USER'S

MANUAL

ENGLISH
Ver. 1.0

E 1
Instructions pertaining to a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING — When using electrical products, basic pre- THE FCC REGULATION WARNING (FOR THE
cautions should be followed, including the following:
U.S.A. AND CANADA ONLY)
Location. Using the unit in the following locations can
result in a malfunction. This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
• In direct sunlight
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
• Locations of extreme temperature or humidity provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-
• Excessively dusty or dirty locations ence in a residential installation. This equipment gener-
• Locations of excessive vibration ates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and,
Power supply. Please connect the designated AC adapter if not installed and used in accordance with the instruc-
to an AC outlet of the correct voltage. Do not connect it to tions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu-
an AC outlet of voltage other than that for which your unit nications. However, there is no guarantee that
is intended. interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to
Interference with other electrical devices. This prod- radio or television reception, which can be determined
uct contains a microcomputer. Radios and televisions by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
placed nearby may experience reception interference. encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
Operate this unit at a suitable distance from radios and more of the following measures:
televisions.
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Handling. To avoid breakage, do not apply excessive force • Increase the separation between the equipment and
to the switches or controls. receiver.
Care. If the exterior becomes dirty, wipe it with a clean, • Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit
dry cloth. Do not use liquid cleaners such as benzene or different from that to which the receiver is con-
thinner, or cleaning compounds or flammable polishes. nected.
Keep this manual. After reading this manual, please • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV tech-
keep it for later reference. nician for help.
Keeping foreign matter out of your equipment. Unauthorized changes or modification to this system
• Never set any container with liquid in it near this can void theuser's authority to operate this equipment.
equipment. if liquid gets into the equipment, it could
cause a breakdown, fire, or electrical shock.
• Be careful not to let metal objects get into the equip-
ment. If something does slip into the equipment,
unplug the AC adapter from the wall outlet. Then
contact your nearest Korg dealer or the store where
the equipment was purchased.

KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS

CLEAN ONLY WITH A DRY CLOTH
 NOTICE REGARDING DISPOSAL (EU ONLY)
When this “crossed-out wheeled bin” symbol is displayed on the product, owner’s manual, battery, or battery package, it signifies
that when you wish to dispose of this product, manual, package or battery you must do so in an approved manner. Do not dis-
card this product, manual, package or battery along with ordinary household waste. Disposing in the correct manner will pre-
vent harm to human health and potential damage to the environment. Since the correct method of disposal will depend on the
applicable laws and regulations in your locality, please contact your local administrative body for details. If the battery contains
heavy metals in excess of the regulated amount, a chemical symbol is displayed below the “crossed-out wheeled bin” symbol on
the battery or battery package.

DATA HANDLING and the contents of the instruction manual - the specifica-
tions being subject to change without prior notice.
Data in memory may sometimes be lost due to incorrect user
action. Be sure to save important data to card. KORG will not
be responsible for damages caused by data loss. LIABILITY
KORG products are manufactured under strict specifica-
LCD DISPLAY tions and voltages required by each country. These prod-
ucts are warranted by the KORG distributor only in each
Some pages of the manuals show LCD screens along with
country. Any KORG product not sold with a warranty
an explanation of functions and operations. All sound
card or carrying a serial number disqualifies the product
names, parameter names, and values are merely examples
sold from the manufacturer's/distributor's warranty and
and may not always match the actual display you are
liability. This requirement is for your own protection and
working on.
safety.

TRADEMARKS SERVICE AND USER’S ASSISTANCE

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer,
For service, please contact your nearest Authorized KORG
Inc. MS-DOS and Windows are registered trademarks of
Service Center. For more information on KORG products,
Microsoft Corporation. All trademarks or registered
and to find software and accessories for your keyboard,
trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
please contact your local Authorized KORG distributor.

