Chicken Systems Korg Creator User Manual

Korg Creator™
Version 1.2, Build 18
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Korg Creator™
Table Of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 5
Basic Concepts. ........................................................................................................................... 7
The Korg Document
Main Screen ................................................................................................................................ 8
Korg Object Views. ........................................................................................................................10
Keyboard Optional Display ............................................................................................................12
Wave Optional Display ..................................................................................................................13
Adding Objects. ............................................................................................................................14
Deleting Objects. ..........................................................................................................................15
Editing Objects. ............................................................................................................................16
Renaming Objects. .........................................................................................................................17
The Korg Player ..............................................................................................................................18
Preparing and Re-importing. ............................................................................................................19
Editing Single Samples Externally ..............................................................................................................21
Exchanging Objects. .........................................................................................................................22
Auditioning Samples and Multisamples. ............................................................................................23
Importing External Instruments. .....................................................................................................24
Editors.
The Program Editor .....................................................................................................................26
The Oscillator/Zone Editor ...........................................................................................................27
The Multisample Editor ................................................................................................................28
The Sample Editor ......................................................................................................................29
The Combi Editor ........................................................................................................................30
The Part Editor ...........................................................................................................................31
AutoSampler
Introduction ..............................................................................................................................32
Audio/MIDI ...............................................................................................................................33
Placement ................................................................................................................................33
Recording .................................................................................................................................34
Processing ................................................................................................................................35
Switches ...................................................................................................................................35
Parameters ...............................................................................................................................35
Menus
File. ............................................................................................................................................36
Program/ Combi. ..........................................................................................................................37
Oscillator/Zone/Part. ....................................................................................................................... 38
Multisample. ................................................................................................................................39
Sample. ......................................................................................................................................40
View ...........................................................................................................................................41
Help .............................................................................................................................................42
Gear Menus - Program/Combi ...........................................................................................................43
Gear Menus - Multisample. ...........................................................................................................44
Gear Menus - Sample ....................................................................................................................45
...................................................................................................................................25
Preferences
General. ......................................................................................................................................46
Colors. ...........................................................................................................................................47
Import .......................................................................................................................................47
Export .......................................................................................................................................47
Data Processing ...............................................................................................................................48
Audio/MIDI. .................................................................................................................................49
Support
Troubleshooting. .............................................................................................................................51
FAQ ..........................................................................................................................................51
Bug Reports. ..............................................................................................................................51
Contacting Technical Support. .............................................................................................................53
Updating. ..................................................................................................................................54
Contact Us .................................................................................................................................55
Credits. .......................................................................................................................................56
Korg Creator
Introduction
Korg Creator™
Introduction
Korg Creator™ is a powerful Program, Combi, Multisample, and Sample creator/editor for Korg workstations,
including all models of the Triton, the M3/M50, and the Kronos.
The Korg line of workstations are a well established new generation Workstation­style keyboard system that has excellent sounds and advanced functionality, for superior usage in the studio and playing live. The most immediate
gratication of the Korg is playing it’s
onboard sounds, which are top- shelf and professional standard.
the Korg also allows for playback of
user-dened multisampled keymaps
(called “Multisamples” on the Korg) with the same possibilities as the onboard ROM Multisamples. This functionality is entirely under the Sampling button on the Korg.
However,
Although the Korg is a little less exible
then the older specialized hardware samplers (e.g. Akai S-5000/Z-Series, Emu Emulator 4, Ensoniq ASR-10, Roland S-7x and so on), and more less so then powerful software samplers such as Kontakt, it is still very powerful, and with the right software platform to assist in creating these sampled Multisamples and Programs, the Korg can go beyond it’s stock sounds and y high with your own custom Programs. That is the goal and stated purpose of Korg Creator.
Like most (if not all) hardware musical instruments, the onboard display and provided access do not give access to the Korg user-sampled area exceptionally well. Some Supermen have used it and worked with
it, but among us Mere Mortals it’s “in and out”, since it is slow and difcult not only to view the total range
of information, but also to apply new edits etc. Again, Korg Creator leverages the natural power of your computer to access, display, and arrange information that it’s a perfect and powerful bridge to create and edit Korg user-created content.
You will notice that a signicant difference between Chicken System’s Korg Creator™ and Korg’s own provided Korg Editor is that the Korg Editor communicates via MIDI or USB to the Korg ITSELF, whereas
Korg Creator™ simply works with Korg les themselves. This is because of lacking functionality in the
Korg itself; it does not allow user wavedata to be transferred or detected through MIDI or USB. That is a
signicant omission in the Korg Editor; although the immediate Program editing and librarian functions are
wonderful, there is no access to the user Multisamples.
Korg Creator™ takes advantage of only access to user Multisample data - via the les themselves. Korg Creator™ is practically a virtual Korg specialized for editing. You can make your own user Multisamples,
edit and create your own Samples within those Multisamples, and much more. Korg Creator also allows innovate ways to listen and audition those sounds. Since it’s not a Korg, it can’t substitute for it, but with sampled sounds you can come awfully close. Most of the time, we foresee Korg users to operate Korg Creator™ to take care of the sampled side, since it more clear, powerful, and efcient then the Korg itself, but when it comes time to tweak the sounds and do the real-time parameter editing, we expect them to
write the les and read them into Korg, edit away, then resave.
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Introduction
Korg Creator™ also includes management of ROM data. Renaming objects (Programs, Multisamples, etc.) is a breeze on Korg Creator™. You can manage your Categories (sometimes the center of most Korg
user’s experience!) in new powerful ways beyond what the Korg itself can do. You can even set up a library of Programs and create your own compilations to be written into a le for particular uses.
Korg Creator™, while powerful, is still a simple application. It was designed to give you easy and intuitive access to Korg data, with no funny business or confusing Corvette-looking widgetry.
Some notes regarding the documentation:
This document is synced to the Korg Creator™ version denoted on the cover of this document. It is a dynamic document and often is revised with every major, minor, or even build of Korg Creator™.
In this document, the term “right-click” also refers to “control-click” on a Mac. Only “right- click” will be used. Similarly, “Preferences” is term for different optional parameters that can be set in the program; on the Mac you will see the word “Preferences”, but on Windows you will see “Options”. In this document, Preferences will be used. Graphics are all Mac, but look very similar to the Windows version.
Since the Korg regards the middle C key on a keyboard (MIDI note 60) as C3, by default Korg Creator™ shows the textual representation of MIDI note 60 as C3. This is the non-US representation. However, if you are more used to seeing C4 as middle C (like GigaStudio or other US models - or even some varied non-US samplers), you can change this in Preferences- General.
Korg Creator
If you are a registered owner, you are qualied for free updates for the life of the program. You can
download these from your program using the Check for Update feature, or from the Chicken Systems Update Area.
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Korg Creator
Basic Concepts
Basic Concepts
The Korg Creator™ Korg Document represents a single Korg PCG structure, which is a PCG, one or more
KSC les, and a folder full of KMP and KSF les. It can be one that is existing, or a new one that hasn’t
been saved to disk yet.
Your experience with Korg Creator™ revolves around creating a new (or opening an existing) Korg PCG into a Korg Document, editing the objects within that document, then saving the document as a Korg PCG structure. This saves all objects, such as Programs and Multisamples, into a single folder set.
A Korg File/Folder Set contains the
PCG le, which contains the Program
and Combi information, one or more
KSC les and one folder, which is the same name as the PCG le or one of the KSC les. Inside the folder (called
the Multisample Folder) are the KMP
les that represent each Multisample
and a folder with the same name as
the KMP le that stores KSF les, which
represent the samples.
(Note (M3 and Kronos only): the Korg multisample/sample is entirely mono, technically. However, for the M3 and
Kronos, there is the concept of stereo multisamples and is fully reected in Korg Creator. What this means is that if there are two KMP les which have the same name except one ends with -L and the other -R,
and are correspondent as far as the samples and ranges it supports, are regarded as a stereo multisample
and are listed in Korg Creator as such. Within the folder as les, though, they are still saved separately as mono multisamples. Since one of the objectives of Korg Creator is to isolate you from the contents of the Multisample Folder, there is no need to worry about this. Korg Creator takes care of all this for you.)
