Radio Shack MD-981 User Manual

MD-981 MIDI Keyboard

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Owner’s Manual

Please read before using this equipment.

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ˆ

Contents

Features .................................................................. ................................................. 4

The FCC Wants You to Know ............................................................................. 5

Preparation .............................................................................................................. 5

Connecting Power .............................................................................................. 5

Using Batteries ............................................................................................. 6

Using AC Power ........................................................................................... 6

Using Vehicle Battery Power ........................................................................ 7

Connecting Headphones .................................................................................... 7

Listening Safely ............................................................................................ 7

Connecting an External Amplifier ....................................................................... 7

Using the Sheet Music Stand ............................................................................. 8

A Quick Look at Your Keyboard ............................................................................ 8

Operation ................................................................................................................. 9

Basic Operation .................................... ....... ....................................... ...... ...... .... 9

Cancelling Auto Power Off ........................................................................... 9

Playing the Prerecorded Tunes .......................................................................... 9

Playing Back a Prerecorded Tune ............................................................. 10

Playing Along with a Prerecorded Tune ..................................................... 11

Turning Applause Off/On ........................................................................... 12

Consecutively Playing Back the Tunes ...................................................... 12

Using the Preset Tones .................................................................................... 12

Selecting/Playing a Preset Tone ................................................................ 12

Keyboard Split Tones ................................................................................. 13

Layered Tones ........................................................................................... 13

Percussion Sounds .................................................................................... 13

Using the Preset Auto-Rhythms ....................................................................... 14

Selecting/Playing an Auto-Rhythm ............................................................ 14

Using SYNCHRO ....................................................................................... 15

Using FILL-IN ............................................................................................. 15

Using Auto Accompaniment ............................................................................. 15

Adjusting the Accompaniment Volume ...................................................... 15

Concert Chord ....... ...... ....................................... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ...... .. 16

Standard Fingering .................................................................................... 17

Using the Chord Book ...................................................................................... 18

©

2000 Tandy Corporation.

RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.

2

All Rights Reserved.

Contents

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Special Features .................................... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ...... ..... 19

Changing Keys ................................................................................................. 19

Tuning the Keyboard ........................................................................................ 20

Using a Sustain Pedal ...................................................................................... 20

Using MIDI ............................................................................................................. 21

About MIDI ........................... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ........... 21

Making the MIDI Connections .......................................................................... 21

MIDI Data ......................................................................................................... 22

Changing MIDI Settings ................................................................................... 22

Notes About the MIDI Implementation Chart .................................................... 23

Troubleshooting ...................................................................... ................... ........... 24

Standard Fingering Chord Charts ....................................................................... 26

Note Table .............................................................................................................. 29

MIDI Implementation Chart .................................................................................. 31

Care and Maintenance .......................................................................................... 32

Specifications ....................................................................................................... 33

3Contents

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ˆ

Features

Your RadioShack MIDI Keyboard is a
state-of-the-art ke yboard with many ex­citing features. You can set the key­board to sound like 100 different musical
instruments or sound effects. To accom­pany your music, the keyboa rd has 100
rhythms, as well as auto accompani­ments and percussion sounds.

Your keyboard also includes a MIDI
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
feature, which lets you connect it to oth­er MIDI-equipped musical instruments
or devices — eve n your personal com­puter.

This versatile keyboard can provide
hours of fun and is i dea l for anyone who
wants to make music, from the begi nner
to the experienced musician.

Note:

The keyboard conforms to most,
but not all, General MIDI spe cifications.
Because of this, you might experience
some incompatibility when using the
keyboard with ano the r Ge ner al MID I de ­vice. For more information, see “Using
MIDI” on Page 21.

Your keyboard’s features include:

61 Full-Sized Keys

of a fine musical instrument.

LCD Music Information Display

shows you a ‘staff’ with the notes and
chords as you play them, alo ng with the
fingering, current tone , rhythm, volume,
melody, and tempo. The display also
shows a metronom e icon to i ndicate the
beat.

— provide the feel

—

100 Tones

board to sound like anything from a
harpsichord to a honky-tonk piano.

100 Auto-Rhythms

steady beat for many styles of music,
from rhumba to slow rock.

100 Prerecorded Tunes

a sample of what you and the k eyboard
can do. You can play the tunes either
one at a time or c onsecutively, and you
can turn off the melody or accompani­ment portion so you can play along with
the tunes.

