Korg Forums

First let me say that im not even sure if this is possible, but i sure hope it is. My question is this:

I have a Korg M3 which has a sequencer in it, and ive recorded most of my tracks for each of my songs on there in midi. What we did before was, run a stereo out of there, to our Korg D1600II, and just record it on 2 stereo tracks...so we'd have all that we recorded on the M3, but still have 14 tracks open to record on on the D1600.

NOW we have pro tools, and would like to Import all the Midi tracks we still have saved on the M3, into Pro Tools, so we can edit and mix them the way we'd like. I figured out how to save them off as Standard Midi Files and Import them as midi files onto PT's, but they dont have the sounds that were with them on the M3, well actually they dont have ANY sounds. Is there any way i can connect the sounds from the M3 with the Midi tracks that i sent up, or is there a different way i should transfer them so that i get the midi notes AND the sounds? Or am i stuck having to run them ONE TRACK at a time, in 'real time' to individual tracks via a Analog out from the M3, to the Analog In of the M-Box? I really hope there is a way i can just transfer everything via USB or Flash Drive and still have it spread out, each sound with its own track, and not all together like it is now on the D1600.

Hope you guys have some suggestions, im open for anything, thanks!

by definition, MIDI only carries data, not sound. The MIDI is a collection of messages saying 'turn this note on', 'turn this note off', 'use this sound', 'set this controller', etc.

what you need to do is record each track from the M3 to PT, in sync. you can do this seperately, or a few at a time, using the individual outs too. I'd recommend you turn any send effects off though so that you can re-create them in more detail in PT and it won't work for e.g. reverb if you aren't recording the whole song at once. you will have something a lot cleaner to mix with too.

there is also the EXB-Firewire, which lets you route a number of tracks directly to your computer...

wow man, quick reply lol. I kinda thought thats all that midi was....

IN SYNC, yes, a beautiful term, i was able to record in sync to the Korg 1600 pretty easily, id just set it up for a 'trigger record' so it wont start recording until it hears a note, and it kept everything in perfect time, i dont see a Trigger Record on PT's thou, unless its 'wait for midi' note. So, if its not too much trouble, could you possible break it down a little more for me, please feel no risk of 'talking down' to me, actually feel free to totally dumb it down if you can

First, how do i record in syn with PT's (ive had the set up a week, so i know i have a lot more to learn....sorry im sure its probably pretty simple :-\).

Second, how do i turn off the send effects?

Third, i only have an M-box mini...so there are only 2 inputs, so im guessing i can only record a max of 2 at a time, correct? How would i keep them seperate thou..so that they dont intertwine with eachother?

fourth, I've never messed with the EXB-firewire, what does it do, and how would i use it to export the tracks directly to my computer, into pro tools, with the same sounds that i have on my M3 right now?

fifth, just kind of a long shot, i have no clue how to use (or what its even for really) the M3 plug-in editor, is there anway with it thou, that i could for example, save tracks 1-6 in General Midi, and import them as midi onto PT's, and then some how 'plug in' the sound from the M3 to each track...so say track 1 was 'beautiful strings'...could i assign that sound from the M3, to that track on PT's...or is that just somethin totally out the box lol? sorry for all the questions, hope i dont wear out your patience!

I don't have an M3 nor PT so I have to be a bit vague, however:

The EXB-Firewire allows you to stream a number of audio channels directly to your DAW. the M3 effectively becomes the audio interface.

The plug-in I believe is mainly used for editing/setting up the settings needed for your song, and acts as the 'MIDI Gateway' between your sequencer and your M3, over the USB or Firewire (apparently the MIDI over Firewire is pretty poor though, so its best to use both USB and FW if you have the expansion).

Now, to keep with the simple method, you would need to connect the outputs from the M3 to the inputs on your MBox.

Now, mute all the tracks except for the one that you want to record.

set up a stereo track or whatever in PT that you are going to record that track on to.

but first you need to MIDI Sync it. you need the USB or a MIDI cable connected, and, in short, you need to get PT to send out MIDI Machine Control. or if you have no tempo changes, then MIDI TimeCode and MIDI Clock. Make sure PT is also set to the same tempo as your M3.

basically you need to get it so that starting PT's sequencer in record mode will also start the M3 playing. It will probably be best if you adjust your sequence on the M3 so that there is a 1 or 2 bar lead-in too.


you just repeat the process for each track, muting all but the track that you want to record from the M3, recording them one at a time. Using PT as the clock host will mean that they are kept in sync.

OK i THINK i get most of what you're saying now, but the one part really interests me, about the EXB-Firewire especially. You are saying that if i run the EXB OUT from the M3, to the EXB of my computer...it can send say...6 audio tracks at once, and still keep them seperated? This sounds like what im TRYING to do here lol. But please clairify, am i right in my understanding of that? If so, how do i set it up exactly, do i just connect the wires and it takes care of it self from there basically or is there a little more to it in the setup (im guessing there is).

I understand what you said about the plug-in editor...thou with the M3 having a touch screen and all, its pretty easy (for me anyway) to set up more of everything right there on the M3 itself, rather than have to mess with it on the computer.

As far as running the outs of the M3 to the IN's of the M-box, im with ya there...and then on the M3, solo out the track(s) i want to record, im with you there too...but im still a little about midi clock/time code/ etc etc.....never ever messed with it, never really messed with midi PERIOD so kinda got me stumped at the moment.

