Wernick Xylosynth XS7-3 User manual

Hand Built Electronic Percussion
XS7-3
Rev 008
1
2a TWYCROSS STREET
LEICESTER
LE2 0DU
ENGLAND
TELEPHONE: [phone]
E-MAIL: info wernick.net
WEB-SITE: www.wernick.net
VAT No: 834748304

Index
1.0 Introduction PAGE NUMBER 3
2.0 Setting Up Your Xylosynth System
2.1 Sound Sources
2.2 Ampli ication
3.0 A Quick MIDI Lesson 4
3.1 MIDI Programme Number
3.2 MIDI Bank Number
3.3 MIDI Note Number
3.4 MIDI Velocity Number
3.5 MIDI Channel Number
4.0 Patches
5.0 Control Panel 5
5.1 Push Button Control
5.2 Song List/Patch Up/Down
5.3 Octave Shi t
5.4 Sustain
5.5 Types o Pedal
6.0 Analogue Settings 6
6.1 Length o Note
6.2 Sensitivity Knob
7.0 Display
8.0 Introduction to Programming 7
8.1 Global Settings
8.2 Song List 8
8.3 Patch Settings 9
8.4 Patch Template 10
9.0 The Noise Threshold
10.0 Di erent Ways o Manipulating Your Sound Volume
11.0 Internal Sounds 11
12.0 How to Replace a Key 13
13.0 General Care 14
14.0 Physical Speci ications
15.0 How to Contact us
16.0 MIDI Implementation Chart 15
2

1.0 Introduction
Thank-you or choosing a Wernick Xylosynth. You are now the owner o a hand built MIDI
compatible tuned percussion controller designed to put mallet players in the most
com ortable MIDI environment possible. We’ve asked players like you a lot o questions
over the last ew years and the in ormation gathered together has resulted in many o the
unique eatures o the Xylosynth. Innovations like the wooden playing sur ace and the
lexible, easy to use so tware have come rom this process. We’re proud to be a ‘musician
led’ instrument company and continue to strive to realise the imagination o music makers.
Your basic Xylosynth package should include the ollowing:
3 Octave F-F Xylosynth
USB Power Supply Adapter
2 x 3 metre USB A-A Cables
3 metre MIDI (5 Pin DIN) Connector
Manual
Pair of Soft Vibraphone Mallets
2.0 Settin Up your Xylosynth
1. Always make sure you mount your Xylosynth on a solid table or keyboard stand. Check
the carrying capacity o any stand. I you plug your pedals in first and power up the
instrument the Xylosynth will recognize an open pedal or closed pedal and adjust itsel
accordingly. If you plug/unplug pedals while powered up the instrument may crash
so press the edit button to reset or power up again.
2. Power In/USB – For 'power only' use the top slot ( rom wall adaptor or USB Power
Bank). There is no on/o switch. For USB MIDI communication use bottom slot. I you
have USB 3.0 (blue indicator) or above you can use the bottom slot or communication and
power. It may well work with USB 2 in your laptop but we take no responsibility or any
damage caused. The instrument needs to be stable while calibrating on power up so
always push the USB cable in gently to avoid disturbance i the other end is already
connected to the power source.
3. I you have internal sounds, plug in your headphones or line out to PA and start playing.
Or, using the supplied MIDI lead or USB cable, connect to your chosen external sound
source (the Xylosynth is set to Channel 1 as a actory de ault).
2.1 Sound Sources
The Xylosynth is a MIDI controller and the standard instrument has no internal sounds. I
you don't have internal sounds the irst thing needed is a sound source. This could be a
sound module or so tware based sampler in your PC or Mac. Sound modules with tuned
percussion sounds are available rom most large musical equipment retailers. As well as
traditional tuned percussion sounds, sound modules o ten contain several digital sounds
with a very ast attack making them mallet riendly. For the individual sounds o your
choice you need a so tware based system. There are many sample libraries available with
traditional and synth sounds.
2.2 Amplification
The inal link in the chain rom Xylosynth to per ormance is ampli ication. The simplest
thing to do is to plug a pair o good quality headphones into your sound source or
Xylosynth with internal sounds. Otherwise simply use a keyboard or 'active' speaker amp.
For playing live, to really appreciate the stereo o most o the sounds you’ll be using, the
best solution is a small mixer with a pair o active speakers. As with all ampli ication it is
important to tailor your system to every possible requirement you can think o . We do
advise you should try out the ampli ication system be ore you buy or ind very good
recommendations. Think about weight i you have to take the system on the road.
3

