Optimus MD-1200 - Manual

7 PREPARATION Note: To connect a MIDI device, see“Making the MIDI Connections” onPage 41. To connect a sustain pedal,see “Using a Sustain Pedal” onPage 31. CONNECTING POWER You can power your MD-1200 from ei-ther: • internal batteries (see “Using Batter- ies”) • standard AC power using an optional A...

8 Using AC Power You can power your MD-1200 fromstandard AC power using a 9-volt ACadapter (not supplied) and a Size MAdaptaplug. Cautions: You must use a Class 2power source that supplies9 volts DC and delivers at least 800 mA. Its center tip must beset to negative and its plug must fitthe MD-1200'...

9 • Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your earsadapt to the volume level, so a vol-ume level that does not cause dis-comfort might still damage yourhearing. CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL AMPLIFIER To amplify your MD-1200’s sound, youcan connect it to an external amplifier(not supplied...

10 OPERATION BASIC OPERATION 1. Slide VOLUME to MIN (minimum). Important: To prevent hearing dam-age, always set the MD-1200’s vol-ume to MIN before you turn it on. 2. To turn on the MD-1200, press POWER . The POWER indicator lights and the display turns on. Note: To save power, the keyboardautomati...

11 The tone number and name appear at the top of the display. The middle rowshows the chord symbol , the tempo in beats per minute, the number of the measure playing and the beat count in each measure. The treble and bass clefs to the right of the display show the notes as they play. The bar graph s...

14 For example, if you set the splitpoint to be F below middle C, F3 appears. Note: You can change the split pointat any time. 6. Play both the low and high-end keys to hear the selected split tones. To select a different low-end tone, enterthe three-digit number for the new low-end tone while the S...

16 2. To select a different rhythm, choose an auto-rhythm from the 100RHYTHMS list and enter its two-digit number on the keypad. Forexample, to select 8 BEAT BALLAD2 (No. 05), press 0 then 5 . Note: You can select the next high-est or lowest numbered auto-rhythmby simply pressing + or – on the key- ...

17 Using INTRO The MD-1200’s INTRO feature lets youstart the selected auto-rhythm with alight, 3- to 8-measure introduction thatblends easily into the selected rhythm. To start a rhythm with an introduction,select and enter the rhythm, then press INTRO . The introduction plays, then the selected aut...

19 Concert Chord The concert chord method lets begin-ning keyboard players easily select andplay a chord. The number of accompaniment keysyou press determines the type of chordthat plays. This table shows the type ofchord that plays when you press one,two, three, or four accompaniment keysat the sam...

20 Standard Fingering The standard fingering method uses standard formations of three or four notes, andlets the experienced musician play a wider variety of accompaniment chords. Youcan play these 15 chord types on your MD-1200, in any key, using the standard fin-gering method. Notes: • To produce ...

21 Follow these steps to start standard fin-gering auto accompaniment. 1. Set MODE to FINGERED . 2. Select and enter an auto-rhythm. (See “Selecting/Playing an Auto-Rhythm” on Page 15.) 3. To start the auto-rhythm before your auto accompaniment, press START/ STOP or INTRO . To synchronize the start ...

22 Follow these steps to use the key-board’s free session feature. 1. Press RHYTHM . 2. Select and enter an auto-rhythm. 3. Press TONE . 4. Select and enter the desired tone for the melody. You can use any of thepreset and custom tone features, aswell as the preset auto-rhythm fea-tures. 5. Press FR...

23 This chart shows the parts assigned toeach channel. Notes: • Normally, keyboard play is assigned to Channel 1 and the drum pads areassigned to Channel 10. When youuse auto accompaniment, each partis assigned to Channels 7–10. • When you use the MD-1200 as the sound source for another MIDIdevice, ...

24 5. To edit other channels, press or to return to the channel selectionscreen and repeat Steps 2–4. To exit the edit mode, press MIXER . The display shows the performance status ofthe channels as edited. Editing the Parameter You can change the settings of six pa-rameters such as tone, volume, and...

26 Notes: • A new or revised user tone replaces the existing user tone. • Layer, split, auto accompaniment, demo tune play, and MIDI functionsare all disabled while the keyboardis in the Custom Tone Synthesizermode. 1. Select the preset tone (except 160– 167) you want to use as a basis foryour user ...

27 Touch Sensitivity ( TchSense ) (–64 to +63) — Controls changes inthe volume of the tone dependingon how hard you strike the keys.You can specify more volume forstronger striking and less volume forlighter striking, or you can specify 00to set the same volume regardlessof how hard you strike the k...

28 Hints on Creating a User Tone • Use a preset tone that is similar to the one you are trying to create.When you already have a generalidea of the tone you are trying tocreate, it is a good idea to start witha similar preset tone. If you want touse a layered tone, start out with a2DCO tone. • Deter...

29 SPECIAL FEATURES CHANGING KEYS The MD-1200 automatically selects thekey of middle C each time you turn it on.For added flexibility as you play, theMD-1200 lets you change (transpose)the musical key. Follow these steps to change keys. 1. Repeatedly press TRANSPOSE/ TUNE/MIDI until 00 Trans appears...

