The Keyboard - M-Audio Axiom 25-49-61 User Manual

2.1 The Keyboard

When you play the keyboard, MIDI note messages are sent. These messages are read by your computer software or external MIDI gear and used
to generate sound accordingly.
2.1.1 Velocity Curve
A MIDI note message is sent with a velocity value between 0 and 127 which specifies how hard you pressed the key. A velocity value of 0
specifies that the key has been released. Since different people have different playing styles, your Axiom offers a number of different velocity
curves. You should experiment with the different velocity curves available to find the curve that best suits your playing style.
It is also possible to send fixed velocities each time you press a key. This is useful when composing drum parts, or simple synthesizer tracks.
The fixed velocities are selected by assigning curve 10 to 12 as follows:
Curve Fixed Velocity value
F10 64
F11 100
F12 127
To change the velocity curve:
49 and 61 note versions:
Press the Vel. Curve Keys button.
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The LCD will flash the currently selected velocity curve, preceded by a 'C' if a curve is selected, or 'F' if a fixed velocity is selected.
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Enter the new curve number using the numeric keypad.
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25 note version:
Press the Advanced button. This sets the keyboard to control data entry.
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Press the Curve Key button.
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The LCD will flash the currently selected velocity curve, preceded by a 'C' if a curve is selected, or 'F' if a fixed velocity is selected.
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Enter the new curve number using the numeric data entry keys.
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The velocity curve is remembered whenever you power down your Axiom.
2.1.2 Octave
There are 128 possible notes that can be sent as MIDI messages. If you wish to play a note that is out of your keyboard's range, it is possible to
shift the keyboard's range up or down using the Octave buttons. The Octave buttons shift the range of the keyboard up or down by 12 notes.
Using the Octave buttons all of the 128 notes can be sent.
To access all 11 available octaves from your keyboard:
Press Octave DOWN to shift down one octave at a time.
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Or
Press Octave UP to shift up one octave at a time.
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2.1.3 Transpose
The Octave buttons can also be used to transpose your keyboard. Some players like to play in a particular key like C or F, for example.
Transpose lets you change the pitch you are controlling and continue to play in the key that is most comfortable for you. It is possible to
transpose up or down by as much as 12 MIDI notes (or semi-tones). This means if you press the transpose –/+ buttons 12 times, the tone will
sound exactly one octave higher or lower.
To transpose the pitch you are playing:
Press both Octave DOWN and Octave UP together. The current transpose value will flash on the LCD display.
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Press either UP to transpose up by one 1⁄2 step, or DOWN to transpose down by one 1⁄2 step. The transpose value on the LCD will update
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accordingly.
When your transpose edit is accepted, the LCD display will stop flashing and performance mode resumes.
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The maximum transpose value is +12 (up) or -12 (down).
Once you have set the transpose value, the Octave buttons will return to controlling the Octave shift.
Octave and Transpose settings can be saved to any of the 20 memory locations of your Axiom. This process is explained in detail in
section 3.2.
Section 2: Basic MIDI Control From Your Axiom
Axiom Line User Guide
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