12-Note Polyphonic Sound

play and hear up to 12 notes at the
same time so you can play o r create al­most any type of music.

MIDI In/Out Jacks

the keyboard to another MIDI- equipped
device.

Sustain Jack

sustain pedal (not suppl ied) to the key­board so you can sustain your key­board’s sound.

Headphones/Output Jack

connect headphones so you can play
without disturbing oth ers, or an external
amplifier so you can play for a crowd.

Tune Control

pitch of your keyboard so yo u can play
in tune with other instruments.

Transpose Function

stantly change the key of the music,
even while you are playing.

— you can set your key-

— give you a

— let you h ear

— lets you

— let you connect

— lets you connect a

— lets you

— lets you adjust the

— lets you in-

4

Features

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Tempo Control

slow down the tempo of any selected
music pattern.

Chord Book

which keys to press and which fingers to
use to form a chord, as well as a chord’s
name.

Three Power Options

the keyboard fro m inter nal b atteries (not
supplied), standard AC power (with an
optional adapter), or your v ehic le’s ci ga­rette-lighter socket (with an optional
adapter) so you can make mu sic almost
anywhere.

Notes:

• You can use an optional keyboard
stand (available at your local
RadioShack store) to mount the
keyboard.

• This Owner ’s Manual explains how
to use this electronic keyboard. It
does not teach music.

— lets you speed up or

— lets you easily see

— let you power

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO
KNOW

This equipment compl ies with the limits
for a Class B dig ital device as speci fied
in Part 15 of
provide reasonable protection against
radio and TV interference in a residential
area. However, your equipment might
cause TV or radio interference even
when it is operating properly. To elimi­nate interference, you can try one or
more of the following corrective mea­sures:

• reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna

• increase the distance between the
equipment and the radio or TV

• use outlets on di fferent electrical cir­cuits for the keyboar d and the radio
or TV.

Consult your local RadioShack store if
the problem still exists.

FCC Rules

. These limits

ˆ

Preparation

Note:

To connect a MIDI device to your
keyboard, see “Making the MIDI Connec­tions” on Page21.

CONNECTING POWER

You can power your keyboard in any of
these ways:

• internal batteries

• standard AC power using an
optional AC adapter

You must use shielded interface cables
with this equipment.

• a vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket
using an optional DC adapter

Notes

:

• Connecting an AC or DC adapter
automatica lly disconnects any inter­nal batteries.

• Always disconnect the AC or DC
adapter when you finish using the
keyboard.

5Preparation

Using Batteries

Using AC Power

Your keyboard can use s ix AA batteries
(not supplied) for power. For the best
performance and longest life, we rec om ­mend RadioShack alkaline batteries.

Cautions:

• Use only fresh batteries of the
required size and recommended
type.

• Do not mix old and new batteries,
different types of batteries (stan­dard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or
rechargeable batteries of different
capacities.

Follow these steps to install batteries.

1. Slide

2. While pressing the tab on the bat-

3. Place the batteries in the compart-

4. Replace the cover.

POWER/MODE

tery compartment cov er on the bot­tom of the keyboard, pull up the
cover to remove it.

ment as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked below the
compartment.

to

OFF

.

You can power the keyboard using a 9V,
800-mA AC adapter and a size M
Adaptaplug™ adapter (neither sup­plied). Both are available at your local
RadioShack store.

Cautions:

You must use a Class 2
power source that s upplies

!

9V DC and delivers at least
800 mA. Its center tip must be se t to
negative and its plug must fit the
keyboard's
adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the
keyboard or the adapter.

• Always connect the AC adapter to
the keyboard befo re you connect it
to AC power. When you finish, dis­connect the adapter from AC power
before you disconnect it from the
keyboard.

Follow these steps to connect an AC
adapter to the keyboard.

1. Slide

2. Set the DC adapter ’s voltage swi tch
to 9V .

DC 9V

POWER/MODE

jack. Using an

OFF

to

.

When the keyboard stops operating
properly, replace the batteries.

Warning:

promptly and properly. Do not burn or
bury them.

Caution:

keyboard with batteries for a week or
more, remove the batteries. Batteries
can leak chemicals that can destroy
electronic parts.

6

Dispose of old batteries

If you do not plan to use the

Preparation

3. Insert the Adaptaplug adapter into
the adapter’s cord so it reads – TIP.

4. Connect the AC adapter’s barrel
plug to the
the keyboard.

DC 9V

jack on the b ack of

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5. Plug the AC adapter’s other end into
a standard AC outlet.