I get connecting the M3 to the computer via USB, but i have NO CLUE as to how to set up in PT's the midi clock etc, or what they even are. I think get what your saying they DO...basically PT's is going to tell the M3 to play as soon as i hit record, so everything is totally IN SYNC...and by it making the M3 play as soon as it starts to record, as soon as the M3 starts playing, PT's is going to start recording. So im with ya there as far as WHAT IT DOES. I have no tempo changes (if that helps any)...but i have no clue where to go in PT's to set up the MIDI timecod & MIDI clock (what are each one of those exactly??) And I have made sure that the PT's session is set to the same tempo as the M3...so i got that part. Again my apologies for my midi slowness lol, but you have no idea how much your helping!

Hi, hope someone can answer your PT questions, because to be honest its gone as far as I can talk through easilly on that subject. I use cubase so the menus and that are likely to be entirely different. Maybe you should look it up in the help/manual?

as for the EXB-Firewire. it is an EXB add-on board for the M3 like the EXB-Radias. It adds a firewire connection which yes allows you to stream a number of tracks direct to your PC or Mac over a firewire cable connection. so obviously your computer needs a firewire connection too, and if you don't have the EXB board, you would need to buy that.

I hope someone else is able to answer your questions. you can also find a lot of information about the M3's EXB expansion boards, and MIDI clock, timecode, and machine control, on the internet.

Hi MrWillsi3,

I'll go back to your first post/question and hope I'm not confusing you now.

But it is possible to run the MIDI tracks in PT to your M3 and in that way get the sounds you want! Just set the MIDI tracks in PT to the right MIDI channels that your sequencer tracks in the M3 are. Select the SEQ in the M3.
And don't forget to set MIDI out from PT to MIDI in on the M3. You can do this by MIDI or by USB.

This way you still will be able to change sounds, notes and almost anything on your MIDI tracks and it will run perfectly in sync with PT and the audio tracks you're going to record.

yes: this had just occured to me also. If you already have the MIDI tracks in PT, you can route them out to the M3 and record the audio back as I mentioned before (by muting tracks etc).

..lol.....ok that makes sense....so if i have 6 sounds, i sent the IN on PTs on track one to Channel 1, track two to Channel 2 etc etc....right?

Now how do i set the Midi out from PT's to the Midi In on the M3?? Because note that....the M3 is plugged into the computer directly, not into the M-box (if that even makes any difference).

Now will this actually allow me to RECORD or will it just let me monitor the sound since its running thru the M3. (and neither one of you guys are that confusing, i'm just a novice )

Wait i think i just saw the answer to the one question, if i were to run the Stereo OUT of the M3, to the IN of PT's, would that allow me to actually RECORD the sound, and if so, would i have to record it onto a seperate track since its using an Analog in? or would the midi track record the sound (i dont think it would but, what do i know lol).

MrWillsi3 wrote:Wait i think i just saw the answer to the one question, if i were to run the Stereo OUT of the M3, to the IN of PT's, would that allow me to actually RECORD the sound, and if so, would i have to record it onto a seperate track since its using an Analog in? or would the midi track record the sound (i dont think it would but, what do i know lol).

Yes!

Remember that MIDI and audio are entirely seperate. the MIDI is triggering the sound and the audio is the sound that is created by that.
so you should end up with say six MIDI and six audio tracks. you can then remove those audio tracks when you are entirely happy with your recording.

MrWillsi3 wrote:NOW we have pro tools, and would like to Import all the Midi tracks we still have saved on the M3, into Pro Tools, so we can edit and mix them the way we'd like. I figured out how to save them off as Standard Midi Files and Import them as midi files onto PT's, but they dont have the sounds that were with them on the M3, well actually they dont have ANY sounds. Is there any way i can connect the sounds from the M3 with the Midi tracks that i sent up, or is there a different way i should transfer them so that i get the midi notes AND the sounds? Or am i stuck having to run them ONE TRACK at a time, in 'real time' to individual tracks via a Analog out from the M3, to the Analog In of the M-Box? I really hope there is a way i can just transfer everything via USB or Flash Drive and still have it spread out, each sound with its own track, and not all together like it is now on the D1600.

You will need MIDI over USB connection to the computer to replay "M3" MIDI files on PT, in order to send the MIDi notes etc to the M3 and have the M3 play the sounds.

You will also need an audio interface or a SPDIF TOSLINK connection from your M3 to your computer so you can record the resulting audio into PT when you are ready to do so.

Best regards,
Rob

You guys are beautiful lol...thanks a lot X-Trade....helps a lot to actually 100% wrap my head around everything now, as well as be able to do what im aiming for, the USB looks like it will work fine, and the Master Out of the M3 into the Mbox (the interface...) will work fine to record the audio track, but you said once i get everything the way i want it i can erase the AUDIO track?? Dont you mean i can remove the MIDI track, since the audio track is whats holding my sounds??

Oh and Rob, i dont need a midi connection to do that, i can just save my midi files on the M3 off as 'Standard Midi Files' in format 1 (so it seperates each track) and then plug the flash drive into the computer and use the Import Midi function on PTs to bring in the midi tracks

MrWillsi3 wrote:Oh and Rob, i dont need a midi connection to do that, i can just save my midi files on the M3 off as 'Standard Midi Files' in format 1 (so it seperates each track) and then plug the flash drive into the computer and use the Import Midi function on PTs to bring in the midi tracks

... why did you ask about how to get the sounds from the M3 to play while you are editing their MIDI tracks on PT? ... you need a live MIDI connection for that!