KORG CX-3 User Manual

Owner's Manual

2E

INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO A

RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK,

OR INJURY TO PERSONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

W ARNING—When using electric products, basic precautions

should always be f ollo w ed, including the following:

1) Read all the instructions before using the product.

2) Do not use this product near water-for e xample, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement, or near a s wimming pool, or the like.

3) This product should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by the manufacturer.

4) This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a level that is uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, you should consult an audiologist.

5) The product should be located so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.

6) The product should be located awa y from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, or other products that produce heat.

7) The product should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the product.

8) The power-supply cord of the product should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.

9) Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings.

The product should be serviced by qualified service personnel

10) when: a)

The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged; or

b)

Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled onto the product; or c) The product has been exposed to rain; or d) The product does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a

marked change in performance; or e) The product has been dropped, or the enclosure damaged.

11) Do not attempt to service the product beyond that described in the user-maintenance instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS

This product must be grounded. If it should malfunction or breakdo wn, grounding provides a path of least resistance for electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This product is equipped with a cord having an equipment-grounding conductor and a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an appropriate outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with all local codes and ordinances.

DANGER—Improper connection of the equipment-grounding conductor can result in a risk of electric shock. Check with a qualified electrician or serviceman if you are in doubt as to whether the product is properly grounded. Do not modify the plug provided with the product— if it will not fit the outlet, have a proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician.

THE FCC REGULATION WARNING (for U.S.A.)

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device , pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Howev er, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the f ollowing measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver .

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

•

Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

CE mark for European Harmonized Standards

CE mark which is attached to our company’s products of A C mains operated apparatus until December 31, 1996 means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and CE mark Directive (93/68/EEC). And, CE mark which is attached after January 1, 1997 means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC), CE mark Directive (93/ 68/EEC) and Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC). Also, CE mark which is attached to our company’s products of Battery operated apparatus means it conforms to EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and CE mark Directive (93/68/EEC).

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that ma y be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM

WARNING—THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug,proceed as follows:

• the wire which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or by the earth symbol

• the wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured black.

• the wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured red.

, or coloured green or green and yellow.

II

Thank you for purchasing the Korg CX-3 combo organ. To ensure trouble-free enjoyment, please read this manual carefully and use the instrument as directed.

About this owner’s manual

How this manual is organized, and ho w to use it

First read this manual carefully for important notes and to learn basic operation.

“Introduction” explains the various controls and their functions, and how to make connections.

“Basic operation” explains how to use the CX-3 (selecting programs, modifying the sound, making effect settings, simple editing, and demo playback etc.).

“Parameters” explains the function, settings, and notes on the parameters of each mode. Refer to this section when an unfamiliar parameter is displayed, or when you wish to learn more about a function.

“Appendices” explains how to make settings when connecting the CX-3 to a MIDI sequencer or a computer, explains how to perform data dumps, provides lists of the sounds built into the CX-3, and gives the specifications.

Printing conventions in this manual

Keys and knobs ... [ ]

Keys and knobs etc. on the front panel of the CX-3 are enclosed in square brackets [ ].

Parameters

Parameters that appear in the display are enclosed in quotation marks “ ”.

p. ■

This indicates a page for reference.

symbol

This symbol indicates a cautionary note.

symbol

This symbol indicates a useful hint or application.

Display screen

The parameter values and program names etc. appearing in the screens printed in this manual are only examples; they will not necessarily match the values or names that appear in the screen of your CX-3.

MIDI-related conventions

CC# is an abbreviation for Control Change Number. In the context of a MIDI message, all numbers in square brackets [ ] are in hexadecimal notation.

III

Intr oduction

1.About the CX-3

Main features

The CX-3 contains a newly developed tone wheel organ modeling tone generator that reproduces the distinctive sound

of a tone wheel organ.

technology is used to create spatial effects such as rotary, chorus/vibrato, and reverb, faithfully simulating the effects of a combo organ. It creates the modulated sounds produced by the turning rotor and horn, the natural overdrive, and chorus/ vibrato to produce an authentic sense of presence. The CX-3 is all you need to enjoy real organ sound.

By operating the two sets of drawbars on the front panel, you can modify the sound in realtime while you play. In Normal

mode, the sound is created using one set of these drawbars. In EX mode, the sound is created using both sets of drawbars. In

EX mode, you can use the drawbars to control percussion, creating new sounds that could not be produced before.

