RockJam RJ461AX 61 Key Music Keyboard with Alexa

User Guide

Important Information

Please obey the following information to avoid harm to yourself or others, or damage to this instrument or other external equipment.

Power adapter:

Please use only the specified AC adapter supplied with the product. An incorrect or faulty adapter can cause damage to the electronic keyboard.
Do not place the AC adapter or power cord near any source of heat such as radiators or other heaters.
To avoid damaging the power cord, ensure that heavy objects are not placed on it and that it is not subject to stress or over bending.
Check the power plug regularly and ensure it is free from surface dirt. Do not insert or unplug the power cord with wet hands.

Do not open the body of the electronic keyboard:

Do not open the electronic keyboard or try to disassemble any part of it. If the device is not functioning correctly, please stop using it and send it to a qualified service agent for repair.

Use of the electronic keyboard:

To avoid damaging the appearance or internal parts, please do not place the electronic keyboard in a dusty environment, in direct sunlight, or in places with very high or very low temperatures.
Do not place the electronic keyboard on an uneven surface. To avoid damaging internal parts, do not place any vessel holding liquid onto the electronic keyboard as spillage may occur.

Maintenance:

To clean the body of the electronic keyboard, wipe it with a dry, soft cloth only.

Connection:

To prevent damage to the speaker, please adjust the volume of any peripheral device to the lowest setting and gradually adjust the volume accordingly to an appropriate level once the music is playing.

During operation:

Do not use the keyboard at the loudest volume level for a long period.
Do not place heavy objects onto the keyboard or press the keyboard with undue force.
The packaging should be opened by a responsible adult only, and any plastic packaging should be stored or disposed of appropriately.

Specification

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Controls, Indicators and External Connections

Front Panel

The front panel of the RJ461AX keyboard features numerous controls:

1. Speaker: Audio output.
2. Power Switch: Turns the keyboard on/off.
3. Main Volume: Dial for adjusting the overall volume.
4. Tempo +/-: Adjusts tempo for rhythms, metronome, or songs.
5. Transpose +/-: Adjusts the musical scale of notes.
6. Amp Volume +/-: Adjusts amplifier volume (if connected).
7. Chord Volume +/-: Adjusts the volume of chord accompaniment.
8. Sustain: Engages the sustain effect.
9. Percussion: Activates percussion mode.
10. Piano: Selects piano tone.
11. Vibrato: Engages the vibrato effect.
12. Dual Tone: Activates dual tone mode.
13. Split: Activates split keyboard mode.
14. Play/ Pause: Controls playback of songs or rhythms.
15. Rewind: Fast backward playback.
16. Fast Forward: Fast forward playback.
17. Music Volume -: Decreases music volume.
18. Music Volume +: Increases music volume.
19. EQ: Adjusts equalizer settings.
20. Memory: Accesses memory functions.
21. Memory Storage 1: Stores settings to memory slot 1.
22. Memory Storage 2: Stores settings to memory slot 2.
23. Memory Storage 3: Stores settings to memory slot 3.
24. Bluetooth Control: Manages Bluetooth connectivity.
25. Alexa Control: Controls Amazon Alexa features.
26. Teach 1: Initiates Teaching Mode 1.
27. Record: Records performance.
28. Teach 2: Initiates Teaching Mode 2.
29. Program: Enters rhythm programming mode.
30. Teach 3: Initiates Teaching Mode 3.
31. Playback: Plays back recorded or demo songs.
32. Start / Stop: Starts or stops rhythms, songs, or accompaniments.
33. Intro / Ending: Adds intro or ending to a rhythm.
34. Fill In: Adds a fill-in to a rhythm.
35. Sync: Enables synchronized start for rhythms.
36. Single: Activates Single Finger Chord mode.
37. Fingered: Activates Multi Finger Chord mode.
38. Chord Tone: Selects chord tone.
39. Chord Off: Disables chord accompaniment.
40. Demo: Plays demo songs.
41. Rhythm: Selects rhythm patterns.
42. Tone: Selects instrument tones.
43. Metronome: Activates the metronome.
44. Number Buttons: Used for inputting numbers (e.g., tone codes, rhythm numbers).
45. Keyboard Playing Area: The main area for playing notes.
46. Chord Playing area: The area for playing chords (typically left side).
47. Tones List: Displays available tones.
48. LCD Screen: Displays information about current settings and modes.
49. Rhythms List: Displays available rhythms.

