Using The Pk7/Pk5 In Song Mode With A Computer (Or External Sequencer) - GEM PK5 Owner's Manual

USING THE PK7/PK5 IN SONG MODE WITH A COMPUTER (OR EXTERNAL SEQUENCER)

If you prefer to use a computer software sequencer to record your Songs in order to exploit some of the
advanced editing functions, follow the general instructions which follow.
The idea is to use the PK7/PK5 keyboard to generate the MIDI messages to send to the computer's sequencer.
Connect the equipment as follows:
• Connect the PK7/PK5 MIDI OUT port to the sequencer's MIDI IN port.
• Connect the Sequencer's MIDI OUT port to the PK7/PK5 MIDI IN port.
In this setup (Song mode) and with the correctly assigned MIDI channels, the MIDI messages generated by the
PK7/PK5 keyboard are sent from the PK7/PK5 MIDI OUT, received by the MIDI IN of the computer's MIDI
interface and recorded by the sequencer. When you launch the Play command in the sequencer, the MIDI
messages are sent via the computer's MIDI OUT port and received at the PK7/PK5 MIDI IN.
Via MIDI, you can send messages from the computer and perform all the operations that you would normally
carry out on the PK7/PK5 control panel. You can change sounds, set volumes and pan levels, select and
control the effects, etc..
When you send messages to PK7/PK5 to select Sounds, the Sound selection message must be received on
the MIDI channel assigned to the track to which the Sound is assigned. To select PK7/PK5 Sounds, first send
a Control Change 00 message (Bank Select) followed by a Program Change (PC) message.
The Sound table, with corresponding MIDI selection messages is listed in the Appendix.
To use the setup above, it is recommended to set the PK7/PK5 track used as the generator of keyboard data
for "Local Off" operation.
Set the computer sequencer to retransmit (echo) to the PK7/PK5 all the MIDI messages received. The sequencer
parameter that controls this function may have a different name depending on the software in use.
Some common names are "echo on", "echo back", "patch thru", "soft thru", etc.
By setting the track used to send data to the computer for "Local Off" operation, you disconnect communica-
tions between the PK7/PK5 keyboard and its sound generator. Consequently, PK7/PK5 acts as a separate
MIDI keyboard and independent sound generator. The echoing function of the sequencer allows you to play
the PK7/PK5 sound generator from the PK7/PK5 keyboard.
With the sequencer's echoing function turned on and the PK7/PK5 Local Off parameter also set to ON, two
notes will be played by the PK7/PK5 sound generator for every single note generated by its keyboard.
The Computer port (PK7 only)
You can use the COMPUTER port via a single serial cable instead of the MIDI IN and MIDI OUT ports. The
COMPUTER port disables the MIDI ports if connected.
Apple Macintosh
The Macintosh (or compatible) must communicate at the velocity of 1 MHz. Consult the manual of the sequencer
for relevant information.
Use the standard Macintosh serial cable. Connect one end of the cable to the PK7 and the other to the
MODEM port of the Macintosh.
Set the COMPUTER parameter in «Edit General» to MAC.».
PC IBM
The IBM-PC (or compatible) can communicate at the velocity of 31250 baud (PC1) or 38400 baud (PC2).
Use standard serial cables DB8-DB9, DB8-DB25, or the optional Generalmusic cable to connect the PK7 and
the PC's serial port.
Set the COMPUTER parameter in «MIDI/GENERAL» to PC1 or PC2 as required.
Computer
PK7/5
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