How to do Midi Files with a Technics Keyboard:


Introduction:

The present work is written to tell you "how to do excellent midi files" with your keyboard. All informations are taking root on my sx-KN920. Therefore, given instructions are presumed to be true
for general purpose but, may differ for your particular instrument. Even if this occurs, it is recommanded to read and follow carefully steps herein mentionned. As, usually, the keyboard manual you have
is not giving enought explanations on how to do midi files.

Procedures:

(1) Keyboard "Play On/OF" = Press "On"

(2) Initializing parameters for midi recording:

Note: 2 ways to proceed:

(1) Automatic and simple way load :"MIDI SET" doing as follow:
Load "Midi Set on a "virgin" and preformated floppy disk.
Inserts sthe floppy disk having "Midi Set" in your keyboard.
Press "Memory Control"
Press "Load"
Press "SMF"
Press "MIDI SET"
Go to section (3) "Midi recording set-up" click here

OR

(2) Initializing manually parameters for midi recording:

Press "button" "Midi" and you have:
..............................................................................P1 CHANNEL
..............................................................................P2 PART SETTING
..............................................................................P3 COMMON SET
..............................................................................P4 CONTROL MESSAGE
..............................................................................P5 MIDI MENU IN/OUT SET
..............................................................................P6 REALTIME MSG
..............................................................................P7 MIDI PRESETS
..............................................................................P8 GM MODE
..............................................................................P9 BULK DUMP

...Explications:

In black: no change to be done.
In blue: parameters has to be as followed:

............................P2 PART SETTING: (can be used later, so we will explained...)

...........................P3 COMMON SET: (initialize following parameters):
......................................... ....................P MEM = OFF
............................................................. N ONLY= OFF
............................................................. P CHANGE = GM
............................................................. DRUMS = TEC
............................................................. SONG SEL = OF
............................................................. SET UP LOADF = ON
............................................................. INTRO = OF
............................................................. APC CONTROL = OF
............................................................. RT SYSEX = ON

...........................P4 CONTROL MESSAGE: (just check, all parameters should be at "ON"):
. ..... .................................................... PANEL CHANGE = ON
. ..... .................................................... BANK SEL = ON
..... ........................... ............... .......... P. BEND = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ VOLUME = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ EXPRESS = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ PANPOT = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ SUSTAIN = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ EFF + REV= ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ MODULATION = ON
...... .............. ...... ................................TUNING = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ BEND RNG = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ AFT TOUCH = ON
..... .............. ...... ................................ RSI. CNT. = ON
.
...........................P6 REALTIME MESS: COMMANDS = OFF
...... .............................................................CLOCK = INT

...........................P8 .................................: GM MODE = ON:

Important: So you have two options to initialize parameters, the "Midi Set" load or manually doing it.

Once parameters are initialized correctly this will permit to reproduce each sound recorded (like 072, clarinet) in real sound, we say here in "patches".

There are 128 midi sounds,and refer to your chart for each. They are internationnally recognized, tought, on one keyboard, tango accordeon may be written harmonica on another model and trade mark.

If you have wrongly initialized one parameter, in trying to save later, you might have an error message or in reloading your midi file saved, all may sound on accoustic piano instead of patches. Don't panic, the memory has your sound on track 8, an it is possible to get it back as you will see hereinafter.

Make sure also, your floppy disk has been preformated, as some Technics keyboard are capricious, they saved midi files only if the floppy disk has been preformated on the Tehcnics keyboard. Remember this. Again, while you have a song ready to save, and it din'dt work, you can format your floppy disk without loosing your midi files, and saved it after. Now, let's see more,
what to do to record midi files on our keyboard.



(3) Midi recording preparations:

(a) Insert "MIDI SET" and do as followed:
.... .-- Press "Memory Control" you have: P1 ....LOAD ...SAVE
.... .-- Choose (see your instructions manual if necessary) LOAD you obtain: TECH ....SMF
.... .-- Choose SMF and the title "MIDI SET" appears
.... .-- Choose "MIDI SET" , and the load is done and the "PLAY" light up and you see tracks 1 to 8 and one level down, 9 to 16 (see your ins...).
.... .-- Press on "MENU" then, "REAL" go to next section: "Tracks allocation"..

