Amptone Lab XY MIDIpad User manual

www.amptonelab.com

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CONTENTS:
I. Information 3
II. The kit 3
III. Installation 4
IV. How to use it 7
1. Launching 7
2. Sending messages 7
3. Hold mode 7
4. hanging programs 7
5. hanging the MIDI channel 8
6. onnecting other devices 8
V. Devices and MIDI data 9
1. KORG Kaoss Pad 2 9
2. KORG Kaoss Pad 3 10
3. DigiTech Whammy 4 10
4. MIDI instrument/synthesizer 10
VI. Technical support 11

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I. INFORMATION
XY MIDIpad is a MIDI controller based on the touch screen
mounted in guitar body. Every MIDI device is assigned to
different channel (Kaoss Pad – 1, Whammy – 2, synth – 3).
XY MIDIpad sends two MIDI messages: X and Y positions.
The user can also change the programs of an active device.
XY MIDIpad is equipped with the LED able to display any
colour from RGB mode. It provides attractive visual effect
while moving your finger on the touch screen (depending
on the finger position and its speed) and informs on the
active MIDI channel.
II. THE KIT
- microcontroller
Microcontroller is the core of the XY MIDIpad system. It
processes the information from touch screen, button and
encoder and converts it into MIDI messages. It also
controls the LED. Two screws are included, allowing the
user to mount the enclosure inside the guitar body.
- touch screen
It’s the main element of XY MIDIpad. Finger position
points two messages which are sent to a MIDI device (X
and Y positions).
- hold button
It enables to send MIDI information on finger positioning
permanently. Thanks to that, the user can focus on
playing guitar, while the MIDI messages are being sent.
The button is surrounded by a diode which indicates
whether the hold function is active or not.
- encoder
It allows the user to change the program of currently
active device. It is also used to change the channel.
hanging the channels is quick and simple and the
controller easily works onstage when you need to control

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many devices. To change the channel, you need to press
the encoder.
- MI I socket
It is used to connect XY MIDIpad controller to the
controlled device. Two mounting screws are included.
- on/off switch
This switch is used to turn the controller on and off.
- 9V battery
The XY MIDIpad system is powered by a standard 9V
battery.
- frame
It is used for mounting the touch screen in the guitar. It is
mounted on the body with four screws, thanks to which
touch screen is stabile.
- surface diffusing diodes light
It’s a plastic surface mounted beneath the touch screen.
Thanks to it the LED light diffuse all over the touch screen
surface.
III. INSTALLATION
IMPORTANT:
XY MIDIpad installation requires significant
woodworking or guitar making knowledge and having
appropriate tools. AmpTone Lab cannot be held
responsible for any damage to a guitar caused by
incorrect kit installation or incomplete preparation. It is
highly recommended to have the professional luthier or
repair/custom shop install it for you.

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Use a milling machine to mill out two cavities. First one's
measurements are 112mm x 93.5mm and 2mm depth,
while the second one's are 103mm x 84mm and minimal
depth of 16mm. Detailed draft can be found on the next
page (you can also download it at
www.amptonelab.com/files/XY_MIDIpad_cavity.pdf).
After milling, drill holes for each element of the controller –
button, encoder, MIDI socket and on/off switch. These
elements can be placed anywhere on the guitar body.
The next step is mounting the microcontroller inside the
guitar under the touch screen using two screws from the
kit. The microcontroller has to be placed so the LED is in
the middle of the touch screen and the cables coming from
the microcontroller are turned in opposite direction to your
guitar potentiometers.
Then you can mount button, encoder, on/off switch and
MIDI socket (using two included screws).
After mounting all elements you need to connect their
cables to the microcontroller. Then attach touch screen
ribbon to the connector on the microcontroller, with white
rectangle on the ribbon pointed downwards. Place the
white plastic surface beneath the touch screen.
You can now begin mounting the touch screen frame. Drill
four holes for the screws and mount the frame. Then put
the battery into the clip – XY MIDIpad is now ready to use.

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IV. HOW TO USE IT
1. Launching
After launching the controller the LED changes colours in
quick series until it’s fully dim. Launching phase lasts for
approx. 1 second, which is then followed by red LED blink.
The amount of LED blinks indicates the chosen channel.
Simultaneously the hold button diode is lit. After the user
is informed on chosen channel, the XY MIDIpad goes to
standby mode during which colours smoothly change into
blue, red and green.
2. Sending messages
To send MIDI message, you need to move the finger (or a
guitar pick) on the touch screen. While touching the touch
screen, two MIDI messages are sent – the X and Y
positions. Specification of the messages depends on the
chosen MIDI channel. While moving the finger on the
touch screen, LED blinks depending on the speed of the
finger. After taking the finger away from the touch screen,
XY MIDIpad sends two value 0 MIDI messages and goes to
standby mode.
3. Hold mode
If hold button is pressed, XY MIDIpad goes to hold mode.
MIDI messages are sent normally but when you take the
finger away, XY MIDIpad does not send a message with
value 0. If the hold button is pressed while finger is not
touching the screen, XY MIDIpad will send the messages
with values 63, 63 (as if your finger was touching the
centre of the screen). Hold button is surrounded by the
LED which indicates whether the hold is active or not.
4. Changing programs
In order to change the program, you need to twist the
encoder. The controlled device will display currently active
MIDI program. Every program change is indicated to the
user with green LED blink.

