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Tonal Plexus TPX 6s, User Manual, Page: 8 / 40

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Tonal Plexus TPX 6s User Manual Download Page 8

1. when Tuning Table data is being programmed
2. when all TUNED OUTPUT CHANNELS are switched OFF
3. when the TUNED OUTPUT switch is set to OFF
4. when GLOBAL PARAMETERS are resetting

2. Keyboard Layout

The Tonal Plexus keyboard geometry was designed in 2002 by Aaron Andrew Hunt. This particular 
geometry is unique in the history of the musical keyboard, although it bears resemblance to previous 
inventions known as generalized keyboards, early examples of which are found in the work of Paul 
Von  Janko  (1875)  and  R.H.M.  Bosanquet  (1877).

From Piano To Plexus

The Tonal Plexus keyboard layout is based on the traditional piano keyboard pattern of 7 white and 
5 black keys, with standard fifths-based note names as shown below, piano keys carrying multiple 
names as shown.

• 7 naturals
• 7 sharps
• 7 flats
• 7 double-sharps
• 7 double-flats

All standard note names correspond to unique, non-dulpicate keys on the Tonal Plexus. Extended 
fifths-based note naming leads to a new set of enharmonics.

 

• 6 triple-sharps

• 6 triple-flats

!"

 

INSTRUMENTS

  

 www.h-pi.com  ·  

T O N A L   P L E X U S   T P X 6s/8s 

 ·

 

User Manual

6

Summary of Contents for TPX 6s

Page 1: ......

Page 2: ... Display 15 Waveform Group AC 16 Equalizer Group BC 17 Effect Group AD 18 Modulation Pitch Bend Group BD 19 7 Joystick Option 21 8 External MIDI Devices 22 Controllers 22 Standard External Modules 22 Natively Microtonal External Modules 22 Startup Sequence 23 9 Sequencer MIDI Footswitch Control 23 Patch Changes 23 Bank Select 23 Tuning Table Changes 24 10 DIP Switches 25 Bank Select Format 25 Velo...

Page 3: ...preciated If you have a question or comment about something in this manual or something which is not addressed in this manual please contact H Pi Instruments via email at contact h pi com In response to your input this manual may be updated and made available for PDF download from the H Pi Instruments website at www h pi com downloads html This manual was uploaded July 17 2008 and is the first ver...

Page 4: ...rnational 12V 4 5A Power Supply The power supply runs on 100 240V 50 60Hz and will work in most countries around the world just plug in a locally supported grounded cable US standard cable shown above left or adapter Two MIDI cables optional Having these items you are ready to begin INSTRUMENTS www h pi com T O N A L P L E X U S T P X 6s 8s User Manual 2 ...

Page 5: ...available in the US as the Quiklok VP15 With this pedal you will need to get a cable which is 1 4 Stereo plug to 2 1 4 Mono plugs a k a a standard Send Return Insert Cable for example the STP 200 from Hosa Having an internal synthesizer and amplifier a TPX6s 8s keyboard is a standalone instrument However if sounds other than those of the internal synthesizer are needed the internal amplifier of TP...

Page 6: ...hes stored in user tables may correspond to anything so shifting by table octaves does not necessarily require shifting by octaves in terms of pitch TUNED OUTPUT Switch ON multi channel pitch bend output for use with the internal synthesizer or external MIDI gear OFF untuned raw MIDI notes output for use with external retuning gear such as software samplers and synthesizers 16 Channel Switches Use...

Page 7: ...line level audio from the internal amplifier to an external device suxh as a mixer or amplifier using this 1 4 jack Stereo Headphones Connecting headphones to this attenuated stereo output turns off speaker output Volume Control the amplifier output to either the speakers or the headphones with this knob SUSTAIN Connect a sustain a k a Damper pedal to this 1 4 jack Volume Pedals Connect Lo Z 22 kO...

Page 8: ...rly examples of which are found in the work of Paul Von Janko 1875 and R H M Bosanquet 1877 From Piano To Plexus The Tonal Plexus keyboard layout is based on the traditional piano keyboard pattern of 7 white and 5 black keys with standard fifths based note names as shown below piano keys carrying multiple names as shown 7 naturals 7 sharps 7 flats 7 double sharps 7 double flats All standard note n...