Illustration shows the front panel of the RockJam RJ461AX keyboard with numbered controls corresponding to the list above.

External Connections

The rear panel includes various ports:

1. TF Card Slot: For inserting TF (MicroSD) cards.
2. USBMP3 Input: For connecting USB flash drives to play MP3 files.
3. MIDI Input/Output: For connecting to other MIDI devices.
4. Sustain Pedal Input: For connecting a sustain pedal.
5. MIC Input: For connecting a microphone.
6. AUX IN: Auxiliary input for connecting audio devices.
7. Headphone Output: For connecting headphones.
8. DC IN: Power input for the AC/DC adapter.

Illustration shows the external connection ports labeled 1 through 8.

LCD Display

The LCD screen provides visual feedback:

1. Playing chord indication: Shows the currently played chord.
2. Volume level display: Indicates the current volume level.
3. TONE, RHYTHM or DEMO song: Displays the selected tone, rhythm, or demo song.
4. Digital display for song, rhythm and tone number: Shows numerical identifiers for selections.
5. Tempo value of rhythm and song (bpm): Displays the tempo in beats per minute.
6. Metronome for rhythm and song: Indicates metronome status.
7. Mode Indicators 1: Shows active modes (e.g., REC/PROG, TEACH, VIBRATO, SUSTAIN).
8. Key Indicator: Shows which keys are being pressed or are active.
9. Mode Indicators 2: Shows active modes (e.g., DUAL, SINGLE, FINGERED).

Illustration shows the LCD screen with numbered indicators and a representation of the keyboard keys.

Preparation Before First Use

Power

Use of AC/DC power adapter:

Please use the AC/DC power adapter that came with the electronic keyboard or a power adapter with DC 12V output voltage and 1,000mA output current with a centre positive plug. Connect the DC plug of the power adapter into the DC12V power socket on the rear of the keyboard and then connect the other end into the mains wall socket and switch on. ?

Diagrams illustrate the DC plug connecting to the keyboard's DC IN socket and the power adapter connecting to a mains socket for both USA/Canada and UK configurations.

Caution: When the keyboard is not in use, you should unplug the power adapter from the mains power socket. ⚠️

Battery operation:

Open the battery lid on the underneath of the electronic keyboard and insert 6 x 1.5V Size D alkaline batteries. Ensure the batteries are inserted with the correct polarity and replace the battery lid.

Caution: Do not mix old and new batteries. Do not leave batteries in the keyboard if it is not going to be used for any length of time. This will avoid possible damage caused by leaking batteries. ⚠️

Jacks and Accessories

Using headphones:

Connect the 3.5mm headphone plug into the [PHONES] jack on the rear of the keyboard. The internal speaker will cut off automatically once headphones are connected. Headphones with inline volume control are included. ?

Illustration shows a 3.5mm plug and headphones.

Connecting External Devices

Connecting an Amplifier or Hi-Fi Equipment:

This electronic keyboard has a built-in speaker system but can be connected to an external amplifier or other hi-fi equipment. First, turn off the power to the keyboard and any external equipment you are looking to connect. Next, insert one end of a stereo audio cable (not included) into the LINE IN or AUX IN socket on the external equipment and connect the other end into the [PHONES] jack on the rear of the electronic keyboard.

Diagram shows a stereo audio cable connecting from the PHONES jack on the keyboard to the AUDIO INPUT JACK of an amplifier, with SPEAKER BOX shown as output.

Connecting a Sustain Pedal

This electronic keyboard has a 6.35mm socket for connecting a sustain pedal (not included). Connect the sustain pedal to the 6.35mm socket. ?

Connecting an iPad or Android device:

The Keyboard can be connected to an Apple or Android device through the MIDI output. This allows you to play music through an app. Connect the USB B type plug into the MIDI output at the back of the keyboard. USB cables for Android and Apple are not included but can be bought from Amazon or eBay. Note: Android 6.0 and upwards are required for MIDI function.

Recommended App: ‘Simply Piano’ by Joytunes, available from Google Play or Apple App Store.