KSC les exist for the purpose of listing the available Multisamples in the Multisample Folder. There always will be one KSC le with the same name as the PCG le.
Note: On the Kronos, if the Bank is setup for RAM memory loading, this will be the case as well. However, if it is setup for Virtual Memory (that is, streaming), there will be TWO KSC les, and the Multisample Folder with have “ MS” amended to it’s name. The second KSC le will have that same name.
The Korg Document shows you the most important aspects of the Korg les: the Programs, the Oscillator/Zones within each Program, the Multisamples, and the Samples within a Multisample. These are represented in four Lists; the Programs with the Oscillator/Zones, and the Multisamples with the Samples. There is also a Combi List and a Part List, shown in the Combi View.
From there, you are free to add, delete, or edit any of the objects to your needs. For more information on the Korg Document, where you’ll do the majority of your work, see The Korg Document elsewhere in this document.
Each object has an Editor. There is a Program Editor, Oscillator/Zone Editor, Multisample Editor, and Sample Editor; and additionally, a Combi Editor and Part Editor. One editor can be open at a time, and it edits the current selection in the list on the Korg document. For more information on Editors, please see the Editors section elsewhere in this document.
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The Korg Document
Korg Creator
The Korg Document
The Korg Document represents a PCG le and folder structure, existing or a new one that hasn’t been written yet. Your experience with Korg Creator revolves around creating a new or opening an existing
Korg le, changing the objects within
using the Korg Document, then saving the document which saves everything to the a new or existing Korg le, for immediate use in your Korg.
Lists
The Lists on a normal Korg document show the principal objects; the Programs (List 1) and the Multisamples (List 3). The Oscillator/Zone List (List 2) shows the Oscillator/Zones contained in the currently selected Program, and the Sample List (List 4) shows the Samples in the currently selected Multisample.
There are two other Lists; the Combi List and the Part List. These appear when you are in the Combi View.
The purpose of the List is so you can view the contents of the File that is represented by the document and apply functions to change, edit, or build up the le.
Views
Speaking of Views, the Korg document interface is highly customizable, so you can either have all the List on the document at one time (admittedly crowded), or you can see only what you want to see for handy editing. The Views are:
-
Program/Oscillator/Zone/Multisample
-
Multisample/Sample
-
Combi/Part/Program
-
“Four Corners” (Program & Oscillator/Zone on top, Multisample & Sample on the bottom)
-
Full View
You can choose which view you’d like with the Gear menu on the upper right, or the top level Views menu.
For more information of Views, see the Views section in this manual.
Range Maps
On top of the Oscillator/Zone List and the Part List you can have Range Maps perched on top of them. This allows for graphical editing of the Ranges (Key and Velocity) of Each Oscillator/Zone or Part. Key is selected by the top button to the left of the Range Maps, Velocity by the second button. A green color indicates which Range you are viewing. The third button (yellow) gives you a context menu by selecting it, giving you some auto-mapping options, plus some viewing options. If you have no immediate use for them, you can hide them using the context menu or the Views top-level menu.
Having the Range Maps mounted on top of each other makes it easy to see how Oscillator/Zones or Parts are arranged against each other. Alter the range by simply grabbing and pulling each end with the mouse. Selecting the middle of the range allows you to slide it back and forth.
(Remember, these Ranges are actually “Limits”; that is, with an Oscillator/Zone, you are restricting the key/ velocity response. The Multisample the Oscillator/Zone refers to may have information beyond the limits, you are simply creating a smaller “window” into the Multisample (or Program).
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Korg Creator
Also remember that the Ranges do not appear on Drum Programs, since there are no Key/Vel Ranges to deal with, just the natural 1-Key limit of a Drum Oscillator/Zone.
Optional Displays
There are two option items you can display on a Korg Document; the Keyboard Display and the Wave Display. The Keyboard Display shows the contents of the Multisample that is selected in the Multisample List, and also responds to dragging and dropping of external Samples into that Multisample. It makes mapping incoming samples a breeze. The Wave Display shows the Multisample of the Sample selected in the Sample List, for easy recognition.
For more information on the Optional Displays, see either the Keyboard Display or the Wave Display areas of this document.
Filtering Lists
The text eld and popup menu above each list lter the lists contents. Typing into the text eld lters the list based on what you typed; e.g. typing in “Trum” (without the quotes) in the text eld above the
Program List brings up Programs with the names “Trumpet Short”, “TrumLngBrght”, and “Guitar Strum”. Multiple criteria can be inputted by separating them with commas.
The popup menu varies with each List. but give you common ways of making each list more specic; e.g in the Sample List you can view just the external samples.
The Korg Document
Performing Functions on List Objects
The whole purpose of Korg Creator is to add, edit, delete and change objects. Programs can’t be deleted
per se but they can be initialized. A “blank” Program is one that starts with the letters “INIT” (case
insensitive); initialized Programs usually have no sampled Multisamples referenced, just has the rst Oscillator/Zone enabled, and is set to the rst Piano Multisample.
Mostly what you’ll edit in Programs is the contents of the Oscillator/Zones. Other then providing a set of real-time parameters, an Oscillator/Zone’s main purpose is to playback a Multisample, whether it is a ROM
Multisample or sampled (RAM) Multisample.
RAM Multisamples are listed in the Multisamples List. A RAM Multisample is a collection of non- overlapping samples within a MIDI Keyboard with variable Velocities. By selecting a Multisample in the Multisample List, the associated Samples show in the Samples List, with their properties.
There are many ways of adding, editing, and deleting objects. Most of these are standard computer
methods. More specic information will be given in other places in this document, so we’ll cover them briey here.
You can use the Gear and Plus (+) and Minus (-) buttons below each list. Clicking the Gear button exposes a Menu that is very much like the top-level menus titled Programs-Oscillator/Zones- Multisamples-Samples. You can apply the function to selected objects in the list, or to all of them, by selecting the popup menu next to the buttons (Apply to All, Apply to Selected).
Ctl/Right-clicking on a list brings up a Context Menu which is usually identical to the Gear Menu for that list. It ALWAYS applies to the selected items in that list.
Dragging objects is a very powerful editing method. All drags and drops do what you would think they would do. If you drag a Wavefrom and drop it on an Oscillator/Zone, it will set that Oscillator/Zone to
that Multisample. If you drag a couple of WAVE les from outside Korg Creator and drop them on the Sample List, it will automatically add those WAVE les to the Samples List. You can also drag Programs,
Multisamples, or any object from one Korg document to another.
The INS and DEL buttons are active to make new Multisamples or Samples, and Backspace serves as another DEL button.
Two very powerful functions are included on the Main Screen; Importing and Preparing. These are covered in depth in other areas of this document. Consider turning this viewer off in Preferences.
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Object Views
Korg Creator
Korg Object Views
The Korg Creator™ Korg Document has several views so you can work efciently. Sometimes it is important to get a birds eye look at your Korg le, and sometimes you need to only look at a portion of the le.
Views can be access either by the Views top-level menu, or the Master Gear Menu on the upper right of the document.
Korg les (or we call them Banks) have up to 6 components to them:
Programs Oscillator/Zones Multisamples Samples Combis (All Files only) Parts (All Files only)
Generally the Program is the Queen of the Bank, because so much centers on the Program. Because of this, most Views have at least something to do with the Programs.
There are 5 Views, separated into 3 Categories: General, Detailed, and Special.
There are two General Views:
Full View
This includes from right to left: Program-Oscillator/
Zones, Multisample-Samples.
This is a good general view of the Bank. You can select
Programs and see the Oscillator/Zones that work within them. You can view the Multisamples, and view the Samples referenced by them. And you can assign Multisamples to Oscillator/Zones very easily, since the
lists are ght next to each other.
Four Corners
This includes from right to left: Program-Oscillator/
Zones, the below that left to right Multisample­Samples.
This performs the same purposes of Full View, except
that it values the details of each view (you can see more of the columns) because of 2x2 alignment. Full view is more valuable when you want to see more entries of one list.
