I am running my laptop sequencer into my PA800 via USB. This gives me great sound, but my volume has to be controlled before it enters the KB because the master volume slider on the PA800 is the only means of controlling it, and that effects everything else.

It is too cumbersome to adjust volume of laptop on the fly with a mouse. It is not feasable to pre-adjust tracks on the sequence because of changing conditions,

Does anyone know of a simple USB in and out devise with a volume control. I have plenty of options if I chose not to use the PA800 engine, but it is so darned good,
Bernie

Thanks Donny, but I need USB to USB.

Bernie,
The balance slider still controls the volume of the Seq, right? Just slide it more towards the top for lower SMF sound !

Footnote -
You're not actually controlling the laptop at all. The sound source is the Korg.
I find the dual seq so efficient..I think the laptop may just be put into reserve status very soon. Except for weddings or high energy DJ stuff, the on board seq is great.
In a bigger dance setting with lots of confusion and requests...I need the laptop because it shows me more than 100 song titles at once ( in many different genre folders) ....like a jump start for my brain in case of distraction.

Dave
Granted, the dual sequencer is great for most needs, and has it the balance control I was speaking of. However, Like you, there are times I need a laptop for reading notation of less played songs over SMF, and unfamiliar songs where the timing and notation can precisely be read from notation.

The other thing I noticed, is that all keyboards seem to screw up lyrics from time to time, due to the midi or incorrect reading by the KB. Wheras, my MidiIlustrator or Midi Notate will not.

If I can't find a plausable solution to readily controlling USB volume coming into the PA800, I will either slowly build working midi's for the PA800 sequencers, and forget the laptop, or carry my Ketron SD2 module, and run the laptop out of it.

Bernie..... did you try the balance slider? (second from the left)

Have you tried it yourself on incoming Midi, Dave?

I can see that, adding (or subtracting) expression values to sequences that the internal sequencer is sending out, but to do this on external MIDI would involve merging the data together...

It may very well be do-able, but I don't see it as a definite yes...

Yes, that only works for the PA800 sequencers. Only the main volume slider affects the volume of the SMF when streamed into the synth engine via USB.

Sweetwater tech didn't know of a solution other than reducing volume at the laptop.

Thanks to all that tried to help. It is too much trouble when my SD2 has the same sound quality, and a small footprint.

I'll stick to using the built in sequencers and when I use the laptop, I will switch to it.
Bernie

bernie,
my memory may be a bit hazy on this, but i seem to recall you can assign an expression pedal to control only the sequencer (which is what is playing the files),which then leaves the master control for your other playing, and/or you can assign that same function to one or more of the onboard sliders...if you have a PDF manual for the pa, just do a search function within adobe reader for the word assign, or similar it will be there somewhere (in know it could be done on the pa1x, because i did it all the time when using my midis, i used a foot expression controller so i could adjust the live keyboard playing against the midi file)...i would ask the question again on the korg forum at irish acts...
cheers
dennis

YES ! YES! & more YES!!!

Miden
I thought you may have hit it for a moment, but alas,sequencer is not on the list of Assignable Pedal and Slider Assignments. It must have been one of the cuts, present on the flagship models.

Thanks
Bernie

hi bernie,
having thought about it a bit more, if you go to the edit pages you should be able to have the expression pedal set to on/off for the upper 1,2,3 and the lower, which is independent of the sequencer.set your overall volume levels for each of these to say around 120, which gives a bit of "headroom" and then when you decrease the volume of the midi file you will still be able to control the volume level of your "live" sounds...sorry i cannot remember the exact tab presses to get there.
dennis
PS the above assumes you have an expression pedal!

Hi Bernie,
don't know if this well help.

Press
Global
Menu
Controllers
Assign Slider (tab)

Assignable Slider ( a or b, 1or 2 ) whatever suits)

Find " Keyboard Expression " ( it's a couple of settings after the Off setting, I used the data wheel.)

Unlike the Master volume which affects the whole keyboard's volume, midi data & melody sounds

Using the Assignable slider " Keyboard Expression" only affects the Melody voices 1,2,3. (This setting has nothing to do with an expression pedal)

Whether or not you can play loud enough over your midifiles , I don't know, but I can hear myself over my biab songs.

If you're playing melody voice over the top of the midifiles, you may need to check there isn't a conflict of melody midi channel no's & midifile midi channel no's.

As you may have gathered , I finally picked up my PA800. It's brilliant.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bernie9:


[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 10-13-2007).]

agreed, but it still uses controller 11-expression, just via the slider not a pedal, which in bernie's case is just what he wanted, so a good result...glad you like the pa800 rikki, i had mine for about 2 weeks but i wasn't happy with 1.61 keys and 2. too light and "synthy" (to me anyway) keys...apart from that, imo, its the best one out there, probably only to be superseded by the pa2xpro..
cheers
dennis

Hi Dennis,
I do hope it works for Bernie.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply it had nothing
to do with expression, just that it didn't require an actual pedal.

