Live and Korg X-50

[lenrabinowitz]

Hi! I am new here.

I have a Korg X-50 synth which came with the Live software. I think it is version 7.

I basically just want to use the Korg as a drum machine for now. So my questions:

1. How do I get the software to see the korg? (USB MIDI will be how I want to go.)

2. Does the software have pre-recorded MIDI drum tracks that I could load in? If it does, how do I do so?

Thanks!

Len

[lwasnesky]

You didn't say if you have a Mac or PC. I have a Mac so I had to install the Korg/USB MIDI driver and the Korg Editor. Both are available as free downloads from Korg's site in the support section for the X50. The versions that came on the CD with it are old. Once the software has been installed simply plug in the X50 using a USB cable (make sure it's off first) and turn it on. Start the editor and you're in business.

I believe for a PC the instructions are almost identical although I thought I had read somewhere about having to "register" the driver.

As for the drum tracks; all that's available within the editor are the canned arpeggiator patterns. If you want premade patterns you'll have to get some MIDI loops to use with your DAW. The X50 doesn't have a sequencer so that's the best you can really do unless a simple repeating pattern is all you want. In that case the arpeggiator should work fine.

[lwasnesky]

I just noticed that you already stated you have Live, so you should have all the loops you want already. Keep in mind though that only MIDI loops can be used with the X50. I use Logic myself and have never used Live before so I can't offer further advice on that.

[lenrabinowitz]

I have a PC. I will give it a shot. I have used it succesfully with Sonar but I find Sonar complicated. I do have a lot of MIDI drum patterns in that which I assume Live will read. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.

Thanks!