COMBI Drum Track

[RickProfundo]

I'm attempting, with zero success so far, to add a drum track per the Kronos Operation Guide (page 260: Using the Drum Track in Combination Mode).

I have followed these instructions to the letter, resulting in either 1) no sound whatsoever if I set the output MIDI channel to 10 (again, per the instructions) or 2) an annoying KARMA-like arpeggiation jive track sort of jumble if I set the output channel to Gch.

What is the magic word to make this work?

I welcome any and all help. Many thanks in advance...

[GregC]

I am guessing you selected a drum kit in program mode.

You also have to select a Drum Pattern.

When in Combi mode if you simply 'copy' a drum program it will give a default drum pattern and volume and tempo.

.

[RickProfundo]

I am guessing you selected a drum kit in program mode.
I do not see an option for selecting a drum kit after selecting a program for a COMBI. For example, right now, in PROG mode, my 000 Kronos German Grand patch holds the P067 Half Time drum pattern using the U-A001 Jazz Dry/Amb 2 Kit. After selecting 000 Kronos German Grand for a COMBI neither of these parameters appear anywhere in the COMBI. Instead, after pressing the Drum Track tab, I find the P001 Pop & Ballad 1 selected as the Drum Pattern. And no matter how many times I change this pattern, the Kronos still plays that maddening chunked-up jive arpeggiated KARMA-like pattern when I play anything with that COMBI.

You also have to select a Drum Pattern.
Please see above.

When in Combi mode if you simply 'copy' a drum program it will give a default drum pattern and volume and tempo.
I have not yet found this to be even remotely the case. In fact, despite repeated attempts to generate any kind of usable drum pattern within a COMBI, using precisely the steps listed in the OG, the Kronos has yet to produce anything like a usable drum pattern.

Am I the only Kronos owner who's experienced this? This is, by far, the most frustrating and maddening piece of gear I've ever owned.

.

[Liviou2004]

I am guessing you selected a drum kit in program mode.
I do not see an option for selecting a drum kit after selecting a program for a COMBI. For example, right now, in PROG mode, my 000 Kronos German Grand patch holds the P067 Half Time drum pattern using the U-A001 Jazz Dry/Amb 2 Kit. After selecting 000 Kronos German Grand for a COMBI neither of these parameters appear anywhere in the COMBI. Instead, after pressing the Drum Track tab, I find the P001 Pop & Ballad 1 selected as the Drum Pattern. And no matter how many times I change this pattern, the Kronos still plays that maddening chunked-up jive arpeggiated KARMA-like pattern when I play anything with that COMBI.

You also have to select a Drum Pattern.
Please see above.

When in Combi mode if you simply 'copy' a drum program it will give a default drum pattern and volume and tempo.
I have not yet found this to be even remotely the case. In fact, despite repeated attempts to generate any kind of usable drum pattern within a COMBI, using precisely the steps listed in the OG, the Kronos has yet to produce anything like a usable drum pattern.

Am I the only Kronos owner who's experienced this? This is, by far, the most frustrating and maddening piece of gear I've ever owned.

.

- Does this issue happen even when Karma is Off ?
- I suppose you're not in Quick Split or Quick Layer mode ? (in these mode, it's possible to choose another Drum Track)
- In order to get a drums sound for the drum track, you have to put a Drum Program sound directly on one of the Combi track. For example, in the Kronos 2, one of the factory sound AA106 is the studio standard kit. You can put it on track 10 of the Combi and assign a pattern in the Drum Track Combi page. Do not forget to assign the right Midi chanel.

This is the difference between Program and Combi mode. In Prog Mode we choose the Drum Kit inside the Drum Track page ; in Combi Mode, we choose the Drum Kit among the Drum Programs and put it directly in one track.
So, there could sometimes be a problem if you don't care when loading some sounds banks : if the sounds banks replace initial Drums Programs used in one of your Combi, the Drum Track will play this new sound in place of the initial Drum Prog !!
So I advise you to check each channel of you Combi and check it is playing the right Prog !

[RickProfundo]

- Does this issue happen even when Karma is Off ?
Yes.

- I suppose you're not in Quick Split or Quick Layer mode ? (in these mode, it's possible to choose another Drum Track)
Correct - I'm in neither Quick Split nor Quick Layer mode.

- In order to get a drums sound for the drum track, you have to put a Drum Program sound directly on one of the Combi track. For example, in the Kronos 2, one of the factory sound AA106 is the studio standard kit. You can put it on track 10 of the Combi and assign a pattern in the Drum Track Combi page. Do not forget to assign the right Midi channel.
This, I believe, is the heart of the issue. I have followed your instructions listed here, which correspond to the instructions in the OG, to the letter multiple times, with always the same result. If I assign the Drum Program sound to the global channel, the output is this weird, chopped-up, jive, KARMA-like arpeggiated mess. If, on the other hand, I assign the Drum Program sound to the MIDI channel suggested in the OG (10), the Kronos produces no drum sounds at all.

