Evolution MK-249C User manual

Getting Started with your Evolution Keyboard and Software Pack
1. Installing the Software Pack
With your PC turned on, insert the Evolution Software Pack CD-ROM into your computer’s
CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM will Auto-Run. Proceed with the installation process by
following the on-screen instructions. After the installation has finished, keep the CD-ROM in
the drive.
If your CDROM does not autorun, the installation can be started by selecting Run... from the
Windows Start Menu, and entering d:\setup.exe where dis the letter of your CD-ROM drive.
2. Connecting the keyboard to your computer's USB port
If your computer has a USB socket then you can connect the keyboard using the USB cable
which is supplied. This is the cable which has the USB symbol on both ends (shown below).
With your computer turned on, plug the wide flat end (A) into the USB socket at the back of
your computer. Plug the square end (B) into the back of the keyboard.
This cable provides the keyboard with its power. Switch the keyboard on and the red LED
display will light up.
You will now be taken through the process of installing two drivers that your PC requires.
The USB driver will be installed first. When this is completed, you then repeat the process to
install the MIDI driver.
When the cable is connected an 'Add New Hardware Wizard' window will appear on your
computer screen. Make sure that the Evolution Software CD-ROM is still in your CD-ROM
drive and press the 'Next' button.
Select the recommended option: 'Search for the best driver for your device' and then press
the 'Next' button to proceed to the next window. Select the 'CD-ROM Drive' check box and
click the 'Next' button to proceed. (This is not applicable for Windows ME users)
The next window will inform you that the 'Evolution USB Driver' has been found. Click the
'Next' button to install the driver and view the final window. Click 'Finish' to complete the
installation of your USB driver.
You are now taken through an identical process to install the MIDI driver. The 'Add New
Hardware Wizard' window will appear saying 'Unknown Device'. Simply follow the same
routine as before.
These are the basic steps. If you have problems or need more detailed instructions then
there is a complete step by step guide which you can view and print out (recommended).
Simply click on Start then Programs, select Evolution then Music Creator Docs and click on
USB Driver Guide. It can also be found on our web site at www.evolution.co.uk/faqs
PLEASE NOTE: Mac users will need to download the drivers from our
web site. Go to www.evolution.co.uk/mac

3. If your computer has not got a USB port then...
Connect the keyboard to your PC’s Games/Joystick port using the MIDI to Soundcard cable
which is supplied. One end is round (B) and plugs into the back of the keyboard. The other
end (A) plugs into your computer's Games/Joystick port.
This cable provides the keyboard with its power while the computer is turned on. Switch the
keyboard on and the red LED display will light up.
4. Connecting the keyboard to a sound module or other MIDI hardware
You can connect the keyboard to a sound module or other MIDI hardware using a standard
MIDI cable (not supplied). You will also need to use a power supply unit (not supplied but
available from the Evolution web site) to power the keyboard
5. Remove the Evolution Software Pack CD-ROM from your CD-ROM
drive. Your keyboard is now set up and ready for use.
Now let's check out the features of the keyboard…
Pitchbend Wheel
This wheel bends the pitch of the sound up or down and is used to add expression to your
music.
Modulation Wheel
This wheel allows you to add different effects to your music. By default, it’s set to Modulation
but it can be assigned to a variety of other effects. The full list is available on our web site at
www.evolution.co.uk/manuals
Here are the most popular:
1 Modulation (Tremolo)
7 Volume
10 Pan position (left or right speaker)
64 Sustain (like the hold pedal on a piano)
67 Soft (like the damper pedal on a piano)
91 Reverb (makes the sound feel like it’s in a room)
93 Chorus (depth and body)
To assign the Modulation Wheel to any of these effects, press the two Wheel Assign buttons
together. The LED display will start to flash. Type in the number of the effect you want using
the numbered buttons.
If you have an MK-249C keyboard, press the two Control Select buttons together then move
the wheel. Now press the two Control Assign buttons together then type in the number of
the effect you want using the numbered buttons.

