Korg Triton PRO User Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Korg TRITON proX, TRITON pro, or TRITON music worksta­tion/sampler. To ensure trouble-free enjoyment, please read this manual carefully and use the
instrument as directed.

About this manual

The owner’s manuals and how to use them

The TRITON proX, TRITON pro, and TRITON come
with the following owner’s manuals.

• Basic Guide

• Parameter Guide

• Voice Name List

Basic Guide

First read this manual carefully to gain a basic under­standing of the instrument and to learn basic opera­tion.

“Introduction”

to make connections, basic operation, and gives an
overview of each mode.

“Quick Start”

songs, selecting sounds, convenient functions for per­formance). If you wish to begin playing immediately,
read this section first.

“Basic Functions”

tions of what you need to know to edit sounds, record
on the sequencer, and record samples. This section also
explains how to use the arpeggiator, effects, and MIDI.

“Appendices”

Driver that you will need when connecting the instru­ment to the TO HOST connector or to a computer, and
lists the specifications etc.

Parameter Guide

The Parameter Guide contains explanations and other
information regarding the operations of the parame­ters and settings on the TRITON proX, TRITON pro,
and TRITON. The explanations are organized by
mode, page, and tab. Explanations and other informa­tion on the effects and their parameters are also pro­vided for each effect.
Refer to this guide when an unfamiliar parameter
appears in the display, or when you need to know
more about a particular function.

Voice Name List

This lists the multisamples and drumsamples that are
built into the TRITON proX, TRITON pro, and TRI­TON, and the factory preset combinations, programs,
drum kits, and user arpeggio patterns.
Refer to these lists when you wish to know more about
the preloaded sounds.

explains the function of each part, how

explains basic topics (hearing the demo

contains mode-by-mode explana-

explains how to install the Korg MIDI

Conventions in this manual

References to the TRITON proX, TRITON pro, and
TRITON

The TRITON proX, TRITON pro, and TRITON are col­lectively referred to in this manual as the TRITON.

Switches and knobs [ ]

References to the switches, dials, and knobs on the
TRITON’s panel are enclosed in square brackets [ ].
References to
LCD display screen.

Parameters in the LCD display screen “ “

Parameters displayed in the LCD screen are enclosed
in double quotation marks “ “.

Boldface type

Parameter values are printed in boldface type.
Content that is of particular importance is also printed
in boldface type.

Procedure steps 1 2 3 ...

Steps in a procedure are listed as 1 2 3 ...

☞

■

p.

These indicate pages or parameter numbers to which
you can refer.

Symbols

These symbols respectively indicate cautions, advice,
and MIDI-related explanations.

Example screen displays

The values of the parameters shown in the example
screens of this manual are only for explanatory pur­poses, and may not necessary match the values that
appear in the LCD screen of your instrument.

MIDI-related explanations

CC# is an abbreviation for Control Change Number.

In explanations of MIDI messages, numbers in square

brackets [ ]

buttons

, ,

always indicate hexadecimal numbers.

or

tabs

indicate objects in the

Data handling

Malfunctions due to incorrect operation may cause the
contents of memory to be lost, so we recommend that
you save important data on a floppy disk. Please be
aware that Korg will accept no responsibility for any
damages which may result from loss of data.
Also, when digitally recording copyrighted audio
material from a DAT or CD etc., you must obtain per­mission for use. Please be aware that Korg will accept
no responsibility for any copyright violations which
may occur through your use of this product.

* Company names, product names, and names of for-

mats etc. are the trademarks or registered trade­marks of their respective owners.

iii

Table of Contents

About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii

Data handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Introducing the TRITON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Main features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Overview of the modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Front and rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Names and functions of objects in the LCD

screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Basic operation of the TRITON . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

1. Selecting modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Selecting a page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

2. Selecting pages and tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Selecting a tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

VALUE controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3. Setting a parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

[BANK] keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

[COMPARE] key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Popup buttons and popup menus. . . . . . . . . . . .14

Keyboard input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

1. Connecting the power cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

2. Connecting audio output devices . . . . . . . . . . . .15

3. Connecting audio input devices . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

4. Connecting pedals etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

5. Connections to MIDI equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

6. Connections to a computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

7. Connections to a SCSI device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Turning the power on/off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

1. Turning the power on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

2. Turning the power off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Listening to a demo song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

1. Loading the demo song data in Disk mode . . . .18

2. Selecting and playing a demonstration song in Se-

quencer mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

3. Playing a cue list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Selecting and playing a program . . . . . . . . . . .21

Selecting a program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Selecting and playing a combination . . . . . . . .23

Selecting a combination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Using controllers to modify the sound . . . . . . . .25

Joystick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Ribbon controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

SW1, SW2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

The Lock function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Realtime control knobs [1], [2], [3], [4] . . . . . . . . . . 26

A mode controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

B mode controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

[VALUE] slider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Foot pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

ARPEGGIATOR [TEMPO] knob, [GATE] knob,

[VELOCITY] knob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Using the arpeggiator while you play. . . . . . . . 29

Using the arpeggiator in Program mode. . . . . . . . 29

Settings using controllers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Settings in the LCD screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Using the arpeggiator as you play in Combination

mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Settings in the LCD screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Playing with the RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Re-

cording) function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Simple program editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Performance Edit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Realtime controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Simple combination editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

An example of editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Selecting the program for a timbre. . . . . . . . . . . 35

Adjusting the stereo position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Adjusting the volume. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Basic functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Saving data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Types of data that can be saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Writing to internal memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Writing a program or combination . . . . . . . . . . 38

Writing global settings, user drum kits, and user

arpeggio patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Saving on external media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

MIDI data dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Restoring the factory settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Loading the preload data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Program mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

About the pages in Program mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Playing a program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

P0: Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

How a program is organized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

P1: Edit-Basic

Oscillator settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Basic program editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

P2: Edit-Pitch

Pitch settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

iv

P3: Edit-Filter

Filter settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

P4: Edit-Amp

Amplifier settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

P5: Edit-Common LFO

LFO settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

P7: Edit-arpeggiator

Arpeggiator settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

P8: Edit-Insert Effect

Insert Effect settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

P9: Edit Master Effect

Master Effect settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

More about Alternate Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Combination mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Pages in Combination mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Playing a combination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

P0: Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

How a combination is structured . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Basic combination editing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

P1: Edit-Program/Mixer

Timbre 1–8 program, pan and volume . . . . .54

P2: Edit-Trk Param

Settings for status, MIDI channel, and playing

mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

P3: Edit-MIDI Filter

MIDI filter settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

P4: Edit-Zone/Ctrl

Layer, split, and velocity switch settings . . .56

P7: Edit-Arpeggiator

Arpeggiator settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

P8: Edit-Insert Effect

Insert Effect settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

P9: Edit Master Effect

Master Effect settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Sequencer mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Features of the sequencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

About each page in Sequencer mode . . . . . . . . . . .60

The structure of Sequencer mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Cue List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Playback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Playing a song (Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Other playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Recording on a track, and recording on a

pattern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Realtime recording on a track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Realtime recording to a pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Step recording on a track or pattern . . . . . . . . . .69

Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Track editing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Pattern editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Song editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Creating and playing a Cue List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording)

function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

RPPR settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

RPPR playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Realtime recording an RPPR performance. . . . .73

Sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Features of sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Pages in Sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

How Sampling mode is organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

In Sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Samples and Multisamples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Sampling (recording a sample) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Preparations for sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Manual sampling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Auto sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Creating multisample indexes and

sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Loop settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

The grid display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Sample (waveform data) editing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Multisample editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Editing the indices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Modifying the settings of an index. . . . . . . . . . . 84

Converting a multisample to a program . . . . . . . . 84

Song Play mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

The pages in Song Play mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

The structure of Song Play mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Playing SMF data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Playback using the Jukebox function . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Saving a Jukebox list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Playing along with SMF data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Global mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

About the pages in Global mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Creating a drum kit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

About drum kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Editing a drum kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Disk mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

How Disk mode is organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

The pages of Disk mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Types of media that can be used. . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Loading data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Types of data that can be loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Data loading procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Saving data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Types of data that can be saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Formatting media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Cautions when handling floppy disks . . . . . . . . . . 95

Arpeggiator settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Arpeggiator settings for a program . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Arpeggiator settings in Combination, Song, and

Song Play modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Creating an user arpeggio pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

About user arpeggio patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Editing a user pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Dual arpeggiator editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

About arpeggiator synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Effects settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Effects in each mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Routing settings and effect settings . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Effect settings for a program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Effect settings in Combination, Song, and Song

Play modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Effect settings in Sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . 109

v

Effect settings for the AUDIO INPUT . . . . . . .109

About dynamic modulation (Dmod) . . . . . . . . . .110

MIDI applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

About MIDI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Connecting MIDI devices/computers (MIDI con-

nectors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Controlling an external MIDI tone generator from

the TRITON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Controlling the TRITON’s tone generator from an

external MIDI device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Controlling two or more external MIDI tone gen-

erators from the TRITON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Connecting a computer

(TO HOST connector) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Connecting an external MIDI sequencer or

computer etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Connecting an IBM PC (compatible) . . . . . . . .112

Connecting an Apple Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Messages transmitted and received by the

TRITON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

MIDI channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Note on/off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Program Change/Bank Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

After touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Pitch bender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Control change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Using RPN to edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

Controlling the arpeggiator (NPRN) . . . . . . . .120

About system exclusive messages. . . . . . . . . . .120

If notes are “stuck” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Playing the TRITON multi-timbrally from

an external device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

Synchronizing the playback of the arpeggiator

or sequencer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

Recording musical data from an external

device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

About GM/GS/XG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123

About standard MIDI files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123

Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Installing and setting up the Korg MIDI Driver. 129

Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into

Windows 95/98 and making settings . . . . . 129

Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into

Windows 95/98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Korg MIDI Driver settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver

(Windows). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Installing the Korg MIDI Driver into a

Macintosh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Setting up the Korg MIDI Driver

(Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Wiring diagram for special connection

cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Specifications and options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

MIDI implementation chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Other functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Tuning to another instrument/Transposing . . . .125

Bypassing the effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Specifying the function of the ASSIGNABLE Switch

and ASSIGNABLE Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Adjusting the way in which velocity or after touch

will affect the volume or tone . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Creating original scales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Changing the scale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Setting the function of [SW1] and [SW2] . . . . . . .127

Setting the B-mode functions of REALTIME

CONTROLS [1]–[4] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Adjusting the contrast (brightness) of the LCD

screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Sounding a beep when the LCD screen is

pressed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Using the TRITON as a data filer . . . . . . . . . . . . .127

Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128

vi

1

Introduction

Introducing the TRITON

Introduction

Main features

Overview

The TRITON is a music workstation/sampler that fea­tures the HI (Hyper Integrated) synthesis system as its
tone generator.

