Korg PA Series User manual

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Pa-Series | External Controllers
1E
Connecting
an external
controller
Pa-Series

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Preliminary notice

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Contents
Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller...........3
Connecting the controller............................................4
Connection through the USB HOST port .........................................4
Connection through the MIDI ports .............................................5
Setting the MIDI channels............................................6
Programming the master controller .............................................6
Programming the Pa-Series instrument .........................................6
Some examples of external controller connections .....................8
Connecting a master controller to replace the internal keyboard ...................8
Connecting an external keyboard to control a single Sound.......................10
Connecting an external control surface to mix the Sounds........................13
Connecting an external controller with pads to play percussive sounds or
special effects ...............................................................19
Connecting an external controller with pads to send chords to the arranger....... 23
Connecting an external controller with an X/Y pad to control sound parameters ... 26
Connecting a studio controller to send more controls at the same time ........... 29
Connecting a breath controller ............................................... 35

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Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |3
Connecting a Pa-Series
instrument to an external
controller
The world of KORG Pa-Series instruments is open to any kind of configura-
tion. You can control Pa-Series instrument with an external controller, like
a KORG synthesizer, a controller of the KORG nano series, a mute master
keyboard, a digital piano, or a breath controller.
These devices allow to replace the internal keyboard with an external one.
Also, they allow for adding new controls to play some of the sounds while still
using the internal keyboard for the other sounds. Furthermore, they allow
for easier mixing, or to play percussions and special effects.
This manual will show some examples based on a few selected devices.
These are only to be intended as examples. Since the Pa-Series instruments
can be freely and deeply programmed by the user, you can adapt them to a
plethora of different situations.
For a general introduction to the MIDI system, please check the relevant
chapter in the User Manual.

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Connecting the controller
Connection through the USB HOST port
If your controller has an USB port, you can use it to connect it to Pa-Series
instrument.
▪Connect the USB HOST port (Type-A) of the Pa-Series instrument to the
USB port of the master controller (Type-B, sometimes named TO HOST or
DEVICE).
Pa-Series USB HOST
(Type-A connector)
External controller USB TO HOST / DEVICE
(Type-B connector)
USB HOST USB (TO HOST)

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |5
Connection through the MIDI ports
If your controller has a MIDI interface, you can use it to connect it to the Pa-
Series instrument.
▪Connect the MIDI OUT port of the master controller to the MIDI IN port of
the Pa-Series instrument.
Pa-Series MIDI IN External controller MIDI OUT
MIDI IN MIDI OUT

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Setting the MIDI channels
Programming the master controller
Match the MIDI channel(s) on which the master controller will send data with
those on which the Pa-Series instrument will receive data.
1 On the master controller, set the MIDI channel(s) on which data will be trans-
mitted. Usually, channel 1 is the default setting (when only a single channel
is transmitted).
2 If the master controller also includes a sound generator, lower its master vol-
ume to zero, to avoid hearing its own sounds. If you want to layer the sounds
of the master controller and the Pa-Series instruments, increase the volume.
As an alternative, you can set it to the Local Off status, to only allow it to play
via MIDI the sounds of the Pa-Series instrument, and not its own.
Please, read the manual of the master controller for instructions on how to
set the various parameters.
Programming the Pa-Series instrument
Configure the MIDI channels on the Pa-Series instrument.
1 Go to the Global > MIDI pages.
2 Either choose a MIDI Preset, or manually program the MIDI IN channels.
▪If a MIDI Preset matching your type of connection exists, go to the Global
> MIDI > General Controls page and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to
choose the MIDI Preset.

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |7
▪If no MIDI Preset matches your type of connection, go to the Global > MIDI >
MIDI IN Channel page and set the MIDI channels to match the incoming data.
You can start from an existing MIDI Preset with some of the programming
already set to your needs.
3 After having set the MIDI channels, you can save the new configuration into
a new MIDI Preset, by choosing the Write Midi Preset command from the
page menu.