3.0 A Quick MIDI Lesson
The Xylosynth is a MIDI controller so it might be use ul to include a short section on the
basics. MIDI stands or Musical Instrument Digital Inter ace and is a digital computer code
that all manu acturers in the music industry use. It means that the Xylosynth and any
other MIDI device can communicate. It has become a world wide standard so you will be
able to ind MIDI equipment that is compatible with the Xylosynth everywhere (either
through '5 Pin Din Midi' or 'USB to MIDI'). There are many volumes dedicated to the
subject and to be honest all you really need to understand to use your Xylosynth are the
ollowing ive parameters:
3.1 MIDI Pro ram Number (0-127 or 1-128)
The Program Number is the code number or the sound that comes rom your sound
source. It instructs the sound module to switch to a particular sound. There are 128
standard General Midi (GM) sounds, numbered 0-127 or 1-128 depending on the source.
Normally the sound source will have a name or each sound displayed on its screen. The
Xylosynth is set at 1-128 so Vibraphone is number 12. I your sound source is numbered
0-127 then you can change the numbering o the Xylosynth to 0-127 (Global Settings, C.
MIDI Format), the Vibraphone would become 11.
3.2 MIDI Bank Number (0-15 or 1-16)
Some sound sources have several banks o sounds with 128 di erent sounds in each. Our
internal sounds have just one bank o 128 sounds. We have customized our sounds into
'patch settings' and numbered the patches to correspond to the programme numbers.
3.3 MIDI Note Number
There are 128 Note Numbers in MIDI and these de ine the pitch o the sound. It's like
having a keyboard with 128 keys. An easy re erence point to remember is Middle C (C4)
which is MIDI Note Number 60. Tuned A (440-442Hz) is MIDI Note Number 69.
3.4 MIDI Velocity Number
There are 128 levels o velocity in MIDI. The Velocity Number de ines the amount o
expression that can be applied to a MIDI sound. For example i you play a Vibe bar really
hard the sound is very loud compared to i you give it a gentle stroke. Basically the same
thing applies in MIDI and is de ined within 128 levels rom 0 to 127. A level o 0 is
equivalent to a note o message. The Xylosynth actually has around 14000 levels which
are divided down to 128 be ore the Midi message is sent.
3.5 MIDI Channel Number (0-15 or 1-16)
There are 16 Channels in MIDI and these are the codes used to allow di erent MIDI
devices to talk to each other or to play di erent tracks within so tware programs. This is
mainly relevant to so tware based systems. The Xylosynth sends out messages on
Channel 1 as a actory setting. The GM sounds are the same or all MIDI Channels except
Channel 10 which is dedicated to "percussion" sounds.
4.0 Patches
With the new Mk7 Xylosynth we can create 'Patches' by choosing a programme, or
example 12 Vibes, then altering the 'parameters' to suit ourselves and saving to use next
time. Parameters such as setting the irst note (MIDI note number) or the pitch we want to
start on and setting the note length (although this can be overridden with the note length
knob) amongst other things. Basically, 'a patch is a con igured sound that can be recalled
or playback'. All 128 GM sounds have been con igured into usable 'Patches' and it is the
Patch number that changes with the patch buttons/pedals.
4

