Newbie questions about INIT COMBI and empty slots

[KronosGold]

Although I've had my Kronos for 2 years, I don't know a lot about its operation because I have mainly turned it on, selected a sound and played. Now I am doing more and need help.

What is the best method to identify empty slots in my Kronos to add sounds?

How to do I pull up an INIT COMBI for creating a customized sound?

I used to see INIT COMBI when I scrolled through the sounds. Now I don't. Does this mean I have ran out of empty slots? I added 3 expansion packs from the Korg library website.

[voip]

Use the search function to look for "init" (without quites, of course). If there are any, it will find them.

.

[tunaman]

You mention Combi, but are you really specifying Combinations or are you looking for open Program slots?

Most of my User Combination banks have a ton of uninitialized slots, but uninitialized Program slots are few and far between.

As voip mentioned, you can search for init to locate empty Combi slots, or browse through the banks onscreen. I’d look at the User-B through User-G banks - I can’t imagine that 3 expansion packs would have consumed all of the available slots.

[KronosGold]

Yes I am looking for empty slots to add sounds that I find elsewhere and want in my Kronos. For example, If I use SampleRobot to create Kronos compatible sounds I need a place in the Kronos to add them. Is that called a program?

More specifically, I want to add some of the great sounds in the Triton VST that I own by using SampleRobot. SampleRobot has a feature that will take VST and create Kronos file. As I examine the Triton VST stand alone, it appears some of the sounds are combinations. So, I thought I had to add them to the Kronos as combinations.

I guess I'm using the wrong terminology. When I purchased the Kronos I had no time to learn its operation because my life was very busy. I now have the time. This is a beast of a machine.

[tunaman]

There are both Programs and Combinations. Programs are the sounds, and Combinations are typically more than one Program combined together - for instance, an electric piano with a string ensemble.

Given your statement above, start here:

https://www.korg.com/us/support/downloa ... /424/2012/

Also save copies of these, as you will likely continuously need to refer to one or the other as you learn all of the functionality:

https://www.korg.com/us/support/downloa ... /424/2010/
https://www.korg.com/us/support/downloa ... /424/2011/

[tunaman]

Also, be sure to read through all of the sticky posts at the top of the forum... there is a wealth of information in them.

[KronosGold]

Thanks!! I do have the PDF's already. They often don't provide the simplest of information. For example, the PDF will instruct me to ensure I'm not overwriting but doesn't tell me how to locate an empty space. After reading the PDF, if I still have questions, I come here.

[GregC]

Thanks!! I do have the PDF's already. They often don't provide the simplest of information. For example, the PDF will instruct me to ensure I'm not overwriting but doesn't tell me how to locate an empty space. After reading the PDF, if I still have questions, I come here.

To be clear,, are you set now ?

do you still need to identify empty program banks ?

For me, thats a manual step process;

-get in Program mode
- you will be at " Program 000"
- tap the right facing arrow symbol
-takes you to " bank/program select"
- on the left hand side, you will see a long list of internal and user
banks.. INT- A is the first bank
- tap each bank, and get clear on what instruments or programs are in each bank
- continue slecting each bank, until you get to a "User" bank
- view each User bank,, until you see a wide open USer bank

I do not recommend the purchase of 3rd party samples until:
- you are solid on Navigation
- have a basic understanding of how files are loaded and saved and at what location
- you know how to use the search/magnifying glass

I call it " Look before you leap "

[tunaman]

To add to what Greg stated, be sure you have a firm grasp on the file management processes, and back up your data frequently using the Save PCG, Save SEQ and Save All functions. Maintain versions, preferably in dated folders, so that you can revert back should you make unintended changes or overwrite important content.

Your uncertainty regarding Programs and Combinations led me to believe that you hadn't read the three guides - here are a few relevant excerpts for reference:

From the Quick Start guide:

Code: Select all

Selecting modes
The KRONOS is organized into seven different “modes,”
each optimized for a different purpose. Each mode has a
corresponding button on the front panel, with an LED to
show which one is selected. We’ll introduce each of the
modes below.
Program mode
Programs are the basic sounds of KRONOS. In Program
mode, you can:
• Select and play Programs
• Edit Programs
Make detailed settings for oscillators, filters, amps, EGs,
LFOs, effects, KARMA, vector synthesis, Drum Track,
etc. The specific parameters will vary depending on the
synthesis engine being used.
• Play and control one KARMA module
• Sample external audio, or resample the sound of the
Program
Combination mode
Combinations are sets of up to 16 Programs that can be
played simultaneously, letting you create sounds more
complex than a single Program. In Combination mode, you
can:
• Select and play Combinations
• Use KRONOS as a 16-channel multitimbral tone
generator
• Edit Combinations
Assign Programs to each of the 16 Timbres, each with
separate volume, pan, EQ, and keyboard and velocity
zones; make settings for effects, vector synthesis, Drum
Track, and KARMA.
• Control and play up to four KARMA modules
• Sample or resample

