Kawai Digital Drum Machine R-50 User manual

KAWAI
DIGITAL DRUM MACHINE o
R'S MANUAL

INTRODUCTION
FEATURES
Thank you for purchasing the Kawai R-50 Digital Drum
Machine! While the R-50 is easy to operate, this Owner's
Manual contains valuable information to help you get the
most from your new instrument We recommend that you
read it carefully and keep it handy for future reference.
PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY PCM SOUNDS
The R-50's 24 separate drum and percussion sounds have
all been recorded in the professional 12-bit PCM with a
sampling rate of 32k. The sound quality is suitable for any
recording situation, including Compact Disk.
EASY TO USE
Getting around on the the R-50 is straight-forward and
intuitive. It even comes with 50 preset rhythm patterns
and 4preset pad set-ups to get you started.
PROGRAMMABLE DRUM KITS
The R-50 provides for 8user-defined pad set-ups. Each
pad can be assigned adrum, tuning, pan, accent, level,
delay, gate and flange.
PROGRAMMABLE TRIGGERS
Eight triggers can be incorporated into drum patterns to
fire external MIDI devices.
FLEXIBLE OUTPUT
Stereo and mono outputs are fed by the stereo pan control
on each drum. Asound can also be assigned to the
individual output on the rear panel.
COMPLETE CAPABILITIES
50 user-defined rhythm patterns with step or real-time
recording and editing. Build songs with sophisticated
features like insert, delete, and mulitply. 10 songs can
be linked together to make performances smoother.
FULL MIDI IMPLIMENTATION
The R-50's MIDI features let you record patterns from
external sources such as keyboards and drum pads. The
internal sounds can also be triggered by external devices
such as sequencers. MIDI clock in and out includes Song
Pointer for synchronization with sequencers, drum
machines and tape. The system-exclusive implimentation
also enables remote operation and MIDI Data Dumps to
another R-50 or MIDI data storage device.
POLYPHONIC
Sounds are dynamically assigned to the R-50's eight
voices. Sounds can be replayed without cutting off the
decay of the original sound.
Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual •Text: Jeff Burger •Design: Interlace •ei 987 Kawai Musical Inst. Mfg. Co., Ltd. •All Rights Reserved •Printed in Japan

1.TABLE OF CONTENTS
LTABLE OFCONTENTS 1
ZCARE AND MAINTENANCE 5
iCONTRQIS 4
FRONT PANEL 4
R-50 PRESET RHYTHMS 4
REAR PANEL 5
4, OVERVIEW $
SOUNDS 6
Pads 6
GETTING AROUND 6
Cursor Keys 6
Volume 6
&WORKING WITH DRUM KITS Z
CHANGING USER SETTINGS 7
CHANGING DRUMS 7
Level 7
Accent 8
Tuning 8
Pan 8
Gate 8
Delay 9
Flange 9
MIXER 10
Level 10
Manual Pan 10
Pan 10
£. PLAYING RHYTHM PATTERNS JJ.
TEMPO 12
Tap Tempo 12
LRECORDING RHYTHM PATTERNS JL2
REAL TIME RECORDING 13
Number of Bars 13
Time Signature 13
Error Correct 13
Metronome 13
Recording 14
STEP RECORDING 15
Number of Bars 15
Time Signature 15
Recording 15
&EDITING RHYTHM PATTERNS
OVERDUB RECORDING
Overdubbing Preset Patterns
ERASING
Erasing aPattern
Erasing an Instrument
Erasing aBar
Erasing aNote
Erasing All Memory
SWING
COPYING PATTERNS
9, SONGS
BUILDING SONGS
Song Tempo
Song Construction
Building Tools-
Insert, Delete, and Multiply
Linking Songs
PLAYING SONGS
Start at aDesignated Section
Bar Count
ERASING SONGS
Erase All Songs
10. MIDI
MIDI SYNC
MIDI IN
Omni Mode
Receive Channel
Key Info
Velocity
Volume
Program Changes
Start/Stop
MIDI Note Assignments
Initial Reset
MIDI OUT
Poly/Mono Mode
Send Channel
Inst Info
Trigger Info
Velocity
Program Change
Stop/Start
MIDI Note Assignments
Note Trigger
MIDI SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE
Transmit
Receive
M
17
17
17
17
17
18
18
18
19
20
21
21
21
21
22
23
24
24
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
27
27
28
28
28
28
29
29
30
30
30
30
31
31
31
31
32
32
33
33
34
Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual •Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
LL ASSIGN 21
ASSIGN VOICE 37
Assign Hi-Hat 37
Assign Crash 38
ASSIGN OUTPUT 38
ASSIGN FOOTSWITCH 39
Footswitch Functions 39
12. CASSETTE STORAGE 4Q
CASSETTE SAVE 40
CASSETTE VERIFY 41
CASSETTE LOAD 41
13. MEMORY MANAGEMENT 42
CHECKING AVAILABLE MEMORY 42
ERASING ALL OF MEMORY 42
14. R-50 PAD SETTING CHART 43.
15. MIDI NOTE ASSIGNMENTS 45
16. MIDI DATA FORMAT 4£
17. MIDI IMPLEMENTATION 47
18. SPECIFICATIONS 4fi
19. R-50 PRESET PATTERNS 42
Page 2•Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual

2. CARE AND MAINTENANCE
PROTECT YOUR R-50 FROM:
•Direct sunlight and exposure to the elements
•Temperature and humidity extremes
•Unstable or "noisy" AC power
•Dust and sand
•Vibration during transport
POWER SUPPLY
•Use only the 12-volt power supply included with your R-
50. Other power supplies may damage the unit.
•Make sure that all power switches are off before
changing equipment connections
CLEANING
•Clean the instrument with asoft cloth, amild detergent
and lukewarm water.
•Never use harsh or abrasive cleansers or organic
solvents.
HELPFUL HINTS
•BATTERY BACK-UP
The lithium battery that preserves memory contents while
the power supply is off is good for more than five years of
normal use. We recommend however, that you have your
nearest authorized service representative replace it after 5
years have passed.
•LINE NOISE RESET
In the unlikely event of a"lock-up" due to line
interference, simply turn the R-50 off for afew seconds
and then turn it back on.
•REPAIRS
The R-50 should only be service by an authorized Kawai
repair stauon. Always save your valuable internal data to a
cassette tape or MIDI before taking the drum machine in
for service, as the data may be erased during repair.
Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual •Page 3

3. CONTROLS
FRONT PANEL
COMMAND KEYS
KAWAI
DIGITAL DRMMACHINE
LCD DISPLAY
-J*J>V J>f J><&
,
CftlL PATTERN
I
CALL SOHO
REfiL\MCRCC STEPREC SHIHG
MIDI
-IHSERT-
3C
PAD 1PAD 2PAD 3
ACCENT KEY
ERASE KEY
DRUM PADS (1-10)
FlSSIGH
-DELETE-
PAD 4
COPY
SflVE/LOliO
-MULTIPLY
PAD 5
PAD 6PAD? /ADS PAD 9PAD 10
VOLUME CONTROL
VOLUME
MIXERJ
OUHT TfiF
:EHT/REP
START STOPi'CONT
CURSOR KEYS
START /STOP KEYS
SYSTEM CONTROL KEYS
R-50 PRESET PATTERNS
(PATTERNS 50-99)
123 4 56789
8 Beat 1
50
8Beat 28Beat 3 8Beat
Fill In 1
8Beat
Fill In 2
Elec. 8 Beat
Turbo 2
8Beat
Break
16 Beat 1
Electric 8
Bead Electric 8
Beat 2
16 Beat 3
Elec 8 Beat
Fill In 1
Elec 8Beat
Fill In 2
16 Beat
Fill In 2
Disco 2
-I
Bossa Nova
3
Drum
March
Elec. 8Beat
Fill In 3
160
Elec. 8Beat
Fill In 4
Elec. 8Beat
Fill In 5
Elec. 8Beat
Turbo 1
16 Beat 216 Beat
Fill In 1
16 Beat
Fill In 3
70
Bounce 1Bounce 1
Fill In
Bounce 2Bounce 2
Fill In
Waltz 1
Samba 5
Rock
Shuffle 1
Waltz 2
(3/4)
Samba
Break
Rock
Shuffle 2
Waltz 3
Rock
Shuffle Fill
Bossa Nova
1
Disco 1
Bossa Nova
2
March
i
Slow Rock
80
Slow Rock
Fill In
Swing 1Swing 2
Samba 4
Samba 1
90
Samba 2Samba 3Reggae Reggae
Fill In !
i
i
Page 4•Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual

REAR PANEL
-'' Df2JNFHCHES RL<r1DM0> INDIU fl-FCOf-B rTPPEn OUT-MIDI-IN
OH OFF /"^^N S*°-\
©©©Q) ©©©©--^ ^*
•POWER -Main AC power ON/OFF switch
IX IN -Connection for 12V 500mA power supply.
•OUTPUTS
The R-50 does not include apower amp or speaker.
To hear the instrument you must use headphones or
connect it to asound system (preferably full-range).
PHONES
Connection for standard stereo headphones.
R
Connection for right portion of stereo output.
L(MONO)
Connection for left portion of stereo output. Also
used as amono output if stereo is not required.
INDIV.
Connection for the Individual Output channel to
which any given drum can be assigned.
•FT. SW. A
Connection for first optional F-l footswitch.
Footswitch functions are programmable.
•FT. SW. B
Connection for second optional F-l footswitch.
Footswitch functions are programmable.
•TAPE OUT
For connection to cassette deck input for data
storage.
•TAPE IN
For connection to cassette deck output for data
retrieval.
>MIDI IN/OUT
Connection to external MIDI gear.
Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual •Page 5

4. OVERVIEW
SOUNDS
The R-50 features the following 24 digital drum and
percussion sounds:
BASS DRUM 1(BD1)
BASS DRUM 2(BD2)
BASS DRUM 3(BD3)
SNARE DRUM 1(SD1)
SNARE DRUM 2(SD2)
SNARE DRUM
3
(SD3)
TOM HIGH (TOMH)
TOM MID (TOMM)
TOM LOW (TOML)
HIGH HAT CLOSED (HHCL)
HIGH HAT OPEN (HHOP)
RIDE1 (RID1)
RIDE 2(RID2)
CRASH 1(CRS1)
CRASH 2(CRS2)
CHINA CYMBAL (CHNA)
COWBELL (COWB)
CLAPS (CLAP)
SHAKER (SHAK)
AGOGO BELL (AGOG)
CONGA (CONG)
TAMBOURINE (TAMB)
TIMBALE (TIMB)
CLAVES (CLVS)
These instruments can be assigned to Pads 1-10 along
with other parameters such as tunings, accent, panning,
level and processing. Four pad set-ups are preset and
eight combinations are user-definable.
Rhythm patterns can be recorded individually using any of
the pads in memory and up to eight voices can sound
simultaneously. Rhythm patterns can then be assembled
into asong and individual songs can be linked together to
automate entire sets.
PADS
The sounds in the current pad set-up or drum kit are
played using the 10 pads labeled PAD 1-PAD 10.
Additional kits are accessed using the PAD key.
GETTING AROUND
Operations on the R-50 are fairly uniform. Please take a
moment to familiarize yourself with standard
communication with the R-50.
Major command categories are engaged by pressing the
correspondingly marked button. For keys with two
commands, the lower command is accessed by pressing
the key twice in succession. In either case, pressing the
same button again exits the command category.
Additional commands are structured in amenu/sub-menu
format and are accessed by pressing the ENT./REP. key
successively for each command. In some instances, the
BACK key can be used to move backward through aseries
of sub-menu choices. The ENT./REP. and BACK keys
also serve as "Execute" and "Cancel" for certain
operations.
CURSOR KEYS
The iand keys are used to increment and decrement
the value displayed in the window. The ^and -w keys
change similar parameters in steps of +/-10. •* and ~w also
change certain other display attributes such as drum
selection. The arrow keys repeat their functions when held
down.
VOLUME
The VOLUME control serves as amaster volume control
for the entire instrument. Individual volumes are accessed
via the MIXER.
Page 6•Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual

5. WORKING WITH DRUM KITS
It is important to understand that pads and drums are
independent of one another. Adrum can be assigned to
more than one pad at atime and the different pads can then
be set for different variations in tuning, level and
processing to facilitate easy and versatile entry of
patterns.
Pressing PAD displays the current drum kit. The R-50
comes with 4preset drum kits (PRE. 1-4) and 8user-
defined drum kits (USER 1-8). (The instrument comes out
of the box with PRE. 1assigned to the pads.) Play the 10
pads to hear each sound.
Pressing the 4and
(presets) and USER
play the 10 pads.
keys moves through PRE 1-4
.Select each kit in turn and
CHANGING USER SETTINGS
While the presets cannot be altered,
USER 1-8 are designed to be
programmed to suit your needs.
After selecting the appropriate
USER drum kit, ENT./REP.
accesses the next function and
BACK returns you to the previous
function. To exit PAD mode at
any time press PAD again.
You can select apad during any of
these functions simply by hitting it
The pad number is displayed along
with the appropriate information
for the current function and the
pads can be played while making
changes.
PAD
•
DRUM
LEVEL
•w
ACCENT
•v
TUNE
PAN
GATE
DELAY
FLANGE
CHANGING DRUMS
This is where drums are selected for the current pad
(the one played last). Besides the 24 percussion and
drum sounds, eight triggers are available which can be
programmed to play external MIDI devices. Trigger
parameters are set up under MIDI OUT.
Press ENT./REP. from the USER display. Press the ^
and wkeys to change the drum assignment. The display
will show the currently selected drum.
LEVEL
While the front-panel pads are not physically sensitive,
they can be programmed to record notes into patterns at a
specified velocity or volume.
Press ENT./REP. from the DRUMS display. Use the
4and keys to change the LEVEL assignment. The
bar graph in the display represents the LEVEL setting.
EXAMPLE
Press PAD to enter PAD
mode.
Use 4and to select akit.
Press ENT./REP. to get into
the kit.
Play apad to access
settings for that pad.
Press -a. and to change
the assigned instrument.
Press ENT./REP. to access
LEVEL.
Use 4and to change the
pad volume.
*PRD PRE.i
*PflD USER1
*FRD 1TOMH
*PflD 9RID2
*PRD 9CRS2
*PRD 9LUL. II
*PRD 9LUL. I
(continued on next page)
Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual •Page 7

ACCENT
Each pad can be given an accent level which is invoked
when the ACCENT key is depressed in conjunction with
the given pad. The ACCENT level can actually be higher
or lower than the LEVEL setting.
Press ENT./REP. from the LEVEL display. Use the <
and keys to change the ACCENT level. The bar graph
in the display represents the level.
TUNING
Each pad can be tuned -8/+7 semitones from the drum's
original pitch. Several pads using the same drum could be
tuned differently to create tuned percussion.
Press ENT./REP. from the ACCENT display. Use the 4
and keys to change the tuning. The graph in the
display increases as the pitch gets higher and decreases as
the pitch gets lower.
PAN
Each pad can be positioned anywhere in the stereo field
when both the LEFT and RIGHT outputs are used.
Press ENT./REP. from the TUNE display. Use the 4and
keys to place the sound. The graph in the display
indicates the left-to-right placement of the current pad.
EXAMPLE (continued)
Press ENT./REP. to
access ACCENT.
Use 4and to change
the ACCENT setting.
Press ENT./REP. to
access TUNE.
Change pad tuning using 4
and .
Press ENT./REP. to
access PAN.
Use 4and to change
pad panning.
Press ENT./REP. to
access GATE.
Use 4and to change
the pad gate setting.
*PAD 3AC. II
*PflD 9
*PflD 9AC. I
*PRD 9TUNE!
TUNE1I
*PflD 9PAN I
*PAD 9PAN II
*PAD 9GATE 9
PAD 9GATE 1
(continued on next page)
GATE
Gating refers to cutting off part of asound. Apopular
recording technique today is to apply a gate to areverbed
drum sound to choke the reverb effect off abruptly.
Press ENT./REP. from the PAN display. Each pad can be
given its own gate setting using the 4and keys to
select GATE 1, GATE 2or GATE 3. GATE indicates
no gating effect.
Page 8•Kawai R-50 Owner's Manual