Page 9: ...able limits of human perception A few main concepts behind the master tuning are given below Further information about the master tuning will be made available in a separate document Octaves and fifths Octaves and fifths define the basis of Western music theory and notation Hence these intervals form the basis of the master tuning Octaves are tuned purely and fifths are tuned virtually purely with...

Page 10: ...they are not noticeable other natural variables such as timbre and duration introduce similar small margins of error The master tuning is thus contains all pitches and intervals in a managable way Key Diameter and Elevation Tonal Plexus keytops vary in diameter and elevation arranged symmetrically in 41 regions per octave The center key of each region has a concave surface and is the largest in di...

Page 11: ...ch Bend LSB MIDI Note ON MIDI Mapping Each octave of a Tonal Plexus keyboard uses two MIDI Channels each assigned to six columns of keys These two MIDI Channels are shown as CHANNEL A and CHANNEL B in Figure 2 next page The MIDI Note numbers are the same in each octave and the MIDI Channels are fixed according to the size of the keyboard The chart below shows MIDI Channel assignments for TPX6s and...

Page 12: ...l processor such as a software sampler to result in retuned output Duplicate Keys In the default Master Tuning the following pairs of keys are tuned to the same pitch Channel A 17 18 68 69 104 Channel B 0 Channel B 35 36 51 52 87 88 These are the keys referred to as duplicate keys in TPXE software the large blue keys in Figure 2 below These keys are not hard wired as duplicates custom user tunings...

Page 13: ...n is unlike standard LOCAL OFF control where MIDI data is still sent from the keyboard The reason for this is that MIDI channel control may possibly be in conflict if MIDI data input and MIDI output are both allowed to directly control the internal synthesizer when bypassing the internal dynamic channel allocation algorithm MIDI output is however still sent to the THRU output so in a limited sense...

Page 14: ... Table lookup Channel 4 Channel 5 Channel 6 Channel 3 Dynamic Channel Allocation NOTE MIDI channel 10 is reserved for percussion sounds on General MIDI synthesizers To remind you of this the channel 10 LED is colored green rather than yellow and the number is underlined If you hear a percussion sound every few notes then you need to disengage channel 10 5 Presets The TPX6s 8s has 16 table presets ...

Page 15: ...knob to find the desired tuning table 4 Select a tuning table by pressing the knob The table preset is stored Storing a Patch Preset To store a patch preset follow these steps 1 Push the PROGRAMMER knob The table preset number and patch preset number flash 2 Push the patch preset button you wish to program 3 The bank number flashes 4 Turn the knob to find a desired bank 5 Select a bank by pressing...

Page 16: ...n memory and are recalled when the keyboard is turned on At any time with the MATRIX switch set to OFF the parameters may be reset by pressing and holding the PROGRAMMER knob for four seconds The display will read RESETTING GLOBAL PARAMETERS NOTE if a volume pedal is plugged in it will override the fader 2 or 3 in which case setting live control parameters will require using the pedal rather than ...

Page 17: ...tation the essential details as well as a lookup table are given in the Appendix The graphic arrangement of fader numbers to the left of the display corresponds to four 2 digit hex values in each group on the right showing how the faders correspond with each parameter For example correspondences for the Equalizer Group are shown below The meanings of these values are identified by the similar grap...

Page 18: ...lows the attack portion to immediately proceed to the sustaining sound A maximum value may add a slight swelling effect immediately following the attack or a slight decrescendo preceeding the sustaining sound or a combination of these effects Fader 3 RELEASE NRPN 01h 66h Modify the release or final portion of the waveform A minimum value results in immediate cutoff of the sustaining sound once a k...

Page 19: ...in a less audible possibly muffled sound while a maximum value results in a more audible but possible blaring sound Fader 1 HIGH ƒ NRPN 37h 03h Modify the amplitudes of high frequencies center ƒ 9 3 kHz Human ears tend to perceive higher frequencies as providing clarity to sounds so a minimum value results in a duller less clear sound while a maxium value results in a brighter clearer but possibly...

Page 20: ... reflections than early reflections 05 PLATE mimics the effect of a transducer placed on a metal plate within the space 06 ECHO mimics repeated delayed refelctions panned center 07 STEREO PAN ECHO mimics repeated delayed reflections panning back and forth When a value of 06 or 07 is selected fader 4 controls the rate of echo repetition otherwise fader 4 controls the relative size of the space The ...

