PCG Tools for Trinity

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 2:46 am

I changed this first post to announce that PCG Tools is available now for the Korg Trinity.

PCG Tools is a free software application to manage (mainly) PCG files, usable for (help with) editing and managing these files.

For more info: follow the link in my signature below.

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Original message:

As some of you know, I have been busy lately with writing an application to read PCG files and be able to generate lists and eventually also adding librarian functionality.

Follow the link in my signature for more details.

Since I want to make my app supporting more Korg models as well, I am looking for someone with a Korg Trinity to do some (simple) tests, like loading/saving PCGs to check if my app can handle them.

Btw, the app is free so anybody interested can have a copy.

Kind regards,

Michel

synthjoe · Post by **synthjoe** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:51 am

Great stuff Michel! Right now I'm not in the position of spending time on testing, but I can send you PCG's (and they are widely available, even here, in the download section of KF) and if you send me a couple, I'll try to load them on my Trinity, I'll be doing some music on it tomorrow.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:39 am

I have downloaded some PCGs specially for Trinity, however, it has a quite different structure than more modern models. Therefore, I put the support on the wish list for future (maybe).

However, all is not lost. With the tool called Alchemist, probably known to most Trinity/Triton users, it is possible to convert Trinity PCGs to Triton PCGs. This converted PCG can be read by PCG Tools to create lists. You can change the PCG with the librarian functionalities, however, backward converting is not possible.

So, take a look at the list generation possibilities of my app and check if it is useful for you. More lists will be supported in future.

And what's best: the app is FREE.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:22 am

Time for a new update ... just some small pieces since I am way to busy with the Kronos, but still some additions.

The most appreciated will probably be the Patch List, showing categories and the possibility to sort by category (and subcategory).

Also improved some small issues and bug fixes.

For Kronos only:
Also new line characters (returns) can be used inside the descriptions of set list slots (Kronos only). This is NOT possible on the Kronos itself so it is quite a unique feature (sorry for bragging a bit).

For Kronos only:
If my assumption for bank index conversion is right, my app is already capable of handling U-AA to U-GG files ... however of course I could not test it since OS1.5 is not available. But it MIGHT be possible PCG Tools will recognize the new banks already. If not, I will send an update asap after I installed OS 1.5 myself and adapted the app.

Furthermore, I cleaned up the wish list (removed some items which are already present).

The next item I will be working on is a Timbres manager. A combi consists of 8 or 16 timbres (programs). I will add a screen to move them up/down (left/right on your synth) and maybe some other functions like copy/paste if possible. I cannot guarantee I will add intelligence for IFXs because that is really tricky (and differs per synth model).

Below is the complete change list.

Code: Select all

0.2.6.125   2-Nov-2011  Feature: Support for (U-)AA- to (U-)GG banks, added with OS update 1.5 (Kronos only and UNTESTED!).
                        Improv:  Patch List shows categories/sub categories (both Text, CSV and XML file format).
                        Improv:  Patch List can be sorted by category.
                        Improv:  Patch List output for CSV and XML slightly improved (and a bit changed).
                        Improv:  Possibility to use new line characters in a set list slot description (Kronos only).
                        Improv:  Number of characters for patch names/descriptions is shown in the edit screen.
                        Bug Fix: Prevented crash when copying set lists slots using combis from U-A..U-G; Kronos only.
                        Bug Fix: Prevented strange symbols for (sub) categories when loading PCGs without Global chunk.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:12 pm

Hello all,

A new update is published. No new features this time, but several improvements.

One of the is the creation of Cubase sequencer instrument definition files, as explained in a specific thread (see http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=66721 for more info). Because these files might be already obsolete when the Korg editor will be published, I did not make implement it for other sequencers.

Also two tastes of Combi Content lists are supported. The old version (now called Compact), sorts the used timbres per combi and removes duplicates. Thew (called Short), shows the timbres per timbre index, so you can see at a glance how a combi is built up. Later I will possibly add another taste which shows complete patch names and maybe more.

All lists can now be generated in ASCII table format (see post above). This exists next to output to plain text, CSV and XML files.

Then some small issues, like clearing set list slots are added and a few bug fixes.