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5. Changing the MI I channel
User needs to change the channel in order to change the
controlled device. Every channel has different set of
messages assigned. To change the channel, you need to
press the encoder. XY MIDIpad will change the channel
(+1). After reaching the last channel (3), XY MIDIpad goes
back to the first one. On every channel change, red LED
blinks as many times as the number of chosen MIDI
channel (once for Kaoss Pad, twice for Whammy and three
times for synth).
6. Connecting other devices
For a direct connection between XY MIDIpad and the
controlled device, you need to use a MIDI cable (DIN5).
You need to plug one MIDI jack into the XY MIDIpad MIDI
socket (mounted in your guitar) and the other jack to a
controlled device, usually named MIDI IN or MIDI INPUT.
In order to connect more than one device, you need to be
equipped with a MIDI-thru device. It is recommended to
use AmpTone Lab's MIDI thru box (see MIDI Splitter in
Products section at www.amptonelab.com).

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V. EVICES AN MI I ATA
XY MIDIpad works KORG Kaoss Pad 2 and 3, DigiTech
Whammy 4 and any MIDI instrument/synthesizer.
Transmitted MIDI messages chart:
Ch.
Device
X
-
axis
Y
-
axis
Touching
the
screen
Taking
finger away
from the
screen
Enco er
1
KORG Kaoss
Pa 2/3
CC12
0-127
CC13
0-127
CC92
127
CC92
0
Program
change
0-127
2
DigiTech
Whammy 4
CC11
0-127
CC10
0-127
CC0
127
CC0
0
Program
change
17-33
(bypass)
3
synth/MIDI
instrument
All Notes
Off,
NoteOn/
NoteOff
49-60 (C#3-
C4)
-
-
All Notes
Off
Program
change
0-127
1. KORG Kaoss Pad 2
XY MIDIpad uses standard settings of the Kaoss Pad. If
your device hadn’t had its settings changed, you don’t need
to follow these instructions.
To configure KORG KP2, you need to go to MIDI Edit
mode. Hold TAP/BPM and RE /STOP for 2 seconds. L D
will show the number from 1-16 range which stands for
the channel. Using PROGRAM/BPM knob, select the 1
st
channel. Make sure buttons 4, 5, 6 and HOLD are lit with
red LED. If one of them isn’t lit, you need to press it. You
also need to make sure that while pressing button 4, the
L D will show number 12, for button 5 – 13, for button 6
– 92. If the displayed number for one of these buttons is
incorrect, you need to change it using the PROGRAM/BPM
knob while pressing the chosen button. To save the
settings, hold the RE /STOP button for approx. 2

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seconds. Kaoss Pad will quit the MIDI Edit mode few
seconds after saving the settings.
Note Kaoss Pad 2 has 100 programs, whilst the Kaoss Pad
3 has 128 programs. Because of this, it is possible to
overshoot the program control. If KP2 no longer responds to
the Program Change message, keep turning the encoder
until it starts changing the programs again.
2. KORG Kaoss Pad 3
XY MIDIpad uses standard settings of the Kaoss Pad. If
your device hadn’t had its settings changed you don’t need
to follow these instructions.
Hold the SHIFT button and press 5 (MESSAGE). Using the
PROGRAM/BPM knob, choose GL. h and press the
PROGRAM/BPM knob. The currently chosen channel will
be displayed. Using the PROGRAM/BPM knob, choose
channel 1. Press TAP/RANGE. Using the PROGRAM/BPM
knob choose Pad X and assign number 12 to it. Do the
same thing for Pad Y and PAD touch (assign 13 and 92).
Press TAP/RANGE. Finish the operation by pressing
WRITE.
3. igiTech Whammy 4
Whammy must be set to receive messages on the 2
nd
channel. To do so, first disconnect the power from the
Whammy pedal. Then press and hold the footswitch while
reconnecting the power. One of the Preset LEDs will begin
to flash indicating the currently selected MIDI channel.
Rotate the knob to select Deep preset from Detune group
which stands for the 2
nd
channel. Press the footswitch
again to exit the MIDI set up menu and apply the change.
4. MI I instrument/synthesizer
If you want to use XY MIDIpad with MIDI instrument, you
need to set it to receive messages on the 3
rd
channel. In
order to find out how to do it, you need to read the manual
attached to the device or, in case of software instrument,
read the application/plugin documentation.

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VI. TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you have any problems with XY MIDIpad, please visit
www.amptonelab.com.
If you can’t find solutions to your problems, please write at
[e-mail].

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www.amptonelab.com