Novation X-Station User Manual

Also see for X-Station: Supplementary guide Specifications

Contents

Novation X-Station User Manual Manual pdf 54 page image

The KS Synth Mode Global MenuWhile in KS Synth Mode, an additional Global Menu is available whichcontains settings relevant to KS Synth operation.To access this menu, press the GLOBAL button to access Global Modein the normal way. Pressing the GLOBAL button once more brings upthe extra KS Synth Mode Global Menu. The following Menu pages areavailable :Synth Tuning (Menu Page 1 ‘Synth Tune Cents’)Adjusts the master tuning. At the factory, this value will have been setto 0. This setting of zero is equivalent to concert pitch tuning (middle C= 440 Hz).Synth Global Sync (Menu Page 2 ‘Synth Glob Sync’)This allows the first note played after all notes have been released orthe first note played after a MIDI Program Change or MIDI Start SongMessage to synchronize the Panning and Chorus LFOs as describedon page 28.This setting allows them to have their start position locked in time withthe musical piece for stunning effects.Synth Velocity Response (Menu Page 3 ‘Synth Vel Resp’)The response to MIDI velocity information from an external device suchas a MIDI controller keyboard or a sequencer may be set using thisfunction.A setting of SOFT indicates that smaller changes in velocity (a lighterplaying style) will create a large change in response to velocity, be itvolume or any other modulation destination that velocity is routed to.A setting of HARD indicates that higher changes in velocity - a muchharder playing style, will create large changes in response to velocity.Synth Local Control (Menu Page 4)This function can be thought of as a switch which when set to OFF, dis-connects the front panel controls and keyboard from the internal syn-thesizer sound engine.Playing the keyboard or moving any of the controls still results in theappropriate MIDI information being transmitted from the MIDI OUTsocket, but they will have no direct affect on the synth sound engine.The sound engine will only be affected if the MIDI signals are routedback into the MIDI IN or USB port - probably by a sequencer.It is recommended that Synth Local Control is set to ON unless thefull MIDI implications are appreciated of having it set otherwise.When not connected to a sequencer, it will not be possible to play theKS Synth at all unless Synth Local Control is ON !Setting the synth local control to ‘off’ will stop the KS synth from playingvoices directly when using the X-Station as a master keyboard to playother software / hardware instruments.Synth MIDI Source (Menu Page 5 ‘Synth Midi Src’)Specifies which (if any) port can be used to trigger the KS Synthengine. There are three options available :OFF The KS Synth can only be played by the X-Station’s keyboard(provided Local Control is set to ON).MIDI IN The KS Synth can only be triggered by MIDI messages arrivingfrom the MIDI IN port or played by the X-Stations keyboard (providedLocal Control is set to ON).USB The KS Synth can only be triggered by MIDI messages arrivingfrom the USB port or played by the X-Stations keyboard (providedLocal Control is set to ON).Routing MIDI To And From The KS SynthesizerIn KS Synth Mode, the X-Station always receives and transmits usingthe Global MIDI Channel (see page 25 for details on how to set this)The Ports where MIDI information is transmitted when a front panelcontrol is moved or the keyboard is played while in KS Synth Mode isdetermined by the Keyboard MIDI Port setting found in the TemplateCommon Menu. Note that it is entirely possible to be able to play theKS Synthesizer without it actually transmitting any MIDI information toany port.The KS Synth can be triggered by incoming MIDI messages received ateither the USB or MIDI IN port. This is set by the Synth MIDI Sourceparameter detailed above.At all times, the KS Synth can be controlled by the front panel and byplaying the X-Station keyboard unless Synth Local Control (seeabove) is set to OFF.Note it is not possible to have both the USB and MIDI IN selected forMIDI reception simultaneously. This arrangement helps to avoid poten-tial ‘MIDI feedback’ loops when incoming MIDI is being configured ‘thru’the X-Station.Playing The KS Synth From A Sequencer While Using The X-Station As A Master KeyboardSet the Synth MIDI Source parameter to MIDI IN or USB as appropri-ate. Make sure the X-Station is connected to the sequencer by MIDI inboth directions - this is achieved if the USB MIDI connection is made.Set Synth Local Control to OFF. The keyboard will now transmit MIDIinformation but will not play the KS Synth directly.Select the sequencer track according to the instrument you wish to playor record via the X-Station Keyboard. The sequencer will now re-chan-nelise the MIDI information transmitted by the X-Station appropriately.With this configuration, it is also possible to play the KS Synth withouthaving to turn Synth Local Control back on. Simply select thesequencer track using the same MIDI channel as defined by the GlobalMIDI Channel (found in the Global Menu - see page 25) and ensurethat this sequencer track MIDI input is set to X-Station, and thissequencer track MIDI output is also set to X-Station. MIDI data will nowflow from the X-Station into the sequencer and the sequencer will routethis data out of the sequencer into the X-Station. The KS synth will thenrespond to this data and play as expected.THE KS SYNTHESIZERThe KS Synth Mode Global Menu• 54 •KS Synth Mode Global MenuPage Function Top Line Display Value1 Synth Tuning Synth Tune Cents -64...632 Synth Global Sync Synth Glob Sync PROG…SONG3 Synth Velocity Response Synth Vel Resp SOFT…HARD4 Synth Local Control Syn Local Cntrl OFF…ON5 Synth MIDI Source Synth Midi Src OFF…USB