From the Operations guide:

Code: Select all

About the KRONOS’ modes
The KRONOS has a large number of features that let you
play and edit programs and combinations, record and play
sequence data, record and play back samples, and manage
data on disk. The largest unit used to organize these features
is called a mode.
The KRONOS has seven modes.
<clip>
Program mode
Programs are the basic sounds of KRONOS. In Program
mode, you can:
• Select and play Programs
• Edit Programs
Make detailed settings for oscillators, filters, amps, EGs,
LFOs, effects, KARMA, vector synthesis, etc. The
specific parameters will vary depending on the synthesis
type: HD-1, AL-1, CX-3, STR-1, MS-20EX, PolysixEX,
MOD-7, EP-1, or SGX-2.
• Create drum programs using drum kits (as created in
Global mode)
• Play and control one KARMA module
• Sample and resample
For example, you can sample an external audio source
while listening to a performance generated by KARMA,
or you can play a Program and resample your
performance.
Combination mode
Combinations are sets of up to 16 Programs that can be
played simultaneously, letting you create sounds more
complex than a single Program. In Combination mode, you
can:
• Select and play Combinations
• Use KRONOS as a 16-track multitimbral tone generator
• Edit Combinations
Assign Programs to each of the 16 Timbres, each with
separate volume, pan, EQ, and keyboard and velocity
zones; make settings for effects, vector synthesis, Drum
Track, and KARMA.
• Control and play up to four KARMA modules
• Sample or resample
For example you can sample an external audio source
while listening to the performance of the KARMA, or
resample a performance you play using a combination.

Note these details from the OG:

Code: Select all

Overview: Program Banks
KRONOS ships from the factory with [b]over 2,000 Programs
loaded into memory[/b]. All of the factory Programs can be
over-written with your own edits, if desired–except for the
GM banks.
[b]Hundreds of other Program slots are left open[/b] for your own
programming or additional sound libraries. The exact
contents may differ depending on the KRONOS model.
Programs are organized into 21 Banks, as described below.
You can also store many more Programs on the internal
disk(s), or on external USB 2.0 devices. Additional banks of
sounds may already be on the internal disk as shipped from
the factory.
USER–G is the default location for Programs created by
resampling.

This, IMHO, is the biggest limiting factor as the number of available Program slots is relatively limited, should you decide to start installing external sounds and packs.

Also note that any of the external content you receive will be formatted such that each Program or Combi will occupy a specific location (bank and slot number), and blindly installing them may overwrite existing sounds without warning. If you don't have backup PCG files, you may not be able to recover (as one user here recently found out - he inadvertently overwrote some custom entries he had worked hard to create, and they were unrecoverable due to a lack of a backup file).

[GregC]

[quote="tunaman"]To add to what Greg stated, be sure you have a firm grasp on the file management processes, and back up your data frequently using the Save PCG, Save SEQ and Save All functions. Maintain versions, preferably in dated folders, so that you can revert back should you make unintended changes or overwrite important content.

Howzitgoing ?

Did you notice a Kronos glossary of terms in the manuals ?

Standard Terminology is very important and lack of it, creates more misunderstanding/errors etc.

[tunaman]

Something in particular you are pointing out or taking exception with?

[KronosGold]

I am very grateful for all the responses!!!! I am taking the advice given. I am putting the brakes on adding sound until I have read more and feel like I understand. To be honest, I have already overwritten something! Fortunately, I knew how to back up and restore. My training in IT taught me to always have a backup when adding stuff to any system.

Now I see all the empty INIT COMBI. Apparently I was looking while in the wrong mode. There is plenty. However, as you all stated, I can now see that program space is limited. In fact, I don't think I have any!

For now, I will run Triton as a VST. I learned how to turn off local control and use Kronos as midi controller.

Thanks again!!!

[alland]

Now I see all the empty INIT COMBI. Apparently I was looking while in the wrong mode. There is plenty. However, as you all stated, I can now see that program space is limited. In fact, I don't think I have any!

Unless you have already loaded masses of custom sounds, User program banks USER-AA ... USER FF should be for you

[Ron]

I did not see mention of the Kronos Editor. IMO it's the best way to see what's loaded and where.

[kotopesos]

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