Casio MG-500 Operator's manual

Casio
MIDI Guitar
MG-500/510
Player’s
Manual ... 17
Manual del
Usuario
wae 25

Casio MIDI Guitar
MG-500/510
Piayer’s Manual
Thank you and congratulations on your choice of a CASIO
MG Series MIDI Guitar. Your new MIDI Guitar lets you
take advantage of the freedom of musical expression pro-
vided by the electric guitar, while making use of the un-
limited sound creation potential of MIDI sound sources such
as digital synthesizers. To obtain optimum performance and
assure long-term reliability, be sure to read this manual
carefully before using your new MG Series Guitar.
The Basics
Supplying Power to Your Guitar
Changing Str
Tuning ae MIDI Guitar
To tune your guitar
To adjust octave tuning
Performance
POLY /MONO Performance Modes
To select the performance mode
To perform in the POLY mode
To perform in the MONO mode
Normal and Chromatic Performance
MIDI
Mixing MIDI and Guitar Sounds
To play only MIDI sounds
To play only guitar sounds
To mix MIDI and guitar sounds
Raising/Lowering MIDI Sound Octaves
Making Program Changes
MIDI Bend Range
Adjustments
MIDI Pickup Senstevity
Neck Curvature
Machine Head Torque
Adjusting Guitar Pickup Height
Adjusting Bridge Height
Taking Care of Your MG Series MIDI Guitar
General Gulde —
An Overall View of the MID! Guitar
Specifications
Microswitches

Supplying Power
to Your Guitar
In addition to being a “normal”
electric guitar, your MG Series
guitar features MIDI circuitry
which requires electricity for
operation,
To power the MIDI guitar, you
can connect an AC
Sth ens, Whe a
3) batteries. When you're
using your guitar as a MIDI
miter bartenies or AC power
Is mOt Necessary.
If the power indicator on the
front panel seems dim when you
rum the ON, it’s probably
to ane batteries.
When batteries, be sure
co ees 6 at the same time.
is too weak, your
guitar's MIDI functions may
operate abnormally.
3 The Basics
Changing Strings
Change strings whenever they
become worn of lose their brilli-
ance (hopefully before they be-
come ¢ or rusty!). You'll
fd hie fel uti! not Hie
sound better, they're easier to
keep in tune as well (once
they've gotten past the initial
“stretching” stage). They're also
easier ths ta coll
When you've finished playing,
be sure to the strings and
frets with a _ cloth to prevent
mature cotrosion caused by
perspiration.
-— —<—E
To change strings
(DInsert the string through the
pa hole in the back of
red ok a ee
(2)With the in proper
position in te bak and
nut, insert the up of the string
— the hole in the
machine head post.
(3)"Tie" the string off firmly.
(4)Holding the string fairly
with your ight band, wind
po excess string by turning ie )
tuning knob with
the o et hand (of try using a
runing crank).
(©)Once all strings are in place,
tune and fetune as necessary
using the built-in electronic
tuner. (See page 5 for runing.)

Tuning the
MIDI Guitar
Your CASIO MIDI Guitar fea-
tures built-in electronic tuning
circuitry which makes it
stay in tune without apes
pitch pipes, external strobe tuners
of other instruments.
Also, ps0 om fraahatonig oy
lave nts at the
adjustments are made individually
for each string.
5 The Basics
To tune your guitar
(1)Select the frequency of the
standard pitch (A4).
Before actually tuning your
guitar Strings, you can use
microswitches number 8 and 9
on the back of the guitar to
s¢lect the frequency of the
standard pitch you will tune to.
This is simply a basis to work
from when you tune your guitar
— if one note is in tune you
can tune the others to it.
As with other instruments, the
MIDI guitar uses A4 as the
| standard prtch. You can specify
the frequency of A4 by ruming
' the mocroswitches ON or OFF
according to the chart shown on
the nght.
| @Tune each string by using
the tuning indicators
| Notice that there are two arrows
which light up when you play
an open string on the guitar.
These are the tuning indicators.
One is marked “ #" =
that the
played + ohn Fay
marked “b” indicating that the
open string being played is flat.
When these indicators light
simultaneously, the string is in
tune (within +3 cents).
— = =
The sucrosettches ana’ MIDI sen-
p pilus of
witar are protected by 6
ne ner These contol ae
ap of Drecumon élecironic
components which may be
pen gh ‘exposed to state elec-
| reign elements, 50 be
sure to rep the rubber covers
"Hy
ee
ae wa nadie gg hal ry ae
ad "b" Pag" tadeoton wal sph spb.
espe pa
ing it open or at the octave (12
might find it best to tune each
string open first, then check the
ae at the 12th fret and make
any necessary fine adjustment.
(3)Tune
the
MIDI
sound
source
to
the
MG
Series
guitar.
In order to play tocally “ in
tune, MIDI sound source
should | epee
guitar. You might also try to de-
tune one or the other for some
interesting effects
To adjust octave tuning
© Play the string open and then
be che seatie EE
@lf the pitch is slight
at the 12th fret, um the
responding b lider ack
screw slip hely to the ke (A).
and check open/octave tuning
—@ If the pitch is slightly flat at
tie ech et, turn the corres-
ge bridge adjustment
gn ° the ange "
[t's emportant to mote that each
time a string's pitch w raued 550
fret). For increased accuracy, you | cents over us standard fuming, the
tuner automatically “shifts” mio
the next octave.
Because of thu, if a string us al
ready sharp (when the “#" inal-
cator i lit) and you continue to
rage itt tuning, the “b” tmadicator
will ight @ ‘the "4" indicator
tail cool Thu ws because you
have exceeded the 550 cemt limit
and the tuner is indicating tuning
for the mext octave up.
The Basics «6

