Download
Share
Print this page
Retroaktiv MPG-50 User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Retroaktiv Manuals
  4. DJ Equipment
  5. MPG-50
  6. User manual

Retroaktiv MPG-50 User Manual

Hide thumbs Also See for MPG-50:

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
USER'S MANUAL AND REFERENCE GUIDE
All rights reserved. 2021 Retroaktiv LLC.
Colorado, USA.

Advertisement

loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the MPG-50 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for Retroaktiv MPG-50

Summary of Contents for Retroaktiv MPG-50

  • Page 1 USER’S MANUAL AND REFERENCE GUIDE All rights reserved. 2021 Retroaktiv LLC. Colorado, USA.
  • Page 2 Independent control of all layers. Flexible MIDI matrix allows multiple parameters to be controlled inde- MPG-50 allows users to store and name pendently in real-time, using af- custom CC maps, allowing users to create tertouch, mod wheel or any CC, an...

  • Page 3: Fro Nt Pan E L & Jac Ks

    OLED display presents information about the The menu navigation buttons are used to select operation being performed. editor pages in the MPG-50. The [LEFT] and [RIGHT] buttons are used to move the cursor in the menu pages. O B J ECT STO RAG E...
  • Page 4 The most basic setup is to send the MIDI OUT from your DAW or MIDI controller, to MIDI IN Port 1 of the MPG-50. The MIDI OUT Port 1 of the MPG-50 mk II is connected to the MIDI IN of the AJ/ MKS-50.

  • Page 5: Multi-Unit Operation

    M U LTI - U N IT O PE RATI O N MPG-50 can control 2 MKS/Juno units independently. Users can play the 2 Junos as a “STACK”, where the two synths are layered, similar to the UPPER & LOWER tone architecture found on synths like MKS-80 and MKS-70/ Super JX.
  • Page 6 MPG-50 MIDI: Global Settings - “Stack” Mode Note that Unit 1 and Unit 2 Input Ch is set to channel 1 on both units. This means that the MPG-50 is listening for notes and control data on channel 1 on both units. It a note comes in on channel 1, then it will trigger a sound on both synths.
  • Page 7 6-voice synths over each other, we load the same sound onto both, and use them as a 12-voice synthesizer. The Unit 1 and Unit 2 MIDI: Settings are the same as in STACK mode. The only change is that MULTI-UNIT POLY MODE is set to ON. MPG-50 MIDI: Settings Unit 2 - Multi-Unit Poly Mode...