31 Setting the Pitch Bend Range You can adjust the bend range of pitchcontrols from 1 to 12 semitones. Note: The keyboard automatically se-lects a bend range of 2 semitones thefirst time you turn it on after connectingpower. Each time you turn it on afterthat, it recalls the last selected bendrange....

32 USING THE MEMORY The MD-1200 lets you record up to twoseparate songs in memory for later play-back. You can use either of two meth-ods to record a song — real-time recording (you record as you play) or step recording (you enter notes and chords one-by-one). You can record on each of the MD-1200’s...

35 • You can set the volume and pan position of the playback tracks usingthe mixer. This setting data is outputthrough MIDI OUT . • The entire keyboard functions as a melody keyboard during playback,regardless of the MODE setting. STEP RECORDING With step recording, you can record achord progression...

36 9. When you finish recording, press MEMORY , STEP , or START/ STOP . To play back the song, press START/ STOP . Notes: • To correct entry mistakes, see “Edit- ing Memory Contents” on Page 39. • When you record on a track that already contains data, the keyboardautomatically locates the end of the...

37 Correcting Mistakes Before finishing your step recording en-try, you can move the entry point back tocorrect the data you entered. However,this operation deletes all data after thepoint where you make corrections. 1. Before you press MEMORY , STEP , or START/STOP to end recording, press . This mo...

38 7. Press START/STOP to end record- ing. This data is stored on the selectedtrack in addition to the notes youplayed: • tone number • optional pedal operations • pitch bender operations • drum pad operations Step Recording 1. Repeatedly press MEMORY until Rec. No. appears. 2. Within 5 seconds, use...

39 Changing the Navigation Track After you record, the display shows thecontents of the last recorded or editedtrack. To display a different track, re-peatedly press TRANSPOSE/TUNE/MIDI until Bend appears, then press until Navi. Tr. appears. Then press + or – until the track you want appears on thed...

40 Editing Techniques and Display Contents Key Pressure (Velocity) — Use thekeyboard, number buttons, or + and – to adjust the key pressure. To change thekey pressure using the keyboard, besure to turn on touch response. Pitch — Enter a new note on the key-board or use + or – to change to the next h...

41 USING MIDI Your MD-1200 includes a feature called MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Inter- face) — the universal standard for send-ing and receiving performance databetween all types of electronic musicalinstruments, regardless of manufactur-er. Using MIDI, you can play music on yourMD-1200 and an...

42 Cautions: • Always turn off power to your MD- 1200 and the other MIDI devicebefore you connect or disconnectMIDI cables. • As you make the cable connections, be sure to align the MIDI cable pinswith the matching holes on the MIDIOUT and IN terminals. If you havetrouble plugging in the cable, do n...

44 System Exclusive controls fine toneadjustments unique to a particular sys-tem. Basically, the system exclusivesare unique to a particular system; how-ever, there are “universal” system exclu-sives that are common among devicesproduced by individual manufacturers. These are the system exclusive me...

45 GM Mode on/off (Default: Off): set to on when you want to have the key- board receive GM data from anotherMIDI device. Turning GM mode onautomatically turns CHORD off, since GM mode and MIDI In ChordJudge cannot be used at the sametime. Set to oFF to turn GM mode off. The tone, volume and other p...

46 Importing Data Follow these steps to import dumpeddata from another device. 1. Repeatedly press TRANSPOSE/ TUNE/MIDI so the display shows BulkSnd? . 2. Within 5 seconds repeatedly press or so the display shows BulkRcv? . 3. Within 5 seconds, press to pre- pare the keyboard to receive data. 4. Sta...

47 Control Change — This feature sendsdata on various controllers, each havingits own number. For the details of eachparameter, see “MIDI Data” on Page 42. Program Change — This featurechanges the preset sounds. Each soundnumber corresponds to a program num-ber between 0 and 127. System Exclusive — ...

48 TROUBLESHOOTING If the MD-1200 is not performing as it should, these suggestions might help. If you stillcannot solve the problem, take the keyboard to your local RadioShack store for assis-tance. Trouble Possible Cause Remedy No sound, even if keys are pressed. The keyboard has turned off automa...

49 CARE AND MAINTENANCE Your Optimus MD-1200 Electronic Keyboard is an example of superior design andcraftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your MD-1200 soyou can enjoy it for years. Keep the MD-1200 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquidsmight contain minerals...

50 SPECIFICATIONS Number of Keys ...................................................................................................... 61 Drum Pads ................................................................................................................ 6 Polyphonic Sound ......................

52 APPENDIX NOTE TABLE 42-4041.fm Page 52 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:56 AM

54 FREE SESSION CHORD PROGRESSION CHART 42-4041.fm Page 54 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:56 AM

56 DRUM ASSIGNMENT LIST 42-4041.fm Page 56 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:56 AM

57 FINGERED CHORD CHART 42-4041.fm Page 57 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:56 AM

58 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Remarks *3 Modulation and after touch for each channel are the same effect. *4 Pitch bend sense, fine tune, coarse tune send/receive, and RPN Null receive *5 In accordance with assignable jack setting *6 GM on/off GM ON:[F0][7E][7F][09][01][F7] GM OFF: [F0][7E][7F][09][0...

59 NOTES 42-4041.fm Page 59 Tuesday, August 3, 1999 6:56 AM