Korg Karma Bedienungsanleitung

Karma Keyboard FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions, Tips, and Tricks

The opinions expressed within are those of the author,

and are not officially endorsed by Korg.

Last Revised On: 12/18/2001

http://www.karma-lab.com

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Table Of Contents

Last Revised On: 12/18/2001

Total Topics = 165

Section 1: General, Global, Drum Kits, Miscellaneous (23)......................3

Section 2: Karma vs. Triton (3)...............................................................12

Section 3: MIDI – Transmitting, Receiving, SysEx (13)...........................15

Section 4: Program Mode, Programs (6)..................................................23

Section 5: Combination Mode, Combis (13)............................................26

Section 6: Sequence Mode, Sequencing, RPPR, Patterns (48).................33

Section 7: Disk Mode – Loading, Saving (5)............................................63

Section 8: KARMA Function (26)............................................................66

Section 9: Generated Effects, GEs (6).....................................................83

Section 10: Expansion Boards (EXB, MOSS) (9).....................................87

Section 11: Sync (4) ...............................................................................91

Section 12: Insert/Master Effects (IFX/MFX) (7)....................................93

Section 13: Using Karma For Live Performance (2).................................98

(Click on the section titles above to go directly to the desired section.)

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Section 1: General, Global, Drum Kits, Miscellaneous (23)

1. Several programs or combis have an odd “dirty” or “crackling”

sound to them. Example Combis are A049, A082, & E033.

These are “supposed” to sound dirty in this way. Why? Some people

actually like this! If you go to (7.2/7.3) [Menu] -> [IFX] or [MFX], you will

see that somewhere there is an Insert or Master Effect called

“St.AnalogRecd.” This means “Stereo Analog Recording,” and it is

supposed to make snaps, crackles, and pops as if this was a sample

taken from a vinyl record. As you know, taking samples from records

was (is?) wildly popular for certain types of music, so this simulates the

effect quite nicely. All you have to do to get rid of this is go to that Insert

or Master Effect and turn it off, then resave the Combi or Program.

2. How do I access individual Drum Samples, or edit Drum Kits?

You change the individual samples of drum kits in the Global mode, so

you can, for example, listen to individual snare drums or kick drums.

(1) Select Program A004: !{Tricky}Kit !

(2) (5.1) (Global)->[Menu]->[DKit]

(3) Here you can view/edit which Drum Sample(s) are assigned to each

key of the Drum Program. Tip: to easily select a certain key’s drum

sound, cursor so that the Note Number is highlighted (the field directly

under the keyboard to the far left, i.e. ‘C3’), press and HOLD the ENTER

key, and play the note that you wish to edit.

Note: Any changes you make here affect all programs that may use the

Drum Kit that you have edited. And these changes will disappear when

you turn off the Karma UNLESS you use “Write Drum Kits” from the

[Utility] menu.

☞Parameter Guide pages 142-144.

3. Is there a way to navigate around the Karma interface faster?

You can jump to any page by holding down the menu key and pressing 2

numbers on the numeric keypad. The numbers correspond to the Page

and subpage, as displayed in the main [MENU] pages. If you just learn to

picture the Menu window in your mind (which is fairly similar between

Program, Combi, and Sequencer Modes), it’s easy to learn that the Karma

parameters (for example) are column 6, and the DynMidi (for example) is

on [K RT] page (which is number 4 in column 6), so to get there quickly

from anywhere just hold down [MENU] and type “64”. Or the Insert FX

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parameters are in Column 7, number 2, so just hold down [MENU] and

press “72”. Note that this also corresponds to the whole organizational

scheme of the Manual (Page 6.4.x etc.)

In Global Mode, you only have to use 1 number, because there is only 1

page per column. In other words, hold [MENU] and press 1, or hold

[MENU] and press 2, etc.

☞Basic Guide, Page 14.

4. What version of software (OS) in my Karma?

Watch the display as you turn it on. The software release number is

displayed under “KARMA Music Workstation” at the bottom of the

screen, next to KORG.