Page 21: ...s function as follows Fader 1 MODULATION LFO DEPTH F0h 41h 00h 42h 12h 40h 2nh 02h VV xx F7h Determine the amplitude of a low frequency oscillator LFO applied to the source when the modulation parameter is controlled A minimum value results in reduction of overal amplitude output while a maximum value results in overall higher amplitude output The factory default setting is 40h Fader 2 MODULATION ...

Page 22: ...l F0h 41h 00h 42h 12h 40h 2nh 04h 00h xx F7h modulation pitch depth The factoy default setting is 00 NOTE Because this method gives only 1 byte pitch bending precision beyond a bend range of 01 the bending may not occur smoothly Fader 2 ELFO LEVEL NRPN 01h 09h Determine the level of a frequency modulation vibrato LFO applied to the source during the sustain portion of the waveform A minimum value ...

Page 23: ...eyboard is in pitch bend mode DIP 7 ON A switch is used to toggle between the joystick and fader 1 The joystick cannot be used along with the fader at the same time the toggle switch selects one control or the other The main advantage of the joystick over the fader is its spring to center return mechanism Although the joystick can be moved in all directions it only controls the parameter assigned ...

Page 24: ... FUNCTION TRANSMITTED RECOGNIZED REMARKS Pitch Bend X or O O Channels 1 16 Control Change X or O O Data Entry MSB 6 100 101 X or O O RPN MSB LSB MODE 1 OMNI ON POLY X No O Yes There may be some menu settings on the external unit which you will need to configure to satisfy the requirements outlined above NOTE If MIDI Pitch Bend messages are not recognized the external device connected to MIDI OUT w...

Page 25: ...n TPX6s 8s For this reason we will refer to such control as Remote not to be confused with wireless control Patch Changes TPX6s 8s responds to remote messages received on any channel One simple message recognized is Patch Change which is Status byte 192 208 for channels 1 16 The Status byte should be followed by one Data byte The MIDI message format for this message is shown below Patch Change on ...

Page 26: ...ing in one tuning and you want them to remain sounding in that tuning even after the tuning table has been changed use Controller ID number 116 If instead you want held notes to change immediately to a new tuning you have two options The first is Controller ID number 117 in which notes currently sounding are restruck with pitches in the new tuning Controller ID number 118 shifts bends currently he...

Page 27: ...switches 1 and 2 are used for the Bank Select message With only 4 possible combinations trial and error may be faster than digging for information in your synthesizer manual Default Bank Select CC0 Option Bank Select CC32 Option Bank Select CC0 CC32 Option Bank Select CC32 CC0 1 OFF One byte message 2 OFF Message is CC0 1 OFF One byte message 2 ON Message is CC32 1 ON Two byte message 2 OFF Messag...

Page 28: ...Switch 3 is used for this purpose Timing may be adjusted from the default of less than 5 ms to 15 ms as shown below ON Default 0 ms Option 10 ms 3 OFF 0 ms 3 ON 10 ms 1 2 3 3 To change the pitch bend response timing turn the unit OFF change the position of DIP switch 3 and turn the unit back ON DIP 4 Sysex Retransmission By default TPX6s 8s ignores all sysex messages which are not table programmin...

Page 29: ...randomized velocity band For example if the velocity fader is located around the value 80 and setting 2 above is used where DIP switch 6 is ON the velocity values in the output will vary randomly between 75 and 85 To change the velocity randomization settings turn the unit OFF change the positions of DIP switches 5 and 6 to the desired function and turn the unit back ON DIP 7 Global Pitch Bend Mod...

Page 30: ...2h 40h 2nh 04h 00h 00h F7h NOTE DIP 7 ON will affect the internal synthesizer only and may confuse external MIDI gear unless that gear recognizes Roland GS sysex messages Because this method gives only 1 byte pitch bending precision beyond a bend range of 01 the bending may not occur smoothly DIP 8 Sustain Pedal Polarity Sustain pedals are simple switches which may be either normally open NO or no...

Page 31: ...tch 9 to add a short delay to the retransmission particularly if your unit is older Default Sysex Recovery OFF Option Sysex Recovery ON 9 OFF Sysex is retransmitted immediately 9 ON Sysex retransmission is delayed 20ms 1 2 9 9 2 INSTRUMENTS www h pi com T O N A L P L E X U S T P X 6s 8s User Manual 29 ...