Diagram shows a USB B type plug connecting to a MIDI port on the keyboard, and then connecting to an iPad/iPhone via a Lightning/USB-C connector, or to an Android device via a Micro USB plug.

Connecting a phone or audio device to the AUX Input to play music through the keyboard:

This keyboard has a built-in speaker system that can be used to play music from your phone or mobile device. Insert one end of a stereo audio cable into the AUX IN socket on the back of the keyboard and connect the other end into your phone or audio device. Make sure the keyboard is switched on. Use the volume control of the phone to control the music volume. AUX in cable not included. ?

Diagram shows a stereo audio cable connecting from a smartphone's headphone jack to the AUX IN port on the keyboard.

Connecting a Laptop or PC:

You can connect the keyboard to a laptop or PC device and work with various 3rd party MIDI software for recording and playing back songs using MIDI files. Connect a cable with USB B type plug into the MIDI output at the back of the keyboard and then connect the USB A type plug to the PC or Laptop. USB cable for PC/Laptop connection is not included. ?

Diagram shows a USB B type plug connecting to the MIDI port on the keyboard, and a USB A type plug connecting to a laptop.

Connecting a Microphone:

Connect the 3.5mm microphone plug into the [MIC] jack on the rear of the keyboard. ?

Diagram shows a 3.5mm plug connecting from a microphone to the MIC jack.

Connecting USB Flash-drive or TF card:

To play MP3s through the Keyboard Speakers, place files onto either a USB flash-drive or TF card. Insert the card into the input slot at the rear of the Keyboard. The first song will play.

Touch the [▶️ / ⏸️] button to Play or Pause playback.
Touch the [◀️] or [▶️] buttons to go to the last or next song.
Touch the [+] or [-] buttons to increase or decrease the playback volume.
Touch the [EQ] button to adjust the playback tone. There are 6 different tone settings; each press will cycle to the next setting.

Illustration shows a MicroSD card, a USB flash drive, and the playback control buttons: Play/Pause, Previous/Next, Volume Up/Down, and EQ.

Setup for Amazon Alexa Operation

Prerequisites for Setup

In order to set up the keyboard for use with Amazon Alexa, you will need the following:

A smartphone or tablet with Android or Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad etc.)
A WiFi connection ?
An active Amazon account

Overview

To set up for use with Amazon Alexa, there are 3 essential steps:

Download and install the Alexa companion APP ‘RockJam Keyboard’ on your smartphone or tablet device.
Using the companion APP, connect the keyboard to your WiFi network.
Register the keyboard to your Amazon account.

In addition, you can install an Alexa skill to help you learn to play:

Install Amazon Alexa APP to your smart device.
Search for and enable the ‘Piano Teacher’ skill.

Essential Setup Steps in Detail (RockJam APP and WiFi Setup)

Download and install the Alexa companion APP 'RockJam Keyboard' on your smartphone or tablet device from the Google Play store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhone, iPad).

At first power on, the keyboard should enter network connection mode. If this does not happen or you wish to use the keyboard on a different WiFi connection, then proceed as follows to initiate the network connection.

Press and hold the blue Alexa button for over 5 seconds to enter network connection mode. The keyboard will respond with, “Entering Network Connection Mode”.

Illustration shows pressing and holding the blue Alexa button on the keyboard.

Open the ‘RockJam Keyboard’ APP on your smart device and you will be prompted to connect to the WiFi network of the keyboard.

Open the WiFi settings on your smart device and connect to the keyboard WiFi network, RockJam_RJ461AX_XXXX. If the WiFi network cannot be found, then return to the ‘RockJam Keyboard’ APP and click on ‘Could not find RockJam RJ461AX_XXXX?’. Then follow the on-screen instructions and try again.

Screenshots show the process: selecting the RockJam WiFi network on a phone, the app searching for the system, and finding the device. Instructions guide the user to connect via phone's WiFi settings and then back to the app.

You will then be asked to select your home WiFi network and enter the WiFi passcode. Note that only a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection can be used. Click Next and the keyboard will connect to your home WiFi.

Your smart device will then connect back to your home WiFi network. At this point, both your keyboard and smart device will be connected to your home WiFi.

Screenshots show selecting a home WiFi network, entering a password, the connection status, and the final connected state on the smart device.

