Korg arangers - Microarranger - looping MIDI?

yakmaniac · Post by **yakmaniac** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:49 am

I just bought a Korg Microarranger and I've heard it's nothing new...just a small version of old Korg arrangers. So here are my questions:

#1. Is it possible to have the microarranger repeat a selected number of measures over & over? Im a guitarist and want to jam over chord progressions so i need it to loop ..preferably seamlessly.

#2. How does one do a factory reset on a Microarranger? Ive seen people post links to a site called korgpa.com but there is no link for the microarranger. The older Korg arranger data is compatible with the microarranger from what i understand,... but the site doesnt say what & where to download it. what do i do once its downloaded? put in on an SD card? how do i load it into the microarranger? i need a step-by-step and that site isnt very helpful at all :-/

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:02 am

Question #1
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I just purchased a KMA also, so I am not confident about my answer.
However, I don't think there is any type of performance loop mode which would allow you to loop indefinitely.

However, you can use the Backing Sequence function to record a song where you play (or input) chord progressions. You could then edit that song in Song mode, and copy a set of measures as many times as you would want to loop. You would be creating a song with a defined number of "loops" instead of indefinite looping.

Question #2
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** THIS IS HOW I THINK THIS WORKS -- I haven't tried it yet **

The included ACCESSORY CD that comes with the microARRANGER includes two folders:
-- \Owner's Manuals (.pdf versions of the KMA Owner's Manual and Quick Start Guide
-- \Restore Data (contains the factory data in a sub-folder named "'\Backup")

See the KMA Owner's Manual page 141. Korg suggests the following process starting on page 141:

1. Use the "Backup Data" command to backup the factory data onto an SD card (which is formatted in the KMA itself)
I assume the output of this step is a folder called \Backup that is created on the SD card

2. Use the SD card you created in Step 1 to restore the factory settings by using the "Restore Data" command

AN ALTERNATE METHOD
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01. On page 140 use the "Format" command to format an SD card in the KMA. Korg states all SD cards must be formatted with the KMA, not with your computer

02. Copy the \Backup folder on the ACCESSORY CD to your formatted SD card (i.e. copy the backup folder to your computer, then from your computer to the SD card)

03. Use the "Restore Data" command on page 141 to restore the factory data.

I am planning on creating a dedicated "KMA Restore" SD Card that only contains the \backup data (the restore data).

SD Cards
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I purchased a number of 4GB cards. Probably overkill in size since the KMA \Backup data folder is only 4MB in size and given the KMA only deals with midi files (or Karaoke and Jukebox).

I was looking at 1GB cards but the 4GB ones I found were about the same price:
$5.49 -- 4GB SDHC Class 10 4GB SD card
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q3R9AQ

yakmaniac · Post by **yakmaniac** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:34 pm

Thanks MartinHines! I got a message from one of the Korg support reps and they said it is possible tod o inifite loops but only if you record your playing on the intro/variation style tracks. That's cool but i was wanting to loop the auto accompaniment, so your solution might work better for me.

ill have to try that factory reset. Whenever i turn on my microarranger the keys are not touch sensative so i have to adjust the velocity every time. it gets annoying

thanks for your help

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:37 am

yakmaniac wrote:ill have to try that factory reset. Whenever i turn on my microarranger the keys are not touch sensative so i have to adjust the velocity every time. it gets annoying thanks for your help

I don't think you need to do a factory reset.

Look at the KMA Owners Manual pag.125 GLOBAL EDIT ENVIRONMENT

If you look under the section "PAGE 1 - GENERAL CONTROLS" you will see a "Vel.Curve (Velocity Curve) parameter.

When you power on the KMA then go to this page is the Vel.Curve set to 1 (no dynamic control)? If so, you must have changed this withtout realizing it.

If you change the value to whatever you want (2 thru 9) the go to the WRITE WINDOW to perform a "WRITE GLOBAL" which will save your global settings in memory.