The Ks Synth Mode Global Menu; Routing Midi To And From The Ks Synthesizer - Novation X-Station User Manual

The KS Synth Mode Global Menu

The KS Synth Mode Global Menu
While in KS Synth Mode, an additional Global Menu is available which
contains settings relevant to KS Synth operation.
To access this menu, press the GLOBAL button to access Global Mode
in the normal way. Pressing the GLOBAL button once more brings up
the extra KS Synth Mode Global Menu. The following Menu pages are
available :
KS Synth Mode Global Menu
Page Function
1 Synth Tuning
2 Synth Global Sync
3 Synth Velocity Response
4 Synth Local Control
5 Synth MIDI Source
Synth Tuning (Menu Page 1 'Synth Tune Cents')
Adjusts the master tuning. At the factory, this value will have been set
to 0. This setting of zero is equivalent to concert pitch tuning (middle C
= 440 Hz).
Synth Global Sync (Menu Page 2 'Synth Glob Sync')
This allows the first note played after all notes have been released or
the first note played after a MIDI Program Change or MIDI Start Song
Message to synchronize the Panning and Chorus LFOs as described
on page 28.
This setting allows them to have their start position locked in time with
the musical piece for stunning effects.
Synth Velocity Response (Menu Page 3 'Synth Vel Resp')
The response to MIDI velocity information from an external device such
as a MIDI controller keyboard or a sequencer may be set using this
function.
A setting of SOFT indicates that smaller changes in velocity (a lighter
playing style) will create a large change in response to velocity, be it
volume or any other modulation destination that velocity is routed to.
A setting of HARD indicates that higher changes in velocity - a much
harder playing style, will create large changes in response to velocity.
Synth Local Control (Menu Page 4)
This function can be thought of as a switch which when set to OFF, dis-
connects the front panel controls and keyboard from the internal syn-
thesizer sound engine.
Playing the keyboard or moving any of the controls still results in the
appropriate MIDI information being transmitted from the MIDI OUT
socket, but they will have no direct affect on the synth sound engine.
The sound engine will only be affected if the MIDI signals are routed
back into the MIDI IN or USB port - probably by a sequencer.
It is recommended that Synth Local Control is set to ON unless the
full MIDI implications are appreciated of having it set otherwise.
When not connected to a sequencer, it will not be possible to play the
KS Synth at all unless Synth Local Control is ON !
Setting the synth local control to 'off' will stop the KS synth from playing
voices directly when using the X-Station as a master keyboard to play
other software / hardware instruments.
Top Line Display Value
Synth Tune Cents -64...63
Synth Glob Sync PROG...SONG
Synth Vel Resp SOFT...HARD
Syn Local Cntrl OFF...ON
Synth Midi Src OFF...USB
THE KS SYNTHESIZER
Synth MIDI Source (Menu Page 5 'Synth Midi Src')
Specifies which (if any) port can be used to trigger the KS Synth
engine. There are three options available :
OFF The KS Synth can only be played by the X-Station's keyboard
(provided Local Control is set to ON).
MIDI IN The KS Synth can only be triggered by MIDI messages arriving
from the MIDI IN port or played by the X-Stations keyboard (provided
Local Control is set to ON).
USB The KS Synth can only be triggered by MIDI messages arriving
from the USB port or played by the X-Stations keyboard (provided
Local Control is set to ON).

Routing MIDI To And From The KS Synthesizer

In KS Synth Mode, the X-Station always receives and transmits using
the Global MIDI Channel (see page 25 for details on how to set this)
The Ports where MIDI information is transmitted when a front panel
control is moved or the keyboard is played while in KS Synth Mode is
determined by the Keyboard MIDI Port setting found in the Template
Common Menu. Note that it is entirely possible to be able to play the
KS Synthesizer without it actually transmitting any MIDI information to
any port.
The KS Synth can be triggered by incoming MIDI messages received at
either the USB or MIDI IN port. This is set by the Synth MIDI Source
parameter detailed above.
At all times, the KS Synth can be controlled by the front panel and by
playing the X-Station keyboard unless Synth Local Control (see
above) is set to OFF.
Note it is not possible to have both the USB and MIDI IN selected for
MIDI reception simultaneously. This arrangement helps to avoid poten-
tial 'MIDI feedback' loops when incoming MIDI is being configured 'thru'
the X-Station.
Playing The KS Synth From A Sequencer While Using The X-
Station As A Master Keyboard
Set the Synth MIDI Source parameter to MIDI IN or USB as appropri-
ate. Make sure the X-Station is connected to the sequencer by MIDI in
both directions - this is achieved if the USB MIDI connection is made.
Set Synth Local Control to OFF. The keyboard will now transmit MIDI
information but will not play the KS Synth directly.
Select the sequencer track according to the instrument you wish to play
or record via the X-Station Keyboard. The sequencer will now re-chan-
nelise the MIDI information transmitted by the X-Station appropriately.
With this configuration, it is also possible to play the KS Synth without
having to turn Synth Local Control back on. Simply select the
sequencer track using the same MIDI channel as defined by the Global
MIDI Channel (found in the Global Menu - see page 25) and ensure
that this sequencer track MIDI input is set to X-Station, and this
sequencer track MIDI output is also set to X-Station. MIDI data will now
flow from the X-Station into the sequencer and the sequencer will route
this data out of the sequencer into the X-Station. The KS synth will then
respond to this data and play as expected.
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