Korg Forums

[jerrythek]

I see lots of posts and anguish over the Data Wheel, and I am not a Korg representative, so I have nothing to offer you all about that.

But I have written in the past about my opinion and recommendation of when to use which controller and I'd like to share it again. These have come about from untold hours/days/weeks/months or programming Korg keyboards since the Trinity, and from the other MPB programmers whose opinions carry a lot of weight for me.

For me, selecting sounds is best done by the most direct entry possible. That is usually a Bank Button followed by a number entered from the numeric keypad.

For scrolling through sounds I use the Value Up and Down buttons. Trying to move a Wheel one tick at a time is tedious and inaccurate IMHO.

Entering a parameter value is usually the numeric keypad, or sometimes Value Up or Down if I want to hear a small change. I like the tactile response of the click there the best. And I can more easily "count" the numbers I need, like deciding I want to go up 5 for example.

Getting to the far end or beginning of a value? The Value Slider, for sure. Slam it up or down.

So where do I use the Data Wheel? Mostly for scrolling across value ranges when editing samples/audio... going from a Loop Start selection to Loop End, for example.

Think about this and try these ideas out. And share your preferences in this thread. I was motivated to write this after reading people anguish over the idea of not being able to use the Data Wheel when playing live - that's is the least likely time I would ever use it. Personally speaking, of course.



Regards,

Jerry

[keywhiz61]

My style is pretty much like yours. I only use the data wheel for large scrolls. I almost never use it live.

I still wouldn't want it to fall off during a gig though. Or have to rummage through the case for it.

[amosdef]

My data wheel has been ok so far, but to be honest I haven't used it very much and don't plan on it. I'm much more likely to use the value slider, the number pad and the value increment/decrement buttons. I would say, for my use, the sample editing section would be the most I would use the data wheel. I'm also hoping that the software editor will make this process easier as well, so I don't need to sit at the keyboard to do any lengthy editing anyway as it's much more confortable for me to use the computer to do programming.

Live, I never plan on touching the data wheel. Having the Set List on the touchscreen is one of the main reasons I got this keyboard. One touch access to all my songs is awesome.

After reading about the problems that some people have had, I actually tried to get my data wheel to pop off and while it's not the sturdiest thing in the world, I wasn't able to get it to fall off unless I slid my finger under neath the edge of the knob while spinning it around back and forth. Not exactly normal usage. I can see that there could be issues for some, but for me it's not a big deal and more than likely there's some sort of adjustment that can be made on a replacement knob for those that have problems with it.
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Amos
www.amishoutlaws.com

[keyplayer14]

[RonF]

IMHO, the exclusion of the "finger dimple" in the KRONOS data wheel really limits its usage anyways, regardless of any perceived quality issue with it. Even if it were rock solid perfect build design (mine appears to be thus far, knock wood), its overall design limits its usefulness.

With the dimple, you can really rock the wheel, with great accuracy. Without it.....its hit and miss for accuracy, and certainly not suited for multiple rapid 360 degree turns on its axis with the human hand....without a certain amount of pressure and force that the dimple does not require. Thus, likely why there are wheels falling off.....as people try to manipulate it rapidly over multiple turns....which requires unusual force from the SIDE of the wheel, rather than minimal pressure from the top of the wheel with a dimple.

[keywhiz61]

[sani]

[jahrome]

I have no issues with using the data wheel to scroll through one patch at a time. However, most of the time, I open up the bank/program select menu to select the program I want via touch screen. I would never use the up/down buttons for selecting patches. I feel just like Sani in this regard. Doing so will eventually wear out the tact switches...and rather quickly. This isn't the case with most data wheel on keyboards. I find that the data wheels are among the last things you need to replace...until now.

Primarily, I use the data wheel for sample editing. This is a must for me. I use the value slider first and then the data wheel for fine editing. Like a few others here, I do like data wheels that have the finger dimple. But I wouldn't go as far to say that a data wheel without it is useless. My Fantom G doesn't have a dimple. The cursor keys (up, down, left, right) encircle that data wheel. I would go as far to say that the Fantom G is flawless in this regard. Not a single issue in 3 years. Even Akai's MPC 1000, which was infamous for failed hardware, has a data wheel without the dimple. It uses the same design as the MPC 500. Both data wheels are better than Kronos; and both machines cost 70% to 85% less.
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Tool box: Kronos 61, Fantom FA06, ASR-10, MPCX, MPC Live, and MPC 4000.

[orpheus2006]

This thread is downright ridicolous. The data wheel is crappy, but instead of forcing Korg to do sth about it, one workaround tip follows the other.

Honestly, I'm waiting for the Kronos Version 2, with a solid data wheel and at least 8 touch sensitive pads. There's is always a next version, and this time Korg needs to do more than just fixing SW issues.
I'm happy with the M3 in the meantime.
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www.soundcloud.com/orpheus2006
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Korg M3-88 w/ EXB-Radias, Yamaha Motif Rack w/ PLG150-AN & PLG150-DR, Novation A-Station, RME Multiface II Audio Interface, Thinkpad T60 Notebook w/ Sonar X3 and various VSTi, Event TR8 monitors, Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones

[Kontrol49]

[jerrythek]

[EvilDragon]

Jerry, a very welcome post and suggestions/clafirications from your side. I for one thought of it as really useful and illustrative to people who are alpha-dial-whores.

[RichF]

Jerry, thanks for your input here. This is really valuable information. There's a specific tool for every job, and you've always had a great way of explaining why we have multiple navigation methods.

...And "qualified" barely begins to cover it.

-Rich
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Richard Formidoni

[orpheus2006]

Jerry,
I regret I posted this in the heat of the moment.
I didn't intend to say your (or somebody else's) tips are useless. Now reading it again it was really too much overreaction.

Please accept my apololgies.
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www.soundcloud.com/orpheus2006
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Korg M3-88 w/ EXB-Radias, Yamaha Motif Rack w/ PLG150-AN & PLG150-DR, Novation A-Station, RME Multiface II Audio Interface, Thinkpad T60 Notebook w/ Sonar X3 and various VSTi, Event TR8 monitors, Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones

[cello]