mkcv88smf

Velocity-sensitive scanmatrix keyboard

encoder
* users guide *
rev. 17.06.2013
1. What is mkcv88smf?
mkcv88smf is an MIDI encoder designed especially for MIDI
conversion of touch-sensitive Fatar Digital Piano Keyboards series,
equipped with contact systems of scanmatrix type. It can scan up to
88 double contacts of parallel type, plus up to 4 potentiometers for
continuous control. It has MIDI Merge input that is very useful for
building multi-manual applications.
Various parameters can be changed by user and programmed in units
non-volatile memory, using either mkcv64smfset software or third
party software or hardware sequencers, capable to transmit System
Exclusive (SysEx) messages as per Appendix A .
mkcv88smf supports both types of Fatar scanmatrices: DF (Common
Cathode) and DR (Common Anode) types. It could be used with similar
keyboards from other manufacturers but might need additional adapters
between mkcv88smf and keyboard, mating keyboards header(s).
2. Connecting and using
Fatar keyboards have couple of normally open contacts actuated by
each key at different points. The first one (Upper) is actuated
(closed) at about 1/3 of key traveling, and the second one (Lower) is
actuated (closed) at about 2/3 of key traveling. These points of
actuation may vary upon models.
Two scanmatrix arrangements are typically used in velocitysensitive keyboards: Common Anode (denoted by Fatar as DR) and Common
Cathode (denoted by Fatar as DF). This unit supports both types of
scanmatrices. The scanmatrix type us user-selectable.
The frequency of key scanning also known as scanrate determines
the response of keys to slow and fast strokes. In addition the
measured velocity can be mapped via velocity response curves to
obtain most natural feeling of key response per players taste. 8
pre-configured velocity curves are available pre-programmed amongst
which 5 standard (Linear, Logarithmic, Exponential, S-type and Ntype) and 3 Custom (per customer specification). Both scanrate and
velocity response curves are user-slectable.
The other user-selectable parameters are: MIDI starting note,
indirectly defining the entire note range, MIDI channel, allowing
multiple manuals operating in same environment, MIDI Control Change
number per each of the 4 available analog inputs (potentiometers).
The mkcv88smf allows building of single- or multi-manual keyboard
controllers. Up to 16 keyboards, each scanned by mkcv88smf can be
Daisy-chained (cascaded) on same MIDI line.
Once connected to contact system and MIDI gear, the unit can be
powered up and used. The keys and potentiometers will play preassigned MIDI messages. The factory pre-set messages and parameters
can be easily changed by user. The process of changing the settings
is described below.
The unit has MIDI (Merge) input which has two functions. In normal
use, this is MIDI Merge input. It allows more than one unit to be
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mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV

cascaded on the same MIDI line in Daisy-chain. The second function of

this input is Programming input. When System Exclusive message of
proper format (as described in Appendix A) is received, the unit
would reprogram its parameters according to data fields in this
message. Since the MIDI Merge function still works in this case,
resulting in repeating SysEx messages on MIDI output, more than one
unit can be simultaneously programmed for same settings, providing
that they are chained on same MIDI line.
3. Settings
Various parameters can be set/changed by user. For this purpose
either PC running mkcv64smfset software or standard MIDI Sequencer
should be used as Host. The MIDI output of PC running the above
software or MIDI output of Host unit should be connected to the MIDI
input of mkcv88smf using standard MIDI cable. A specific MIDI System
Exclusive message format (described in Appendix A) should be used for
reprogramming mkcv88smf parameters.

scanmatrix type
Two types of scanmatrix layouts are supported: Fatar DF (Common
Cathode) or Fatar DR (Common Anode).

scanrate
This unit is based on hi-performance microcontroller chips with
precise internal timing, which can support various speeds of scanning
and measuring the key velocities, allowing scanning contact systems
with various traveling distances and behavior. The scanrate can be
set in range 0.4mS (2500 Hz) to 2.4mS (417 Hz).
Table 1 Velocity resolution settings
Resolution
Full Traveling Time for
max. Velocity (127)
0.4mS/unit
0.4mS or less
(fast keys)
2.4mS/unit
2.4mS or less
(slow keys)

