Korg Kronos combination mode.

[Tom piano]

Having just bought my new Kronos , I'm stuck on the most simplest of things.in combination mode I want to writ a new one.so have the first sound set up, say for instance piano, then strings as second sound. Trouble is, why can't I hear the string sound as well as piano. What do I have to do to here both sounds as I've got volume full up on each sound yet only hear piano.
Have so many combos to write to save into set list for band, need help guys please , what am I missing?

[geoelectro]

Set the MIDI channel of each sound to the global channel.

Geo

[mailman000]

this might help you...

https://youtu.be/5DHwX-kOL0M

since you are new to the kronos try picking a patch that is already in the base list of banks(banks A-D).when you get more used to it then try changing the sounds of different patches and then writing them into the user banks(banks user-A to user-G).this is an awesome mode of the knonos that is tied in with the karma and saves me alot of time in my writing

[Tom piano]

Thanks for that, how.do I set the midi chanmle of each sound to globle?

[Synthee]

Thanks for that, how.do I set the midi chanmle of each sound to globle?

In combination mode, choose"Timbre parameter", then "MIDI", then put the mdidchannels you want to hear to "01G".

[StephenKay]

Thanks for that, how.do I set the midi chanmle of each sound to globle?

In combination mode, choose"Timbre parameter", then "MIDI", then put the mdidchannels you want to hear to "01G".

Actually, to set a timbre to the Global Channel, you set it to "Gch" (which is after channel 16). "01G" means that you have set it to Channel 1, which happens to be what the Global Channel is set to, hence the "G" after the "01". If the Global Channel was something other than 1, then the G would be attached to some other MIDI channel. However, there is an important difference between something like "01G" and "Gch": If the timbres in your combi are set to Gch, and you later change the Global Channel to something else, let's say channel 16, then your combis would still work because they follow the Global Channel. If they were set to "01G", then they would not work and would be silent. In practice, this may not make a difference for most people, but I thought I'd mention it.

[kronoSphere]

Thanks for that Stephen : I have learnt something.

[ronnfigg]

To save yourself some trouble in the future, make a combi template. Take an initialized combi ("Init Combi"), make the Gch assignments and then "write" the combi to a new user location. I generally use 127, so that it doesn't accidently get overwritten. When building a new combi, start with this one and immediately assign it a new name and location and write it. Then start you edits and write when done. for fast writing after editing use the "REC/WRITE" button. It save a few steps.

[KronosPilot]

To save yourself some trouble in the future, make a combi template. Take an initialized combi ("Init Combi"), make the Gch assignments and then "write" the combi to a new user location. I generally use 127, so that it doesn't accidently get overwritten. When building a new combi, start with this one and immediately assign it a new name and location and write it. Then start you edits and write when done. for fast writing after editing use the "REC/WRITE" button. It save a few steps.

Great tip! I work almost exclusively in Combi mode, so this should save me some time in the future. We have about 120 songs in our cover library, so I save each song as a combi, then just create a new Set List for each weekly gig. Only thing I wish is that my notes/lyrics (i.e. Set List "comments") could be attached to the Combi rather than the Set List location, so I don't have to go hunting through prior set lists to find the last time we played a particular song, just to copy/paste the chords/lyrics. Any suggestions?

[KronosPilot]

Thanks for that, how.do I set the midi chanmle of each sound to globle?

In combination mode, choose"Timbre parameter", then "MIDI", then put the mdidchannels you want to hear to "01G".

Actually, to set a timbre to the Global Channel, you set it to "Gch" (which is after channel 16). "01G" means that you have set it to Channel 1, which happens to be what the Global Channel is set to, hence the "G" after the "01". If the Global Channel was something other than 1, then the G would be attached to some other MIDI channel. However, there is an important difference between something like "01G" and "Gch": If the timbres in your combi are set to Gch, and you later change the Global Channel to something else, let's say channel 16, then your combis would still work because they follow the Global Channel. If they were set to "01G", then they would not work and would be silent. In practice, this may not make a difference for most people, but I thought I'd mention it.

Thanks for clearing that up, as I've been using 01G and Gch interchangeably in my Combis, as I never understood the difference and couldn't find the answer via searching the manuals...

[ronnfigg]

To save yourself some trouble in the future, make a combi template. Take an initialized combi ("Init Combi"), make the Gch assignments and then "write" the combi to a new user location. I generally use 127, so that it doesn't accidently get overwritten. When building a new combi, start with this one and immediately assign it a new name and location and write it. Then start you edits and write when done. for fast writing after editing use the "REC/WRITE" button. It save a few steps.

Great tip! I work almost exclusively in Combi mode, so this should save me some time in the future. We have about 120 songs in our cover library, so I save each song as a combi, then just create a new Set List for each weekly gig. Only thing I wish is that my notes/lyrics (i.e. Set List "comments") could be attached to the Combi rather than the Set List location, so I don't have to go hunting through prior set lists to find the last time we played a particular song, just to copy/paste the chords/lyrics. Any suggestions?