OS Software releases are available from Korg USA, Korg Germany, Korg

Japan, and other distributors on their web sites. There are also complete

instructions on how to install it, in the applicable language. There are

direct links on my site at:

http://www.karma-lab.com -> [Specs, Manuals & Updates]

5. My Karma crashes/freezes on start up!

You may have attempted to load corrupted .PCG data, or some other

similar problem. In any event, you can solve this problem by resetting

your Karma:

1. Turn off your Karma.

2. Reset Internal Memory by holding both the [MENU] and [9] keys

down, while turning the Power On. You will see “Now writing Into

Internal Memory”. Then you can release the keys. Note: THIS

ERASES ALL INTERNAL DATA.

3. Reload Preload.PCG from the Preload floppy disk which is included

with KARMA, or reload your own data from your backup floppies (you

do have backups, of course, right? ;-)

6. What is a timbre?

A timbre is a word that essentially means “separate tone color”. It is

fairly commonly used interchangeably with “instrument,” “program,” etc.

It is also the word used to describe the 8 “tracks” that are available in a

Combi, in order to differentiate the fact that you can’t actually record

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anything in Combi Mode (Combi Mode has 8 timbres, Sequencer Mode

has 16 tracks.) ☞Basic Guide, Page 52.

7. Weird problem: nearly every Combi seems to be changed – but

just on one track. For example Combi B000/KARMA HipHop

should have Prog B017 on timbre 4 - but it shows Prog B000.

It seems that you have a MIDI routing problem. Unplug any MIDI

cables - does it still happen? You are probably sending a program

change back thru to yourself (i.e. you change to Combi A025, and

suddenly any timbres that are set to the Global MIDI Channel change to

Program A025.) Note: this could also happen in Sequencer Mode.

With a properly set up MIDI system, this should not be happening – but

this is not the fault of the Karma. Something in the way you are routing

your gear is causing a “loop” problem.

Try going to Global and turning off the ability to change Programs and/or

Combis via program change messages. This is a temporary fix, but

should solve your problem until you figure out where the echoing

through is happening.

(2.1-1a) (Global)->[MIDI]-> Enable Program Change OFF

☞Parameter Guide, Pg. 137.

8. I have heard that certain early units had a noise problem. How

do I know if I have it?

Yes, certain “early” units had a bad IC chip that caused crackling at the

ends of certain waveforms. While Korg has explained that this cannot be

narrowed to a specific serial number range, it is my opinion that “early”

means serial numbers before 000650. Try this simple test:

Select Program A004 Tricky Kit. Play the F or the G below Middle C, and

hold the note. As the sound dies out, if you hear a DEFINITE LOUD

CRACKLING, then your unit is affected. Anything that is not actual

crackling, then you don’t. In other words, don’t turn your volume WAY

UP and start to imagine that some tiny perceived noise at the end of the

sample (which happens on many waveforms, due to the limitations of

sampling in 16 bits) is the problem, when it isn’t. If you have it, you will

DEFINITELY KNOW IT when you do the above test. Otherwise, you’re

fine. If you have to turn your system up to 11 as the sound is dying out

and then you think you *might* hear something, you don’t have it.

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Korg will fix this for you for free, if you have the problem. Contact

customer support at 1-800-645-3188.

DO NOT confuse this with programs that are *supposed* to have noise,

such as A49, A82, & E33. These use an effect to simulate the crackling of

a vinyl record. See elsewhere in this FAQ for more info.

9. When I plug any of my standard sustain pedals in, nothing

happens.

Are you plugging it into the jack labeled “Damper”, and not “Foot

Switch”? Any standard momentary type foot switch will work. The only

thing is that some foot switches have the polarity reversed. If you get

sustain when you let off, and no sustain when you press down, it’s

backwards. You can switch this in:

(6.1-1) Global -[Menu]-[Ctrl]-[Foot]->Damper Polarity

☞Parameter Guide, Page 145.

10. Why do some Programs or Combis have the sustain pedal

disabled? The A001 AcousticPianoAT patch is a good example.

The reason is that the programmer of the patch decided that when

KARMA is active, the use of the sustain pedal caused objectionable

behavior. Or, the sustain pedal is programmed to do something else (like

activate the Note Latch function in Dynamic MIDI).

