Page 2 - ii; Data handling
ii To ensure long, trouble-free operation, please read this manual carefully. Precautions Location Using the unit in the following locations can result in a mal-function. • In direct sunlight• Locations of extreme temperature or humidity• Excessively dusty or dirty locations• Locations of excessive ...
Page 3 - Table of Contents
3 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................... 7 1. Before you begin .................................................................... 7 Check the included items ............................................................................. 7 ...
Page 5 - Connecting MIDI equipment69
5 Recording the automatic accompaniment without performing (Step Recording) ....................................................................................... 55Let’s use step recording to input chords ...................................................... 56 3. Editing functions .................
Page 7 - Introduction; Before you begin; Check the included items; How to use this manual; Printing conventions in this manual
7 Introduction Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Korg SP-500 digital piano.In order to enjoy this instrument to its fullest potential, please read this owner ’s manual care-fully and use the instrument as directed. 1. Before you begin Please read the sections entitled “Precautions” on p.ii o...
Page 8 - Main features
8 3. Main features Grand piano-like touch The SP-500 features an RH2 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 2) keyboard, which pro-vides a differing key weight in each of four keyboard ranges, just as on a grand piano. Diverse sounds Use the keyboard to play 412 different sounds (including 16 drum kits) produ...
Page 9 - Touch control
9 Introduction Touch control Playing touch is a vital aspect of a piano’s response, and you can choose from six differ-ent touch settings. This allows the SP-500 to be played by anyone from children (who tend to have a lighter touch) to experienced pianists.You can also select a setting in which pla...
Page 10 - Panel layouts; Front panel
10 4. Panel layouts Front panel 1. Operating panel For the names of each switch, refer to p.12 “Operating panel.” 2. [ACC VOLUME] (accompaniment volume) slider When using automatic accompaniment or when playing the demo songs, this slider adjusts the volume of the sounds that are not being played fr...
Page 11 - Rear panel
11 Introduction Rear panel 1. AC 9V connector Connect the included AC/AC power supply here. ( ☞ p.14) 2. [POWER] switch This switch turns the power on or off. Each time you press it, the power will be switched on or off. ( ☞ p.14) 3. ASSIGNABLE SWITCH jack The included pedal or a separately sold DS-...
Page 12 - Operating panel
12 Operating panel 1. [DEMO] switch ☞ p.19 2. [HELP] switch ☞ p.17 3. [ACC] (accompaniment) switch ☞ p.37 4. [SMALL ACC] switch ☞ p.45 5. [ACC RESET] switch ☞ p.38 6. [RHYTHM STYLE GROUP] ☞ p.38 7. [FILL 1, 2] switches ☞ p.44 8. [INTRO/ENDING 1, 2] switches ☞ p.43 9. [ENSEMBLE] switch ☞ p.42 10. [SI...
Page 13 - Preparations for playing; Before you turn on the power; Connections
13 Introduction Preparations for playing 1. Before you turn on the power Before you turn on the power, connect the included pedal and your powered monitor speaker/audio system (sold separately). Connections When using headphones Connect the plug (stereo mini plug) of your headphones to one of the he...
Page 14 - Connect the AC/AC power supply; Adjusting the volume
14 Using the music stand To use the music stand, insert it into the two holes located on the rear panel. Turning the power on 1 Connect the AC/AC power supply Insert the round connector of the AC/AC power adaptor into the AC9V jack located on the rear of the SP-500.Connect the plug of the AC/AC powe...
Page 15 - Basic operation; LCD screen; Items in the LCD screen; LCD screen contrast
15 Introduction Basic operation 1. LCD screen Items in the LCD screen The LCD screen of the SP-500 features the Touch View system that uses a one touch-panel.By directly touching buttons or cells (referred to as “objects”) that are displayed in the LCD screen, you can directly select pages, set valu...