POLY/MONO
Performance
The MIDI guitar is capable of
MIDI performances in either
POLY ot MONO modes. In the
POLY mode, all six str
be used to contro! the same MIDI |
tumbre. In the MONO mode, it
?
i to assign each string a
itferent sound source,
Performance
To select the perfor-
mance mode
(Switch the MIDI/Guitar Selec-| @& (fi) # GUITAR
tor to the “MIDI” position. ((A)) @) pa & MIDI
(2)Turn microswitch number 1
ON or OFF, according to the
| chart. ((B))
To perform in the
POLY mode
In the POLY mode, all 6 strings MODE
MODE
POLY (MODE 3*
control the same MIDI timbre.
(Set the guitar to the POLY ON MONO (MODE 4
mode
(see
chart
®).
*See
MIDI
Implementation
Chart.
(2)Make sure that the MIDI
sound source is set to the same
MIDI receive channel as the MIDI
transmit channel of the guitar
(see chart (C)).
(3)Align MIDI bend range of
guitar and sound source (see
page 13).
> {MIDI guitar MIDI Tra
POLY mode | MONG mode | guy
SW] = OFF 2] = ON
oe
s
4
=]
&
Pe S
p=}
: = |= |
re)
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To perform in the
MONO mode
In the MONO mode, each string |
(D)Set the guitar to the MONO
mode (see page 7 chart (B)).
(2)Make sure that the MIDI
transmit channel numbers of each
ing correspond to the MIDI
pas channels of sound
source(s).
(3)Align MIDI bend range of
guitar and sound sources (see
page 13).
can be used to control a different
| MIDI timbre.
TRANSMIT CHANNELS
IN THE MONO MODE
String
1 Basic channel
Basic channel
Basic channel
Basic channel
Basic channel
Basic channel
In the MONO mode, MAIN
_ (MIDI) VOLUME, PROGRAM
CHANGE and BEND RANGE
(a. CASIO exclusive) er are
transmitted for all strimgs. Be-
cause of this, bending of multiple
strings is possble.
(Example)
Using the MIDI guitar to control
6 sowna sowrces (or MIDI
fumbres),
ist = ch) —® cht ||
2ad = eh? —# ch? |
»— Aad & ch} —® ch3 |
ae
dich = chd —# cha
sino as
6th =chh ——#! cho |
mma CLIT} aT Pa)
If you're using a sownd source
soy as the Cano CZ-1 of
CZ-5000 which is capable of
recering MIDI MONO mode
messages, you can control up to
6 soices ical a single unit
(providing the sound source fea-
tures G sound source channels).
Performances

