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RPN/NRPN’s Explained
Non-registered parameter numbers (NRPN’s) are device specific messages that enable the control of synths via MIDI. The MIDI specification defines
parameter numbers to allow scope for manufacturers to specify their own controllers. The more common of these have been registered by the MIDI
Manufacturer’s Association and are part of the MIDI specification (hence the term Registered Parameter Numbers – RPN’s). (See Appendix F.)
MIDI controllers 98 and 99 represent the NRPN LSB and MSB respectively, while 100 and 101 represent the RPN LSB and MSB. This can be seen from
the MIDI controllers list in Appendix D. To transmit an NRPN/RPN, these two controller messages are sent along with their user-specified values. A
further controller message and value needs to be sent to specify the (coarse or fine) value adjustment. This is specified by controller number 6 (Data
entry) for coarse adjustments or number 38 for fine adjustments.
A list of NRPN’s will always be given in the User Manual of a device that receives NRPN messages. It is always necessary that the NRPN MSB and LSB
are sent together. Both will be specified in the device’s manual. You may find the manufacturer’s have only specified the numbers in Hexadecimal
format. In this case, use Appendix C to translate the value to Decimal.
Your Evolution keyboard makes the process of transmitting NRPN’s easy. All you need is to enter the appropriate NRPN LSB by pressing the LSB/DATA
button twice, enter the NRPN MSB by pressing the MSB/DATA button twice, and as you move the controller, an appropriate NRPN message will be
sent out. Assign NRPN coarse to make big sweeps, or NRPN fine to make slight adjustments.
SysEx Explained
System Exclusive (SysEx) messages were defined in the MIDI specification to allow individual devices to have individual control via MIDI. The format
of SysEx messages allows for virtually any function to be performed via MIDI – so long as the receiving device is able to translate the message, and
act accordingly. This allows devices to send audio sample memory data, memory dumps, controller settings, and much more. It also allows the
controllers of one device to be controlled by another.
It is not possible to program your own specified SysEx message into the MK- 425C/449C/461C. However, there are some useful SysEx messages
pre-programmed into the keyboard, that can be accessed by assigning the appropriate MIDI CC to a controller (see Appendix B).
It should be noted that a SysEx message is not transmitted on any specified channel. All SysEx messages contain a device ID, that is used to single
out devices to respond to the SysEx message. All other devices are ignored. If you are using a SysEx message on the MK-425C/449C/461C, the
global channel is ignored. When you press CHANNEL, instead of entering a channel for the controller, you will be enter a device ID instead. This is
indicated by the fact that the Chan symbol will not be showing.
Device ID’s run from 00 to 127. 127 is the default device number setting on the MK-425C/449C/461C. This setting transmits the SysEx message to
all devices.
Although it is not possible to program the controllers of the MK-425C/449C/461C with your own SysEx messages, there are software applications
that can receive a MIDI input signal and transmit a different, user specified message. You can program your SysEx messages into the translator
software, then translate the incoming data from the keyboard to your SysEx, depending on the controller you are using.
The Evolution Librarian Software
About The Evolution Librarian Software
The Evolution Librarian Software is a Windows PC librarian program developed for Evolution products. The program not only works with the MK-
425C/449C/461C keyboards but is also compatible with the Evolution UC-33e USB controller. That means you can use one librarian package for
both your keyboard and your controller, if you own a UC-33e.
And even better, you can swap patches between Evolution products that’s supported by the Librarian so you never have to create the same patch
twice.
The librarian itself, allows you to send and receive the 10 patches to and from the MK-425C/449C/461C, load and save memory banks, view how
individual patches have been programmed and drag and drop patches in order to create new combinations in the 10 memory locations.
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