Radio Shack MD-981 User Manual

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Keyboard MIDI 981-MD

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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.

All Rights Reserved.

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

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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

Contents

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ˆ Features

Your RadioShack MIDI Keyboard is a state-of-the-art keyboard with many exciting features. You can set the keyboard to sound like 100 different musical instruments or sound effects. To accompany your music, the keyboard 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 — even your personal computer.

This versatile keyboard can provide hours of fun and is ideal for anyone who wants to make music, from the beginner to the experienced musician.

Note: The keyboard conforms to most, but not all, General MIDI specifications. Because of this, you might experience some incompatibility when using the keyboard with another General MIDI device. For more information, see “Using MIDI” on Page 21.

Your keyboard’s features include:

61 Full-Sized Keys — provide the feel of a fine musical instrument.

LCD Music Information Display — shows you a ‘staff’ with the notes and chords as you play them, along with the fingering, current tone, rhythm, volume, melody, and tempo. The display also shows a metronome icon to indicate the beat.

100 Tones — you can set your keyboard to sound like anything from a harpsichord to a honky-tonk piano.

100 Auto-Rhythms — give you a steady beat for many styles of music, from rhumba to slow rock.

100 Prerecorded Tunes — let you hear a sample of what you and the keyboard can do. You can play the tunes either one at a time or consecutively, and you can turn off the melody or accompaniment portion so you can play along with the tunes.

12-Note Polyphonic Sound — lets you play and hear up to 12 notes at the same time so you can play or create almost any type of music.

MIDI In/Out Jacks — let you connect the keyboard to another MIDI-equipped device.

Sustain Jack — lets you connect a sustain pedal (not supplied) to the keyboard so you can sustain your keyboard’s sound.

Headphones/Output Jack — lets you connect headphones so you can play without disturbing others, or an external amplifier so you can play for a crowd.

Tune Control — lets you adjust the pitch of your keyboard so you can play in tune with other instruments.

Transpose Function — lets you instantly change the key of the music, even while you are playing.

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Features

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Shack MD-981 User Manual

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Tempo Control — lets you speed up or slow down the tempo of any selected music pattern.

Chord Book — lets you easily see which keys to press and which fingers to use to form a chord, as well as a chord’s name.

Three Power Options — let you power the keyboard from internal batteries (not supplied), standard AC power (with an optional adapter), or your vehicle’s ciga- rette-lighter socket (with an optional adapter) so you can make music 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.

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW

This equipment complies with the limits for a Class B digital device as specified in Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits 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 different electrical circuits for the keyboard and the radio or TV.

Consult your local RadioShack store if the problem still exists.

You must use shielded interface cables with this equipment.

ˆ Preparation

Note: To connect a MIDI device to your keyboard, see “Making the MIDI Connections” on Page 21.

CONNECTING POWER

You can power your keyboard in any of these ways:

internal batteries

standard AC power using an optional AC adapter

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

Notes:

Connecting an AC or DC adapter automatically disconnects any internal batteries.

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

Preparation

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Using Batteries

Your keyboard can use six AA batteries (not supplied) for power. For the best performance and longest life, we recommend 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 POWER/MODE to OFF.

2.While pressing the tab on the battery compartment cover on the bottom of the keyboard, pull up the cover to remove it.

3.Place the batteries in the compartment as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked below the compartment.

4.Replace the cover.

When the keyboard stops operating properly, replace the batteries.

Warning: Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them.

Caution: If you do not plan to use the keyboard with batteries for a week or more, remove the batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts.

Using AC Power

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 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 DC 9V jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the keyboard or the adapter.

Always connect the AC adapter to the keyboard before 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 POWER/MODE to OFF.

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

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

4.Connect the AC adapter’s barrel plug to the DC 9V jack on the back of the keyboard.

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Preparation

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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 from a vehicle’s 12V power source (such as a cig- arette-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 DC 9V jack. Using an 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 finish, disconnect the adapter from the power source before you disconnect it from the keyboard.

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

1.Slide POWER/MODE to OFF.

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

3.Set the DC adapter’s voltage switch to 9 volts.

4.Connect the DC adapter’s barrel plug to the DC 9V jack on the back of the keyboard.