It provides high-quality preset multisamples/pro­grams/combinations and an effect section, and func­tionality such as sampling, sequencer, song play, dual
polyphonic arpeggiator, RPPR, and two audio inputs
and six audio outputs.

A rich array of controllers such as the joystick, ribbon
controller, [SW1], [SW2], REALTIME CONTROLS [1]–
[4] knobs, ARPEGGIATOR [TEMPO], [GATE],
[VELOCITY] knobs, and connected pedals can be used
to modify the sound etc. while you play (

In addition, options such as a MOSS tone generator ,

PCM/sampling memory , or SCSI interface board can

be installed to further expand the potential of the TRI­TON (

☞

p.237 in the Parameter Guide ).

The TRITON music workstation is a powerful tool for
music production or live performance.

HI (Hyper Integrated) synthesis system

The HI (Hyper Integrated) synthesis system is a PCM
tone generator system with full digital signal process­ing that guarantees pristine sound, and featuring enor­mous flexibility in musical extensibility, modulation,
and effect routing.

Tone generator section:

• 32 Mbytes of preset PCM ROM contains 425
multisamples and 413 drumsamples.
Separately sold EXB-PCM series PCM expansion
boards (16 Mbytes PCM ROM) can be optionally
installed to add more PCM data.

• 16 Mbytes of RAM is standard (expandable to a
maximum of 64 Mbytes). Samples/multisamples
that you sampled or edited in Sampling mode or
loaded in Disk mode can be used as sound sources.

• The sampling frequency is 48 kHz, and the
maximum polyphony is 62 voices.

Filter/synthesis section:

• 24 dB/oct Low Pass Resonance type or 12 dB/oct
Low Pass & High Pass type filters can be used. A
wide variety of filter effects can be achieved, from
active sounds with aggressive resonance to subtle
tones using a high pass filter.

• A broad range of editing parameters gives you
minute control over every aspect of the sound.

☞

p.25).

Effect section:

• Five insertion effects (stereo-in/stereo-out), two
master effects (mono-in/stereo-out), and a three­band master EQ (stereo-in/stereo-out) can all be
used simultaneously. You can select from 102
types of effect algorithm, and edit them.

• Highly flexible effect routing is possible. Effects
can also be routed freely to the individual outputs.

Alternate Modulation and Effect Dynamic Modula­tion:

• The synthesis section (filter etc.) provides Alternate
Modulation functionality, and the effect section
provides Effect Dynamic Modulation functionality.
This allows you to freely apply modulation to
parameters that affect the pitch, filter, amp, EG,
LFO, and effects etc.

• LFO and delay time etc. can be synchronized to
MIDI clock/tempo. You can synchronize sounds or
effects to the tempo of the sequencer or the
arpeggiator.

Programs and combinations

• In preset ROM, the TRITON provides 640 user
programs, and 256 programs + 9 drumsets for
GM2 compatibility. When shipped from the
factory, it contains high-quality preset programs
that cover a wide range of musical needs.
The 640 user programs can be modified by adjusting
the numerous editing parameters, the effects and
the arpeggiator, to create your own original pro­grams.
When the separately sold EXB-MOSS option is
installed, 128 programs for the Korg MOSS tone
generator will also be available.

• For use as the oscillator of a drum program, the
TRITON provides 64 user drum kits and nine GM2­compatible ROM drum kits. With the factory
settings, preset drum kits that cover a variety of
musical genres are provided. You can create your
own original drum kits by assigning a drumsample
or an original sampled sound to each note of the
keyboard. For each note, you can make filter and
amp settings, and even route the sound through
effects and to a individual audio output.

• It’s easy to create a program using samples/
multisamples that you sampled in Sampling mode
or loaded in Disk mode. These programs can also
be used in combinations or songs. Samples can also
be used as drum instruments in a drum kit.

• The TRITON provides 512 user combinations.
With the factory settings, these contain a wide
variety of preset combinations.
A combination allows you to use layers, splits, or
velocity switches etc. to combine up to eight pro-

Introducing the TRITON

grams together with effects and two arpeggiators, in
order to create complex sounds that could not be
produced by a program. You can also make settings
that include external tone generators.

Sampling

The TRITON provides 48 kHz 16 bit linear mono/ste­reo sampling functionality. 16 Mbytes of memory are
provided as standard, allowing approximately 2 min­utes 54 seconds of mono sampling (or approximately 1
minute 27 seconds of stereo sampling). When
expanded to a maximum of 64 Mbytes, you can record
up to four mono samples of 2 minutes 54 seconds, for a
total of 11 minutes 39 seconds of sampling.

For more on the sampling features of the TRITON
(

☞

p.75).

Sequencer

The TRITON provides a high-performance 16-track
MIDI sequencer, with more than sufficient power for
use as a stand-alone sequencer. The sequencer can
serve as the core that brings together the TRITON’s
numerous capabilities, allowing it to serve as an inte­grated music workstation/sampler.

For more on the TRITON’s sequencer (

☞

p.58).

Song Play

In Song Play mode, SMF (Standard MIDI File) data can
be played back directly from a floppy disk or SCSI
device (when the separately sold EXB-SCSI is
installed). You can play along on the keyboard as you
listen to the SMF playback, and even play the arpeg­giator in synchronization with the playback tempo of
the SMF.

• Formats 0 and 1 are supported.

• A jukebox function lets you edit the order in which
songs are played back.

RPPR

The TRITON features a RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/
Recording) function.
In Sequencer mode, this function allows you to assign
preset patterns or user patterns (with a specified play­back track) to individual notes of the keyboard, and
playback or record that pattern in realtime simply by
pressing the assigned note. Numerous preset patterns,
including patterns ideal for a drum track, are built into
the internal memory.

2 channel audio input / 6 channel audio out­put

• The two channel audio input allows you to record
samples in stereo. The MIC/LINE level select
switch and the level adjustment knob can be used
to support a wide range of external audio sources
from mic level to line level.
The audio inputs can also be routed through the
effects. You can apply effects while sampling, use
the TRITON as a 2-in/6-out effect processor, or use
it as a vocoder effect that joins the external source
with the TRITON’s internal sounds.

• In addition to the L/MONO and R main stereo
audio outputs, the TRITON provides four
individual audio outputs, for a total of six channels
of audio output. The sound from each oscillator,
drum, timbre/track, or insertion effect can be
routed freely to any output.

TouchView user interface

The TRITON uses a TouchView user interface that lets
you operate the instrument by directly touching a large
320 × 240 pixel LCD screen, for a revolutionary leap in
ease of operation and user friendliness. When selecting
programs, combinations, multisamples, drumsamples,
or effects in the LCD screen, you can also view and
select by categories such as types of instrument.

Dual polyphonic arpeggiator

• Five preset arpeggio patterns (UP, DOWN, ALT1
ALT2, RANDOM) and 232 user arpeggio patterns
are provided. With the factory settings, these
contain a wide variety of preset user patterns.
In addition to providing conventional arpeggiator
functionality, the polyphonic arpeggiator of the TRI­TON can respond to the pitches or timing at which
you play the keyboard, and produce a diverse range
of chords or phrases. This can be used to play a vari­ety of drum phrases (using the “Fixed Note Mode”
that is ideal for drums), bass phrases, or guitar and
keyboard backing riffs. The arpeggiator is also effec­tive for use with subtly moving pads, synth sounds,
or sound effects.
In Combination mode, Sequencer mode, and Song
Play mode, the TRITON provides dual arpeggiators
that can simultaneously play two arpeggio patterns.
You can apply separate arpeggio patterns to drum
and bass programs, or use keyboard splits or veloc­ity to switch between arpeggio patterns for an even
more dynamic performance.

2

Overview of the modes

The TRITON has a large number of functions that let
you play and edit programs and combinations, record
and play sequence data, record and play back samples,
and manage data on disk. The largest unit used to
organize these functions is called a
has seven modes.

Program mode

• Select and play programs
You can choose programs from rewritable banks A,
B, C, D, E and F which contain a total of 768 pro­grams, and non-rewritable bank G (256 programs
compatible with the GM2 standard, and nine drum
programs).

(The 128 programs of bank F can be selected only if
the EXB-MOSS option has been installed.)

• Edit a program
Make settings for the oscillator, filter, amp, EG, LFO,
effects, and arpeggiator.
Select a multisample (the following multisamples
are available)

• 425 internal multisamples (ROM)

• Expanded multisamples (when a separately
sold EXB-PCM series board is installed)

mode

. The TRITON

3

• Multisamples (RAM) created in Sampling
mode

Create drum programs using a drum kit (created in
Global mode)

Combination mode

• Select and play combinations
A combination is a set of two or more programs (a
maximum of eight), and allows you to produce
complex sounds that could not be created by an
individual program.
You can choose combinations from rewritable banks
A, B, C, and D which contain a total of 512 combina­tions.

• Edit a combination
Make settings for volume, pan, layer/split etc. for
each timbre (program), and make settings for effects
and the two arpeggiators etc.

Sequencer mode

• Use the 16-track sequencer to record and playback
songs.

• Make effect settings for the song.

• You can record a performance using the
arpeggiator(s) into a song or pattern.

Introduction

Introducing the TRITON

SAMPLING MODE

AUDIO INPUT

1

Insert Effect

IFX 1

IFX 2

IFX 3

Sample

Sample

Sample

AUDIO INPUT

2

IFX 4

IFX 5

Multi Sample

Multi Sample

Sample

Sample

Sample

GLOBAL MODE

DRUM KIT

Key

Drum Sample / Sample - H

Assign

Drum Sample / Sample - L

ARPEGGIATOR PATTERN

User Pattern: P0 - 4

User Pattern: U00 - 95

DISK MODE

PROGRAM

OSC 1

Multi Sample - H

Drum Kit

Multi Sample - L

FILTER1 AMP1

PITCH1

OSC 2

Multi Sample - H

Multi Sample - L

FILTER1

PITCH1

COMBINATION

TIMBRE 1

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 2

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 3

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 4

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 5

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 6

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 7

PROGRAM

TIMBRE 8

PROGRAM

SEQUENCER / SONG PLAY

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

TRACK 9

TRACK 10

TRACK 11

TRACK 12

TRACK 13

TRACK 14

TRACK 15

TRACK 16

TRACK 1

TRACK 2

TRACK 3

TRACK 4

TRACK 5

TRACK 6

TRACK 7

TRACK 8

AMP1

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

Insert / Master Effect

MFX 1

IFX 1

MFX 2

IFX 2

IFX 3

IFX 4

IFX 5

Insert /Master Effect

IFX 1

IFX 2

IFX 3

IFX 4

IFX 5

Insert /Master Effect

IFX 1

IFX 2

IFX 3

IFX 4

IFX 5

MEQ

Arpeggiator

MFX 1

MFX 2

MEQ

Arpeggiator - A

Arpeggiatpr - B

MFX 1

MFX 2

MEQ

Arpeggiator - A

Arpeggiatpr - B

• You can use a cue list to set up consecutive
playback of multiple songs, and specify the
number of repeats for each song.