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Korg Creator
There are two Detailed Views:
Program-Oscillator/Zone-Multisample View
This includes from right to left: Program, Oscillator/Zones, Multisamples.
This is when you are most concerned with assign already-designed Multisamples to Oscillator/Zones. The Samples list is omitted since you are already comfortable with the contents of the Multisamples.
You have more horizontal information since there are only 3 lists.
Multisample-Sample View
This includes from right to left: Oscillator/ Zones and Samples
Object Views
This is for hardcore Multisample designing, you can see the minutiae of the Multisamples and of the Samples. You are not concerned with Programs or anything other then the Multisamples and Samples.
You have much more horizontal information since there are only 2 lists.
Finally, there is one Special View:
Combi View
This includes from right to left: Combis, Parts, and Programs.
This is the Combi Editor, where you can assign Programs to Parts, and thus develop your own Combis easily. Combis do not exist on any other list, since Programs are more commonly used and Combis are “far away” from Multisamples and their dealings.
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Keyboard Display
Korg Creator
The Keyboard Optional Display
Since the Korg is basically a keyboard, and everything revolves around a keyboard, so it’s just natural that
we put a keyboard display on a Korg document. It shows you what the contents of the current Multisample are, allows you to select a Sample within the Multisample, and also allows dropping to import Samples into the currently selected Multisample and determine their Key Ranges.
Sample View
The Keyboard display shows in alternating pink and green the Samples that are referenced in the currently selected Multisample (on the Multisamples List). Velocities are also shown, in various tints.
Sample Select
By clicking on the Keyboard display, this selects the Sample according to where you clicked. This also pertains to Velocity -the higher up you click, the higher velocity gets selected.
Sample Import
By dragging and dropping external Samples (WAVE and AIFF) onto the Keyboard display, this allows you to import Samples into the currently selected Multisample. If you drag more then one Sample or a Folder, multiple overlays will appear as you drag onto top of the display, with a maximum of an octave spread. Dragging higher on the Keyboard makes for wider spreads.
Dropping on the Keyboard display imports the Samples into the currently selected Multisample. If there are overlapping Samples, they are deleted or cut-away - this is because Multisamples do not allow overlapping.
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Korg Creator
Wave Display
The Wave Optional Display
No editor would be complete without a Wave Display!
Although there is one in the proper place in the Sample Editor, you can display one on the main screen by checking the Wave Display menu in the top-level View menu, or the master Gear Menu.
This displays what you play in the Sample list. There are no transport controls; well, there actually is - the single button on the Sample List performs this function.
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Adding Objects
Korg Creator
Adding Objects
You add Programs, Multisamples, Samples, or Combis by dragging objects into the Lists, by clicking the + button under the List, or pressing the Insert button (INS) on the computer keyboard.
Program List
Drop a Program from another Korg document into this list, and it will add it to the Program List. (We should say it will replace the Program selected.) Or drop an external le, like a Kontakt .nki, Apple .exs,
SoundFont, etc., or even one or more WAVE/AIFF les, on the Program List and it will create a Program and
make Multisamples that will hold the samples. Clicking the + button or pressing INS will allow you to select one or more external Instruments to Import in (See Importing External Instruments for more information.)
Multisample List
Drop a Multisample from another Korg document into this list, and it will add it. Or drop an external le,
like a Kontakt .nki, Apple .exs, SoundFont, etc., or even one or more WAVE/AIFF les, on the Multisample
List and it will create Multisamples that will hold the samples. (You then have to assign the Multisamples to Oscillator/Zones within Programs, if you wish.) Clicking the + button or pressing INS creates a blank Multisample, in which you can add Samples to.
Sample List
Drop a Sample from another Korg document into this list, and it will add it. Or drop a WAVE/ AIFF. When
importing external samples, Korg Creator assigns the rst available key from the left of the keyboard and
gives it a one note range. You can edit the range afterwards. Clicking the + button or pressing INS brings
up a Open dialog where you can select WAVE/AIFF les to import.
You can also add Samples by dropping them on the Keyboard Display at the bottom of a Korg document.
This provides an easy way to add a sample to a specic keyrange. For more information, see the Keyboard
Optional Display in this document.
Combi List
Drop a Combi from another Korg document into this list, and it will add it to the Combi List. (We should say it will replace the Combi selected.) Note: you cannot import external foreign formats into the Combis List yet, even if the format is a Combi-type (like a Roland Combi). This will be incorporated in a future version.
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Korg Creator
Deleting Objects
Deleting Objects
You delete objects in a List by clicking the minus sign (-) button under the List, selecting the “Delete” Gear, Ctl/Right-click Context, or top-level menu option, or by pressing the Delete button (DEL) on the computer keyboard.
The popup menus under the lists determine if you are deleting all the objects or just the selected ones.
Since it is impossible to delete a Program or Combi, in this context it means Initializing the Program(s).
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Editing Objects
Korg Creator
Editing Objects
You edit an object by double-clicking the object in the list, or by selecting the Gear or top-level menu “Edit...”. It is only possible to edit one object at a time, so if there are multiple objects selected in a List,
only the rst selection will be edited.
When you edit, the appropriate editor appears. For more information on Editors, see the Editors section of this document.
For Samples, there is also an additional “Edit External...” menu option. This allows you to edit the sample in an external editor that you specify in the Preferences dialog. For more information, please see the Editing External Samples section in this document.
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Korg Creator
Renaming Objects
Renaming Objects
You can rename any object by selecting it, then selecting it again. Although you can name things whatever you want, Korg Creator will apply the natural Korg text and length restrictions, depending on what type
of Korg le (Classic, ES, XS, XF) the document represents. Also note that Samples can be named, even
though these names do not show up in the Korg interface. (We are not sure why this is, must not be enough room. Well, there is though. Oh well.)
IMPORTANT! If you name your samples, the results are stored in a .Korginfo le of the same name, stored alongside your Korg le(s). The next time you open that Korg le - IF it has not changed - the names will show up. If the Korg le has changed since (for instance, if you resaved it using the Korg after
editing) Korg Creator™ will erase the .Korginfo and your sample names will be lost.
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The Korg Player
Korg Creator
The Korg Player
Korg Creator includes a Korg Player, which can play from Korg Creator itself a Korg Document’s Multisamples.
Simply select a Multisample in the Multisample list, right­click and select Play... (Or click the Multisample Gear menu and click play... The Multisample will load and you can play it on your MIDI keyboard. Make sure to select the correct MIDI In port in Preferences - Audio/MIDI.
IMPORTANT! On Windows the player is xed to play out
the ASIO type of driver and goes through ASIO4ALL. You can download this driver at www.asio4all.com. On Mac the output is xed to Built-In Output.
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Korg Creator
Preparing/Editing Multisamples
Preparing and Editing Multisamples/Oscillator/ Zones Externally
One of the most powerful and innovative features in Korg Creator™ is the ability to drag (or select via menu) an Oscillator/Zone, Multisample, or Sample outside of Korg Creator™ and load it into a software sampler like Kontakt or a sample editor such as Sound Forge or PEAK. This effectively gives Korg
Creator™ a full-edged real-time editing engine! Simply edit your object (Oscillator/Zone, Multisample, or
Sample), save it, and focus back to Korg Creator™ - it will then reference the new information, so when you eventually the save the document, those new changes will write into the new Korg le.
So, what is “preparing”? Kontakt (or any other sampler or editing program) has no idea what a Korg Multisample or Sample is, so if you dragged that object into it (or tried to load it), it would reject it.
“Preparing” is the act of writing behind the scenes temporary les that will be provided to the editing app. After you’ve “prepared” the Oscillator/Zone/Multisample/Sample, the List is display it as “prepared”, and
then your drag to the destination app will be successful.
Future versions of Korg Creator™ will allow you to automatically prepare every object; however, this is something you may not want to do because it may take a lot of time to perform, and chances are you
won’t be editing every Multisample. That is why it is implemented
several or all objects at once though, just use the top- level or Gear menus.
as a manual process. You can prepared
(Note: Currently Kontakt 4.2 and Kontakt 5 are supported formats, however, they do not support modulators, lters, or effects.)
