Kurzweil K2600 - MUSICIANS GUIDE REV A PART NUMBER 910330 CHAP 12 Getting Started Manual

Chapter 12
Song Mode and the Song Editor
Getting Started with the Sequencer
The K2600Õs sequencer is a powerful and versatile tool for songwriters, composers, and anyone
else who wants to record and play back songs. As with any tool, however, itÕs best to start with
the basics. This section begins with a tutorial where you will record a song, then shows some of
the mixing capabilities of the sequencer. If you are familiar with other sequencers, you will have
no problem using Song mode in the K2600. Read through this section, however, to learn about
the features that make the K2600Õs sequencer unique.
What is a Sequencer?
A sequencer is similar in some ways to a multi-track tape recorder: you can record and play back
all sorts of music and sounds, layer sounds on top of other sounds, and change or manipulate
things that youÕve previously recorded. Unlike a tape recorder, however, you do not actually
record sounds with a sequencer. Rather, you are recording commands that cause sounds to be
played. Nonetheless, we will sometimes explain sequencer features by drawing analogies to
familiar tape recording techniques such as splicing and overdubbing.
There are several advantages to recording a song by sequencing. For one thing, sequencer
commands take up much less disk space than digitally recorded music would, so you can get a
lot of information (that is, music) on a single ßoppy disk. Furthermore, you can easily make
changes to your sequences. For example, you can change individual notes, transpose parts, or
change instrumentation. Lastly, you can share the sequences you create with other musicians.
A Word about the Local Keyboard Channel
Before you being sequencing, weÕd like to remind you about the Local Keyboard Channel
parameter on the MIDI-mode RECEIVE page (described on page 10-7). Local Keyboard Channel
is especially important for sequencing with the K2600R, since it enables you to record on
different tracks without constantly switching transmit channels on your controller. Regardless of
which K2600 model you own, you should do the following whenever the K2600 is going to
receive MIDI information from an external source:
¥ Set the Local Keyboard Channel on the MIDI-mode RECEIVE page to a speciÞc
channel (1Ð16).
¥ Set your MIDI controller (keyboard, percussion controller, etc.) to transmit on the same
channel.
Performing the above two steps means that youÕll be able to hear the individual channels (each
of which is assigned by default to a separate recording track) as you scroll through the different
recording tracks in the K2600Õs Song mode. Local Keyboard Channel performs a rechannelizing
function that makes this happen.
Song Mode and the Song Editor
Getting Started with the Sequencer
12-1