Introduction
The X-Station presents the exciting option of using the X-Station key-
board as a dedicated synthesizer.
The synthesizer is an implementation of Novation’s popular KS series
of synthesizers - the KS 4, KS 5 and KS Rack. The sound engine is
compatible with KS series Programs, but there are some limitations :
* The X-Station KS Synth is mono-timbral (ie it can only play one type
of sound at any one time). The KS Synth will always operate in
‘Program Mode’. Eight note polyphony is available.
* Drum Maps are not implemented. The Drum waveforms found on the
KS4, KS5 and KS Rack are not available for the X-Station KS synth
oscillators and the X-Station KS synth arpeggiator does not use drum
patterns.
* Two banks of 100 Programs are available (200 in total). No
Performances are used.
* No parameters can be synchronised to external MIDI clock.
* Audio signals cannot be fed through the Synthesis engine. Auto input
triggering and the vocoder are not available.
* Only one Effects channel is available for the Audio Inputs / Outputs.
When operating in KS Synth Mode, the X-Station uses channel 2
Effects for the KS Synthesizer’s Effects.
* Hypersync Templates are not used.
* It is not possible to use the X-Station as a MIDI controller and KS
Synth simultaneously. The X-Station can either be in the template mode
or the synth mode at any one time.
Selecting KS Synth Patches
The X-Station is supplied with two banks of 100 synth patches, all of
which are editable and may be overwritten or modified.
The PLAY button is used to toggle between the Template mode and the
KS Synth mode. While in KS Synth Mode, the text ‘Synth Prog’ is
always shown on the top line of the display above the Synth patches
name. For example :
SYNTH PROG 100
ArkBass
There are two ways of selecting KS Synth Patches.
1 - Using the BANK / PAGE Buttons & DATA / VALUE Encoder
Press the PLAY button so the X-Station enters KS Synth Mode (the
display will show the text ‘SYNTH PROG’ and the LED above the PLAY
button will be lit).
Use the DATA / VALUE Encoder or PROGRAM buttons to select the
desired Synth Patch. The BANK / PAGE buttons can be used to quickly
switch between the two banks of 100 Synth patches.
Any one of the 200 available Synth patches can be selected to auto-
matically load whenever KS Synth Mode is initially selected. In the
above example, Synth patch 100 ‘ArkBass’ is the default selection.
To assign a different Synth patch as the default, simply save the Global
parameters while the Synth patch of your choice is selected. Global
parameter saving is described on page 27.
Whenever a new Template or Synth patch is selected from front panel,
both Bank Change and Program Change messages can be transmitted
via MIDI Out and/or USB. It is sometimes convenient to record these
messages into a sequencer in real-time.
2 - Using MIDI Bank Select & Program Change Messages
A MIDI Bank Select and Program change message sent from an exter-
nal sequencer or controller keyboard can be used to select a Template
or Synth patch directly. These messages should always be sent on the
Global MIDI Channel. The Global MIDI channel is set from within the
Global Menu. See page 25 for details.
The MIDI Bank Change message (CC32) should always precede the
Program Change message. it is recommended that the Bank Change
message is always sent immediately before the Program Change mes-
sage.
A Bank Change message with a data value of zero can be used to
select a Template. A Bank Change message with a data value of 33 is
always used to select Synth patches 100 - 199 and a Bank Change
message with a data value of 34 is always used to Synth patches 200 -
299.
Note that if the Bank Change message is omitted, a Program
change message will always select a Template rather than a Synth
patch.
The Program Change message specifies which actual Template or
Synth patch is to be selected. When selecting Templates, only data val-
ues in the range 0 - 39 are valid. Any other values are ignored. For
selecting a Synth patch, data values between 0 - 99 can be used. Any
other values are ignored.
For example, to select Template 30 from a sequencer, send :
Bank Select (CC32) 0
Program Change 29
or to select Synth patch 199 from a sequencer, send :
Bank Select (CC32) 33
Program Change 99
Whenever Synth patches are selected using this method, the X-Station
always automatically enters KS Synth Mode.
THE KS SYNTHESIZER
Introduction - Selecting Synth Patches
• 36 •
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