You will then be asked to register your keyboard to an Amazon account. Note: You will not have any Alexa functionality for the keyboard if you skip this step.

Screenshot shows the Amazon login screen within the app, prompting the user to sign in with their Amazon account to enable personalized features and Alexa functionality.

You can test the successful registration of the keyboard by asking Alexa a simple question. Press the blue Alexa button on the keyboard and say something like, “What’s the time?”. Alexa should respond with the current time.

For full details of additional functionality offered by the ‘RockJam Keyboard’ companion APP, refer to Appendix VII.

Screenshots show selecting a preferred language for Alexa and a confirmation that Alexa is ready, with instructions to press the Alexa button to start talking.

Optional Setup Steps in Detail (Amazon Alexa APP and Piano Teacher Skill)

Download and install the Amazon Alexa APP on your smartphone or tablet device from the Google Play store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhone, iPad). Once you have signed in, make sure you have the RockJam keyboard added as a device. Open the menu in the Alexa APP and access Skills and Games.

Screenshots show the Amazon Alexa app interface, including searching for apps, the app details page, and the Skills & Games section.

Search for and enable the 'Piano Teacher' skill.

Screenshots show searching for "piano teacher" in the Alexa app, finding the Piano Teacher skill, and the process of enabling it.

Once enabled, press the blue Alexa button on the keyboard and say, “Open Piano Teacher”. The Piano Teacher skill should then start. To exit the Piano Teacher skill, press the blue Alexa button on the keyboard and then say, “Exit”.

Screenshots show the Piano Teacher skill interface and instructions on how to start and exit the skill using voice commands.

Keyboard Operation

Power and Volume

Power control:

Press the [POWER] button to turn the power on and again to turn the power off. The LED screen will light up to indicate power on. (Wi-Fi is activated) ?

Illustration shows the POWER button and the MAIN VOLUME dial, with a representation of the keyboard's control panel.

Adjustment of the Master Volume:

To change the volume, turn the MAIN VOLUME dial. ?

Illustration shows the MAIN VOLUME dial being turned.

Tone

Tone Selection:

When the keyboard is switched on, the default TONE is '00' Grand Piano. To change the tone, press the TONE button first and then punch in a number code on the keypad by pressing the corresponding digits 0-9. Tones can also be changed by using the [+ / -] buttons on the key pad. Refer to Appendix III for a full list of the available tones and codes.

Illustration shows the TONE button and the numerical keypad (0-9) and +/- buttons.

Effect & Control

Dual Tone Keyboard:

Dual Tone mode allows the keyboard to mix two tones and play them at the same time. To switch on Dual Tone Keyboard mode, press the [DUALTONE] button. The LCD display will show that Dual tone mode is active by showing a flag indicator. The first tone will be fixed as the tone that was selected before the [DUALTONE] button was pressed. The second tone can be freely selected by pressing the corresponding digits on the numerical keypad. Press the [DUALTONE] button again to exit DualTone mode.

Illustration shows the DUAL TONE button and the control panel.

Split Keyboard:

To switch on Split Keyboard mode, press the [SPLIT] button. The keyboard will split into two keyboards at the 24th key from the left. In Split Keyboard mode, the pitch of the left-hand keys are raised by one octave. Press the [SPLIT] button again to exit Split Keyboard mode.

Illustration shows the SPLIT button and a diagram depicting the keyboard split into two sections (Tone 1 and Tone 2) with a divide point.

Sustain:

Press the [SUSTAIN] button to enter Sustain mode. The LCD display will display that [SUSTAIN] is on. Once this mode is selected, the sound of each note played is prolonged. Pressing the [SUSTAIN] button again will turn the sustain feature off and exit this mode. ?

Illustration shows the SUSTAIN button and the control panel.

Vibrato:

Press the [VIBRATO] button to enter Vibrato mode. The LCD display will display that [VIBRATO] is on. Once this mode is selected, each time a note is played, a trembling effect is added to the end of the note. Pressing the [VIBRATO] button again will turn the Vibrato feature off and exit this mode. 〰️

Illustration shows the VIBRATO button and the control panel.

