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Retroaktiv PG-2K User Manual
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Retroaktiv PG-2K User Manual

Synthesizer programmer
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SYNTHESIZER PROG RAMMER
All rights reserved. 2022 Retroaktiv LLC.
Colorado, USA.

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Summary of Contents for Retroaktiv PG-2K

  • Page 1 SYNTHESIZER PROG RAMMER All rights reserved. 2022 Retroaktiv LLC. Colorado, USA.
  • Page 2 160k with optional plug and jects on all layers. play memory card upgrade.. PG-2K allows users to store and name custom CC maps, allowing users to create Flexible “ASSIGN” MIDI matrix allows their own custom control maps for other multiple parameters to be controlled gear using the PG-2K panel.

  • Page 3: Fro Nt Pan E L & Jac Ks

    M I D I JAC KS encoder down to perform any of the panel actions PG-2K has 1 MIDI IN jack and 1 MIDI OUT jack. Note labeled in red. Holding this while moving a slider will and controller data received at the MIDI IN jack can display the slider parameter’s current value without...
  • Page 4 POWE R I N G TH E PG -2 K PG-2K is powered by the PG-200 port on the JX-3P or MKS-30 synth. To begin using the PG-2k, the programmer must be conected to the synthesizer with the included 6-pin DIN cable.
  • Page 5 MIDI Menu setion of this manual. Here, we are simply getting set up so a sound can be edited using the PG-2K. If the Unit 1 and Output Chan settings are both correct, moving a slider on PG-2K should be editing the sound you hear on the synth.
  • Page 6 “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. The two synths can also be daisy chained by using PG-2K’s Multi- Unit Poly Mode, which turns the 2 synths into a single 12-voice synth, effectively doubling the polyphony of an Alpha JX-3P.
  • Page 7 If using “stock” MKS-30/JX-3P units in M.U.P.M., it is recommended that they both be able to receive MIDI and CC to PG-200, as the PG-2K has only one PG-200 port, and it cannot be shared by the units. For example, two MKS-30 units with Tauntek CC firmware will work as one synth in M.U.P.M., whereas two stock units would not.

  • 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 PG-2K will boot up and display the MAIN menu screen. The diagram below shows the contents displayed on the MAIN screen.
  • Page 9 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL TH E “ S H I F T” B UT TO N TH E “ S H I F T” B UT TO N The SHIFT button is used to access or edit a second function. To use the second function of a slider or button, press and hold the SHIFT button while actuating the target button, or moving the target switch.
  • Page 10 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL K I W I -3 0 & K I W I -3 P M AT R I X S EC O N D F U N C T I O N S K I W I -3 0 & K I W I -3 P M AT R I X S EC O N D F U N C T I O N S...

  • Page 11: Manual Mode

    TH E E N CO D E R B UT TO N The rotary encoder on the PG-2K also acts as a button, which if held down, will perform a second function. The encoder has the following functions when held down:...
  • Page 12 Kiwi 30 and Kiwi 3P Matrix models have more parameters that can be edited, than there are sliders and buttons on the PG-2K front panel. It is still simple to access and edit any of those parameters without menu diving, by pressing and holding [SHIFT] while moving the slider that has the desired “second parameter control”...
  • Page 13 Unfortunately the 3P has no way to export sounds in PG-200 format. Once a sound is created and stored on PG-2K it can be sent to the synth using PG-200 protocol, or sent to a DAW using sysex.
  • Page 14 PG-200 format. Stock PG-2K can store 2 banks of 64 Tones, and 1 bank each of 16 ASSIGN, USER CC MAP and SETUP objects. If Stock PG-2K can store 2 banks of 64 Tones, and 1 bank each of 16 ASSIGN, USER CC MAP and SETUP objects. If...
  • Page 15 A PATCH is a “snapshot” of either the UNIT 1 or UNIT 2 LAYER in the controller. All tone parameters are saved in a PATCH. The PG-2K is capable of storing patches intelligently, in the format of the synth they were created on.
  • Page 16 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL To load an Object To load an Object • Press SHIFT+RIGHT (LOAD), and a select the object type to be loaded. • Use the arrow keys or the encoder to navigate through the BANK. To advance BANK, press the SHIFT+RIGHT(LOAD) button again.
  • Page 17 Input Channel: Sets the input ports that PG-2K will listen for incoming note and controller data on. If MIDI Echo is turned on, then notes received at PG-2K MIDI IN on this channel will be passed to the synth via the PG- 2K MIDI OUT, on the Output channel.
  • Page 18 If Unit 2 is set to OFF, then the PG-2K will not give users the option to choose which unit is being edited. If Unit 2 is set to MKS-30, JX-3P, or CC, then the user will have the option to choose which unit is being edited, by using the MAIN button (When on the MAIN screen).
  • Page 19 - When enabled, playing a single note on the keyboard will play the selected chord. The PG-2K 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 20 When importing objects from the Kiwi modified synth, bidirectional communication with the synth is required. The PG-2K will give instructions based on which model of synth the controller is importing from. Below is an example of bi-directional communication with the synth. (Take proper feedback precautions here.)
  • Page 21 When using bidirectional communication to send and receive banks from the synth, it is recommended that the PG-2K MIDI IN and OUT channel be set to separate (non-identical) values, which will prevent a feedback the PG-2K MIDI IN and OUT channel be set to separate (non-identical) values, which will prevent a feedback loop.
  • Page 22 E XPO RT A TO N E TO KIWI SYNTH Export a tone to synth: Export a tone to synth: To export the current PG-2K tone data to the edit buffer of the synth, navigate to Fn: Send Kiwi Tone Send Kiwi Tone in the MIDI: SYSEX menu.
  • Page 23 Rear switch on Kiwi-3P must be in PROGRAMMER position. Export a PG-2K Bank: Export a PG-2K Bank: To export a PG-2K bank, only the connection shown on page 21 is needed. Navigate to Fn: PG-2K Bank Send Fn: PG-2K Bank Send in the MIDI: SYSEX menu.
  • Page 24 To backup PG-2K memory contents, navigate to Fn: Storage Backup. Fn: Storage Backup. Press ENTER on PG-2K when your PC/DAW is ready to receive the backup data file. When the file is complete, PG-2K will display a ‘Completed’ message. To restore PG-2K memory contents, navigate to Fn: Storage Restore.
  • Page 25 The Kiwi 3P, Kiwi-30, and Kiwi-3P Matrix allow for MIDI editing of sequences created using the 3P’s on-board sequencer. Sequences are stored inside of the synth, and the PG-2K simply allows the user to edit the sequences in the synth’s edit buffer. Bi-directional communication with the synth is necessary for sequence editing, so the PG-2K can access, alter, then resend the contents of the synth’s sequence edit buffer.