Volume Slider
This slider allows you to add different effects to your music. By default, it’s set to Volume but
it can be assigned to a variety of other effects. For the full list check our web site. The most
popular are listed on the previous page.
To assign the Volume Slider to any of these effects, press the two Slider Assign buttons
together. The LED display will start to flash. Type in the number of the effect you want using
the numbered buttons.
If you have an MK-249C keyboard, press the two Control Select buttons together then move
the slider. Now press the two Control Assign buttons together then type in the number of the
effect you want using the numbered buttons.
Program (selecting an instrument)
To select an instrument, press the Program button and the LED display will start to flash.
Now use the numbered buttons or the + and - buttons to select the instrument you want. See
appendix A.
Memory
You can assign any instrument to one of the ten numbered buttons (0-9). Once stored,
simply pressing one of the numbered keys will automatically select that particular
instrument. Select the desired instrument (explained above). Press the Memory button and
the LED display will start to flash. Now press the numbered button (0-9) you wish to assign
the instrument to.
Octave Shift
The two octave shift buttons allow you to increase the range of the keyboard. The LED
display shows the octave value.
Transpose
You can shift the pitch of the keyboard up or down by 12 semitones. Press the Transpose
button and the LED display will start to flash. Press the + or – buttons to shift the pitch up or
down. The LED display shows the transpose value.
Demo
The keyboard has a demo song which is played when the demo buttons are pressed
together. To stop the demo, press the demo buttons again.
Assignable Rotary Control Knobs (MK-249C keyboard only)
If you have an MK-249C keyboard, then the 12 rotary control knobs can also be assigned to
the variety of different effects. Press the two Control Select buttons together then move the
knob that you want to assign. Now press the two Control Assign buttons together then type
in the number of the effect you want using the numbered buttons.
Other buttons
The keyboard's other features are covered on our web site at www.evolution.co.uk/manuals
6. Setting up your soundcard
Run Sound Studio by selecting it from your Windows Start menu. Simply click on Start then
Programs then select Evolution Software Pack and click on Sound Studio. When the
software starts, you will see the Evolution Virtual Keyboard. Turn it on by clicking the red on
button.
Test the program by pressing a key towards the right side of your keyboard. If all is well the
corresponding key will turn red on the on-screen keyboard and you should also hear a
piano note. If the key turns red but you cannot hear anything then make sure your speakers
are connected properly with the volume turned up. Double-click the speaker icon on the
bottom right hand corner of your desktop and check that the Volume Control and FM
Synth/MIDI/Synth sliders are turned up and not muted.