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Some examples of external controller
connections
Connecting a master controller to replace the internal
keyboard
A master controller can be, for example, an 88-key master keyboard with-
out a sound generator, a digital piano, or a synthesizer. You can use it as a
replacement of the internal keyboard, in case you prefer to control all your
setup from a single keyboard.
Connect the devices
1 Connect the USB (TO HOST or DEVICE) or MIDI OUT port of the master con-
troller to the USB HOST or MIDI IN port of the Pa-Series instrument.
USB (TO HOST/DEVICE) / MIDI OUT
USB HOST / MIDI IN
Configure the master controller
2 In the master controller, set the MIDI channel on which data will be transmit-
ted to channel 1. This is usually the default setting.
3 If the master controller also includes a sound generator, lower its master vol-
ume to zero, to avoid hearing its own sounds. If you want to layer the sounds
of the master controller and the Pa-Series instruments, increase the volume.

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |9
As an alternative, you can set it to the Local Off status, to only allow it to play
via MIDI the sounds of the Pa-Series instrument, and not its own.
Configure the Pa-Series instrument
4 In the Pa-Series instrument, go to the Global > MIDI > General Controls page,
and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to choose the Master Kbd MIDI Preset.
You can go to the Global > MIDI > MIDI IN Channel page to see how MIDI
channels for the Keyboard Sounds are programmed.
MIDI IN Channel Keyboard Sound
Ch01 Global (Upper 1-3, Lower Sounds)
This setup will let the external keyboard, transmitting on MIDI channel 1, play
all the Sounds on the keyboard.
Play
5 Play the master controller. Notes played on it will be considered as if they
were generated by the internal keyboard and controllers of the Pa-Series
instrument.

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Connecting an external keyboard to control a single Sound
You can use an external keyboard, for example a master keyboard, a syn-
thesizer, or one of the KORG microKEY or nanoKEY models, as a secondary
keyboard to play one of the Upper Sounds (for example, Upper 3), while still
using the internal keyboard to play the other Sounds.
Configure the external keyboard
1 Be sure the external keyboard is sending data on MIDI channel 1. This is usu-
ally the default setting.
With the KORG microKEY, nanoKEY and devices of the same series, you can
choose a different MIDI channel by using the KORG KONTROL Editor soft-
ware, that you can freely download from our web site.
Connect the devices
2 Connect the USB or MIDI OUT port of the external keyboard to the USB
HOST or MIDI IN port of the Pa-Series instrument. Be sure the external key-
board’s USB port is enabled.
USB HOST USB
(TO HOST/DEVICE)
MIDI IN MIDI OUT

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |11
Configure the Pa-Series instrument
3 In the Pa-Series instrument, go to the Global > MIDI > General Controls page,
and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to choose the Key Control MIDI Preset.
You can go to the Global > MIDI > MIDI IN Channel page to see how the MIDI
channel for the Upper 3 Sound is programmed.
MIDI IN Channel Keyboard Sound
Ch01 Upper 3
This setup will let the external keyboard, transmitting on MIDI channel 1, play
the Upper 3 Sound. The internal keyboard will still play the Upper and Lower
Sounds that are not set in mute.
Also, you can go to the Global > MIDI > MIDI IN Controls page, and see how
the Track Mute Active parameter has been deselected. This will let you play
from an external keyboard any Sound that is set in mute in the Pa-Series
instrument.
4 Program some Keyboard Sets, with the Upper 1 and 2 Sounds meant for play-
ing from the integrated keyboard, and the Upper 3 Sound (set in mute) meant
for playing with the external keyboard. Don’t forget to Write it to memory.

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Play
5 When you want, play the Upper 3 Sound on the external keyboard. You can
still play the other Upper (1 and 2) Sounds and the Lower Sound on the in-
ternal keyboard.
internal keyboard
internal keyboard

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |13
Connecting an external control surface to mix the Sounds
You can use an external control surface, for example a KORG nanoKONTROL,
nanoKONTROL Studio or a KORG taktile, to mix the Sounds live, as you would
do with a stage mixer when playing acoustic instruments.
Configure the external control surface
1 Program the external control surface to match the parameters you want to
control in the Pa-Series instrument.
Make each slider and/or knob of the external control surface send data on
separate MIDI channels, according to the programming suggested below. For
example, make the sliders send Control Change #07 (Channel Volume) mes-
sages, and the knobs send Control Change #10 (Pan) messages.
With devices like the KORG controllers cited above, program the sliders and
knobs by using the KORG KONTROL Editor software, that you can freely
download from our web site.
Devices like the KORG nanoKONTROL Studio allow for saving programming
to different Scenes, to be recalled when needed. In the following examples,
we will program two Scenes to control (1) Keyboard Sounds and Pads, and
(2) Accompaniment Sounds. With a Song, we will control two groups of eight
tracks with each Scene.