Preparing, Editing, and Re-importing Multisamples - An Example
First, locate the Multisample you want to edit or audition and select it in
the Multisample List. Under Edit Status it says it’s Idle; this means it’s not
prepared.
Click the Gear menu below and select Prepare Selected. Korg Creator will then prepare the Multisample. You
will know when it’s done when the Edit Status column
shows Prepared.
For the purposes of this example we will assume you have Kontakt, Native Instruments super-sampler. Open it up. Then drag the prepared Multisample out of the List and onto the Kontakt rack. The Multisample
loads right into Kontakt!
Now, make some edits, add some samples, whatever. Save the Kontakt Instrument.
Now, go back to Korg Creator™. The program will check
to see if the prepared le has been updated; since it has, it
updates the display and notes that it has been Imported. See the Edit Status column now; it says Imported. You have edited a Korg Multisample using Korg Creator™!
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Preparing/Editing Multisamples
If you’d like to use another sampler besides Kontakt to audition or edit your Multisamples, you have to load the les manually. As of
this writing, Kontakt is the only sampler that fully supports dragging
into the interface. The le to load is in the AppData section of Korg
Creator:
Mac:
/Users/[you]/Application Support/Chicken Systems/Korg Creator
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\[you]\ ApplicationData\Chicken Systems\ Korg Creator This assumes C: is your boot drive; also, ApplicationData
may be a hidden folder
Windows 7/Windows Vista: C:\Users\[you]\
AppData\Roaming\Chicken Systems\Korg Creator
This assumes C: is your boot drive; also, AppData may be a hidden folder
Korg Creator
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Korg Creator
External Sample Editing
Editing Single Samples Externally
Korg Creator™ can edit whole Multisamples (that is, keymaps) or single Samples on the Sample List. Korg Creator™ is a powerful program, but perhaps it’s greatest power is the compatibility with other programs.
Instead of providing it’s own battery of sample editing DSP functions like other programs do, Korg
Creator™ instead provides the ability to edit the referenced samples within a Multisample with any external sample editor you have installed on your system. These can be free editors such as Audacity, or powerful commercial ones like SoundForge, WaveLab, Peak, DSP-Quattro, or many others.
First you select your External Sample Editor in Preferences (see the screen shot on the right). Then, select your sample (or samples) in the Sample List, and either right-click or use the Gear menu and click on Edit Selected Samples. Korg Creator™ will then transparently transfer the samples to a temporary location and open up the sample editor and that will open up the samples. Edit the samples at your leisure, and make
sure to save them! Once you put the focus back to the Korg Creator™ application, Korg Creator™ will
again references those new samples. Then, when you save your Korg le, those edits will be included in
your Korg le.
This is extremely powerful for mass editing of samples, it can’t get easier then this!
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Exchanging Objects
Korg Creator
Exchanging Objects
When you have multiple Korg documents open, you can exchange information by dragging objects (Programs, Oscillator/Zones, Multisamples, Samples, Combis, or Parts) from and to one another. You can multi-select objects and move them to another document.
For Programs and Oscillator/Zones, any user Multisamples that are connected are carried along with them. Also, with Programs and Oscillator/Zones,
since there are a xed set amount of them, they
replace what you drop them on.
For Combis and Parts, any Programs (and their User Multisamples that are connected) are carried along with them. Also, with Combis and Parts, since there are a xed set amount of them, they replace what you drop them on.
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Korg Creator
Auditioning Objects
Auditioning Samples and Other Objects
Korg Creator™ allows you to audition both the individual samples of your Multisamples, but also your
Multisamples themselves.
Samples
Click on the Play icon on the Sample you wish to audition on the Sample List. The Wave display shows in the Wave Display below if you have it shown.
Or, open the Sample Editor on an item on the Sample List, and click on the Play button on the Wave Display. You can adjust your sound outputs etc, in Preferences­Audio/MIDI tab.
Multisamples
To audition a Multisample, you can either use the included Korg Player, or you can Prepare the Multisample.
The Korg Player is much easier to use, see the Korg Player section in this document for more information.
To use Preparation to be played back on an external software sampler, such as Kontakt to EXS24. (For more information on Preparation, please see the Preparation section in this document.) After the Multisample is prepared, drag it onto or load it into the software sampler, and play it back. You also may edit it and import it back into the Korg document.
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Importing External Instruments
Korg Creator
Importing External Instruments
Korg Creator™ contains the powerful Chicken Systems Conversion Engine, which powers our ubiquitous Translator™ program and other products. This enables you to import already-formed Bank
or Instrument les, such as SoundFonts, Kontakt Instruments, EXS24 Instruments, GigaStudio les, and
much more.
When you import an external Instrument, it adds Programs and Multisamples to their respective Lists. This is done by dragging or select via menu; for instance, if you drag in a Kontakt .nki and drop it on the
Program List, it will convert the Kontakt le and add a Program to the rst “blank” (that is, initialized)
Program, and add the converted Multisamples to the Multisample List. Importing Banks simply creates one or more Programs to the Program list.
Remember that any importing is temporary until you save your Korg document; importing does not write to
the representative le automatically.
Korg Creator™ supports just about any professional Instrument format that is available.
However, instruments off proprietary disks are not supported, and Instruments that come from exclusive
protected libraries are not supported either. Reason Rells and HALion 3 les are not supported (they are
encrypted just like protected libraries are, for some reason). Below is list of formats as of this writing we
DON’T support for one reason or another. It is unlikely that any of the formats below will be incorporated in Korg Creator because usually these les are encrypted for copy-protection reasons.
Korg Korg factory banks that have the samples marked as “protected”, and ones that use the LPC or XPC
compression; these are few though
Kontakt Player 1 and 2 libraries (that use samples within .nks or .nkx les) Structure Factory libraries (the ones that come off the 32+GB library, using “.big” les) SampleTank les that use “2-pak” compression Alesis Fusion les that use their own compression scheme (that is, many Hollow Sun libraries) ALL Steinberg HALion 3 and 4 les (Steinberg encrypts ALL les created with HALion (!)) Propellerhead Rells; any les in one, or a referenced le in a Rell EastWest PLAY les (encrypted) Garritan-distributed Aria (.sfz les with .audio les as the samples) Stylus RMX Core Library-type les (includes XPanders) Vienna Instruments (not the original .gig/exs/nki les, but the new Vienna Instruments player) ALL Yellow Tools Independence les
Roland VP-9000
Page 24
Korg Creator
Editors
Editors
In large part you’ll do much of your adding/editing/deleting using the Main Screen. But when you need to view or tweak a certain parameter within a Korg object, that’s where the Editors come in.
You invoke an Editor by double-clicking on an object, or by using the Gear, Ctl/Right-click Context, or top-
level menu. Hint: don’t double-click on the Name, it just sets the Name up for editing. Double-click to the
left or right of the Name.
There are six Editors: Program, Oscillator/Zone, Multisample, Sample, Combi, and Part.
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Program Editor
Korg Creator
Program Editor
This exposes some of the Program-level parameters (there aren’t too many, these are the COMMON
Program parameters), and the Multisample assignments to the Oscillator/Zones. You can change the Oscillator/Zone assignments much like you do on the Main Screen.
To change the Oscillator/Zone parameters, you will need to use the Oscillator/Zone Editor, which you can invoke from the Program Editor.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences­General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
The are knob widgets to control most of the parameters, and Range Maps to control the Key and Velocity Ranges of the Oscillator/Zones.
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Korg Creator
Oscillator/Zone Editor
Oscillator/Zone Editor
This exposes the Multisample assignment for that Oscillator/Zone and all the Oscillator/Zone-level parameters. The Oscillator/Zone parameters on the Korg are usually the most signicant. You can change the Oscillator/Zone’s assignment and edit any of the parameters.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences­General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
The are knob widgets to control most of the common parameters. There are also graphical envelope widgets to customize the envelopes.
Page 27
Multisample Editor
Korg Creator
Multisample Editor
The Multisample Editor shows all the Samples assigned to the Multisample and performs much like the Multisample List on the Main Screen.
You can “prepare” a Multisample here and edit externally (see the External Editing topic in this document).