• You can use a maximum of 20 cue lists, 200 songs,
and 100 preset patterns. One song can use as many
as 100 patterns.

• The TRITON can be used as a 16-track
multitimbral tone generator.

• Perform using the RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/
Recording) function, and make settings for it.

Song Play mode

• Playback SMF (Standard MIDI File) data from a
floppy disk or an external SCSI device such as a
hard disk (when the separately sold EXB-SCSI
option is installed), and play along with the
playback if desired.

• Make effect settings for use in Song Play mode.

• The arpeggiator can be used while you play along
with the SMF playback.

• SMF songs can be played back in succession. You
can use the jukebox function to playback songs in
any specified order.

Sampling mode

• Sample sounds from an external audio device or
mic connected to the rear panel AUDIO INPUT
jacks. Insert effects can be applied to the external
input sound while you sample.

• Edit the waveform data you sampled or waveform
data that you loaded in Disk mode, and set loop
points etc.

• Edit multisamples consisting of two or more
samples.

• A multisample can be converted into a program, so
that a multisample created in Sampling mode can
be used in Program, Combination, Sequencer, or
Song Play modes.

Disk mode

• Data of each mode can be saved and loaded using
the floppy disk drive or an external SCSI device
(when the separately sold EXB-SCSI option is
installed).

• Media such as floppy disks or hard disks (when
the separately sold EXB-SCSI option is installed)
can be formatted, and data can be managed by
copying etc.

• Korg format sample data can be loaded and saved.
Akai, AIFF, and WAVE format sample data can be
loaded.

• Songs that you created in Sequencer mode can be
saved in SMF format. SMF files can be loaded as
Sequencer mode songs.

• You can use the Data Filer function (to save/load
MIDI exclusive data).

Global mode

• Make settings that affect the entire TRITON, such
as master tune and global MIDI channel.

• Create drum kits (64 kits), arpeggio user patterns
(232 patterns), and user scales (16 one-octave scales
and 1 all-note scale).

• Create drum kits using the 413 internal
drumsamples (ROM). You can also use
drumsamples from an optional EXB-PCM series
board (if installed), or samples (RAM) that you
created in Sampling mode.

• Adjust the input level etc. from the AUDIO INPUT
1 and 2. These settings are valid in modes other
than Sampling mode. The TRITON’s effects can be
applied to the external input sound. (The settings
for Sampling mode are made independently
within Sampling mode.)

• Set the function of the assignable pedals and
assignable switches.

• Transmit data dumps of MIDI exclusive data.

4

Front and rear panel

5

Front panel

☞

p.25).

7

9

p.25).

☞

2

1

6

4

5

1. [SW1] key, [SW2] key

These keys are on/off switches for the functions to
which they were assigned in Program, Combina­tion, Sequencer, Song Play, and Sampling modes.
When on, the LED will light (

2. Joystick

This controls pitch or modulation, etc.
Move the joystick up/down or left/right (+Y, –Y,
–X, +X) to control (
Various program parameters and effect parame­ters will determine what is controlled by the joy­stick.

3. Ribbon controller

Slide your finger to the left or right on this ribbon
controller to control the pitch or modulation
(

☞p.25).

Various program parameters and effect parame­ters will determine what is controlled by the rib­bon controller.

3

12

13

8

10

11

14

15

4. Headphone jack

A set of headphones (standard stereo phone plug)
can be connected here (
The output from the L/MONO and R OUTPUT
jacks can be monitored in stereo through the head­phones.

5. Floppy disk drive

Insert 3.5 inch 2DD (double-side double-density)
or 2HD (double-side high density) floppy disks
here. Edited data can be saved on a floppy disk,
and the factory preset data, SMF data, or multi­sampling/sampling data etc. can be loaded from a
floppy disk.
For details on handling floppy disks, refer to
“Floppy disk handling” (

Eject button

To remove a floppy disk, first make sure that the
disk access indicator is dark, and then press this
button. If the disk does not eject when you press
this button, do not attempt to remove the disk by
force. Please contact your dealer.

Introduction

17

Front and rear panel

16

☞p.135).

☞p.95).

Disk access
indicator

Eject button

6. [VOLUME] slider

This adjusts the volume that is output from the
OUTPUT jacks (L/MONO, R) and the headphone
jack.

7. REALTIME CONTROLS

Use the [REALTIME CONTROLS] key to select A
or B mode for the realtime controllers, and use
knobs [1]–[4] to control the tone, effects, and MIDI
control changes etc. in realtime (

☞p.26).

[REALTIME CONTROLS] key

This key selects either A or B mode for the realtime
controllers. The selected mode will light.

[1] knob, [2] knob, [3] knob, [4] knob

In A mode, the function of each knob is fixed. [1] is
the low pass filter cutoff frequency, [2] is the filter
resonance level or the cutoff frequency of the high
pass filter, [3] is the filter EG intensity, and [4] is
the filter/amp release time.
In B mode, each knob will control the function that
you assigned in Program, Combination,
Sequencer, Song Play, or Sampling modes.

8. Mode keys

Use these keys to enter the desired mode.
When you press a key, the LED will light, and you
will enter the mode whose key you pressed
(

☞p.12).

[S.PLAY] key

In Song Play mode you can playback Standard
MIDI Files from a floppy disk or external SCSI
device (when the separately sold EXB-SCSI option
is installed), and play along with the playback.

[GLOBAL] key

In Global mode you can make settings that affect
the TRITON’s entire system. In this mode you can
also create drum kits and arpeggio user patterns.

[DISK] key

In Disk mode you can save TRITON data on a
floppy disk or external SCSI media (when the sep­arately sold EXB-SCSI option is installed), and
load data from the above-listed media.

9. [COMPARE] key

Use this key when you wish to compare the sound
of the program or combination that you are cur­rently editing with the un-edited sound that was
written into memory. You can also use this key to
make “before and after” comparisons when
recording or editing in Sequencer mode (

10. VALUE controllers

The following VALUE controllers are used to set
the value of the selected parameter (

☞p.13).

☞p.14).

[COMBI] key

In Combination mode you can play or create com­binations.

[PROG] key

In Program mode you can play or create programs.

[SEQ] key

Sequencer mode is mainly for recording/playing
songs. (You can create 16-track sequence data.)
Use this mode when you wish to create an original
song from scratch, or to add to sequence data that
was converted from a Standard MIDI File.

[SAMPLING] key

In Sampling mode you can record samples, edit
the waveform of a sample, and create multisam­ples. Samples and multisamples created in this
mode can be used by the oscillators of a drum kit
or program.

6

[VALUE] slider

Use this to modify the value of a parameter. This
controller is convenient when you wish to make
large changes in the value.
This slider can also be used as a modulation
source.

[ ][ ] keys

These are used to increase or decrease the parame­ter value in steps of one. It is convenient to use
these to make fine adjustments.

[VALUE] dial

Use this dial to modify the value of the parameter.

Numeric keys [0] – [9]
[ENTER] key
[–] key
[./10’s HOLD] key

Use these keys to numerically input a parameter
value. Use numeric keys [0]–[9], the [–] key, and
the [./10’s HOLD] key to enter the value, and
press the [ENTER] key to confirm it. The [./10’s
HOLD] key lets you input a value with a decimal
point. The [–] key inverts the sign (+/–) of the
parameter value. The [./10’s HOLD] key is also
used when you wish to hold the 10’s place while
selecting programs or combinations.
By holding down the [ENTER] key and pressing a
numeric key [0]–[9], you can select up to ten page
menu commands in the current page.

11. LCD screen

The TRITON features a Touch-View system that
uses a touch-panel LCD screen.
By pressing objects that are shown in the LCD
screen, you can select pages, tabs, and parameters,
and set values (

☞p.10).

12. [EXIT] key

When in P (page) 1–9 of each mode, pressing the
[EXIT] key will move to P (page) 0 of that mode.
When a dialog box is open, this key, will cancel the
settings made in the dialog box and close the dia­log box (corresponds to the Cancel button). If a
popup menu or page menu is open, pressing
[EXIT] will close the menu.

13. [MENU] key

Use this key to move between pages. When you
press the [MENU] key, a list of the pages in the
mode will appear in the LCD screen. Press the
desired page, and you will move to that page. You
can also move to a page by holding down the
[MENU] key and pressing the corresponding
numeric key [0]–[9] (

☞p.12).

[FF>>] key

In Sequencer mode this key fast-forwards the song
or cue list playback. When you press and hold this
key, the LED will light, and the playback will fast­forward. (This will not function during recording.)

[LOCATE] key

In Sequencer mode, this key returns the song or
cue list playback location to the specified point. In
Song Play mode, this key returns the playback
location of the SMF to the specified point.
If for some reason any “stuck notes” occur, press
this key.

15. SEQUENCER/SAMPLING

[REC/WRITE] key

In Sequencer mode, pressing this key will make
the LED light, and if you then press the [START/
STOP] key, recording will begin (
In Sampling mode, pressing this key will make the
LED light, and if you then press the [START/
STOP] key, sampling will begin (
In Program, Combination and Global modes,
pressing this key will open a dialog box, and if you
then press the OK button, the edited contents will
be written (

☞p.38, p.39).

☞p.64).

☞p.80).

[START/STOP] key

This is the start/stop key for song or cue list
recording and playback in Sequencer mode, and
SMF playback in Song Play mode. (During record­ing and playback, the LED will blink in time with
the beat.)
In Sampling mode, press the [REC/WRITE] key
(LED lights), and then press the [START/STOP]
key to start/stop sampling. In Sampling P1, press­ing this key (the LED will light) will sound the
sample.