5.0 Control Panel
I you look to the right hand side o the ront panel you’ll see the connections or Line Out
(to ampli ication), Headphone Socket, Power In/USB, MIDI Out, Blue LED Indicator, ive
pedal inputs and above them the our push buttons or Octave Shi t and Patch Change.
SONG LIST/PATCH OCTAVE SHIFT
▲ ▼ ◄ ►
SUSTAIN MIDI OUT POWER
IN/USB
HEADPHONE LINE OUT
34567●☻ ■
5.1 Push Button Controls
There are our push buttons to change octaves, patch or song list. In Per ormance Mode
they operate the octave shi t and patch/song list. In Edit Mode they will move the cursor or
change values.
5.2 Son List/Patch Up/Down
These buttons change the patch or song list by +1 or -1 each time. I you are in 'song list'
mode they will change the song list number and i you are in 'patch' mode they will change
the patch number. The instrument will arrive in patch mode so you can scroll through all
the sounds. Simply press the save button to the le t o the display to get into song list
mode. You can make a song list o up to 50 patches. Just press 'save' again to get back
into patch mode.
5.3 Octave Shift
Octave Shi t will change the range o the keyboard layout. On start up the instrument's
range will be dependent on the size o your Xylosynth and the patch you are in. By
pressing the octave shi t you can shi t up or down an octave (12 notes). This can be in
'latching mode' where the shi t stays until you press the pedal/button again to change it
or 'single shift mode' ( or pedals only) where the octave reverts to it's previous range as
soon as you release the pedal (see Patch Settings K. Octave Shi t). The pedal actory
de ault is 'single shi t mode'.
5.4 Sustain
Pedal input ‘Sustain’ will sustain all notes playing or about to play when you press the
pedal. The sound you are playing will have to be sustainable or be looped or the sustain
pedal to be e ective. For example Vibes sound will sustain but not Marimba. There are
our sustain modes. See Patch Settings L. Hold is the de ault setting.
5.5 Type of Pedals
All 5 inputs are or use with mono digital/on/o pedals or switchable expression pedals
with digital unctionality. On/O (digital) pedals can be 'normally open' or 'normally closed'
(or switchable). I you plug your pedals in first and power up the instrument the
Xylosynth will recognize the di erence and adjust itsel accordingly to work with them. If
you plug/unplug pedals while powered up just press the edit/exit button to reset or
power up again. Your on/o pedals must be non-latching. You must only use non-
powered (no battery) pedals. You may damage a chip inside that will have to be
replaced if you plug in a device that has Voltage.
5

6.0 Analo ue Settin s
6.1 Len th of Note Knob
Although you can set your pre erred note length or each patch in the patch settings, the
Length o Note Knob allows instant adjustment 'on the ly'. The control begins with 'instant
note o ' at 0.03 seconds (30 Milliseconds) and goes up to 8 seconds. You have to turn the
knob by at least 1 division on the dial to activate it otherwise it won't override the patch
setting. I the knob is activated and turned to zero an 'all notes o ' message is also sent so
it can be used as a 'panic button'. For the panic eature to work with an external sound
source make sure the sound source is set to accept ‘all notes o ’ messages.
6.2 Sensitivity Knob
This is the master sensitivity control and a ects all the keys equally no matter which patch
you are in. It can be used to adapt the Xylosynth’s playing characteristics to your playing
style and choice o mallets. At its lowest setting it will be very hard to achieve ull 127
velocity. At its highest setting it will be very hard to achieve a velocity o 1. In e ect the
sensitivity control can act as a volume control knob 'on the ly'. Starting with the sensitivity
knob at its maximum setting and striking a key to the hardest you are likely to play, turn the
knob anticlockwise. When the sound heard starts to drop rom your sound source stop
turning the sensitivity knob. Setting the knob to about a third seems to give most people
the best dynamic range. We strongly advise you use rubber core mallets to give a good
dynamic range, to keep the acoustic contact sound minimal and to protect the sensors.
7.0 Display
The new Mk7 Xylosynth is using the latest technology OLED display so we can show more
in ormation to the player. When you are 'per orming' there are 2 choices. You can either
have the Patch screen showing where you can scroll through a long list o all the Patches
or the Song List screen showing where you can scroll through a select list o patches that
you have chosen or the song list. The instrument will arrive in patch mode with a shortcut
to song list mode by pressing the 'save' button (press 'save' again to get back to patch
mode).
PATCH CONTROL SCREEN
6
HARPSICORD
CHAN 01 PITCH PATCH
PRG 007 NOTE C3 007
BANK 01 MIDI 048

SONG LIST CONTROL SCREEN
next patch on list →
no.o song on list →
previous song on list
You can customize the screen brightness see Global Settings G.
When you change patch, the next sound will be heard immediately but the screen
takes a fraction of a second to catch up.
PROGRAMMING SECTION
8.0 Introduction to Pro rammin
There are 4 main programming/edit screens.
1. Press the EDIT/EXIT button on the right o the display, keep it pressed and it will
scroll through the 4 options – Global Settings – Song List – Patch Settings – Patch
Template. I you want to edit Global Settings, release the button when you see
Global Settings. I you release the button on the wrong list, press the button again
to exit. The per ormance screen comes back up and then you can start again. Once
you have chosen your screen:
2. Select the item/s you want to change using the up/down patch buttons.
3. Select your change/s using the le t/right octave shi t buttons.
4. SAVE your change/s using the save button to the le t o the display.
5. EXIT the edit mode by pressing the Exit/Edit button until it says 'Performance
Mode'. Settings may work imperfectly unless you are in Performance Mode.
Press 'Exit' at any time to get out of a screen.
Shortcut – a quick press on the edit button will get you back into the last screen you
were editing.
8.1 Global Settin s
The Global Settings in luence the instrument as a whole. There are 10 items. A-J that you
can alter. See 8.0 on how to get into the Global Settings edit screen and on how to choose
options using patch and octave buttons.
Press ◄ or patch settings Press ► or song list
7
HARPSICORD
011► PITCH PATCH
SONG 01 NOTE C3 007
◄002 MIDI 048
◄ GLOBAL SETTINGS ►
A. Patch Cntrl PATCH
B. MIDI Format 1-128
C. Middle C Format C-4

