Korg Forums

[AdamT]

Hi, so I’m having a problem with trying to copy pad sounds from one program to another Combi to play in set list. I tired reading the manual and looking at YT videos but they don’t address this issue for some reason. I have an organ program where I have the sound and chords I want to use in a Combi with piano and another organ split in that combi. I tried to copy the organ sounds from the first program into the combi. The actual chords were copied into it but not the organ program sound. The pads thusly sound like the piano in the combi when they are triggered by the keyboard. I’ve tried to do some workarounds, but I am honestly stumped as to why it’s not working. I can’t find any details online really about that issue. Any help from the Kronos pros here?

Thanks

[Xenophile]

To get a program to sound the same after putting into a combi, you need to use the drop-down menu in the top right corner of the screen, select Copy From Program. It is usually the IFX (Insert Effects) and MFX (Master Effects) that make the difference. Note that if you have copied multiple programs into a Combi, you will have some decisions to make about which effects to use.

[AdamT]

[Xenophile]

Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant. Different definition of the word “pad.” Plus, you already have a fairly complex Combi with several timbres, so copying all from one Program to the Combi will likely mess up the other timbres.

But it sounds like you almost have what you want. If the pads are already sounding the notes you want, but sending them to the wrong timbre in the Combi. Go to Combi Page 1 “EQ/Vector/Control” and select the Pads tab where you can edit the midi notes and/or control messages sent by each of the pads. You just need to change the midi channel for the pads to correspond to the timbre slot in the combi where you have the organ patch that you want the pads to play.

I only recently started using the pads since I got a Korg NanoPad2. They are really flexible. You can set them up to send several different midi note or control changes to different timbres on different midi channels.

[AdamT]

[Xenophile]

You could add that program as another timbre in the combi. I think you said that you already have two other organ programs in the combi already, but it doesn't cost you anything to add another, if that has the sound you want. (Don't forget what I mentioned in my first response, though... When you assign a program to a timbre in a combi, the IFX and MFX settings in the combi will likely be different from those in the program, so it might sound different unless you tweak the effects).

The timbres in a combi will play in response to the midi channel to which each is assigned. If you're just using Kronos by itself, you will assign the timbres you want to play on the keyboard to the Kronos Global Channel. If you assign them to a different channel, they will only sound when note messages are received on that channel (that's how you set up Kronos to play different timbres from an external midi controller). You can program the pads to send notes and controller messages to any channel... So you could have one pad playing notes on timbre #4 and another playing notes on another timbre.

I think you are a bit confused about the difference between Combi and Program modes. You should read about those modes in the manual, and there are lots of tutorial videos about using Combis. I think the most important thing to understand is that there are a limited number of effects that can be used. When you're playing a Program, all those effects are assigned to that program. When you're playing a Combi, the various effects are divided/shared among the various timbres. If you copy a single Program into a Combi, and copy all of its effects along with it, it will sound exactly the same as the Program. But when you start putting multiple Programs into the context of a Combi, you have to be aware of how each one is using effects. This has been a fact of life for as long as there have been multi-timbral synthesizers. They are powerful machines, but they don't have unlimited resources.

[AdamT]

[Xenophile]

Add the sound you want as timbre 4, and assign it to some midi channel other than Global. Then that timbre will not sound when you play the keyboard.

Then set the pads to transmit on the midi channel you set for timbre 4. The pads will play that timbre, but the Kronos keyboard will not. The pads behave just like an external midi controller.

Did you say that you have the pads set up to be triggered by keys on your Kronos? In that case you need to make sure that your other timbre's key ranges are set to exclude those keys. You'll probably want to put them at the very high or low end of your keyboard.

[AdamT]

[Xenophile]

You might want to look into adding a NanoPad to your rig. It automatically maps its first 8 pads to the Kronos pads. You have to set up the other 8 pads yourself with the software that comes with it. But it isn't too difficult to figure out.

I have been setting up all my combis with a couple of dedicated timbres to be triggered by the pads. I don't use chord triggers much myself. I mostly use the pads to trigger percussion and sound effects. I attach the Nanopad to the upper right of my Kronos2-61 panel with a bit of Velcro. It is a very handy location for me to reach up with either hand to tap the pads while I'm playing.

You can program to pads to do other things than just play notes or chords, since you can make them send almost any sort of midi message on any channel. So you could use them to start/stop the sequencer, change programs, mute/unmute layers etc.

[AdamT]

[AdamT]

[AdamT]

[Xenophile]

I have never tried mapping the Kronos pads to be triggered by the keyboard. I see from the manual that there is a Global setting for doing this, but the disadvantage is that it is a Global setting, and the keys you assign there will always trigger those pads in every program and combi. Cut-and-paste from the manual:

Playing the pads from MIDI or the keyboard
Pads can be triggered by incoming MIDI notes or CCs, or
from the local keyboard. To do so:
1. Go to the Global P2: Controllers page.
2. Under MIDI CC# Assign —Vector Joystick / Pads, set
Pads 1-8 to the desired MIDI notes.

You can also use MIDI CCs, if you prefer. With CCs, the
value of the CC is used as the pad’s “velocity.” (For an
alternative method, see “Playing the pads from external
MIDI CCs,” below.)

It’s as simple as that; the pads will now respond to the
specified notes or CCs on the Global channel.
Be aware, however, that this will completely dedicate these
notes to triggering the pads; they will no longer trigger
sounds normally. For this reason, you may wish to assign
notes either below or above the standard keyboard range (for
instance, C-1 through G-1).

All of this also applies to notes played on the Global
Channel from the local keyboard, with the same restriction:
the assigned notes become dedicated to playing the pads.
For more information, see “2–1c: MIDI CC# Assign —
Vector Joystick / Pads” on page 793 of the Parameter Guide.

Playing the pads from external MIDI CCs
The method above applies to both the local keyboard and
MIDI input on the Global Channel. As an alternative, you
can use the Global Function Assign page to play the pads
from MIDI or USB MIDI input only, without affecting the
local keyboard. This alternative method also allows you to
control the pads from any MIDI Channel—not just the
Global channel.

For more information, see “2–3: Function Assign” on
page 795 of the Parameter Guide.

You really should get a Nanopad2 if you like to use pad triggers. I see they are just $40 on Amazon.

[AdamT]