Introduction

Front and rear panel

14. SEQUENCER

[PAUSE] key

In Sequencer mode, this key pauses the song or
cue list playback. In Song Play mode, this key
pauses SMF playback. When paused, the LED will
light. Press [PAUSE] once again to defeat pause,
the LED goes off.

[<<REW] key

In Sequencer mode this key rewinds the song or
cue list playback. When you press and hold this
key, the LED will light, and the playback will
rewind. (This will not function during recording.)

16. ARPEGGIATOR

These knobs control the performance of the arpeg­giator in realtime (

☞p.29).

[TEMPO] knob

This adjusts the base tempo of the arpeggiator and
sequencer.

[GATE] knob

This adjusts the gate time (note duration) of the
arpeggio notes. At the center position (12 o’clock),
the gate time will be the same as the “Gate”
parameter of the arpeggiator. Rotating the knob
toward the left will shorten the gate time, and
rotating it toward the right will lengthen the gate
time.

7

[VELOCITY] knob

This adjusts the velocity (playing strength) of the
arpeggio notes. At the center position (12 o’clock),
the velocity will be the same as the “Velocity”
parameter of the arpeggiator. Rotating the knob
toward the left will weaken the velocity, and rotat­ing it toward the right will strengthen the velocity.

[ON/OFF] switch

This switches the Arpeggiator function on/off.
When on, the LED will light.

Rear panel

1. AC power supply connector

Connect the included power supply cable here.
After connecting the power supply cable to the
TRITON, connect the other end to an AC outlet
(

☞p.15).

2. [POWER] switch

This switch turns the power on/off (☞p.17).

17. [BANK] keys

These keys are used to switch Program/Combina­tion banks.

PROG BANK: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G]

When selecting programs, use keys [A], [B], [C],
[D], [E], [F] (available when the EXB-MOSS is
installed), and [G]. The LED of the selected bank
will light.
Each time you press [G], you will cycle through
the GM(2) variation banks and the drum bank as
follows: G, g(1), g(2), ... g(8), g(9), g(d), G ... etc.

COMBI BANK: [A], [B], [C], [D]

When selecting combinations, use keys [A], [B],
[C], and [D]. The LED of the selected bank will
light.
In Combination, Sequencer, and Song Play modes
when the edit cell (highlighted area) is located at
the program of a timbre or track, you can use the
BANK keys to select the bank of the program. The
bank LED of the program selected for that timbre/
track will light.

3. SCSI connector (separately sold EXB-SCSI
option)

Use a SCSI cable to connect SCSI-compatible
devices (hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives etc.)
here (

☞p.15).

4. TO HOST connector

A special cable (sold separately: AG001B/002B)
can be connected from here directly to your com­puter, to transmit and receive musical data and
sound settings etc. (

☞p.112).

5. MIDI THRU connector

Musical data and sound settings etc. that are
received at the MIDI IN connector are re-transmit­ted without change from the MIDI THRU connec­tor.
You can use this to connect multiple MIDI devices
via MIDI cables (

☞p.111).

6. MIDI OUT connector

Musical data and sound settings etc. are transmit­ted from this connector.
Use this to control another connected MIDI device
from the TRITON (

☞p.111).

7. MIDI IN connector

Musical data and sound settings etc. are received
at this connector.
Use this to play the TRITON from another con­nected MIDI device (

☞p.111).

8. DAMPER jack

A separately sold switch-type pedal such as the
Korg DS-1H damper pedal can be connected here.
If a DS-1H is connected, it will function as a half­damper pedal. If another switch-type pedal is con­nected, it will function as a damper switch. In
order to ensure that the half-damper pedal func­tions correctly, please adjust the polarity and the
sensitivity (

☞p.115, 121 in the Parameter Guide).

8

8

9

10

11

Introduction

1

2

9. ASSIGNABLE SWITCH jack

A separately sold on/off foot switch such as the
Korg PS-1 foot switch can be connected here
(

☞p.16).

Its function can be assigned in Global mode,
allowing you to use the foot switch as a modula­tion controller, to select programs or combinations,
or to start/stop the sequencer (

10. ASSIGNABLE PEDAL jack

A separately sold Korg EXP-2 or XVP-10 expres­sion pedal can be connected here (
Its function can be assigned in Global mode,
allowing you to use the pedal to control the vol­ume etc. (

☞p.126)

11. [Contrast adjustment] knob

This adjusts the contrast of the LCD screen.
The optimal setting will depend on the height or
angle from which you view the screen display, so
please adjust this as necessary.

12. AUDIO INPUT

These two audio inputs are used when recording a
mono/stereo sample from a mic or external audio
source (
internal effects to an external audio source
(
The MIC/LINE level select switch ([MIC-LINE]
switch) and the level adjustment knob ([LEVEL]
knob) allow you to use a wide range of external
audio sources, from mic level to line level.

☞p.78), or when applying the TRITON’s

☞p.109).

☞p.125).

☞p.16).

3

4

5

6

12

13

7

13. AUDIO OUTPUT

Connect these outputs to the input jacks of your
amp or mixer. In addition to the L/MONO and R
main stereo audio outputs, the TRITON provides
four individual audio outputs. The sound from
each oscillator, drum, timbre/track, or insertion
effect can be freely routed to any output (

(MAIN) L/MONO, R

These are unbalanced phone jacks (☞p.135).
These are the main audio output jacks. By setting
“Bus Select” to L/R, the output from an oscillator,
an insertion effect, an individual drum part, or the
metronome can be output to the (MAIN) L/
MONO and R jacks. When making connections in
stereo, use L/MONO and R. When making con­nections in mono, use the L/MONO jack.

(INDIVIDUAL) 1, 2, 3, 4

These are unbalanced phone jacks (☞p.135).
These are individual (independent) audio output
jacks. These are individual (independent) audio
output jacks. By several times to make the “Bus
Select” to 1, 2, 3, 4, 1/2, or 3/4, an oscillator, an
insertion effect, an individual drum part, or the
metronome etc. can be assigned to be output from
the (INDIVIDUAL) 1, 2, 3, 4, jacks. The output
from the 1, 2, 3, 4 jacks is not affected by the [VOL­UME] slider.

Front and rear panel

☞p.107–).

AUDIO INPUT 1/2 jacks

These are unbalanced phone jacks (☞p.136).

[LEVEL] knob

This adjusts the input level of the AUDIO INPUT
1/2 jacks.

[MIC-LINE] switch

This switches the input level of the AUDIO INPUT
1/2 jacks.

9

Names and functions of objects in the LCD



screen

The TRITON’s LCD screen features a Touch View sys­tem that uses a touch panel.
By pressing objects displayed in the LCD screen, you
can select pages, set parameter values, rename pro­grams and combinations, write data, and perform
many other operations.

References in the TRITON’s owner’s manual to the
“... button” or “... tab” refer to objects displayed on
the LCD screen. References to the “[...] key,” “[...]
knob,” “[...] dial],” or “[...] slider” refer to controls
on the front or rear panel of the TRITON.

a: Current page

b: Edit cell

d: Popup button (2)

f: Check box

c: Popup button (1)

g: Radio buttons

h: Tab

i: Page menu buttone: (category) Popup button

a: Current page

This shows the page within the currently selected
mode.
From the left, this displays the mode name, the
page number: name selected in the Jump page,
and the tab name.

Mode name Tab namePage number: name

When a popup menu is displayed, operating a
VALUE controller (

☞p.13) will close the popup

menu. If the popup menu is unlocked (see below
“Pin”), it will close if you touch a location outside
the popup menu.

* Popup menu

Pin

Scroll bar

Pin

This switches the popup menu display between
locked and unlocked.
When locked, the pin will be shown closed, and
the popup menu will remain displayed even after
you press a parameter value. When unlocked, the
pin will be shown opened, and the popup menu
will close immediately when you press a parame­ter value.

Scroll bar

Use this when you wish to see parameter values
that cannot be displayed in the screen at once.

Press here to scroll to left or right.

b: Edit cell

When you press a parameter in the LCD screen,
the parameter or parameter value will sometimes
be highlighted (displayed in inverse video). This is
called the edit cell, and the highlighted item will
be subject to your editing.
The parameter value of the edit cell can be modi­fied using the VALUE controllers (

☞p.13) or by

using a popup button in the LCD screen. For
parameters that accept a key number or a velocity
value, you can also hold down the [ENTER] key
and play a note on the keyboard to enter the key
number or velocity value.

c: Popup button (1)

When this button is pressed, a popup menu will
appear, showing the parameter values that are
available for selection.
To input the parameter value, press the desired
value in the popup menu.

Press here and slide to left
or right to scroll to the
desired location.

Press here to scroll to
the corresponding
location.

d: Popup button (2)

When you press this button, a tabbed popup
menu will appear, allowing you to perform the fol-

lowing selections.

• “Bank/Program Select,” “Bank/Combination

Select”: Select programs or combinations by
bank

• “Multisample Select”: Select a multisample for

a program oscillator by category (ROM
multisamples only)

• “Category/Effect Select”: Select an insert effect

or master effect by category

To close the tabbed popup menu, press the OK
button or Cancel button.

10

e: (Category) popup button

When you press this button, a tabbed popup
menu will appear, allowing you to perform the fol-

lowing selections.

• “Category/Program Select,” “Category/
Combination Select”: Select programs or
combinations by category

To close the tabbed popup menu, press the OK
button or Cancel button.

f: Check box

Each time you press a check box, a check mark will
be added or removed.
When checked, the parameter will function; when
unchecked, the parameter will not function.

g: Radio buttons

Press a radio button to select one value from two
or more choices.

After some commands are executed, the previ­ously-locked page menu will be unlocked auto­matically, and the page menu will be closed.

* Text edit button

When you press this button, a text edit dialog box
will appear.
Here you can rename text (such as the name of a
program, combination, or song etc.) (

☞p.38).

* Page jump menu

Introduction

LCD screen

h: Tab

Press the tab to select a page.

i: Page menu button

When this button is pressed, a list of page menu
commands will appear.

The page menu commands that appear will
depend on the page that is selected.
You can also select up to ten page menu com­mands by holding down the [ENTER] key and
pressing a numeric key [0]–[9].
The page menu will close when you press the LCD
screen at a location other than the page menu, or
when you press the [EXIT] key.

* Dialog box

The dialog box that appears will depend on the
page menu command that you select.

When selecting a program or combination number
in a dialog box, use the VALUE controllers (
to input the number.
Sometimes a text edit button will be displayed. In
any case, perform the operations directed by the
message in the dialog box.
To execute, press the OK button. To cancel without
executing, press the Cancel button. (The operation
will occur when you press and release the button.)
The dialog box will close. The [EXIT] key corre­sponds to the Cancel button, Done button, and
Exit button.