Page 16 - The main page
16 The main page This is the page that is displayed when the power is turned on.Most of the time, you will be playing the SP-500 in this main page. Noise may appear in the LCD screen when the power is turned on or off, but this is not a malfunction. 2. Operating panel [PAGE √ , ® ] switches If the L...
Page 17 - Help function; Select the language for display; Select the item
17 Introduction 3. Help function By using the Help function, you can view a simple explanation of the SP-500’s functions in the LCD screen. 1 Press the [HELP] switch The [HELP] switch indicator will light, and the LCD screen will show a list of the Help items. 2 Select the language for display The c...
Page 18 - Move through the pages; To exit Help
18 4 Move through the pages Press the [PAGE ® ] switch to advance to the next page. Press the [PAGE √ ] switch to return to the previous page. To view another item Press the [EXIT] switch. You will return to the list of Help items. 5 To exit Help Press the [HELP] switch to turn off the indicator, an...
Page 19 - Demo playback; Listening to the demo; To listen to the demo songs; Select a “Demo Group”
19 Demo playback Demo playback 1. Listening to the demo The SP-500 contains twenty-fourth piano demo songs, nine style demo songs, and nine sound demo songs. Listen to these demo performances to get an introduction to the rich sounds of the SP-500 and their expressive potential. To listen to the dem...
Page 20 - Start demo playback
20 4 Start demo playback Press the RECORDER [PLAY/STOP] switch. If the [ACC VOLUME] slider is set to 0, you will not be able to hear the demo perfor-mance. Use the [ACC VOLUME] slider and [MASTER VOLUME] slider to adjust the volume. Stopping the demo performance To stop the performance, press the [P...
Page 21 - Practicing along with a demo song; Practicing right hand and left hand separately; Select the song that you wish to practice; Changing the tempo of the demo playback; Specify the “Tempo”
21 Demo playback 2. Practicing along with a demo song If the “Demo Group” radio button “Piano” is selected, you can use the following functions to practice playing along with the song. Practicing right hand and left hand separately For the piano demo songs, you can select either the right or left ha...
Page 23 - Playing a sound; Turing the power on; Turn on the power; Play the keyboard
23 Playing the SP-500 Playing the SP-500 1. Playing a sound First let’s turn on the power and play the keyboard to produce sound. Turing the power on As described in the connection procedure on p.14, connect the AC/AC power supply, head-phones, and pedal. Then turn on the power of the SP-500. 1 Turn...
Page 24 - Selecting sounds; Changing sounds; Select the program group; Return to the main page
24 2. Selecting sounds The 412 sounds of the SP-500 are organized into ten groups.Each of the sounds stored in these groups is called a Program. Changing sounds 1 Select the program group Press the [DISPLAY HOLD] switch to turn on the DISPLAY HOLD function. Then press one of the [PROGRAM GROUP] swit...
Page 25 - Selecting percussion instrument sounds; Press the PROGRAM GROUP [PERCUSSION] switch; Selecting sounds from the [USER] program group; Select a program
25 Playing the SP-500 Selecting percussion instrument sounds You can play percussion instrument sounds from the keyboard. 1 Press the PROGRAM GROUP [PERCUSSION] switch 2 Select a program If you select one of the programs ending with the word “kit” - (“GM kit 1”–“SFX kit”) on page “5/6,” a different ...
Page 26 - Combining sounds; Layer function (play two sounds together); Select each sound; Adjust the volume balance of the two sounds
26 3. Combining sounds Layer function (play two sounds together) This allows you to combine two programs to be played together when you play a single note. This is called the Layer function. 1 Press the [LAYER] switch The [LAYER] switch indicator will light, and the “Layer” page will appear. 2 Selec...
Page 29 - Applying effects to a sound; Adding Reverb to the sound; Select the type of reverb effect; Adjust the reverb depth
29 Playing the SP-500 4. Applying effects to a sound Depending on the program that you select, it may be difficult to hear the reverb or chorus (effects). If you have selected a drum kit, the effect will not apply even if you press the [CHORUS etc.] switch. Adding Reverb to the sound Applying this e...