Also two external links in the about link are added. One to Korg KronosHaven (http://www.kronoshaven.com) and one to Robert Rosen's site (http://robertrosen.weebly.com/index.html).
If you download PCGs, please leave a notice and/or donation for their work.

Also a change is added for copy/pasting programs. You can 're'paste patches to easily make multiple copies of a single or more patches by recalling the copy buffer.

Below the complete list as in the history file:

Code: Select all

0.2.7.126  21-Nov-2011  Feature: Create instrument definition files for Cubase.
                        Improv:  Create all generatable lists in ASCII table format.
                        Improv:  Generate a new kind of Combi Content list (showing timbres by index)
                        Improv:  Set list slots can be cleared.
                        Improv:  Copy/Paste mode has a Recall button to recall the copied copy clipboard.
                        Improv:  Added link to KronosHaven.com in the about box (new news site/forum for Korg Kronos).
                        Improv:  Added link to Robert Rosen's site (keyboardist/repair/patches).
                        Bug Fix: Enables the Copy and other buttons and disables Exit button when clipboard is empty.
                        Bug Fix: Removed unused toolbar icon (arrow down).

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:53 am

Hello all,

Another new update, allthough most of the new items are related to the Kronos, some items are interesting for all. See the complete (non Kronos specific changes) list below.

Code: Select all

0.2.9.129  17-Dec-2011  Improv:  Added external link window (removed from about window).
                        Improv:  Added more external links (Kid Nepro, Dreamland Studio and Onksor).
                        Improv:  Added descriptional text with short combi content lists.
                        Improv:  Added copyright symbol in title and copyright mark in each source file.
                        Improv:  Show About box and External Links window in taskbar, for easier nvavigating if unfocussed.
                        Bug Fix: Trinity MOSS/Z1 files froze the app, changed into a more clear error message.
                        Bug Fix: Patch list ASCII table substitute new lines for \ characters preventing disrupted columns.
                        Special: Christmass ball icon (will be removed in a next update).

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 3:05 pm

New update 0.3.0.137

The features are:

Compact
It now is possible to compact patches. Compacting means moving the initialized and empty patches down and keeping the really filled ones up. E.g. suppose you deleted 20 patches you don't like (i.e. you cleaned them or initialized them on the Kronos itself), then you select the bank (containing the 20 empty patches), these 20 patches will be moved to i.e. I-A109...I-A128 keeping the filled ones to I-A000 to I-A108.

However it is even better: you can select a range to compact, i.e. compact from I-A050 to I-A070.

And you can select multiple banks so the compact is done over banks. The bank types will not change, so if you select a modeled and programmed bank it will two (separate) compact actions for both types. By selecting all banks you can easily created empty banks (supposing you have enough empty spaces in between).

Combi Content List
Until now, there were 'only' two combi content lists possible, one that showed for each combi ID all used program IDs, either sorted and duplicates removed or per track.

However the new (long) list shows per combi, the category/ sub category name, tempo and for ALL used timbres a lot of info, such as program name, category, sub category, velocity zone, key zone, portamento, pitch bend range, mute, status, etc.

Keyboard shortcut list
I noticed some people are not known to all the keyboard shortcuts available in the app, so I improved some of them and included a keyboard shortcut list.

See a screenshot below.

Complete update list:

Code: Select all

0.3.0.137  30-Dec-2011  Feature: Long combi content list generation with important parameters of the used timbres.
                        Feature: Compact patches, i.e. move the empty patches downwards.
                        Feature: Keyboard shortcut key html file added in Help menu.
                        Improv:  The dirty flag now works correct (before it sometimes was shown without a real change).
                        Improv:  When no patches are pasted, a message box is shown with possible reasons.
                        Improv:  Added and changed some keyboard shortcuts.
                        Bug Fix: Prevent a crash for trying to edit a program/combi from a PCG file without Global chunk.
                        Bug Fix: The status bar does not show the model including " OS" if no OS version is displayed.
                        Bug Fix: Pasting of multiple selected patches did not work (correctly).
                        Bug Fix: Cleaned up footer line for compact combi content list.
                        Bug Fix: Prevent crash for OS1.5 combi content list generation using GM programs.
                        Special: Changed the Christmass ball into a Fireworks symbol.

I will send the update by email a bit later today ....