DISCLAIMER PA50SD ON THE WEB

The information contained in this manual have been care-
For up-to-date information, please, point your web
fully revised and checked through. Due to our constant
browser to http://www.korgpa.com.
efforts to improve our products, the specifications might
differ to those in the manual. KORG is not responsible for
any eventual differences found between the specifications Copyright © 2009 KORG Italy Spa. Printed in China.
 THE BALANCE SLIDER
When turning the instrument on, please be assured the BALANCE slider is set to
the center. This sets both Sequencer 1 (SEQ1) and Sequencer 2 (SEQ2) to their
maximum level. This will avoid you start a Song without hearing anything.
 3

HOW TO…
Keyboard Song Play mode
…select a Sound Program 26 …play a Song (Standard MIDI File) 27
…select a Performance 25 …see the Lyrics 74
…play a Sound Program across the …see the Song tracks 73
whole keyboard, as with a piano 24 …start both Sequencers at the same time 18, 79
…split the keyboard in two 24
…add sounds to the right hand 24 Backing Sequence mode
…mute/unmute sounds 24 …record a new Backing Sequence (Song) 82

Style Play mode Song mode

…select a Style 26 …record a new Song 91
…start/stop the Style 29 …edit a Standard MIDI File 88
…select a Fill or a Break 29
…select a Style Variation 30 In general
…see the Style tracks 41 …turn the speakers off 125
…create a new Style 52 …change the Damper polarity 126
…select the Arabic Scale 34
4

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction The Chord 1 and Chord 2 channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
The Control channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Welcome! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Live Performing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Connecting Pa50SD to a Master keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Useful links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Connecting the Pa50SD to a MIDI accordion . . . . . . . . . . .37
About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Connecting the Pa50SD to an external sequencer . . . . . . . .37
Making a backup copy of system files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Playing another instrument with the Pa50SD . . . . . . . . . . .38
Loading the operating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Reloading the Factory Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Reference Guide
Start up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Connecting the AC power adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Style Play operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Turning the instrument on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 What’s a Style? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Controlling the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Styles and Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
The BALANCE slider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Changing and resetting the Tempo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The DIRECT SD bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Audio Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Main page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Audio Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Style tracks page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
MIDI connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 How to select Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Damper Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Write window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Demo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
The music stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Edit page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Page 1 - Mixer: Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Page 2 - Mixer: Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Display and User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Page 3 - Mixer: FX Send . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Display controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Page 4 - Tuning: Detune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Interface structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Page 5 - Tuning: Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Message windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Page 6 - Tuning: PitchBend Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Symbols and Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Page 7 - FX: A/B Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Grayed-out non-available parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Page 8 - FX: C/D Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Page 9 - FX: A editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Page 10 - FX: B editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Page 11 - FX: C editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Basic Guide Page 12 - FX: D editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Page 13 - Track: Easy edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Basic operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Page 14 - Track: Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Playing on the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Page 15 - Track: Internal/External . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Selecting, muting/unmuting and soloing a track . . . . . . . . 24 Page 16 - R.T. controls: Damper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Selecting a Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Page 17 - R.T. controls: Joystick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Selecting a Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Page 18 - R.T. controls: Dynamic range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Selecting a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Page 19 - R.T. controls: Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Selecting a Single Touch Setting (STS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Page 20 - Style controls: Drum/Fill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Changing all keyboard tracks at once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Page 21 - Style controls: Wrap Around / Keyboard
Playing a Song from a card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Shortcut to see the original bank for a Style, Page 22 - Pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Performance or Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Page 23 - Preferences: Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Tutorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Page 24 - Preferences: controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
1 - Playing in realtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Style Record mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
2 - Playing a Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Style’s structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
3 - Playing a Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Style Import/Export . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
4 - Recording a Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Entering the Record mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
5 - Editing a Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Listening to the Style while in Record/Edit mode . . . . . . . .53
6 - The Arabic Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Exit and Save/Abort Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The Write window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
What is MIDI? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 List of recorded events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Midifiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Fast Delete using the control panel buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
The General MIDI standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Main page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
The Global channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Style Tracks page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
 5

