Connect 2 USB devices simultaneouly (USB-F & USB-R) ?

[NawedKhan]

I have recently bought (upgraded from Pa1x Pro) a brand new Pa2x.

Where is my CD-RW ???

I know your answer.... Use the new USB connection and connect anything your heart desire (Floppy disk, CD Rom, CD RW, Hard Disk, flash memory... etc.)

So on top of what I paid for Pa2x now I have to buy my own devices while in Pa1x Pro/Elite the CD-RW was nicely installed inside the instrument... stylish !!

Ok.. enough complaining. Heading out to buy my own external USB devices and have millions of questions.. I will post only a few here:

1: Is the USB powered? Can I use slim laptop CD-RWs that are powered by USB or I have to buy the big bulky ones with their own power supply? (where am I going to place it... more wires, more stuff to carry)

2: Can I connect 2 devices USB-F and USB-R simultaneuosly? Like external Hard Disk to load MP3s and external CD-RW to play CDs (on request or in kareoke situations where people bring their own) or Burn CDs on the gig.

3: Will Pa2x play Audio CDs off the USB CD-RW like Pa1x does?

Thanks in advance. Feel free to be funny

[Lika]

Hi NawedKhan.

Your questions are very good ...
I have the same questions - but who have to answers us ?

[Rob Sherratt]

1: Is the USB powered? Can I use slim laptop CD-RWs that are powered by USB or I have to buy the big bulky ones with their own power supply? (where am I going to place it... more wires, more stuff to carry)

2: Can I connect 2 devices USB-F and USB-R simultaneuosly? Like external Hard Disk to load MP3s and external CD-RW to play CDs (on request or in kareoke situations where people bring their own) or Burn CDs on the gig.

3: Will Pa2x play Audio CDs off the USB CD-RW like Pa1x does?

Hi NawedKhan,

1) Yes, the USB ports meet USB1 specification which requires power. When you connect a device such as a USB Disk Drive or CD Drive, the manufacturer of that device knows what current can be drawn from a USB1 port, and provides an additional power supply if the device would overload the USB1 port. There are some HD's eg IBM Microdrives that draw low enough current that an additional PSU is not needed. I believe that all USB CD-RW drives on the market need an external PSU. A Pen drive does not require additional PSU and is available up to 8 Gb.

2) Yes you can have two USB devices connected to the two ports at the same time. You can only burn DATA CD's (eg MIDI files and MP3 files) not Audio CD's from the PA2x.

3) No. The CD Audio sequencer mixing functions that were on the Pa1x have not been implemented on the Pa2x which I agree is a shame. However get a CD-RW with an audio output on the front panel, then connect this to the two Line Input jacks on the Pa2x. Look at page 226 of the Pa2x manual. You set L + R to MP3 Rec. You can then record your CD audio to MP3. Save the MP3 files to HD. Yopu can then load the MP3 files to one of the sequencers and play back/ cross fade etc.

[NawedKhan]

Hello Rob,

Thank you for such accurate and detailed reply.

I agree that not able to play CD Audio through the Dual-Player/Sequencer (like Pa1x) is a rather big disappointment.

Do you think this ability can be added in OS updates in future or it is too hardware dependent (requires hardware modification)?

Thanks once again.

[Rob Sherratt]

Hi NawedKhan,

The USB specification contains many optional facilities. One of the options is the support of Digital Audio over USB. I think it is technically possible to add Digital Audio over USB by a software upgrade. It would be a commercial decision if Korg were interested in doing it though. Not for me to comment.