Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product E-MU Creative
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Xboard 1 X Board.book Page 1 Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:44 AM.
2E - M U S y s t e m s Owner’ s Manual © 2006 E-MU Systems All Rights Reserved E-MU W orld Headquarters E-MU Systems 1500 Gr een Hills Road Scotts V alley , CA 95066 USA Japan Cr eative Media K.
Xboard 3 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................. 7 Requirements ... .......... ........... .......... ........... ........ ........... .......... ........... .......... ....... 8 On a PC: ......
4E - M U S y s t e m s Xboard 61 Panel Controls ........................................... 21 Using the Numeric Ke yp ad .. .......... ......... .. .......... ........... ........ .. .. ......... .. .. ........ .. ... 22 Back Panel Desc ription .....
Xboard 5 E-MU Xboard Control .................................................. 44 Definiti ons ......... .......... ......... .......... ........... ........ ........... ........ ........... .......... ....... 44 Xboard Co ntrol Window .... .........
6E - M U S y s t e m s X Board.book Page 6 Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:44 AM.
Introduction Xboard 7 INTR ODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the E-MU Xboard 25, Xboard 49, or Xboard 61 USB/MIDI controller. Xboard profes sional USB/MIDI controllers offer unmatched playability, re al-time control and programmab ility in portable 25 key, 49 key, and 61 key packages.
Introduction E-MU Systems 8 Requir ements The included Xboard Control software provid es an intuitive desktop inte rf ace that makes it easy to create custom tem pl a tes for all your favorite hardware and software instruments.
Introduction Xboard 9 Connecting the Xboar d to your Computer U S B C a b l e ( i n c l u d e d ) CO1 A V 1 27 P P A: 01 R N I VT G 022 3 tr n: M el lotro n t r S Out In MIDI Cable MIDI Sound Module 6.
Introduction E-MU Systems 10 U S B C a b l e CO1 A V 1 27 P P A: 01 R N I VT G 022 3 trn : M ell otro n t r S Out In MIDI Cable MIDI Sound Module ( i n c l u d e d ) MIDI Interface The Xboar d can function as a MIDI interf ace when connected to your computer via USB.
Introduction Xboard 11 Softwar e Installation Macintosh OS X Follow these instruct ions to install the Xboard Cont ro l software on a Macintosh computer. 1. Insert the Xboard installation CD. 2. Double-click the E-MU icon on your deskto p. 3. In the E-MU folder that opens, double-click the E-MU Xboard Apps & Docs installer.
Introduction E-MU Systems 12 Wind ows XP Follow these instructions to inst all th e Xboard USB drivers and Xboard Control software on a Windows XP computer. 1. Connect the Xboard to your computer usin g the supplied USB cable, and turn it on. 2. If Windows prompts you with an Add New Ha rdw are Wizard, cl ick Cancel .
Introduction Xboard 13 T r oubleshooting Lost Communication Should you lose MIDI communication between your Xboard and an audio app li- cation (Cubase, Sonar, etc.) or the Xboa rd Control software, the Xboard drivers may need to be re-selected in your application.
Introduction E-MU Systems 14 Wind ows XP Y ou may r ecover by doing the following: 1. Click on Update Driv er . 2. If you are running Windows Service Pa ck 2, following dialog box appears. Select No, not t his time , and click Next . 3. Select Install fr om a specif ic location (Advanced) , and click Next .
Introduction Xboard 15 4. Select Don't Sear c h, I will c hoose t he driver t o inst all , and click Next . 5. Select E-MU USB-MIDI Device , and click Next . 6. After a few moment s, you will see th e Microsoft Digital Signature warning. Click Continue Anyw ay .
Introduction E-MU Systems 16 Windows 2000 Y ou may r ecover by doing the following: 1. Double-click the incorrect li sting in the Device Manage r and choose Update Driver ... from the Driver tab. 2. Click Next , then Display a list of know n drivers for this device.
Main Panel Controls Xboard 17 MAIN PANEL CONTR OLS 1. Data Entry / Master V olume Slider This control is used to e n te r data value s whe n edi ti ng. W hen not being used for editing, the Data Slider funct ions as a master volume control transmitting a “Universal Real Time System Exclusi ve” message f or Master Volume .
Main Panel Controls E-MU Systems 18 5. Store P atch This button stores your keyboard set up in one of the 16 memory locations. To S t o re a Pa t c h : After pressing Store, select the desired patch n.
Main Panel Controls Xboard 19 10. MIDI Channel Select This button selects the Basi c M IDI channel for the keyboard and all cont rol s. T o Select a MIDI Channel: Press the MIDI Channe l button, then .
