Dynamic live performances (using RPPR + SYSEX)

[maranite]

Enough people have asked how to do this that it’s worth posting to a new thread….
You can create very dynamic live performances in Krome by taking advantage of RPPR patterns that contain SYSEX messages. These messages can be used to instruct Krome to:
• Start/stop and change the pattern for the A/B arpeggiators independently
• Select a new drum track (for fills, bridges, chorus, etc.)
• Change the program and effects for a specific track

The important thing is that these changes can be timed to always occur exactly at the start of a new bar – meaning that you can trigger an RPPR at any time, and continue playing knowing that the changes will only take effect on the next bar.

Here’s what you need to know to make this technique work:
• You can [only] create sysex messages when in track edit mode.
• Tracks can be copied to patterns.
• Patterns, triggered via RPPR, can be synchronized to the measure/bar currently playing.

To get started, follow the steps below. Once you've got the hang of the technique, you can experiment with more advanced ideas.
1. Create a new, empty song
2. Check the RPPR box to turn on RPPR (upper right corner).
3. Go to the track edit page (press PAGE + 6)
4. Set the song length to 1 bar (press ENTER + 5, 1, ENTER)
5. From the menu (top right button), choose “Create Exclusive Data”
6. In the Kind box, there are 3 drop lists. In the 1st, choose “Song”
7. In the 2nd, choose “Drum Track”
8. In the 3rd, choose “Pattern Number”
9. In the start value box, enter 233. This is the pattern number for “16 beat 2-5 100bpm”
(see the Korg “Voice Name List” pdf for details)
10. Click OK (or press ENTER) to create the data

11. Go to the Pattern/RPPR page (press PAGE, select Patter/RPPR)
12. Select the Pattern Name tab.
13. Bring up the “Get from Track” menu (press ENTER + 9)
14. Copy Track 1, Measure 1 (containing the SYSEX command created in step 8 ) into the pattern.
15. Select the RPPR Setup tab.
16. In the “Key #” box, select F#4, then check “Assign”.
17. Go to the ARP/DT screen (PAGE + 7)
18. On the Drum Track tab, choose a 16-beat pattern (like pattern 231)
At this point, you can turn on the Drum Track button, hit a key and the drum track will start. If you press F# in the 4th octave (F#4), you’ll see the drum track pattern change immediately, but the playback of the pattern will only take effect in the following bar.
In practise, you will probably want to create multiple patterns so that you can switch the drum track back and forth during a performance.
The technique for starting, stopping and selecting arpeggiators is precisely the same – the only difference is that in steps 5-9 you would create arpeggiators exclusive data instead of a drum track pattern assignment.

If you find ways to evolve or improve on this technique, I’d love to hear about it.
Good luck, and enjoy your Krome!

Edit: I removed the suggestion that you can change the currently selected track using sysex. It only works if you use a midi loopback cable to echo a track select message to Krome. As a work around, consider using RPPR patterns to zero/raise the volume of different parts.

Note: Muting a track doesn't just silence the part, it also suspends the transmission of all midi message from that track, whereas zeroing the track's volume merely prevents audible output.

[yank]

Hello , thanx for your very useful post. There is very good idea to change the patterns via RPPR. This way you can change Krome almost to the arranger keyboard. But. Can you please specify what do you mean with "Change the currently selected track that the keys will play on " ? I tried to change the input MIDI track for live playing in SEQ mode with sysex. But i didn'' find it in the Krome system as standard message like play /mute sysex message for instance. The only way i see is to put the SysEx message manualy in accord with MIDI implementation, than connect the MIDI output of the Krome using the cable direct with its MIDI input. I need this feature for live playing - to change the input track "on the fly" with its complete settings. If you know what i mean and how to do it without connecting a cable, please let me know, thank you.

[dimitra]

Excellent idea. From the looks of it, it should work on M50 as well! I'll try this over the weekend.

[prgtrdr]

• Change the currently selected track that the keys will play on

Thanks for posting this, but I can't seem to figure out how to change the selected track from RPPR (as you hint should work.) There doesn't seem to be a way to set this parameter in the Create Exclusive Data screen.

Looking for a work-around, I found that you can change it with the SYSEX message:

Code: Select all

F0 42 30 00 01 15 41 04 00 3B 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F7

(changes to Track 01), or,

Code: Select all

F0 42 30 00 01 15 41 04 00 3B 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 F7

(changes to Track 02)

Is there a way to embed this SYSEX in a Track/RPPR? Or is there another way to change the current selected track?

[yank]

Hi.
as i wrote you can connect the cable direct from Krome MIDI out to Krome MIDI in.This seems the only way how you can change current selected track via this SysEx.

[prgtrdr]

Hi.
as i wrote you can connect the cable direct from Krome MIDI out to Krome MIDI in.This seems the only way how you can change current selected track via this SysEx.

Yank,

At first I didn't understand what you meant, but then I discovered the Binary Editor in the Event Track Editor. This allowed me to create the SYSEX message to set Current Track. However, as you said, when I played it back it did not work. I presume there is something in the Krome that tells it to transmit binary editor-created messages, not act on them (as it does for SYSEX messages created with the Create Exclusive Data screen.)

I didn't have a MIDI patch cable handy so I connected the USB jack to my PC and loaded MIDI-OX set as a loopback. Sure enough, it worked as you said.

It seems like there has to be an easier way to accomplish this.

[yank]

Hi Prgtrdr, sorry i forgot to mention about binary sysex editor which allows you to create sysex for whatever synth. Yes the message created in binary editor doesn't act The Krome as it does message created with"Create Exclusive data screen" unless you plug cable between midi in and out port.If you find better option please let us know.

[maranite]

It seems like there has to be an easier way to accomplish this.

Nope.

I have edited the original post to reflect this.

[ashes1881]

Hey. I feel real stupid... I don't understand what this post is.
I followed the steps ... Cool.
All I have is what appears to be a drum track played by a piano :/
Somebody sent me here because I needed help changing programs mid song and they told me this would help?
I don't understand it though.
For live performance I'm looking for something to change programs easily as I play a lot of different parts.
Ie. "Strings" then "lead" some "bells", "strings" as the track progresses.
Is there a way to do this with a touch of a key or is THIS the way? Cause I'm just not following it
Cheers, ash.

[prgtrdr]

Hi ashes. There are a few ways to switch sounds in a live environment. What were talking about here is if you've got different sounds and parts recorded for each sound in seq mode. If all you need to do is change sounds, try this:

• Create a song in Seq mode.
  Assign up to 16 different programs or combis to each of the different tracks in the song
  When playing the song, select the Current Track drop down on the screen
  Change tracks/sounds using the Inc/Dec buttons

Hope this helps.