Question about Protools+Korg M3

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:02 am

Hello I have another question. I wanted to know how can I use my Korg M3 with Pro tools. I checked the help file that was explaining about it but I cant make it work! Maybe its about the connections I made... Im not sure on how to connect my Korg M3 to my Mbox 2 (midi interface needed to run Pro Tools). I also installed the Korg M3 editor. So basically this is how I plugged everything:

My Korg M3 is plugged USB B with the computer.
When I launch Pro Tools, I create a stereo AUX track and I load the Korg M3 editor.
I create for example, a midi track with the channel 1 of the Korg M3 editor.

When I arm record, I can see that Pro tools receive midi from my M3 keyboard, but there is no sound at all.
And when I create for example, an instrumental track with a VST and I hit the M3 keyboard, I can here the sound of that VST and everything is fine.

Please help me with this issue!

Voltan · Post by **Voltan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:07 pm

the USB connection is for MIDI only it does not transmit audio
you need to connect M3's audio outputs to your audio interface to record sound (or get the EXB-FW expansion)

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:17 pm

Thanks Voltan but do you have an issue on how I have to connect my Korg Outputs to the inputs of the Mbox 2? Im not good in connections

I saw on the Korg M3 help manuel that I have to plug it SPDIF with the Mbox 2 is that true?

Voltan · Post by **Voltan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:28 pm

I don't have a Mbox, sorry
SPDIF should be OK

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:56 pm

OK thanks i will post an image of the back of my Mbox 2 so you can see the connections...maybe you will be able to help me with it because im lost! I bought all the jacks possibles and I still cant make it work lol

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:06 pm

ok i found the image. this is the Mbox @ that I have

http://www.ctmsolutions.com/images/prod ... fa30637907

thrinithan · Post by **thrinithan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:12 pm

what is the problem of just connecting stereo analog out from the M3 to the two analog inputs on the Mbox?

If you're going to hook it up with SPDIF then you will need a optical to coaxial converter.

Voltan · Post by **Voltan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:14 pm

ok, looks like it has an RCA connector for SPDIF while M3 uses a optical connection so you can't use SPDIF (at least without some kind of converter, I'm not sure if there are any

)
try connecting the M3'ss analog outs (L & R) to input 1 and input 2 line (TRS)

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:30 pm

Voltan wrote: try connecting the M3'ss analog outs (L & R) to input 1 and input 2 line (TRS)

I did that but there was another problem. In pro tools everything was working fine but when I made a Master track and I was playing on the Korg M3... the master fader didnt move for the Korg M3 instruments. In other words,

When I was making a instrument track with a VST, everything was working fine and the master fader was moving.
When I was playing synths from the Korg M3, the master fader didnt move at all.

Thats a major problem cuz I wont be able to masterize the song! Please help me with this issue.

thrinithan · Post by **thrinithan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:33 pm

Here is two bi-directional converters that would do the trick for you... if you don't want to go analog
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=pro ... f54039be6b
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem. ... GroupCode=

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:36 pm

thrinithan wrote:Here is two bi-directional converters that would do the trick for you... if you don't want to go analog

What do you mean by analog? Is there a way to connect my M3 to my Mbox 2 without going with the SPDIF connection and buy that converter?

thrinithan · Post by **thrinithan** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:41 pm

yes.. the way Voltan described.

But it seems you have problems with that. Sounds weird it won't work because it should...

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:44 pm

hmm I know its weird...like I said when I plug the 2 main outputs of the M3 to Input 1 and Input 2 (TRS) of the Mbox 2 and I open Pro Tools everything works perfectly! Except for the Master fader not recognizing the sounds of the M3...

Twiddler · Post by **Twiddler** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 pm

I don't know anything about ProTools or the Mbox, but my guess is that the "master fader" that you are talking about only controls the output of audio tracks within your sequencing software. The master fader won't have any affect on the M3 output, of course - it shouldn't. I wonder if the audio inputs on the Mbox have a direct link to the "Mon out" (and probably headphones) that has nothing at all to do with what is going on in your sequencing software. Lots of audio interfaces support this feature in order to support latency-free monitoring of whatever you are playing.

Edit: If you record audio from the M3 into ProTools and then play that audio track back within the software does the master fader affect the output of that audio track?

Running the main audio outputs from your M3 to the Line (TRS) inputs on the Mbox is absolutely the right way to connect things. I would suggest reading through your Mbox manual to understand what is going on with your fader issue.

princeali · Post by **princeali** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:35 pm

Twiddler wrote:
Running the main audio outputs from your M3 to the Line (TRS) inputs on the Mbox is absolutely the right way to connect things. I would suggest reading through your Mbox manual to understand what is going on with your fader issue.

Ok now I just connected my 2 main outputs of the M3 to Input 1 and Input 2 (TRS) and right now Im hearing a noisy sound coming out of my monitors. Its a kind of high pitch noisy recording sound do you know what might be the problem? And thanks for the help I will try your hint I think that might be the issue.