Application Notes - Kurzweil PC88 Musician's Manual

MIDI Setups
VGM Setups
54 Slow Orchestra
55 Pressure Orch
56 Plucky Orch
57 Smooth Leads
58 Meditation 2
59 Soft Big Band
60 Rhythm/BigBand A is soft section volume. B is alto volume. C fades Ride. D is brass volume. E pans
61 Mello Guitars
62 Horn Lead
63 Plunkers
64 Scary Stuff

Application Notes

While you play through the Setups, remember that after moving controllers and changing zone status, you can al-
ways re-select the current setup (by pressing the same Setup Select button again) in order to re-send all entry values.
Similarly, you might use the Panic button to reset all controllers, then re-select the setup in order to insure that each
MIDI channel is playing the intended controller values.
Make your own.
There are many ways to program the PC88 to fully automate a multi-synthesizer rig for quick-access live performance. When
you are preparing the PC88 for a live performance, the Default Setup (#127), the Volume Sliders, Local Template, and MIDI Tem-
plate setups are recommended starting points. The Default SetupÕs parameters are shown on the following page.
"Mock Synthesis"
Most people are surprised at the amazing sonic potential in a synthesizer with no actual program editing. The good
news is that this potential exists for any MIDI sound module under the PC88Õs control! The PC88 does its thing with
standard MIDI commands, mostly with the Continuous Control Messages. Like program changes and notes, these
messages are sent on a per-channel basis. Once received, the slave device responds accordingly, until it receives
another message of the same type, or is told to reset somehow. If you move a MIDI volume slider down, the receiver
will lower that channelÕs volume until it receives a new volume message, or is told to reset.
Why is the Panic button important?
Consider this example: There are two single-zone MIDI setups, each playing the same MIDI channel. The first set-
up has a slider sending Volume, while the second has the same slider set to send Pan. You could accidentally leave
the first setup with the slider down, and not hear anything when you try to use the second setup. The entry and
exit value parameters are a good way to keep this from happening, but it is not always desirable to program setups
in that way. Even the factory MIDI setups do not always send exit values. A common practice is to use the Panic
button. Press it once and it sends the Reset all Controllers message. This tells the receivers to return Modulation to
0, Volume to 127, Pan to 64, and so on. Whenever youÕre not sure a setup is playing all its controllers from the in-
tended starting position, simply press panic and re-select the setup.
E-4
Activate Zone3 for 8vb Cello in the tenor range. A is upper orch. volume. B is flute
volume. C is cello volume. D is lower orch volume. E pans zones 1 and 3.
SwitchPdl2 changes right-hand Double Reeds to Brass.
Example: Arpeggiator for drum rolls. Arpeggio plays on Timpani and Snare Drum
(Zones 3 and 4), with velocity controlled by Pressure. Play any single note from G1 -
F#2, and press for a crescendo roll. C and D are volume for Snare and Timpani.
SwitchPdl2 does Sostenuto and disables Brass. Hardest strike triggers Crash (Zone 2).
A is Zone 1 volume. B is Zone 2 volume. C is Zone 3 volume.
A is Zone 1 volume. B is Zone 2 volume. C is Zone 3 volume. E pans zones 1 and 3.
A is internal reverb wet. B is internal chorus wet.
Activate Zone 3 to add Bari Sax. Activate Zone 4 to add Trumpet. A is soft section vol-
ume. B is soft lead volume. C is trumpet volume. D is bari volume. E pans Zone 2.
Zone 2 (via entry state). Soft strikes play soft horns only.
A is Zone 1 volume. B is Zone 2 volume. C is Zone 3 volume.
A is Zone 1 volume. B is Zone 2 volume. E pans zones 1 and 2.
A is Zone 1 volume. B is Zone 2 volume. E pans zones 1 and 2.
A is Zone 1 volume. B is internal delay wet. C sends Pitch Up on Zone 4.
PC88