A conventional keyboard will not sound until you depress the key all the way; however the CX-3 will sound when a key is even slightly depressed. This allows more rapid response, and ensures precise glissandi and trills.

The CX-3 lets you produce the percussive “clunk” sound that is characteristic of tone wheel organs. You can also make settings so that a key click is heard when you press and release a key, creating the sense of attack that is distinctive on these organs.

128 programs are built-in (Normal mode: 64, EX mode: 64), allowing you to enjoy a variety of organ sounds.

The CX-3 has two tone generators, the Upper tone generator and the Lower tone generator. In Normal mode, you can use both the upper and the lower tone generator. In EX mode, you can use only the Upper tone generator.

In Normal mode, you can use the Split function to divide the keyboard into two areas, and play different sounds as though you were using two keyboards. If you do not use Split, the keyboard will use the Upper tone generator. If you use Split, the right side of the keyboard will use the Upper tone generator, and the left side will use the

Lower tone generator. The Upper and Lower tone generators can be assigned

separate MIDI channels, so that either tone generator can be used from an external MIDI keyboard connected to the MIDI connector.

T o create its sound, the CX-3 uses the Drawbar 1 and Drawbar 2 sets on its front panel, and the drawbars specified by each program. Drawbar settings can also be set via MIDI.

By using the keys of the DRA WBAR SELECT section you can use the drawbar settings that you wish. (Refer to the diagram.)

What is ?

(Resonant structure and Electronic circuit Modeling

System) is KORG’s proprietary sound modeling technology which precisely reproduces the complex character and nature of both acoustic and electric instruments as well as electronic circuits in real world environments. REMS emulates a wide variety of sound generation characteristics including instrument bodies, speakers & cabinets, acoustic fields, microphones, vacuum tubes, transistors, etc.

The modes of the CX-3

Normal mode and EX mode

In these modes you can select and play programs. The main differences between Normal mode and EX mode are given below.

Normal mode

• The sound is created by one set of drawbars

• The Upper tone generator and Lower tone generator

can be used

• The keyboard can be split

EX mode

• The sound is created by two sets of drawbars

• The Upper tone generator is used

Normal Edit mode and EX Edit mode

Here you can edit the program parameters of Normal mode or EX mode.

Global mode

Here you can make settings that affect the entire CX-3, such as master tune, transpose, and global MIDI channel.

Introduction

1

Introduction

2.Controls and their functions

Front panel

1

9

11

PHONES jack

1. [EXPRESSION/OVERDRIVE] knob

This simultaneously adjusts the volume and distortion. When the volume is decreased, the low range and high range will be slightly emphasized.

2. VIBRATO/CHORUS section [UPPER] key

[LOWER] key

These keys select the tone generator (Upper tone generator or Lower tone generator) to which vibrato or chorus will be applied. When you press the key to turn the function on, the LED will light.

[VIBRATO/CHORUS] knob

V1–V3: Vibrato will be applied, with V3 producing the

C1–C3: Chorus will be applied, with C3 producing the

10

maximum effect.

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8

In EX Mode and EX Edit mode, the sound is deter- mined by the total of eighteen bars of both sets, Drawbar 1 and 2. The bars of Drawbar 1 are used to create the sound in the same way as in Normal mode or Normal Edit mode. For more about the sound that is assigned to each drawbar, refer to “1. How the drawbars work” (p.27). For Drawbar 2, you will use the EX Drawbars and EX Percussion drawbars to create the sound. For more about the sound that is assigned to each drawbar, refer to the EX mode section in “Play using the drawbars” (p.9), the EX Edit mode section “EX Drawbar Type” parameter (p.18), Global mode parameters “Type 1 Ex Drawbar 1” through “Type 4 Ex Drawbar 4” (p.26), and “3. Voice name list” (p.31).

Drawbar 2

3. DRAWBAR section Drawbar 1, Drawbar 2

By pulling individual bars toward yourself you can create different sounds corresponding to the “shape” of the bars. To play using Drawbar 1 and Drawbar 2, refer to “Play using the drawbars” (p.8). In Normal mode and Normal Edit mode, the sound is determined by the nine bars of either set, Drawbar 1 or 2. For more about the sound that is assigned to each drawbar, refer to “1. How the drawbars work” (p.27).

