Practice with a metronome, drum machine, or a collection of Jam Session songs. And the Play Along function plays songs from your iTunes library at a slower speed without changing the pitch, to help you learn new music.
Download the Williams Piano app on the Apple iOS store.
A collection of internal effects can be added to the built-in sounds of the Legato III and Allegro III, like Tremolo, Flanger, Delay, Reverb, and Chorus.
Practice with a metronome, drum machine, or a collection of Jam Session songs. And the Play Along function plays songs from your iTunes library at a slower speed without changing the pitch, to help you learn new music.
Download the Williams Piano app on the Apple iOS store.
Connections
Connections
Bluetooth® MIDI Connection
Connect wirelessly to the piano using Bluetooth® MIDI. Different than Bluetooth® Audio, Bluetooth® MIDI sends notes and commands to and from the app. Here’s how to set that up.
1. Launch the Williams App
2. On iPad, press Settings in the left column. On iPhone and iPod Touch, press the Gear icon in the top left corner of the screen.
3. In the list of settings you should see “Setup Bluetooth MIDI,” press that.
4. Press the Bluetooth® button on your Legato III or Allegro III. It should start flashing.
5. You should see the Legato III or Allegro III listed on the Bluetooth® MIDI page now. Choose that device in the list.
6. The list item should change from “Not Connected” to “Connected.” You are now ready to use the app.
Note: After you quit the app or restart the piano you will have to “pair” (connect to the piano again using the steps above.
USB Connection
To use a USB cable with your iOS device, you will need the a USB adapter such as Apple’s Lightning to USB Camera Connector. You will also need a standard USB cable. Once you have those, here is how to set that up:
1. Plug the square end of the USB cable into the “USB To Host” connector on your Legato III or Allegro III.
2. Plug the rectangular end into your USB to Lightning adapter.
3. Plug the Lightning connector into your iOS device.
One benefit of using USB instead of Bluetooth® is that the audio from the app will play through your Legato III or Allegro III speakers or headphones. This allows you to play along with the drum machine, metronome, etc. in the app mixed with the sound of your Legato III or Allegro III piano.
Note: The app may prompt you to update your piano if you are using an older version of the firmware. To update your firmware, click here.
Tour of the Interface
Tour of the Interface
iPad
The image to the right shows the opening screen on the iPad.
On the left side of the screen is a column of pages in the app. The default page is Sound Editor. Press those buttons to select Metronome, Drum Machine, etc.
The right portion of the screen shows the settings for that particular page.
iPhone / iPod Touch
This interface is similar to the iPad, but instead of listing the pages in a left column they are selected from the top and bottom of the screen.
On the top of the screen is the “i” icon for on-screen help, “Gear” for Settings, Tuning, and Metronome. On the bottom is Sounds (Sound Editor), Drum (Drum Machine), Jam (Jam Sessions), Play (Play Along), and Record.
Aside from these navigation buttons, the interface for the iPad and iPhone are similar. This document will use the iPad screens, but when there is a difference in the iPhone/iPod version we will call it out.
iPhone / iPod Touch
This interface is similar to the iPad, but instead of listing the pages in a left column they are selected from the top and bottom of the screen.
On the top of the screen is the “i” icon for on-screen help, “Gear” for Settings, Tuning, and Metronome. On the bottom is Sounds (Sound Editor), Drum (Drum Machine), Jam (Jam Sessions), Play (Play Along), and Record.
Aside from these navigation buttons, the interface for the iPad and iPhone are similar. This document will use the iPad screens, but when there is a difference in the iPhone/iPod version we will call it out.
Help
If at any time you want to learn about the functions on the screen, press help to view a quick explanation of each feature. Each feature on the screen will provide a blue highlight that you can press to learn more.
Sound Editor
Sound Editor
As mentioned above, the opening screen is the Sound Editor page. On the top of the screen are the four modes: Single, Split, Layer, and Split + Layer, described below. Below that are the sound select buttons.
Press a button like “String Pad” and the Legato III or Allegro III will switch to that sound.