Additionally, you can also invoke the
Sample Editor for a specic Sample in
the Multisample from this Editor.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences­General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
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Korg Creator
Sample Editor
Sample Editor
This shows the sample-specic parameters (Tune, Pan, Volume, Ranges, Start/Loop points, etc.) and shows the full Multisample display, where you can audition the sample.
You can edit the KeyRange and Velocity Range parameters here. Please remember that in a Korg Multisample there can not be overlapping ranges, even though this editor will allow you to do so. If there are overlapping samples when you save the Korg le, it will warn you and give you the option to Cancel and repair the overlaps (then resave), or it will automatically repair the overlaps. However, keep in mind that it may make decisions you do not want.
You can “prepare” a Sample here for external editing (see the External Editing topic in this document). You can replace the sample with another one, plus you can edit the sample using an external sample editor. A small but helpful complement of DSP functions is also included.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences-General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
The are knob widgets to control most of the parameters, and Range Maps to control the Key and Velocity Ranges.
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Combi Editor
Korg Creator
Combi Editor
The Combi Editor shows all the Parts contained in the Combi, plus some of the Common parameters.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences­General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
The are knob widgets to control most of the parameters.
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Korg Creator
Part Editor
Part Editor
The Part Editor shows all the Parts assigned to the selected Combi and performs much like the Part List on the Main Screen. You can “prepare” a Part here. Additionally, you can also invoke the Sample Editor
for a specic Sample in the
Multisample from this Editor.
Please note that until you close the dialog, none of the changes you make are permanent. If you make changes, and try to close the dialog, it will ask you if you want to save your changes. (This can be turned off in Preferences­General.) Also remember that even if you “save” those changes, your Korg Document still can be reverted to its original state.
The are knob widgets to control most of the common parameters.
Page 31
AutoSampler
Korg Creator
AutoSampler
Korg Creator™ has a spiffy plugin called AutoSampler. This automatically sends MIDI notes to internal and
external sound sources and records them automatically, and then outputs ithe results into the current Korg Document you have open.
To autosample an external or an internal device, follow the following steps:
Set your MIDI Out/Audio In devices
appropriately. (Audio/MIDI page)
If you are sampling an internal device,
open it and set the MIDI IN and Audio Out to the corresponding MIDI In MIDI Out and Audio In preferences set in AutoSampler. Of course, make sure the MIDI Channels are the same. If sampling an external device, make sure the proper audio cables are going into the port specied in AutoSampler.
Set your preferences concerning what notes you want sampled, how many velocities you want sampled,
and what you want the result named. (Placement page)
Click Record, the tabs on AutoSampler shift to the Sampling... tab where the progress bars exist, and sit
back and watch.
External MIDI and Audio devices are standard on Mac and Windows; the ports are embedded in the
operating system, and if you are using external gear, you’ve already installed those drivers.
But virtual MIDI and Audio cables aren’t standard in either the Mac or Windows, so you need to get some additional software if you record software instruments such as Kontakt, EXS24, MachFive, etc.
These are called Virtual Cables. Sometimes they are referred to a Ports, but we feel calling them Cables is more precise, since we are talking about connecting two devices at two ends. A Cable illustrates both “ends”.
You need to establish a Virtual MIDI Cable, so you can send MIDI from Autosampler to the internal software application, plus set up a Virtual Audio Cable, so you can capture the internal device’s audio.
NOTE: The following contains external links that may become bad over time. We will attempt to keep these up to date. If any of them fail, please ask us for the latest information.)
Recording Internal Devices
Mac Virtual MIDI: Fortunately, OSX offers this natively, but you have to manually set it up.
Open the Audio/MIDI Utility applet in your Mac’s Utilities folder. Create a new virtual MIDI
port; by default this is called “IDC Output A”. After establishing this, it will then show up in the
AutoSampler’s MIDI Out list. You will also need to choose this in your internal device’s MIDI In
list.
Mac Virtual Audio: We recommend using Cycling74’s free SoundFlower system (download it at Cycling74’s web site). SoundFlower is a inter-application audio device. After you install it, a Audio In SoundFlower device will appear in Autosampler’s Audio In list. Again, you will need to make sure that your internal device is outputting on SoundFlower’s output port.
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Korg Creator
Windows Virtual MIDI: Windows doesn’t provide this, but a free driver and app called loopMIDI by Tobias Erichsen supplies this. Download it and install it. Open the app, that’s all you have to do. After establishing this, it will then show up in the Autosampler’s MIDI Out list. You will also need to choose this in your internal device’s MIDI In list.
Windows Virtual Audio: The one we use is VB-Audio Cable, which is free from VB-Audio
Software (download it at VB-Audio Software’s web site. After you install it, a “Virtual Audio Cable” device will appear in Autosampler’s Audio In list. Again, you will need to make sure that your internal device is outputting on Virtual Audio Cable’s output port.
Templates
Once you have used Autosampler a couple times, you’ll have some set note payouts and setups you’ll want
to save. You can do that in the Load/Save As... buttons to the right. Save As.. saves your current work, Load
saves templates you’ve saved earlier. They are contained as .ast les in your Application Support folder:
Mac
/Library/Application Support/Chicken Systems/[appname]/AutoSampler Templates
Win8/7/Vista
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Chicken Systems\[appname]\AutoSampler Templates
Windows XP
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Chicken Systems\[appname]\AutoSampler Templates
AutoSampler - Audio/MIDI
Audio/MIDI
Choose your MIDI Out port and your Audio In ports here. Set your output MIDI Channel here too. You can test the MIDI out with the MIDI Test button, and set the note and velocity using the selections below. Even better, check the w/keyboard check box and test using your MIDI keyboard.
You can also test incoming audio by pressing Audio Test, and looking at the meters above. You may not be able to hear the audio coming in, but this should be no worry.
Placement
This is where you will select what MIDI notes will be recorded and how many and at what velocities. Simply choose the notes on the buttons; the MIDI keyboard graphic will show you what you have chosen.
You can also select your notes via MIDI keyboard by checking the Select via MIDI checkbox.
We have supplied some handy Placement Presets. These are the most common placements, allowing for
guitars and other common instruments. Note: the reason there is preference for sampling D’s and A’s is
because harmonically these are much easier to loop.
There is also a KeyRange slider below the keyboard graphic; this limits the keyrange extends of the ulti­mate Program that is created.
Normally, AutoSampler lls in all
spaces between notes you choose not to record (except when KeySpread is “Single Key”), so this determines the limits of the extreme low and high ranges.
Note: All velocity spaces are al­ways lled in.
Page 33
AutoSampler - Recording
The keyboard graphic has arrow buttons on both sides, allowing you to shift the placed notes up or down by an octave. By pressing CTL while clicking on the arrows, you shift down by a single note.
Number of Programs: This is the amount of programs you will record. If >1, a Program Change is outputted, changing the Program that you are recording. Also, Start Number is enabled, allowing you to set the beginning Program Change number that will be sent.
Start Number: See above.
Number of Velocities: This the amount of velocities that you will record. See Velocity Curve below for the
ranges this parameter enabled if >1.
Root Key Anchor: AutoSampler automatically sets keyranges to ll in all the notes that you aren’t
recording. This parameter determines hwo these are placed in respect to the note (Root Key) that you recorded. Middle means half the keyrange goes down and half goes up. LoKey means the record note is the lowest note of the range, whereas HiKey means the recorded note is the highest note of the range. Hint: although Middle is a good compromise, usually HiKey is a good selection because most audio sounds better transposed downward than upward; plus the slower playback gives it more time before a possible loop.
Key Spread: Most of the time you’ll select Full, which means all areas between LoKey-HiKey are lled in. When set to Single Key, the keyranges are always 1 note in length and there is no lling in of notes not
recorded.
Korg Creator
Velocity Curve: This determines the velocity ranges if you are recording >1 velocities. Linear means that all ranges are equal in height. The Convex values mean that lower velocities are larger and higher velocities are smaller (meaning you have to hit harder to get the high velocity sounds), and the Concave values are the opposite; higher velocity sounds are more likely to be sounded. Note: to be specic, the velocities that are actually record are always the HIGHEST velocity determined by the curve. This is because everyone wants to hear the velocity=127 sound, but no one wants to hear the Velocity=1 sound, mostly.
