Combi Mode in Korg TR

[Robby1425]

Hi! First of all is there any way to make my own combi from scratch without having to overwriting a factory one,and also if there isnt how can i put a program sound on a track so it sounds just like it does in program mode and not any different because right now the sounds in my combi sound a bit different from how they do in program mode. im guessing its something with the mfx? Thanks in advanced!

[billbaker]

Robby,

You can write an original combi over any INIT file which is set up as a very basic/generic combi, or you can edit/overwrite an existing combi.

Don't mess with overwriting any of the factory programs until you understand how that will impact combis that might refer to that program location. Stick to writing/saving to the USER bank or writing over any existing INIT files -- look under the Keyboard category since that is the default category for INIT files.

You probably want to start saving your work - backing up what you've created - and to do that you need to work through the save routines in the manual, but basically you will create a master file called a PCG (x_name_x.pcg). You will find bunch of examples of other folk's stuff at the download page - anything with a .pcg extension is a saved bank of new sounds/combis, etc.

Programs use a particular set of Insert and Master Effects (IFX/MFX) - in order to get them to sound the same in both Program and Combi modes you need to set them up and route FX the same way on the combi as they are on the program. This is particularly important for programs that depend on their effects for much of their characteristic sound - think distorted electric guitar without distortion or compression, or "bright massive" strings without EQ or room ambience.

You should be able to automatically copy program IFX in the pull-down menu for writing from the FX page.

Lastly, you want to think about what effects are most important, which FX can be shared, which FX are to be applied to overall sound (MFX) and whether FX are required at all - 'cuz you can bypass the whole thing and run dry if you like.

This FX management issue also has a big role in setting up the sequencer as well so it's a good thing to do some homework on - look for tutorials (youtube) for more hints on how to use FX, or bite the bullet and get the "How-to" video tutorials (usually around $30).


BB

[Robby1425]

Oh ok! But also I have a combi with more than one sound so you can only put one ifx and mfx think to each combi right? Also where can I find a user combi I can work with every time I try to save a combi the category of user is never an option for it to save to

[billbaker]

Check the programs - many use only one or two IFX, you have 8 total in a combi so you might be able to exactly copy several programs befor running out. You route each instrument individually; typically instrument 1 gets IFX 1 then whatever else it needs. Subsequent instruments get the next, next , etc., till you run out.

But you can also insert (routing) a program at any point in another instruments FX chain - so for an EP program that uses EQ > Exciter > Plate reverb you could insert another instrument (program) like piano that used just the plate reverb. If you insert at the Exciter stage in the example shown then it would use that and also the next step (plate verb) before going to MFX or the final output stage.

You can also route directly to MFX or bypass MFX. depending on your output selection.


BB

[X-Trade]

The TR, LE, X50, and MicroX only have 1IFX. The rest of the Triton series has 5.

In part this lends itself to a more modern, raw sound in the presets which the older gear lacks, but ultimately it is quite limiting. This is why I'd normally recommend a 2nd hand Triton Classic or KARMA over the lower end budget models listed above. You'd have a more powerful machine and in many instances actually save some money.

I don't know the LE, but the TR is virtually identical and it only had one INIT Prog and 1 INIT combi, so make sure you pick out some factory combis that you don't like and write the INIT combi over them.

Also note that you do not save combis nor programs to a 'category'. Category is simply an option like a tag. The actual location is the bank name and program number - for example B076. The program in B076 could be edited and saved as under the category 'Piano'. So you would go into Cateogry Selection into piano to find program B076. If you then edited it again and saved it under 'Organ', B076 would be gone from the 'Piano' category because you have now set it as being in the 'Organ' category..

So Cateogries are a selection method, not a storage location.

[csteen]

You can also save combi's programs ect, to your card as a totally seperate pcg file. You need not worry about overwriting in this manor. You load your factory set and edit what ever you like and then save to the card as a qhole new pcg file...

[michelkeijzers]

Also consider PCG Tools (sorry for the advertisement), however it's not commercial since it's free.