On the right side of the screen are two additional buttons. Details will show additional information about that sound, and links to a video showing the making of the sound library.
Parameters has additional settings for the sound like effects.
Parameters
Parameters
The parameters screen has these settings from left to right.
Volume makes the instrument softer. This is useful for controlling the balance when using the Split or Layer features.
Octave changes the pitch of the selected sound up or down one octave.
Transpose changes the pitch of the selected sound up or down a semitone. This can be useful when performing with a transposing instrument or with a vocalist that’s out of their range. Note: It may be required to enable Transpose mode on your piano interface. Please run through the steps on the hardware to Enable Transpose mode.
The parameters screen has these settings from left to right.
Volume makes the instrument softer. This is useful for controlling the balance when using the Split or Layer features.
Octave changes the pitch of the selected sound up or down one octave.
Transpose changes the pitch of the selected sound up or down a semitone. This can be useful when performing with a transposing instrument or with a vocalist that’s out of their range. Note: It may be required to enable Transpose mode on your piano interface. Please run through the steps on the hardware to Enable Transpose mode.
Reverb has two settings. The pulldown menu at the top changes the size of the reverb, from small rooms to large concert halls. The Depth control controls how much of the reverb sound is mixed with your instrument.
Chorus also has two settings. The pulldown menu selects types of chorus and other effects. Depth sets the intensity of that sound.
FX controls the ModFX section of the piano. This effect changes depending which sound is selected. The organ sounds have a Rotary effect, where the electric pianos have a Tremolo effect. Refer to the Legato III or Allegro III manual for more information on ModFX.
Keyboard Modes
Keyboard Modes
There are four keyboard modes that can be selected from the top of the screen.
Single is the default keyboard mode, only one sound is playing across the keyboard.
Split mode divides the keyboard into two halves. Use the slider above the keyboard to select the location of the split point between the lower and main sounds.
The tabs on the top of the screen allow you to select the Lower and Main sounds, such as Bass and Piano. Each side of the split can be customized with its own parameter settings (except for ModFX, which is only on the Main layer.)
Layer mode layers two sounds across the keyboard, allowing you to play both at the same time. Use the tabs at the top of the screen to select the sounds and parameters for each layer.
Split + Layer mode layers two sounds on the top half of the keyboard, with an additional single sound on the bottom. Use the three tabs on the top of the screen to select the Lower, Layer, and Main sounds.
Note: The Legato III only has one effects processor for reverb, chorus, and ModFX. If you change the effect on the lower split, it will change for the main split as well.
Tuning
On the top right of the Sound Editor page and several other pages is a Tuning Fork icon. This takes you to the piano tuning page.
Use the slider to adjust the tuning of the piano. “440.0 Hz” is the default position. You can adjust this by using the slider or the + and – buttons.
Metronome
Metronome
The metronome can be accessed by pressing “Metronome” in the left column of the iPad version or the small metronome icon on the top right corner of many pages. This controls the metronome that plays from the app, which is different from the metronome built into the piano. Press the big Play button to start the click.
The metronome page has several options for customizing the click sound:
Time Signature is displayed at the top of the screen. There are 8 options including 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8.
Tempo is next down on the page, showing the metronome speed in beats per minute. There are three ways to set the tempo:
• Press the + and – buttons on either side of the tempo display
• Press your finger on the tempo display and slide up or down
• Press the Tap button three or more times to the beat of the music
Downbeat plays an accented sound at the beginning of each bar, according to the Time Signature you have selected.
Volume adjusts the volume of the click.
Drum Machine
Drum Machine
Open the Drum Machine page by pressing the “Drum Machine” button in the left column of the iPad version or pressing “Drum” at the bottom of the iPhone/iPod version.
Tempo controls the drum machine playback speed in beats per minute. There are three ways to set the tempo:
• Press the + and – buttons on either side of the tempo display
• Press your finger on the tempo display and slide up or down
• Press the Tap button three or more times to the beat of the music
A and B select the two variations for the drum beat.