Normal and
Chromatic
Performance
Using the NORMAL/CHROMAT-
IC/PROGRAM CHANGE selec-
tor, you can select from either the
NORMAL performance mode or
— CHROMATIC performance
In the normal position, you can
bend the notes of MIDI sounds
in the same way that you bend
normal guitar sounds. In the
chromatic position, MIDI sounds
bend only chromatically — in
half tone increments.
Another interesting feature of
chromatic gamers is ail it
can aid yOu in stayin
when playing only DI om 5
Since all MIDI sound notes are
sensed iio in this
mode, notes On strings
which we sig i otf ae
att nar SF
Naturally, the chromatic setting
only effects MIDI sounds — gui-
tar sounds are output just as the
sale eae teed i all coal
9 Performance
NORM AL
CHROMATIC
PROGRAM
[ CHANGE
In the POLY mode, normal
ome string at a time. If you at-
MIDI bend is only possible on
_ fempt to bend two or more
sings at once, MIDI ra
bend only chromatrcall
Mixing MIDi and
Guitar Sounds
By using the MIDI/ Guitar selec-
ror, you can mix both MIDI and
Guitar sounds, or play erther
sound independently.
With some MIDI umbres, you
may find it useful to mux in the
Guitar sound to pick up the tni-
tial string attack, which is a bit
delayed when ourput only as a
MIDI sound. Or you may want to
play straight guitar in some cases,
or even straight MIDI sounds.
By experimenting with vanous
MIDI timbres and mixes, you'll
be able to create a wide range of
unique sounds and ettects.
| To play only MIDI |
® Move the MIDI! Guitar selector
into the MIDI position.
You can control the overall
volume of the MIDI sound(s) by
using the MIDI volume control.
Note, however, that this only
SGUITAR
® GUITAR & MID!
*MIDI
| works with MIDI instruments or
_ devices which are capable of
receiving MIDI Control Change
message number 7 (see MIDI s
plementation Chart).
If you're performing in the
MONO mode, with more than
one MIDI umbre, you can control
| the relanve volumes of all vouces
by adjustin = peor pa volume |
at ifr MIDI sound source(s).
To play only guitar
sounds
® Move the MIDI/ Guitar selector
| into the Guitar position.
| You can control the overall
oe and tone te the Guitar
sound(s) guitar
volume Ba! pe pot tt If the
MIDI/ Guitar selector is switched
to the Guitar position, the MIDI
sound is cut off (a MIDI NOTE
| OFF message is sent).
To mix MIDI and guitar
sounds
© Move the MIDI! Guitar selector
toto the GUITAR & MIDI
position.
You can mex the relative volumes|
of the Guitar and MIDI sounds
by using the guitar and MIDI
yolume controls,
MIDI 10

Raising/Lowering
MIDI Sound
Octaves
By
using
the
octave
selector,
you
can
raise
ot
lower
the
octave
of
MIDI
sound
output.
Making Program
Changes
MG
Series
guitars
let
you
make
“remote”
selection
of
MIDI
voices. You can change the select-
ed MIDI program (vowe) number
from the guitar — without hav-
ing to use controls on the MIDI
sound source.
1 ©6©.MIDI
To raise or lower MIDI
octave
®In the NORMAL position,
MIDI sounds are output in the
same octave as the guitar sound
(corresponding to normal note
numbers).
®To raise MIDI sound pitch by
one full octave, move the selector
to the UP position. |
: The octave selector setting o ‘A
@To lower MIDI sound pitch by | relates to MIDI sounds, anal ba:
one full octave, move the selector) so effect om matural gutter
to the DOWN position. | sonny,
To make program
changes
bie
@
Move
the
Normal/Chroma-
|
SS,
plate
ic/Program Change selector into | = (/ (py) #ehROMATiC
the PROGRAM CHANGE Se! loaner
ear
ei
CHANGE
position.
(CA))
Cr
Before making a program change,
check to make sure that the pro-
gram change indicator is flachin hing.
any strings are still vibrating,
the Program Change indicator
will not flash. Mute the strings so
that the indicator flashes.
@ With the Program Change in-
dicator flashing, finger and play
the note corresponding to the
MIDI Program Number you want)
to select. The indicator lights
solid momentarily during Pro-
y
| as shown in the chart shown
If you want to change the select-
ed program number again, mute
the strings so that the indicator
flashes and then play another
note corresponding to the pro-
| gram number you want to select. |
@Return the selector to the
NORMAL or CHROMATIC posi-
tion for performance.
Program Change numbers are as- | Program mwmber astgnments
signed
to
vatious
strings
and
frets|
showm
an
the
below
chart
(B)
are
only applicable when standard
below. (Cy) | guitar tuning U wed
(E-A-D-G-B-E).
If string bends are made white
making program changes the
Program Change mumnber 1
shifted as mae
It's important to note that MIDI |
Program Change numbers are not
synonymous with “vowe” of
‘pe
fam"
numbers
on
your
|
MID
_ the
a
Mf sound source. Naturally, |
ay ae of voice numbenng
ystem for individual instruments |
are different.
MIDI 12