2

EX PercussionEX Drawbar

Introduction

Upper tone generator

Lower tone generator

4. [DISPLAY] key (p.7)

Each time you press this key, the contents shown in the display will change.

In addition, the display will differ for Normal mode and EX mode.

5. [EDIT] key

Press this key to enter Normal Edit mode or EX Edit mode. Pressing this key in Normal mode will enter Normal Edit mode. Pressing this key in EX mode will enter EX Edit mode.

[GLOBAL] key

Press this key to enter Global mode.

[EXIT] key

Press this key to exit Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, or Global mode, or to cancel an operation such as Program Write, Copy, Swap, or Data Dump without executing it.

[WRITE/ENTER] key

Press this key to execute an operation such as Program Write, Copy, Swap, or Data Dump.

[√ ]/[®] keys

In Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode and Global mode, these keys are used to move to the previous or next page, or to move the cursor to left/right in the display.

[–]/[+] keys

In Normal mode and EX mode, these keys select the preset program bank.

In Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, or Global mode, these keys modify the value of a parameter.

If you briefly press a key, the value will change in steps of one. If you continue holding down a key, the value will change continuously.

6. [SPLIT] key

In Normal mode, you can divide the keyboard into left and right areas divided at the note you specify (the “split point”). The split point will be the highest note in the left keyboard area. The split point can be set independently for each program. You can change the split point by adjusting the Normal Edit mode Group 7 “Split Point” parameter.

7. PERCUSSION section

The keys in this section add an attack to the sound at the moment that the note is played, giving the notes more definition.

These keys will have an effect when the Upper tone generator is used. For details on each key, refer to “Key settings in the PERCUSSION section” (p.12).

8. [EX MODE] key

Press this key to enter EX mode.

PROGRAM [1]–[8] keys

In Normal mode and EX mode, these keys are used to directly select preset programs (p.8). In Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, and Global mode, these keys function as shortcut keys to select parameters (p.7).

9. DRAWBAR SELECT section

The three keys in the upper row are for the Upper tone generator, and the three keys in the lower row

are for the Lower tone generator. When you press a key to turn it on, the LED will light.

For each tone generator, these select the drawbar settings that will be used. There are three choices of drawbar settings; the

Drawbar 1 or Drawbar 2 settings of the front panel, or the drawbar parameters of the program.

UPPER/LOWER [DRAWBAR 1] key

The Drawbar 1 settings of the front panel will be used.

UPPER/LOWER [DRAWBAR 2] key

The Drawbar 2 settings of the front panel will be used.

UPPPER/LOWER [DRAWB AR PRESET] key

The drawbar parameters of the program will be used. The drawbar parameters of a Normal mode program contain “UPPER” parameters and “LOWER” parameters. The drawbar parameters of an EX mode program contain “EX Mode Drawbar Level” parameters. To modify the drawbar parameter settings, you will use Normal Edit mode for a Normal mode program, or EX Edit mode for an EX mode program. If the key LED is blinking or dark, pressing this key will cause the drawbar parameter settings to appear in the display for approximately one second.

3

Introduction

10.

ROTARY section

Here you can control the rotary speaker effect. For details on each key, refer to “ROTARY section key settings” (p.13).

11.

AMP section [MASTER LEVEL] knob

This adjusts the volume. After using the [EXPRESSION/OVERDRIVE] knob to adjust the volume and distortion, use this knob to set the final volume.

[TREBLE] knob

This knob adjusts the high frequency range. [BASS] knob This knob adjusts the low frequency range.

[REVERB OFFSET] knob

This knob adjusts the reverb depth. When the knob is in the center position, the reverb depth will be as specified by the program. If the knob is turned all the way toward the left there will be no effect. If the knob is turned all the way toward the right the effect will be deeper.

4

Rear panel

Introduction

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1. MIDI IN connector

Musical data and sound settings etc. can be received at this connector. Use this connector when you wish to play the CX-3’s tone generator from a connected MIDI device.

MIDI OUT connector

Music data and sound settings etc. can be transmitted from this connector. Use this connector when you wish to control a connected MIDI device.

MIDI THRU connector

Music data and sound settings etc. received at the MIDI IN connector are re-transmitted without change from this connector. Use this connector when you wish to connect multiple MIDI devices.

