Import Combis-Programs from Korg Legacy products

[six_feet_under]

Guess what! You CAN'T import Combis and Programs that you created/modified in an older Korg product!! You have to build them from scratch.
Per Korg Tech Support "Since the Kross and X50 has two completely different synth engines, import is not possible, and there is no conversion program available. You will need to isolate the sounds (multi-samples) used for each oscillator in the programs you created in the X50 and view the parameter settings, then located similar sounds (multi-samples) and match the parameter settings in the Kross to create the new programs and combinations."
THIS SUXXX!! What terrible support for KORG Legacy customers!!
I migrated from an X-50 to a Kross, and its going to cost me several weeks of work rebuilding my custom sounds. I'm much less of a KORG fan now.

[michelkeijzers]

Personally I think it's not a problem at all.

If you buy a new instrument, I like to use different sounds (why else would you buy a new instrument).

Also there are some good reasons not to be backwards compatible:
- greatly reduces development speed
- people will try old patches and think there has been no changes (new comers)
- probably many people would not bother and keep using old sounds

So my tip: be creative, try to find better sounds and enjoy the new synth for those new (and probably better) sounds.

[six_feet_under]

We'll just have to disagree on this, Michel.

Software vendors, by convention, provide upgrade/migration paths for legacy users. Korg apparently made no effort to do so here, and I can find no caveat in the Kross manuals/sales literature that warns legacy owners of this issue.

I also asked Tech Support for a "legacy map" that shows which X50 voices were discontinued, substituted, or kept for the creation of Kross Voice List. "not available" was the reply from Korg. So, either its company confidential, or they didn't have the insight to develop one.

Korg dropped the ball here. Who knows if they were cutting development costs, disorganized, or just lazy. But it makes me very leery of upgrading within the Korg family ever again.

P.S.
I had over 50 custom combis which equates to a full week of re-programming (a month, given that I have another job).

[michelkeijzers]

I don't think the information is confidential, but it is probably not available; and yes it would be nice if it would be, although this would be a gray area. What if a sound is improved, or 99% sounding alike, or 50%? Or the effects have been improved while the samples are equal?

I think it is partly hardware resources (not the need to keep old samples, or support old hardware/software engines).

Btw, maybe it helps a little bit, but for existing programs/combis you can load both a Kross and older PCG file and search for names; chance is you find an equal or similar name, this does not mean it is equal sounding but might be saving you some time.

[six_feet_under]

Thanks, MK, yes have discovered that. i.e. "M1 Organ" is still there, "Attack Piano" is now "Bright Piano", etc.

Our thread here inspired this new question: http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... 224#698224

[michelkeijzers]

I will check it out (and I fully agree some more clarification from Korg would be nice).