How to get midi files on an LK280

[Bobkindle]

I have an LK 280 Casio and I know that the APP will not work on this keyboard.  I like to add more songs to learn can i do this and how to make it work with the lessen?

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Bob

 

Begin by referring to "Navigate Channels" in the right hand column of Page E-60 of the LK-280 manual.  These channels determine which MIDI channels your right-hand and left--hand note data have to be on in order to properly light the keys.  A mismatch between what is in the MIDI file and what the LK-280 is looking for, and the keys will not light at all or will not light properly.  Several of the YouTube tutorials state that these must be Channels 3 and 4, with Channel 3 being the LEFT or BASS CLEF notes and Channel 4 being the RIGHT or TREBLE CLEF notes, but this only applies to the entry level LK models.  The LK-280's Navigate Channels default to 3 and 4, but you can assign any one of the MIDI Channels (02-16) as the RIGHT (TREBLE CLEF) Navigate Channel, and the keyboard will automatically assign the adjacent lower MIDI Channel as the LEFT (BASS CLEF) Navigate Channel.  Very few, if any, MIDI files will ever have the note data on the correct channels to correctly match what the LK-280 is looking for, so you can either re-assign the LK-280's Navigate Channels to match the MIDI file, or modify the MIDI file to match the LK-280.  Believe it or not, it is best to leave the LK-280's Navigate Channels at their defaults of 3 and 4 and modify the MIDI file with DAW/sequencer software on your computer, as this leaves ALL of your acquired MIDI files adjusted for the LK-280, and avoids having to re-assign Navigate Channels as you move from one MIDI file to the next.  It also corrects MIDI files that have the left/right note data channels in the reverse order.  The LK's need the left hand note data on the lower channel.  Proceed as follows:

 

With the MIDI file loaded into the DAW/sequencer software, if there is any other note data in the file (ie. drum/backing-track data), that you want to keep, cut and paste it to tracks/channels other than 3 and 4 (keep drum data on track/channel 10). Cut and paste the left hand (bass clef) data to track/channel 3 and the right hand (treble clef) data to track/channel 4.  Save the file, copy it to the MUSICDAT folder on the LK-280's SD Card, and you are done.  Easy, right?  Well, life is not usually that simple.  Most of the MIDI files you obtain will have the left/right hand note data on the SAME track/channel, but there is a work around that works most (?) of the time for simple songs the you would normally use for lessons.  Cut/paste the combined data to track/channels 3 and 4.  On track/channel 3, use the software's track edit feature to batch delete all notes Middle C and above.  This is now your left hand (bass clef) data.  On track/channel 4, batch delete all notes below Middle C.  This is now your right hand (treble clef) data.  On more complicated songs with a lot of treble clef notes that may fall a little below Middle C, just move your "delete" split point down a few notes on both tracks.  Again, save, and you are done.

 

This probably sounds a lot more complicated than what you were looking for, but once you have done it a couple of times, it becomes routine fairly quickly, and you can modify just about any file in a couple of minutes.  However, the procedure does have its limitations.  It is primarily to adjust the MIDI file to properly light the keys.  It will not control the "fingering" hands in the keyboard's display panel.  Those are controlled by special programming embedded within the built-in songs.  MIDI files do not have this required information.  Some owners report that it allows the Lessons "Listen and wait" feature to work with MIDI files, while other owners report that it does not.  Personally, I was never able to get that to work, and I no longer have access to a "Lessons" capable keyboard for experimentation.

 

If you are interested, and need DAW/sequencer software, I recommend Anvil Studio because it is freeware and has a fairly short and light learning curve: https://anvilstudio.com/

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video that may be of some help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Bzlu-16dI

 

Good luck and enjoy your LK-280

 

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