The Velocity graphic on the bottom shows you at a glance what velocities you have programmed. This
reects the Velocity Curve set.
Recording
These are the parameters exclusively dealing with recording.
Input Level: This is the input level of the audio. Generally you will want to leave this at 0db and adjust
whatever is incoming with it’s own controls.
Recording Time: This is the amount of time recorded. Please remember that any silence BEFORE or
AFTER the sound is automatically trimmed, so the nal result maybe not be this amount of time.
Start Threshold: This is the level of audio required for the recording to actually commence saving of the recorded audio.
Allow Silence: Sometimes you want to re­cord the extra silence after the sound has died away. This can be handy for noise reduction processing you do later.
Page 34
Korg Creator
AutoSampler - Processing
Processing
Once the audio is recorded, there are a couple things that you might want to do with it. You will likely want to loop it and probably normalize it.
Add Loop: This turns on the loop in the destination format. The slider sets the approximate loop start area you want to set. Note: This is approximate; if you choose to loop, the engine will make some decisions about the best place to loop BASED ON this parameter.
CrossFade Loop: (Only available when AddLoop is checked.) This hardcodes a crossfade loop into the recorded sample. The slider determines the length of the crossfade; we recommend values around 4000 samples.
Proportional Normalize: This boosts all samples up to 0db level at highest, with one twist: it takes the highest level in ALL the recorded samples, and normalizes all the samples regarding that level. This way, the balance of levels is preserved.
Chop and Add Parameter Attack: Sometimes the data that is under a relatively slow attack is the same as the sustained portion. Checking this tells AutoSampler to truncate all data up to the highest level (before the loop start if there is one), calculate the time it took to get there, and writes the AmpEnv Attack parameter accordingly.
Create Release Triggers: If checked, AutoSampler will make separate samples of when it releases the key, adn the output format will program and use these samples accordingly, plus set the release parameter to around 150-300ms. Note: if the output format does not support release triggers, AutoSampler will not create these samples, effectively ignoring this parameter.
Do Not Trim: This disables the automatic trimming AutoSampler does post-recording. Again, this is often used in conjunction with the Allow Silence parameter, where you want the silence after the sound to use for your manual post-processing.
Record Channels: This determines the output format of the samples, either Stereo or Mono.
Switches
This handy features allows you to sample Instruments that play different sounds based on Keyswitching, or Controller switching, or Round Robin. You likely know some advance information on where keyswitches are located or what controller switches things.
For Controller switching, the values sent before recording are listed in the middle right box. You can edit them, but make sure there is one value per number of controllers you have selected.
Since the Korg does not support any kind of switching, each Keysiwtch or Controller switch will appear as a
separate Program. (Actually, the XS/XF/MOXF support XA switching buttons, but we don’t support this yet.)
Parameters
AutoSampler gives you a selection of default parameters that will be written into your output format. This is handy for including modulators like pitch bend or LFO->ModWheel->LFO, or just the simple task of
turning on the lter so you don’t have to..
Page 35
Menus - File
Menus - File
New
Creates a new Korg Document. You have the choice of Triton, M3, or Kronos.
Open
Displays a common Open dialog where you can open an
existing Korg PCG le. This will be displayed in a new
Korg Document.
Open Recent
A list of previously selected Korg Documents.
Revert to Saved...
Reverts the current Korg Document to the original saved version it references. If the current state of the document is Edited, Korg Creator will ask you if you want to save your changes elsewhere.
Close Window
Closes the current Korg Document. If the current state of the document is Edited, Korg Creator will ask you if you want to save your changes.
Korg Creator
Import...
Allows you to select a non-Korg format to import into Korg Creator and create a new Korg Document from it. This uses the famous Chicken Systems Conversion Engine™ to accomplish the importing.
Export Program List Text
Saves a Text le listing the contents of the Korg Document. See Preferences - Import for different options
how this list is formatted.
Export All Samples
This exports all the samples in a Korg Document to WAVE, AIFF, CAF, or SND sound les.
Save
Saves the current Korg Document, overwriting any previous information. Currently you cannot save into another Korg type; although this will be possible in a upcoming version.
Save As...
Saves the current Korg Document, allowing you to name it and write it anywhere. Currently you cannot save into another Korg type; although this will be possible in a upcoming version.
Quit/Exit
Quits the whole mess.
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Korg Creator
Menus - Program/Combi
Menus - Program/Combi
These Functions are also accessible via the Function Buttons on the Main Interface on the bottom of the Main Screen. The menu is the same for Programs or Combis, they apply the same.
Import
Allows you to import a non-Korg le into the current Korg Document. It will replace the rst “blank” Korg Program or Combi (starting with the
text “Init”).
Initialize Selected (or All)
Initializes the selected Programs, or all the Programs/ Combis in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Program or Combi List.)
Duplicate
This duplicates the Program or Combis selected.
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Menus - Oscillator/Zone/Part
Korg Creator
Menus - Oscillator/Zone/Part
Import
Allows you to import a non-Korg le into the current Korg
Document as one or more Multisamples. It will create the Multisamples(s) and then assign them to the currently-select Oscillator/Zone (including the real-time parameters such as
envelopes and lters). If more then one Multisample is created,
it will assign them to any other “empty” Oscillator/Zones in that Program.
Initialize Selected (or All)
Initializes the selected Programs, or all the Programs in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Program List.)
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Korg Creator
Menus - Multisample
New...
Adds a new blank Multisample to the Korg Document.
Import...
Allows importing of a non-Korg Instrument into the current Korg Document, only in the form of one or more Multisamples.
Prepare Selected (or All)
Prepares the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Import Selected (or All)
Re-imports the already Prepared Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Delete Selected (or All)
Deletes the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Menus - Multisample
Page 39
Menus - Sample
Korg Creator
Menus - Sample
Add->Folder
Allows adding a folder of sample les to the
currently selected Multisample. Korg Creator™ will
include all sample les immediately within the
Folder and within any sub-Folders.
Add->Files
Allows adding one or more sample les to the
currently selected Multisample.
Delete Selected (or All)
Deletes the selected Samples, or all the Samples in the currently selected Multisample. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Sample List.)
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Korg Creator
Menus - View
Program/Oscillator/Zone/Multisample View
This includes from left to right: Program, Oscillator/ Zones, Multisamples.
Multisample/Sample View
This includes from left to right: Multisamples and Samples.
Combi View (All Files only)
This includes from left to right: Combis, Parts, and Programs.
Four Corners View
This includes from left to right: Program-Oscillator/ Zones, then below that, from left to right, Multisample­Samples.
Full View
The standard 4-List view.
Menus - View
Keyboard
Shows or Hides the Keyboard Display on the Korg Document. Please note that it does not display in the Combi View.
Wave Display
Shows or Hides the Wave Display on the Korg Document. Please note that it only displays when the Sample List is visible.
Oscillator/Zone Ranges
Shows the Oscillator/Zone Range widgets at the top of the Oscillator/Zone List.
Part Ranges (All Files only)
Shows the Part Range widgets at the top of the Part List.
Page 41
Menus - Help
Menus - Help
Contents
Displays the Help File; that is the manual. Hey, READ IT!!! =)
Troubleshooting
Goes to the Troubleshooting page in the Manual.
Bug Reports
Goes online to the Chicken Systems Korg Creator
Bug Report page. You can ll out the form there and submit any applicable les, to report any issues Korg
Creator has.
Sending Files
Displays the Help File section about sending
les within Bug Reports.
Korg Creator Home Page
Goes online to the Chicken System’s Korg Creator
Home page.
Korg Creator
Check For Updates
Contacts the Chicken Systems Update Server online and checks if there is a update for your current running version of Korg Creator.
Online Documentation
Goes online to a online version of the Help File. Usually the same thing as the Help File.
Support - Forum
Goes online and takes you to the SamplerZone Korg Creator forum. You can get questions answered here,
as well as meet up with the most amazing people you’ll ever want to meet.
