Turn off beat with a button ?

[rbalaa]

Korg pa800

How can I assign ONE button to turn off "the beat" in a style (meaning drum and perc). I want to have one button that mutes the beat and one that mutes all the Acc 1-5. This is for live playing mainly.

If anyone has workarounds for this, please share.

Thanks in advance.

[Rob Sherratt]

Here is one workaround:

Save a copy of the style (unmuted) to say User03 location 2.
Save another copy with drum & perc muted to say User03 location 1.
Save another copy with ACC1 to 5 muted to say User03 location 3.
Get a Korg EC5 pedal board.
Assign "Style up" to switch 4.
Assign "Style Down" to switch 5.

Start playing the original style at User03 location 2.
Press switch 4 once -> Drum & Perc are muted.
Press switch 5 once -> Original Style plays.
Press switch 5 again -> ACC1 to 5 muted.
Press switch 4 again -> Original style plays.
Press switch 4 again -> Drum & Perc are muted.

Or you can save as many copies of the style as you want in the order you want to play them. Then switch 5 just steps through the sequence in the order you saved the style copies.

Another workaround is to use a programmable MIDI foot switch unit that can store multiple MIDI messages per switch. Roland make one but it's pricey.

Best regards,
Rob

[rbalaa]

Thanks for the reply Rob. The only issue I see with your solution is that eventually you'll run into a preset you don't want just to get to the other one ( for example you want 2 then 4 but must hit 3 to get to it) I might look into that programmable switch, I just don't have knowledge about them.

I was hoping there was a way to go to for example to go to Assigner 2 (physical switch) which will have my two other 'assigned switches' (whatever that may be). That way I can have 4 assigned switches which I can manipulate on the fly.

I can't see why Korg can't add a 'Drum+Perc' mute preset seeing as how there many other option on there.

Thanks.

[Rob Sherratt]

A better suggestion:

With a much simpler and cheaper MIDI footswitch controller than the Roland, (eg Behringer FCB1010) you can assign style change messages to individual buttons. You can also load "Stomp Box" software to the FCB1010 that allows footswitches to operate in "toggle mode". So in the example of three user styles that I gave, forget about style up and down. Stomp once on switch one, it sends Style change to the user style with Drums and Perc muted. Stomp again on switch one and it sends Style change to the original factory style. Stomp one on switch two, it sends Style change to the user style with the ACC tracks muted. Stomp again on switch two and it sends Style change to the original factory style.

Another suggestion (you probably know about already):

Have the Style Play main page showing on the screen and then touch the mute icon on "Drums & Percussion" or "Accomp" as and when you need it. With practice, it's almost as easy as a button, and it is a single operation. It just can't be assigned to a controller in that way unfortunately. Of course a software change could do what you want using an assignable button or the EC5 without requiring an external programmable MIDI footswitch, but don't hold your breath waiting for it

Best regards,
Rob

[niranjanjaveri]

Wow Rob that was a great info. I never looked into the assignable pedal . I guess I should.

RBALAA---
I do exactly what Rob suggested. I touch the drum and perc Icon in real time and it mutes easily. Just remember that when the song is playing you have already touched it once to get the cursor to the track to get it highlighted or else you will have confusion pressing it twice.

Regards,
Niranjan

[kottan]

another one: why not turning down the volume with the slider?
kottan

[rbalaa]

I will look into the Behringer FCB1010. I don't know why I just can't get used to the touch.

Thanks all. Very helpful.

[Rob Sherratt]

I think the Yamaha MFC10 would be even better than the Behringer FCB1010. The reason is that the Yamaha MFC10 can send up to 4 MIDI messages and up to 4 MIDi notes (ie chords) from a single foot button, whereas the FCB1010 is limited to single MIDI events per foot button.

Best regards,
Rob

[rbalaa]

Is there an addon I can get that has buttons and sliders to controll all the tracks ? I'm thinking instead of a footswitch ... "programmable MIDI buttons" ?

[Rob Sherratt]

Consider the Korg NanoPad and NanoKontrol (both of them).

You connect them and your Pa2x/Pa800 to a Laptop via MIDI over USB, the same Korg device driver supports them all simultaneously. Then set up MIDIOX to handle the MIDI routing.

The NanoPad is nice because you can program up chords on each pad. Like the PADs on the M3.

Best regards,
Rob

[abo59]

I searched Altavista.com for "midi control unit" and got lots of relevant hits.

[Sam CA]

Why not just use "Assignable switches" to mute tracks? The ones next to the pitch-bend?

[rbalaa]

Why not just use "Assignable switches" to mute tracks? The ones next to the pitch-bend?

Because there's only 2. I want Perc, Drum, Bass, ACC1, ACC2 ...

[Sam CA]

Why not just use "Assignable switches" to mute tracks? The ones next to the pitch-bend?

Because there's only 2. I want Perc, Drum, Bass, ACC1, ACC2 ...

What kind of music do you play live generally?

[rbalaa]

Both English and Middle Eastern. But now I'm havng fun with some sequencing, and would like the option to have control over the track with physical buttons.

The Korg Nanos are nice (thanks Rob), but I'd prefer a direct connection to the pa. But I will consider the nanos also for home use.