The chart listed below ((C) shows
an example of the relationship
between Program Change oum-
bers and voice caambtn when us- |
ing the CASIO CZ-1 Digital =
Synthesizer as a sound source.
When using other MIDI sound
sources, refer to the MIDI im-
plementation chart which was
supplied with the instrument (ot
device).
Example
| AcL Brass 1
| Bl Aco. Guitar
C-3 Cello
H-8 Typhoon
MIDI Bend Range
By shoe. rally bend range, you
how far wp you can
bend a MIDI sound note when
the NORMAL/ CHROMATIC |
switch is set to “NORMAL.”
Four different settings are posst
ble, using microswitches 6 oa 1.
(*Units: half-tones)
| hen the NORMAL/ CHRO.
| MATIC switch us set to “CHRO-
MATIC” MIDI moter bend
3 MIDI
MIDI Pickup
Sensitivity
In some cases, you'll want to ad-
just the sensitivity of the MIDI
pickup, for individual strings.
en increased, NOTE ON mes-
capes are sent with only a light
touch, as are maximum velocity
Opposite 1s true.
For example, eet in string
gauge of string height may cause
an imbalance in MIDI sound
characteristics.
A certain stting of strings may
stand out, while others seem too
weak or don’t sound at the same
ume. These problems can be
solved by increasing or decreasing
MIDI pickup sensitivity.
In some cases, if you us¢ sound
sources which feature MIDI
Touch Sensitivity you may need
to decrease MIDI pickup sensitivi- |
ty for best results.
sensitivity
(D)Remove the rubber cover pro-
tecting the sensitivity adjustment |
screws on the back of the guitar. |
(2)To increase MIDI pickup sensi-
tivity for a certain strung, turn the
re gy adjustment screw t
(@)
wae
| @To decrease MIDI pickup sensi-) |
wi for a ceftain string, turn the’
adjustment screw t
the right. 6)
These adjustments are delicate.
| Do not turn the microswitches
more than 100° (about a quarter
| fern) in eacd atrecton.
Do mot use excenive force when
F
bing
MIDI
pickup
ner
adjustments.
PY,
®)
Sensitivity
Adjustments 14

Neck Curvature To adjust neck
_ curvature
Your
guitar
features
an
(With
the
guitar
in
normal
adjustable
bolt-on
neck,
and
a
tuning,
hold
down
a
string
at
custom
wrench
(large)
is
both
the
Ist
and
22nd
frets
provided
so
you
can
make
your
|
(simultaneously).
own
adjustments
of
neck
(2)While pressing down the
|
:
string
at
both
frets,
slide
a
These
adjustments
can
be
rather
|
playing
card
under
the
strings
at
delicate,
and
are
best
left
to
the
12th
fret.
per ah bate service shop,
necessary,
you
can
You
should
be
able
to
move
the
make
eauen
according
to
card
freely
in
and
out,
without
it
the
basic
mules
and
procedures
touching
either
the
frets
or
string.)
that
follows.
however
if
the
distance
between
|
the
string
and
fretboard
i
over
0.$mm,
adjust
neck
curvature
by
tuming
the
adjusting
nut
clockwise
(toward
the
th
string).
If the ying card does not slide.
ali § sito the string and fret,
ens the adjusting nut by
os it counterclockwise
curvature (if necessary).
is Adjustments
Machine Head
Torque
By adjusting the torque of the
machine head, you can prevent
strings from becoming detuned
(to some extent).
Adjusting Guitar
Pickup Height
By adjusting pickup height, you
can make delicane eed: in
sound characteristics. When the
pickup 1 is brought closer to the
strings (raised), the sound be-
comes fuller, while when the
pickup j is lowered the sound be-
comes thinner and sharper.
Adjusting Bridge
Height
Depending on the gauge of
strings you will be cae the
style of music and the type of
sound you want to obtain, you'll
robably want to adjust string
bight (distance from the fret-
board and pickups), by raising of
— the bridge for each
string. A special ae (small) is
provided for this purpose.
| To adjust machine head |
torque
© Using a Philips screwdriver,
es a loosen the screw hold-
knob.
Turn
to
——
=
4
-
ihe
left
i)
to
j
baorg
porque
and
feap’
to
the
ey
(A)
to
tighten
|
ed
2)
:
torque. | A
|
To adjust pickup
_ height
of the pickups) to lower or raise
| came with your guitar, raise of
@ Turn the screws at both sides |
the pickup.
As a basic rule, the surface of the|
pickups should be between 2 and
3mm
from
the
strings
when
the
_
strings
are
held
down
at
the
22nd
Strings
(top) fret.
To adjust bridge |
height
|
@ Using the small wrench which
_ lower bridge height as shown in |
the diagram on the nght.
Adjustments 16

