I repost my question to the M3 forum: 
The idea to trigger or to play what's "in" a PAD with the (left) keys on the keyboard is
something I would like to do, but no luck to find info about that.
I'm wondering if there is a way to do this "assignment" with the M3?
Thanks
[quote]
Sparker wrote:
Yes it is.
To set up the keys go to Global Mode -> Controllers/Scales -> Controllers and in the panel called Midi/CC Assign (at bottom of page) go to the Pads (in blue) and assign the key you want to play a pad in the pad assign box for each key/pad.
I've got a 61 key Kronos and my preference is to assign C1 -> G1 to the eight pads - then in programme mode I can assign SW1 to 'octave down (in Prog Mode -> Common Controllers -> Panel Switch Assign -> SW1 drop down menu. Then I can press SW1 and the bottom 8 keys will play the chords assigned to the 8 pads.
Of course in the Global mode you can assign the Pads to C2 -> G2 and then the bottom 8 keys will play the pads without dropping the octave down, but this will reduce the keyboard range if you don't want to be using the pads while playing.
Also see Page 779 in the Version E4 of the parameter guide.