Using Vehicle Battery Power

You can power the keyboard f rom a ve ­hicle’s 12V power source (such as a cig­arette-lighter socket) using a 9V, 800­mA AC adapter and a size M Adapta­plug adapter (neither supplied). Both are
available at your local RadioShack
store.

Cautions:

You must use a power
source that supplies 9V DC

!

and delivers at least 800
mA. Its center tip must be set to
negative and its plug must fit the
keyboard's
adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the
keyboard or the adapter.

• Always connect the DC adapter to
the keyboard before you connect it
to the power source. When you fin ­ish, disconnect the adapt er from the
power source before you disconnect
it from the keyboard.

Follow these steps to connect a DC
adapter to the keyboard.

1. Slide

2. Plug the DC adapter’s barrel plug
into the cable so it reads – TIP.

3. Set the DC ada pter ’s voltage s witch
to 9 volts.

4. Connect the DC adapter’s barrel
plug to the
the keyboard.

DC 9V

POWER/MODE

DC 9V

jack on the back of

jack. Using an

OFF

to

.

5. Plug the DC adapter’s other end into
your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter
socket.

CONNECTING
HEADPHONES

To listen to your keyboard without dis­turbing others, yo u can connect an op­tional pair of st ereo headphones with a

1

/4-inch (6.4-mm) plug. Your local Ra­dioShack store sells a wide s election of
headphones.

Insert the headphones’ plug into the

PHONES/OUTPUT

the keyboard.

Note

: Connecting headphones discon-

nects the keyboard’s built-in speakers.

Listening Safely

To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use headphones.

• Set the volume to the low est setting
before you begin liste ning. A fter you
begin listening, adjus t the volume to
a comfortable level.

• Do not listen at extr emely high vol­ume levels. Extended high-volume
listening can lead to permanent
hearing loss.

• Once you set the volume, do not
increase it. Over time, your ears
adapt to the volum e level, so a vol­ume level that does not cause dis­comfort might still damage your
hearing.

jack on the back of

7Preparation

CONNECTING AN
EXTERNAL AMPLIFIER

To amplify your keyboard’s so und, you
can connect it to an optional external
amplifier using an audio ca ble wi th a
inch (6.4-mm) plug (not supplied).

To connect an external amplifier to you r
keyboard, insert the cable’s plug into the

PHONES/OUTPUT

the keyboard, and connect the cable’s
other end to the amplifier ’s input jack(s)
(such as AUX IN or TAPE IN).

jack on the back of

1

/4-

Your local Radi oShack store sells a f ull
line of amplifiers, speakers, and connec­tion cables.

USING THE SHEET MUSICl
STA12(as)NIER

8

A Quick Look at Your Keyboard

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ˆ

Operation

BASIC OPERATION

1. To turn on the keyboard, set

POWER/MODE

POWER/MODE indicator li ghts.

Note:

To save power when operat­ing on batteries, th e keyboard auto ­matically turns off after about 6
minutes if you do not press a key. To
turn on the keyboard again, set

POWER/MODE
NORMAL

2. To hear a sample of the keyboa rd’s
many sounds, play a prerecorded
tune (see “Playing the Prerecorded
Tunes”). To make your own music,
simply begin playing the keyboard.

Notes:

• The keyboard automatically

• To select an auto-rhythm, see

• To play auto accom pan iment, see

.

selects th e to ne PIA NO 1 ( No. 00)
when you turn the power on. To
select a different tone, see
“Selecting/Playi ng a Preset Tone”
on Page 12 .

“Using the Preset Auto-Rhythms”
on Page 14 .

“Using Auto Accompaniment” on
Page 15.

to

OFF

to

NORMAL.

then back to

The

Notes:

• The keyboard’s volume ranges
from 0 (no sound) to 9 (maxi­mum). Each time you turn on th e
keyboard, the volume is set to 7.

• To quickly change the volume set­ting, hold down
or ▼.

• To quickly return to the default
volume setting of 7, press both

MAIN VOLUME

same time.

• The volume leve l differs depend­ing on the tone, accompa niment,
or song you s elected.

4. To turn off the keyboard, set

POWER/MODE

MODE indicator turns off.

MAIN VOLUME

buttons at the

OFF

to

. The POWER/

▲

Cancelling Auto Power Off

The keyboard automatically turns itself
off when you use batteries to power it.
To have the keyboa rd not automatical ly
turn off during a session, turn on the
keyboard while holding down

The next time you turn the keyboard off
then back on again, it wi ll automatically
turn off after about 6 minutes.

