Korg Forums

I searched the forum for this issue and didn't see anything, which was surprising, as I can't be the only person doing this.

Here's my issue, and if this is normal, then Korg really screwed the pooch:

I played with a band that tunes to A430 (1/2 step down from concert A). In order to match their tuning, I went into global and set the Key Transpose to -1 and, as expected, I was then in tune with the rest of the band.

Here's where it gets weird: It looks like when you have transpose on, all key mapping get shifted so when you play C4, the Kronos acts like you're playing B3. This totally screwed up my mappings within COMBIs for Keyzones and Sample Triggers, to the point where certain songs were unplayable.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a workaround?

This is intended behavior and has always been this way on Korg synths. Whether they "screwed the pooch" is a matter of opinion. As a global keyboard transpose, it makes sense to me. However, you're not the only one with this request and I believe you change this behavior in the latest OS. Either in Global or with the Setlist transpose, I forget which.
Btw are they tuning a half step down or ACTUALLY at 430? If the latter you'd be better off tuning the Kronos down. A half step, meaning all E's become Eb's and so on, is more like A415.

Yeah, they're down a 1/2 step. I thought about using the tuner, and that will probably have to be my workaround. It just sucks though...

"However, you're not the only one with this request and I believe you change this behavior in the latest OS. Either in Global or with the Setlist transpose, I forget which."

Why in the name of Satan's portion are they tuning down like that?! If it's actually just a semitone - why not just play in a key semitone below?!

SanderXpander wrote:"However, you're not the only one with this request and I believe you change this behavior in the latest OS. Either in Global or with the Setlist transpose, I forget which."

I'll try that. Thanks.

Yes. Transposing in setlist does not move splits etc.

Geo

JohnDonovan wrote:Why in the name of Satan's portion are they tuning down like that?! If it's actually just a semitone - why not just play in a key semitone below?!

Many, many guitar based bands do this. It makes the guitars sound heavier, you can use thicker strings and play open stringed Eb power chords and such.

SanderXpander wrote:

JohnDonovan wrote:Why in the name of Satan's portion are they tuning down like that?! If it's actually just a semitone - why not just play in a key semitone below?!

Many, many guitar based bands do this. It makes the guitars sound heavier, you can use thicker strings and play open stringed Eb power chords and such.

I know Guitarists often use drop tunings, but surely there's no reason for a keyboard player to do that; if you were playing a real Piano/Rhodes/Hammond etc you'd just play the song a semitone lower?

That's what I'd do and what's the philosophy behind the global transpose working this way.

I was in a band for a bit last year that did that - tune a semi-tone down. They did it to accomodate the singer's range (a BS reason from my perspective, but whatever). It was quite a PITA to learn material (it was a cover band), especially for the reasons you mentioned - I had lots of splits, noises, and one-shot samples. I would individually retune each timbre in my combis to accomodate them. I eventually quit the band.

My band plays in 438 (Eb). Have a Don't Stop Believing Combi where the upper range is a synth that splits down to the piano and chorus'd bass. When I made the combi I did it in 440. Played it live the first time and had that one god awful piano note ring through when I transposed it and hit the chords during "Street Lights...". Note to self....allow more than a one semitone buffer for splits.

438 is just a slightly low "regular" A.
But that's good advice none the less

SanderXpander wrote:438 is just a slightly low "regular" A.
But that's good advice none the less

Yeah, probably because I'm a guitarist primarily. We always refer to it concert A440 for standard or A438 for a 1/2 step drop. =) Not sure if that is actually true.

I see that i said 438 Eb....DOH!

A 415 would be a half step drop, 438 is just a slightly detuned "regular" A. Not sure where the 438 came from