Korg Forums

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16

Hi all, new to arrangers but much experience with synths/workstations.

What I want to do is have a list of song titles available in the keyboard that I can quickly choose from and start playing (our band's original songs - just the song's patch info and key). Nothing complicated, just 1 sound across the entire keyboard with a drum rhythm, no other accompaniment. However, I have tried saving an altered style in the songbook but when I then select the song after having previously played another style, the keyboard sound stays the same as the previous style i.e. it does not remember the original keyboard sound of the altered style in the song in the songbook. PHEW!

I can't believe how difficult it is to do what I want considering that I've owned dozens of synths/workstations over the last 30 years! I actually feel embarrassed that I can't work it out! Goodness knows how long it will take me to suss out all the other facilities this keyboard has on offer!

Finally, I HAVE RTFM and STILL can't suss this out!

Thanks in advance...

Bob

karmathanever · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 1:57 am Post subject:

Hi Bob

The first thing to be aware of is that nothing (SOUNDs STYLEs etc) gets saved in the SONGBOOK. All the SONGBOOK entries do it "point" to STYLEs and MP3s etc..etc..
Example of what I am saying above:
Let's say you have successfully created a SONGBOOK entry to load the "House" style. Then one day, you overwrite that STYLE with a "Jazz" style. Next time you select the SONGBOOK entry, it will load the Jazz stlye. So if you were to reorganise all your styles and move them around you will certainly mess up a lot of SONGBOOK entries. (Hope that helps)

So if you want a SONGBOOK entry to bring up a specific style and sound you must make sure that the STYLE will do that. You also have the option when writing a SONGBOOK entry to register the current STS - this is what I use to ensure I get the sound I want set up with the style.

Hope this helps.

Pete Very Happy

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PA3X-76, Kronos-61

Thoraldus · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 4:10 am Post subject:

Bob,

Did you unlock the Style Preferences so your changes could be saved? Check out GLOBAL > LOCK > STYLE ?

See page 205 of your PA500 manual.
_________________
Rick Stirling - Retired Electrical Engineer
PA600 - PA500 - MicroArranger

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16

karmathanever · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob

Sorry Bob - I think all of this is confusing you. Please read through, whilst trying out on your keyboard, pages 61-70 in the PA2Xpro User Manual (Quick start section) regarding SONGBOOK. Also please read through the terminology section at the front where it explains SONGs, PERFORMANCEs, SOUNDs, STSs, STYLEs etc... you need to be very clear on these before proceeding.

I know it is tempting to dive in and then try and figure it out but Korg have put a pretty reasonable "Quick Guide in their User Manuals for quite some time now. A lot of it you will be very familiar with and some of it will seem new - but if you work through these 70 pages, you will benefit greatly.

These great keyboards are rich with features and are not for the faint-hearted (like PSR/T3/4 owners - OH!! I'm in trouble now for that comment Wink

- only joking) - there is a learning curve, some of which you will learn by just experimenting and some by studying the documentation.

We are still here to help but it seems like you really need to take some time with the keyboard and its manual if for no other reason than to familiarise yourself with the PA terminology.

Cheers

Pete Very Happy

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PA3X-76, Kronos-61

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16

Thoraldus · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 1:42 am Post subject:

Edit: See Fransman's description below ... much better than mine. Wink

_________________
Rick Stirling - Retired Electrical Engineer
PA600 - PA500 - MicroArranger

Thoraldus · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 1:50 am Post subject:

Bob,

FYI - From the manual ...

How Styles, Performances and STSs are linked together

Styles, Performances and STSs are linked in many ways.

• When the SINGLE TOUCH LED is steadily on or blinking,
selecting a Style also changes Keyboard tracks (STS 1 is automatically
selected). Performance settings are overridden.
• When the STYLE CHANGE LED is on, selecting a Performance
also selects a Style (the one whose number is memorized with
the Performance).
• Current track settings can be saved either in a Performance, an
STS, or a Style Performance, depending on the page menu command
you select.
_________________
Rick Stirling - Retired Electrical Engineer
PA600 - PA500 - MicroArranger

Fransman · Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:22 am Post subject:

The Songbook is a little hard to understand in the beginning, but it's really great!

This is how I work (not in the reach of my keyboard right now, so I hope I don't miss a step):
1. Choose an appropriate style and - if you like - configure the upper and lower parts
2. Go to Songbook, tab 2, New Song
3. Save the new song, giving it a recognizable name
4. Go to menu, make sure to "enable list edit"
5. Go back to your main songbook list, select the new created song. (!)
6. Select Add to list.
7. The (link to!) the song is now written to your favorites list. You can easily edit this list (sorting for instance) to make it your playlist (don't forget to SAVE the edited list... happened to me a few times). There is also a very handy tool available (Songbook Editor), to maintain the list on your computer.
8. Now, while your song is still selected (!), you can edit - if you like - your STS's, simply by selecting a performance (edititing it if you like) and then use Shift - STS button. The STS is immediately saved in your songbook with the selected song.

9. For pad editing: Disable "easy setting".
10. Go to tab "pads"
11. Choose the pads you like with the song
12. Go to songbook
13. Save entry, enable "current resources" (it took me a while to figure this one out).

The above steps may not be complete, but it gives you a hint how it works.
Once you figured it out, you will really love this feature of your PA; it is very powerful, flexible and handy.

Loads of success!
_________________
Musical grtz, Frans

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16

Fransman · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:06 am Post subject:

Hi Bob, you're welcome!

I recognized your frustration...
when I just had my PA500 I was going through the same thing.
I really loved the sound & styles, but was confused and frustrated about the best (easiest) way for me to operate the machine.

It took me a while to figure it out (and by no means I understand it completely at this very day...).
The songbook was my eye-opener, I "can't live" without it anymore. Wink

A few other workflow-hints:

- Most of the time, I put the touch-screen in Easy mode, that works great to me. It displays the 4 active STS's and gives direct access to the mixer and effects. That's enough for me for 95% of time.
- I have made a few playlists for direct and easy access, for instance my main playlist (my default Custom list), and one for X-mass, for party etc.
- I have saved my favorite setting in Bank 1, performance 1, so when I start up "the engines" I can instantly begin playing.
- When you press Shift-Songbook, you go directly to your Custom list.
- Select the song you want to play, and off you go.
- Now, if you make any adjustments (choose other sounds, mixer settings, effects), you just have to push Shift-STS, and voilá, your settings are saved in your songbook with the selected song.
- Make a backup on a regular basis; you don't want to throw away all your efforts...

Good luck & cheerz,
_________________
Musical grtz, Frans

Technobob13 · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 16