Merge Midi In With Midi Out; Select Drum Sets Via Midi Program Changes - Akai XR 20 Reference Manual

Page 7 / MERGE MIDI IN WITH MIDI OUT (MIDITHRU)
To have the XR20 merge data appearing at the MIDI IN
with the timing and/or note data transmitted through the
MIDI OUT, you can enable MIDITHRU.
Use the INC/DEC buttons or VALUE dial to select ON.
Select OFF to have the XR20 MIDI OUT transmit XR20
timing and note data only.
Example: Turning MIDI OUT to MIDI THRU can be handy for some system applications.
Assume a MIDI keyboard connects to the MIDI IN on the XR20 and the unit serves as the
master clock for a sequencer (the MIDI OUT from the XR20 is connected to the sequencer's
MIDI IN). With MIDITHRU set to ON, the keyboard note data will be passed through the
XR20 and appear at the sequencers MIDI IN.
Other XR20 settings should be DRUM IN set to OFF (so the XR20 doesn't respond to your
keyboard playing) and CLOCKOUT set to ON so that the XR20 clock drives the sequencer.
DRUMOUT should also be OFF so that the sequencer doesn't record the XR20 drum notes.
Plugging the sequencer MIDI OUT to the keyboard MIDI IN plays back the sequenced notes
through the keyboard.
Technically speaking, MIDI timing data (as provided by a master unit such as a sequencer)
received at the XR20's MIDI IN is not sent to the MIDI OUT. However, this will appear to be
the case since the XR20 will generate its own timing data in response to the timing data
received at its MIDI IN, if CLOCK IN and CLOCK OUT are both ON.
Page 8 / SELECT DRUM SETS VIA MIDI PROGRAM CHANGES (PRG CHNG)
A Program Change is a message sent to devices which
causes them to switch to a new program, or bank of
sounds. Drum Set selection on the XR20 can be
controlled externally at any time (even during playback)
through the use of Program Change messages.
To have the XR20 receive Program Change messages,
use the INC/DEC buttons or VALUE dial to select ON.
Select OFF to have the XR20 ignore Program Change
messages.
Program Change (PC) 00 selects User Drum Set 00; PC 01 selects User Drum Set 01; PC 02
selects User Drum Set 02; etc. However, be aware that some devices number Program Changes
as 1-128, others as 0-127, and some as banks of programs.
Tip: If the device generating Program Changes follows a non-standard protocol, it's a good idea to
make up a conversion chart which shows which Program Changes call up which Drum Sets.
Please note that in order to access User kits, you will need to send a Bank Select message along
with the Program Change. Refer to the table below for information on how to access different
kits.
BANK MSB BANK LSB
0 0
0 1
0 0
0 1
0 0
0 1
PROG CHANGE SELECTION
00-99 PRESET DRUM KITS
00-99 USER DRUM KITS
00-99 PRESET 1-SHOT KITS
00-99 USER 1-SHOT KITS
00-99 PRESET SYNTH KITS
00-99 USER SYNTH KITS
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