2. EXPRESSION PEDAL jack

Connect the included expression pedal here.

3. ASSIGNABLE PEDAL/SW 1, 2 jacks

On/off-type pedal switches (separately sold Korg PS1 pedal switches), or separately sold Korg EXP-2 foot controllers or XVP-10 expression/volume pedals can be connected to these jacks.

5. Power switch

This turns the power on/off.

6. AC power inlet

Connect the included power cable here. After connecting the power cable to the CX-3, plug it into an AC outlet.

4. OUTPUT L, R jacks

Connect these jacks to the INPUT jacks of your amp or mixer. These are unbalanced phone jacks. When connecting in stereo, use the L and R jacks. When connecting in monaural, use the L jack.

5

Introduction

Connections

Power switch

to an AC outlet

Power cable (included)

PS-1, etc

EXP-2, XVP-10

INPUT

Be sure that the power is off before you make connections. Careless operation can damage your speaker system etc., or cause malfunctions.

1. Power cable connections

Connect the included power cable to the AC power inlet of the CX-3, and then plug the other end of the cable into an AC outlet.

2. OUTPUT jack connections

Connect powered monitors, keyboard amps, or your audio system to output the sound of the CX-3.

If you connect the CX-3 to a stereo audio amp, highvolume playing may damage your speaker system.

Be careful not to raise the volume excessively. Connect the OUTPUT L, R jacks to the INPUT jacks of your powered monitors etc. When connecting in stereo, use the L and R jacks. When connecting in monaural, use the L jack. We recommend that you use stereo connections whenever possible.

Expression pedal (included)

Powered monitors, keyboard amps etc.

3. Pedal connections

Pedal switch connections

The rotary speaker effect, vibrato/chorus on/off, and program selection can be controlled by a foot switch. The function to be controlled can be specified by the parameters of Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, and Global mode. Connect a separately sold Korg PS-1 pedal switch to the ASSIGNABLE PEDAL/SW jack of the rear panel.

Expression pedal connections

A pedal can be used to control the volume, etc. The function to be controlled can be specified by the parameters of Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, and Global mode. Connect the included expression pedal to the EXPRESSION PEDAL jack, and a separately sold Korg EXP-2 foot controller or XVP-10 expression/volume pedal to the ASSIGNABLE PEDAL/SW jack of the rear panel.

4. MIDI connections

MIDI connections allow you to use the keyboard and controllers (drawbars etc.) of the CX-3 to control an external MIDI tone generator, or use another MIDI keyboard or sequencer to play the tone generator of the CX-3. Use a MIDI cable to connect the MIDI connector of the CX-3 to the MIDI connector of the external MIDI device. For details refer to “2. MIDI applications” (p.27).

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Basic operation

1.The display screen

Switching the display

Each time you press the [DISPLAY] key, the contents of the display screen will change as shown below.

The display shows the parameter settings of the selected program.

In Normal mode

Program no. and program name

Drawbar settings of the Upper tone generator

“UPPER” parameter settings

Drawbar settings of the Lower tone generator

“LOWER” parameter settings

(Displayed when MIDI CC# has modified the drawbar levels)

If the Drawbar 1 or 2 settings have been modified by MIDI control changes that were received, the “MIDI Drawbar 1, 2 settings” will be displayed following the “Drawbar levels of the Lower tone generator.”

In EX mode

Program no. and program name

If the Drawbar 1 or 2 settings have been modified by MIDI control changes that were received, the “MIDI Drawbar 1, 2 settings” will be displayed following the “EX PERCUSSION drawbar levels.”

Drawbar levels and icons

: Drawbar levels

The figure above shows the drawbar levels. For a level of 8, the display will show the bar pulled out all the way, as for the two left-most drawbars above. For a level of 0, nothing will be displayed.

: Enter icon

When you are writing or copying a program, this icon will appear in the right side of the display. This icon indicates that you should press the [WRITE/ ENTER] key to execute the operation.

: Speaker icon

When you are writing a program or copying data in Global mode, this icon will appear at the left of the program number. By playing the keyboard you can audition the sound of the program indicated by this icon.