Full Traveling Time

min. Velocity (1)
50.8mS or more

for

304.8mS or more

Table 1 shows time-related parameters depending on velocity

resolution settings. The parameter can be set to any value in range
[0.4mS 2.4mS].
For the most typical keyboard contact systems, the resolution of
about 1mS/unit is considered normal. User can test and select the
most appropriate resolution on their taste.
response curve
Double-contact key system is not perfect system for capturing the key
velocity, and in many cases the player has un-natural feelings of how
the sound responds to key strokes of various speed. Therefore,
software mapping can be applied in order to achieve the most
appropriate feeling. There are 8 pre-defined velocity response curves
implemented in mkcv88smf. User can easily select any of supported
curves. The table below shows how the measured Velocity values 1-127
are mapped for each response curve. In this version user cannot
program curves, but can only select which one to be used.
First five of these curves are considered Standard (Linear,
Logarithmic, Exponential, S-type and N-type). The other 3 are Custom
curves and can be programmed with customer-defined data on request.
Initially the Custom curves are pre-set for constant velocity
independent of key stroke velocity, allowing using velocity sensitive
keyboards as non-velocity keyboards with desired constant velocity
value.
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mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV

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Table 2 Velocity response curves data

Response curve
Measured
Velocity
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63

Linear
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63

Logari
thmic
1
1
3
5
6
8
9
11
12
14
15
17
18
20
21
23
24
26
27
29
30
32
33
35
36
38
39
41
42
44
45
47
48
50
51
53
54
56
57
59
60
62
63
65
66
68
69
71
72
74
75
77
78
80
81
83
84
86
87
89
90
91
92
93

Exponen
tial
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
19
19
20
20
21
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
30
30
31
32
32
33

Stype
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
11
13
14
17
19
21
24
26
28
31
33
35
37
40
42
44
47
49
51
54
46
58
60
63

Ntype
9
10
11
12
14
15
17
18
20
21
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
43
44
45
46
46
47
48
48
49
49
50
50
51
51
51
52
52
53
53
53
54
54
54
55
55
55
56
56
56
57
57
57
57
58
58

Cust.1
(flat)
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63

Cust.2
(flat)
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Cust.3
(flat)
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127

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64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127

64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127

94
95
95
96
97
97
98
99
99
100
100
101
101
102
102
103
103
104
104
105
105
106
106
107
107
108
108
109
109
110
110
111
111
112
112
113
113
114
114
115
115
116
116
117
117
118
118
119
119
120
120
121
121
122
122
123
123
124
124
125
125
126
126
127

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34
35
36
37
38
40
41
43
44
46
47
49
50
52
53
55
56
58
59
61
62
64
65
67
68
70
71
73
74
76
77
79
80
82
83
85
86
88
89
91
92
94
95
97
98
100
101
103
104
106
107
109
110
112
113
115
116
118
119
121
122
124
125
127

65
67
70
72
74
77
79
81
83
86
88
90
93
95
97
100
102
104
106
109
111
113
115
116
117
118
118
119
119
120
120
121
121
121
121
121
122
122
122
122
122
123
123
123
123
123
124
124
124
124
124
125
125
125
125
125
126
126
126
126
126
127
127
127

mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV

59
59
59
60
60
60
60
61
62
62
62
62
63
63
63
63
64
64
64
65
65
66
66
67
67
67
68
69
70
71
73
74
76
78
80
81
83
85
87
90
92
93
95
97
99
101
102
104
105
107
108
110
111
113
115
116
118
119
121
122
123
125
127
127

63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63
63

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127

mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV

MIDI Gadgets Boutique Inc.

key events
The key contacts can trigger only NoteOn/NoteOff messages.
The MIDI channel (default #1) is user selectable per unit. The
starting MIDI note (default #21) is user selectable as well.