☞p.13)

Names and functions of objects in the

In Combination, Program, Sequencer, Sampling,
Song Play, or Global modes, you can press the
front panel [MENU] key to view a list of the pages
in that mode. (As a reminder, the page in which
you were when you pressed the [MENU] key will
have its top right corner bent over.) By pressing
one of the pages shown, you can move to that
page. (You can also move to the corresponding
page by pressing a numeric key [0]–[9].)
When you press the [EXIT] key, P0 will be dis­played.

* Other objects

To modify the parameter value of an object shaped
like a slider or knob, press it to move the edit cell
to that object, and use the VALUE controllers to
modify the value. In addition, there are also but­tons similar to the OK button and Cancel button
explained in “* dialog box” which execute an oper­ation when they are pressed and released, such as
the Done button, Copy button, and Insert button.

Toggle buttons

This type of button will change its function or
switch on/off each time it is pressed.

PLAY/MUTE/REC button in
Sequencer and Song Play mode

SOLO ON/OFF button in Sequencer
and Song Play mode

Text edit button

Cancel button

ON/OFF button for Insert Effect and
Master Effect

OK button

11

Basic operation of the TRITON

1. Selecting modes

● In order to use a particular function on the TRI-

TON, you must first select the appropriate mode.
Press one of the front panel mode keys ([COMBI]
key – [DISK] key) to enter the corresponding
mode.

[COMBI] key: Combination mode
[PROG] key: Program mode
[SEQ] key: Sequencer mode
[SAMPLING] key: Sampling mode
[S.PLAY] key: Song Play mode
[GLOBAL] key: Global mode
[DISK] key: Disk mode

2. Selecting pages and tabs

Each mode has a large number of parameters, which
are grouped into pages. Each page is further divided
into as many as eight groups. These are referred to as
“tabs.”

In Disk mode there is only one page, so the page
jump menu will not appear.

3 In the LCD screen, press the desired page.

You will jump to the selected page, and it will
appear. As an example here, press P1: Edit-Basic.

• As a reminder, the page in which you were when
you pressed the [MENU] key will have its top right
corner bent over.

• You can also jump to the corresponding page by
pressing a numeric key [0]–[9]. (P0–P9 correspond
to numeric keys [0]–[9].)

• By holding down the [MENU] key and pressing a
numeric key [0]–[9], you can jump directly to the
corresponding page without displaying the page
jump menu.

Selecting a page

1 Make sure that the desired mode is selected.

To select a mode, press the appropriate mode key
([COMBI] key – [DISK] key). Here we will use Pro­gram mode as an example for our explanation.
Press the [PROG] key.

2 Press the [MENU] key.

The page jump menu will appear.

12

When you press the [EXIT] key, you will return to
P0 from any page.

Selecting a tab

4 Press one of the tabs located at the bottom of the

page.

As an example here, press the “OSC Basic” tab
which is the second from the left.

• Some pages have no tabs.

Program and Combination mode P0: Play, the [./10’s
HOLD] key performs the 10’s Hold function. (

☞p.21,

p.23)

5 To move to another page or tab, press the [MENU]

key and repeat the procedure from step 2.

3. Setting a parameter

The parameter value in the edit cell can be set by using
the front panel VALUE controllers ([VALUE] slider,
[ ][ ] keys, [VALUE] dial, numeric keys [0]–[9], [–]
key, [ENTER] key, and [./10’s HOLD] key). As neces­sary, you can also use the [BANK] keys and the [COM­PARE] key.
For some parameters, the value can be set by pressing
a popup button to display the popup menu and then
selecting a parameter value, or by holding down the
[ENTER] key and playing a note on the keyboard to
input a note number or velocity value.

VALUE controllers

[VALUE] slider

Use this when you wish to make major changes in the
value.
In Program mode and Combination mode, this slider
can also be used as a control source for alternate modu­lation or dynamic modulation. (This is active in Pro­gram or Combination P0: Play when the “Program
Number: name” or “Combination Number: name” (the
large characters in the upper part of the LCD) is
selected).

[ ][ ] keys

Use these when you wish to make small changes in the
value.

[VALUE] dial

Use this when you wish to make large changes in a
value.

Numeric keys [0]–[9], [ENTER] key, [–] key,

[./10’s HOLD] key

Use these when you know the parameter value that
you wish to input.
After using the numeric keys [0]–[9] to input a number,
press the [ENTER] key to finalize the parameter value.
Use the [–] key to enter negative numbers.
Use the [./10’s HOLD] key to enter a decimal point. In

[BANK] keys

The [BANK] keys are used in Program mode to select
the program bank and in Combination mode to select
the combination bank. In Combination mode, they are
also used to select the program bank for each timbre of
the combination. In Sequencer and Song Play modes,
these keys are used to select the bank of the program
used by each track of the song.

[BANK] key Program Combination

*1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

*1

Banks A–D are rewritable user program/combina­tion banks. The factory settings and the preset pro­grams/combinations of the separately sold EXB­PCM series options are provided for banks A–D.

*2

Bank E is also a rewritable user program bank (like
banks A–D). We recommend that you use bank E for
programs that you yourself create. When converting
a multisample created in Sampling mode into a pro­gram (“Convert MS to Program”), it is best to use
bank E.

*3

Bank F is available if the separately sold EXB-MOSS
option is installed. This bank is only for programs
that use the EXB-MOSS.

*4

Banks G, g(1)–g(9), and g(d) comprise eleven banks.
They contain 256 programs compatible with GM2,
and 9 drum programs. These banks cannot be
rewritten.
Each time you press the BANK [G] key, you will
cycle through banks G, g(1)–g(9), g(d) and back to

G.
Bank G contains 128 programs for the basic GM
sounds. Banks g(1)–g(9) contain variation sounds.
Bank g(d) contains drum programs. In banks which

contain no variation sounds, the basic GM sounds
will be selected. (An asterisk * will be added to the
beginning of the program name.)

Bank A (000...127) Bank A (000...127)

*1

Bank B (000...127) Bank B (000...127)

*1

Bank C (000...127) Bank C (000...127)

*1

Bank D (000...127) Bank D (000...127)

*2

Bank E (000...127) ---

*3

Bank F (000...127) ---

*4

Bank G (001...128) ---

Bank g(1) (001...128) ---

Bank g(2) (001...128) ---

:

Bank g(9) (001...128) ---

Bank g(d) (001...128) ---

Introduction

Basic operation of the TRITON

13

G001 Acoustic Piano

g(1) 001 Acoustic Piano w

g(2) 001 Acoustic Piano d

g(3) 001 *Acoustic Piano

g(4) 001 *Acoustic Piano

:

g(9) 001 *Acoustic Piano

g(d) 001 STANDARD Kit

G001 Acoustic Piano

:

[COMPARE] key

Use this key when you wish to compare an edited pro­gram or combination sound with the un-edited origi-

nal (i.e., the sound that is written into memory).
When editing a program or combination, press this
key. The LED will light, and the last-written settings
for that program number or combination number will
be recalled. When you press the [COMPARE] key once
again, the LED will go dark and you will return to the
settings that you were editing.
If you edit the settings that are recalled by pressing the
[COMPARE] key (i.e., the settings that are written into
memory), the LED will go dark, and it will not be pos­sible to return to the previous settings by pressing the
[COMPARE] key again.

Popup buttons and popup menus

You can press a popup button to access a popup menu,
and then set parameter values (

☞p.10).

Keyboard input

When inputting a note name or velocity value as the
value of a parameter, you can use the keyboard to
input the setting. Hold down the [ENTER] key and
play the note that you wish to enter as a value. The
note name (number) or velocity value will be input.

When the Global P5: DrumKit page is displayed, you
can hold down the [ENTER] key and play a note to
recall the settings that have been assigned to the note
you played.
In Sampling mode, you can hold down the [ENTER]
key and play a note to recall the index that is assigned
to the note you played.

In Sequencer mode, you can use the [COMPARE] key
to make “before and after” comparisons immediately
after using realtime recording or step recording to
record a song, or after performing a track edit opera­tion.

For example, this can be used effectively when real­time-recording a track for a song.

1 Realtime-record a track. (Take 1)

2 Once again, realtime-record on the same track.

(Take 2)

3 Press the [COMPARE] key. The LED will light,

and take 1 will be recalled.

4 Press the [COMPARE] key once again. The LED

will go dark, and take 2 will be recalled.

5 If at step 3 you once again realtime-record on the

same track (take 3), the object of the Compare
function will now be take 1. If at step 4 you once
again realtime-record on the same track (take 3),
the object of the Compare function will be take 2.

In this way, the Compare function lets you recall the
previous recording or the previous state of event edit­ing.

The Compare function is not available Sampling,
Song Play, or Global modes.

14

Connections

Connections must be made with the power turned
off. Please be aware that careless operation may
damage your speaker system or cause malfunc­tions.

1. Connecting the power cable

● Connect the included power cable to the AC power

supply inlet of the TRITON, and then connect the
other end of the cable to an AC outlet.

2. Connecting audio output
devices

Connect a set of amplified monitor speakers or your
audio system to output the TRITON’s sound.

If you playback the TRITON through your stereo
audio system, be aware that high volumes may
damage your speakers. Be careful not to raise the
volume excessively.

1

to an AC outlet

Power cable (included)

AC power supply inlet

Power switch

7

● Connect the AUDIO OUTPUT (MAIN) L/MONO

and R jacks to the INPUT jacks of your powered
monitor system, etc.

L/MONO and R are the main outputs. If you are
outputting in stereo, make connections to the
(MAIN) L/MONO jack and the R jack. If you are
outputting in monaural, make connections to the
(MAIN) L/MONO jack. We recommend that you
playback in stereo if possible.

● If you wish to output from the AUDIO OUTPUT

(INDIVIDUAL) 1, 2, 3, 4 jacks, connect these jacks
to your mixer, and then connect the mixer output
to the INPUT of your powered monitor system etc.

For details on the output of each jack (

☞p.107–

“Routing”).

3. Connecting audio input
devices

When sampling in Sampling mode, or when you wish
to apply the TRITON’s effects to an external audio
source in Program, Combination, Sequencer, or Song

Headphones

PHONES

Introduction

Connections

CD player, analog record
player, etc.

If you connect a guitar with passive
pickups (i.e., a guitar which does
not contain a preamp), it will not be
possible to sample at an
appropriate level due to the
impedance mismatch. Please route
the guitar signal through a preamp
or an effect processor.