OR

(b) If you have initialize recording parameters manually, proceed as followed:
.... .-- Press "MENU" then, "REAL" et go to next section: "Tracks allocation"..


(4) Tracks allocation:

Basically tracks 1 and 2 will serve to record (R1) and (R2), track 3 to record the left hand (L). Track 4 can be used for the bass. Never record on track 8 that is the "control track"
and remember once you will load a previous midi recording, to cancell this track before saving. Otherwise, if 8 had a bar, the saving might have no patches recorded.
(If so, cancell track 8, always make sure before saving it nothing (no bar) is on track 8). Track (10) is used to make the drum-tempo..

On a 16 tracks total, the other 10 tracks will be used to fill up chords, melody, harmony etc.

(5) Recording:

(a) With "MIDI SET" I repeat, cancell track 8.

(b) You can now proceed several ways:
:
.... .-- Allocate a sound instrument on track 1. Ex: 074 Jazz Flute = R1.

OR

.... .-- Press MIDI and P2 "Part Setting" to allocate sound intruments at the track you wish. Once done, press Exit, then press: MENU and REAL. (Always press Exit to go between one page and another, this secure your sets-up. If you have done manually rrecording parameters set-up, you should have past from one page or level to another in passing-by exit, nothing else.)

OR

.... .-- With SOUND PART, do the same as you do with Tehcnics Normal recording, allocate a R1, R2, Left instrument sound...



... Useful tricks to know before starting recording:
With practice you will find many choice of doing to record good harmony sounds on your tracks.

For instance, you have allocate instruments sounds for R1, R2, L. You can simply open R1 and record it. But You can open R1, R2, L tracks or two of them, and record
in pressing R1 and Left a part, than R2 and Left another part, then R1 R2 and L a third part etc.. etc..

You can also make a plan of instrument sounds you would like to have, say 076, 001, 057. You open track 1, and start recording 076, if your fast enought to record later,
in the beat change where you want 001, then later, 057, the three sounds will be recorded where you did on the same R1 track!!!! (This is a good way to save space).

You like to make an introduction: take track 5, do it... then once done, come back and do track 1 etc.. You can only record one track at the time, except in R1, R2, and L... as previously mentionned.

All sounds instruments choosen can be replace later so, don't mind about it too much if you don't like them at first choice.

Now, the Metronome used is terrefic to follow the tempo. Put earphones, where it is mark Metronome "Off"put it at "On". The Metronome allocate two measures spaces (in minus) before
starting to measure 1. It gives time to start at the right place. Later, you can put it "Off" and continue recording if you have enought background tracks to replace the metronome guidance...

All volume can be changed, press Exit while your recording plays and changes up or down the volume...

Once recorded, you will have the 4/4 lights up but, what to do if you are doing a waltz midi files. Press Rythm, choose 3/4 wlatz tempo, press back Sound Part, and you will have
a 3/4 "lights up lighting"!!!

You have enought here to start your recording. Let's do it!

(6) Saving:
It is recommanded to save your midi files in Technics first. To secure the non-evident way of saving midi files in midi format. But, in Technics save they won't play in midi on your computer.
So, after have done that, we save it in SMF format the following way:

.... .-- Memory & Control + Save + SMF
.... .-- Write the musical piece titlep.
.... .-- Press "Synchro & Break"
.... .-- Choice the track # where you want to save your song.
.... .-- Press on Page (sos don't press here on 'Syncro & Break") you get: 01
.... .-- Press again on Page to obtain: Panel Header = ON (put it at "ON" : obligatory)
.... .-- Press Page to obtain Measure Space (if you choose "ON", this will leave a space at the begginning of teh recording. If you do so, on the same floppy disk, don't do it again, all recorded songs will have automatically a delay at the beginning. So why not, leaving it at "OFF"?
.... .-- Now, you can press "Synchro & Break" and your song is saving.

Note: If you have also saved the piece in "Technics" mode, there is no danger to load your midi files to see if everything is recorded in patches... So, do LOAD & SMF and shall appears:

COMPLETE!