Korg EX-8000 User manual

PROGRAMMABLE
POLYPHONIC SYNiHE
MODULE
OWNER’S MANUAL
KORG

FEATURES OF THE
1 The EX-8000 is a 2U sized rack-
mountable 8-voice Polyphonrc Syn-
KORG EX-8000
thesizer Module,withabuilt-inDigital
Waveform Generator System (D.W.G.S.).
The DWGS has sixteen digitally encoded
waveforms stored in four 256 kilobit ROM
chips. These waveforms are digitally en-
coded samples of actual acoustic
instru-
. merits‘ recreated by additive synthesis
techniques to enable more realistic
sound synthesis: (The sixteen waveforms
also include simple sawtooth and pulse
waveforms such as “ I’Y , l-7 ” and “ TL ”
which are found in conventional analog
synthesizers.)
The EX-8000 is 2U-sized so it’s rack-
mountable. It saves valuable space
and provides a wide range of sound
synthesis possibilities when used in con-
junction with your MIDI synthesizer.

Thank you and congratulations on your choice of
the KORG EX-8000 Polyphonic Synthe Module.
To obtain optimum performance, please read this
manual carefully before using this synthesizer.
3
Uses two Digital Oscillators, analog
noise generator, and VCF and VCA
modules for sound synthesis. You
can enjoy the uniqueness of digital sound
plus quick and logical sound synthesis as
in analog control.
4
The EX-8000 accepts Initial Touch
(key velocity) and After Touch (chan-
nel pressure) data, so real-time con-
trol of output volume, timbre and pitch
modulation is at your fingertips when
used with a synthesizer featuring these
functions.
5
A programmable digital delay is in-
cluded to store clear stereo effects
(Chorus, Doubling, Short Delay, and
Long Delay) for each of 64 tone colors in
the programmer.
6
Auto Bend is included for more real-
istic synthesis of human voice and
brass sounds.
7
Key Assign mode provides two poly-
phonic modes and two unison
modes, which are effective for play-
ing solo or bass parts or using
Portamen-
to.
8
Built-in Portamento produces a grad-
ual change in pitch from one note to
another.
9
The Key Window function limits the
area on the keyboard which one EX-
8000 controls, from one point on the
keyboard to another.

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
I LOCATION
To avoid malfunction do not use this unit in the following locations for long
periods of time:
0In direct sunlight.
0Exposed to extremes of temperature or humidity.
0In sandy or dusty places.
n POWER SUPPLY
0 Use only with rated AC voltage. If you will be using this unit in a country
having a different voltage, be sure to obtain the proper transformer to
convert to rated voltage.
l To help prevent noise and degraded sound quality, avoid using the
same outlet as other equipment or branching off extension cords shared
by other equipment.
llNPUT/OUTPUT JACKSANDCONNECTIONCORDS
Be sure to use standard “guitar” cables with phone plugs, such as the
cable supplied with this instrument, for input and output connections to the
rear panel of the EX-8000. Never insert any other kind of plug into these
jacks.
n Preventing ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE
As a microprocessor based device, the EX-8000 is extremely flexible in
operation, yet may possibly perform erratically if exposed to electrical in-
terference from other electrical devices and fluorescent lamps. Avoid oper-
ating the EX-8000 near possible sources of interference. If something
seems to be wrong, try turning off the power, waiting about ten seconds,
them turning it back on. This resets the computer circuits to their initial
state so performance should return to normal.
n HANDLE GENTLY
Knobs and switches are designed to provide positive operation with a light
touch. Excessive force may cause damage.
n MAINTENANCE
Wipe the exterior with a soft, dry cloth. Never use,paint thinner, benzene
or other solvents.
l KEEP THIS MANUAL
Store this manual in a safe place for future reference.
n MEMORY BACKUP
l To protect your programmed memory contents, the EX-8000 utilizes a
built-in rechargeable backup battery power supply. Battery life is rated
at five years or more, so replacement is recommended after five years.
Contact your Korg dealer or authorized service center at that time.
OFor maximum security, save your sound programs on tape, using the
built-in tape interface system. Then if memory contents are accidentally
erased or altered, you can simply load the data back into EX-8000 in-
ternal memory in seconds!
-4