TONE

.

3. Repeatedly press
or ▼ to increase or decrease the
volume. The current setting ap­pears.

MAIN VOLUME

▲

PLAYING THE
PRERECORDED TUNES

You can sit back and listen to the 100
tunes that come prere cord ed in the ke y-

9Operation

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board, or you can tur n off a t une ’s me lo ­dy or accompaniment an d play alon g on
the keyboard.

Playing Back a Prerecorded
Tune

1. Press
next to
the current tune appears.

Note:

the tune “A Whole New World” (No.

00) the first time you press
after turning the power on.

SONG

. An indicator appears

SONG

and the number of

The keyboard always selects

SONG

• a “score” to show you the notes
that are playing (right side of th e
display)

• a “keyboard” to show yo u the fin­gering and which keys are
pressed (bottom of the display)

2. Choose a tune from the 100
SONGS list and enter its two-digit
number on the keypad.

Or, you can press

– or +

to move to
the next higher or lower numbered
tune.

Notes:

• Precede a single-digit number

with a 0. For example, to select
07 (“O Christmas Tree”), press

7

.

• If you enter an incorrect first dig it,

SONG

press

to clear your entry,

then enter the correct digit.

3. Press

PLAY/PAUSE

START/STOP

or

to start playing the tune.
You can cha nge the t une by r epeat-

ing Step 2 even while a tune is play­ing. The new tune immediately
begins to play.

• a “metronome” to show you the
selected tempo — the metro­nome’s bar swings alo ng with the
tempo you selected, and the
black dots above the met ronome
show the beat co unt in the mea­sure

• the chord name (excep t for tunes
80 to 99, center right of the dis­play)

0

• “hands” that show the fin geri ng to
play the tune and chords

Note:

Each tune plays a different
preset tone for t he melody, but you
can change to another tone even
while the tune is playing. Fol low the
steps under “Selecting/Playing a
Preset Tone” on Page 12 to select a
different tone.

4. Use

MAIN VOLUME

to adjust the

overall volume as desired.

As a tune plays, the display shows:

10

Operation

To adjust only the accompaniment
volume (except tunes 80 to 99),

ACCOMP VOLUME

press

then enter

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the desired volume level using the

0

number keys (between

+

press

or – within 5 seconds.

and 9) or

5. To move to a particular section of a

REW

tune, hold down

or FF during
play. When you think you have
reached the section you want,
release

REW

or FF to resume nor-

mal play.

6. To change the tem po, press

▼

or ▲. The current tempo setting

TEMPO

appears.

Notes

:

• To quickl y sl ow d own o r sp eed up

the tempo, hold down

TEMPO

▼

or ▲.

• To reset the tempo to its default

(original) speed, pr ess

TEMPO

▲

and ▼ at the same time.

• Tunes 80 to 99 are arranged so

the tempo changes during play.
However, if you select a tempo
other than the default tempo,
those tunes play in the newest
tempo.

7. To temporarily stop playing the tune,
press
the tune completely, press

PLAY/PAUSE

again. To stop

STOP

.

Playing Along with a
Prerecorded Tune

Follow these steps to have the keyboard
not play the melody of a prerecorded
tune, so you can!

Note:

You can find the scores for most

of the prerecorded tunes in the

Play

Guide for the Prerecorded Tunes

, sup-

plied with your keyboard.

1. Select an d enter the tune you want
to play.

2. Press
melody.

ON/OFF RIGHT

R

disappears from the

to turn off the

“hands,” indicating that the key­board is not playing the right-hand
portion of the music.

Press
accompaniment.

ON/OFF LEFT

L

disappears from

to turn off the

the “hands.”

Notes:

• Tunes 80 to 99 are solo tunes.

You can turn off either the right­hand or left-hand portion , but not
both.

• If you select tunes 00 through 79

and turn off both the melo dy and
accompaniment, the keyboard
plays an obligato accompani­ment (a simple background
accompaniment).

3. Press

PLAY/PAUSE

to start play.

4. Adjust the tempo and volume as
desired.

5. Play along with the tune on the key­board.

Note:

You can turn the melody on or
off by repeating Step 2 even while
the current tune is playing.

6. To temporarily stop playing the tune,
press
the tune completely, press

PLAY/PAUSE

again. To stop

STOP

.

11Operation