M-Audio eKeys49 , , , , ,

Evolution eKeys49 Keyboard User Manual

Channel

MIDI data from the keyboard is sent on 1 of 16 channels. With the software we provide in this

package generally, the channel the keyboard is sending data on is not important, since the

software will receive data on all channels.

However, some MIDI devices or MIDI software this keyboard can be used with require the key-

board to send data on a specified channel. If this is the case you can change the channel the

data is sent on as follows:

• Press the 'Advanced Functions' button to get the keyboard into Edit mode.

• Press one of the 16 channel keys, D1 to E3 – the one that represents the channel

you need.

As an example if a devices specifies you need to send data on Channel 10, press the Ad-

vanced Functions button, and then key F2 to select Channel 10.

The Channel can also be assigned to the Octave '+' and '-' buttons. This will increment through

the channels. When Channel 16 is reached and '+' is pressed, Channel 1 will be selected. If

the Octave '+' and '-' keys are selected to vary the Channel, the lights above the buttons will not

change, since it is not possible to have a Channel with a negative value. Pressing both the '+'

and '-' buttons together will recall Channel 1.

Program Change

Program changes are used to change the instrument or voice you are using. Let's change the

instrument to a bass sound. To do this we need to send a program change of 32, which will

select an acoustic Bass sound. There are two methods send a program change:

1. Incremental/Decremental Program change:

• Press the 'Advanced Functions' button.

• Press the black key above F1 (named F#1).

• Now the Octave '+' and '-' keys can be used to change the program.

• Press '+' and continue to play some notes until you find the instrument you want.

2. Quick select Program Change

• Press the advanced Functions button.

• Press the black key above F4 (named F#4),representing 'program'.

• Press keys C4, then E3 then C5. This enters the combination '3', '2', ENTER.

Alternatively, you can use the '+' and '-' buttons to change the value, and then press ENTER.

Now the keyboard will play a Bass sound.

Evolution eKeys49 Keyboard User Manual

Method 1 is useful if you want to cycle through different instruments, to see which sounds best

in your song. Method 2 is more useful if you want to select a specific number, as is the case

here.

If the Octave '+' and '-' keys are selected to vary the Program number (method 1), the lights

above the buttons will not change, since it is not possible to have a Program with a negative

value. Pressing both the '+' and '-' buttons together will recall Program 0, which selects a

Grand Piano sound.

The full list of instruments accessible using program changes is given in Appendix ### at the

back of this manual.

Bank LSB and Bank MSB

Program Changes are the most commonly used messages to change instruments and voices.

However, the number of instruments accessible using Program changes is limited to 128.

Some devices have more than 128 voices and require a further method to access these extra

voices. Generally, these devices use Bank LSB and Bank MSB messages.

For more information on Bank LSB and MSB, please see the section on 'MIDI messages Ex-

plained'.

Like Program Changes, Bank LSB and Bank MSB can be assigned to the Octave '+' and '-'

buttons. This is achieved as follows:

• Press the 'Advanced Functions' button.

• Press the black key above G1 (named G#1).

• Now the Octave '+' and '-' keys can be used to change the program.

• Press '+' and continue to play some notes until you find the instrument you want.

Bank LSB and Bank MSB can also be entered using the Quick Select method:

• Press the advanced Functions button.

• Press the black key above G4 (named G#4), or A$ (named A#4), representing Bank LSB or

Bank MSB respectively.

• Press keys C4, then E3 then C5. This enters the combination '3', '2', ENTER.

Alternatively, you can use the '+' and '-' buttons to change the value, and then press ENTER.

Now the keyboard will play a Bass sound.

As with Program change, if the Octave '+' and '-' keys are selected to vary the Bank LSB or

MSB number (method 1), the lights above the buttons will not change, since it is not possible to

have a Bank with a negative value. Pressing both the '+' and '-' buttons together will recall

Bank 0.