KORG Pa2X Pro Variations and Fills options !!!!

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

For KORG Company


I have been KORG�s instruments user for abort 15 years. I have played M1,01/W,i3,Triton Studio 76, Triton Extreme 88, Pa1X Pro, M3 88 Xpanded, Pa2X Pro. I am pleased that I use your instruments, but I have a few comments regarding Pa2X pros�s operating system.
I noticed that this instrument does not have a few very useful functions, which we can find for example in KORG I3 or in instruments produced by other companies.
I would like to ask you to change the things.

1) Please, add easy function in OS which would be very helpful in case of create new styles.
I will be grateful if you can increase amount of fills. KORG has 4 variations, but only 3 fills. I suggest that in Style Edit procedure you can add option �Fill� for all of variances. It would be good solution if you did 12 fills in Style Editor and window in Menu additionally. In this window we should have possibility to choose fills for all of variations. Similar solution we can observe in case of matching sequences of paths with harmony functions.
For example:

Variation 1 -
fill 1 = (Fill 1a lub Fill 1b , fill 1c, fill 1d)
fill 2 = (Fill 2a lub Fill 2b, fill 2c, fill 2 d)
fill 3 = (Fill 3a, 3b, 3c)

Variation 2 -
fill 1 = (Fill 1a lub Fill 1b , fill 1c, fill 1d)
fill 2 = (Fill 2a lub Fill 2b, fill 2c, fill 2 d)
fill 3 = (Fill 3a, 3b, 3c) etc.

I would like to assure that current style�s construction in KORG will not be disturb, because after implementation of my ideas current styles will have still 3 fills (= 3 fills for all of variances).
I raise my objections because I often have problems with matching fill with variations for example in case of path of drums, bass or strings which are playing obligato when I am playing harmony functions continuously.

� I know, that you added 3 ending to Korg pa1X pro, and that was not problem�


I would like to inform you that other instrument�s producers have better solutions that you at the moment (of course in the area described by me).
I am convinced that realization of my idea will improve quality of your instrument � KORG Pa2Xpro.

2) The second issue.
I noticed that it is impossible to attribute:
-Channel MIDI out
- Audio OUT (L,R,1,2)
- Internal/ External MIDI
to different paths.

His option is only global option. It will be better if there was possibility to padlock:
- Int/EXt, Audio Out, Midi chanell � global management;
- for all of songs separately.

At the moment I can not change this parameters for all of styles or songs in SEQ or Songbook.
I remember that I could found this option in KORG I3, I30, 01. I do not know why Pa2Xpro does not have this very useful option.

I�m looking forward to hearing from you. I hope that you will do your best to implement my ideas into Pa2Xpro.

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

please dear users of PA write replay, tha you agree with my sugestions

[redfox]

Yes, it will be a good solution to have more fills. An autofill option (flash fill led, for example) will be a simple mode to use all of them.

[Giner]

Just to add another voice to your cause, I agree and urge Korg to consider adding more fills to the Pa series. As it stands, the 'fill' situation is very limiting. Come on Korg, make a great board even greater.

Can we get more members to post on this?

[Rob Sherratt]

Given that such a change would require the format of .STY files to alter in such a way they would not be compatible (yet again) then I would oppose such a change at this late stage, almost 4 years after the format was designed by Korg. There are developers very close to producing utility software to manage style and sound file merging. A change in the file format would completely screw them.

In any case, Korg are not onward developing new features in the software for Pa2x and Pa800. The best we can hope for is that bugs in the Pa2x software might get fixed. For example, some existing style file formats cause the Pa2x to crash when you import them. I would far rather this was fixed.

Sorry if this sounds like I'm being a damp squib.

Regards,
Rob

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

I think that will be no problem with convert, if Korg can do good new OS.
If we will send message to KORG about it, I think that Korg can give to Pa users new OS with more fills.

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

I will be very happy, if Korg will add 2 variation of fill 1, and 2 variation of fill 2 .

fill 1 (fill1a or fill 1b)

fill 2 (fill2a or fill2b)


If you will convert any style from any keyboard, every style will be convert with only 3 original fills.

If you will convert by Style Works, you can convert first time with original 3 fills, second time convert with next fills, and next you load the same style to pa, who was two times converted with different fills (for example from TYROS who has 5 fills). You load the styles, and copying the fills from second style to first (orgiginal fill1 to fill1b in first style).

For example:

style construction:

Bigbeatxy

first convert

intro1 to intro1
intro2 to intro2
intro3 to intro3
fill1 to fill 1
fill2 to fill 2
fill3 to fill 3
fill4-
fill5-
end1 to end1
end2 to end2

next write to style name Bigbeatxy 1

and second convert

Bigbeatxy

intro1 -
intro2 -
intro3-
fill1 -
fill2-
fill3 -
fill4 to fill 1
fill5 to fill2
end1 -
end2 -

next write as Bigbeatxy 2

next you will load Bigbeatxy 1 and Bigbeatxy 2 to your Pa2, and copying fill 1 and fill 2 from Bigbeatxy 2 to Fill 1b and fill 2b in Bigbeatxy 1


I think that will be easy:)

[Giner]

Thanks for the technical viewpoint, Rob. I speak from the standpoint of no technical knowledge at all, merely from that of the musician - er, the people for whom Korg make their products. From here, the question of fills should be the number one priority in the next generation of Pa boards and would right a serious flaw in an otherwise pretty flawless keyboard.