potentiometer events
The 4 additional analog inputs can be used for reading up to 4
potentiometers. Each of them can control MIDI control Change with
data byte in range 0..127 indicating the potentiometer position in
range MIN..MAX (normally is considered that MIN = 0 Ohm, MAX=10
kOhm). The Continuous Control number is user-selectable per
potentiometer. All Continuous Control messages are transmitted on
default MIDI channel, same as key events, as set by user. Nonconnected (hanging) analog inputs will be interpreted as
potentiometer permanently left at MAX position, causing sending the
proper Continuous Controller with Data value of 127 once upon reset.

factory settings
Unless other requested, each unit is set by manufacturer according
Table 3.
Table 3 Factory (default) settings
Parameter
Value
Scanmatrix type
Scanrate
Velocity Curve

Fatar DF (Common
Cathode)
1mS/1000Hz
Curve 0 (Linear)

MIDI channel

Starting MIDI
note

21 (A0)

Pot#1 MIDI
controller

7(Volume)

Pot#2 MIDI
controller

8(Balance)

Pot#3 MIDI
controller

10(Pan)

Pot#4 MIDI
controller

7(Expression)

Note

All messages
go to default
MIDI channel

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mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV

Appendix A. System Exclusive message for programming mkcv88smf

F0
00
21
7F
10
00
mm
ss
rr
vv
cc
nn
aa
bb
cc
dd
F7

SysEx start
first ID
sec. ID (MGB)
thd. ID
Device ID (mkcv64smf/mkcv88smf = 03)
Device sub-ID (message ID = 00 Settings Program)
Mode (00:DF/01:DR)
Spare (00..7F)
Scanrate (00..7F)
Velocity curve (00..07)
MIDI channel (00..0F)
Starting MIDI note (00..7F)
CC number for Pot#1 (00..7F)
CC number for Pot#2 (00..7F)
CC number for Pot#3 (00..7F)
CC number for Pot#4 (00..7F)
SysEx end

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Appendix B. mkcv64smfset software

mkcv64smfset is simple
Windows-based
software
application,
intended
for
programming
mkcv64smf
and
mkcv88smf units manufactured
by MIDI Gadgets Boutique. Here
is the short description of 10
steps that should be taken to
change devices settings:
1. Connect mkcv88smf MIDI
input
to
PC
MIDI
output.
Special
cable
of
USB-MIDI
interface might be necessary
in case that PC has no native
MIDI port with DIN5 connector;
2. Power on the mkcv88smf
unit;
3. Run the mkcv64smfset
application and select the PC
physical MIDI output port from
MIDI Output port drop-down
list;
4. Choose the scanmatrix
type.
Refer
to
keyboards
label or documentation to find
which type (DF or DR) it is.
Fig.1 mkcv64smfset utility
Choosing wrong scanmatrix type
would not damage the unit but
might make it non-responsive
to keyboard events;
5. Choose desired scanrate using the Scanrate slider. Sliding
left or right would show you the new values for Scanrate and
frequency. Choose faster scanrate for faster keys or slower scanrate
for slower keys (or pedals);
6. Select preferred Velocity curve. Eight pre-defined curves are
available from Velocity curve drop-down list;
7. Select preferred MIDI channel in range 1..16). In case more
than one unit will be used in same system, make sure that there are
no channel conflicts and each of units is set for separate MIDI
channel;
8. Select desired starting note for the keyboard. The MIDI notes
numbers as well as their musical annotations are shown in Starting
MIDI note drop-down list;
9. Select desired MIDI Continuous controllers to be assigned to
the 4 potentiometers from Pot1(/2/3/4) MIDI controller drop-down
lists;
10. Click on Send Configuration button. Done!
The unit is ready for working immediately, even without need of
restarting. This might be helpful for testing various settings and
finding the best configuration. All settings are memorized in units
non-volatile memory and used from this moment on.

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Appendix C. Wiring diagram

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mkcv88smf JDPMMXIV