Hello to all - I recently down-loaded a free sample file for the M3 from a generous donor. Several other people had downloaded it too, apparently with no problems. I used a new 2Gb USB2 key, formatted on the M3, to transfer from the PC to the M3, but when attempting to load the files into the M3, I got the message 'Illegal SMF data'.
Does anyone know what that's all about, please? Is it fixable? My M3 is the Xpanded version complete with the additional 256Mb RAM. The new file is 280.7Mb but presumably some of the original 64Mb is available as well.
Stay well
Rod
Illegal SMF data
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Bald Eagle
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:06 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
That message means the file you are trying to load is not a Standard MIDI File (SMF). It sounds like the M3 doesn't know what kind of file it is. What is the file extension and how are you trying to load it?
Also, you mention that the file is 280Mb. A sample must fit entirely in one RAM bank so it will be too big to load. That may also be the cause of the error.
Also, you mention that the file is 280Mb. A sample must fit entirely in one RAM bank so it will be too big to load. That may also be the cause of the error.
Illegal SMF data
Hello Bald Eagle - well, the file name on the USB is Korg M3 sample library.rar - but I presume others have the same thing, but loaded it into the M3 OK. Ditto with the file size - others apparently had no problems loading it, and I believe that 256Mb is the maximum that can be added?
I scanned the USB and it showed up, tapped it to open it, but it stayed as one file, then tapped 'Load' and it opened as 'Song 001' (there are 127 songs) and tapped 'Load' again - and got the 'Illegal SMF data' message. Does that make sense?
It must be me! The file was made available by 'synthkeywizard' who had sold his M3, so offered his own collection of sounds ... very decent!
Thank you for hearing my plea ... stay well
Rod
I scanned the USB and it showed up, tapped it to open it, but it stayed as one file, then tapped 'Load' and it opened as 'Song 001' (there are 127 songs) and tapped 'Load' again - and got the 'Illegal SMF data' message. Does that make sense?
It must be me! The file was made available by 'synthkeywizard' who had sold his M3, so offered his own collection of sounds ... very decent!
Thank you for hearing my plea ... stay well
Rod
rollerboy
Roderick, the .rar file is a compressed archive file (just like a .zip file) and the M3 can't read it. What you need to do is extract the files from within the archive using your computer, and then copy those files over to a USB stick. Inside the archive are individual sample sets and PCGs within their own folders.
If your computer can't open the .rar file to extract the files, you can download the program here: http://rarlab.com/download.htm
If your computer can't open the .rar file to extract the files, you can download the program here: http://rarlab.com/download.htm
Illegal SMF data
Hello Bald Eagle, and thank you! I downloaded the file unzipper, put the USB back into the computer and got the Winrar to unzip the lot - took an hour and 10 minutes, which I suppose is normal?
Put the USB back into the M3, and it came up with tons of files ... had to press 'Open' 4 times to get down to the actual files and 'Load' appeared. So I loaded the first 10 samples - each one came up with a message 'Use */? as wildcard?' (no idea what that means) to which I said OK (if I didn't, nothing happened) and a brief flash as the file loaded. Now, my question is - where have they been loaded to?
The manual tells me I should be able to select a destination - well, I can't at any point in the process. I am given no options.
I have trawled though all the Internal Banks and the User Banks, in Program and Combi modes. Nothing. So where would they normally have loaded, please? Thanks again in advance, stay well
Rod
Put the USB back into the M3, and it came up with tons of files ... had to press 'Open' 4 times to get down to the actual files and 'Load' appeared. So I loaded the first 10 samples - each one came up with a message 'Use */? as wildcard?' (no idea what that means) to which I said OK (if I didn't, nothing happened) and a brief flash as the file loaded. Now, my question is - where have they been loaded to?
The manual tells me I should be able to select a destination - well, I can't at any point in the process. I am given no options.
I have trawled though all the Internal Banks and the User Banks, in Program and Combi modes. Nothing. So where would they normally have loaded, please? Thanks again in advance, stay well
Rod
rollerboy
It's easy to be confused at first. It sounds like you only loaded the samples, not any programs.
Look for the PCG files in the folders. Select the PCG. It's a good idea to look to see what's in the folders and where they will load to. So use the Open button to see what's inside (temporary -- we're just going to look). For example, the Alesis folder will load Programs to bank U-G. There are no combis in there. Just programs and samples. It's important to note the original destination bank if you want to change the destination.
