Newbie

[MartinSt1]

Hi, I am new here with an M3 and Cubase 5. i have experience with very early version of Cubase on the Atari St decades ago. A lot has changed since then... Would be great if somebody could help me on the following questions:

1) what is the best workflow to record midi songs on the m3... A very straightforward step by step description would be highly appreciated (e.g.settings M3 and Cubase)
2) do i set the m3 in sequencer mode or combi? (related to question 1). Do i need to set the programs in sequencer mode on the m3 including effect settings and do I therefore have to save my songfile without keyboard information on the pc and individually sequencer settings on the m3 or can I save EVERYTHING in a file on the pc, i.e. Opening the file and automatically setting all parameters also on the m3? seems complicated to save everything twice...or is this the role of the m3 plug in editor. If not, what is the role of this editor? Simply speaking this is the same question as 1), I am looking for the , most convenoent and most efficient workflow to do midi recording..
3) does anybody out there us hardware and software/vst sounds? If so, is the quality of software sounds better, the same, worse than hardware? Which vst sounds are recommendable and important: what would be the setup to use hard- and software sounds. Currently my monitor speakers are directly connected to my M3. Would I need a mixer or is there another solution?
4) how do I record a finished midi song to mp3/cd?
Thanks so much for your help!!!

[MarPabl]

1) what is the best workflow to record midi songs on the m3... A very straightforward step by step description would be highly appreciated (e.g.settings M3 and Cubase)

I don't use Cubase. However M3 has templates used to control Cubase with the physical controllers of M3. Check External on Control Surface. You need to install, on the computer:
- M3 VST Editor. However I think Cubase uses VST3 (or something like that), so check if M3 can be used with this protocol.
- M3 USB MIDI driver.

You get those files on Korg's page, at the Support section for M3

2) do i set the m3 in sequencer mode or combi? (related to question 1). Do i need to set the programs in sequencer mode on the m3 including effect settings and do I therefore have to save my songfile without keyboard information on the pc and individually sequencer settings on the m3 or can I save EVERYTHING in a file on the pc, i.e. Opening the file and automatically setting all parameters also on the m3? seems complicated to save everything twice...or is this the role of the m3 plug in editor. If not, what is the role of this editor? Simply speaking this is the same question as 1), I am looking for the , most convenoent and most efficient workflow to do midi recording..

You can use any of those modes, but I think SEQ is better for your needs. By using the Page Menu, you can copy Programs or Combis to the tracks of your SEQ. However, you must make sure to correctly map the IFX for the Programs you're using because you'll get up to 5 IFX for all the tracks.

It's better that you also save a SNG file on the M3 to make sure all of your settings will be saved. I don't remember if the M3 Editor allows you to use the SEQ mode, but I think this is unavailable. M3 VST Editor helps you edit Programs and Combis from the computer.

4) how do I record a finished midi song to mp3/cd?
Thanks so much for your help!!!

You can bounce a WAV file directly from the M3. However, I think you're planning to use Me and other VST instruments so you have to build the file on Cubase.

[MartinSt1]

Any other thoughts, especially on my questions 1&2?
Thanks Martin