Evolution MK425C

The MK-425C is a compact keyboard featuring 8 assignable rotary knobs, 10 assignable buttons and 25 full-size touch sensitive keys, giving computer music enthusiasts extreme hands-on control of their software and hardware. Even the pitch bend and modulation wheels are both fully assignable, as is the sustain pedal input—putting a total of 21 assignable controllers at your fingertips.

The MK-425C’s unique controller mute function mutes the output of all controllers, allowing you to position them before tweaking, thereby eliminating jumping filters or levels during your performance.

The MK-425C ships with 10 pre-configured settings, making it instantly usable with today’s most popular plug-ins, virtual instruments and host applications. Creating your own custom setups is also quick and easy, as all 21 real-time controllers can be programmed via the numerical keypad. Each controller can also be set up to transmit on separate MIDI channels, and complete setups can be stored in any of the 10 memory locations.

In addition to standard controller numbers, the MK-449C has RPN/NRPN and pre-programmed Sys-Ex messages for real-time access to parameters beyond immediate reach on products such as SoundBlaster, XG and GM-compatible soundcards. The Sys-Ex dump command allows the entire content of the memory to be sent from the keyboard to a location of your choice. A librarian program for PC users is included for saving, editing and sharing keyboard setups.

The MK-425C connects to a PC or Mac using the included USB cable. The keyboard can be powered via USB, or alternatively with an optional power supply. As with all Evolution controllers, the MK-425C is Class Compliant, so no drivers are required when using Windows XP or Mac OSX.

The conventional MIDI output on the back of the keyboard has been included for operation with traditional MIDI gear or non-USB computer setups. Used in USB mode, the MIDI output acts as a USB to MIDI output interface.

Click here to see the new features on the next generation of Evolution MIDI controllers

Software Included (PC only)

Librarian
A specially designed program which helps you get more out of your Evolution keyboard and will save you stacks of time programming your controllers. This clever little program lets you Save and Edit your controller setups in 20 different memory locations. This set of 20 can then be saved away as one file meaning the number of setups you can store is endless. You can individually name your setups then save them away on your PC, recall them, edit them and send the setups back to your keyboard. It also makes it possible for users to easily share their keyboard setups.

Sound Studio II 1.1- Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP
Sound Studio II is the new 32-bit sequencer from Evolution with VST plug-in support. It’s the eagerly awaited upgrade to our original 16 bit sequencer Sound Studio.

VST plug-ins are software representations of hardware effects units and musical Instruments. Sound Studio II comes bundled with 2 full VST synthesisers, 1 full VST drum sample player and 6 more demo synths and instruments, including the best selling FM7 and B4 from Native Instruments. Also bundled are 21 VST effect processors from MDA. But why stop there? You can find hundreds more plug-ins on the Web.

Sound Studio II Features

• Using VST plug-ins with Sound Studio II opens up a whole new world of music making possibilities.
• Check out the following Sound Studio II features:
• Full VST 2.1 support for up to two instruments and two effects
• ASIO support
• User-configurable fast access toolbars for most used functions
• Wave Browser to easily find and audition audio files
• 61 Note virtual keyboard "VK-61"
• Enhanced style play with 2 Variations & Fills, intro and outro
• Supplied with 20 fully arranged styles.
• Piano mode, Fingered and Single Finger Chord style play and record
• Chord recognition
• Recordable Chord Track with 15 chord types
• Recordable Melody Track functionality direct from the VK-61
• Convert chord track to midi tracks
• 256 MIDI Tracks
• 4 Recordable Stereo Audio Tracks
• Multi-track record (including multi-track MIDI record)
• Audio record and playback
• AVI Support
• Play video file in sync with music
• Audio track bounce down
• Audio input monitor
• Audio normalise function and swap L-R function
• Audio trim sample function
• Import & Export of wave files
• Glue facility for joining Audio or MIDI patterns together
• Realtime reverb, echo and delay for Audio tracks
• Realtime Panning and Volume for Audio tracks
• Punch In / Out
• Adjustable programmable mixer controls
• Multi-part score edit and printing
• Lyrics display and edit from score window
• Windows '95, '98 & NT support
• 'Big Time' Display
• Patch lists can be customised
• 16 Patch Lists can be in use at any one time.
• Custom background colours with coloured patterns and auto detect patterns
• Mini piano roll display
• GM, XG and GS patch lists

MK 425 Features:

• Function buttons make programming quick and easy, even while you're playing
• Independent channel assign for all 21 controllers
• Controller mute function mutes the output of all controllers so you can position before tweaking No more annoying jumping filters or levels during your performance.
• Backlit LCD display clearly shows controller information
• 10 MIDI assignable buttons also act as a data entry pad.
• Global channel assign allows controllers to command up to 16 different channels at the touch of a button
• Snap Shot mode sends out current status for all controllers
• 10 memory locations store user setups
• Memory dump facility
• Sys-Ex librarian software allows PC users to load, save, send and receive any combination of studio setups
• MIDI-assignable pitchbend and modulation wheels facilitate thumb control effects
• Separate octave shift buttons provides instant access to 10 octaves
• MIDI-assignable sustain pedal input can be used with any polarity switch

Software Requirements:

• Pentium II 300MHz 128Mb RAM or better, USB port, Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, approved MME or ASIO compliant soundcard
• iMac, Power Mac G3 or better with USB running OS9/OSX
• Keyboard powered by USB (cable included) or 9V DC, 250-300mA center positive power adaptor (not included)

Dimensions:

• 19” x 8.4” x 4”

New features on the next generation of Evolution MIDI controllers

The UC-33e, X-Session and 4-series keyboards have a memory dump and retrieve function and come with a
SysEx Librarian software so that you can change the memory banks via the computer essentially giving you
an unlimited amount of memory banks. You can now use Enigma for this purpose, downloadable from the
Support Centre in the Evolution web site.

They also have the following added features:

• Controller mute function so the controllers do not transmit MIDI messages until you have set them to where
  you want them. This is particularly good to prevent parameter jumps.
• Device ID. You can change the Device ID.
• Assigning buttons has been revised so that you can control Program number, LSB and MSB much better
  on the fly.

Enigma 1.0

Includes a huge library of files for your favourite VST plug-ins, instruments and host apps. All the controllable parameters are listed for each piece of software. Your Evolution keyboard or controller is actually shown on the screen. To assign a knob, slider or button on your Evolution product, simply drag the parameter from the list and drop it onto the controller you wish to assign ... and that's it!

Setup the way buttons work in an instant by simply dragging a particular button function (toggle On/Off etc...) from a complete list and dropping it onto the on-screen button which you want to assign.

Instantly view your Evolution controller's Default Presets then cut and paste any number of them into a new memory location. Do the same with your own User Presets... Copy and Paste... Drag and Drop... this is how editing and saving memories should be done.

System Requirements

• Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP
• Mac OS 10 including Panther