Evolution eKeys Keyboard User Manual | Evolution eKeys Keyboard User Manual |
Getting Started
Assuming the installation process was completed successfully, it is now time to have a closer look at the eKeys keyboard. However, at the moment, when you press a key you will not hear any sound. This is because when you press a key, the keyboard sends out MIDI data. MIDI data gives instructions on how a sound should play, but in order to hear that sound you need some software which can read this MIDI data, and play sound back accordingly. We have provided such software on the Evolution eKeys Installer
If you have not done so already, install 'PictureBoard’ from the
PictureBoard is a great piece of software that will play a sound, and trigger an image when a key is pressed.
The piano set should automatically have been opened for you. If not, click on 'Open' and select the 'Piano.MB' file.
Press a key on the keyboard. You should now hear a piano, and see a key on the onscreen keyboard in PictureBoard light up.
If you do not see this, click on the preferences menu and select 'MIDI devices'. Select “USB MIDI in”, or if you are a Windows XP user, “USB Audio Device” as the MIDI input.
The Piano set in PictureBoard enables you to play the keyboard like a grand piano. Go on – give it a try!
About the Keyboard
Each white key on the eKeys is labelled with a letter. The letter represents the note you play.
Although the black keys are not labelled, they also have names. The name of a black key will be something like F# or Eb. If a black key is expressed with a # sign, it is referring to the black key above the white note. For example F# refers to the black key above F. If a black key is expressed with a b sign, it is referring to the black key below the white note. For example Eb refers to the black key below E.
So, as an example, the black Key between C and D3 is both C# and Db.
The keyboard is sectioned into octaves. There are 12 notes in an octave, 5 black notes and 7 white notes.
Play the bottom key labelled F on the keyboard. This will light up the corresponding key on the onscreen keyboard in PictureBoard. Now press the next F along on your eKeys. The key that now lights up on the PictureBoard keyboard is 1 octave higher.
12 | 5 |
