and CHAN symbols. The three-digit display will show the currently selected global
channel, preceded by a “c.”

2. Type in the MIDI channel number (01-16) using the numeric keypad or
the +/- keys.

Example: MIDI channel 01 is assigned as Global MIDI Channel.

Using a combination of Global MIDI Channel and individually assigned MIDI channels
can be an effective way to navigate through your system. With multi-timbral instruments
such as Reason, it can be easier to change the Global MIDI Channel setting on your Pro
88 in order to jump to the next device, rather than making changes in the software.

Setting Toggle Values for the Buttons

The 22 assignable buttons can each be assigned to toggle between two values. For
example, you may want to send out value 15 when you first press the button, followed by
value 74 when you press the button a second time.

To set toggle values for the buttons:

1. Press the Function button labeled DATA MSB twice.

2. Type in 15 using the numerical keypad or the +/- keys.

3. Press the Function button labeled DATA LSB twice.

4. Type in 74 using the numerical keypad or the +/- keys. If you want the button to send the
same value every time you press it, enter the same value for both of the steps above.

RPN/NRPN, SysEx and Other Advanced Messages

As described, the standard MIDI controller numbers range from 0 to 131. For the
Keystation Pro 88, the list of MIDI CCs that can be assigned to the controllers has been
expanded to include RPN/NRPN, MMC and General MIDI 1 & 2 SysEx messages.
These advanced MIDI messages are just as easy to program as a regular MIDI CC
instruction by entering values 132 to 154 when programming MIDI CCs. The charts in
Appendix B show you what number corresponds to each type of MIDI message.

To program the values for these advanced messages, the Keystation Pro 88 requires
you to press the PROGRAM, DATA LSB and DATA MSB buttons twice, respectively.