CONTENTS
FEATURES &FUNCTIONS
IFRONTPANEL
2 REAR PANEL/BASIC SETUP
SELECTING PROGRAMS
1 PROGRAM NUMBERS
2HOWTOSELECTAPROGRAMNUMBER
BASIC OPERATION
1PARAMETERSANDVALUES
2HOWTOEDlTVALUES
3TUNlNG PROCEDURE
MIDI
1 MIDI PARAMETERS
2KEYWlNDOW
3TRANSMITTED/RECEIVED MIDIDATAANDINDICATORS
4 MIDIJACKS
CREATING SOUNDS
1SOUNDSYNTHESlSTECHNlQUES
2PARAMETERSSTOREDINMEMORY
3WRlTlNGPROGRAMSTOMEMORY
TAPE INTERFACE
1FEATURESANDFUNCTlONSFORCONTROL *
2SAVlNGPROGRAMDATAONTAPE
3VERlFYPROCEDURE
4LOADPROCEDURE
5TAPElNTERFACEPRECAUTlONS
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION
1TRANSMlTTEDDATA
2 RECOGNIZED RECEIVE DATA
3COMMUNlCATlONBETWEEN EX-8000ANDOTHEREQUlPMENT
4 EXAMPLES OFSYSTEM EXCLUSIVE MESSAGES USED IN COMMUNICATING
WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT
5 EX-8000 BIT MAP
RACK-MOUNTING THE EX-8000
SPECIFICATIONS & OPTIONS ’
6
6
a
10
10
10
12
12
12
14
15
15 .)
16
19
:'
20
21
21
21
40
.
43
43
44
46
48
50
51
51
54
56
61
65
69
70
F-

FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
1. FrontPanel
Tape Interface Jack
(lkgh/Low Switch)
Volume
Tune
1
Phones
Tone Switch
Key Assign
(Poly 1: Poly 2: Unison 1: Unison 2)
Tape Switch
Write Switch
Program Switch
Program Write Key
-6

FEATURES&FUNCTIONS
Parameter List
MIDI Indicator
Indicators
Program No.
Parameter No.
Value
Power Switch
Value
(Up/Down)
Number Select
Buttons
l-8
Parameter Switch
Bank Hold Switch

FEATURES & FUNCTIONS
1 .Rear Panel/BasicSetup
AC Cord Receptacle
I
MODEL EX-6000
UUL
AC 1OOV 50/60Hz 6W
lllllllllllllllllllllllll
I
AC cord

FEATURES 81 FUNCTIONS
MIDITerminals: IN, OUT, THRU
OUTPUT
fLow/High Switch, Left/Mono,
kight) -
TO RAlN OR MOISTURE
0

SELECTING PROGRAMS
This explains how to select any of the 64 different sounds stored in the EX-8000’s memory. The PROGRAMMEl
section on the front panel is used for this purpose.
1P n
rogram Numbers
The EX-8000 can be store up to 64 different sound pro-
grams in its” internal memory. Each of these programs
has a number from 11 through 88 (the digits 0 and 9 are
,____----__--___-___-~ I
Writing programs
- ----- - --------------- ~
not used). When you want to store a sound, you must
assign it a program number. When you want to recall
that sound, you select it by the same program number.
; ----
I
----__--c-_- ---_____--_____ ----- ----_ - ------ _I
2.Hovv to Select a Program Number
q Features and Functions for Control
When this switch is activated (and its LED indicator is
on), different programs may be selected using the
NUMBER keys.
Press these keys to specify program numbers, which
range from 11 through 88. Programs are arranged in
eight “banks,” signified by the left digit, with eight
programs per bank, signified by the right digit; 8 x 8
= 64 total programs.
This holds the left “bank” digit so that you can use
single number keys to quickly access any of the eight
program numbers within a single bank.
4
I I
I
13 2
Shows selected program number.

SELECTING PROGRAMS
q How to Select a Program Number
m fyi; sure the PROGRAM switch is set to ON. (LED
Q Press the NUMBER keys to select any program num-
ber (11 - 88).
m How to Select Bank Hold
q Pressing the BANK HOLD switch preserves the left
digit of the selected program number.
q Now if you press any of the NUMBER keys, only the
right digit will change.
q When you want to change to a program number in a
different bank, press the BANK HOLD switch again to
cancel BANK HOLD. You can now enter both digits
using the NUMBER keys.
PROGRAM
p+-.---LED IS ON
Example: To select program number...
3
. ‘,,V . ,
* A dash aooears in
the right hand digit
Press until you select the
second digit. (This
LOAD
means it is waiting
--.
for you to select the
second digit.)
BANK HOLD
..* . . ,
An LED dot lights up to indicate
that the bank number (2) will not
change.
m
[LED dot lights.
Only this digit changes when
you press the number keys.
BANK HOLD
Now press
The LED dot goes out when
BANK HOLD is off.

