Sending program changes from a Korg M50

[Musicwithharry]

Hello everyone

I have owned the M50 since last year and have put my live show together to support my solo albums. Here is my gear listing and their function in my show:

M50 - main sound source and sequencer for entire show. Every song is programmed in the M50 sequencer and I can create a cue list to go from song to song.
Ensoniq VFX - solo synth on certain songs. This is not MIDIed at all to the rig.
Roland JV-880 - used for a digital piano sound on all songs. I have setup a preset (their version of a Combi), and it always stay on that one Combi.
Roland M/SE-1 - string sound on all songs. This never changes and is the same string sound for all songs.
Ensoniq SQ-R - pad sounds on all songs, bass sounds on certain songs for layering and drums on certain sounds for layering. I have set up presets (their version of a Combi) for each song.
Yamaha TX1-P - Electric piano (Rhodes type) on all songs. This is a single sound that never changes.
Korg X5DR - sound layer support on all songs. I have set up Combis for each song.
Alesis Vortex keytar - MIDI In to the M50 for controlling my custom guitar patch on the M50 for all songs. The Alesis sometimes also controls two other modules (Korg 05R/W and Ensoniq SQ-R/32) for lead sounds. I do not always bring the rack with these two synths though but when I do, I go from the Vortex to the rack and then MIDI Thru to the Korg M50 to control the guitar sound on the M50.

OK......Here is my problem.

I cannot figure out how to send program changes from the M50 in each song to each module for the appropriate sound for each song. Here is what I have to do before I start a new song:

1. Select the next song on the M50.
2. Switch the Ensoniq SQ-R to the right preset that matches the new song on the Korg.
3. Switch the Korg X5DR to the right preset that matches the new song on the M50.
4. Turn the chorus on again on the Yamaha TX1-P because it turns off when I select a new song on the M50.
5. Turn the chorus on again on the Roland JV880 because it turns off when I select a new song on the M50. For this module, it is a matter of just going to the previous preset and then coming back to the one I want.

This means that I cannot use the Cue Lists feature on the M50 to just seamlessly go from song to song. Is there a way to send these program changes to each module?

I really only need to send program changes to the Ensoniq SQ-R and the Korg X5DR. The other synths in the rack do not have program changes and stay on their static sounds for every song.

There is another problem too and it has to do with the Roland JV880 and the Yamaha TX1-P. When I move to a new sequence on the Korg (another song), the chorus turns off on each one and I have to manually turn them back on. With the Roland, it is a matter of just re-choosing that program again (their version of a Combi) and it turns on the chorus again. On the Yamaha I have to hit the Chorus button again to turn it on. I am sure that there is something in the sequence that is resetting things and sending these changes to the synths and these two are the only ones affected.

Can anyone help? If I can solve this, then I can create a cue list for each show and never go behind the rig to make these changes. The only time I would need to go behind the rig is when I physically play the VFX on those songs that require the VFX. I can stay out front with my keytar for nearly the entire show and that would make for a better performance overall.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Grace,
Harry Ebbeson III
www.cdbaby.com/harryebbesoniii1

[Hobson]

The M-50 is very effective at controlling patches on other devices.

Each device must have a unique global midi channel. For example, if your M50 Gch is 1, set the Gch of the Ensoniq to 2, set the Gch of the Korg X5DR to 2, etc.

You must connect the midi out of the M50 to the midi ins of each of the other devices. This is easy if enough of them have a midi thru. In that event, you can run one midi cable from the M50 to device 2 and another midi cable from the midi thru to the midi in of the next device. [Going from the out of device 2 to the in of device 3 won't work.] If you do not have enough midi thrus, you will need to get a midi splitter with enough midi outs to connect to all the devices you want to control.

You must run the M50 in either Combi or Seq mode.

Hit "Page Select" (Menu) and hit P3. One of the 16 Pgms is used for each device to be controlled. [I control two other devices and always use Prm 15 & 16 for this purpose.

Set each controlling track's midi channel to the Gch of the device that track will control.

Set the track Status to Ex2 for all the controlling tracks (instead of "Int," "Off," or "Ext").

You probably won't have to put the MSB or LSB in the Bank Select for the Korg X5, but you likely will for any other brand of device being controlled. You will have to look up the MSB and LSB for those devices and enter those numbers in the Bank Select boxes.

Now, to keep the other devices from sounding when you press the keys on the M50, you need to go to P4 and set the key zone of the controlling tracks so that the range does not include any of the keys the M50 plays. [I always set the top and the bottom of the range to G9.]

Exit the Menu. Select the Prog page which reveals where your controlling tracks are. You will see 000 in the box which normally shows the number of the Program that track is playing (e.g., A000). Enter the number of the patch on the device that you want to be selected.