User Guide

PC2 Made Easy
1
This document is intended for use with the PC2 and PC2X keyboard models. Although
the PC2 rack is very similar, there are some differences with the keyboard version. A
separate version for the PC2R is available.
This guide walks you step-by-step through a variety of typical programming
applications you might use in the creation of Setups and Programs on the PC2.
The first part of this document reviews some of the basic concepts of the PC2 design
and user interface, including editing shortcuts. The second part contains a series of step
by step tutorials, each of which demonstrates a different function.
BASIC CONCEPTS & USER INTERFACE ISSUES
The Three Play Modes
The PC2 has three basic Play Modes - Internal Voices, KB3, and MIDI Setups. You
switch between these three modes using the Internal Voices, KB3, and MIDI Setups
buttons in the Sound/Setup Select area.
Internal Voices Mode
If you only need to play one regular Program at a time, use Internal Voices mode.
(Typically a Program will be just one sound, but there are some Programs that have a
couple of sounds layered together, such as Piano & Strings). The PC2 is always in
Internal Voices mode when you first power it up. (Also, you should be aware that while
the keyboard is only playing one program at atime in Internal Voices Mode, the
instrument is still multi-timbral and can receive on all 16 MIDI channels from the MIDI In
port).
If you have a PC2 without any additional Expansion Voices options, then you have two
banks of 128 Programs per bank that you can access (with version 2.0 or later Ð earlier
versions had only a single bank of 128 Programs). These are most easily accessed by
using the 16 Sound Select Buttons, which are labeled by Sound Category. For each bank,
under each category, there are 8 variations that you can select, using the Next Group and
Previous Group buttons. When you first power up the PC2, you will be in Bank 0, which
is the first bank of regular programs. You will notice that the Internal button in the Sound
Source section is lit. To switch to Bank 6, which is the second bank of preset programs,
press Internal and User at the same time. Both buttons will be lit and the display will
show that you are in Bank 6. You can now use the Sound Select Category and
Previous/Next Group buttons to select the sounds from that bank.
Notice that when in Internal Voices Mode, the Bank number and name are shown on the
top line of the display, and the Program number and name are shown on the lower line.
In addition, the Current Sound Select Category (1-16 to match the Sound Select Buttons)
and Group (A-H) are shown in the upper right.
If you have one or both of the optional Expansion Voices cards installed in your PC2,
then you can press the Exp1 or Exp2 buttons in the Sound Source section to select the
programs in those banks. Obviously the names above the Sound Select buttons will not
apply at this point, but you can still use the Sound Select and Previous/Next Group
buttons to select a specific numbered program.