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, you can connect an optional pair of stereo headphones with a 1/4-inch (6.4-mm) plug. Your local RadioShack store sells a wide selection of headphones.

Insert the headphones’ plug into the PHONES/OUTPUT jack on the back of the keyboard.

Note: Connecting headphones disconnects the keyboard’s built-in speakers.

Listening Safely

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

Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.

Do not listen at extremely 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 volume level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing.

Preparation

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CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL AMPLIFIER

To amplify your keyboard’s sound, you can connect it to an optional external amplifier using an audio cable with a 1/4- inch (6.4-mm) plug (not supplied).

To connect an external amplifier to your keyboard, insert the cable’s plug into the PHONES/OUTPUT jack on the back of the keyboard, and connect the cable’s other end to the amplifier’s input jack(s) (such as AUX IN or TAPE IN).

Your local RadioShack store sells a full line of amplifiers, speakers, and connection cables.

USING THE SHEET MUSICl

STA12(as)NIER

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A Quick Look at Your Keyboard

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ˆ Operation

BASIC OPERATION

1.To turn on the keyboard, set

POWER/MODE to NORMAL. The POWER/MODE indicator lights.

Note: To save power when operating on batteries, the keyboard automatically turns off after about 6 minutes if you do not press a key. To turn on the keyboard again, set

POWER/MODE to OFF then back to NORMAL.

2.To hear a sample of the keyboard’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 selects the tone PIANO 1 (No. 00) when you turn the power on. To select a different tone, see “Selecting/Playing a Preset Tone” on Page 12.

To select an auto-rhythm, see “Using the Preset Auto-Rhythms” on Page 14.

To play auto accompaniment, see “Using Auto Accompaniment” on Page 15.

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

Notes:

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

To quickly change the volume setting, hold down MAIN VOLUME ▲ or ▼.

To quickly return to the default volume setting of 7, press both MAIN VOLUME buttons at the same time.

The volume level differs depending on the tone, accompaniment, or song you selected.

4.To turn off the keyboard, set

POWER/MODE to OFF. The POWER/ MODE indicator turns off.

Cancelling Auto Power Off

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

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

PLAYING THE PRERECORDED TUNES

You can sit back and listen to the 100 tunes that come prerecorded in the key-

Operation

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board, or you can turn off a tune’s melody or accompaniment and play along on the keyboard.

Playing Back a Prerecorded

Tune

1.Press SONG. An indicator appears next to SONG and the number of the current tune appears.

Note: The keyboard always selects the tune “A Whole New World” (No.

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

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 0 7.

• If you enter an incorrect first digit, press SONG to clear your entry, then enter the correct digit.

3.Press PLAY/PAUSE or START/STOP to start playing the tune.

You can change the tune by repeating Step 2 even while a tune is playing. The new tune immediately begins to play.

As a tune plays, the display shows:

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

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

a “metronome” to show you the selected tempo — the metronome’s bar swings along with the tempo you selected, and the black dots above the metronome show the beat count in the measure

the chord name (except for tunes 80 to 99, center right of the display)

“hands” that show the fingering to play the tune and chords

Note: Each tune plays a different preset tone for the melody, but you can change to another tone even while the tune is playing. Follow 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.

To adjust only the accompaniment volume (except tunes 80 to 99), press ACCOMP VOLUME then enter

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the desired volume level using the number keys (between 0 and 9) or press + or within 5 seconds.

5.To move to a particular section of a tune, hold down REW or FF during play. When you think you have reached the section you want, release REW or FF to resume normal play.

6.To change the tempo, press TEMPO ▼ or ▲. The current tempo setting appears.

Notes:

To quickly slow down or speed up the tempo, hold down TEMPO ▼ or ▲.

To reset the tempo to its default (original) speed, press 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 PLAY/PAUSE again. To stop the tune completely, press 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, supplied with your keyboard.

1.Select and enter the tune you want to play.

2.Press ON/OFF RIGHT to turn off the melody. R disappears from the “hands,” indicating that the keyboard is not playing the right-hand portion of the music.

Press ON/OFF LEFT to turn off the accompaniment. L disappears from 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 melody 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 PLAY/PAUSE again. To stop the tune completely, press STOP.

Operation

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