A. PATCH CONTROL PATCH/
SONG
Switch the Xylosynth between incremental patch up/down
control or song list control. There is a shortcut between these
by pressing the SAVE button to the le t o the display.
B. MIDI FORMAT 0-127/1-128 Sets the irst programme number, bank number and patch to
display either 0 or 1. MIDI standard starts on 0 but many
connecting devices start on 1.
C. MIDDLE C FORMAT C4/C5 Sets middle C, MIDI note number 60, to display either C4 or
C5. MIDI standard states that middle C is C5 but C4 is more
commonly used or middle C.
D. NOISE THRESHOLD 0-200 Threshold above which the instrument does not pick up
external noise and trigger randomly (blue light lashes
randomly). Will also a ect the sensitivity o the lightest hits.
May only need to adjust one or two notches either way. See
9.0.
E. MAX POLYPHONY 64,128, 256, 512 This sets the maximum number o sounds heard at the same
time. Too small and notes may be missed. Too high and
latency may be noticeable, especially on computer based
systems. This setting is about optimising your sound source as
certain sound sources can only work with a limited polyphony.
F. KEY CALIBRATION I a key is replaced or becomes less sensitive the individual key can be adjusted
to bring the key/s into line. Screen 1 shows the key number and original sensitivity.
Bring your new or 'waning' key sensitivity into line at about 100. A waning or
'losing sensitivity' key will have lost some dynamic a ter this process but will still
play. This won't work i the key is broken. Press SAVE and the results are now
saved and you will be back in Global Settings screen. YOU CAN PRESS EXIT AT
ANY TIME.
G. DISPLAY Brightness – OFF to 100
H. CREATE BACKUP Backs up all your patch settings – takes ≈ 5mins
I. RESTORE BACKUP Overwrites the patch settings using the back up stored settings - takes ≈ 5mins
J. FACTORY RESET Overwrites all settings to the actory de ault - takes ≈ 5mins
PRESS 'EXIT' AT ANY TIME TO GET OUT OF A SCREEN.
8.2 Son List
Instead o scrolling through all 128 patches you may want to create a song list o a ew
avourite patches or o the patches you need or a certain per ormance. See 8.0 on how to
get into the Song List edit screen and on how to choose using patch and octave buttons.
SONG LIST EDIT SCREEN
◄ to global settings to patch settings ►
▼
1. Using the Song List/Patch buttons scroll down one line to the irst song in the list.
2. Using the Octave Shi t buttons choose your song (patch).
3. Using the Song List/Patch buttons scroll down one line to the next song in the list.
8
◄ Song List ►
01 001 ACOUSTIC GRAND
02 007 HARPSICORD
03 008 CLAVINET

