2 questions on M3

StillTommy G · Post by **StillTommy G** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 7:52 pm

Good afternoon all.
A couple of quick questions about my newly acquired, used M3-73.

I read here that I should never go back to the older operating systems.
If I restore factory settings, will I still retain the current OS? (2.0, which I know is not the latest).

Also, the ribbon controller seems a bit quirky. I tried to remove the cover for the joystick and ribbon but could not pop it off.
Is there a way to clean the contacts in the ribbon?
Thanks to anyone who can answer these questions.
Tommy G

Bald Eagle · Post by **Bald Eagle** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:11 pm

Its never a good idea to downgrade the OS on any Korg workstation. There can be problems.

Regarding the ribbon controller, I believe that is has to be serviced from the bottom so more disassembly would be required. I had similar issue with the joystick which are on the same circuits.

StillTommy G · Post by **StillTommy G** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:23 pm

Its never a good idea to downgrade the OS on any Korg workstation. There can be problems.

Understood. I do not want to downgrade. I just want to restore factory settings, but first I want to make sure this will not bring me back to the old OS.
Thanks again

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:14 pm

By "factory settings" do you mean just the voice data as originally set up?

That is a matter of loading a .pcg file (check the download section here at KorgForums) or running a restore routine - I believe that is found in the Global menu under Load Preload/Demo data. That should restore all banks to "factory" settings.

WARNING: running the "preload" routine will overwrite or erase all the current banks and data so only do it if you DON'T want that data at all, or you've saved your work to computer or media (i.e., flash RAM).

BB

StillTommy G · Post by **StillTommy G** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 2:03 pm

Hi Bill,
I bought it used, and have only saved 1 or 2 custom programs or combis.

I want to load the original sounds, because I'm really not sure what the previous owner has tweaked in there.
Yes, I was going to use the function in the global menu.
I just don't want it to revert to the old OS. And of course I want to keep the XPANDED sound set.

When I bought it, it came with 2 flash drives. One said "XPANDED".

The other was just a generic drive that the previous owner said he got with the xpanded kit also. (that may have had OS 2.0 on it, don't remember)
He had never actually loaded the XPANDED or the 2.0 update, which I did right after I bought the machine.
I have been using that drive to save sequencer data up to this point.

He was very clueless as to the layout and operation of the keyboard.

billbaker · Post by **billbaker** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:41 pm

Can't say for sure what the restore routine will do, but generally speaking the restore does not effect the OS version but just sets what would usually be the contents of a .pcg file - it does drum kits, programs and combis, and global settings, plus (demo) some .sng files.

I believe that the "expanded" flash drive includes samples as well.

So you may have to restore to "factory", and then do the "expanded" routine to upload those samples - hence, two flash drives.

IMO, one of the best places to find documents of for Korg keyboards is at the Korg UK site. Their support section includes very thorough, comprehensive, searchable .pdf documents for just about every Korg synth. They may have what you're looking for regarding both the upgrade path from stock to expanded, plus the exact content of the expanded version.

BB

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:13 am

StillTommy G wrote:Hi Bill,
I bought it used, and have only saved 1 or 2 custom programs or combis.

I want to load the original sounds, because I'm really not sure what the previous owner has tweaked in there.
Yes, I was going to use the function in the global menu.
I just don't want it to revert to the old OS. And of course I want to keep the XPANDED sound set.

When I bought it, it came with 2 flash drives. One said "XPANDED".

The other was just a generic drive that the previous owner said he got with the xpanded kit also. (that may have had OS 2.0 on it, don't remember)
He had never actually loaded the XPANDED or the 2.0 update, which I did right after I bought the machine.
I have been using that drive to save sequencer data up to this point.

He was very clueless as to the layout and operation of the keyboard.

It sounds like you need to do some reading of the manuals.

But to answer your question: No, restoring the factory preset sounds does NOT revert your OS. Don't worry about this at all. Doing an OS update is a completely different procedure.

StillTommy G · Post by **StillTommy G** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:39 pm

hmm, I replied to BB, but I must have never submitted it.

As I had previously attempted to post. I learned that when I upgraded to expanded, it replaced the sound set. So I really do not need to do the factory reset.

Thanks to all who have responded, Yes, Stephen. been working with the manuals quite a bit, and learning to find my way around the M3. (an hour to buy, a lifetime or more to master).
Thankfully what I have learned on my triton rack largely carries over to the M3.

Love the Korg products, and I love what KARMA does, however it is very complex, and I've barely scratched the surface.

Thanks again, for the support.
TOMMY