Now, go back UP until you get back to the PCG file again. Make sure it is selected. Press the LOAD button. You should see a new window appear with options, one of which asks if you want to load the KSC file. You do want this. Check that box to load the corresponding samples along with the programs at the same time.
In order to set a destination, you need to change the .PCG contents from ALL to select the original destination bank we saw before (U-G) from the drop down list. The TO box will then appear. You can select any program bank there.
For more information:
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:ba ... techniques
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:un ... pling-data
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:be ... -pro-packs
There may be videos and tutorials on YouTube. Search for them. It will take a while to fully understand how things work. Be patient.
Please note, I am not Bald Eagle.
Look for the PCG files in the folders. Select the PCG. It's a good idea to look to see what's in the folders and where they will load to. So use the Open button to see what's inside (temporary -- we're just going to look). For example, the Alesis folder will load Programs to bank U-G. There are no combis in there. Just programs and samples. It's important to note the original destination bank if you want to change the destination.
Now, go back UP until you get back to the PCG file again. Make sure it is selected. Press the LOAD button. You should see a new window appear with options, one of which asks if you want to load the KSC file. You do want this. Check that box to load the corresponding samples along with the programs at the same time.
In order to set a destination, you need to change the .PCG contents from ALL to select the original destination bank we saw before (U-G) from the drop down list. The TO box will then appear. You can select any program bank there.
For more information:
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:ba ... techniques
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:un ... pling-data
http://karma-lab.wikidot.com/korg-m3:be ... -pro-packs
There may be videos and tutorials on YouTube. Search for them. It will take a while to fully understand how things work. Be patient.
Please note, I am not Bald Eagle.
Illegal SMF data
Hard Sync - my abject apologies! I was so focused on these wretched files that I failed to notice the name change. I am about to follow your quite clear instructions, and will report back ...
Rod
Rod
rollerboy
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Bald Eagle
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:06 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Illegal SMF data
Hello again HardSync ... OK, I loaded 'Alesis' with your invaluable help. Thank you. Only 6 voices, but only the one voice with 'Big Choir'. I've not yet found how to load the groups sequentially ... at the moment, loading 'Big Choir' wipes out all the 'Alesis' voices - and vice versa. Must be a trick to it (isn't there always!).
One thing bothers me though. Is it true that when you switch the power off, all your painfully loaded new voices simply disappear? That's true with the official Korg extra voices, but they load fairly rapidly. These ones don't - and the progress bar doesn't work either. I'd guess around 2 hours to load all the voices, which is not an option. So one would have to know which voices to load for a particular project? Is that how you'd handle it? A pity Korg didn't install a hard disk!
Thanks again
Rod
One thing bothers me though. Is it true that when you switch the power off, all your painfully loaded new voices simply disappear? That's true with the official Korg extra voices, but they load fairly rapidly. These ones don't - and the progress bar doesn't work either. I'd guess around 2 hours to load all the voices, which is not an option. So one would have to know which voices to load for a particular project? Is that how you'd handle it? A pity Korg didn't install a hard disk!
Thanks again
Rod
rollerboy
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Bald Eagle
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:06 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Samples are all lost when you power off and unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it. Even a hard disk wont help. I have connected a hard disk to my M3 and things don't load any faster.
File and project management is a pain but you will get used to it. Just load the samples that you need for each project and then do a "Save All" for your project. This will save programs, combis, sequencer data and most importantly the samples. Loading the KSC file that is created by Save All will restore everything. Create a folder for each project before saving to make things easier to manage.
File and project management is a pain but you will get used to it. Just load the samples that you need for each project and then do a "Save All" for your project. This will save programs, combis, sequencer data and most importantly the samples. Loading the KSC file that is created by Save All will restore everything. Create a folder for each project before saving to make things easier to manage.
Illegal SMF data
Good morning gentlemen! (a lot earlier there than it is here, I'm afraid!). Your guidance has resulted in success - I've now grasped the principles of loading from the USB - works fine EXCEPT ! (There's always one ...)
