How do you access the Program Change function on the Kawai Q-80?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sammy Reed
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Sammy Reed

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I recently got a Kawai Q-80 on E-Bay, and after looking through that massive manual, I finally found something that mentions a function where you can set different instrument sounds on the keyboard, called Program Change. The manual doesn't say, unless it's buried somewhere I don't know, how to get to that function. Can anyone tell me how?
 
"Program Change" or PC refers to the MIDI message that changes voices on a synth. Page 155 of the manual explains the PC numbering system but doesn't claim the Q-80 has a specific function to change the PC number from the sequencer itself. You use PC messages by changing the voice on the synth's control panel (or some other connected MIDI controller) as you play the synth while recording into the sequencer. The sequencer will record the message and send it back to the synth when you play back the MIDI track, changing the voice at the appropriate time.
 
Now that I think about it, you should be able to insert a PC message into the track or edit the number of a pre-recorded one in Event Edit Mode. Keep in mind that the Q-80 uses the zero-based MIDI PC numbering system, while a lot of (most?) synths start the voice numbers at one. So you may have to send a PC number that's one less than the number on the synth's control panel to get the right voice.
 
First of all, my keyboard (the Casio CTK-518) starts at 00.
Now, the problem is: How do I "send" numbers to change the instruments for other channels? Program Change is supposed to be under Event Edit, but I can't get to it from there.
 
Program Change is a type of MIDI message (aka "event"), not a sequencer function. If there is a PC message in the track, you should see it in the list of messages on that track. The sequencer should provide a way to scroll through the messages. If there's not a PC message in the track, you'll probably have to record one from the keyboard.
 
My keyboard is supposed to send the sequencer what "instrument" you're trying to play, but here are my problems:
I'm trying to record a little something just to try this setup out. I recorded ch. 1 with the default sound, 00, a piano sound. For ch. 2, I chose 37, "synth-str 2". On playback, I think one little time, it worked right. Since then, either the instrument I set for the channels are mixed-up (ch. 1 plays back as synth-str, and 2 is piano), or both channels is the piano, or ch. 2 doesn't play. I wonder if this Kawai might be defective now, or what?
 
... or maybe I should get new MIDI cables? Don't know if that would help, but, thought I'd ask.
 
Well, me being a "noob", I was kindof afraid to, but now that I got a vote of confidence, I might try it.
 
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