Fill instantly switches to a drum fill and then switches to the other variation at the beginning of the next bar.
End switches to a drum fill to end the song.
Volume adjusts the volume of the drum machine.
Jam Session
Jam Session
The Jam Session page includes four unique songs you can play along with. Each song has an accompaniment track, the main keyboard tracks, and sheet music to play your own performance.
Once selecting the Jam Session in the left column of the iPad version or using the “Jam” button on the bottom of the iPhone/iPod version, you will see the startup screen.
Press the Songs button on the top right corner of the display to get started. You will see four songs listed by difficulty: “Blueberry Roads,” “Good Vibes,” “Granada,” and “Organic B.”
Select one of those and press the big Play button to get started.
Here is a list of what’s on this screen:
Accompaniment controls the backing track (bass, drums, etc.) On the left there is a blue speaker button, press this to mute the accompaniment track. To the right of that is a slider to control the backing track volume.
Below that you will see the sheet music for the piano or keyboard part. Press the two speaker buttons to the left of the music to mute the left hand or right hand parts to play along. Or make up your own part!
There are two play buttons. The one on the left (Triangle with Line) starts playback from the beginning of the song. The second one starts playback from wherever the blue line is in the music.
Count In plays four clicks before the music starts, so that you can begin on the beat.
Metronome plays a click along with the music, so that you can keep tighter sync with the performance.
Tempo adjusts the playback speed, which can be useful if you need to practice at a slower speed.
Play Along
Play Along
Play Along accesses the music on your iOS device. This function accesses the music in your iTunes library. You can slow down the song (without affecting pitch) to help you learn the drum parts in your favorite songs.
Play Along accesses the music on your iOS device. This function accesses the music in your iTunes library. You can slow down the song (without affecting pitch) to help you learn the drum parts in your favorite songs.
1. Select the Play Along page
2. Select a song from your music library. These are the songs that are on the iOS device.
3. Press the play icon. The song should start playing.
4. Use the Playback Speed +/- icons to slow or speed up the song. Drag your finger on the Playback Speed value to change the speed even quicker.
5. You can also loop the song to play repeatedly with the loop icon.
Note: Play Along does not work with Apple Music, only songs in your own Library.
1. Select the Play Along page
2. Select a song from your music library. These are the songs that are on the iOS device.
3. Press the play icon. The song should start playing.
4. Use the Playback Speed +/- icons to slow or speed up the song. Drag your finger on the Playback Speed value to change the speed even quicker.
5. You can also loop the song to play repeatedly with the loop icon.
Note: Play Along does not work with Apple Music, only songs in your own Library.
MIDI Recorder
MIDI Recorder
The MIDI recorder allows you to record your own performance and share it with others as a standard MIDI file.
Count In adds a count off before recording begins.
Metronome provides a metronome click while you record.
Tempo controls the tempo of the recording and playback.
Record begins the recording.
Songs shows a list of songs that you have recorded. Pressing the Songs button opens the screen below:
Recorder returns to the recorder screen.
Import File allows you to import a MIDI file from various apps on your device.
Record New allows you to start recording a new song.
Your recordings are listed on the Songs screen. Press the Share button to the right of the song name to send or save that MIDI file to another app.
Recorder returns to the recorder screen.
Import File allows you to import a MIDI file from various apps on your device.
Record New allows you to start recording a new song.
Your recordings are listed on the Songs screen. Press the Share button to the right of the song name to send or save that MIDI file to another app.
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
Settings
Settings
Setup Bluetooth® MIDI allows you to connect the piano to your iOS device over Wireless Bluetooth® MIDI. See the Bluetooth® MIDI Connection section at the beginning of this manual for more information.
Reset Dialogs resets all of the warnings in the app. You must restart the app for these changes to take effect.
Sheet Music for included Jam Session Songs
Sheet Music for included Jam Session Songs
ACCESSORIES
Piano Bench
Keyboard Stand for Allegro Pianos
Keyboard Stand for Legato Pianos