. Parameters and Values
The various aspects of a sound, such as its pitch, timbre
and variations in volume, are called “Parameters”. To
create or change a sound, you adjust the values of each
of these parameters.
On the EX-8000, there are 49 parameters per program;
each parameter has a number, and each parameter’s
value is also represented by a number. These numbers
are shown on the front panel display. To create or
change a sound, you select parameters and change (or
“Edit”) their values.
When the EX-8000 stores a sound in memory or calls it
back from memory, it is actually storing and recalling
the values you have given it for the sound’s various pa-
rameters. All possible parameters and values are listed
in the “parameter index” chart on the right side of the
EX-8000 front panel. To create or change a sound, you
first use the number keys to select a parameter number,
then you use the edit slider and up/down keys to change
its value.
Parametersfor oscillator 1
OSCl
16’ 8’ 4’
12 WAVEFORM
Value range: 1 -
16
.How toEditValues
q Features and Functions for Control
Shows selected parameter number.
Shows current VALUE for selected parameter.
This holds the Parameter Number’s left digit, so that
the NUMBER keys can be used to select only the
right digit. This can speed up Parameter Number se-
lection when you are working on several parameters
within the same “family” (that is, having the same left
digit).
When this switch is on, you can create and modify
sounds by selecting different parameters (using the
NUMBER keys) and varying their VALUE
S (using the
EDIT slider and/or DOWN/UP buttons).
Permits rapid and easy adjustment of parameter
VALUES (aspects of the sound) over a wide range.
These keys are used to select different Parameter
Numbers (when the parameter switch is on).
Press to change parameter values up or down a step at
a time.

q How to Edit Values
0 Press the PARAMETER switch so that its LED lights
up.
PARAMETERS
p+-LEO is on
@I Refer to the parameter index chart to find the number
of the parameter that you want to change. Press the
number keys to select the desired parameter.
Example: Selecting VCF CUTOFF frequency.... This is parameter number
31, so....
3
A dash in the right
1
Press
TAPE) SAVE
.
When the BANK HOLD switch is pressed, the left dig-
it is locked; then, you can change the right digit by us-
ing the NUMBER keys.
q Use the Edit control or Up/Down buttons to change
the parameter’s value. Suggestion: Use the Edit to
make large changes in value, then use the Up/Down
keys to “fine tune” the sound. (VALUE display)
The LED dot in the corner of the VALUE display indi-
cates that the value of the currently selected parame-
ter has been changed. The dot goes out if the return
to its original value.
If you want to return to the original value of a parame-
~ ter, just press both UP/DOWN keys at the same time.
0 Repeat steps Band Ofor each parameter that needs
to be changed.
To store your new sounds in memory, follow the oper-
ation procedures described in “WRITING PRO-
GRAMS TO MEMORY” on page 40.
I
VALUE EDITOR
I
DOWN UP
v A
press :;;!I’;:-‘;
m m simultaneously.

BASIC OPERATION
$.Tuning Procedure
q Features and Functions for Control
This controls the EX-8000’s tuning. Turning it to their
right raises the pitch, and turning it left lowers pitch.
1
Pushing this key causes the EX-8000 to produce an
A4 tone. This is the same as playing a 4th octave A
note on the master keyboard. (A standard 440Hz tone
2
will not be produced.)
q Tuning the EX-8000
0 Push the Tone Key. The EX-8000 will produce an A4
tone. (Be sure that volume control is not at
“0” as the
tone will not be audible in this case.)
l Tune to other instruments or to “A” on a strobe tuner
by turning Tuning Control while holding down Tone
Key.
I
I
TUNE
b tI
A4
@Tone will stop when Tone Key is released.

MIDI
1 .MIDI Parameters
The EX-8000 operates according to MIDI data transmitted from external sources. In order to receive
this external data, it is necessary to make sure that the EX-8000 Receive channel is the same as the
transmitting channel. It is also necessary to set the EX-8000’s Key Window function. If this is not
done correctly, proper operation will be impossible. Care must be taken in setting MIDI-related pa-
rameters.
The following parameters are MIDI-related.
q
CH (DATA RECEIVE CHANNEL)
__
VALUE 1
DATARECEIVECHANNEL
This parameter is used to select a channel for data re-
ceive. At power-ON, the data receive channel is set for
that previously selected.
:
CH-1
II
: !5
I
CH-16
q
ENA (Kind of Data Received)
This selects which kinds of received MIDI data the
VALUE
Kind of Data Received
EX-8000 will receive. At value 1 (NOTE DATA), the
EX-8000 receives only “note data.” At value 2 (All), it re-
ceives all MIDI data specified in the EX-8000 MIDI speci-
fications (implementation notes.)
For example, if you don’t want program numbers to be
changed by some external device through MIDI, then
set this value to
1.
:
(NOTE DATA)
NOTE ON/NOTE OFF
1:
VW
All data
The most recently selected ENABLE value is retained
when power is turned on and off.

