Manuals+

Exquis User Guide V1.1.0

This user manual describes the functionalities of the keyboard used without the Exquis application, that is to say connected via USB, MIDI DIN or CV, to third-party software, hardware synthesizer, or modular synthesizer. The features currently available and presented here are subject to change. Don't forget to watch for updates! For any questions about your use of Exquis, do not hesitate to contact the community of players through its various points of contact; members of the Intuitive Instruments team or other users will be able to respond and share it with the community. For technical issues, contact support at dualo.com/support.

Connectors

The Exquis keyboard allows connection:

The Exquis keyboard also has a Kensington Nano Security Slot™ for a suitable anti-theft device.

Visual Description: The rear panel of the Exquis keyboard features several connection ports. From left to right, these include: MOD, PITCH, GATE (all CV connections), OUT, IN (MIDI connections), and a USB Type-C port. A Kensington Nano Security Slot is also present on the right side.

Startup

The Exquis keyboard simply requires power supply via USB (5 V and 0.9A max), for example from a computer, a suitable power supply, or even an external battery. The keyboard starts automatically once plugged.

Controls

From bottom to top, the Exquis keyboard features:

Note Layout

The Exquis keyboard arranges consecutive notes (semitones) horizontally, and harmonious notes (thirds) vertically, from the lowest at the bottom to the highest at the top.

Visual Description: The keyboard is laid out in a hexagonal grid. Notes are arranged chromatically (semitones) from left to right across rows. Harmonious intervals, specifically thirds, are arranged vertically. For example, moving up a row from a note often leads to a third above it. The visual representation of chords uses simple, continuous, and ergonomic hexagonal shapes, with each shape representing a stacked chord.

The most common scales (selection of notes giving the tone of a piece) result from the assembly of two of these 4-note chords; they are thus embodied on the keyboard in the form of a continuous luminous double-strand, allowing you to play in tune and improvise effortlessly.

When plugged in, the keyboard displays the C major scale by default (C D E F G A B). The number indicated at the bottom of the keys corresponds to the octave number, that is to say the pitch of the note.

Visual Description: A hexagonal grid displays the notes of the C major scale. Each hexagon shows the note name (e.g., C, D#, G) and an octave number (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5) at its bottom. This visual feedback helps in understanding the current scale and octave.

Playing chords within the scale allows you to construct coherent and harmonious chord charts. With one hand or two hands, explore and compare the different scales to create ever more different pieces!

Main View

The keyboard displays note names and pitches. By default, the C major scale is backlit. Changing the scale is done in the settings menu. The keys are sensitive to:

The main controls are numbered:

  1. Settings menu: Hold to access keyboard settings.
  2. MIDI CC#31
  3. MIDI CC#32
  4. MIDI CC#33
  5. MIDI CC#34
  6. MIDI clock play/stop
  7. Octave: Transpose the keyboard up or down by one octave (12 semitones).
  8. Slider: Controls arpeggiator speed (ordered repetition of notes held on the keyboard). The pattern and mode are set in the settings menu. Values are expressed in units of time: 4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note, 16 = sixteenth note, etc. (e.g., 1/4 is 1 note per beat, 1/8 is 2 notes per beat).
  9. MIDI CC#41: Click CC#21
  10. MIDI CC#42: Click CC#22
  11. MIDI CC#43: Click CC#23
  12. MIDI CC#44: Click CC#24

Visual Description: The main view shows the hexagonal keyboard grid. Above the grid are labeled connection ports (LOCK, USB, MIDI, GATE, PITCH, MOD). The numbered controls (1-12) are located around the keyboard grid: encoders 1-6 are above, and buttons 7-12 are below.

Settings Menu (Page 1/2)

  1. Transpose: Transpose the keyboard one semitone at a time, useful for recentering the scale.
  2. Slider: Controls the arpeggiator pattern. The 6 LEDs on the slider indicate the chosen pattern. Briefly touch the slider to change patterns: Order, Up, Down, Convergent, Divergent, Note repeat. Hold the slider for a second to switch between 'classic' (hold while playing) and 'latch' (touch to activate/deactivate) modes.
  3. Internal tempo: Used by the arpeggiator and MIDI clock, defaults to 120 BPM. Follows MIDI clock received via USB or MIDI DIN.
  4. Tonic note: Change the central note of the song, the base note for melodies and chords.
  5. Scale: Change the notes defining the piece's tone. Follow keyboard lights to compare musical colors. Stay within the lit path for harmonious melodies and chords. Click the encoder to show/hide duplicate notes.
  6. General brightness: Adjusts the overall brightness of the keyboard's LEDs.
  7. Access to other settings pages: Navigate to further settings.
  8. MIDI clock output: Select whether the clock is sent via USB (red LED), DIN (blue LED), both (magenta LED), or none (white LED).

Visual Description: The settings menu is accessed by holding the 'Settings' button (encoder 1). The image shows the keyboard with numbered encoders and buttons, highlighting the controls relevant to this page of settings.

Settings Menu (Page 2/2)

  1. MPE / Poly aftertouch: Controls MIDI channel behavior via USB or MIDI DIN. Switch modes by clicking the encoder:
    • MIDI Polyphonic Expression (blue LED): XY and Z axis control per key, one note per channel. Channel 1 is for global messages. Rotating the encoder adjusts additional MIDI channels (1-15). A setting of 15 is recommended.
    • Poly aftertouch (yellow LED): Independent Z-axis control per note. Choose the channel for notes (1-16).
  2. Per note pitchbend range (MPE): Expressed in forty-eighths of the maximum range, indicated by lit hexagons (0 to 12, then 24 and 48). Two use cases: Set synthesizer pitchbend range to 48 and this parameter to 1 semitone per hexagon, OR set this parameter to 48 and the synthesizer's pitchbend range accordingly. In CV, the maximum range is 1 semitone.
  3. Keyboard sensitivity: Adjusts the key trigger threshold. Warning: a low setting may cause unwanted note triggers.

Visual Description: This page of the settings menu is accessed via the 'Access to other settings pages' option. The image shows the keyboard with numbered encoders and buttons, highlighting the controls relevant to this page of settings.

Scales

By holding the settings button and turning the 2nd encoder, you can change the root note. Each tonic is associated with a color displayed on the LED of this encoder.

Root Note Color Code

ColorTonicNote(by default)
ReddoC(by default)
Orangedo# / rebC# / Db
YellowreD
Light greenre# / mibD# / Eb
GreenmiE
CyanfaF
Light bluefa# / solbF# / Gb
BluesolG
Dark bluesol# / labG# / Ab
PinklaA
Purplela# / sibA# / Bb
MagentasiB

By holding the settings button and rotating the 3rd encoder, you can change the scale. 6 families of scales are offered, each family associated with a color. Each scale has a color code in binary language, displayed on the LEDs of the last 3 encoders. The most frequently used scales are in bold.

Scale Families and Scales

Melodic major

Melodic minor

Harmonic minor

Harmonic major

Pentatonic / Blues

Saving and Resetting Settings

All settings are automatically saved when exiting the settings menu and are kept when the keyboard is unplugged.

You can reset default settings by holding the 2nd encoder clicked while plugging into a power source.

Models: Exquis 61-Key MPE MIDI Controller, 61-Key MPE MIDI Controller, MPE MIDI Controller, MIDI Controller, Controller

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