Controller Knobs E-MU Systems 20 CONTR OLLER KNOBS The 16 Controller Knobs are designed to modify the sound during performance. MIDI Continuous Controller messages are transmitte d whenever the knobs are turned (except when “Knob Bypass” is enabled).
Xboard 61 Panel Controls Xboard 21 X B O A RD 6 1 P A N E L C O N T RO L S 1. Patch Select / Numeric Keypad These buttons serve a number of functions: • With Program Change mode turned off, you can select a patch from 1 to 16 at any time. The LED for the current patch st ays il lum inated.
Xboard 61 Panel Controls E-MU Systems 22 4. Program Change Mode When you press this button, you swit ch between Program Change mode and Patch Select mode. The LED illumi na tes wh en in Program Change mode. • Program Change mode: allows you to send MIDI program changes to other equipment using the numerical buttons.
Back Panel Description Xboard 23 BACK PANEL DESCRIPTION 1. Footswitch / Footp edal Input This jack accepts either a footswitch or continuously varia ble footpedal. The default setting is fo r a footswitch. To use a footpedal, see page 40 . Footswitch - Accepts either a normally-ope n or normally-closed momentary footswitch.
Powering the Xboard E-MU Systems 24 POWERING THE XBOAR D The Xboard can be powered using an y of the following power sources: • USB from the host computer •6 V D C A d a p t e r (Optional - P ar t Number: 70EM779006000) • (3) AA batteries The priority of power sources is as follows: 1.
Basic Operations Xboard 25 BASIC OPERATIONS Entering Data There are several ways to enter data from the Xboard. • Data Slider - Move the slider to s el ect the dat a value. • Octave Transpose buttons - Increment a n d decrement by pressing the “+” and “-” buttons.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 26 T o Select a Patch Using Dir ect Patch Select Buttons (Xboard 61): 1. Make sure Program Change mode is off. The Program Chang e Mode button’s LED should not be lit. 2. Press one of the Direct Patc h Select buttons 1 through 16.
Basic Operations Xboard 27 T ransposing the Keyboar d The keyboard can be transposed up and down ±4 octaves by pressing the Octave Transpose buttons. The octave number appears momentarily in the display. The LED on the transpose button remains lit to remind you that the keyboard is transpos ed.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 28 T o Select 16 Channel Control Mode: 1. Press the 1 6 Channel button. The 16 Channel LED illuminates. 2. Press the button again to exit 16 Ch annel Control Mode. The LED goes off. T o Set the 16 Chan nel Contr ol Number: 1.
Basic Operations Xboard 29 Note Latch Mode This is a perform ance mo de in whic h a sel ected r ange of k eys can be set t o Latch. A latched key remains on when pressed once . Pressing the key again turns the note off. Latched notes can be useful to trig ger loops or repeatin g rhythmic patter ns without having to hold the key.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 30 T o Set the Keyboard Range of Latched Notes: 1. Low K e y Press the Edit button , illuminating the LED. 2. Press the keyboard key marked Latch Low Not e . 3. Press the keyboard key of the lowest note you want to be in Latch Mode.
Basic Operations Xboard 31 Bypass Mode When you move a controller knob on the Xboard, the position value is immedi - ately transmitted vi a MIDI. Knob Bypass disables the transmission of MIDI messages from the knobs or control pedal/footswitch.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 32 Scr olling T ext Display In Edit mode, and in some other situat ions, the 3-digit numeri c display serves double duty as a scroll ing te xt display.
Basic Operations Xboard 33 Edit Parameters These parameters are accessed via the Edit button. See “ Editing Patch and Device Settings ” on page 31 for detailed instr ucti ons about how to access the Edit mode.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 34 Send Pr ogram Change This function sends MIDI program changes to your external gear on the currently select ed Ba sic MID I chan nel . (At th e same time, it edi ts the progr am c hang e number f or the cur rent MIDI channel in the active patch.
Basic Operations Xboard 35 Bank Sel LSB This parameter allows you to select the MIDI Bank Select LSB (leas t signific ant byte) that will be used when sending program changes via the Send Prog Change, PGM Browse Mode or PGM Send On Recall features. Select a Bank Select LSB fr om 0-127.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 36 CC Send On Recall Every Xboard patch stores an initial value (posit ion) se tting for each of the 16 Controller Knobs, the Pitch Wheel, the Mod Wheel and the Footpedal. The “CC Send On Recall” setting e n able s or disa bl es transmission of these stored values when a patch is recalled.