Effect processor etc.

3

2456

Headphones

INPUT

MIC1

BAL
OR
UNBAL

LINE IN 2

LINE IN 1

LOW CUT
75Hz
18dB/OCT

B

d

V

0

1

-

G

A

I

C

N

I

M

U

U

10

60

+10dB

-40dB

TRIM

U

AUX

1

MON/
EFX

+15

U

2

EFX

+15

U

EQ

HI

12kHz

-15
+15

-15

U

GuitarMic

OUTPUT

MID

2.5kHz

-12

-12

+12

U

LOW
80Hz

+15

-15

-15

PAN

L

R

1

MUTE

MUTE

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

dB

dB

10

10

SOLO

5

5

U

U

5

5

10

10

20

20

30

30

40

40

50

50

60

60

STEREO AUX RETURNS

MIC4

MIC6

MIC3

MIC5

MIC2

BAL
OR
UNBAL

LOW CUT
75Hz
18dB/OCT

B

d

V

0

1

-

G

A

I

C

N

I

M

10

60

+10dB

-40dB

TRIM

U

AUX

1

MON/
EFX

+15

U

2

EFX

+15

U

EQ

HI
12kHz

+15

U

MID

2.5kHz

+12

U

LOW
80Hz

+15

PAN

L
R

2

SOLO

1

2

LEFT(1/MONO)

RIGHT

BAL

BAL

BAL

BAL

MONO

OR

OR

OR

OR

UNBAL

UNBAL

UNBAL

UNBAL

L

LINE IN 4

LINE IN 6

LINE IN 3

LINE IN 5

BAL

LOW CUT

OR

LOW CUT

LOW CUT

LOW CUT

75Hz

75Hz

75Hz

75Hz

UNBAL

18dB/OCT

18dB/OCT

18dB/OCT

18dB/OCT

B

d

V

0

B

B

B

d

d

d

V

V

V

0

1

0

0

1

-

1

1

-

-

-

R

G

A

G

A

G

G

A

A

I

C

N

I

I

C

I

I

C

C

N

N

N

I

I

I

M

M

M

M

U

U

U

U

LEVEL
+4

10

60

10

10

10

60

60

60

-10

+10dB

-40dB

+10dB

+10dB

+10dB

-40dB

-40dB

-40dB

TRIM

LINE IN 7-8

TRIM

TRIM

TRIM

U

U

U

U

U

AUX

AUX

AUX

AUX

AUX

1

1

1

1

1

MON/

MON/

MON/

MON/

MON/

EFX

EFX

EFX

EFX

EFX

+15

+15

+15

+15

+15

U

U

U

U

U

2

2

2

2

2

EFX

EFX

EFX

EFX

EFX

+15

+15

+15

+15

+15

U

U

U

U

U

EQ

EQ

EQ

EQ

EQ

HI

HI

HI

HI

HI

12kHz

12kHz

12kHz

12kHz

12kHz

-15
+15

-15

-15
+15

+15

-15
+15

-15
+15

U

U

U

U

U

MID

MID

MID

MID

MID

2.5kHz

2.5kHz

2.5kHz

2.5kHz

2.5kHz

-12
+12

-12

-12

-12
+12

+12

+12

-12
+12

U

U

U

U

U

LOW

LOW

LOW

LOW

LOW

80Hz

80Hz

80Hz

80Hz

80Hz

+15

-15
+15

+15

+15

-15

-15

-15

+15

-15

PAN

PAN

PAN

PAN

PAN

L

R

L

L

L

R

R

R

L

R

6

7–8

4

5

3

MUTE

MUTE

MUTE

MUTE

MUTE

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

dB

dB

dB

dB

dB

10

10

10

10

10

SOLO

SOLO

SOLO

SOLO

SOLO

5

5

5

5

5

U

U

U

U

U

5

5

5

5

5

10

10

10

10

10

20

20

20

20

20

30

30

30

30

30

40

40

40

40

40

50

50

50

50

50

60

60

60

60

60

PHONES

MAIN OUTS

TAPE

TAPE

AUX SEND

OUTPUT

L

INPUT

1

MICRO SERIES 1402-VLZ

L

14-CHANNEL MIC/LINE MIXER

2

R

R

BAL/UNBAL

ALL BAL/UNBAL

MONO

MONO

MONO

L

L

L

BAL

BAL

BAL

OR

OR

OR

UNBAL

UNBAL

UNBAL

R

R

R

LEVEL

LEVEL

LEVEL

+4

+4

+4

PHONES

-10

-10

-10

LINE IN 13-14

LINE IN 9-10

LINE IN 11-12

U

U

U

U

U

AUX

AUX

AUX

1

1

1

MON/

MON/

MON/

EFX

EFX

EFX

1

+20

+10

+15

+15

+15

NORMALLED

U

+15

U

-15
+15

U

-12
+12

U

+15

-15

L

R

9–10

MUTE

ALT 3–4

dB

10

5

U

5

10

20

30

40
50
60

U

U

U

AUX 1 MASTER

2

PRE

2

2

2

POST

EFX

EFX

EFX

AUX

EFX TO

AUX 1

+20

MONITOR

+15

SELECT

+15

RETURNS

U

U

SOURCE

EQ

EQ

EQ

LEFT RIGHT

HI

HI

HI

MAIN

12kHz

MID

2.5kHz

LOW
80Hz

PAN

SOLO

CLIP+28

12kHz

12kHz

MIX

+10

-15
+15

-15
+15

+7

U

U

ALT

+4

3-4

MID

MID

2.5kHz

2.5kHz

+2

-12

-12

+12

+12

0

TAPE

U

U

-2

LOW

LOW

80Hz

80Hz

-4

+15

+15

-15

-15

-7

ASSIGN

PAN

PAN

-10

TO MAIN MIX

-20

NORMAL(AFL)

-30

LEVEL SET(PFL)

L

L

R

R

SOLO

0dB=0dBu

MODE

13–14

11–12

MUTE

MUTE

POWER

RUDE SOLO LIGHT

PHANTOM

ALT 3–4

ALT 3–4

CONTROL

/ PHONES

MAIN MIX

ROOM

dB

dB

dB

dB

10

10

10

10

SOLO

SOLO

5

5

5

5

U

U

U

U

5

5

5

5

10

10

10

10

20

20

20

20

30

30

30

30

40

40

40

40

50

50

50

50

60

60

60

60

INPUT

Powered monitors, etc.

15

Play mode and output the sound from the OUTPUT
jacks, connect a mic or an external audio source to the
AUDIO INPUT 1 and 2 jacks.

● For details on connections when sampling in Sam-

pling mode (

● For details on connections when outputting from

the OUTPUT jacks in other modes (

☞p.78).

☞p.109).

4. Connecting pedals etc.

6. Connections to a computer

An IBM PC (compatible) or Apple Macintosh com­puter can be connected to the TRITON, so that the TRI­TON’s keyboard, controllers and sequencer can
transmit data to the computer, and so that the com­puter can play the TRITON’s tone generator.

● Connect the TRITON’s TO HOST connector to the

appropriate port of your computer (

☞p.112).

Foot pedal connections

A foot pedal controls etc.
Connect a separately sold Korg assignable pedal such
as the XVP-10 or EXP-2 to the rear panel ASSIGN-
ABLE PEDAL jack.
The function controlled by the foot pedal is specified in
Global: P2 “Foot Pedal Assign” (
in the Parameter Guide)

☞p.125). (☞p121, 220

Foot switch connections

A foot switch controls sostenuto, soft pedal on/off,
arpeggiator on/off, to select programs or combina­tions, and to start/stop the sequencer etc.
Connect a separately sold Korg foot switch such as the
PS-1 to the rear panel ASSIGNABLE SWITCH jack.
The function that will be controlled by the foot switch
and the polarity of the foot switch can be set in Global:
P2 “Foot Switch Assign,” and “Foot Switch Polarity”
(

☞p.125). (☞p.121, 219 in the Parameter Guide)

Damper pedal connections

A damper pedal applies a damper effect as you play.
Connect a separately sold Korg DS-1H damper pedal
to the DAMPER jack of the TRITON. If a DS-1H is con­nected, half-damper effects can be produced.
The polarity of the pedal is set in Global P1 “Damper
Pedal Polarity” and the sensitivity is set in Global P1
“Half Damper Calibration.” (
ter Guide)

☞p.115, 121 in the Parame-

7. Connections to a SCSI device

If the separately sold EXB-SCSI option is installed, you
can connect the TRITON to a SCSI-compatible device
(hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive, etc.).
For the EXB-SCSI installation refer to p.237 in the
Parameter Guide.

5. Connections to MIDI equip­ment

The keyboard, controllers and sequencer of the TRI­TON control and play an external MIDI tone generator,
and an external MIDI keyboard or sequencer plays the
TRITON’s tone generator.

● Use MIDI cables to connect the MIDI connectors

of the TRITON to the MIDI connectors of your
external MIDI device (

16

☞p.111).

Quick Start

Turning the power on/off

Before you turn on the power, make sure that the
desired connections have been made as described
in “Connections” (

1. Turning the power on

☞p.15).

The mode and page that will be selected when the
power is turned on

The state of the TRITON when the power is turned on
will depend on the setting of “Power On Mode” (Glo­bal P0: System Preference tab).

Quick Start

1 Press the TRITON’s [POWER] switch to turn on

the power.

The LCD screen will display the name of your
model (TRITON, TRITON pro, or TRITON proX),
and the software version.
(The following graphic shows the factory-set LCD
screen of the TRITON. The version number is sub­ject to change without notice.)

2 Turn on your powered monitors or stereo amp.

3 Raise the TRITON’s [VOLUME] slider to an

appropriate level, and adjust the volume of your
powered monitors or stereo amp.

2. Turning the power off

1 Set the TRITON’s [VOLUME] slider and the vol-

ume of your powered monitor or stereo amp to
zero.

2 Turn off the power of your powered monitor or

stereo amp.

3 Press the TRITON’s [POWER] switch to turn off

the power.

If “Power On Mode” is Reset (factory setting), the TRI­TON will automatically selects the Combination mode
P0: Play.
If “Power On Mode” is Memorize, the TRITON will be
in the mode and page that were last selected when the
power was turned off.

The Memorize setting will remember the mode and
page that were last selected, the combination number
that was last selected in Combination mode, and the
program number that was last selected in Program
mode.
If another mode is selected when the power is turned
on, you can press the [COMBI] key or [PROG] key to
select the P0: Play page with the last-selected combina­tion number or program number.