Page 30 - Adding Chorus or other modulation effects to the sound; Select the type of effect
30 To cancel Reverb Press the [REVERB] switch to make the [REVERB] indicator lamp turn off. Adding Chorus or other modulation effects to the sound You can apply modulation to the selected sound to create a sensation of rich spaciousness, or apply distortion to give the sound an Rock’n Roll character...
Page 31 - Playing along with the metronome; Starting the metronome
31 Playing the SP-500 3 Adjust the effect depth Press the “Balance” cell, and use the dial or the [VALUE] switches to adjust the setting.The selectable range is Dry (no effect), 01–99, Fx (maximum). 4 Return to the main page If the [DISPLAY HOLD] switch is on, press the [EXIT] switch to return to th...
Page 32 - Adjusting the tempo
32 2 Return to the main page If the [DISPLAY HOLD] switch is on, press the [EXIT] switch to return to the main page. Stopping the metronome To stop the metronome, press the [METRONOME] switch once again.The [METRONOME] switch indicator will turn off, and the metronome will stop. Adjusting the tempo ...
Page 33 - Using pedals
33 Playing the SP-500 6. Using pedals Two pedals can be connected to the SP-500.The included pedal switch, a DS-1H or a PS-1 (both sold separately) can be connected to the Damper pedal jack and/or Assignable Switch jack located on the rear panel. Assignable switch Connect the included pedal or a sep...
Page 34 - Select the desired touch; gram group; Press the “Custom” button
34 7. Changing the touch response of the keyboard You can change the way the piano will respond to how hard you strike the keyboard. This function is called Touch Control. 1 Press the [TOUCH] switch 2 Select the desired touch Press a radio button to select the desired playing touch.Light 1, 2: Even ...
Page 35 - Changing the program name
35 Playing the SP-500 4 Press the “Copy” button The “Custom Copy” page will appear. 5 Select the program that you wish to copy Press the “Source Prog” cell, and select the program you wish to copy to the pro-gram that was selected in step 2. Use the same procedure as usual when selecting a program. ...
Page 37 - Automatic accompaniment; Performing with automatic accompaniment; Using automatic accompaniment; Select how to specify chords
37 Automatic accompaniment Automatic accompaniment 1. Performing with automatic accompaniment When using the Automatic Accompaniment function, you can simply specify a chord from the keyboard, and an accompaniment appropriate for that chord will be added automatically.A variety of accompaniment styl...
Page 38 - Selecting a rhythm style; Select a sound for the part that you yourself will play; Use the keyboard to specify the chord
38 4 Selecting a rhythm style Select a rhythm style group Press one of the [RHYTHM STYLE GROUP] switches to select a rhythm style group.By pressing the [PIANIST] switch, you can select an accompaniment style for only piano sounds. Select a rhythm style The rhythm styles in the selected group will ap...
Page 40 - Select the part whose volume you wish to adjust; Adjust the volume; Muting a part; Select the
40 Adjusting the overall volume The [ACC VOLUME] slider will adjust the volume balance between the automatic accompani-ment and the keyboard performance.To adjust the overall volume including your keyboard performance, use the [MASTER VOL-UME] slider. Adjusting the volume of individual parts To adju...
Page 41 - Various automatic; a. Basic start and stop; Specify a chord
41 Automatic accompaniment 2. Various automatic accompaniment functions Selecting how you will start and stop automatic accompaniment There are several ways to start/stop automatic accompaniment.Use the method that is appropriate for your perfor-mance. a. Basic start and stop 1 Specify a chord Speci...
Page 42 - Performing with an ensemble
42 Changing how you specify the chords There are several different ways to use the key-board to specify chords, as appropriate for your preferences and abilities. 1 Press the [ACC] switch The [ACC] switch indicator will light, and the “Accompaniment” page will appear. 2 Select how you will specify t...
