Volume Slider, Foot Switch, Trouble-Shooting

Evolution eKeys 49 Keyboard User Manual

Volume Slider

Now try adjusting the Volume slider as you play. This slider sends a MIDI message that controls the volume of the notes you are playing. You will hear the sound is louder as you move the slider upwards.

The volume slider can be assigned to different effects such as pan (balance), attack, re- verb and chorus and many more. How to do this is explained in the 'Advanced Functions' Section.

Foot Switch

You can plug any polarity foot switch (not included) in to the foot switch socket on your Evolution keyboard. The keyboard will automatically detect the correct polarity on power up. If you want to reverse the polarity, just make sure the pedal is pressed when you switch on your keyboard.

The foot switch is normally used for sustaining the sound you are playing without having to keep your hands on the keyboard, just like a piano.

Setting up the Software

Before you use the software, it's a good idea to set it up so that it is communicating with the eKeys 49 properly. Once you have set this up, your settings will be saved so that each time you open the software, it will be communicating with the eKeys 49 straight away.

If you have not done so already, install Music teacher v3.0 and Sound Studio II. Open up Music Teacher or Sound Studio II by double-clicking on the icon on your desktop. Play the eKeys 49 keyboard. Can you hear any sound? If so all is good and you can go on to set up the other program.

If not select 'Devices...' from the Options menu ('MIDI Devices' in Sound Studio II). Here you have a list of MIDI inputs and outputs. Make sure the eKeys 49 is selected as the MIDI input device. If you plugged the eKeys 49 straight in to Windows XP and are not using Evolution's drivers, the eKeys 49 will be called 'USB Audio Device'. In all other cases, the eKeys 49 will be called 'USB MIDI in'.

In the MIDI Outputs you should select the output with 'synth' or 'synthesis' in the name. Make sure it is the only MIDI output that is selected. Selected devices are highlighted blue.

Click on 'OK' to save the settings. You should now be able to hear a piano sound when you play the eKeys 49. If not, go back in to Devices and select the next MIDI output. Click to de-select the previous MIDI output and click 'OK'. Try the eKeys 49 again. Repeat this process for each MIDI output in turn until you can hear sound.

Evolution eKeys 49 Keyboard User Manual

Trouble-Shooting

My Evolution hardware suddenly stopped working after having performed fine since installation.

Switch off the unit and leave for 10 seconds. Then restart your computer and try again. If the problem persist you may have to re-install drivers for the unit.

My drivers are listed in the Device Manager and are said to be working OK, but the keyboard is not recognised in any software.

Win2000 and XP have a limitation to how many MIDI device drivers you can have installed at any one time. There is no indication that you are using the maximum number of drivers - the drivers will install as if there is not a problem.

To fix this problem: Go to http://www.evolution.co.uk/support/faq/index.html and locate the above question. You will find a link to an exe file that will solve this problem for you.

I have plugged in a sustain pedal to my Evolution keyboard, but it works the wrong way round.

The polarity of the sustain pedal is calculated by the keyboard when it is powered up. On power up, the sustain pedal is assumed to be in the OFF position. So, if you want the sustain pedal to be off when it is unpressed, make sure the pedal is unpressed when you power up.

When I press a key, there is a delay before I hear any sound.

This delay is known as latency.

Latency with MIDI signals is due to the soft-synth you are using. MIDI data is simply control data. The MIDI is read by the soft-synth. The soft-synth then completes a large number of complex calculations, in order to produce the sound you hear. All this takes time.

We recommend getting a proper soundcard. You can get a decent one these days for under £30. If you already have an adequate sound card, try re-installing the latest drivers for the sound card, or try reducing the buffer sizes of the audio drivers. You can do this in the Sound Studio II and Sound Studio Pro II programs by going to 'Audio' – 'Audio system settings' where you can reduce the buffer sizes of the MME or ASIO drives.

I can’t get any sound from my Evolution Software.

In your software go to OptionsDevices. Here you will see a list of MIDI Inputs and MIDI outputs.

If you have MIDI inputs available, if no driver names appear in the Output column, you need to re-install your soundcard or update the soundcard drivers.

The output column allows you to choose which output driver you want for generating the MIDI sounds. Most soundcards will have an option such as "FM synth" or "SBLive Synth". Click on these driver names to use the sounds of your soundcard for playback of MIDI data. If you just have a sound chip, the software synth to select may be like "Microsoft SW synth". Click on the driver name of your choice.

Rule of Thumb: If you have numerous output drivers enabled (highlighted in blue) and cannot hear any output, de-select all but one of them and try again. Repeat this process until you hear some sounds.