Step Record page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Load Song page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Style Record procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Save Song page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Realtime Recording page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Edit page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Chord/Acc Step Recording page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Page 1 - Edit: Quantize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 How to delete a whole Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Page 2 - Edit: Transpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Song operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Page 3 - Edit: Velocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Transport controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Page 4 - Event Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Master Volume and Sequencer Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Page 5 - Event Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
The Songs and the Standard MIDI File format . . . . . . . . . .88
Event Edit procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Fast track deletion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Page 6 - Edit: Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to delete a whole Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Page 7 - Edit: Delete All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Main page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Page 8 - Edit: Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Tracks 1-8 page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Page 9 - Style Element Controls: Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Tracks 9-16 page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Page 10 - Style Element Controls: Expression . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Song Select page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Page 11 - Style Element Controls: Keyboard Range . . . . . . 68
Save Song page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Page 12 - Style Element Controls: Chord Variation
Realtime Record procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Step Record procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Page 13 - Style Controls: Mode/Tension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Song Record page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Song Play operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Step Record page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
The Songs and the Standard MIDI File format . . . . . . . . . . 70 Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Transport controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Edit page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
MIDI Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Page 1 - Mixer: Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Switching between sequencers during editing . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Page 2 - Mixer: Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Selecting a Song composing its progressive number . . . . . 70 Page 3 - Mixer: FX Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Realtime and sequencer tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Page 4 - Mixer: FX Send A/B (or C/D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Master Volume, Sequencer Volume, BALANCE . . . . . . . . 71 Page 5 - Tuning: Detune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Effects in Song Play mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Page 6 - Tuning: Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Groove Quantize window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Page 7 - Tuning: PitchBend/Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
The Write window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Page 8 - FX: A/B Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Main page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Page 9 - FX: C/D Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Tracks 1-8 page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Page 10 - FX: A editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Tracks 9-16 page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Page 11 - FX: B editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Song Select page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Page 12 - FX: C editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
The Lyrics page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Page 13 - FX: D editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Playing a Jukebox file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Page 14 - Track: Easy edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Page 15 - Track: Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Edit page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Page 16 - Track: Internal/External . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
Page 1 - Mixer: Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Page 17 - Edit: Quantize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Page 2 - Mixer: Pan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Page 18 - Edit: Transpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Page 3 - Mixer: FX send A/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Page 19 - Edit: Velocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Page 3 - Mixer: FX send C/D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Page 20 - Edit: Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Page 4 - FX: A/B Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Page 21 - Edit: Cut Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Page 4 - FX: C/D Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Page 22 - Edit: Insert Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Page 5 - FX: A editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Page 23 - Edit: Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Page 6 - FX: B editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Page 24 - Event Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Page 5 - FX: C editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Page 25 - Event Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Page 6 - FX: D editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Event Edit procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Page 7 - Track: Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Program operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Page 8 - Track: Internal/External . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Main page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Page 9 - Jukebox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Sound Programs and Drum Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Page 10 - Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Saving a list of Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Edit page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Backing Sequence operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 The Compare function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Transport controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 How to select oscillators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
The Backing Sequence, Song and Song Play modes . . . . . . 82 Erase Program/Oscillator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
How to playback a Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 The ‘Write’ window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Realtime Recording mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Page 1 - Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Chord/Acc Step recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Page 2 - Sample (Sound Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Main Page (Backing Sequence Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Page 2 - DK Samples (Drum Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
6