If the key doesn't turn red on the on-screen keyboard, click 'Devices' from the 'Options'
menu in the Sound Studio software. If there is more than one MIDI Input device showing in
the Input column on the left hand side, then try selecting each of the MIDI Input drivers
individually in turn to see if they work.
If nothing is showing in the Input column on the left hand side and you are using the USB
cable then you should reinstall the USB drivers that are on the Evolution Software Pack CD-
ROM. Full instructions can be found in the USB Driver Guide. Simply click on Start then
Programs, select Evolution then Music Creator Docs and click on USB Driver Guide, or go to
www.evolution.co.uk/faqs
If you are using the Joystick cable and nothing is showing in the Input column then you
should re-install your soundcard software. Once you have done this, reboot your PC and
check in ‘Devices’ from the ‘Options’ menu in the Sound Studio software to see if you have a
MIDI IN driver listed. If you have but it doesn't work then make sure you have the most up-to-
date software drivers for your soundcard. It is worth getting in touch with your soundcard
manufacturer to ask them for the latest drivers. It is also quite common to find the updated
drivers on the manufacturers’ web site.
Another option is to go into your control panel and double-click on "Add New Hardware".
Click on Next. When it asks for automatic detection of hardware - click No. Click on Next.
Scroll down to the "Sound Video and Game Controllers” section. Click on Next. In the
manufacturers section - go to "Microsoft". Click on the "MPU401" compatible driver option
on the right hand side. Click on Next. It will now install the driver. You may need to insert
your Windows CD-ROM. Follow the instructions. Reboot your machine. Run Sound Studio
and select the MPU401 driver for input and output from the Options / Devices menu.
A more detailed trouble shooting section can be found at www.evolution.co.uk/faqs
This process of setting up your soundcard must be carried out for each software
program that's included in the Evolution Music Creator Software Pack.
Software Guides and Tutorials can be found in each program's Help Text by pressing
the F1 key.
Appendix A
Piano Bass Reed Synth Effects
0 Acoustic Grand Piano
1 Bright Acoustic Piano
2 Electric grand Piano
3 Honky Tonk Piano
4 Electric Piano 1
5 Electric Piano 2
6 Harpsichord
7 Clavinet
32 Acoustic Bass
33 Electric Fingered Bass
34 Electric Picked Bass
35 Fretless Bass
36 Slap Bass 1
37 Slap Bass 2
38 Syn Bass 1
39 Syn Bass 2
64 Soprano Sax
65 Alto Sax
66 Tenor Sax
67 Baritone Sax
68 Oboe
69 English Horn
70 Bassoon
71 Clarinet
96 SFX Rain
97 SFX Soundtrack
98 SFX Crystal
99 SFX Atmosphere
100 SFX Brightness
101 SFX Goblins
102 SFX Echoes
103 SFX Sci-fi
Chromatic Percussion Strings/Orchestra Pipe Ethnic
8 Celesta
9 Glockenspiel
10 Music Box
11 Vibraphone
12 Marimba
13 Xylophone
14 Tubular bells
15 Dulcimer
40 Violin
41 Viola
42 Cello
43 Contrabass
44 Tremolo Strings
45 Pizzicato Strings
46 Orchestral Harp
47 Timpani
72 Piccolo
73 Flute
74 Recorder
75 Pan Flute
76 Bottle Blow
77 Shakuhachi
78 Whistle
79 Ocarina
104 Sitar
105 Banjo
106 Shamisen
107 Koto
108 Kalimba
109 Bag Pipe
110 Fiddle
111 Shanai
Organ Ensemble Synth Lead Percussive
16 Drawbar Organ
17 Percussive Organ
18 Rock Organ
19 Church Organ
20 Reed Organ
21 Accordion
22 Harmonica
23 Tango Accordion
48 String Ensemble 1
49 String Ensemble 2
(Slow)
50 Syn Strings 1
51 Syn Strings 2
52 Choir Aahs
53 Voice Oohs
54 Syn Choir
55 Orchestral Hit
80 Syn Square Wave
81 Syn Sawtooth Wave
82 Syn Calliope
83 Syn Chiff
84 Syn Charang
85 Syn Voice
86 Syn Fifths Sawtooth
Wave
87 Syn Brass & Lead
112 Tinkle Bell
113 Agogo
114 Steel Drums
115 Woodblock
116 Taiko Drum
117 Melodic Tom
118 Syn Drum
119 Reverse Cymbal
Guitar Brass Synth Pad Sound Effects

24 Nylon Acoustic Guitar
25 Steel Acoustic Guitar
26 Jazz Electric Guitar
27 Clean Electric Guitar
28 Muted Electric Guitar
29 Overdrive Guitar
30 Distorted Guitar
31 Guitar Harmonics
56 Trumpet
57 Trombone
58 Tuba
59 Muted Trumpet
60 French Horn
61 Brass Section
61 Syn Brass 1
62 Syn Brass 2
88 New Age Syn Pad
89 Warm Syn Pad
90 Polysynth Syn Pad
91 Choir Syn Pad
92 Bowed Syn Pad
93 Metal Syn Pad
94 Halo Syn Pad
95 Sweep Syn Pad
120 Guitar Fret Noise
121 Breath Noise
122 Seashore
123 Bird Tweet
124 Telephone Ring
125 Helicopter
126 Applause
127 Gun Shot