Transpose:

Press the [TRANSPOSE] buttons to alter the musical scale of the note being played. You can adjust the scale by 6 levels upwards or downwards. Pressing both the [TRANSPOSE] buttons at the same time will revert the musical scale to 00. The transpose level is reset to 00 after power off and on. ⬆️⬇️

Illustration shows the TRANSPOSE +/- buttons and the control panel.

Metronome:

Press the [METRONOME] button to start the tick-tock beat. There are four beats to choose from. Depending on what the performance needs, you can touch the [TEMPO] buttons to speed up or slow down the beat. Press the [METRONOME] button repeatedly to cycle through the available beat patterns. The LCD display will indicate the beat you have chosen. The metronome effect is added to the music once you start playing. To exit this mode, touch the [START/STOP] or [METRONOME] button again. ?

Illustration shows the METRONOME button and the numerical keypad and tempo buttons.

Panel Percussion Instruments:

When the [PERCUSSION] button is pressed, all the keyboard's keys can be used to play percussion sounds. Press the [PERCUSSION] button again to exit Percussion mode. Refer to Appendix I for a table of the 61 percussion sounds available.

Illustration shows the PERCUSSION button and the control panel, with a highlighted 'PERCUSSION KEYBOARD AREA' on the keyboard.

Rhythm

Selecting the rhythm:

You can choose from any of the 200 built-in rhythms. Please refer to Appendix II for the detailed rhythm table. Press the [RHYTHM] button to enter the rhythm selection function. The LCD display will show the current rhythm number. You can select the rhythm you require by pressing the corresponding digits on the numerical keypad or by pressing the +/- buttons. ?

Illustration shows the RHYTHM button and the numerical keypad and +/- buttons.

Start / Stop:

With a rhythm selected, press the [Start/Stop] button to start or stop playing the chosen rhythm. ▶️ / ⏸️

Illustration shows the START/STOP button and the control panel.

Sync:

Touch the [SYNC] button to select the synchronized accompaniment function. Then press any of the first 19 keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard to start the selected rhythm playing. Touch the [START/STOP] button to stop the rhythm and exit the sync function.

Illustration shows the SYNC button and the control panel.

Fill in:

While playing a rhythm, you can add a rhythmic fill if you touch the [FILLIN] button during playback. After the fill-in, the rhythm will continue playing as normal.

Illustration shows the FILL IN button and the control panel.

Accompaniment Volume Adjustment:

The Accompaniment Volume can be adjusted by pressing the [ACCOMPVOLUME] buttons. The LCD display will show the volume as it is adjusted. The adjustment range has 10 levels, displayed as a bar graph on the LCD display. Pressing both the [ACCOMPVOLUME] buttons at the same time will return the Accompaniment Volume to the default level (level 006). Note: The Main Volume control will also affect the output level of the accompaniment. At power on, the accompaniment volume will reset to the default level. ?

Illustration shows the ACCOMP VOLUME +/- buttons and the control panel.

Tempo Adjustment:

Press the [TEMPO] buttons to adjust the tempo of the rhythm, metronome, or demo songs. The adjustment range is 30-240 bpm. Pressing both the [TEMPO] buttons at the same time will revert the tempo to the default for the rhythm selected. At power on, the tempo will be 120 bpm. ⏱️

Illustration shows the TEMPO +/- buttons and the control panel.

Chord Accompaniment

Single Finger Chords:

Press the [SINGLE] button to activate the single finger chord function. The LCD screen will flag which function is activated. With a rhythm playing, chords are played by pressing a key in the chord area on the left-hand side of the keyboard (keys 1-19). The finger patterns required are shown in Appendix VI. The played chord is displayed in the top left corner of the LCD display. Touch the [START/ STOP] button to start or stop the chord accompaniment. ?

Illustration shows the SINGLE button and the control panel, with a highlighted chord area on the keyboard.

Multi Finger Chords:

Press the [FINGERED] button to activate the multi-finger chord function. The LCD screen will flag which function is activated. With a rhythm playing, chords are played by pressing keys in the chord area on the left-hand side of the keyboard (keys 1-19). The finger patterns required are shown in Appendix VI. The played chord is displayed in the top left corner of the LCD display. Touch the [START/ STOP] button to start or stop the chord accompaniment. Note: For this function, it is important to use the finger patterns shown in Appendix VI.

Illustration shows the FINGERED button and the control panel, with a highlighted chord area on the keyboard.

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