: Percussion icon

This indicates that the Normal Edit mode “DB Preset’s Perc” parameter is set to Ena. If this parameter is set to Ena, selecting the UPPER [DRAWBAR PRESET] key in Normal mode allows you to use percussion. For details refer to “Percussion” (p.11).

Shortcut

In Normal Edit mode, EX Edit mode, and Global mode, pressing the PROGRAM [1]–[8] keys will make the first parameter of the corresponding group appear in the display. This is a convenient way to select parameters.

Drawbar, EX Drawbar settings

Drawbar and EX Drawbar settings of the “Drawbar Level” parameters

EX Percussion settings

The parameters of the displayed group will depend on

EX Percussion settings of the “Drawbar Level” parameters

the mode, and correspond to Group 1 through 8. For details on the parameters that will be selected for each

(Displayed when MIDI CC# has modified the drawbar levels)

group, refer to “Parameters” (p.17).

7

Basic operation

2.About programs

The CX-3 has 128 preset programs (64 for Normal mode, and 64 for EX mode). In each mode, the programs are organized as banks A–H, with eight programs in each bank.

How a program is organized

A preset program consists of the following four types of settings.

1) Settings for the basic organ sound

2) Drawbar settings

3) Effect settings

4) Front panel key settings

Each program has its own independent settings. This means that when you change programs, the settings of the selected program will take effect.

2) Drawbar settings are specified by each program as parameters, but these settings will be used only if [DRAWBAR PRESET] key is selected in the DRAWBAR SELECT section. If you select either [DRAWBAR 1] key or [DRAWBAR 2] key in the DRAWBAR SELECT section, drawbar parameter settings will not be used; instead, the settings of the front panel Drawbar 1 and Drawbar 2 controls will be used.

4) Front panel key settings are the Group 1 “Prg. Chng” parameters of Global mode. If you select Int. Params, the front panel key settings will be used without change even when you switch programs.

3.Playing the CX-3

Play using the drawbars

Normal mode

As an example, here’s how to play using front panel Drawbar 2.

We will play the sound specified by Drawbar 2 across the entire keyboard without splitting the keyboard.

1. Make sure that you are in Normal mode.

For details refer to the preceding section “Selecting programs.”

2. In the DRAWBAR SELECT section, make sure that the UPPER [DRAWBAR 2] key LED is lit.

If this key LED is dark, press the UPPER [DRAWBAR 2] key.

Now you can play the Upper tone generator using front panel Drawbar 2 settings.

With the factory settings, the UPPER [DRAWBAR 2] key and LOWER [DRAWBAR 1] key LEDs will be lit when you turn on the power.

You can set the Global mode Group 7 “Default Db Select” parameter to specify what will be selected in the DRAWBAR SELECT section when the power is turned on.

Selecting a program

As an example, here’s how to select the Normal mode program C-3 (program 3 of bank C)

1. Make sure that you are in Normal mode.

When you turn the power on, the CX-3 will automatically be in Normal mode. In Normal mode, the [EX MODE] key, [EDIT] key, and [GLOBAL] key LEDs will be dark. If the [EX MODE] key LED is lit, press the [EX MODE] key once. If the [EDIT] key or [GLOBAL] key LED is lit, either press the lit key once or press the [EXIT] key.

2. Press the [+] key twice to select bank C.

Notice that C appears at the left side of the display.

3. Press the PROGRAM [3] key.

The C-3 program will be selected, and the display will show the program number and program name.

To select an EX mode program, verify that you are in Normal mode in step 1 and then press the [EX MODE] key. Then perform steps 2 and 3.

When the keyboard is not split, the Upper tone generator will be used for the entire keyboard. In this case, what you choose for the Lower tone generator in the DRAWBAR SELECT section will have no effect on the sound played from the CX-3’s keyboard.

Now you can continue to the section “3. Playing the CX-3” that follows.

8

KORG CX-3 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Intr oduction

1.About the CX-3

Main features

The modes of the CX-3

2.Controls and their functions

Front panel

EX PercussionEX Drawbar

Rear panel

Connections

1. Power cable connections

2. OUTPUT jack connections

3. Pedal connections

4. MIDI connections

Basic operation

1.The display screen

Switching the display

In Normal mode

In EX mode

Drawbar levels and icons

Shortcut

2.About programs

How a program is organized

3.Playing the CX-3

Play using the drawbars

Normal mode

Selecting a program