[juanar]

Hi. I'm having an awful time trying to create a split combination of 2 programs. I'm taking one of the generic combis and changing this to have 2 programs and later save it on external SD. But i can't make the 2nd program sound. Its status is set to OFF and i don't know how to change it. Secondly, when i try to save it only offers internal memory. Must i change it directly from the SD card? Help! Manuals for this synth are useless!!!

[billbaker]

If you can see that it is set to OFF you can change it; just touch or move the cursor to highlight that button and select it - you should see a choice of status OFF/INT/EXT - choose INT (for internal sound) and you should be good to play.


BB

[X-Trade]

Navigate to it using the arrows and change it using the alpha wheel or the inc/dec buttons.

[Gahanta]

Hi
I am not a pro. But doing some music work with my TR. I have a simple question. If you answer this for me I will be greatly helped in one corner of Nepal to do my music work.
HOW CAN I transfer my song, track by track from my TR to a pc in the most simple way while each track syncs. I am asking this even more keenly because I notice a usb slot in the TR. How significant is that in the light of what I am asking ? Thanks whoever can come to my assistance.Gahanta
- (Gahanta@hotmail.com)

[Ozz]

Hi:

I strongly recommend you to avoid overwriting the factory combis.
Not because they could be "masterpieces", but because these might be usefull.

A better alternative IMO, is to use the SEQUENCER mode, because SEQUENCER mode can do anything that COMBI mode can:

- Same FXs settings
- Same OSC/Program settings
- Same Arp settings
- Same MIDI settings
- Same Controller settings
- Same Layer/Split settings, but:
- 16 Programs instead 8... but you've to be smart and not use it all at once, because the polyphony issues (62/31)

And the SEQ mode have some advantages over the COMBI mode:

- You save the SEQ like a "Song" (with/without a real song to play)
- You can load your "Songs" in any order, any time, or as Cuelist, so, yo can use its as Live-Sets and use it for gigs only pressing + and - buttons.
- Access to a mixer

And more important:

- An elegant workaround to the "sound-cutting" problem:

Using the same "Song" but with a group of Tracks/Programs assigned to a MIDI Channel and other group assigned to other MIDI Channel (the only problem is that when you change the MIDI Channel you cann't be sending any MIDI signal, but you still be hearing long decays or reverb sounds without any sound-cutting).

Remember, in SEQ mode you have the same as COMBI mode, but with 16 Channels and the possibility to make Cuelist for live gigs without messing around with other Combis and Programs.

You can take a look in this post for more info:

Avoiding cutting the sound when changing prog/combi/seq

Regars.
Alvaro.

[Scott]

A better alternative IMO, is to use the SEQUENCER mode, because SEQUENCER mode can do anything that COMBI mode can
...
And the SEQ mode have some advantages over the COMBI mode:
...
And more important:

- An elegant workaround to the "sound-cutting" problem:

Using the same "Song" but with a group of Tracks/Programs assigned to a MIDI Channel and other group assigned to other MIDI Channel (the only problem is that when you change the MIDI Channel you cann't be sending any MIDI signal

I'm not sure which I'd find the bigger nuisance... having sound abruptly cut off when you switch to a new Combi, or having to make sure you've released all keys and pedals before switching to a new track in a Song. If it was necessary to prevent someone from switching sounds while notes were playing (perhaps to avoid stuck notes or whatever), it would at least have been nice if you could enter the track you wanted to change to while you were playing, even if the change didn't take effect until you released all keys and pedals.

The Song method does have one more advantage over using Combis, though... the screen can remind you what sound is assigned to 8 buttons. I like the 10's Hold feature for Combis, but unfortunately, when you invoke it, there is no corresponding display telling you what sounds are assigned to the 10 buttons. I think that was an unfortunate oversight. Time for paper and pen, I guess. OTOH, the 10's Hold feature lets you select a new sound with a single button press, whereas the Song Track Selection method requires two button presses to change sounds, so there's another trade-off.

Them there's the program-switching-within-a-combi method described at http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=50333& which in some ways is best... sounds don't cut off when you change them AND you don't have to release keys and pedals when switching, plus the screen tells you the names of the sounds. And I think the patch selection method is better than the 2-button Song track select method, too. But this method has it's own limitation, you can't split or layer sounds. "It's always something..."