Novation KS4 User Manual

Contents

MIDI and SequencersA sequencer is simply a device which is capable of recording, storing andplaying back MIDI information. Using a sequencer, it is possible to con-struct very complex musical arrangements which would normally beimpossible to play ‘live’. It is also very easy to edit the MIDI data andremove any unintended mistakes or make changes in the playing style.Many people nowadays use software sequencing packages on comput-ers, but there are also dedicated hardware sequencers available whichperform in a similar way.All sequencers can record MIDI information exactly as played on the syn-thesizer’s keyboard. To do this, simply make sure the MIDI Out is con-nected to the sequencer’s MIDI In and start the sequencer recording. Anykeys played on the keyboard or knob / wheel movements made will befaithfully recorded. This is known as ‘real time’ recording. As long as thesequencer’s MIDI Out is connected to the KS4 / KS5’s MIDI In, this MIDIinformation can then be played back into the KS4 / KS5, exactly reproduc-ing all the actions made and notes played while recording the sequence.On most sequencers, it is also possible to enter new MIDI events in ‘steptime’ by explicitly defining each MIDI event without having to supply therelevant MIDI data to the sequencer’s MIDI In socket. Obviously, someknowledge of MIDI is needed in order to do this.Nearly all sequencers offer multiple recording tracks. These tracks behavein a similar fashion to multi-track tape recorders, except that instead ofholding audio recordings, they hold their own record of MIDI data. Usually,each sequencer track will contain MIDI data associated with a distinctMIDI channel. By using sequencer tracks in this way, it would typically bepossible to build up a complex song arrangement with one track beingused to control the drums, another the bass line, another the lead soundand so on.When using a sequencer, some careful thought should be given as to theway the MIDI information is routed through the sequencer. With mostsequencers, any MIDI information that appears at the sequencer’s MIDI Insocket is immediately re-transmitted again from the sequencer’s MIDI Outsocket. If desired, it is sometimes possible to turn this feature off. It usual-ly called ‘echo back’ or ‘soft thru’. Consult your sequencer manual fordetails.It is very important to realise that if ‘soft thru’ is enabled on a sequencer,the MIDI information re-transmitted by the MIDI Out socket is always con-verted to the MIDI channel used by the currently selected sequencertrack. This means that if a track is selected on a sequencer which usesMIDI channel 2, and the sequencer then receives some MIDI informationfrom a KS 4 / KS 5 sent on MIDI channel 1, it will be re-transmitted by thesequencer not on MIDI channel 1, but MIDI channel 2. This would bequite useful for programming parts into the sequencer for other MIDIdevices or Parts, but can lead to some quite unexpected results if carefulnote is not kept of exactly what is happening !Because many sequencers re-channelise MIDI information in this way, itis quite possible to use the KS4 / KS5 as a master keyboard to supplyMIDI information and notes that the sequencer will use to control otherParts in a Performance or other external MIDI equipment such as a sam-pler.In Performance Mode, each of the four Parts can be played simultane-ously with each Part responding on its own unique MIDI channel. Toreflect this, four tracks should be configured on the sequencer with eachtrack’s MIDI channel setting reflecting the channel used on each of thefour KS4 / KS5 Parts. When the KS4 / KS5 is being used multi-timbrally inthis manner, when recording MIDI data from the KS4 / KS5, make it arule-of-thumb to always select the appropriate sequencer track beforeselecting the Part on the KS4 / KS5’s front panel.When controlling external MIDI equipment (in this example a sampler), thesequencer track must be selected which corresponds to the same MIDIchannel that the sampler is using. However, it would be noticed that assoon as notes are played into the sequencer from the KS 4 / KS 5 key-board, the KS 4 / KS 5 would play as well as the sampler. To overcomethis problem, there is a feature available called Local Control.Local ControlLocal Control is a parameter found in the Global Menu (see page 50 fordetails) which in effect, disconnects the keyboard and panel controls fromthe synthesis engine.When the keyboard is played or the front panel controls are moved, theystill transmit the usual MIDI information but they have no direct control ofthe internal sound engine. When Local Control is set to OFF, the onlyway that the keyboard or controls can be used to play the sound engine iswhen the MIDI information sent from the keyboard is routed through thesequencer (with the correct sequencer track selected), back to the MIDI Insocket.When not connected correctly to a sequencer, having Local Control setto OFF is a common cause of mistakenly assuming that the machine isfaulty. When the KS 4 / KS 5 appears to ignore its keyboard and frontpanel controls, setting Local Control to ON or selecting the correctsequencer track will usually rectify the ‘problem’.See page 50 for altering the Local Control setting.SummaryMIDI information is transmitted whenever the keyboard is played, frontpanel controls are moved or when a new Program is selected.MIDI information is split into 16 channels. The KS 4 / KS 5 can be set toreceive / transmit on any one of these channels at any one time inProgram Mode. When used in Performance Mode, up to four Parts can beindividually set to receive on different MIDI channels.MIDI information travels in one direction along a MIDI cable. The only per-mitted connections are MIDI Out to MIDI In, or MIDI Thru to MIDI In.MIDI messages can be recorded into a sequencer and later replayed backinto the KS 4 / KS 5, replicating whatever actions occurred when the MIDImessages were originally transmitted.Sequencers usually re-transmit any MIDI information they receive immedi-ately, converting the message’s channel information into whatever MIDIchannel the currently selected sequencer track is using.Because of this, the KS 4 / KS 5 may be used as a ‘Master Keyboard’ tocontrol all MIDI devices in a MIDI network.An option called Local Control disables the keyboard and controls fromthe synthesizer engine. When set to OFF, playing the keyboard or movingthe front panel controls only results in MIDI information being transmitted.Setting Local Control to OFF allows the KS 4 / KS 5 to control otherMIDI instruments without triggering notes or altering settings on the KS 4 /KS 5 directly.MIDI TUTORIALMIDI and Sequencers - Summary• 17 •Sequencer KS 4 / KS 5 Synth [2]... etcOutOutInInInThruTypical example of using the KS 4 / KS 5as a Master Keyboard in a MIDI system‘Soft Thru’set to On