Support - Online Chat
Opens a online Chat window, where you can chat with a Chicken Systems engineer during business hours and sometimes outside of business hours.
Support - Email
Allows you to directly send an email to Chicken Systems. All emails are replied to within 24-48 hours.
Support - Movies
Goes to the Korg Creator Product Video site for a full range of product videos and instruction.
About Korg Creator™
Shows the Korg Creator™ Splash Screen, which shows you your registration information and the current version number you are using.
Page 42
Korg Creator
Gear Menus - Program
Import
Allows you to import a non-Korg le into the current Korg Document. It will replace the rst “blank” Korg le (starting
with the text “Init”).
Initialize Selected (or All)
Initializes the selected Programs, or all the Programs in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Program List.)
Gear Menus - Program
Page 43
Gear Menus - Multisample
Gear Menus - Multisample
New...
Adds a new blank Multisample to the Korg Document.
Prepare Selected (or All)
Prepares the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Import Selected (or All)
Re-imports the already Prepared Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Play...
This loads the Multisample into the MC Player, so you can play the Multisample through MIDI.
Split Selected... (or All)
This splits the Multisample(s) in half, one getting the lower values, a new copy getting the top half, in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Korg Creator
Merge Selected (or All)
Merges the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Duplicate Selected (or All)
Duplicates the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Delete Selected (or All)
Deletes the selected Multisamples, or all the Multisamples in the Korg Document. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Multisample List.)
Remove Duplicates
Macro function that analyzes each Multisample and makes sure there are no duplicates. It also updates the references in the Oscillator/Zones of the Programs automatically.
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Korg Creator
Gear Menus - Sample
New...
Allows adding one or more
sample les to the currently
selected Multisample.
Delete Selected (or All)
Deletes the selected Samples, or all the Samples in the currently selected Multisample. (Dependent on the setting of the PopupMenu under the Sample List.)
Gear Menus - Sample
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Preferences - General
Korg Creator
Preferences
The Preferences dialog is viewed by clicking on (Windows) Tools-Preferences top menu, or (Mac) App Menu­Preferences.
General Tab
Prepare Audition Format
This is the format that is written when preparing a Multisample for auditioning.
New Import Format
This is the format that is written when preparing a Multisample for auditioning.
Parameter Tolerance
When importing into Korg format, there may be structural limitations where if you wanted to ensure all parameters were
converted perfectly, you’d end up with
multiple Programs/Presets being created, perhaps in more of a mess than you prefer. Setting Parameter Tolerance to a higher percentage gives some grace to these parameters so the conversion will be a little exact but you’ll wind up with a cleaner organization that will be more usable to you.
Use Custom Editor for Sample Edits
This is the app that you’ll use for editing samples within the Korg Document. Good sample editors are
SoundForge (Mac/Windows), Peak (Mac), DSP Quattro (Mac), Audacity (Mac/ Windows), Adobe Audition (Mac/Windows) and more.
Color Keyboard with selected Multisample Ranges
Usually this is set to be on. This colors the onscreen Keyboard with the ranges of the Samples within the currently selected Multisample.
Autoload Multisamples when selected
Checking this has the Korg Player load Multisamples as they are selected, allowing you to audition them via MIDI.
Middle C displays as...
On some samplers/keyboards, middle C is dened as C4 (usually U.S.) while others it is C3. All Korgs show
it as C3, and by default this is what is shown throughout the program through any Note Number (i.e. A#5, E1, etc.) However, you may feel comfortable seeing it as C4. This control sets the display of Note Numbers program-wide.
Check For Updates
Unchecking this turns off Korg Creator checking for updates automatically when starting up.
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Korg Creator
Colors Tab
Might as well make your Wave Display look great, right? These are the options you have on what your Wave
Display looks like.
Import Tab
Import Mapping Type
When adding samples to a Multisample, this option allows you to select and operate many different informational mechanisms to map the samples where you want them to go.
Chromatic: This simply puts each sample on single notes,
from lowest to highest. You also have the option of selecting all keys, only white keys, or only black keys.
Embedded Root/INST: Pays attention to RootKey or INST
chunk information embedded in the incoming les. An INST
chunk contains LoKey, HiKey, LoVel, and HiVel information,
but is relatively rare in sample les.
Velocity: Instead of mapping on adjacent keys, it will map
on a single key, into adjacent velocity ranges.
Name Pattern: Looks into the File Name and tried to detect
the pattern listed in the text box below.
Preferences - Colors
Use Key Range
This is the keyrange limits placed on imported samples. This means all samples placed will not exist outside these limits. If this is not checked, they are assumed as 0-127.
Use Velocity Range
This is the velocity range limits placed on imported samples. This means all samples placed will not exist outside these limits. If this is not checked, they are assumed as 0-127.
Spread
This determines the default spread between LoKey and HiKey the sample will receive.
Export Tab
Destination Sample Type
Korg Creator allows you to export the samples in the Korg Document out into single samples; this option selects the type. They can be WAVE, AIFF, CAF, or Akai SND les.
Create Folder for Multisamples
If this is checked, Korg Creator will organize the samples per Multisample and put them into folders named after the Multisamples. Otherwise, the samples in the Korg Document
will just be written at.
Write “Inst” chunk into sample les Although this is not
used often in musical circles, a WAVE or AIFF le can hold keyrange/velocity range information for a sample. When checked, Korg Creator will write this chunk into the sample. There is no effect the sound of the sample, but preserves it if it will be used again in the same context.
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Preferences - Data Processing
Write SFZ le for every Multisample
This can be handy if you want to observe the layout of each Multisample, or perhaps if you want to import it into another sampler.
Export Text
This controls the listing option in Korg Creator. You can export a formatted list of the contents of a Korg Document for organizational purposes.
Delimiter
This controls the way the linefeeds are written for separated textual lines.
Include Bank - Slot Numbers
A Bank - Slot number is formatted like this: USER1:D14; checking this puts it into the document.
Exclude Blank Programs
Sometimes the User banks have a lot of Programs or Combis with INIT has it’s name and they don’t include
anything in them. This option eliminates them from the list.
Korg Creator
Data Processing Tab
Korg Creator can import WAVE/AIFF les that
have not been beat detected (that is, the transients have not been calculated) and Korg Creator will detect those transients and import them just like Recycle/ACID/ AppleLoops.
But, let’s talk about what a “slice le” (a Recycle le, ACID le, or AppleLoop) is.
What Is A Slice File
A WAVE or AIFF le is simply a piece of audio data. And any “slice le”, such as a Recycle le, ACID le, AppleLoop, or Stylus RMX le, are
just pieces of audio data as well.
The only difference between a regular sample le and a slice le is that a slice le has markers written in a information chunk in the le. These markers are placed strategically where transients (sharp sounds) in the le start, so a player that reads slice les knows where the slices are. This is how a Slice File can be
played back at various tempos: the player plays back a slice at the position the tempo dictates. At faster tempos, the slices fade out to make way for the next slice; at slower tempos, there is a gap between the slices. (However, some players articially add sample data to “plug the holes”. Also, good Slice Files are originally recorded at the slowest tempo reasonably allowed, so they never have to be played back at a slower tempo than their “unity tempo”.)
To create a Slice File, one has to “slice” the audio into slices of energy (“beats”) so the playback engine plays it back in a way that makes rhythmic sense. This requires a beat detector.
Slice editors, most notably Recycle, but also ACID itself and the AppleLoop Utility that Apple provides, have
beat detection. They do 2 things: They beat-detect a sound le, plus they can play the slice les back
at different tempos. They do this with the assistance of the detected markers. Once you have what you
want, then you save into a slice le, where the audio stays constant but the markers are written in the le. So when a slice player reads the le, the slices are the secret to it’s capability to play them back at any
tempo.
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Korg Creator
Korg Creator’s Beat Detection
Korg Creator has a Beat Detector, giving you the ability to import WAVE/AIFF les just like Slice Files.
It is vitally important to pay attention to these Beat Detector preferences. The defaults work for most clear
and simple beats, but they denitely will not work with everything. You will need to experiment with these
on a case-by-case basis, but keep trying, there usually is a solution to any rhythmic piece of data.
