Korg PA Series Manual

Pa-Series

Connecting an external controller

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Preliminary notice

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Data handling

Data may sometimes be lost due to incorrect user action. Be sure to backup important data. KORG will not be responsible for damages caused by data loss.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this manual have been carefully revised and checked through. Due to our constant efforts to improve our products, the specications might differ to those in the manual. KORG is not responsible for any eventual differences found between the speciﬁcations and the contents of the instruction manual – the speciﬁcations being subject to change without prior notice.

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Contents

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller ...........3

Connecting the controller ............................................4

Connection through the USB HOST port .........................................4

Connection through the MIDI ports .............................................5

Setting the MIDI channels ............................................6

Programming the master controller .............................................6

Programming the Pa-Series instrument .........................................6

Some examples of external controller connections .....................8

Connecting a master controller to replace the internal keyboard ...................8

Connecting an external keyboard to control a single Sound .......................10

Connecting an external control surface to mix the Sounds ........................13

Connecting an external controller with pads to play percussive sounds or

special effects ...............................................................19

Connecting an external controller with pads to send chords to the arranger ....... 23

Connecting an external controller with an X/Y pad to control sound parameters ... 26

Connecting a studio controller to send more controls at the same time ........... 29

Connecting a breath controller ............................................... 35

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Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |3

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller

The world of KORG Pa-Series instruments is open to any kind of conﬁguration. You can control Pa-Series instrument with an external controller, like a KORG synthesizer, a controller of the KORG nano series, a mute master keyboard, a digital piano, or a breath controller.

These devices allow to replace the internal keyboard with an external one. Also, they allow for adding new controls to play some of the sounds while still using the internal keyboard for the other sounds. Furthermore, they allow for easier mixing, or to play percussions and special effects.

This manual will show some examples based on a few selected devices. These are only to be intended as examples. Since the Pa-Series instruments can be freely and deeply programmed by the user, you can adapt them to a plethora of different situations.

For a general introduction to the MIDI system, please check the relevant chapter in the User Manual.

Connecting the controller

Connection through the USB HOST port

If your controller has an USB port, you can use it to connect it to Pa-Series instrument.

▪ Connect the USB HOST port (Type-A) of the Pa-Series instrument to the

USB port of the master controller (Type-B, sometimes named TO HOST or DEVICE).

Pa-Series USB HOST

(Type-A connector)

External controller USB TO HOST / DEVICE

(Type-B connector)

USB HOST USB (TO HOST)

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |5

Connection through the MIDI ports

If your controller has a MIDI interface, you can use it to connect it to the PaSeries instrument.

▪ Connect the MIDI OUT port of the master controller to the MIDI IN port of

the Pa-Series instrument.

Pa-Series MIDI IN External controller MIDI OUT

MIDI IN MIDI OUT

Setting the MIDI channels

Programming the master controller

Match the MIDI channel(s) on which the master controller will send data with those on which the Pa-Series instrument will receive data.

1 On the master controller, set the MIDI channel(s) on which data will be trans-

mitted. Usually, channel 1 is the default setting (when only a single channel is transmitted).

2 If the master controller also includes a sound generator, lower its master vol-

ume to zero, to avoid hearing its own sounds. If you want to layer the sounds of the master controller and the Pa-Series instruments, increase the volume.

As an alternative, you can set it to the Local Off status, to only allow it to play via MIDI the sounds of the Pa-Series instrument, and not its own.

Please, read the manual of the master controller for instructions on how to set the various parameters.

Programming the Pa-Series instrument

Conﬁgure the MIDI channels on the Pa-Series instrument.

1 Go to the Global > MIDI pages.

2 Either choose a MIDI Preset, or manually program the MIDI IN channels.

▪ If a MIDI Preset matching your type of connection exists, go to the Global

> MIDI > General Controls page and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to

choose the MIDI Preset.

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |7

▪ If no MIDI Preset matches your type of connection, go to the Global > MIDI >

MIDI IN Channel page and set the MIDI channels to match the incoming data.

You can start from an existing MIDI Preset with some of the programming already set to your needs.

3 After having set the MIDI channels, you can save the new conﬁguration into

a new MIDI Preset, by choosing the Write Midi Preset command from the

page menu.

Some examples of external controller connections

Connecting a master controller to replace the internal keyboard

A master controller can be, for example, an 88-key master keyboard without a sound generator, a digital piano, or a synthesizer. You can use it as a replacement of the internal keyboard, in case you prefer to control all your setup from a single keyboard.

Connect the devices

1 Connect the USB (TO HOST or DEVICE) or MIDI OUT port of the master con-

troller to the USB HOST or MIDI IN port of the Pa-Series instrument.

USB HOST / MIDI IN

USB (TO HOST/DEVICE) / MIDI OUT

Conﬁgure the master controller

2 In the master controller, set the MIDI channel on which data will be transmit-

ted to channel 1. This is usually the default setting.

3 If the master controller also includes a sound generator, lower its master vol-

ume to zero, to avoid hearing its own sounds. If you want to layer the sounds of the master controller and the Pa-Series instruments, increase the volume.

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |9

As an alternative, you can set it to the Local Off status, to only allow it to play via MIDI the sounds of the Pa-Series instrument, and not its own.

Conﬁgure the Pa-Series instrument

4 In the Pa-Series instrument, go to the Global > MIDI > General Controls page,

and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to choose the Master Kbd MIDI Preset.

You can go to the Global > MIDI > MIDI IN Channel page to see how MIDI channels for the Keyboard Sounds are programmed.

MIDI IN Channel Keyboard Sound

Ch01 Global (Upper 1-3, Lower Sounds)

This setup will let the external keyboard, transmitting on MIDI channel 1, play all the Sounds on the keyboard.

Play

5 Play the master controller. Notes played on it will be considered as if they

were generated by the internal keyboard and controllers of the Pa-Series instrument.

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Connecting an external keyboard to control a single Sound

You can use an external keyboard, for example a master keyboard, a synthesizer, or one of the KORG microKEY or nanoKEY models, as a secondary keyboard to play one of the Upper Sounds (for example, Upper 3), while still using the internal keyboard to play the other Sounds.

Conﬁgure the external keyboard

1 Be sure the external keyboard is sending data on MIDI channel 1. This is usu-

ally the default setting.

With the KORG microKEY, nanoKEY and devices of the same series, you can choose a different MIDI channel by using the KORG KONTROL Editor software, that you can freely download from our web site.

Connect the devices

2 Connect the USB or MIDI OUT port of the external keyboard to the USB

HOST or MIDI IN port of the Pa-Series instrument. Be sure the external key-

board’s USB port is enabled.

MIDI IN MIDI OUT

USB HOST USB

(TO HOST/DEVICE)

+ 28 hidden pages