Korg M3 User Manual 3
EasyStart
The M3 has already received a few powerful free updates, but this one raises the bar. The M3 XPanded adds tons of free new
sounds and sample data, but that’s just the beginning. The sequencer has been updated with beautiful, visual editing tools,
KARMA has been taken to the next level, the TouchView display is even more touchable, and loads of new programming has made
the M3’s effects and MIDI manipulation easier than ever.
Enhanced 256MB PCM ROM
Includes new vintage keyboard
sounds, and re-organizes Programs
to make them easier to explore.
THREE new sample
expansion libraries
128mb (uncompressed) libraries
include two brass and woodwind
libraries, and one gorgeous new
stereo grand piano.
DAW-style sequencer editing
Gorgeous, zoomable, touchable
piano-roll editing makes the
TouchView display the ultimate
editing tool!
Touch-Drag Editing
Now, when you see a fader or
knob on the screen, just touch
and drag to move it!
KARMA v2.2
Now the M3 can import
user-created KARMA GEs from
Karma-Lab’s software… and you
can quantize scene changes, to
free up your hands during live
performance!
700 Effect Presets
Not an engineer? No problem…
the M3 can do the heavy lifting
for you Our effect presets cover
a huge range of uses, allowing
you to quickly add a specific flavor to your sound.
Velocity meters
In Combi mode, you get visual
feedback to tell you which
timbres are being triggered!
This is also available on the
sequencer’s Mixer tab.
Simplified SysEx commands
Now, you can edit the M3’s System
Exclusive data using friendly,
English names, making it easier
than ever to take control of your
music.
Welcome!
By now, you should have successfully loaded OS V2, to derive all the benefits of M3 XPanded. Just remember to run the Update
procedure twice in a row (The first time grants permission to revise the PCM ROM, the second time re-writes the sound data.).
Managing the XPanded Samples
The M3 has an additional tab in MEDIA Mode for easy sample
management. Press the EX-USB PCM tab. Without the EXB-M256
sample expansion ram option, you can choose to Auto-Load any one
of these banks on power-up (with a USB device the files attached.)
With the EXB-M256 option installed (available from the KorgUSA
Online Store), you can select all the banks for AutoLoad, and still
have a boatload of sampling RAM available for your own sampling
projects.
This screen also allows you to easily unload a previously loaded EX
bank and choose to load a different one. Simply touch the name of
one whose Status says “Loaded” on a blue background, and press
the red Unload box. Press OK when asked “Are you sure?” The
Unload process is instantaneous.
To load a different EX bank whose Status says “Unloaded” on a green background, select it by pressing its name and pressing
the red Load box. Press OK when asked “Are you sure?” The Load process may take about 20 seconds.
Note: www.korg.com/m3 also has a download called EXPCM04 available, which is the original V1 piano; for this you’ll also
need the accompanying PCG file, which will load its associated Programs in Program Bank U-G.
Playing the EX Sounds
Note: Be sure to power-on the M3 while the USB stick (containing the EX samples) is attached!
Now check out that piano! Select Program I-A-000, Stereo Grand 4-Way 1 EX3. Play some upper register broken octaves with the
damper pedal down, and revel in the realism of a piano with a sample of the soundboard resonating when the pedal is applied on a
grand piano. Performance Tip: Press the MIXER switch under CONTROL ASSIGN and Faders 1 and 2 allow you to control the balance
of this ambience vs. the piano tone.
Any Program with EX3 in its name is using this extra detailed piano sample data. For example, I-A-021, Stereo Pro Piano EX3 omits
the damper sample, but delivers a big fat piano that cuts in any studio or live application.
The Programs for EX Banks 1 & 2 reside in Program Bank U-E. With EX Bank 1 loaded, check out U-E-002, Vel Doit Trumpet Vib EX1:
play a key with soft or medium velocity, then play hard to trigger the “Doit” sample. Don’t miss U-E-008, Vel GlisUp Lgt Flute EX1: hard
velocities trigger a gorgeous climbing scale-fragment.
With EX Bank 2 loaded, check out U-E-010, Vib Oboe KeyNois SW1 EX2. Performance Tip: Press the MIXER switch under CONTROL
ASSIGN and Faders 1 and 2 allow you to control the balance of oboe tone vs. key click. Don’t miss U-E-013, Velo Doit T.Sax JC EX2.
Hard velocities trigger the “Doit’ sample.
With EX Banks 1 and 2 loaded, there are 32 new Combis in Combi Bank U-E, slots 000-031 that must be heard: play the CHORD PADS
1-8 for an extra sonic treat.
There are two new Demo songs to illustrate the power of M3 XPanded’s piano. Simply load the Demo Songs as you’ve always done
(GLOBAL Upper right corner Load Preload/Demo Data All Demo Songs OK OK): “Mighty Edelweiss” and “Greetings
from Eldar” occupy the first two song slots; the other demos follow.
Loading...