Page 3 - Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Page 4 - Erase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Page 4 - Pitch LFO1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Page 5 - Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Page 5 - Pitch LFO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Page 6 - New Dir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Page 6 - Pitch EG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Page 7 - Rename . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
Page 7 - Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Page 8 - Utilities 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
Page 8 - Filter Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Page 9 - Utilities 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Page 9 - Filter LFO1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Page 10 - Filter LFO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Page 11 - Filter EG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Appendix
Page 12 - Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Factory Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Page 13 - Amp Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Page 14 - Amp LFO1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Style Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Page 15 - Amp LFO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Single Touch Settings (STS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Page 16 - Amp EG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Programs (bank order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Page 17 - LFO1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Programs (Program Change order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Page 18 - LFO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Drum Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Page 19 - Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Drum Kit instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
Page 20 - FX1 editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Page 21 - FX2 editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
AMS (Alternate Modulation Source) list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Global edit environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
The Write window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Dynamic Modulation sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Filter/Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
Page 1 - General controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Pitch/Phase Mod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Page 2 - Master Transpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Mod./P.Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
Page 3 - Assignable Pedal/Footswitch, Assignable ER/Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202
Slider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
Page 4 - MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Mono – Mono Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
Page 5 - MIDI Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Page 6 - MIDI IN Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Assignable parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Page 7 - MIDI IN Controls (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 List of functions assignable to the Footswitch . . . . . . . . . .225
Page 8 - MIDI IN Controls (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 List of functions assignable to the Pedal or Assignable
Page 9 - MIDI IN Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Slider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
Page 10 - MIDI OUT Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 List of sounds assignable to the Pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
Page 11 - MIDI OUT Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 List of functions assignable to the Pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
Scales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
Card Edit environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
The WRITE/CARD IN USE LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 MIDI Controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Supported cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 MIDI Implementation Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229
Loading data created with the Pa80/Pa60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Card structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
File types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Recognized chords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
File and folder size display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Error messages & Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Page structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235
Navigation tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Page 1 - Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Page 2 - Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Alphabetical Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Page 3 - Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
INTRODUCTION
8 Welcome!
Live Performing

1. WELCOME!
Welcome to the world of KORG Pa50SD Professional Telephone: 01908 857100
Arranger! Pa50SD is one of the most powerful arranger avail- UK Technical Support Tel: 01908 857122, Fax:
able today, both for professional and home entertainment 01908 857199
use. E-mail: info@korg.co.uk
Here are some of the features of your new instrument: Many KORG distributors also have their own web page on
• Powerful HI (Hyper Integrated) KORG sound genera- the internet, where you can find infos and software. Useful
tion system, as seen in our best professional synthesiz- web pages in English are the following:
ers. www.korg.com
• OPOS (Objective Portable Operating System) multi- www.korg.co.uk
tasking operating system, to let you load data while www.korgcanada.com
playing your instrument. A place to find operating system updates and various system
• Operating System updates, to load new features from files (for example, a full backup of the factory data) is at the
card. Don’t let your instrument get old! following link:
• Solid State Disk (SSD), for any system update–a smart www.korgpa.com
way to replace the usual ROM memory. Other useful information can be found worldwide by access-
• SD card drive, capable of reading and writing on SD and ing to other KORG web sites, like the following:
MMC memory types. www.korg.co.jp
• Direct Style access from SD card. www.laboitenoiredumusicien.com
• General MIDI Level 2 Sounds-compatible. www.korg.de
• More than 660 Sound Programs. www.ekomusicgroup.com
• 4 multieffect processor, each with 89 effect types. www.korg.es
• 160 Performances and 1,216 Single Touch Settings
(STS), for fast setting of keyboard sounds and effects.
• 304 Styles.
ABOUT THIS MANUAL
• XDS Double Sequencer with Crossfader. This manual is divided in three sections:
• Style Record and Edit • A Basic Guide, containing an overview of the instru-
• Full-featured sequencer (Song Record and Edit) ment, as well as a series of practical guides (named
• Integrated speakers, for the most true sound reproduc- “Tutorials”).
tion. • A Reference Guide, with each page and parameter
• Wide Custom Display. described in detail.
• An Appendix, with a list of data and useful information
for the advanced user.
LIVE PERFORMING Within the manual, you will find the following abbreviations:
Pa50SD has been carefully designed to be used live. The “real- The parameter can be saved onto a Perfor-
time” word has its full meaning in this instrument. Perfor- mance by pressing the WRITE button.
mances allow the instant selection of all the tracks on the The parameter can be saved onto the current
keyboard and a suitable Style; STSs allow an instant selection Style Performance by pressing the WRITE but-
of the keyboard tracks; and Styles are the realtime backing ton.
companions for your realtime playing.
The parameter can be saved onto a Single
Touch Setting by pressing the WRITE button.
USEFUL LINKS The parameter can be saved onto the Global,
Your preferred KORG dealer not only carries this keyboard, by going to the Global environment (see “Glo-
but also a whole bunch of hardware and software accessories. bal edit environment” on page 125) and press-
You should ask him for more Programs, Styles, and other ing the WRITE button.
useful music materials.
Each KORG distributor can supply you with useful informa- MAKING A BACKUP COPY OF SYSTEM FILES
tion. Just give him a call for additional services. In the
Before starting playing with your new Pa50SD, we suggest
English-speaking world, here are the relevant addresses:
you make a back-up copy of all system data, including Pro-
USA KORG USA, 316 South Service Road, Melville,
grams, Performances and Styles, in case the internal data is
New York, 11747, USA
changed.
Tel:1-516-333-9100, Fax:1-516-333-9108
To backup the Operating System, please see “Save OS” on
Canada Jam Industries, 620 McCaffrey, St-Laurent, page 140.
QC, Canada, H4T 1N1
To backup the Factory Data (Styles, Programs…), see
Tel. (514) 738-3000, Fax (514) 737-5069 “Backup Data” on page 141.
UK KORG UK Ltd, 9 Newmarket Court, Kingston,
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK10, 0AU
 Welcome! 9
Loading the operating system