In the case of A001, I wrote this patch, and I agree in retrospect that the

sustain pedal should be active. I didn’t like certain things you could

make it do with the KARMA function active, but now I believe that it is

more normal with it functioning normally. Fortunately, it is easy to

change:

(6.1-5) [Menu]-[KARM]-[RxFilter] -> Damper CC#64 -> set to On.

☞Parameter Guide, Page 60.

Here, in A001, we can see that “Damper” (CC 64) is OFF. This means

that when KARMA is ON, the Damper will not be echoed through (and

therefore will not work). Set this to ON and resave the Program, and it

will work in a more normal fashion.

In a Combi, it is a similar operation, except you can control the Damper

for each KARMA Module separately.

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Note that changing this setting doesn’t always change the damper

operation, because this particular setting only affects what happens

when KARMA is ON. If the Damper is disconnected when KARMA is OFF

(also), then you must go to another place:

(4.1-2a) [Menu]-[MIDI2]-[MIDI2-2] -> Damper CC#64.

☞Parameter Guide, Page 55.

Also note that if you are doing this to a Program or Combi, you should be

aware that the Damper may be assigned in the Dynamic MIDI section to

perform some other operation. You should check this and make sure

there is not a conflict - you may want to remove the Damper from

Dynamic MIDI in this case:

(6.4-3) [Menu]-[K RT]-[DynMIDI]-> Source -> locate Damper CC#64.

☞Parameter Guide, Page 63.

11. I have my Karma’s headphone jack hooked up with my

computer’s microphone jack when I record to computer.. yet my

songs don’t sound really stereo.

You really DON’T want to use the headphone output and the Mic Input to

record professional sounding audio. This is a decidedly Lo-Fi approach.

You want to use the L/R Audio Outputs on the Back, or the L/R outputs

of a mixer, and run them into a mixer or the L/R audio in on a computer

sound card.

Anyway, you probably *could* use the headphone out (but the Signal To

Noise ratio and harmonic distortion are not as good as the back outputs),

but if you are only getting one side, or weird cancellations, then you are

probably not making correct contact with the pins of the headphone jack.

Or you do not have the correct cable. The headphone Jack is a stereo

T/R/S (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) - if you are not using a stereo T/R/S cable, you

will only get one side - or worse, a weird kind of phase-inverted sound.

12. I am using another keyboard to play my new KARMA keyboard

(through MIDI). I’ve noticed that the other keyboard doesn’t

produce the same intensity as that of actually playing the

KARMA keyboard.

Different keyboards, especially older ones, send out the velocity of notes

over different ranges. You can adjust this somewhat by changing the

Karma’s Velocity Curve. Global (1.1-1) [System] -> Velocity Curve.

☞Parameter Guide, Page 134.

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But first, you must change the “Convert Position” (2.1-1a) [MIDI] Convert

Position -> Post MIDI. ☞Parameter Guide, Page 138.

When Convert Position is “Pre MIDI”, the curve applies to the Karma’s

keyboard, and data from an external keyboard uses curve 4. When

Convert Position is “Post MIDI”, the external keyboard uses the selected

curve, and the Karma keyboard uses curve 4.

Try one of the higher number curves with your other keyboard.

Alternately, most keyboards have this sort of adjustment, and you could

try a different curve on the transmitting keyboard, rather than the

Karma.

13. When upgrading your OS, do you have to go in sequence (eg.

1.01, 1.02, etc.) or can you skip to the most recent?

You can go directly to the latest update, without performing the ones in

between. Whichever OS you load will be the one that your Karma is

running. You get the benefit of all the updates in between.

14. My Karma came with different PRELOAD Combis than in the

Documentation! I think the documentated Combis are on the

Disc which came together with Karma.

From your e-mail address, it seems you are in Germany. In Europe,

many of the distributors released the Karma with a re-ordered version of

the Combis. In other words, same Combis, different order. They felt they

wanted to put more dance-oriented Combis first.