This is the difference between Program and Combi mode. In Prog Mode we choose the Drum Kit inside the Drum Track page ; in Combi Mode, we choose the Drum Kit among the Drum Programs and put it directly in one track.
So, there could sometimes be a problem if you don't care when loading some sounds banks : if the sounds banks replace initial Drums Programs used in one of your Combi, the Drum Track will play this new sound in place of the initial Drum Prog !!
So I advise you to check each channel of you Combi and check it is playing the right Prog!
I'm able to select drum patterns and kits in PROG mode with no issues whatsoever.
I have no idea how to interpret the underlined and italicized statement above. Are you saying I need to somehow mute the drum sound/kit that's already connected to any individual PROG patch?

All I'm trying to do right now, and I'd be THRILLED if I could make this happen, is program any COMBI to simply play a piano sound and a drum track.

[Liviou2004]

I'm able to select drum patterns and kits in PROG mode with no issues whatsoever.

Oh, yes, I'm sure. But what I pointed out there, is the fact that in Combi mode, the Combi still points toward a memory place and not toward a Prog name. So, if your Prog has changed in Prog mode, the sound produced by the Combi will change, even if you've kept he same Prog number on the Combi track. So it is with Drums Prog. (that's the reason why I ask you what version of Kronos you have).

I have no idea how to interpret the underlined and italicized statement above. Are you saying I need to somehow mute the drum sound/kit that's already connected to any individual PROG patch?

All I'm trying to do right now, and I'd be THRILLED if I could make this happen, is program any COMBI to simply play a piano sound and a drum track.

I've underlined the statement just for paying attention to that. But, no need to mute something.

I must admit it's quite hard to imagine where does this issue come. I will try to create this very simple combi, as you. Piano + Drum Track, and will come back.

Just one question what version of Kronos do you have ?

[tunaman]

I just went in and walked through the steps myself, and see exactly what the OP is speaking of.

I started with an initialized Combi, copied a drum track program to timbre 10, and selected different Drum Pattern values (Preset and User). From the selections I tried, they all produced melodic arp patterns, not actual drum track sounds.

[GregC]

Lets start again

Its a good idea to tell us about your K.

Is it factory new to you or did you buy it used ?

Go to Global mode.
Review Basic Setup. Look for
Karma/Drum Track setup.
What do the check boxes tell you ?

Skip mangling with loaded Combi's for now.
We can't see what's going on.

Go to Program Mode.
Select Drums.
Select a drum kit, lets say Mashed Kit.
Make sure that's viewable in Program mode.

Press Combi mode. Select a Blank or empty Combi.
Go to upper right hand corner for the drop down menu
See 'copy from Program '.
Your Mashed kit Program is populated in the dialog box.

Confirm you are pointing it to midi channel 10
Do it

Back to your Combi. See your Kit in midi channel 10
Go to the Midi Tab

for Channel 10, the drum kit is in Global Channel or Gch

However, midi channel has a piano pointed to 01G.
Change this out of 01G. pick 2 or 3 or whatever.

Make sure Karma light is off. Don't mess with Karma. Later.

Press your Drum Track button

Press a key/hold it. You should hear the kit playing a pattern.

Now go to the DrumTrack tab in this Combi.
You have all kinds of choices. Fool around with them
until you are solid on function.

[RickProfundo]

Just one question what version of Kronos do you have?
I have a Kronos X, 88 keys, running version 3.1.2, purchased new in 2014.

[RickProfundo]

Go to Global mode. Review Basic Setup. Look for Karma/Drum Track setup.
What do the check boxes tell you?
* All KARMA Off - unchecked
* Drum Track Off - unchecked
* Load KARMA settings when changing:
*** Program - checked
*** Combination - checked

[GregC]

Go to Global mode. Review Basic Setup. Look for Karma/Drum Track setup.
What do the check boxes tell you?
* All KARMA Off - unchecked
* Drum Track Off - unchecked
* Load KARMA settings when changing:
*** Program - checked
*** Combination - checked

very good. Thats standard

Now go back to Global- press the MIDI tab.
See Drum Track Midi setup section.

What Program Midi Channel is selected ?

[RickProfundo]

I apologize for the big gaps in response - two of my grandkids have come over and I'm playing grandad for a little while. Thank you SO much for your help!!! I'll be back ASAP...

[RickProfundo]

Go to Program Mode. Select Drums. Select a drum kit, lets say Mashed Kit.
Make sure that's viewable in Program mode.
Done.

[RickProfundo]

Press Combi mode. Select a Blank or empty Combi.
Done.

Go to upper right hand corner for the drop down menu. Select 'copy from Program'. Your Mashed kit Program is populated in the dialog box.
Done.

[RickProfundo]

Confirm you are pointing it to midi channel 10.
Done.