LOADING THE OPERATING SYSTEM 3. Turn the instrument on. A message appears in the dis-
play, asking if you want to load the operating system.
Your Pa50SD can be constantly updated as new versions of
4. Press ENTER to load, or EXIT to cancel the loading pro-
the operating system are released by KORG. You can down-
cedure. If you press ENTER, wait until the loading is fin-
load the operating system from www.korgpa.com. Please,
ished.
read the Readme file included with the operating system
When the operating system is finished loading, a mes-
itself.
sage appears, asking you to remove the card and press
You can see which version of the operating systems is
any button.
installed in your Pa50SD by keeping the SHIFT button
Hint: When done, delete the operating system files, to
pressed, and pressing the ENTER and EXIT buttons together.
avoid Pa50SD starts the upgrade procedure each time it is
The operating system version number will appear in the dis-
turned on with the same card in the drive.
play. Press EXIT to close the message window.
5. Remove the card, and press any button.
To load a new system, follow these instructions:
1. Copy the three operating system’s files in the root of an
SD card. These are the needed files: RELOADING THE FACTORY DATA
• BPa50SD.Sys Should the internal memory content get damaged, you can
• NBPa50SD.Sys reload the original Factory Data from the backup card. See
• OsPa50SD.lzx “Restore Data” on page 141.
2. Turn the instrument off, and insert the card containing
the operating system into the card drive.
10 Start up
Connecting the AC power adapter

2. START UP
CONNECTING THE AC POWER ADAPTER • Move it fully right to set Sequencer 1 to zero and
Sequencer 2 to the maximum level.
Connect the supplied AC
• Move it to the center to set both Sequencer at the same
power adapter to the dedi-
level.
cated socket on the rear of the
Note: When turning the instrument on, move this slider to the
instrument. Then, plug it into
center, to avoid starting a Song at the minimum level.
a wall socket.
Warning: Use only the sup-
plied adapter, or an adapter HEADPHONES
suggested by Korg. Other Connect a pair of headphones to the PHONES output, on the
adapters may look similar, rear of the insturment. You can use headphones with an
but they may damage your impedance of 16-200Ω (50Ω suggested). Use a headphone
instrument! distributor to connect more than one pair of headphones.

