VX-5/6/7
The VX Master keyboards are called intelligent keyboard controllers, and with good reason. These are the first controllers to sport motorized faders, multi-function expansions slots, and also built in MIDI songs and styles in the world that you can control and interface with using the panel pads.
And if that wasn’t enough, you’ve also got the delights of a music ‘game’ mode. Yes folks, this is the first keyboard that aims to teach you!

At the center, though, is a highly professional set of modern master keyboard functionality: Both USB MIDI and USB audio functions are provided, meaning that you won’t need an extra audio interface when you’re using a VX with your music software.

The VX takes MIDI functionality to new heights too; not only letting you trigger MIDI loops, backings, and songs directly from the front panel, but also (for those ‘dressing room’ moments) you can improve your music theory chops in the VX’s Game Mode.
As with the UF keyboards, the VX Series uses CME’s professional graded hammer action weighted keyboard on the VX8 and firm-action keyboard for the VX5/6/7. All are of course initial and after-touch velocity sensitive.
Feature VX-5 VX-6 VX-7 VX-8
Keyboard 49-note 61-note 76-note 88-note
Dimensions (mm)
Weight
Aftertouch Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weighted keys No No No Yes
Pitch.Mod wheels Yes Yes Yes Yes
Assignable knobs 8 8 8 8
Assignable faders 9 9 9 9
Motorized faders 9 9 9 9
Transport Ctrls. Yes Yes Yes Yes
Breath Ctlr. Port Yes Yes Yes Yes
Programmable Pads 12 12 12 12
Function buttons 27 27 27 27
Ribbon Ctrlr. Yes Yes Yes Yes
MIDI 4 Out / 1 In 4 Out / 1 In 4 Out / 1 In 4 Out / 1 In
Sustain Yes Yes Yes Yes
MIDI In/Out/Thru In/Out/Thru In/Out/Thru In/Out/Thru
Display 2 x 16 LCD 2 x 16 LCD 2 x 16 LCD 2 x 16 LCD
Inputs 2 x Mic/Line 2 x Mic/Line 2 x Mic/Line 2 x Mic/Line
Outputs 2 2 2 2
Phone Out 2 2 2 2
USB Audio/MIDI Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mac/PC Yes Yes Yes Yes
Transport Ctrls Yes Yes Yes Yes

Building on the earlier UF Series, the VX Series offers professional keyboard controller features that will pay handsome dividends both on the road and in the studio.

Ruggedly built, and eye-catching to look at, the VX Series can perform any duty you could possibly throw at a modern controller; handling both MIDI and audio tasks with equal style.

But that’s not all. The VX Series also caters to music production, and to music education.

For the producer, the VX’s MIDI controllable pads offer instant control over loops and phrases, while the Game Mode offers a range of innovative tests that will delight teacher and student alike.

In the studio the new-concept U-CTRL is the easiest way to communicate between controller and music software. You do not need to load template or presets, just press U-CTRL button and all the controllers for software you may use will be ready. Additionally, VX's multi-function expansion slot gives you many options for expanding your instrument - sound modules, a sample function, analog synthesizer module, FireWire audio interface module, digital mixing console module and more.

To put it mildly, this is an impressive suite of features for a single piece of hardware.

INSIDE TRACK - VX Series

 

Power and USB

VX can work by USB power but the auto-fader cannot move by itself unless the power supply is connected.

Connecting hardware tone modules

It is very simple to connect any tone module. Just use a MIDI cable: Connect the “MIDI IN” of tone module and the “MIDI OUT 1” of VX.

Because hardware tone modules are more stable than software tone module in computer.

You don’t need to worry about “VX is not recognized…”

Auto-fader without a computer

First, Power up. When you do so, the auto-fader will do a self-test and all 9 sliders will move one by one.

After this, you can press the “STYLE SEQ”, then press “PLAY”, the auto-fader will move. If you have a hardware tone module connected, set the module’s voice to “drum kits” or “drum channel,” or set the module to GM mode. You will hear a sound of drum kits. All the MIDI file presets in VX are drum loops.

Auto-fader with computer
  • Connect the VX to computer via USB. Open sequencing software.
  • Turn off the “MIDI Thru” of sequencing software.
  • If in Cubase go to File/Preferences/MIDI/MIDI thru active.
  • Then create a MIDI track.
  • Set the MIDI track in” to “all MIDI input”,
  • Set “MIDI track out” to “USB Audio Device 2”.
  • Set MIDI track channel” to “1”.

Press record in sequence software, then move the slider 1, this action will be recorded to the MIDI track in sequence software as “#7 volume control message”.

Play the recording in sequence software. You will see the slider 1 moving just like your action before.

You can do the same thing on slider 2, just set “MIDI track channel” to “2” in sequence software, or you can create a new MIDI track: do the same setup as the old, just set the number of “MIDI track channel” to the slider number you want to move.

If creating lot of MIDI tracks is bothersome to you, then set “MIDI track channel” to “any or all”, then you can move all the slider on VX at same time; even on record and playback.

The drum pads

The easiest thing to do is connect a hardware tone module to VX. Set the module’s voice to “drum kits” or “drum channel”, or set the module to GM mode. Insure the slider 9 “Master” is on max.

Then hit the pad and you will hear the drum sound.

The drum pad also can trigger drum loops. Press the “STYLE SEQ”, then hit any of the pads; the drum loop will be triggered.

U-control

Follow the software’s manual to load the Mackie Control template.
If In Cubase, Devices/Device setup.

Then press the U-CTRL on VX, follow the manual of VX, U-control chapter, every function on VX is the same as Mackie Control now.

When you move the slider on VX, you will see the track slider also do the same movement in computer software. You can record, playback, see the auto-fader moving, Even use the slider on VX to control audio track’s volume, or other effect.

The U-Control cannot currently work with Sonar & ProTools. This will be available soon.

MIDI-OX

This freeware shows all the VX parameters. It’s the best tool to monitor what the VX is doing. MIDI-OX is the world's greatest all-purpose MIDI Utility. http://www.midiox.com/

 

Home     Products     Forums     Downloads     Store