"Loading application Failed....." on brand new M3-

[MRPaudio]

This is absolutely unreal...

I regret that my first posted topic about the M3 has to be a negative one, but here it goes:

I just bought a brand new M3-61 XPANDED that came with the latest OS installed v2.04.

I was playing around with KARMA on one of the programs, pressing the pads and changing the scenes with the push buttons.
All of a sudden, everything sounded out of tune, terrible. I tried changing programs but the sound was still there.
I even tried switching to COMBI mode, and the out-of-tune sound was still present.
Then I went back to the programs, and I notice that EVERY patch has a detuned brass sound!

I turned off the M3, waited a few seconds, turned it back on and this is what I get:

"Loading application Failed....."

The M3 is completely inoperable in this state. The OS never loads and it just hangs on this screen.

PLEASE, someone who has experienced this error reply!

Can I fix this or should I send it for service?

I'm so incredibly bummed right now... I've literally had my M3 setup for just 3 days, and now this!

[gurn]

How many times have you turned it off & got the "Loading Application Failed"?

You might try a factory reset. Then you'll need to load all the patches again.

[MRPaudio]

I've power cycled the M3 over 5 times, always let it sit for a minute but the progress bar doesn't move and the "Loading application Failed" remains on the screen

How do you do a factory reset? Is it the same as on the Triton? Enter+0 on power up?

[gurn]

I don't want to advise this before you consult one of the users here who know more than I.

But the steps are:

1. Turn off.
2. Hold down Reset Controllers & track buttons 1&2.
3. Turn on while holding them down.

But you lose everything and have to reload it.
That's the best case scenario - if it boots up.

See page 208. See also 'Error Messages' PP. 215-222.

[michelkeijzers]

And don't forget to backup your PCG before.

[MRPaudio]

Thank you for the replies.

I'll try these suggestions as soon as I can get back to my M3, and report back the outcome.

I see now the initialization procedure is listed in the manual, so it must be safe to try it.

I previously checked the manual, but in my panic & frustration I must have overlooked this.

Was actually looking for the specific error message listed in the manual (which I still haven’t found)… didn’t think to check under display troubleshooting.

Really hope this is some kind of freak software bug & not a hardware failure…

Still don’t see any reason this should have happened. I was just playing the keyboard normally, and then it decided to act all weird.

[MRPaudio]

Nope. No such luck.

The memory initialization procedure listed in the manual does nothing.

Enter+0 on power up does nothing.

The startup screen remains frozen with the message "Loading application Failed....."

I've had this M3 setup for only three days.

Looks like this is an out-of-box DOA failure, folks!

What an HONOR it is to be the first to experience this!

This is completely unacceptable. I'm going to return it ASAP.

EDIT:

I'm going to try calling Korg support directly... in a last ditch effort...
But I'm betting that it will either need to be exchanged for a new one, or sent out for authorized service...

I would like to reiterate that my M3 failed totally on its own, which is very scary to me... really makes me think there's a hardware problem... Like I should really get an entirely new unit if Korg doesn't have an answer for me.

I wasn't editing any parameters, I didn't turn off the power during a save, and I wasn't trying to update the OS. All I did was play the pads and the keys with KARMA activated. The M3 went out of tune all by itself, then every patch sounded the same, despite changing from PROG to COMBI. I power cycled the unit, and now it's dead

[gurn]

Nope. No such luck.

The memory initialization procedure listed in the manual does nothing.

Enter+0 on power up does nothing.

The startup screen remains frozen with the message "Loading application Failed....."

I've had this M3 setup for only three days.

Looks like this is an out-of-box DOA failure, folks!

What an HONOR it is to be the first to experience this!

This is completely unacceptable. I'm going to return it ASAP.

EDIT:

I'm going to try calling Korg support directly... in a last ditch effort...
But I'm betting that it will either need to be exchanged for a new one, or sent out for authorized service...

I would like to reiterate that my M3 failed totally on its own, which is very scary to me... really makes me think there's a hardware problem... Like I should really get an entirely new unit if Korg doesn't have an answer for me.

I wasn't editing any parameters, I didn't turn off the power during a save, and I wasn't trying to update the OS. All I did was play the pads and the keys with KARMA activated. The M3 went out of tune all by itself, then every patch sounded the same, despite changing from PROG to COMBI. I power cycled the unit, and now it's dead

Really sorry about that. It's an amazing synth. But you obviously got a dud. My condolences.

[MRPaudio]

I phoned Korg USA this afternoon & managed to get a hold of Product Support.

I explained the situation to the representative, and he confirmed that the message “Loading application Failure…..” indicates a problem with the internal software of the M3, and cannot be corrected by the end user.

My choices are:

1. Notify the dealer of this failure. Since this is a brand new unit we're talking about, they may choose to exchange it if they have any more left in stock.

2. Take it to an authorized Korg service center to have it repaired.

I think I’ll try #1 first… I have concerns about the internal hardware/memory stability with the particular unit I have…

Update 9/28/11:
The dealer (Sweetwater) was able to replace the entire M3-61 for me. I received the replacement less than a week after notifying them of my situation. Very happy now, looking forward to getting back to my music.

I hope Korg finds out what caused this bizarre failure! So far, I've still not heard from anyone else who's experienced anything like this! Just my luck I happened to get the one and only dud?!