Basic Operations Xboard 37 T ips for Use… Assuming you wish to use the “CC Send On Recall” feature with a particular patch, turn this option on while editing the controller initia l va lue set ti ngs in that patch.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 38 V elocity Curve Select This function se lects one of the eight velo city curves t o customize the feel of the keyboard. When playing a velo city-sensitive sound (such as piano), select a curve that provides the most natural response to your playing style.
Basic Operations Xboard 39 X1 and X2 Functions The X1 key accesses the X1 functions. Th ese are global function s that affect all patches. For example, if Pedal is se t t o Sus, it will remain so for all patches. • Mid - Out or Thru - When Out is selected, th e MIDI output tr ans mi ts lo cal data from the keyboard and knobs.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 40 Pedal (PEd) This function sets up the Footswitch / F ootpedal input to accept a switch or a variable pedal control input. • SuS = Sustain or footswitch input. In this mode, th e Xboard automatically senses the footswitch polarity on power up (either normally-open, or normally-closed).
Basic Operations Xboard 41 T o Calibrate a Controller Knob, Mod Wheel, or Data Entry Slider: 1. Sw eep through all po ssible values wit hout press ing harder either direction t han you normally would . As you adjust, the displ ay shows raw control val- ues, reverting to the name of the control you are adjusting.
Basic Operations E-MU Systems 42 MIDI Minimum V el ocity (UMi) This setting allows you to choose the lo west possible velocity for you r Xboard. Raising the lowest poss ible velocity keeps the shape of the velocity curve s, but in effect “crunches” t hem.
Basic Operations Xboard 43 Aftertouch Sense Level Limit Low (ALo) Select a Value between 0 and 998 (default value: 80). This sets the lower limit for the Aftertou ch s ensi n g circuit . It is thus the thr eshol d setting, which determ ines how much pressu re you have to apply in order to make the Xboard begin ending Aftertouch messages.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 44 E - M U X B O A RD C O N T RO L The E-MU Xboard Control softw are allows you to easi ly ed it and then archive Xboard patches on your P C or Mac. All the features of the Xboard are logically displayed on a single page, wh ich make s pat ch edit ing a b reeze.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 45 Zone One of four user -defin ed ra nges of keys and velocities that shar e certa in parameters such as MIDI channel, Aftertouch, Sustain pedal, etc. In essence, using multiple zones allows you to divide your keyboard int o different keyboar ds with differ ent settings.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 46 Bank View The bank view shows the set of 16 patches that is currently stored in the Xboard. Select a Patch by clicking its Name in the Bank View section. IMPORTANT: Any changes made via the Bank View are relayed immediately to the Xboard and modify the patches stored there.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 47 Device The Device field allo ws you to switch to a diff er en t Xboar d in the eve n t that you have more than one Xboard connected to y our computer. The list displays only th e Xboard devices which are connected to th e system.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 48 Changing Settings: • Knob or wheel changes can be made by moving the knob or wheel. • Numeric values can be edited by typing in the field. Storing Patches: • Pressing the St ore button immediately stores the current Patch to the Xboard.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 49 Patch Editor T ab MIDI Contr oller Knob Settings This group of 16 controls corresponds to the 16 controller knobs on the Xboard.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 50 MIDI Channel This field allows you to set the MIDI cha nnel for each knob. Th is field is “greyed out” (and unavailable) unless the “MIDI Channel Number Per Control” option is selected (see below). Normally, all the contr o ller knobs use the Basic MIDI channel.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 51 NRPN Mode For devices that support NRPN s (Non-Registered Parameter Numbers). NRPN messages can span across two controller numbers (LSB and MSB), increasing the range of potential values.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 52 16 Channel Contr ol Mode CC Number This is the continuous controller number that will be used for all 16 knobs when the 16 Channel Control mode is enabl e d. See page 27 . 16 Channel Control mode is a special performan ce mode in which all 16 knobs send one CC number on MIDI channels 1 thr ough 16.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 53 Pedal/Footswitch Settings The Control Pedal input accepts either a momentary-on footswitch or a continuously variable pedal. Like the other controll ers, an initial setting, CC number and MIDI channel can be programmed. The MIDI Channel field allows you to set the MIDI channel for the mod wheel.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 54 Send Contr oller V a lues on Patch Recall When this parame te r is set to On, the sto red ini ti al val u e (posit ion ) settings of the 16 Controller Knobs, the Pitch Wh e el, th e Mod Wheel and the Footpedal will be transmitted wh en the patch is recalled via the Xbo ard front panel.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 55 Zones T ab The Zones tab allows you to define your Zones by keyboard range and velocity range. For each of the four Zones, you can see a gr aphical representation of the keyboard and velocity ranges.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 56 As you can see in the illustration below, Zones 1 and 2 have bee n set up so they have the same velocity range, but occupy different areas of the keyboard. This type of setup is useful for playing differen t synthesizers with th e same contro ll er .