Page 32: ... Orchestral Hit 056 Trumpet 057 Trombone 058 Tuba 059 Harmon Trumpet 060 Horn 061 Synth Trumpet 062 Mod Brass 1 063 Mod Brass 2 064 Soprano Sax 065 Alto Sax 066 Tenor Sax 067 Baritone Sax 068 Oboe 069 English Horn 070 Bassoon 071 Clarinet 072 Piccolo 073 Flute 074 Recorder 075 Chiff Flute 076 Glass Flute 077 Cheezy Flute 078 Whistle 079 Blockflöte 080 Square Lead 081 Saw Lead 082 Calliope 083 Bend...

Page 33: ...lo2 056 Contrabass 057 Harp1 058 Harp2 059 NyolonGuitar 060 SteelString 061 CleanGuitar 062 FunkyGuitar 063 BendUpSitar 064 AcousticBass 065 UprightBass 066 PluckedBass 067 Fretless1 068 SlapBass1 069 SlapBass2 070 Fretless2 071 Fretless3 072 Flute1 073 Flute2 074 Piccolo1 075 Piccolo2 076 Recorder 077 PanFlute 078 SopranoSax 079 AltoSax 080 TenorSax 081 BaritoneSax 082 Clarinet1 083 Clarinet2 084...

Page 34: ...Dec H E X Dec H E X Dec H E X 0 00 32 20 64 40 96 60 1 01 33 21 65 41 97 61 2 02 34 22 66 42 98 62 3 03 35 23 67 43 99 63 4 04 36 24 68 44 100 64 5 05 37 25 69 45 101 65 6 06 38 26 70 46 102 66 7 07 39 27 71 47 103 67 8 08 40 28 72 48 104 68 9 09 41 29 73 49 105 69 10 0A 42 2A 74 4A 106 6A 11 0B 43 2B 75 4B 107 6B 12 0C 44 2C 76 4C 108 6C 13 0D 45 2D 77 4D 109 6D 14 0E 46 2E 78 4E 110 6E 15 0F 47 ...

Page 35: ... the bank Program Change changes the patch Controller 116 changes the tuning table held keys remain sounding old pitches Controller 117 changes the tuning table held keys restrike with new pitches Controller 118 changes the tuning table held keys bend into new pitches NOTE Pitch bending without restriking is limited to the range of a 12ET halfstep All other controller messages are retransmitted on...

Page 36: ...ramming a tuning table name 24 bytes F0 SysEx start 00 first ID 21 second ID 7F third ID 01 Device ID 01 Message ID tt tuning table number 0 127 00 7F cc name character 1 cc name character 2 cc name character 3 cc name character 4 cc name character 5 cc name character 6 cc name character 7 cc name character 8 cc name character 9 cc name character 10 cc name character 11 cc name character 12 cc nam...

Page 37: ... output Reboot the keyboard Push and hold the PROGRAMMER knob to reset Global Parameters move faders or pedals 2 and 3 If there is still no output from the internal synthesizer connect MIDI OUT from the keyboard to MIDI IN an external sound module connect headphones or and amplifier to the external module and play the keyboard Is there any sound from the external module If you have followed these ...

Page 38: ...eme case you may need to use th blade to increase the size of the opening so that the key moves freely There is only very high pitched output from every key or from some keys The tuning table is empty or the tuning table has not been programmed completely Use a programmed tuning table or program the tuning table or program the tuning table again A key cap is underneath the key panel Loosen the scr...

Page 39: ...orrectly please email contact h pi com Is MIDI IN of the synthesizer connected to TPX6s 8s MIDI THRU YES TPX6s 8s MIDI THRU gives untuned output For Connect the synthesizer to TPX6s 8s MIDI OUT Are the pitches still incorrect Pitches of an external MIDI synthesizer or sampler are bending after they sound NO The synthesizer is smoothing data between Pitch Bend values or it is quantizing the timings...

Page 40: ...16 MIDI channel switches 16 Tables Preset buttons 16 Patches Preset buttons 2 Octave buttons 9 DIP switches Power switch 4 Faders Joystick Selectable Polyphony 1 16 voices monotimbral 4 x 20 LCD character display with backlight Physical Dimensions Weight Accessories MIDI IN OUT THRU ports General MIDI compatibility Source 12VDC Consumption 3 A TPX6s 37 5 x 14 5 x 3 in 95 3 x 37 x 8 cm TPX8s 49 5 x...

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