Kenton Plugstation ver.2.01 - Manual (Page 37)

KENTON PLUGSTATION USERS MANUAL
37
PART – Here the part number (which normally corresponds to the MIDI channel) can be set. This is
primarily a part assignment function for the SW1000XG part that is being replaced by a PLG card. It can
also be used to assign two of the same card to different part numbers (for example 2 PLG150AN cards) to
send different data to each. This can be a confusing concept to understand, but for every day use, the PART
number will default and should correspond to the MIDI channel value if you set them to front panel use. The
SYSEX section of the manuals for many Yamaha PLG cards, has PART specific SYSEX commands listed,
which are used with this setting. The value range for this is 1-16
CHAN – PLG CARD MIDI CHANNEL. This parameter assigns the PLG card on each slot an appropriate
MIDI channel. The value range for this parameter is 1-16, indicating channels 1 thru 16 for MIDI. Software
such as XGEDIT or XGWORKS can override this, and caution should be taken if you are running
PLUGSTATION with software, as the screen display for each channel may not update with earlier versions
of certain software applications such as XGEDIT to show the correct channel assignment (this is true of
many parameters on PLUGSTATION unless you are using it with software which intelligently understands
the status of PLUGSTATION itself). This control is ideal for when you are using PLUGSTATION in a live or
controlled by a keyboard only situation, as it enables you to set up correct MIDI channel response for each
PLG card, or indeed, layer up to 4 cards together on the same MIDI channel to create a more complex
sound.
For example, if you have a PLG150PF card in slot 1, and a PLG150AN card ins lot 2, you could assign them
both to the same MIDI channel (say channel 1), and play a layered PF Piano and AN analogue modeled
string sound from the one channel on your controller keyboard. Please also note that if you do assign
multiple boards to the same MIDI channel that any controller messages that you send to the cards, will apply
across all board that are set to the same channel. So for example if you send controller 74 for filter cutoff
adjustments over MIDI from a controlling device (such as a KENTON control Freak), then if more than one
board is assigned to the same MIDI channel, then they will all respond to the filter parameter being sent.
This will override any settings you may have made for the board prior to moving it to the same MIDI channel.
A better way of layering sounds is to use the facilities of your controller keyboard if it has them to send the
same key range out on more than one channel, and then send controller data to each board on a discrete
channel if required. This option however of being able to assign multiple boards to the same channel, some
people may find very useful if they have layered sounds which they wish to respond in the same way during
the course of a song.