The LCD screen when separately sold options or
SIMM modules are installed

The TRITON series allows you to install separately
sold options or SIMM (sampling memory) boards.

When the power is turned on, the
type of installed options will be
displayed. After installing an
option, be sure to check this dis­play to verify that the option was

installed correctly. If the option is
not displayed here even though it was installed, it was
not installed correctly. Turn off the power and re-install
the option. (
to p.237 in the Parameter Guide)

EXB-MOSS: The EXB-MOSS option is installed.
EXB-SCSI: The EXB-SCSI option is installed.
EXB-PCM Slot1 (

installed in EXB-PCM series slot 1. The type of board is
shown in parentheses.

EXB-PCM Slot2 (

installed in EXB-PCM series slot 2. The type of board is
shown in parentheses.
SIMM Slot1 (**MB): A SIMM is installed in SIMM slot

1. The capacity of the SIMM is shown in parentheses.
When the TRITON is shipped from the factory, a 16 MB
SIMM is already installed in this slot.
SIMM Slot2 (**MB): A SIMM is installed in SIMM slot

2. The capacity of the SIMM is shown in parentheses.

☞For details on installing an option, refer

): A PCM expansion board is

****

): A PCM expansion board is

****

Turning the power on/off

17

Listening to a demo song

Here’s how to listen to a demo song on the TRITON.

Contents of the disks

The TRITON series comes with two floppy disks
(TNFD-00P and TNFD-01P).

PRELOAD.PCG

• Preloaded data (programs, combinations, drum
kits, arpeggio patterns, global settings)

• Program data (programs using the sampling
function) used by the demonstration songs

When you load PRELOAD.PCG, it will be written
into internal memory. This data is preserved even
if the power is turned off.

When you load PRELOAD.PCG, the data that had
been written before loading this data will be
rewritten. If you wish to keep this data, you must
first save it on a floppy disk before loading PRE­LOAD.PCG (

PRELOAD.SNG

• Demonstration song and demonstration cue list
data

When you load PRELOAD.SNG, it will be written
into internal sequencer memory. This memory is
volatile, and the data will be lost when the power
is turned off.

☞p.40).

1. Loading the demo song data
in Disk mode

1 Insert the included “TNFD-00P” floppy disk into

the disk drive.

For details on handling a floppy disk and inserting
it into the disk drive, refer to “Disk mode”

2 Press the [DISK] key (the LED will

light).

You will enter Disk mode.

3 Press the Load tab.

The Load window will appear, and file information
will be displayed.

4 Press “PRELOAD.SNG.”

The display will be highlighted. This is the demo
song data.

4

☞p.95.

5

When you load PRELOAD.SNG, the data that had
been written before loading this data will be
rewritten. If you wish to keep this data, you must
first save it on a floppy disk before loading PRE­LOAD.SNG. (

PRELOAD.KSC

• Sample program data used by the demonstration
songs

When you load PRELOAD.KSC, its multisample/
sample data will be written into the TRITON’s
multisample/sample memory. This memory is
volatile, and the data will be lost when the power
is turned off.

Whether or not previously-written data will be
erased when you load PRELOAD.KSC is deter­mined by the “Select .KSC Allocation” setting.
Refer to step 7 of the following procedure.

☞p.40)

3

5 Press the page menu command button.

The page menu commands will be displayed.

6 Press “Load selected.”

A dialog box will appear.

7 Press the check boxes to add a check mark.

Check “Load PRELOAD.PCG too.” When the data

is loaded, the .PCG file will be loaded along with
the .SNG file.

Check “Load PRELOAD.KSC too.” When the data
is loaded, the .KSC file will be loaded along with the
.SNG file.

18

The “Select .KSC Allocation” radio buttons specify
how the sample data will be loaded into sample
memory. For this example, select Clear.

2. Selecting and playing a dem­onstration song in Sequencer

mode

B Press the [SEQ] key (the LED will light).

You will enter Sequencer mode.

C Press the [MENU] key.

If you load with “Select .KSC Allocation” set to
Clear, the sample data will be loaded from the
beginning of the sample memory area.
If you load with “Select .KSC Allocation” set to
Append, the sample data will be loaded into the
unused portion of the sample memory.

If sample memory already contains sample data
that you do not wish to lose, either select Append,
or save the sample data to a floppy disk (

8 Press the OK button.

The data will be loaded in the order of PRE­LOAD.PCG, PRELOAD.SNG, and PRELOAD.KSC.
When the PRELOAD.KSC file begins to load, the
following dialog box will appear.

☞p.40).

The LCD screen will show a list of the
pages in Sequencer mode.

Quick Start

For this example, press either “P0: Play/REC” or
numeric key [0]. The P0: Play/REC page will
appear.

Listening to a demo song

D Select the demonstration song.

Press the “Song No. and name” area to highlight the
song name.

Song No. and
name

Popup button

The sample/multisample data listed in PRE­LOAD.KSC is contained in “TNFD-01P.”

9 Remove the “TNFD-00P” floppy disk from the

floppy disk drive, and insert the “TNFD-01P”
floppy disk.

0 Press the LCD screen once.

The LCD display will change. (The newly inserted
floppy disk will be recognized when you press the
LCD screen.)

A Press the Select button to resume loading.

E To select the first song, press numeric key [0], and

press the [ENTER] key.

To select the second song, press numeric key [1],
and press the [ENTER] key.

You can select songs from a popup menu.
Press the popup button for “Song No. and name”
to access the popup menu.
In the LCD screen, press the song that you wish to
play. The popup menu will close, and the song you
pressed will be selected.

F Press the front panel [START/STOP] key.

The LED will blink and the selected song will play.

G If you wish to stop playback, press the [START/

STOP] key once again.

19

3. Playing a cue list

Here’s how to playback the demonstration cue list. A
cue list allows you to playback multiple songs in suc­cession, and specify the number of times that each
song will be repeated.

1 Press the [MENU] key.

The LCD screen will show a list of the pages in
Sequencer mode.

2 Press either “P1: Cue List” or numeric key [1].

The P1: Cue List page will appear.

3 Press the [START/STOP] key.

4 To stop playback, press the [START/STOP] key

once again.

If the last step is End, playback will stop automati­cally when it reaches that point. If the last step is
Continue to Step01, playback will return to the first
step and continue.

Cue lists can be selected in the same way that
songs are selected. Refer to E and F in the previ­ous page.

20

Selecting and playing a program

In Program mode you can select a program from
banks A–G and play it. Here we will show how to
select preset programs. Select various programs and
hear how they sound.

Selecting a program

1 Press the [PROG] key (the LED will light), and you

will enter Program mode.

2 Make sure that P (page) 0: Play is selected in the

LCD screen.

If this page is not selected, press the [MENU] key to
access the page jump menu, and either select “P0:
Play” in the LCD screen or numeric key [0] to dis­play P0: Play.

Category
popup
button

Program
Number:
name

Popup button

make a selection.

If you press the [./10’s HOLD] key to turn on the
10’s Hold function (the LCD screen will indicate

), the ten’s place of the program number will be
fixed, and you will be able to switch programs sim­ply by pressing a single numeric key. Each time you
press a numeric key, the one’s place will change.
You can also use the [ ][ ] keys to change the
ten’s place.
To release the 10’s Hold function, press the [./10’s
HOLD] key once again.

Selecting programs from Bank/Program Select

You can select programs from a list organized by pro­gram bank.

1 Press the “Program Number: name” popup button.

A tabbed “Bank/Program Select” popup menu will
appear.

Quick Start

Selecting and playing a program

3 Press “Program Number: name” in the LCD screen

to select the program.

The display will be highlighted.

4 Press a PROGRAM BANK [A]–[G] key to select

the bank. (
TON”)

For example to select bank A, press the [A] key.
(The LED will light, and the upper left of the LCD
screen will indicate Bank A.)

Bank G is unlike other banks. Each time you press
the [G] key, the selection will cycle in the order of G

→ g(1) → g(2) → g(3) → g(4) → g(5) → g(6) → g(7)
→ g(8) → g(9) → g(d) → G (the LED will light, and

the upper left of the LCD screen will indicate Bank
G, g(1)–g(9), g(d) respectively.

5 Use numeric keys [0]–[9] to input the program

number, and press the [ENTER] key. Alternatively,
you can use the [VALUE] dial or [][] keys to

☞p.22 “Program banks of the TRI-

In the graphic, bank A is selected. The center area
shows the programs contained in that bank.

2 Press the tabs located at the left and right to select

banks.

3 Press program names in the center area to select

programs.

The selected program will be highlighted.

4 When you are satisfied with the selected program,

press the OK button to close the popup menu.

If you press the Cancel button, the selection you
made here will be discarded, and you will return to
the program that had been selected when you
opened the popup menu.

21

Selecting programs from Category/Program Select

You can select programs from a list organized by cate­gory. With the factory settings, the programs are classi­fied into sixteen categories of instrument (keyboard,
organ, bass, drums etc.).

1 Press the Category popup button.

A tabbed “Category/Program Select” popup menu
will appear.

In the above graphic, category 10: FastSynth is
selected. The center area shows the programs con­tained in that category.

2 Press the tabs located at the left and right to select

a different category.

The name of the selected category will be displayed
in full in the upper right.

Program banks of the TRITON

The TRITON contains program banks A–G.

• Banks A–E each contain 128 programs (numbered
000–127), for a total of 640 programs.
With the factory settings, banks contain a variety of
preset programs that use the internal PCM ROM
multisamples, effects, and arpeggiator patterns etc.
With the factory settings, bank E does not contain
programs. It can be used as a user bank for you to
write programs you yourself create (such as pro­grams that use multisamples you sampled in Sam­pling mode).

• Bank F can be used if the EXB-MOSS option (sold
separately) is installed. It can contain 128 programs
(numbered 000–127) that use the MOSS tone
generator. (
owner’s manual of the EXB-MOSS option.)

• Bank G contains 256 programs compatible with
the GM2 sound map, and nine drum programs.
This bank is read-only.
Bank G consists of banks G, g(1), g(2)–g(9), and g(d).
The 128 programs from 001–128 can be used. G con-
tains the GM2 original programs. g(1)–g(9) allow
you to select variation programs of the G bank pro­grams. g(d) lets you select drum programs.

☞ For the preset program banks and program names,

refer to the separate Voice Name List.

☞For the program names, refer to the

3 Press a program name in the center area to select a

program.

The selected program will be highlighted.

