I need some help with MIDI, just copped a microkorg...

I just copped a microkorg a few days ago, I've had plenty of time to mess with it and I'm really enjoying it so far but I've been having a mixup/confusion with midi. Now i've read the manual for the MK and the MPC been through that one front to back. Maybe i need some glasses or something iono. This is my first time really using midi with a keyboard. I do it all the time with my 202 and 404 and never have problems.

I have them set up like this

MPC is still akai os 1.23

MPC midi in (1) - Microkorg Midi Out
Microkorg Midi In - MPC Midi Out (A)

on my main screen
I have it set up like this

type: Midi pgm: off Midi: 1a

then if I press mode + Pad 9 my settings for midi/sync are

Midi-
active track receive channel: all
soft thru: Omni-all
Sequence change by program change : off
Pad to internal sound: ON

sync-
sync in:1 (slave) mode: off receive mmc: off
Sync out:A (Master) mode: Midi Clock receive mmc: off


I have both my mpc and the microkorg connected into a mixer. I can hear the MK perfectly fine when i'm playing around with it. When I try to record Midi notes into the MPC I don't hear any playback from the MK through my monitors. I have the MK's midi channel set to 1 and knob 3 set to external. any help would be appreciated!

why was the thread moved here? I posted it in the 2500 forum because I'm using the machine with a 2500 and I know there are a few other 25 users who have a MK incorporated into their set up.


I figured out what was wrong, it had to do with one of my midi cables being f'd up.

They moved it here because we would help you quicker here then just the fewer users in the 2500 forums that would probably only visit that forum. The midi concept is still the same in most MPC's and other sequencers.

lithion (sp? a forum user here) posted a great youtube vide on the mk and mpc 1000 on hooking it up called a "midi handshake" check it out.

ok i gotta question i just gotta microkorg and i have all my midi cables connected and i'm getting sound on both the pads and the keys .. now that ive layed down a bassline .. how do i switch to the next midi channel on the microkorg .. to lets say .. play a synth . i know on my fantom i just goto the 2nd track .. but on the korg where is the next track/midi channel .. any help would be greatly appreciated

i don't own a microkorg, but i don't think its true multi-timbral (able to play multiple different patches at once).

however, a quick letter to 'dear google' and it's looking like the mk is 2 part multi-timbral in 'dual' mode.

so google around a bit these here forums for how to use the mk in 'dual' mode.

now....take this with a grain of salt cause this is how it works on the ms2000 (the mk's bigger brother)...but there...i have to set up a single patch, and then i can use the two 'layers' to use two voices at once. so the two sounds are actually in the same patch, they are just separate layers. i can then choose different midi channels for each.

a yamaha an1x operates the same way, so i imagine the mk is similar.

Correct, the Microkorg is monotimbral meaning it will only play one midi channel at a time.

If you want multitimbral operation, buy a multitimbral synth, it really is that simple.

poundaproblem wrote:

clint246clint wrote:I had a MK already and sold it. Its not the best synth to use in a small set-up with an MPC especially not being multi-timbral. I didnt like a lot of things about the synth like the small keys, the user interface, the A & B patch selection nonsense, the saving patches nonsense......I could go on.

Some nice sounds, just didnt fit my way of doing things.

Exactly why I got rid of mine. And I picked it up when it first came out.

...or just record your microkorg sequences one at a time as audio tracks into your MPC and then start layering the next sound on top and repeat... you just gotta do the most you can with what you got.

so is there any truth to that 'dual mode' stuff?

edit:
im curious by nature so i looked into it.
you CAN use two 'layers' in a program, and edit them individually. the question is, can you set each of these channels to respond to a different midi channel?
my assumption would be yes, but i dont have one to check on.

MicroKorg is monotimbral. You have to either record your sequence or sample your synth as separate notes if you want to use another sound from it.

xibalba1875 wrote:lithion posted a great youtube vide on the mk and mpc 1000 on hooking it up called a "midi handshake"

really cool video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx5w0BKhphc
thanks for this

m:t:c wrote:MicroKorg is monotimbral. You have to either record your sequence or sample your synth as separate notes if you want to use another sound from it.

yo thanks, and i can confirm this now (never satisfied til i see for myself).

i tried last night on a friends mk to change the midi channel for each layer, and it only would take one value...layer didn't matter.

so no, the microkorg is NOT multi-timbral across different midi channels.

this evening i was in deep concentration to solve a midi problem with the 2000 and the micro:

i was unable to handle program change in the mk while the beat on the mpc is playing
then i've got that the program change field on the main window is exactly what i have to use to change programs on the mk
when i tried to change the patch with the microkorg knobs and buttons it automatically returns at the previous recorded settings and patch

thanks again for those infos