TURNING THE INSTRUMENT ON AND OFF AUDIO OUTPUTS

• Press the POWER switch on the rear panel to turn the You can send the sound to an external amplification system,
instrument on. The display will light up, showing a wel- instead of the internal speakers. This is useful when record-
come message. ing, or when playing live.
• Press again the POWER switch on the rear panel to turn
Stereo. Connect two mono cables to the L/MONO &
the instrument off.
RIGHT OUTPUTS. Connect the other end of the cables to a
Warning: When turning the instrument off, all data con- stereo channel of your mixer, two mono channels, two pow-
tained in RAM (a volatile memory, used for Song editing) ered monitors, or the TAPE/AUX input of your audio system.
will be lost. On the contrary, data contained in the SSD Don’t use the PHONO inputs of your audio system!
disk (a non-volatile memory, used for Factory and User
data) will be preserved (see “Memory Mode” on page 51). Mono. Connect a mono cable to the L/MONO OUTPUT.
Connect the other end of the cable to a mono channel of your
mixer, a powered monitor, or a channel of your TAPE/AUX
CONTROLLING THE VOLUME input of a hi-fi system (you will hear that channel only, unless
• Use the MASTER VOL- you can set the amplifier to Mono mode).
UME slider to control the
overall volume of the AUDIO INPUTS
instrument. This slider
controls the volume of the Connect any other electronic musical instrument, a mixer’s
sound going to the internal output (non-powered), or a CD/tape player, to the INPUTS
speakers, the L/MONO & on the back of the instrument. These inputs expect a line-
RIGHT OUTPUTS, and level signal. To connect a microphone, you need a dedicated
the HEADPHONES con- microphone preamplifier or a mixer.
nector. Use the connected device’s volume control to adjust the input
Note: Start at a moderate level, then raise the MASTER level. Be careful not to make it distort (or “clip”). Here is how
VOLUME up. Don’t keep the volume at an uncomfortable to set the volume of the connected device:
level for too long. • if the sound heard on Pa50SD’s outputs is too low, you
• Use the ACC/SEQ VOLUME slider to control the Style should increase the output level of the connected device.
tracks (drums, percussion, bass…) volume. This slider • if it sounds fine, it’s ok.
also controls both Sequencers tracks, excluding the • if it distorts, you should lower the level a little, until the
Realtime (Keyboard) tracks. sounds is fine again.
• By default, you can use the ASSIGN.SLIDER to control
the keyboard tracks volume. This slider is user-assign- MIDI CONNECTIONS
able, but is set to the Keyboard Expression parameter by
You can play the internal sounds of your Pa50SD with an
default.
external controller, i.e. a master keyboard, a MIDI guitar, a
wind controller, a MIDI accordion, or a digital piano.
THE BALANCE SLIDER 1. Connect a standard MIDI cable from the MIDI OUT of
The BALANCE slider sets the relative volume of the two your controller to the MIDI IN connector on the
onboard sequencers (Sequencer1 and Sequencer 2). Pa50SD.
• Move it fully left to set Sequencer 1 to the maximum 2. Select a transmission MIDI channel on your controller.
level and Sequencer 2 to zero. Some controllers, like the MIDI accordions, usually
 Start up 11
Damper Pedal

transmit on more than one channel (see more informa- 1. Press the STYLE PLAY and SONG PLAY buttons
tion in the MIDI chapter). together. Their LEDs start blinking.
3. On the Pa50SD, select the MIDI Setup that best fit your At this point, if you don’t press any other button, all the
controllers type (see “Page 4 - MIDI Setup” on Demo Songs will be played back.
page 126). 2. Choose a page using the PAGE buttons. There are two
different pages in the Demo mode.
DAMPER PEDAL 3. Select a Demo Song by pressing the corresponding
VOLUME/VALUE button around the display. The
Connect a Damper (Sustain) pedal to the DAMPER connec- Demo will automatically start.
tor on the back panel. Use a KORG PS1, PS2 or DS1H foot-
4. Stop the Demo by pressing START/STOP.
switch pedal, or a compatible one. To switch the Damper
5. Exit the Demo mode by pressing one of the MODE but-
polarity, see “Damper Pol. (Damper Polarity)” on page 126
tons.

