Loading PCM Expansion Boards

In a Karma Music Workstation

The Karma Music Workstation can accommodate up to 2 Triton EXB-PCM expansion boards.  Since the disks that come with the expansion boards are intended originally for use with Triton, directly loading them into Karma will “disconnect” KARMA GE (Generated Effect) information in banks A and B.  This is because the PCG files also contain the full A/B banks of Programs and Combis so they reload Triton data over your KARMA data. This in mind, there is a slightly different procedure required to load these disks into Karma so that everything remains intact. These procedures are covered in this tutorial.

The easiest thing to do would be to download the newly reworked versions of these files from the KORG website. They can be found at http://www.korg.com/service/downloads.asp. The files can be downloaded, placed on a disk and loaded into Karma with no extra steps required. The files also contain a full set of instructions. If you choose to download those files, this document in not needed.

To load an EXB-PCM program disk:

1.    Insert the floppy disk which came with the EXB-PCM board into the disk drive.

2.      Press the DISK button.

3.      Press the F1 key below the display to choose Load.

You will notice that there are 2 PCG (Program, Combination & Global) files on the disk, one marked C_Bank and one marked D_Bank.  This allows you to decide which PCM board’s sounds go into which bank, C or D. For our purposes, we’ll use the C_Bank.PCC file.

4.      With “C_Bank.PCG” highlighted”, press “F8” button, (“Utility” on the screen).

5.      Press the Down Cursor button until “Load Selected” is highlighted.

6.      Press the F8 button ("OK" on screen). A window will appear, asking if you wish to load additional info.

Loading EXB-PCM 03 (Future Loop Construction)

EXBPCM-03 is a little different, because it uses an .SNG (Song) file in addition to the program (.PCG) file.  Remember, this card works through the RPPR (Real-time Pattern Play and Record) feature in the Sequencer mode.  The Program bank will not contain playable sounds, rather, it becomes a sample map that the RPPR patterns can reference.

7.      Using the Value Dial or INC/DEC buttons, check the box next to “Load C_Bank.SNG too”.

If you are loading any other EXB-PCM program disk, step 7 is not required, jump to step 8. Remember, EXB-PCM03 is the only expansion card that also requires the song (.SNG) file, because it is pattern based and uses the RPPR mode in the sequencer to play back those patterns.

8.      Simply press the F8 button once more time, and the loading will commence.

NOTE: If you are loading 2 expansion boards, follow the above steps once again for the second disk, except use the D_Bank.PCG at this point.  

Now, we’ll do the final settings for the Sequencer mode:

1.      Press the SEQ button to enter the Sequencer mode.

2.      Press the down cursor button once to highlight “RPPR”.

3.      Using the value dial or INC/DEC buttons, check the box marked “RPPR”

Play any keys except for the very first C to hear the new drum patterns

To record a new song with RPPR drums just go to a new song (sequence) location, turn on REC and play the keys. As long as RPPR is on (checked) a drum pattern will play for each key that is played. Experiment.

Note: After Karma is turned off, the sounds that have been loaded into the C or D bank will stay.  The songs will need to be loaded again.  Follow the procedure above, but instead of selecting a PCG file, use the down cursor to select the .SNG file that matches the bank that contains the sounds. (i.e if you loaded the PCM03 sounds into bank D, select the D_Bank.SNG file).

RELOADING THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SOUNDS/SONGS 

Now, we need to reload the original preload disk that came with the Karma (KMFD-00P), to ‘fix’ the broken information in A and B.  Note, the preload file does not contain information for banks C and D, so reloading the preload disk will not change the information you have just loaded for the expansion boards.

You should still be in the disk mode, and on the load screen:

1.      Insert the preload disk (KMFD-00P) into the disk drive.

2.      With  “Preload.PCG” highlighted, press “F8” button, (“Utility” on the screen).

3.      Press the down cursor button until “Load Selected” is highlighted.

4.      Press the F8 button ("OK" on screen). A window will appear, asking if you wish 

        to load additional info.

5.      Simply press the F8 button once more time, and the loading will commence.

The loading process is complete.  Enter Program or Combination Mode and you can start to audition your new sounds!