  • Page 8: M E N U S An D Navi Gati O N

    M E N U S AN D NAVI GATI O N M E N U S AN D NAVI GATI O N The MPG-50 will boot up and display the MAIN menu screen. The diagram below shows the contents displayed on the MAIN screen.
  • Page 9 FR E E Z E FU N CTI O N Pressing ENTER from the MAIN screen will enable the “FREEZE” function on MPG-50. When FREEZE is enabled, a message will be displayed “Freeze : ENTER to send.”. When FREEZE is on, moving a slider will not send a message.
  • Page 10 U S I N G E N CO D E R TO SC RO LL TH RO U G H PR E S ETS O N SYNTH MPG-50 allows users to use the encoder to scroll through presets on the MKS/Juno. To do this, press MAIN button to return to the MAIN screen, and press the LEFT button once.
  • Page 11 M PG - 50 M E M O RY STO RAG E M PG - 50 M E M O RY STO RAG E MPG-50 allows users to store a variety of different “objects” such as PATCH, ASSIGNS, or a SETUP. MPG-50 has the following banks of objects available: •...
  • Page 12 In the MPG-50, no tones are shared in a patch bank. A bank of 64 MPG-50 patches contains 64 individual tones, thus allowing us to store a patch on the MPG-50 with a single button press.
  • Page 13 CC to sysex translation. The MIDI:Settings Menu Unit: Unit: This sets the type of synth being controlled by MPG-50. Use JUNO for Alpha Juno 1 & 2, and MKS-50 for an MKS-50 rackmount synthesizer. Input Port: Input Port: Sets the input ports that MPG-50 will listen for incoming note and controller data on.
  • Page 14 INPUT, then the IN/OUT jack will function as a second MIDI IN. If this is set to OUTPUT, then the IN/OUT jack will act as a second MIDI OUT. Port 2 allows for a lot of flexibility in setting up the MPG-50 in a rig. Users can choose which MIDI port Unit 1 and 2 will receive data on and send data on.
  • Page 15 - When enabled, playing a single note on the keyboard will play the selected chord. The MPG-50 CHORD MODE function allows users to input a chord, and then play it by keying a note. The chord will be transposed anywhere on the keyboard where a new note is keyed. When enabled, a menu dialog will appear, showing the notes in the current CHORD.
  • Page 16 When importing objects from Alpha Juno 1 & 2, or MKS-50, bidirectional communication with the synth is required. The MPG-50 will give instructions based on which model of synth the MPG is importing from. Below is an example of bi-directional communication with the synth.
  • Page 17 DAW/COMPUTER MIDI OUT MPG-50 mkII can receive objects on both MIDI ports. , so users can connect the DAW to either one. I M PO RT BAN K FRO M ALPHA J U N O I M PO RT BAN K FRO M ALPHA J U N O...
  • Page 18 MKS-50 uses the PATCH & TONE structure, there are 3 files that must be tranferred and parsed: TONE A, TONE B, and PATCH. MPG-50 will take these 3 object files and combine them into Retroaktiv PATCH format, which does not use the PATCH & TONE distinction.
  • Page 19 E XPO RT A BAN K TO M KS - 50 Export a bank to MKS-50: Export a bank to MKS-50: To export a bank to an MKS-50, MPG-50 OUT needs to be connected to MKS MIDI IN. Navigate to Fn: Send MKS-50 Bank Fn: Send MKS-50 Bank in the MIDI: SYSEX menu.
  • Page 20 To backup MPG-50 memory contents, navigate to Fn: Storage Backup. Fn: Storage Backup. Press ENTER on MPG-50 when your PC/ DAW is ready to receive the backup data file. When the file is complete, MPG-50 will display a ‘Completed’ message.
  • Page 21 Storing and Loading User CC Maps: MPG-50 internal memory can store 24 User CC Maps. To store or load a map, go to the User CC Map menu, and press the STORE or LOAD button once. A list of currently stored CC maps will be displayed. Select the desired slot to be loaded or stored, then press the [STORE] or [LOAD] button.
  • Page 22 MPG-50 instead of a sysex message. When using the MPG-50 to translate CC messages into sysex messages for the MKS-50, each of the UNITs has its own MIDI channel. For example if the UNIT 1 IN channel is set to 1, and the UNIT 2 IN channel is set to 3,then incoming CCs on channel 1 would affect UNIT 1 patch parameters, CCs on ch 3 would affect UNIT 2 patch parameters.
  • Page 23 “Init tones”. (Scratch Tones”) This tool provides an endless supply of new, musical tones, which can be created on any layer of an MPG-50 SETUP. Here’s how it all works: The Patch Generator uses categories so users can tell it which type of sound to create. Below is a chart showing the various categories and subcategories, as well as a brief description of the types of sounds each will generate.
  • Page 24 RETROAKTIV MPG-50 USER MANUAL • • Release Release - Basses with VCA ENV Release • • Rez Bass Rez Bass - Resonant synth basses • • Ac. Bass Ac. Bass - Acoustic type basses Polysynth Polysynth • • All All - Randomly selects synths from any of the following sub-categories.
  • Page 25 MPG-50. layer of either synth plugged into the MPG-50. This allows us to do something like sweep the filter cutoff up on the UPPER layer, while sweeping the cutoff down on the LOWER layer. Using the assigns and combinations of assigns, a sound can be animated in ways not possible on other controllers.
  • Page 26 There are a few guidelines to follow to maximize the MIDI performance of the MPG-50 when using assigns. An ASSIGN has the potential to generate large amounts of MIDI data. If you’re using an ASSIGN with 5 layers, which is routed to BOTH units, this will generate 10 MIDI sysex messages with each movement of the ASSIGN source.
  • Page 27 It is plug and play. When an expansion card is installed, the MPG-50 will detect it and will prompt the user to format the card. No user objects will be lost when doing this.

  • Page 28: Troubleshooting

    • This indicates that there is a midi feedback loop in your setup. A feedback loop happens when the MPG-50 receives its own output at one of the inputs, causing a doubling of every MIDI message. MPG-50 can deal with this problem easily, by simple having the Unit IN Channel set to a different channel than the Unit OUT Channel.
  • Page 29 The pause in between sysex packets allows the MPG-50 time to process each packet and write it to FLASH. When ready, send the file to the MIDI IN of the MPG-50. The CHORUS LED will blink once for each sysex packet.

  • Page 30: Weight And Dimensions

    WE I G HT AN D D I M E N S I O N S The MPG-50 is 7 pounds and the enclosure measures 14.5” x 5.75” x 3.5”. The enclosure has 4 heavy-duty screw-on rubber feet for no-slip tabletop use. The MPG-50 can also be rackmounted using optional rack ears, or the Alpha Juno Mounting Stand, both of which can be purchased at www.retroaktivsynthesizers.com.