I'm really wrapped in some of the PA800's functions, much more of a workstation compared to my psr & sd. And I luv the pads. They work like they should.

For me the 61 keys isn't a problem, if I need more I can midi it up to my piano, which of cause isn't an option for everyone.

I think I've gotten used to all sorts of keys, I've had everthing from a Disklavier midi acoutic piano to one of those really cheap nasty little 49 note controllers.

The PAX2 sounds like it could be great, hate to see the price though over here.

best wishes
Rikki
[QUOTE]Originally posted by miden:
[B]

I will try the expression pedal later today, but I would still have another problem. I was at a gig, and had to constantly readjust the mic volume to compensate for decrease in master volume.

This problem is really academic in that I plan on side skirting the issue. It is like trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. On the other hand this wonderful KB is so versitile, it probably can be accomplished.

Rikki
Congrats on the new toy. Knowing your delving mind, you will have lots to share. I am glad you like it so far.

Hi Bernie
Using an Assignable slider for " Keyboard Expression" ( as I mentioned above) hopefully won't affect your mic. You're not actually altering your master volume. The slider is using controller 11 , expression, not controller 7 volume.

You move the "assignable slider" to increase or decrease the melody parts.

From what I gather you could even assign the second slider to "Mic in".

If you assigned "keyboard expression" to A1 &" Mic In" to A2 slider , hypathetically you'd be able to control both levels at the same time if needs be. Like having a mixer.

Unfortunately the Mic In function I can't test because I don't own one.

Luv it. The midi specs, Style editing , pad editing etc will keep me occupied for ages.
You were right about the pads, they work flawlessly.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bernie9:
[B]
Rikki
Congrats on the new toy.

absolutely rikki, the original pa1x retailed for near $8000 out here, so i shudder to think what this baby will be!!!!
dennis

bernie,
if you also want to control the mic vol, you have a tab at the bottom of the main screen that allows just that, with a touch screen slider (from memory!!) PLUS you could program a couple of setups with varying starting levels and assign then to a songbook entry....
dennis

Oops, I must have globally written over something. I can't get any sound from the PA800 through midi. When I get a back from my church job, I will look into it.

Try sending the mic out of teh separate outputs...or maybe send the sequences that way ! ( of course, this will only work if you are using an external sopund system )

that would work dave, but the seperate outs are a dry signal, ie no system/insert efx are routed to the alternate outs..

I have loaded some SMF's on the TD and songs in my songbook, and am headed out for a gig tommorrow. This way I won't have any nasty surprises.

Thanks guys and Rikki

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the mic effects will come through the separate outs because they are not linked to any of the 4 processors. The harmonizer has it's own dedicated effects.
Again, I haven't tried it, but that's my take on it.

Hi Bernie,
did you get your midi sorted out??
best wishes
rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bernie9:
[B]

Tonight, I finally got the PA800 playing from my laptop. It turns out that I had to load the driver in, eventhough the port was recognised by my laptop without it before.

Tomorrow, I will try some of the suggestion from Miden, UD, etc.

The sound from the PA800 is worth it.

Bernie glad you got it working the way you want....tell us more.

I,m part way there. I attached the Bose Tonewheel(a small mixer/effects unit optimized for Bose) to the #1 audio in jack of the PA800. I am sending mic and audio. This gives me control of the mic, including voice processor, with more headroom. The audio can be conrolled by the mixer since the feed is from my Echo pcmcia card.

Miden and Rikki

The change from volume to expression on my continuous pedal has allowed me to compensate for less master volume on loud SMF's. It works great.

If I can remember to lower SMF volume to half , on the laptop, I can be with range of relative manueverability. I thought of sending the midi from the PA800 back to another channel on the mixer, but that probably would create a loop since it would go back into the keyboard.

Thanks to all, afterall, we don't live in a perfect world.

Bernie

ADDENDEM

If I reverse the process and run the PA800 into my mixer, and out to my PA system, then I could send an aux out for the SMF. The mic could be plugged into in #1 of the KB instead of out of the mixer in.

Bernie why not Batch NORMALIZE all your SMF?

I didn't think about it. I have also never done it. I'm all ears.

Doesn't the oft-mentioned MidiPlayer software by Michael Bedesem do something like batch normalisation?

Hi Bernie ,
that's great.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bernie9:
[B]
Miden and Rikki

The change from volume to expression on my continuous pedal has allowed me to compensate for less master volume on loud SMF's. It works great.