DEMO THE MUSIC STAND

Listen to the built-in Demo Songs to appreciate the power of
A music stand comes standard with your Pa50SD. Fit it into
the Pa50SD. There are 16 Demo Songs to choose from.
the two dedicated holes in the back panel.
12 Front panel

3. FRONT PANEL

Q
P
1 2 3 4 5 6
S

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 Front panel 13

1 MASTER VOLUME B.SEQ Backing Sequence mode, where you can record
This slider controls the overall volume of the instrument, a new Song based on the Realtime and Style
both of the internal speakers, the L/MONO and RIGHT out- tracks, and save it as a new Standard MIDI File.
puts, and the HEADPHONES output. SONG Song mode, where you can play, record, or edit
Warning: At the maximum level, with rich-sounding Songs, a Song.
Styles or Programs, the internal speakers could distort during PROGRAM Program mode, to play single Sound Programs
signal peaks. Should this happen, lower the Master Volume a on the keyboard, or edit them.
little. DEMO Press the STYLE PLAY and SONG PLAY but-
tons together to select the Demo mode. This
2 ACC/SEQ VOLUME mode lets you listen to some Demo Songs, to
This slider controls the accompaniment tracks volume (Style let you hear the sonic power of the Pa50SD.
Play mode) or the Song tracks volume, excluding the Real-
time tracks (Song and Song Play modes). This is a relative 5 GLOBAL
control, whose effective maximum value is determined by the This button recalls the Global edit environment, where you
MASTER VOLUME slider position. can execute various global settings. This edit environment
overlaps any operating mode, that still remains active in the
3 ASSIGN.SLIDER background. Press EXIT to go back to the underlying operat-
This is a freely programmable slider (see “Sld (Slider)” on ing mode.
page 126). By default, it acts as the Keyboard Expression con-
trol, to let you balance the relative volume of the Realtime 6 SD CARD
(Keyboard) tracks. This button recalls the Card edit environment, where you can
execute various operations on files and cards (Load, Save,
4 MODE section Format, etc…). This edit environment overlaps any operat-
Each of these buttons recalls one of the operating modes of ing mode, that still remains active in the background. Press
the instrument. Each mode excludes the others. EXIT to go back to the underlying operating mode.
STYLE PLAY
Style Play mode, where you can play Styles
7 MEMORY (TIE)
(automatic accompaniments) and/or play up This button turns the Lower and Chord Memory functions
to four Realtime tracks on the keyboard. on or off. Go to the “Page 24 - Preferences: controls” edit
page (Style Play mode, see page 50) to decide if this button
In the main page, Realtime (Keyboard) tracks
should be a Chord Memory only, or a Lower/Chord Memory
are shown on the right half of the display. You
button. When it works as a Lower/Chord Memory:
can reach the main page by pressing EXIT
from any of the Style Play edit pages. If you are ON The sound on the left of the split point, and the
in a different operating mode, press STYLE chord for the automatic accompaniment, are
PLAY to recall the Style Play mode. If the kept in memory even when you raise your
TRACK SELECT LED is on, press TRACK hand from the keyboard.
SELECT to turn it off and see the Realtime OFF The sound and chords are released as soon as
tracks. you raise your hand from the keyboard.
This operating mode is automatically selected This button doubles as a TIE function for the Song mode
when turning the instrument on. (see chapter 13).
SONG PLAY 8 BASS INVERSION (REST)
Song Play mode, where you can playback 16-
This button turns the Bass Inversion function on or off.
track Songs in Standard Midi File (SMF) for-
ON The lowest note of a chord played in inverted
mat directly from card. You can play “.MID”
form will always be detected as the root note of
and “.KAR” files directly from the card. Since
the chord. Thus, you can specify to the
the Pa50SD is equipped with two sequencers,
arranger composite chords such as Am7/G or
you can even play two Songs at the same time,
“F/C”.
and mix them with the BALANCE slider.
OFF The lowest note is scanned together with the
In addition to the Song tracks, you can play
other chord notes, and is not always consid-
one to four Realtime (Keyboard) tracks, along
ered as the root note.
with the Song(s). In the main page, Realtime
(Keyboard) tracks are shown on the right half This button doubles as a REST function for the Song mode
of the display. You can reach the main page by (see chapter 13).
pressing EXIT from any of the Song Play edit 9 MANUAL BASS
pages. If you are in a different operating mode,
This button turns the Manual Bass function on or off.
press SONG PLAY to recall the Song Play
mode. If the TRACK SELECT LED is on or Note: When you press the MANUAL BASS button, the Bass
flashing, press TRK SELECT one or two times track volume is automatically set to the maximum value. The
to turn it off and see the Realtime tracks. volume is automatically set back to the original value when the
MANUAL BASS button is deactivated.
14 Front panel