I create a unique empty set list and name it "Alpha". Then I add my Combis to the Set List (Page Menu Command). Then I add comments that help me remember what the Combi is all about and even some chord changes. Then I manually put them in alphabetical order and and "Write" the Set List and save it to my PCG. When creating a new Set List load the Alpha list, write it to a new location with a new name and then jockey set list slots in the order you will be using them. Write everything when you are done and save the PCG. It is also a good idea to save the PCG to external media as a backup.

[KronosPilot]

Great, I will try this when I get home. I used MOX Librarian for years with my Yamaha MOX. Great program, made housekeeping a breeze! Do you know if there is anything of the sort for Kronos? Thanks for the great tip!

[ronnfigg]

Google PCG Tools. It's a 3rd party app.

[psionic311]

Have so many combos to write to save into set list for band, need help guys please

Welcome to the forums, Tom. Here a few essential how-to tips related to making combis for cover projects. We'll cover ways of selecting instruments (timbres), EQ, setting up the switches and onscreen pads, assigning MIDI channels for each instrument, transposing them, and splitting them into keyboard zones. I'll group the tips by tabs on the Combi page.

PLAY (tab) => Prog Select/Mixer (tab)
at the top of each channel strip, right underneath the number of the strip:
-- tap the square with the name in it to select sounds by category (brass, bass, etc)
-- under the square, select the name by the arrow to select sounds by bank/program
-- the Play button will toggle to Mute when you press it; you have 2 types of Mutes, one of which will help polyphony for live use (to minimize voice stealing issues); go to GLOBAL mode => Basic lower tab => Basic upper tab => Mute Mode: Live (in lower left area of this screen)
-- when making changes, save often. Save the GLOBAL change by selecting, from the upper right corner, the dropdown box then Write Global.
-- save your Combi as you go. Upper right corner when in COMBI Mode, dropdown, Write Combination.

EQ/Vector/Control (tab) => Timbre EQ (tab)
-- EQ is obvious, but I just want to remind you that +6dB is twice as loud as something at 0dB (be careful about going past +9dB for each instrument)
-- remember that all these boosts will add up, making the whole combination maybe too loud in a specific area, especially if you add low EQ to a lot of the timbres; you might want to use overall compression and limiting in the Total FX (TFX) section; ask if you want more tips on this

EQ/Vector/Control (tab) => Controllers (tab)
This is where you assign the 2 switches on the left by the pitch joystick (JS) to do what you want. Octave up/down assign are here.

EQ/Vector/Control (tab) => Pads (tab)
Here's where you assign the 8 onscreen pads to play one-button chords. Note that you can also assign the pads to respond to MIDI note or CCs, so that you could use an external MIDI device to play the pads. Ask for more details.

Timbre Parameter (tab) => MIDI (tab)
Here's where you set each sound's MIDI channel it will respond to, as you asked in your original post. Your Kronos has one Global channel that is set in GLOBAL mode. The default is MIDI channel 1. Note that the 16 instruments of your combi are by default set so that instrument #1 is set to MIDI channel 1, instrument #2 is set to MIDI channel 2, etc.
-- If you want to layer sounds, and your Kronos is globally set to MIDI channel 1, then change it so that each instrument you want to be layered has its MIDI channel on 1.
-- If you're using an external MIDI keyboard which is, for example, set to MIDI channel 2, and you want that external keyboard to play layered sounds, then set each instrument/timbre you want to sound on that external keyboard all to MIDI channel 2.
-- So if you want a massive 16 layer sound, you would set all 16 instruments/timbres to MIDI channel 1 here. Not advised, as you'll get voice stealing as you hit the polyphony limits. (unless you set up the instruments to respond to restricted keyboard ranges or zones, see below)

Timbre Parameter (tab) => Pitch (tab)
Here's where you transpose the pitch of each instrument. Most often you'll use +12 or -12 (or +24 or -24) to bring a particular instrument up or down an octave or 2 as needed

MIDI Filter/Zones (tab) => Keyboard Zones (tab)
Here's where you restrict an instrument to only respond to certain key areas instead of the whole keyboard (splits). For instance, say you want the bass part on channel 3 to only be played on the lower 2 octaves of your Kronos 61:

1. Bottom Key (highlight the box C-1 in column 3) (touch screen to highlight)
2. Hold the Enter key (which is on the lower right of the number buttons to the right of the physical dial/wheel) while you
3. Play the lowest C keyboard note on your Kronos 61. Release the Enter key.
4. Top Key (highlight the G9 box in column 3)
5. Press and hold the Enter key, and press the top keyboard note you want the bass to play
6. Your bass part on channel 3 will now only sound in the range you just selected using the Enter key + keyboard key.
7. Repeat process on different channels to assign your split zones for the various instruments in your combi.
8. Ignore the Top Slope and Bottom Slope until you get more advanced.

-----

Hope that helps.

-- Don't forget, when you're making your SET LISTS, to save often there as well. You have to independently save any changes to GLOBAL, COMBI, or SET LIST, each using its own dropdown box in the upper right corner.

[psionic311]

Great. I just now noticed after my long post that this is a resurrected thread.

Well, hopefully it will still help someone new to their Kronos...