Here is the explanation of the Beat Detector’s parameters:
Type: The Beat Detector uses two passes through the audio to detect beats. The rst pass does the
best detection it can, then the second pass “checks” the results.
Threshold: This is like the Sensitivity control on Recycle and other slice editors. Higher values produce
less detection, lower values produce more detection.
Silence: This is terms of samples. This is the MINIMUM amount of samples that need to exist between
markers. If you are getting lots of “double beats”, raise this value.
Tempo: You can bypass the whole detection thing and just put slice points at beat values, regardless of
whether a burst of energy exists at that point.
Importing Slice Files is not as perfect as it appears. But it is very doable, don’t let these options deter you.
Pitch Detection
Pitch Detection is helpful making a chromatic instrument out of bunches of WAVE/AIFF les. Try dropping a host of WAV les of (say) a multisampled trumpet, and Korg Creator detects the pitch of each sample and places it on the appropriate MIDI key for it’s pitch, and then sets KeyRanges to ll up the spaces
in-between the notes. All of a sudden, you have a trumpet sound on for your Korg without the work of applying the proper rootkey and keyranges.
Preferences - Audio/MIDI
The Pitch Detection parameters determine how accurate or precise the pitch detection is. Pitch detection does rely on certain variables so different types and styles of pitch detection do a better or worse job than others. Try what seems best for you.
Audio/MIDI Tab
Audio Driver Types
These are the Sound Driver types on your system. Selecting one shows the Audio Outputs and Audio Inputs in the lists to the right.
Audio Outputs
These are the outputs on your system for the selected Audio Driver Type. Selecting one selects the audio output for your app.
Audio Inputs
These are the inputs on your system for the selected Audio Driver Type. Selecting one selects the audio input for your app.
Audio Properties
Shows the Properties of the Output or Input that is selected on the left.
MIDI In/Out Drivers
Allows you to select the current MIDI In or Out drivers that will drive the MC Player.
Enable MIDI
Enables MIDI communication.
Enable MIDI Velocity
When unchecked, all MIDI notes coming in will be Velocity=127 in value.
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Korg Creator
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Korg Creator
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Your Korg Creator™ program should be rock-solid and give you no problems. However, there is always stuff that can go wrong.
You can start from scratch as far as Preferences go by trashing your preferences. You can do that by:
Mac Go to: /Users/[you]/Library/Preferences, delete com.chickensys.korgcreator.plist
Windows Go into the Registry and delete the HKEY_CURRENTUSER/Software/Chicken Systems, Inc/Korg Creator k e y.
Mac and Windows
Press SHIFT when starting the program.
These techniques only trash your working preferences; they do not trash your auth codes etc. For all other
queries, please contact Chicken Systems Technical Support at the contact points listed under Contacting Technical Support in this document.
FAQ
There is a Korg Creator™ FAQ up on the Chicken Systems Web site:
www.chickensys.com/support/software/korgcreator/faq
We revise this as needed, based on common questions previously asked about the Korg Creator™.
It is extremely LIKELY that your question is answered here! Please do not contact us until you have read
completely through this resource. It probably will answer your question.
Bug Reports
Korg Creator™ should not crash or show errors, but reality insists that all programs do at some point.
Korg Creator™, since it sometimes deals with many undocumented formats and les created from many
sources, can be especially vulnerable.
If you have a problem with a translation, or receive an error within Korg Creator™ concerning a le,
the BEST way to communicate that is to le a Bug Report and send us any applicable les, with a brief
description of what the problem is.
To use the Bug Reports system, go to Help-Bug Reports in the program. It connects you to our Bug Reports
website, has a form you ll out that gets the information we need from you, and permits you to send us the source le directly from that web page.
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Bug Reports
We recommend you to use Bug Reports the
page rst. We do invite you to email us or call us with a problem, but most of the time we just direct people to the Bug Reports web site to document the information in writing and for them to send us
the le. Constructor has many users across the
globe, and it is not possible to track all our users particular questions and issues through personal correspondence.
Korg Creator
Once you establish an issue with the Bug Reports web site, you will get an email back with a link to your issue that you can consistently check on. We try to address and close issues within 24-48 hours.
BUT, THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO ENABLE US
TO EXACTLY REPLICATE YOUR ISSUE ON OUR
END! THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE SOURCE FILE
IN ALL CASES.
PLEASE REMEMBER THIS!
Bug Reports Page: www.chickensys.com/korgcreator/bugreports Email: support@chickensys.com FTP: ftp.chickensys.com
(please make sure le names DO NOT have spaces in them!)
User: incoming@samplerzone.com
Pass: lesend123
Additional Notes
Again, we make a special effort to analyze les and comment or x the problem with 24 business hours
through our Bug Reports page listed above.
Regarding larger les: they are easier to FTP than to e-mail, although our systems can handle either
method of any size without problem. The Bug Reports web site can handle any size. Any email limitation is
usually on your end. If you FTP a le, make sure that the lename DOES NOT have spaces in it. This is a
natural limitation of the Internet and FTP servers in general.
Please give us a brief complete explanation of the problem. We try to answer all emails within 24 hours. Please be patient if the answer does not arrive immediately.
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Korg Creator
Technical Support
Contacting Technical Support
Chicken Systems Technical Support can be reached in many ways: Phone, Email, Chat, or via our SamplerZone.com Forum. Please give us a brief complete explanation of the problem. With Email and Forum questions, we try to respond within 24 hours, Please be patient if the answer does not arrive immediately.
You may Phone or Chat with us also if, after reading and looking at the documentation, you are stumped.
Our usual ofce hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. We are often in the ofce on weekends and holidays
on an infrequent basis.
Phone: 800-877-6377 United States, 320-235-9798 elsewhere. Please do not mind the crabby technical support engineers.
Email: support@chickensys.com Chat: www.chickensys.com, use the Chat link on the bottom Forum: www.samplerzone.com/forums/korgcreator
Page 53
Updating
Korg Creator
Updating
We update Korg Creator™ as needed, for bug xes, improvements, and additions to the library.
Korg Creator™ automatically checks if there is a update available when you start it up. (If desired, you can turn this checking off in Preferences.) You can also check for updates by selecting Check for Updates under the Help menu. (This only works, of course, if you are connected to the Internet on that computer.)
If your Korg Creator™ computer is not connected to the Internet, or for some reason you can’t run Korg Creator™, you can check for updates at:
www.chickensys.com/korgcreator/userupdates
You can check what is your Korg Creator™ version number by checking the About Box (under Help in Windows and under the App Menu on Mac), or by checking Get Info [Mac] or Properties [Windows].
If there is an update available for you, you can download it and then move it to your program’s computer
(if from a different computer). Run the updater and your program should be updated.
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Korg Creator
Contact Us
Chicken Systems, Inc.
714 5th Street SE Willmar, MN 56201
Phone: 800-877-6377 United States, 320-235-9798 elsewhere. Email: support@chickensys.com Chat: www.chickensys.com, use the Chat link on the bottom of the page Forum: www.samplerzone.com/forums/korgcreator
Contact Us
Page 55
Credits
Korg Creator
Credits
Developing software is at the core a one-man process, but making it good requires a team.
Korg Creator™ really benetted from good teamwork and solid commitment to quality software.
Garth Hjelte: Project Lead Jeff Godbloch: Programming and Technical Writer Roger Weingarten: Programming
And thanks to:
Dan Phillips at Korg US for the opportunity, technical advice, and much much help. Karim for lots of phone time and excellent suggestions. Everyone at Korg Forums for their ideas and encouragement.
And...
Cheryl Ann Mays at SamplerZone for the best sales team ever Sandi Tepper with Provare Technology Christian Schmitz, Glenn Austin, Joe Strout for prompt, clear, concise technical assistance Dan Dean and Ernest Cholakis for timely feedback and friendship David Viens at Plogue for SFZ assistance Kyle Zambora at Nine Volt Audio for great ideas and partnership Larry Hopkins for more great ideas and hospitality Native Instruments, Digidesign, Eastwest, Akai/Alesis, Kurzweil, and Emu product managers
and technical support crews for their thoroughness and assistance.
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