Am I doing something wrong ? I thought all combinations would be set up with a keyboard split so that you could play over the drum/arp/chords using the upper octaves and at roughly the same volume level
Right way to use combinations ?
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synthtweaker
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:08 pm
- Location: Wales, UK
Right way to use combinations ?
Fairly new to the M50 after using a Novation X-Station controller via my DAW. If I select a typical default combination it seems to me that the potential for playing a right hand melody/lead part over the drum/arp/chord backing is very limited as the sound is quite muted on the keyboard compared to the blast you get from pressing a chord button (which usually triggers the arps too). The only way I can play over the drum/arp/chords is to play on the X-station.
Am I doing something wrong ? I thought all combinations would be set up with a keyboard split so that you could play over the drum/arp/chords using the upper octaves and at roughly the same volume level
Am I doing something wrong ? I thought all combinations would be set up with a keyboard split so that you could play over the drum/arp/chords using the upper octaves and at roughly the same volume level
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synthtweaker
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:08 pm
- Location: Wales, UK
combi mode is the best way to prepare 'scenes' for live performance, and is the most powerful place in any situation where you want to play more than one sound at a time.
you can layer, key split, mix, route, to your hearts content.
if your lead sound isn't cutting through enough, look at the mix page at turning it up or all the other sounds down, you can also use various effects to make a sound cut through more or less. generally things like chorus and reverb push a sound back whilst distortion and compression bring things to the front. there is also an EQ per track.
the effects for a program aren't carried through to program mode, because there are still the same number of effect slots - the 5 insert, two master, and one total for example could all be used in a program to create a massive sound that won't sound the same in combination mode with other sounds because there are still only 5 insert, two master, and one total effect slots, and you have to tailor the effect routing and settings to suit your particular combi.
for example, putting reverb and chorus on your backing sounds (strings) and distortion on your synth lead.
you can also achieve a greater seperation by panning. this really is going into mixing technique rather than being specific to KORG's combi mode, so maybe you should look up mixing techniques, using effects, EQ, etc. and even mastering. a stereo master limiter or such often sounds good for example in the TFX slot, over everything.
you can layer, key split, mix, route, to your hearts content.
if your lead sound isn't cutting through enough, look at the mix page at turning it up or all the other sounds down, you can also use various effects to make a sound cut through more or less. generally things like chorus and reverb push a sound back whilst distortion and compression bring things to the front. there is also an EQ per track.
the effects for a program aren't carried through to program mode, because there are still the same number of effect slots - the 5 insert, two master, and one total for example could all be used in a program to create a massive sound that won't sound the same in combination mode with other sounds because there are still only 5 insert, two master, and one total effect slots, and you have to tailor the effect routing and settings to suit your particular combi.
for example, putting reverb and chorus on your backing sounds (strings) and distortion on your synth lead.
you can also achieve a greater seperation by panning. this really is going into mixing technique rather than being specific to KORG's combi mode, so maybe you should look up mixing techniques, using effects, EQ, etc. and even mastering. a stereo master limiter or such often sounds good for example in the TFX slot, over everything.
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
The simple fix, as X-trade notes, is to go to the mix page and adjust volume as you like.
I think I remember reading Stephen Kay writing (on the Karma Lab site) that the sound designers for the M3 and M50 self-consciously kept the volume for the lead sounds down, since this created a more "professional" mix of the overall sounds. But that is easily changed, of course...
I think I remember reading Stephen Kay writing (on the Karma Lab site) that the sound designers for the M3 and M50 self-consciously kept the volume for the lead sounds down, since this created a more "professional" mix of the overall sounds. But that is easily changed, of course...
Korg gear: Kronos 73.
Other gear: Oberheim SEM | SCI Prophet 5 | Roland MKS-70 | Waldorf Microwave XTk
Other gear: Oberheim SEM | SCI Prophet 5 | Roland MKS-70 | Waldorf Microwave XTk
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synthtweaker
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:08 pm
- Location: Wales, UK
Many thanks for all the tips 
Just finding my way round this beast still at the moment. There is plenty of depth in this machine and i'm only skimming the top layer at the moment. Fired up Karma-Lab over the weekend and the creativity quotient went through the roof 
I pretty much had an instrumental piece I was very happy with inside of an hour, amazing!
Played with the mixer controls and that does indeed sort out the lead sound volume on a combi.
Just finding my way round this beast still at the moment. There is plenty of depth in this machine and i'm only skimming the top layer at the moment. Fired up Karma-Lab over the weekend and the creativity quotient went through the roof I pretty much had an instrumental piece I was very happy with inside of an hour, amazing! Played with the mixer controls and that does indeed sort out the lead sound volume on a combi.