Taking Care of
Your MG Series
MIDI Guitar
® Avoid extremes of temperature, excessive humidity and direct
sunlight.
© Your guitar fearures precision electronic components. Any modifi-
cation A of tampering with internal components can be the cause
of malfunctions ot damage.
@Do not use alcohol, thinner or similar chemicals for cleaning.
| ©To preserve the life of strings and frets, always wipe your guitar
with a clean, dry cloth after each use.
@ When transporting your MIDI guitar, always put it in a hard or
soft case for protection. It's also a good idea to remove the tremolo
arm and strings when transporting your instrument for long
distances.
@ Always replace the rubber covers on the rear of your guitar after
making sensitivity of microswitch adjustments.
i7 Taking Care of Your MG Series MIDI Guitar
General Guide — An Overall View of the MIDI guitar
Model:
MG-500
Fret
Finger Board
_— ————— = —
Rear
Pickup
Switch
)
(humbucking/single
coll)
———
MIDI Pickup ———_—
Geeta Guide — Aur Cireiall View/of the MIDE Guitat 15

# Control Section
5-way pickup selector
MIDI volume control
Tone control
Power indicator
Guitar/MIDI selector
i
_ te - Fumio |
fe ety: ie
Sineghe
ee
oz
Rear pickup switch (humbucking/single coil)
Tuning indicator (#!>)
Volume control
Octave selector
Normal/Chromatic/Program
Change
selector
Program Change indicator
= Connections
Lan (eT
Guitar out jack
Power switch
MIDI OUT terminal
AC adaptor jack
19 General Guide — An Overall View of the MIDI Guitar
=Back panels
Battery case cover
Microswitches (1-9)
Sensitivity control
General Guide — An Overall View of the MIDI Guitar 20

Specifications
Body
Neck
Fingerboard
Pickups
Tremolo unit
Guitar controls
MID! controls
MID) OUT messages
Electronic tuner
Inputs/outputs
Power
Dimensions/weight
Standard
Optional accessories
21 Specifications
Basswood
Maple
Rosewood, 22 frets
Single coil (PS-581A) x 2
Humbucking (PH-641A) x 1
Synchronized
Volume, tone, 5-position pickup selector, rear
pickup switch
MIDI volume, normal/chromatic selector, octave
selector, guitar/MIDI selector, mictoswitches (1—9)
Program change (0O—95), basic channel (I—16), mode
3 (poly)/mode 4 (mono), velocity, pitch bend
ning indicators (#/>), standard pitch
sel le berween A4 = 440/441/442/443 Hz
Guitar out, MIDI out, DC 9V
6 AA (SUM-3) battenes or AC adaptor (AD-5,
optional)
Consumption: 0.47 W
1044 x 304 » 67 mm © 3.5 ke (MG-500)
(41"/e" x 12°/8" x 2*/8")
955 x 322 x 67 mm ® 3.7 kg (MG-510)
(37°/a" *12°%/a" x 27/5")
Batteries, MIDI cable, guitar cord, tremolo arm,
large & small wrench
Soft case (SC-75G, for both models)
hard case (HC-50G for MG-500/HC-51G
for MG-510), AC adaptor (AD-5)
*Specifications subject to change without notice.
Microswitches
O= OFF @=ON
POLY
mode
MONO
mode*
Sw
sw
5W
1
=
OFF
SW1=ON
CC)
—,
—
—
* In the MONO mode (BASIC CHANNEL = n)
Ist
string
=n,
2nd
string
=n+1,
3d
string=n+2,
4th
string=n+3,
Sth
string=n+4,
6th string =n +5
wa ms ee
WMS ees ee
Oe Mt te Oe ee ee |
ee ae ee a
Microswitches 22