4. Repeat 3. until you have chosen your list.
5. To DELETE a patch in the song list press exit and ollow instructions on screen.
6. To INSERT a patch in the song list press save and ollow instructions on screen.
7. To inish, press the 'Save' button to le t o the screen (and again).
8. Press 'Exit' right o screen
You can make a song list o up to 50 patches.
8.3 Patch Settin s
See section 4.0 or a de inition o Patch. You can store up to 128 patches in the memory.
These 128 patches have been pre-programmed using the 128 GM ormat sounds. You can
alter the parameters listed below to customize these patches. I at any time you want to
get the actory de ault settings back go to Global Settings J. See section 8.0 on how to get
into the Patch Settings and on how to change parameters using patch and octave buttons.
PATCH EDIT SCREEN
▼
First select your Patch Number on the top line using the Octave Shi t buttons. They are
numbered 1 -128. They are pre-programmed and named using the 128 internal GM
sounds.
A. Programme 1-128 (or 0-127) Selects programme number
B. Channel 1-16 (or 0-15) Selects Channel Number
C. Bank 1-16 (or 0-15) Selects bank Number
D. Octave 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60,
72, 84, 96, 108
Sets the MIDI Note Number o the irst key in steps o
12
E. Semitone 000-011 O sets the MIDI Note Number o the irst key in steps
o 1.
F. Min Velocity 001-127 Sets minimum MIDI Velocity or lightest hit.
G. Max Velocity 001-127 Sets maximum MIDI Velocity or hardest hit
H. Note Length 0.01-8.00 Sets de ault Note Length or patch. Note length Knob
movement will over-ride value.
I. Dampening requires action Select dampening to unlock. Set dampening level
using mallet strikes to set maximum dampening level.
Can be ine tuned using buttons. Will lock again on
exit. To turn OFF, reduce level to 0 and SAVE.
J. Polyphony Poly/Mono Selects polyphonic or monophonic mode.
K. Octave Shift LATCH Shi ts 1 octave and holds new value when pedal is released
SINGL Shi ts 1 octave but reverts when the pedal is released.
L. Sustain Mode HOLD – Holds o sending out MIDI note o messages until pedal is
released then all note o messages are sent.
MIDI CC 64 – On/O switch that controls sustain.
9
◄ 001 ACOUSTIC GRAND ►
A. Program 001
B. Channel 001
C. Bank 001

(only HOLD works with
internal sounds)
MIDI CC 66 – Only holds notes that were 'On' when the pedal was pressed.
Use it to 'hold' chords and play melodies over the held chord.
MIDI CC 69 – Notes ade out according to their release parameter rather
than when the pedal is released.
M. Overlay Mode ON/OFF Turns the instrument overlay on or o
N. Overlay Settings Goes to Overlay Settings screen below.
A. Bottom key Strike a key to set the bottom limit o instrument overlay.
B. Top Key Strike a key to set the top limit o instrument overlay.
C. Program 1-128 (0-127)
D. Channel 1-16 (0-15)
E. Note Length 0.01-8.00 Sets de ault Note Length or overlay.
F. Bank 1-16 (0-15)
G. Octave 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108
Set the starting MIDI Note Number o the 'bottom limit' in steps o 12
H. Semi-tone 0-11 O set the starting MIDI Note Number o the 'bottom limit' in steps o 1.
I. Layer Type OFF - dead zone – the overlay area does not send MIDI messages
COMB - instrument will output two 'note on' messages (layered)
EXCL- instrument will only output Overlay MIDI 'note on' messages (split keyboard)
O. Patch Name ^ACOUSTIC GRAND
PIANO
Spells out Patch name using patch and octave shi t
buttons by scrolling through A-Z, blank space, 0-9,
blank space, a-z, blank space, various symbols,
blank space and back to A-Z.
8.4 Patch Template
This is a template or copying changes to multiple patches such as transposing all your
patches to a di erent key or setting minimum velocity. It is the same list as the or patch
settings. 1. Select the item in the list you want to change using the up/down patch buttons.
2. Select your change using the le t/right octave shi t buttons. 3. Press SAVE (i you have
gone into a second screen such as or jack inputs press exit irst to get back to main patch
template screen) and ollow the instructions – select ALL to change all 128 patches or
select SELECTED and choose patches using up/down arrows and le t/right arrows ⌂. 4.
Press SAVE and then a resh template screen will appear. 5. Make another change or
EXIT into Per ormance Mode.
9.0 The Noise Threshold
This is the threshold at which the instrument will trigger - a sound will be heard or the blue
LED will lash. So that even the gentlest strikes produce a sound we have set the noise
threshold at 7. You may want this lower or inger playing. Or this may be too sensitive or
some players. In electrically 'noisy environments' on stage or when taking sounds rom an
'electrically noisy' laptop the instrument may pick up unwanted external in luence and the
blue LED will lash randomly. Just raise the threshold a notch or two to remedy. You can
ind this setting in Global Settings D. I you don't like the new setting repeat the process.
10.0 Different Ways of Manipulatin Your Sound Volume.
1. Turn the sensitivity knob up to increase volume (a ects the instrument Globally)
2. You could use a volume pedal between sound source and ampli ication.
3. Raise minimum volume in your patch setting – F. Min Velocity - so that your sound
makes an entrance even i you have hit too so tly (use ul in theatre/ensemble work).
4. Lower maximum volume in your patch setting G. Max Velocity - so that your sound
won't be too loud even i you have hit too hard (use ul in theatre/ensemble work).
10