MIDIPLUS BK492 MIDI Controller Owner's Manual

1.1.1 Front Panel Overview

The front panel features a 49-key keyboard, pitch bend and modulation wheels, a data entry knob, octave buttons (Up & Down), two edit buttons, programmable knobs, sliders, trigger pads, and transport controls. An LCD display screen is also present.

Numbered controls on the front panel include:

• 1. DATA ENTRY
• 2. OCTAVE (Up & Down)
• 3. PITCH BEND
• 4. MODULATION
• 5. Standard 49-Key Keyboard
• 6. LCD display screen
• 7. 2 Edit Buttons
• 8. 8 Assignable Sliders
• 9. 8 Programmable Knobs
• 10. Trigger Pads
• 11. Transport Controls

1.1.2 Rear Panel Overview

The rear panel includes the following connections and controls:

• 12. SUSTAIN SWITCH jack
• 13. KEYBOARD MIDI OUT
• 14. USB MIDI OUT
• 15. USB port
• 16. BATTERY POWER DC 9V input

1.1.3 Controllers Description

These controllers are referred to by name:

2.1.1 BK492 Function Buttons Screenshot

A screenshot shows the front panel controls, highlighting the DATA ENTRY, OCTAVE, SELECT, and MODE buttons.

2.1.2 Set Controller Buttons

Knobs, sliders, trigger pads, and transport controls can be used to send any MIDI controller data on any MIDI channel. All knobs and sliders can be stored into 16 different groups. The "SELECT" button allows you to choose any setting of different controllers in a few steps.

To activate this function:

• Press the "SELECT" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Move the "DATA ENTRY" Knob to select a desired number (1-16).
• Press the "SELECT" Button again (LED lights off) to complete the process. The selected group will activate.

2.1.3 Set Mode Button

Pressing the Mode Button allows you to configure the device using the labeled keys and edit all controllers (knobs, sliders, pads, Transpose buttons). To change the configuration or edit controllers:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the labeled key or select the controller you want to edit.
• Adjust the "DATA ENTRY" Knob or press the "Octave UP & Down" Buttons to select the desired number. The number is visible on the LCD screen.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit. The selected value will activate.

Note: Pressing the "SELECT" Button also saves the edit successfully.

2.2.1 Velocity Curve

When playing samples, you might find the keyboard's response isn't ideal – pressing lightly might be too quiet, and pressing hard too loud. The Velocity Curve function adjusts the keyboard's response to your key presses. MIDI supports 127 velocity values (1-127), allowing you to choose your preferred velocity curve. There are 8 velocity curves available for different playing styles.

To select a velocity curve:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "Curve" Key.
• The LCD will display the current velocity curve number.
• Use the "OCTAVE UP&DOWN" Buttons or the "DATA ENTRY" knob to choose the desired velocity curve.
• The selected velocity curve will activate.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

2.2.2 Initialization

Initialization restores the BK492's factory settings, erasing all presets and saved values.

To initialize the device:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "Initialize" key.
• The LCD will show "Enter to perform".
• Press the "NEXT" key (marked "NEXT" on the keyboard).
• The LCD will show "Enter to confirm".
• Press the "NEXT" key to confirm the operation.
• The LCD will show "Resetting is done".
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

2.2.3 Global Channel

This function allows you to select different MIDI commands using specific keys on your keyboard, turning the keyboard into a set of function buttons for setting MIDI parameter commands. The BK492's global MIDI channel is assigned as follows:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "Channel" key.
• Use the "OCTAVE UP & DOWN" Buttons or the "DATA ENTRY" knob to select the desired channel (1-16).
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

2.2.4 Program & Bank

Program messages (commonly referred to as program changing) are used to select different instrument sounds in a MIDI device. A program message covers a range of 128 instruments, accessed by sending program numbers 0 to 127.

Some MIDI devices have more than 128 instruments. In such cases, instruments are separated into groups of 128, called banks. You can send bank MSB (Most Significant Byte) and bank LSB (Least Significant Byte) messages to enter these different banks. Consult your owner's manual to understand how bank changes affect sounds on your device.

To send a program change:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "Program" key.
• Use the "DATA ENTRY" Knob or move the "Octave UP & Down" Buttons to select a desired number.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

Bank Change: Bank Select messages are MIDI Controller messages, similar to Volume, Pan, Sustain Pedal, etc. The controller number for the "Most Significant Byte" (MSB) of Bank Select is controller "0". The controller number for the "Least Significant Byte" (LSB) of Bank Select is controller "32". The data for these messages is the bank number you wish to select. (Sometimes MSB Bank Select is for rough adjustment, and LSB Bank Select is for subtle adjustment).

2.2.5 Transpose

The "Octave UP&DOWN" Buttons can be used to transpose your keyboard. This allows players to change the pitch to a more comfortable key (e.g., C or F). Transpose lets you change the pitch you are controlling and continue playing in a key that suits you best.

It is possible to transpose up or down by as much as 12 MIDI notes (semitones). Pressing a transpose button 12 times results in a sound that is one octave higher or lower.

To transpose:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "Transpose" Button.
• Use the "DATA ENTRY" Knob or move the "Octave UP & Down" Buttons to select a desired number.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

2.2.6 Controller Select

The Control Select function (CTRL SEL) allows you to program the controller channel, knobs, sliders, trigger pads, transport, Sustain pedal, Data Entry, and Modulation wheel. To change the value of each controller:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Select the controller you want to edit by pressing or turning.
• Turn the "Data Entry" Knob or press the "Octave UP & Down" button to choose the control number you want to edit. This number is displayed on the LCD screen.
• Press the "Next" Key to set the channel.
• Turn the "Data Entry" Knob or Press the "Octave UP & Down" button to choose the channel. The channel number is displayed on the LCD screen.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

To program the Data Entry controller, there's a slight difference:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "DATA KNOB" key.
• Turn the "Data Entry" Knob or press the "Octave UP & Down" button to choose the control number you want to edit. This number is displayed on the LCD screen.
• Press the "Next" Key to set the channel.
• Turn the "Data Entry" Knob or Press the "Octave UP & Down" button to choose the channel. The channel number is displayed on the LCD screen.
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.

2.2.7 Reset

To restore BK492's factory settings, which will erase any presets or other saved values, follow these steps:

• Press the "MODE" Button; the LED under the button will light on.
• Press the "FACTORY RESET" key.
• The LCD will show "Enter to perform".
• Press the "NEXT" Key.
• The LCD will show "Enter to confirm".
• Press the "NEXT" Key to confirm the operation.
• The LCD will show "Resetting is done".
• Press the "MODE" Button again (LED lights off) to save the edit.