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:32 pm

New Update: 0.4.0.139

As written before, I have a new update (thanks to the vacation I had more time).

Lots of new items this time so I hope it helps everybody to manage their PCG files even more easy than before.

Below I added screen shots and additional info.

Timbres Window

With the menu, tool bar or button, when one (or more) combi(s) are selected, you can see a timbres window.

It shows the most important timbres. And you can even do some tricks with it, like:

Move Down: Moves one (or more) selected timbres down
Move Up: Moves one (or more) selected timbres up
Clear: Clears the timbres, not only the mute setting but also several other parameters so you can see immediately in several screens that this timbre is muted.

It is not possible to move patches down or copy/paste while a combi window of that PCG is visible (it would result in a mess).

Changes are automatically performed in the PCG file (not saved though), but the PCG window will show an asterix (dirty flag) to show the contents has been changed, so you will not accidentally close a PCG window without saving.

Also if you close the PCG window, all its combi windows are closed automatically.

Edit Set List Name (Kronos only)
Already patch names could be changed, but now also set list names can be changed, and also the set list name is shown in the PCG window.

Small improvements:
Earlier compacting patches was already possible when only one patch was selected which is not really useful, so I changed it to 'at least two' patches. For banks, only 1 selected is enough because all patches within the selected bank(s) will be compacted.

The Long Combi Content List shows marks if GM of unpresent programs are referred to by combis.

Donate button

I have spend quite some time working on this app, so if you find it useful, think about this option.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:17 am

Hopefully you'll add TR-Rack/Trinity support at some time, Trinitro is quite buggy for me, SoundDiver refuses to load. So far I'm using MIDIQuest 10, but its workflow is a bit stupid for editing the patches...

But as I figure, your tool won't allow patch editing, right?

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:04 pm

Hello TR-Rack (if that is Triton I believe) should work, pure Trinity PCG files does not work, because the structure of Trinity PCG files are quite different than later model PCG files.

My tool cannot patch editing, and the reason is that for most models there are already full fledged Korg editors available.

In the future I want to have some simple batch editor functionality (like changing the volume or transposing) a batch of programs/combis, but not an editor for every possible parameter. That would take years for me to program.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:46 pm

TR-Rack is Trinity.
The Triton series rack module is called... Triton Rack

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:50 pm

X-Trade wrote:TR-Rack is Trinity.
The Triton series rack module is called... Triton Rack

Ok in that case I'm afraid I do not support both Trinity models.
I noticed that some PCG files in the Trinity directory of KorgForums are actually Triton files which can be read by PCG Tools but original Trinity (and thus TR Rack) PCG Files are not supported.

It's on the wish list but the wish list is really growing faster than I can implement and to be honest, there is not that much request for older models. I already decided some time back that I wanted to support not only Kronos but also M50, Oasys, M3, Tritons and Karma but the Trinity is really some other type. Probably Korg changed the PCG file structure radically after that.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:28 pm

I see.

No hard feelings, but it's kinda weird to read updates about Kronos features for your program in Trinity section of the forum... If your program doesn't support Trinity, perhaps this thread is a bit misplaced?

I sure wish it worked for Trinity/TR-Rack...

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:11 pm

EvilDragon wrote:I see.

No hard feelings, but it's kinda weird to read updates about Kronos features for your program in Trinity section of the forum... If your program doesn't support Trinity, perhaps this thread is a bit misplaced?

I sure wish it worked for Trinity/TR-Rack...

Well I asked somebody with a Trinity and he said that some Triton files could also be read on a Trinity. However, if this is not true, then you are absolutely right and I should not update it.

I don't want to make promises that do not work. I will try to check which files work in the download section of the Trinity and report it back later.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:52 am

I have checked the Trinity files from KorgForums.com and it seems those files are not supported by PCG Tools. Since I don't have full evidence Triton PCG files can be read by a Trinity it seems logical to conclude that PCG Tools does NOT support the Trinity.

I'm really sorry; on the wish list I made an item for adding support for Korg Trinity, but the wish list is big so I cannot promise when and if I will start on this item. The user base of Trinity synths is very much smaller than later models and I only have some time available time to spend on updating and enhancing PCG Tools.

Korg Forums

PCG Tools for Trinity

PCG Tools for Trinity

Update 0.2.6.125