If you wish to change a program to a different cat­egory, you can set in the dialog box when writing
the program (
changed in “Category Name” (Global P4).

4 When you are satisfied with the selected program,

press the OK button to close the popup menu.

If you press the Cancel button, the selection you
made here will be discarded, and you will return to
the program that had been selected when you
opened the popup menu.

☞p.39). Category names can be

Other ways to select a program

Using a connected switch to select programs

☞p.125)

(

An separately sold on/off type foot switch such as the
Korg PS-1 can be connected to the ASSIGNABLE
SWITCH jack, and used to select programs.

Selecting programs from a MIDI device (☞p.114)

MIDI program change messages can be transmitted
from an external MIDI device, and received by the TRI­TON to select programs.

22

Selecting and playing a combination

In Combination mode you can select a combination
from banks A–D and play it. Here we will show how
to select preset combinations. Select various combina­tions and hear how they sound.

Selecting a combination

1 Press the [COMBI] key (the LED will light), and

you will enter Combination mode.

2 Make sure that P (page) 0: Play is selected in the

LCD screen.

If this page is not selected, press the [MENU] key to
access the page jump menu, and either press “P0:
Play” in the LCD screen or numeric key [0] to dis­play P0: Play.

Category popup
button

Combination
Number: name

Popup button

5 Use numeric keys [0]–[9] to input the combination

number, and press the [ENTER] key. Alternatively,
you can use the [VALUE] dial or [][] keys to
make a selection.

If you press the [./10’s HOLD] key to turn on the
10’s Hold function (the LCD screen will indicate

), the ten’s place of the combination number will
be fixed, and you will be able to switch combina­tions simply by pressing a single numeric key. Each
time you press a numeric key, the one’s place will
change. You can also use the [ ][ ] keys to
change the ten’s place.
To defeat the 10’s Hold function, press the [./10’s
HOLD] key once again.

Selecting combinations from Bank/Combination
Select

You can select combinations from a list organized by
combination bank.

1 Press the “Combination Number: name” popup

button.

A tabbed “Bank/Combination Select” popup menu
will appear.

Quick Start

Selecting and playing a combination

Bank/Program

3 Press “Combination Number: name” in the LCD

screen to select the combination.

The display will be highlighted.

4 Press a COMBI BANK [A]–[D] key to select the

bank. (

☞p.24 “Combination banks of the TRI-

TON”)

For example to select bank A, press the [A] key.
(The LED will light, and the upper left of the LCD
screen will indicate Bank A.)

When the edit cell is located at the “Bank/Pro­gram” of a timbre 1–8, pressing a [BANK] key will
allow you to select the program bank for that tim­bre, and the LED of the program bank selected for
that timbre will light. If you wish to select a combi­nation bank, make sure that the edit cell is not
located at the “Bank/Program” of timbres 1–8.

In the above graphic, bank A is selected. The center
area shows the combinations contained in that
bank.

2 Press the tabs located at the left to select banks.

3 Press combination names in the center area to

select combinations.

The selected combination will be highlighted.

4 When you are satisfied with the selected combina-

tion, press the OK button to close the popup menu.

If you press the Cancel button, the selection you
made here will be discarded, and you will return to
the combination that had been selected when you
opened the popup menu.

23

Selecting combinations from Category/Combina­tion Select

You can select combinations from a list organized by
category. With the factory settings, the combinations
are classified into sixteen categories of instrument
(keyboard, organ, bass, drums etc.). Here the combina­tions are divided into sixteen categories.

1 Press the Category popup button.

A tabbed “Category/Combination Select” popup
menu will appear.

In the graphic, category 00: Keyboard is selected.
The central area shows the combinations contained
in that category.

2 Press the tabs located at the left and right to select

a different category.

Other ways to select a combination

Using a connected switch to select combinations
(☞p.125)

An separately sold on/off type foot switch such as the
Korg PS-1 can be connected to the ASSIGNABLE
SWITCH jack, and used to select combinations.

Selecting combinations from a MIDI device
(☞p.114)

MIDI program change messages can be transmitted
from an external MIDI device, and received by the TRI­TON to select combinations.

Combination banks of the TRITON

The TRITON contains combination banks A–D.

Each bank contains 128 combinations (numbered 000–

127), for a total of 512 combinations.
With the factory settings, these banks contain a variety
of preset combinations that use programs, effects, and
arpeggio patterns.

☞ For the preset combination banks and combination

names, refer to the separate Voice Name List.

The name of the selected category will be displayed
in full in the upper right.

3 Press a combination name in the central area to

select a combination.

The selected combination will be highlighted.
Press the scroll bar to move to additional pages of
combinations in the selected category.

If you wish to change a combination to a different
category, you can set in the dialog box when writ­ing the combination (
be changed in “Category Name” (Global P4).

4 When you are satisfied with the selected combina-

tion, press the OK button to close the popup menu.

If you press the Cancel button, the selection you
made here will be discarded, and you will return to
the combination that had been selected when you
opened the popup menu.

☞p.39). Category names can

24

Using controllers to modify the sound

The TRITON provides a variety of controllers that can
be used to control the tone, pitch, volume, effects, and
arpeggiator etc. in realtime while you play.

Joystick

＋Y

−X ＋X

−Y

SW1, SW2

You can use these keys as sources for alternate modula­tion or effect dynamic modulation to control program
parameters or effect parameters.
These switches can also be used to switch the octave, to
turn portamento on/off, or to lock the position of the
ribbon controller or after touch function.

Quick Start

JS(+X): Move the joystick toward the right to apply an

effect. Normally this is used to control the
pitch (bend up).

JS(–X): Move the joystick toward the left to apply an

effect. Normally this is used to control the
pitch (bend down).

JS(+Y): Move the joystick away from yourself to apply

an effect. Normally this is used to control the
oscillator LFO (vibrato).

JS(–Y): Move the joystick toward yourself to apply an

effect. Normally this is used to control filter
LFO (wah).

You can use the Lock function of SW 1 or 2 to hold
the effect even after the joystick is returned to the
center position. For the procedure, refer to “SW1,
SW2.”

You can use the joystick as a source for alternate
modulation or effect dynamic modulation, to con­trol program parameters or effect parameters.

Ribbon controller

−X ＋X

Move your finger to the left and right on the ribbon
controller to apply an effect.
Normally, this is used to control pitch, volume or filter
etc.

You can use the Lock function of SW 1 or 2 to hold
the effect even after you release your finger from
the ribbon controller. For the procedure, refer to
“SW1, SW2.”

You can use the ribbon controller as a source for
alternate modulation or effect dynamic modula­tion, to control program parameters or effect
parameters.

You can specify the way in which the [SW1] and [SW2]
keys will operate: either Toggle, when the assigned
function will be switched on/off each time the key is
pressed, or Momentary, when the assigned function
will be switched on only as long as you hold down the
key.

In Program mode, the function of the [SW1] and
[SW2] keys can be checked in the P0: Play tab Per­formance (

When you write a program or combination, the
on/off status of the [SW1] and [SW2] keys is
saved.

For details on making these settings, refer to “Set­ting the functions of [SW1] and [SW2]” (

☞p.27).

☞p.127).

The Lock function

Joystick

When the [SW1] or [SW2] key function is set to JS X
Lock, JS +Y Lock, or JS –Y Lock, the sound produced

by moving the joystick can be held even after the joy­stick is returned to the center position.

When the [SW1] key is set to JS–Y Lock and is operat­ing as a Toggle switch, the lock function can be used as
described in the following example.

1 Move the joystick toward yourself to modify the

sound.

2 While continuing to hold the joystick toward your-

self, press [SW1] (the [SW1] key LED will light).

The sound at this point will be held.

3 Even if you release the joystick, or move it toward

yourself once again, the sound will remain
unchanged from when the [SW1] key was pressed.

This is the “locked” condition. Moving the joystick
to left or right will produce the normal result.

Using controllers to modify the sound

25

4 To release the locked condition, press the [SW1]

key once again.

3 Even when you apply further pressure to the key-

board, the sound at the moment you pressed [SW1]
key will be held.

This is the “locked” condition.

4 To release the locked condition, press the [SW1]

key once again.

Realtime control knobs

Ribbon controller

When the [SW1] or [SW2] key function is set to Ribbon
Lock, the sound produced by moving the ribbon con-

troller can be held even after the ribbon controller is
released.

When the [SW1] key is set to Ribbon Lock and is oper-
ating as a Toggle switch, the lock function can be used
as described in the following example.

1 Press [SW1] (the [SW1] key LED will light).

2 Move your finger to left or right on the ribbon con-

troller. The sound will change.

3 Even when you remove your finger from the rib-

bon controller, the sound at that point will be held.

This is the “locked” condition.

4 To release the locked condition, press the [SW1]

key once again.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

These knobs can be used to control the filter cutoff fre­quency and resonance, the amp and filter EG, volume,
portamento time, pan, pitch LFO, or the send levels to
the master effects, etc.

1 Press the [REALTIME CONTROLS] key to switch

the function of the realtime controllers to A mode
or B mode.

Each time you press the key, A mode or B mode will
be selected alternately, and the corresponding LED
will light.

The selected mode
will light.

2 Rotate the desired knob to control the sound, etc.

A mode controls

In A mode, knobs [1]–[4] will control/edit the follow­ing functions.
Placing the knobs in the center (12 o’clock) position
will produce the values specified by the program
parameters.

When the [SW1] or [SW2] key function is assigned
to JS X & Ribbon Lock, JS+Y & Ribbon Lock, or
JS–Y Ribbon Lock, both locking functions will
apply simultaneously.

After touch

When the [SW1] or [SW2] key function is set to After
Touch Lock, the sound produced by applying pressure

to the keyboard can be held even after the keyboard is
released.

When the [SW1] key is set to After Touch Lock and is
operating as a Toggle switch, the lock function can be
used as described in the following example.

1 After playing a note, apply pressure to the key-

board (after touch). The sound will change.

2 While maintaining the pressure on the keyboard,

press [SW1] (the [SW1] key LED will light).

26

Knob [1]: LPF CUTOFF

Adjust the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter.
When you adjust the cutoff frequency of the filter, the
brightness of the sound will change. The effect will
depend on the settings of the program parameters, but
normally, rotating the knob toward the left will darken
the sound, and rotating it toward the right will
brighten it.

Level

LPF

Frequency

Cutoff
frequency

HighLow

Knob [2]: RESONANCE/HPF

Adjust the resonance level of a low pass filter or the
cutoff frequency of a high pass filter.
The content that is controlled will depend on the filter
type specified by the program.