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In the following images, you can see how nanoKONTROL Studio sliders are
programmed in the KORG KONTROL Editor for the first Scene, sending data
on MIDI channels 1-8.
Scene 1: MIDI channels 1-8 Scene 1: CC numbers (CC#7)
In the following images, you can see how sliders are programmed for the
second Scene, sending data on MIDI channels 9-16.
Scene 2: MIDI channels 9-16 Scene 2: CC numbers (CC#7)
You can program the knobs in the same way. Here is an example of the Pan
messages assigned to the eight knobs of a Scene:
Scene 1/2: CC numbers (CC#10)
After having programmed these two Scenes, save them in the nanoKON-
TROL Studio’s memory.
Connect the devices
2 Connect the USB or MIDI OUT port of the external control surface to the
USB HOST or MIDI IN port of the Pa-Series instrument. Be sure the external
controller’s USB port is enabled.
USB HOST USB
(TO HOST/DEVICE)
MIDI IN MIDI OUT

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |15
Configure the Pa-Series instrument
3 In the Pa-Series instrument, go to the Global > MIDI > General Controls page,
and use the Midi Preset pop-up menu to choose a MIDI Preset.
When working with the Styles…
When working with the Styles, choose the Mix Control Preset.
With this preset, Keyboard Sounds and Pads are assigned to MIDI channels
1-8 (Scene 1), and the Accompaniment Sounds to MIDI channels 9-16 (Scene
2). You can go to the Global > MIDI > MIDI IN Channel page to see how MIDI
channels are programmed.
SCENE 1 (Keyboard/Pads) SCENE 2 (Accompaniment)
MIDI IN Channel Sound/Track MIDI IN Channel Sound/Track
Ch01 Pad 1 Ch09 Drum
Ch02 Pad 2 Ch10 Percussion
Ch03 Pad 3 Ch11 Bass
Ch04 Pad 4 Ch12 Acc 1
Ch05 Lower Ch13 Acc 2
Ch06 Upper 3 Ch14 Acc 3
Ch07 Upper 2 Ch15 Acc 4
Ch08 Upper 1 Ch16 Acc 5

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Scene 1 (MIDI channels 1-8):
05
01 02 03 04
06 07 08
Scene 2 (MIDI channels 9-16):
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Connecting a Pa-Series instrument to an external controller |17
When working with the MIDI Songs…
When working with MIDI Songs, choose the Player 1 or Player 2 Preset
(where available). If you instrument features two Players, the external con-
troller will only control the one selected in the MIDI Preset.
With one of the presets, each slider will match the corresponding MIDI chan-
nel. Song Tracks 1-8 will be Scene 1, Song Tracks 9-16 will be Scene 2.
SCENE 1 (Song Tracks 1-8) SCENE 2 (Song Tracks 9-16)
MIDI IN Channel Sound/Track MIDI IN Channel Sound/Track
Ch01 Player Track 1 Ch09 Player Track 9
Ch02 Player Track 2 Ch10 Player Track 10
Ch03 Player Track 3 Ch11 Player Track 11
Ch04 Player Track 4 Ch12 Player Track 12
Ch05 Player Track 5 Ch13 Player Track 13
Ch06 Player Track 6 Ch14 Player Track 14
Ch07 Player Track 7 Ch15 Player Track 15
Ch08 Player Track 8 Ch16 Player Track 16

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Scene 1 (MIDI channels 1-8):
0501 02 03 04 06 07 08
Scene 2 (MIDI channels 9-16):
1309 10 11 12 14 15 16
Play
4 When you want to mix the Sounds on the Pa-Series instrument, select the
Scene of the external controller corresponding to the group of Sounds to be
mixed, and move the sliders and/or knobs on the control surface.
If you like, you can create your own set of sounds to be controlled, by mix-
ing and matching the different MIDI channels. This is especially useful when
using a controller with no memorizable Scenes (like our nanoKONTROL2).