You can use either order, but if you want it to match the Voice Name List

documentation, you should use the original order, on the Factory Preload

Disk. You could save the current order to disk first, and then you will

have both. Or, see:

http://www.korg-karma.de/ -> Updates -> Factory Presets

15. Is there a way to adjust the darkness of the display?

Sometimes it seems a bit whispy or too dark.

I’ve noticed that the display contrast seems to change a little bit,

depending on how long the unit has been turned on. In any event, you

can adjust the amount of “darkness” to the pixels by changing the

contrast setting in Global (1.1-2) [Prefs]. ☞Parameter Guide, Page 136.

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16. When I hook up the Karma with MIDI Cables to my PC, none of

the combis or programs play, just a bunch of popping and

cracking...

You probably have a MIDI Loop going on.

In other words, you are sending MIDI from the Karma into the PC,

sending it back into the Karma, which then sends it into the PC, which

then sends it into the Karma, etc. - this makes MIDI devices very

unhappy, and tends to make them appear to “lock up”, or sputter with

weird noises.

Unplug your MIDI Cables completely. Power down the Karma, then turn

it on again. Does everything work fine? Then this is your problem.

I can’t tell you exactly how to get rid of it (different PCs and PC

Sequencing Programs react differently), but you must either turn off

some sort of “Echo MIDI” or “Keyboard Thru” setting on your PC, or try

turning off “Local Control” in the Karma Global Mode (2.1-1).

17. How can I tell which Drum Sample is on a particular key?

To determine which Sample is on a particular drum key, you can go to

Global (5.1) [Menu]-[DKit]. Select the Drum Kit you want, then hold the

[ENTER] Key and play a note. The display switches to display the data

for the note that you just pressed. The Multisound (sample) number is

displayed near the bottom of the screen, i.e. “305 Cowbell 1”. Don’t

forget, a single key can have 2 different drum samples, and a velocity

switch point (High/Low tabs).

18. Is there a way to clear an entire bank of Programs or Combis

(or Initialize a single Program or Combi)?

Yes. Load an empty bank of Programs or Combis. If you have filled all

your banks and never backed up a copy of an empty bank, you can

download a completely empty PCG file from my site, and use it to load

single INITIALIZED Programs or Combis, or entire banks. See the Disk

Mode Section of this FAQ for info on loading single Programs/Combis or

single Banks. The INIT file is located on this page:

PC: http://www.karma-lab.com/Files/INIT.zip

Mac: http://www.karma-lab.com/File/INIT.sit.hqx

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19. Why are the banks and the programs in them in that particular

order? Wouldn’t it be more straightforward to have one bank be

one category of sounds?

There are typically (2) methods keyboard manufacturers use to arrange

sounds in a keyboard:

(1) By categories (i.e. 32 piano/org first, then 32 guitars, then 32 basses

etc.)

(2) Presented so as to show the diversity of sounds in the keyboard, with

some sort of other logic.

The reason some companies (Korg included) use #2 is that when people

go to audition a keyboard (to decide to buy it), they typically start at

program/combi 0, and increment through each program, to the next, to

the next, etc. If you’ve only got 10 minutes to check it out, it makes far

more sense (from a marketing viewpoint) to present a variety of sounds

than just one variation of piano after another.

In Korg’s case, the “other logic” is that there are 16 “categories” of

programs, so every 16 numbers, 1 from each category is presented. In

other words, A000 is from the “Fast Synth” category, so is A016, A032,

etc. A005 is from “Guitar/Plucked”; so is A021, A37 etc. This is easy to

see if you use the Voice Name List.

Note that in order to help (and compensate) for this arrangement, Korg

has the “Select by Category” UTILITY in nearly every Mode. If you are

looking for just guitar programs, use “Select By Category” to search just

the “Guitar/Plucked” category. You can even audition different programs

right from the Select By Category Dialog without closing it. You can also

use the “Category Hold” function in Program and Combi modes (bottom

right button of 9-key keypad area) to “lock” the category and then just

use the Value Up/Down keys to advance to the next Prog or Combi in a

category.

20. Can I make my keyboard “wake up” the next day with the

same thing I was working on last night?

Global (1.1-2) [Prefs] Power On Mode. ☞Parameter Guide, Page 136.

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