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Evolution MK-425C • MK-449C • MK-461C
MIDI Messages Explained
Program & Bank Changes Explained
The original GM MIDI specification catered for only 128 voices, numbered from 0-127. It is possible to access a different voice by sending a program
change.
In order to expand on the GM set of voices, Bank changes were devised. Each bank contains 128 patches, that can be accessed using a program change.
There are 16,384 banks available, accessible by sending a 14-bit Bank change message. The first 7 bits of this message are sent in a single byte known as
the Bank LSB. The last 7 bits are specified by another byte known as the Bank MSB. The BANK LSB is the most commonly used. This allows for 128 bank
changes, and often there is no need to send a Bank MSB.
You will find almost all MIDI devices respond to the program change, but some that do not conform to the GM set of voices use the program change
message for other purposes. Many VST instruments have adopted this approach, allowing you to use a program change to change the instrument patch.
The FM7 by Native Instruments is a good example of this.
Bank changes are more rarely used, although they do exist. Bank changes are useful in manufacturer’s extensions to the MIDI specification, such as
Roland’s GS specification and Yamaha’s XG specification. Both of these require you to specify a Bank change, in order to access the extra voices and
effects that these specifications provide.
Sending Program, Bank LSB and Bank MSB data is made simple using the Mk-425C/449C/461C. Simply press the PROGRAM, DATA LSB or DATA MSB
button and enter the program or bank change you wish to send.
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.
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