Page 43 - Select the type of ensemble; To change the variation
43 Automatic accompaniment Open1: Two notes will normally be added below the melody to create three voices (sometimes three notes will be added to create four voices).Open2: Two notes will normally be added above the melody to create three voices (some-times three notes will be added to create four ...
Page 44 - Adding an ending; Adding a fill
44 Adding an ending 1 While automatic accompaniment is playing, press the [INTRO/ENDING 1] switch or the [INTRO/ENDING 2] switch The ending will be played, and then the accompaniment will stop automatically.The switch indicator of the selected ending will continue blinking until the playback switche...
Page 45 - style group; Press the “Copy” button
45 Automatic accompaniment Reducing the number of parts in the accompaniment 1 Press the [SMALL ACC] switch The Acc1 and Acc3 parts will automati-cally be muted.Use this when you want fewer parts than the normal accompaniment. This function will have no effect if you have already muted the Acc1 and ...
Page 46 - Creating a custom; Customizing a rhythm style
46 To modify the name of the rhythm style If you wish to modify the name of the rhythm style, press the “Rename” button before you write it, and then modify the rhythm style name. ( ☞ p.48) 7 Press the “Write” button to write the rhythm style If you are satisfied with the changed rhythm style, press...
Page 47 - Edit the rhythm style; Custom style parameter list; “Custom Style 1/2” page
47 Automatic accompaniment 5 Edit the rhythm style You can modify the settings in “Custom Style” pages 1/2 and 2/2.For details on the settings that can be modified, refer to “Custom style parame-ter list”. 6 Name your custom style In the “Custom Style 2/2” page, press the “Rename” button to access t...
Page 49 - Recording; Recording your performance; Check the tracks that you want to record, and select a program
49 Recording Recording 1. Recording your performance Just as you would record your performance on a tape recorder, you can capture your playing on the SP-500 song recorder. You can also record multiple tracks and edit any mistakes you may make. Basic recording (Realtime Recording) Here’s how to reco...
Page 50 - Specify the time signature; Start recording
50 3 Specify the time signature Press the [METRONOME] switch to specify the time signature. ( ☞ p.31) If you do not need the metronome during recording, press the [METRONOME] switch once again to turn it off. If recording with the [ACC] switch on, you will not be able to specify the time signa-ture ...
Page 51 - Play back the song you recorded; Recording with automatic accompaniment
51 Recording To stop recording When you are finished performing, press the RECORDER [PLAY/STOP] switch.You will return to the “Rec 1/3” page, and the track you had set to “Rec” will be set to “Play.”At this time the performance data will be automatically stored in internal memory. A message will be ...
Page 53 - Various recording; Using Quantize while you record; Access the “Rec 2/3” page; Record additional tracks
53 Recording 2. Various recording methods Using Quantize while you record The Quantize function corrects the timing of your performance while you record.In the “Rec 2/3” page, press the “Quantize” cell, and use the dial or the [VALUE] switches to specify the resolution (timing precision). “High”: Da...
Page 54 - Play back the recorded song; Defeat pause; Set the “start measure” cell
54 OVDB (overdub): The newly recorded data will be added to the previously-recorded data.AUTP (auto punch-in/out): Auto punch- in/out recording will be performed. In the “Rec 1/3” page, “OVWR” will be used regardless of this setting.For “OVWR” and “OVDB,” the “start mea-sure” cell and the “end measu...
Page 55 - Step recording procedure
55 Recording 6 Set the “end measure” cell Press the “end measure” cell, and use the dial or the [VALUE] switches to specify the last measure that you will re-record. 7 Start recording When you press the RECORDER [PAUSE] switch, the song will play back from the measure you specified in step 2. Record...
Page 56 - “Ctrl”: Inputting control events; Let’s use step recording to input chords
56 8 “Delete” button: The chord indicated by “ fi ” will be deleted. 9 “Put” button: Insert the specified chord at the specified measure and location. 0 “Time signature” cell: Specify the time sig- nature of the measure indicated by “ fi ”. 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 can be input from the key- board. To input ...
