Just Got a M1/R EX. Now what?

[Koggie]

I just received a M1/R EX after looking for one for months. It came with the MPC-OEX card and all manuals and is pretty much mint condition. What an exciting time. I know that the forum has some downloads for M1 hardware but I am a little confused about how to get the sounds over to the rack. Also, will the transfer of new sounds replace the original sounds? Is there a card that I could get that would allow me to store some sounds? Also, if I wanted the extra 19 cards that were for the M1, can I put them on one card? Thank you.

[billbaker]

Koggie,


M1 uses sysex (systems exclusive) files as bulk storage - should be covered in manual.

Various freeware sysex programs are available for PC/MAC - a quick internet search should find several. Try "sysex librarian" as a search.

Check here in the download section, and search on-line for KORG M1 patch programs sound libraries - these key words in combinations should find a lot of new sounds to use.

Check various online user sites for file management programs (again many are freeware/shareware) - Synth Site is a good place to start, tho the links may not ave been updated in a while. A decent librarian program is essential due to the M1's limited onboard program and combination memory. If my limited memory is working, I think there was a program called M1LIB that did the trick nicely.

Finally, yes, putting in a new patch replaces (erases) the previous patch, so save often. Saving a new sound or program may also effect one or more combinations that use that original program (if you replace a piano program with a xylophone then your "piano and strings" combi may sound a bit strange.) Try to document your plans and changes and the relationships between programs and combinations; a 10x10 grid on a piece of paper is still a handy and manageable tool for this.

BB

[Koggie]

Mr. BillBaker thank you for your quick and concise responce. The sysex is new to me so with your detailed outline I'm on my way to learning the "how to's". I was wondering if there was a way to download the patches to a pcm card and then select the card as a bank while keeping the orignal patches in tact. Also is midiox a good way to manage and transfer the patches? Again, I appreciate your kind help.

[billbaker]

K -

The most obvious way to save the current bank is to save it to your aforementioned PCM card. Then you can experiment with up/downloading to your computer with the knowledge that you can always get back to zero if you have to [BTW: There is no magic factory reset button like on some later synths - be careful!]

I'd save current patch load to the card as a first step and make sure that the M1 can indeed read the file you've saved -- is there a file there? if you select a card voice is it working? is it identical to what you saved?

I can't recall if the Korg RAM cards had a battery or not; I know some cards (Roland, Yamaha?) had an easily replaceable one that helped hold data - if it died or was removed the patches were lost.

I haven't used MIDIOX so I can't comment either way on how well it might do the job. Shareware tends to be hit or miss - either it does it's job and you stop looking for better, or it doesn't and you move on to the next.

But it's worth taking a little time now to make a list of what you want to do -- juggle patches, upload/download banks, move a patch from one bank to another, upload download single patches or combis, print reports of patches , rename patches... etc. Then see if the program supports the functions you want, and nearly as important, if it does not, how long does it take to do it by some other method?
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It might be redundant, but I believe that the Korg Legacy M1 app for I-pad does all of the above and might save M1 (hardware) readable banks/files -- worth looking into.
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One last bit of advice - M1 is ancient by gear standards and no matter how mint it may look; batteries is batteries and they all die eventually. Unless you have a documented replacement date it might be worthwhile to proactively have your M1 cleaned and serviced (for under-button grunge and possible oxidization/corrosion just for existing for 25+ years) and to install a new battery for a truly fresh start.


BB

[synthjoe]

I can't recall if the Korg RAM cards had a battery or not...

I think they have. Be sure to double-check. I think it is along the top edge, a small and hardly visible tray that you have to pull out.
MIDI-OX is fine for sysex transfer, but it is not a librarian. Still, if you like it, you might want to stick to it and organise yous SYX files through sensible naming and directory structure - you're on your own for that!

[Koggie]

Gentlemen, thank you for the valuable information. With advice from a senior and platinum member along with sjoe, I feel like I went from flying coach to first class! I noticed that the manual refers to the MCR-03. Can sysex files be placed on these cards? I have the MPC-OEX card which brings the M1 back to factory sounds, so can you just download patches direct to one of these MCR-03 Ram cards? The manual also mentions that two Ram cards are neccesary in order to save all the internal data.

[Synthoid]

Also, if I wanted the extra 19 cards that were for the M1, can I put them on one card?

Nope, doesn't work that way.