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

i think, that for Korg company is no technical problem to add more fills....

If you remember, in Pa1X Korg added third ending, and it was no problem....

So I think this is the same situation!

So, I please Korg company for more fills in Pa2X pro OS!!!

[karmathanever]

i think, that for Korg company is no technical problem to add more fills....

There is a lot to consider in making such a change to the style structure (as Rob has said).
I am sure that, technically, it is not rocket science and could easily be implemented and included in a new keyboard. The fact is that this was not considered when the PA2Xpro was designed, so I doubt very much that such a change could be possible or indeed, justified.

If you remember, in Pa1X Korg added third ending, and it was no problem....

Yes but we had to use an assignment button or the EC5 to operate it. How would we manage to activate all these extra fills? Remember that the PAs have chord variations for each fill - these can be used (or created) to be very effective. CVs was one of the major marketing "pluses" for the i3 which revolutionised arranger keyboards.

Tyros 3 may have more fills but doesn't have the style structure flexibility of the PA.

Cheers

Pete

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

You didn't understand me!!!!

In Pa1X, if you want to have 3 ending, you must add this function to a switch....

In this situation it isn't necessary any switch.

When you play, you use only 3 fills, and no more!!!!

But more fills you program in EDIt STYLE, new fills you add to variations. If you want, you program for example:
when you play VARIATION 1, and press Fill 1, Pa2 will play Fill l1a,
but,
when you play VARIATION 2, and press Fill 1, Pa2 will play Fill 1b.

Do you understand now???

[metronomuskarol@gmail.com]

My dears!!!

If you want, I can give you list of style, where is necessary more fills!!!

[karmathanever]

Ah!!! Now it is clearer

You are wanting the keyboard to play a particular FILL based on the VAR you are currently playing.

It is not possible on this keyboard.
FILLs are independant and do not relate to VARs in any way - in fact, FILLs can actually be used as additional VARs if required by looping them with a double click of the button.
Yamaha has a feature a little like your request but I find it most annoying because it cannot be configured.

Korg leaves you in complete control of FILLs and VARs and also allows you to specify the target VAR when pressing a FILL.

To add the feature you are requesting would require a major change to the style structure - I can't ever see that happening on this keyboard.

Cheers

Pete

[alland]

You are wanting the keyboard to play a particular FILL based on the VAR you are currently playing. It is not possible on this keyboard.
[...]
Yamaha has a feature a little like your request but I find it most annoying because it cannot be configured.

I think you can do that witk Korg Pa2x. Go Style Play : Style Controls : Drum Fill tab

Here you find "Fill mode" section and can set behavior for each fill (1,2 3/break) - you can choose what accompaniment does when you press that Fill. You can set it up to rotate between any two variations, go up or down and stop if reached end or rotate upwards or downwards or go to any particular var.

It differs from Yamaha PSR logic when you can configure "auto fill" - when you are say in Var 1 and press Var 2 then it plays hardcoded fill that must be between var 1 and var 2 etc. In Yamaha logic each Var is tied to its Fill and you can choose whether you play them between Vars or not.

So coming from Yamaha one needs to cahnge logic to "more normal way" - when you want to hear fill in your performance you do not press next desired Var button, but you press desired fill (and can program your gear what if anything happens after).

Also important, that you can "Lock" (and save afterwards) this Fill mode (it plays same way all styles/performances) or leave unlocked and program your fill behavior for any Style/performance/soundbook setting.

BUT if to return to original question - more fills (above 3 we already have) - sure ! I welcome that. Also "autofill" option - especially for those who migrate from Yamaha - should be easy add programmatically (but then you already need more fills - one or better two for each var or unlimited number of fills (you can program your own fill that fits exactly for intro1 to Var1 and then for var 4 to var 2 etc ) - ...and then you better just sequence your song.... )

There is one workaround, that may or may not work. In style format there are possible 2 chord wariations for each intro/ending/fill (and 6 CV for var). I think these variations can be completely different, but for invoking these different variations you need play differnet chords. If this can be fit into song canvas, you can double your fills creating custom styles.

[karmathanever]

you can choose what accompaniment does when you press that Fill

I don't think that this is what is being asked.
The request is to have additional FILLs to be determined based on the current VAR that is playing - e.g. if you are playing VAR2 and press FILL 1 it will select a particular FILL (see his examples) like FILL1a or FILL1b. In other words the ability to be able to create extra FILLs and have the STYLE VAR determine which one is played when the FILL is pressed.

EXAMPLE:-
So you have created 6 FILLs
FILL1, FILL1a, FILL2, FILL2a, FILL3, FILL3a
Then you configure the style to use FILL2a when you press FILL2 and VAR3 is playing etc...etc...
I can see what is being asked and it could be quite an interesting option.
I strongly doubt that it will ever make it on this current keyboard.

Pete