Page 57 - Editing previously-saved data; Edit the data; Details of the “Rec 3/3” page items
57 Recording 3. Editing functions Editing previously-saved data Data that you recorded in realtime or by step recording can be recalled again, so that you can edit the data or add an additional performance. 1 Select the performance data that you saved Load performance data that you saved in “Basic r...
Page 58 - “Event Edit” page
58 : 8th note : quarter note “Start” cell: Specify the starting measure. “End” cell: Specify the ending measure. “QNTZ” button: Execute the Quantize oper- ation.“Cancel” button: Return to the previous screen without executing Quantize. “Event Edit” page Here you can directly rewrite or add to the da...
Page 59 - “Song Name” page
59 Recording Event editing procedure when the Ctrl track is selected The procedure is the same as for the Kbd track, but the “Event Filter” page will not appear. Also, the events that are displayed will be different. ( ☞ p.56 “Control event type list”) Event editing procedure when the Chord track is...
Page 61 - “Initial Edit 1/2” page
61 Recording “Initial Edit 1/2” page Here you can make effect settings, and spec-ify the keyboard sound and octave. “Reverb” cell: Specify the depth of the reverb.“Reverb type” cell: Specify the reverb type. “Chorus” cell: Specify the depth of the cho- rus or other effect.“Chorus type” cell: Specify...
Page 63 - Functions; Adjusting the pitch; Fine adjustments to the pitch; Adjust the “Tune” cell; Change the “Transpose” setting
63 Functions Functions 1. Adjusting the pitch Fine adjustments to the pitch Here’s how you can make fine adjustments to the pitch.When you are playing together with other instru-ments, you can use this function to tune the SP-500 to the other instruments.The pitch can be adjusted in half-step (0.5) ...
Page 64 - Changing the octave; Selecting a temperament
64 Changing the octave 1 Press the [FUNCTION] switch 2 Change the desired “Octave” setting Press the “ ▲ ” or “ ▼ ” of the “Octave” cell to change the setting.The range is –2, –1, 0, +1, +2 octaves.Upp1: The first sound when [LAYER] or [SPLIT] are on, or the keyboard when [LAYER] or [SPLIT] are offU...
Page 65 - Selecting a temperament; Access the “Func 9/10” page; Creating your own temperament; Access the “Func 8/10” page
65 Functions Selecting a temperament 1 Press the [FUNCTION] switch 2 Access the “Func 9/10” page 3 Select a temperament Use the dial or the [VALUE] switches to change the “Main Scale” cell or the “Sub Scale” cell.Refer to the temperaments list on the pre-vious page. When the power is turned on, “Mai...
Page 67 - Setting contents; Access the “Func 7/10” page
67 Functions 4. All setup Settings such as the [FUNCTION] settings are stored in internal memory.If you execute this operation, the settings will be preserved in internal memory even when the power is turned off, so that the same settings will still be in effect when the power is next turned on.The ...
Page 68 - Convenient functions; Adjusting the left/right balance; Access the “Func 2/10” screen; Access the “Func 10/10” screen
68 5. Convenient functions Adjusting the left/right balance Here’s how to adjust the left/right balance of the sound. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] switch 2 Access the “Func 2/10” screen 3 Adjust the “Pan” If you are not using layer or split, or if you wish to change the panning of Upp1 when using Layer, p...
Page 69 - Connecting other equipment; Connecting MIDI equipment; MIDI connections; MIDI IN connector; MIDI channel settings; Access the “Func 6/10” page
69 Functions Connecting other equipment 1. Connecting MIDI equipment What is MIDI? MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard for connecting a variety of MIDI instru-ments together allowing to talk to each other. By playing the SP-500, you can connect other MIDI-equipped instruments. ...