I load a file (say Alesis) from the USB, switch from 'Media' to 'Program' and there they are in Bank UG, 000 to 005. Great, all working nicely. I had specified 'Append' when loading, incidentally. Back to 'Media' and load the next sample (Bigchoir), also selecting 'Append' for the location. Switch back to 'Program' and - Bigchoir has wiped out Alesis and is sitting in slot 000 when it should have gone to slot 006.
Tried this several times - always the new sample appears in slot 000 and all previously loaded slots are wiped out. Now, is that me, or a fault either in the M3 or the sample program?
Incidentally, the progress bar doesn't work - odd flashes that never get above 78% and random up or down - but mostly just sat at zero.
Am I the only person on Earth to have these snags?
Stay well
Rod
I load a file (say Alesis) from the USB, switch from 'Media' to 'Program' and there they are in Bank UG, 000 to 005. Great, all working nicely. I had specified 'Append' when loading, incidentally. Back to 'Media' and load the next sample (Bigchoir), also selecting 'Append' for the location. Switch back to 'Program' and - Bigchoir has wiped out Alesis and is sitting in slot 000 when it should have gone to slot 006.
Tried this several times - always the new sample appears in slot 000 and all previously loaded slots are wiped out. Now, is that me, or a fault either in the M3 or the sample program?
Incidentally, the progress bar doesn't work - odd flashes that never get above 78% and random up or down - but mostly just sat at zero.
Am I the only person on Earth to have these snags?
Stay well
Rod
rollerboy
Good morning, Rod.
First, don't worry about the progress bar. That is normal.
Second, there are different ways to load things depending on what you want. When you were trying to load the Big Choir programs, you were overwriting the Alesis programs. The append option was only for the multisamples, not the programs.
If you want to append both programs (and/or combis) and their corresponding samples at the same time, you have to use the Load PCG (RAM) and Samples command. This is accessible in the command menu (the down arrow button at the top right of the screen) when a PCG file is selected. Check out pages 426 & 427 of the parameter guide. Basically, this will let you append programs and their samples to a desired location. But there is a very important catch. This command will only load programs that use the RAM samples in the PCG (and it will only load combis that use the programs that are using RAM samples in the PCG). So it's possible that some programs won't be loaded if they don't use any RAM samples.
So instead of using the Load button, you will select / highlight the PCG file. Touch the command menu button on the screen. Then select the Load PCG (RAM) and Samples command. You will see a dialog box with choices. You can choose the destination for the appended programs there and multisamples are automatically appended too.
First, don't worry about the progress bar. That is normal.
Second, there are different ways to load things depending on what you want. When you were trying to load the Big Choir programs, you were overwriting the Alesis programs. The append option was only for the multisamples, not the programs.
If you want to append both programs (and/or combis) and their corresponding samples at the same time, you have to use the Load PCG (RAM) and Samples command. This is accessible in the command menu (the down arrow button at the top right of the screen) when a PCG file is selected. Check out pages 426 & 427 of the parameter guide. Basically, this will let you append programs and their samples to a desired location. But there is a very important catch. This command will only load programs that use the RAM samples in the PCG (and it will only load combis that use the programs that are using RAM samples in the PCG). So it's possible that some programs won't be loaded if they don't use any RAM samples.
So instead of using the Load button, you will select / highlight the PCG file. Touch the command menu button on the screen. Then select the Load PCG (RAM) and Samples command. You will see a dialog box with choices. You can choose the destination for the appended programs there and multisamples are automatically appended too.
Illegal SMF data
Wow! How do you keep all this stuff in your heads? I am much impressed ... been there, tried that, but no joy - must've been one of those that didn't use RAM samples in the PCG file. Drat! But I have grasped what you say - just can't memorise 635 pages of Parameter Guide ... I have actually auditioned most of the samples kindly donated, and find few I could actually use, so I'm afraid I won't be trying to load them anyway ... I'll return the M3 to its state of having the Korg extra voices permanently plugged in that I can load in a few minutes when required.
Thank you Bald Eagle and HardSync both, for your patience and willingness to help a lesser soul grapple with the intricacies of an M3! It is an awesome machine - but not very user-friendly!
Stay very well ..
Rod
Thank you Bald Eagle and HardSync both, for your patience and willingness to help a lesser soul grapple with the intricacies of an M3! It is an awesome machine - but not very user-friendly!
Stay very well ..
Rod
rollerboy