Casio WK-1500 - MIDI Standards and Operations; General MIDI Specifications; Sending and Receiving MIDI Data

M@ General MIDI
The General MIDI System Level 1 (popularly known as simply “General MIDI”) defines more precise
standardization levels for MIDI synthesizer modules. It defines the numbering of tones, the number-
ing of percussion sounds, MIDI channels that can be used, and sound source specifications. Any
MID! data that is created using a General MID! sound source can be played on any other General
MID! device, regardless of manufacturer.
The sound source built into the WK-1500 conforms with General MIDI specifications, which means
that any General MIDI data that you purchase, download with your computer, or create on a
sequencer can be played on the WK-1500.
The following sections provide some detail about Genera! MIDI specifications.
Number of Voices
General MIDI defines a minimum of 24-voice polyphony. The WK-1500 is capable of 32-voice
polyphony, which is more than enough to comply with requirement.
MIDI Channels
General MIDI requires the ability to receive simultaneously over al! 16 MIDI channels. Channel 10 is
reserved as a percussion-only channel.
Number of Tones
General MIDI recommends tone assignments for 128 tone numbers, including 47 percussion sounds
for percussion-only Channel 10. The tones and percussion sounds of the WK-1500 conform with
these recommendations.
Receivable MIDI Messages
General MIDI System Level 1 recommends the following MID] messages for receipt.
¢ NOTE ON/OFF ¢ PITCH BEND SENSE
* PROGRAM CHANGE ¢ FINE TUNE (TUNE)
¢ ALL NOTES OFF « COARSE TUNE (TRANSPOSE)
* ALL SOUND OFF ¢ RESET ALL CONTROLLERS
¢ PITCH BEND e¢ RPN NULL
¢ VOLUME * ACTIVE SENSING
« PAN * CHANNEL PRESSURE
* EXPRESSION ¢ UNIVERSAL SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE (GM SYS-
*« HOLD 1 (SUSTAIN PEDAL) TEM ON/GM SYSTEM OFF*)
* MODULATION DEPTH
*
The WK-1500 does not support GM SYSTEM OFF.
Built-in Digital Effects
General MIDI System Level 1 does not define built-in effect specifications. Whenever you lay back
sequencer data on the WK-1500 that was produced using another type of General MIDI sound
source, the type and depth of the effect may not be what it is on the original device where the data
was created. When this happens, you can generally correct the situation by making necessary
adjustments to the settings of the WK-1500. :
E-68
m MIDI Operations
Sending Data from the WK-1500
* Pressing WK-1500 keyboard keys plays the
corresponding notes on the connected device,
producing a richer sound or a combination of
sounds.
* Connecting to a sound module” makes it possi-
ble to increase the number of tones that can be
played from the WK-1500's standard 128 tones.
« You can record output on a commercially avail-
able MIDI sequencer’.
* Specific parts of WK-1500 rhythms and ac-
companiment patterns can be sent over differ-
ent channels.
MIDI cable (option)
MIDI IN| Receiver
MIDi keyboard
MID} sound module
MIDI sequencer
Other
i
—_—
|
Sending Data to the WK-1500
* Playing notes ‘on a connected MIDI keyboard
causes the corresponding notes to be sounded
by the WK-1500.
« When auto-accompaniment is turned on, the Receiver\/_
WK-1500 automatically plays accompaniment
patterns in accordance with incoming notes.
¢ The WK-1500 can playback notes from a con-
nected MIDI sequencer’. Receipt of multiple
parts’ causes the WK-1500 to simultaneously
play all parts.
If
you
are
planning
two-way
communication
between
two
units,
it
is
a
good
idea
to
use
two
MIDI
cables.
MIDI cable (option)
MID! OUT | Sender
MID) keyboard
MIDi sound module
MIDi sequencer
Other
TMA
“1
Basically
an
electronic
musical
instrument
without
a
keyboard,
which
is
controlled
by
an
external
device.
*2
External
sound
data
memory.
Using
a
MIDI
sequencer
that
has
removable
storage
media
lets
you
build an entire library of MIDI data.
*3
The
following
are
channel
assignments
when
receiving
data.
Channeis
1
to
4:
keyboard
tones
(see
pages
E-41
and
E-42
for
details
on
split
and
layer
data)
Channel 5: pads
Channels 6 to 10: auto-accompaniment paris
WK-1500
Send/Receive
MIDI
Messages
There
are
many
different
types
of
MIDI
messages,
and
this
section
describes
the
MIDI
messages
that
can
be
sent
and
received
by
the
WK-1500.
Note
that
messages
in
this
section
marked
with
an
asterisk
affect
overall
WK-1500
operation.
Messages
without
asterisks
affect
particular
MIDI
channels.
NOTE ON/OFF ,
This
message
is
used
to
send
information
about
whether
a
keyboard
key
is
depressed
(on)
or
released
(off).
It
includes
the
following
information.
*
Note
number:
keyboard
note
identifier
*
Velocity:
key
pressure
as
a
value
from
1
to
127
Note
that
the
WK-1500
dos
not
receive
velocity
information.
Whenever
a
key
on
the
WK-1500's
is
pressed
or
released,
the
corresponding
NOTE
ON/OFF
message
is
output
through
the
MIDI
OUT
terminal.
E-69