Korg Forums

Greetings everyone. I am fairly new into the world of workstations and synths and I am trying to figure out mainly how to program some patches into the TR88.

Heres some back story. About 6 years ago, I was introduced to the world of workstations and well Korg more specifically when a friend of mine was looking to make some quick cash and sold me a Korg N364 with case and stand for $280. I never really had messed around with workstations before, but I figured would be a great buy especially since I was trying to form a prog/gothic metal band at the time. Well the band idea never really took off so I only putzed around with the stock saounds on the N364. Hence why I consider my expirince level as a newbie when it comes to programing a workstation.

Fast foward a few years, got married, had 2 kids, the time I now have to spend trying to learn how to program a synth has seriously diminished. About a year ago though, I was looking for something a little newer that had 88 weighted keys, since I originally learned to play on standard pianos. I was looking over different intruments, and ofcorse having a family to support, I was on a bit of a budget. I was really looking into the M50's as they had just come out when I game across a Korg TR88 used in mint cond on eBay for $800 free shipping. Well needless to say I snagged it up.

Now that I have the TR88, I really dont play with the N364 anymore and so since my wife (who is an awesome vocalist btw) has an interest in learning piano, I figured she could have it to learn on. Only thing is, there are a few sounds in the N364 that I would love to recreate in the TR88, however I dont know how to go about it.

One of the things I have noticed many people not liking about the TR series is the 1 insert effect. Well I glanced over the user manuals for the N364 and according to it, it has 2 effect processors. Now it doesnt specify whether these are insert FX, Master, etc. So my question is in 2 parts. 1. How would one go about making new patches in a Korg TR88 modeled after sounds in an N364? Is it even possible given the differences in the way the effects prcs work in the 2 different workstations? Thanks in advance.

twstone1983 wrote:One of the things I have noticed many people not liking about the TR series is the 1 insert effect. Well I glanced over the user manuals for the N364 and according to it, it has 2 effect processors. Now it doesnt specify whether these are insert FX, Master, etc. So my question is in 2 parts. 1. How would one go about making new patches in a Korg TR88 modeled after sounds in an N364? Is it even possible given the differences in the way the effects prcs work in the 2 different workstations? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the Triton world!

The best approach to model the sound of one program based on another synth is to examine the source patch in fine detail to see everything that it does. The easiest way to do that is to use a software editor to load the patch for examination. You don't need the other hardware to do that, in most cases, since the editors at least let you view the parameters. The hardware is useful and necessary if you don't know what those parameters do and how they affect the actual sound.

Then after examinating the source patch, it's easiest to use a software editor to rebuild the patch the same way, then make improvements and fine tune it in the process. There's some art and skill needed to do this, besides merely copying the parameters one by one, particularly when the structure is different between the synths.

Thanks for the reply. Im trying to read over the manuals for the N364 and TR88 to figure out how to edit the parameters and such. One of my biggest gripes about these manuals though are they love to use abreviations or accronyms but dont tell you what they are half the time. Like the N364 states that a VDA is a Variable Digital Amplifier and VDF is Variable Digital Filter. But then it say something about "Pitch MG" which I assume has something to do with shifting or bending the pitch, and VDA/F EG. What is EG? Effect Group?

Needless to say it can be a bit confusing trying to read some of this stuff. Anyway, once I get this down, I can then move on to creating my own samples. I think a fun sampling project would be to break out my dads old Farfisa Combo Compact and sample it note for note.....we will see though.

Also, any programs you reccomend using to analyze the patch parameters? I think I came across one or two that would pull the info and store it in a text document.