Page 70 - Access the “Func 4/10” page
70 “Keyboard” Receive channel functionsUse this when you wish to use an exter-nal device to control the SP-500 via MIDI with the same operation as the SP-500’s own keyboard. If [LAYER] or [SPLIT] is on, note events will be sounded in the same way as when the SP-500’s own key-board is used. However, ...
Page 71 - MIDI Transpose; MIDI Filter; Access the “Func 5/10” page
71 Functions To return to the previous display If you press the [EXIT] switch or the [FUNCTION] switch, the [FUNCTION] switch indicator will go dark, and you will return to the previous LCD screen. When the power is turned on, this setting will automatically be Local On. Synchronizing to an external...
Page 73 - Appendices; Troubleshooting; Power does not turn on
73 Appendices Appendices Troubleshooting Power does not turn on • Is the AC/AC power supply connected to an appropriate AC outlet? ( ☞ p.14) • Is the AC/AC power supply connected to the AC9V connector of the SP-500? ( ☞ p.14) • Is the power switch turned on? ( ☞ p.14) • If the power still does not t...
Page 74 - Specifications
74 Specifications * Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice for improve-ment. • Other product names and company names are the registered trademarks and trade- marks of their respective owners. • Sound processed with INFINITY ™. Keyboard 88 notes (RH2 keyboard) Touch contro...
Page 75 - Program list
75 Appendices Program list * “No.” is the program number used in the “Mixer 1/3” page etc. • Programs with a “MIDI Bank#” of “0” are GM programs. • s: Programs with up to 64-note polyphony w: Programs with up to 32-note polyphony Program Name Piano プログラム名 ピアノ No.* MIDI# Bank Prog Grand Piano1 グランドピア...
Page 78 - Rhythm style list
78 Rhythm style list Program Name USER プログラム名 ユーザー No.* MIDI# Bank Prog Ambipiano Ambipiano 320 3 0 w Respiano Respiano 321 3 1 w FusionEP FusionEP 322 3 2 w Click EP Click EP 323 3 3 w SoftEP/Pad SoftEP/Pad 324 3 4 w Reed EP Reed EP 325 3 5 w BuzzBassEP BuzzBassEP 326 3 6 w Syn Piano Syn Piano 327 ...
Page 81 - Drum kits list
81 Appendices Drum kits list Key GM Kit 1 GM Kit 2 Room Kit Power Kit Electronic Kit Analog Kit Dance Kit Jazz Kit # Note Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl Inst Excl 21 A0 Syn Kick 1 --- Syn Kick 1 --- Syn Kick 2 --- Dance Kick --- Dance Kick --- Explosion --- Sna...
Page 83 - Demo songs list
83 Appendices Demo songs list Piano demo songs Style demo songs Program demo 曲 名 Piano Demo Songs 1 J.S. バッハ / プレリュード （ 平均律第 1 番より） J.S.Bach/The equal temperament No.1~Prelude 2 W.A. モーツァルト / ソナタ K.545 第 1 楽章 W.A.Mozart/Sonata K.545 3 W.A. モーツァルト / ソナタ K.331 第 3 楽章「トルコ行進曲」 W.A.Mozart/Sonata K.331 4 ...
Page 84 - List of detected chords
84 List of detected chords Each of the chords pictured rught are shown in root position with a root note of C. In order for the SP-500 to correctly recognize major 6th and minor 6th chords, they must be played in root position as pictured. This is because these chords consist of the same notes as th...
Page 86 - MIDI Implementation Chart; Function
MIDI Implementation Chart Recorder data All Sound Off, Reset All Controllers [Digital Piano] SP-500 MIDI Implementation Chart Function Transmitted Recognized Remarks Basic Channel: Default Changed Memorized Messages Altered Mode Note Number: True Voice Velocity: Note On Note Off Aftertouch: Polyphon...
Page 87 - Index
87 Index A Accompaniment ..................................................... 37Assignable switch .................................................. 33Automatic accompaniment .................................. 37 C Chords Specifying the chord .................................. 37, 41 Chorus ..........