MIDI
li!ill
OMNI
VALUE
OMNI MODE
When Omni is turned on, previous data is stored in the
memory. However, Omni
mode can also be turned on
and off from the controlling (sending) device. When
Omni mode is off, then the EX-8000 receives MIDI data
sent only on the MIDI channel specified by parameter
84. The most recently selected Omni Mode value is re-
tained when power is turned on and off.
2
OFF
ON
:
l.Key Window
The EX-8000’s pitch range is shown below. At maximum, this range is Cl-C8.
The Key Window Function limits the areas on the key-
board which one EX-8000 controls, from one point
on the keyboard to another.
fl Example of Key Window
EX-8000 (B) con-
trols this range
C8
n In this example, multiple EX-8000s are used. This is
HWhen one EX-8000 is used in conjunction with a MIDI
an example of keyboard splitting. By changing the
sound parameters of each EX-8000, sound utilization
synthesizer, EX-8000 sounds (for example Bass
possibilities are expanded, and can be controlled by
sounds) can be added on to the synthesizer’s own
one master keyboard.
sounds, within the range on the keyboard controlled
by the EX-8000.

MIDI
8 Parameters Related to Key Window (These 2 parameters are not displayed on panel.)
, q
’
KEY WINDOW BOTTOM
VALUE POINT
This parameter sets the low-end range. This can be set
in half-steps. The most recently selected point’s value is
retained when power is turned on and off.
q
KEY WINDOW TOP
VALUE
I
POINT
Note: When the Key Window Bottom is set to Cl, notes lower than note
23 will be registered as the same note in octave 24-35.
This parameter sets the high-end range. This can be set
in half-steps. The most recently selected point’s value is
retained when power is turned on and off.
High C
I
Note: When the Key Window Top is set to CB, notes higher than note 1013
will be registered as the same note in octave 97-108.
n When the values of parameters 87 and 88 are
changed by half-steps, the sharps (1) are shown by a
decimal point on the display: Cl - C.l - dl - d.1 Flats
( b ) are not shown.
When editing, value can be approximated by using
the Edit Control (Edit Control changes notes in major
thirds-Cl
-El -G # 1 -C2), and set exactly by push-
ing the Up/Down keys.

MIDI
Eil Relationship Between Key Bottom and Key Top
These parameters can be set anywhere throughout
the 85 notes on the keyboard, however there are 2
particular relationships which are possible.
H When Key Bottom is set lower than Key Top.
Plays these notes
n When Key Boltom isse! higher than Key Top.
Plays these notes
* However, when this setting is used, note data other than that set in
EX-BOO0 is cancelled even if it is received.

MIDI
3 .Transmitted/Received
MIDI Data and MIDI Indicators
0 Received MIDIData
W Note OFF
n Note ON
n Control change:
No. 1 OSC modulation
No. 2 VCF modulation
No. 7 Vdlume
No. 64 Damper pedal on/off
No. 65 Portamento on/off
HProgram change
n Channel pressure (After Touch)
W Pitch bender change
n All notes OFF
n Omni MODE OFF
n Omni MODE ON
n Active sensing
H System exclusive information
q Transmitted MIDI Data
n Program Change
Wystem ExclusiveMessages
q MIDI indicator
The MIDI indicator lights when the above MIDI data is
received. When it is not properly received the indicat or
does not light, so verification is simple.

MIDI
4.MIDI Jacks
D
Receives MIDI data.
THRU
Rear Panel
MIDI
OUT
IN
MIDI OUT is used only when transmitting internal
MIDI data to external MIDI equipment, so it is not nor-
mally used. (Does not transmit program change data,
I I I
MIDI, THRU MIDI OUT MIDI IN
etc.)
Retransmits unchanged MIDI data received through
the MIDI IN Jack.
i
q Resetting MIDI
If the EX-8000 is being used in a MIDI connected sys-
tem and starts producing erratic results (making a
continuous sound, going out of tune, producing errat-
ic modulation, etc.) press the front panel WRITE key.
This resets the circuitry. However, if the write switch
is set to ENABLE, the WRITE made is effected. Push
the WRITE key after setting to DISABLE.
WRITE
Press