  • Page 26: Th E Pat Te R N E D Ito R

    TH E PAT TE R N E D ITO R TH E PAT TE R N E D ITO R The Kiwi 3P has a unique pattern generator that can be used to modulate the VCF and VCA, as well as to clock other things, such as the arpeggiator and the sequencer.
  • Page 27 Kiwi-30 and Kiwi-3P Matrix. (Note that the KIWI MOD MATRIX is different from the ASSIGN on the PG-2K, which we will discuss in hte next section.) To jump to the MATRIX page, press [SHIFT] + [ENV MODE]. Depending on which synth is being edited, one of the two menus below will be displayed on the screen.
  • Page 28 Storing and Loading User CC Maps: PG-2K 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 29 When using the PG-2K to translate CC messages into PG-200 messages, PG-2K will transmit CCs when a slider is moved, and will translate those CCs to PG-200 if received at PG-2K MIDI IN. This table shows the This table shows the implementation of the PG-2K MIDI CC to PG-200 translation.
  • Page 30 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL TH E PATC H G E N E RATO R TH E PATC H G E N E RATO R The Patch Generator tool is a powerful feature that creates intelligently randomized tones, as well as preset “Init tones”.
  • Page 31 PATC H G E N E RATO R CATEGO R I E S PG-2k has two patch generators on-board; one for stock JX-3P/MKS-30 units, and another for Kiwi modified units. The Kiwi patch generator has subcategories, whereas the stock patch generator only uses the main categories.
  • Page 32 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL Pads Pads • • No-mod Pad No-mod Pad - Pads that have no VCF or pitch modulation applied. • • Release Pad Release Pad - Pads utilizing longer release times. • • RhythmicPad RhythmicPad - Pads that use LFO rhythmic modulation.
  • Page 33 PG-2K. layer of either synth plugged into the PG-2K. 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 34 There are a few guidelines to follow to maximize the MIDI performance of the PG-2K 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 35 RETROAKTIV PG-2K USER MANUAL I NTU ITIVE E NTRY O F AS S I G N L AYE R S I NTU ITIVE E NTRY O F AS S I G N L AYE R S While users can manually enter all of the necessary information into each ASSIGN layer, this can become tedious when creating many different routing destinations.

  • Page 36: Troubleshooting

    • When editing sounds using PG-2K, it is important to begin with the sound you want to edit loaded into the contents of the PG-2K. If the sound to be edited and saved was loaded by using the preset button on the synth, then the sound must be uploaded to the PG-2K using Receive Kiwi Tone Receive Kiwi Tone function in the MIDI:Sysex menu of the PG-2K.
  • Page 37 The pause in between sysex packets allows the PG-2K time to process each packet and write it to FLASH. When ready, send the file to the MIDI IN of the PG-2K. The Sync LED will blink once for each sysex packet.

  • Page 38: Weight And Dimensions

    WE I G HT AN D D I M E N S I O N S The PG-2K is 7 pounds and the enclosure measures 10” x 8” x 2.5”. The enclosure has 4 heavy-duty screw-on rubber feet for no-slip tabletop use. The PG-2K can also be rackmounted using optional 6U rack mounting bracket, which can be purchased at www.retroaktivsynthesizers.com.