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 57 Pr e Zone When you press the Octave Transpose buttons on yo ur Xboard, the octave of the keyboard changes, but individual Zones are not transposed. This is kind of like sliding the keyboard up or down an octave , which is useful for reachi ng zone s outside the current keyboard range.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 58 Individual Zones Settings For each zone, you can define the keyboa rd and velocity range, and enable or disable Zone -specific settings. Each zone is listed hori zontally, with e ach zone’s parameters listed ve rtically.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 59 Send Mod Wheel on Zone Channel Enables or disables the Mod Wheel for ea ch zone. With this enabled, the mod wheel sends messages across the Zone’s assigned MIDI channel. Send Aftertouch on Zone Channel Enables or disables Aftertouch for each zone.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 60 Menu Items Pr eferences To access the Preferences menu on a Mac, select Pref erences from the E-MU Xboard menu. On a PC, select Pref erences from the File menu. Backups These options allo w yo u to choose the location where autom atic backups will be stored and how many backup files will be retained 1-4.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 61 Loading and Saving Loading and Saving operations are located in the File menu. Load Fr om File This option allows you to Load saved Bank Files , Pa tc h F i le s or Bot h into the Xboard Control.
E-MU Xboard Control E-MU Systems 62 Stor e This menu option stores the current Patch into the Xboard’s non-vo latile memory. This function duplicates the Store button on the Xboard Control Patch Edito r screen. Revert The Xboard Control automatically b acks up the contents of the Xboard whenever you open the editor.
E-MU Xboard Control Xboard 63 Edit Menu Restore Pitch Wheel The Pitch Wheel controller on t he Patch Ed itor can be reprogrammed to operate as a standard MIDI real-tim e controller. This opti on re stores the Pitch Wh e el controller to its normal functi on as a synthesizer pitch wheel.
Appendix E-MU Systems 64 APPENDIX MIDI Backgr ound MIDI Channels & Continuous Contr ollers MIDI continuous controllers may se em confu sing at first, but they are really very simple once you understand them. You probably already know that there are 16 MIDI channels per MIDI cable.
Appendix Xboard 65 MIDI Pr ogram Change Commands The Xboard has the ability to transm it a different MIDI Program Change command on each of the 16 MIDI channels .
Appendix E-MU Systems 66 MIDI Implementation Chart MIDI Information Tr a n s m i t t e d Recognized Remarks MIDI Channels 1-16 No 16 MIDI C hannels Note Numbers 0-127 No Program Change 0-127 No Bank S.
Appendix Xboard 67 MIDI Implementation Ch art (part 2 - Controllers) Control # Function T ransm itted Recognized Remark s 0 Bank Select MSB Ye s No See Note * 1 Mod Wheel MSB Ye s No * 2 Breath Cntl M.
Appendix E-MU Systems 68 49 Gen Pur Ctrl 2 LSB No No * 50 Gen Pur Ctrl 3 LSB No No * 51 Gen Pur Ctrl 4 LSB No No * 52 * 53 * 54 * 55 * 56 * 57 * 58 * 59 * 60 * 61 * 62 * 63 * 64 Sustain Pedal Ye s No .
Appendix Xboard 69 91 Effects 1 Depth No No * 92 Effects 2 Depth No No * 93 Effects 3 Depth No No * 94 Effects 4 Depth No No * 95 Effects 5 Depth No No * 96 Data Increment No No 97 Data Decrement No N.
Appendix E-MU Systems 70 X Board.book Page 70 Wednesday , April 12, 2006 10:44 AM.
Index Xboard 71 INDEX Numerics 16 Channel CC Number 38 16 Channel Control Mode 27 button 19 3D MIDI 20, 50 6 Volt D C Power Ja ck 23 A Active Patch 44 Activity Indicators 17 Aftertouch calibration 41,.
Index E-MU Systems 72 L Latch Mode 29 button 19 zones disabl ed 29 zones enabled 30 Load From Fil e 61 Load, bank or patch 61 Loops, triggering with the Xboard 29 Lost Communication, between Xboard an.
Index Xboard 73 T Text Display, scrolling 32 Touch Response, adj usting 38 Transpose keyboard 27 mode 56 octave 18, 27 semitone 37 Troubleshootin g 13 U Uninstalling Drivers & App 12 Update Driver.
An important point after buying a device Creative E-MU (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Creative E-MU yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Creative E-MU - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Creative E-MU you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Creative E-MU will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Creative E-MU, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Creative E-MU.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Creative E-MU. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Creative E-MU along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