ON The automatic accompaniment stops playing A word about Style banks and names. Styles from “8/16
(apart for the Drum and Percussion tracks), BEAT” to “WORLD 3”, and from “LATIN1” to “TRADI-
and you can manually play the Bass track on TIONAL” are standard Styles, the user can’t normally over-
the Lower part of the keyboard. You can start write with a Load operation (unless you remove the
the automatic accompaniment again by press- protection; see “Factory Style Protect” on page 141).
ing one of the CHORD SCANNING buttons. “DIRECT SD” Styles are Styles directly accessed from card
OFF The bass track is automatically played by the (no need to load from card). See “The DIRECT SD bank” on
Style. page 40.
Styles from “USER1” to “USER3” are location where you can
0 SPLIT POINT (<)
load new Styles from card.
Keep this button pressed to open the Split Point window. Each button (Style bank) contains 2 pages, each with up to 8
While this window is open, you can set the split point, simply Styles. Browse through the Styles using the PAGE buttons.
by playing the split point note on the keyboard. Then, release
Shortcut to see the original bank for a Style. You can see the
the SPLIT POINT button.
original bank where a Style is contained. Just keep the SHIFT
To memorize the selected split point note, press the GLOBAL
button pressed, and press the lefmost button of the STYLE
button, then press WRITE to save the Global in memory (see
section. A message window will appear, showing the name of
“The Write window” on page 125).
the original bank. Release the SHIFT button to exit the win-
This button doubles as a PREVIOUS EVENT function for dow.
the Backing Sequence and Song modes (see chapters 12 and Shortcut to see all pages of the selected bank. To cycle all
13). pages for a selected bank, repeatedly press the bank’s button.
A G.QUANTIZE (>) These buttons double as a numeric keypad on certain
Press this button to open the Groove Quantize window, pages (see “Selecting a Song composing its progressive num-
where you can select a realtime groove quantization to be ber” on page 70).
applied to the Song (only Sequencer 1). See “Groove Quan- E FADE IN/OUT
tize window” on page 71.
When the Style is in stop, press this button to start it with a
This button doubles as a NEXT EVENT function for the volume fade-in (the volume goes from zero to the maxi-
Backing Sequence and Song modes (see chapters 12 and 13). mum).
B TEMPO (= LOCK) When the Style is in play, press this button to stop it with a
volume fade-out (the volume gradually decreases).
This button turns the Tempo Lock function on or off.
You don’t need to press START/STOP to start or stop the
ON When you select a different Style or Perfor-
Style.
mance, the tempo doesn’t change. You can still
change it using the DIAL or the TEMPO but- F VARIATION 1-4 (NOTE LENGTH) buttons
tons.
OFF When you select a different Style or Perfor- Each of these buttons select one of the four variations of the
mance, the memorized tempo value is auto- current Style. Each variation can vary in patterns and sounds.
matically selected.
These buttons double as a NOTE LENGTH function for the
C SINGLE TOUCH Song mode (see chapter 13).
This button turns the Single Touch function on or off. G FILL 1-2 (NOTE LENGTH) buttons
ON When a different Style (or the same again) is These two buttons trigger a fill-in. Press them twice (LED
selected, a Single Touch Setting (STS1) is auto- blinking) to let them play in loop, and select any other Style
matically selected, meaning that the Realtime element (Fill, Intro, Variation…) to exit the loop.
tracks and effects will change, together with
They also double as a NOTE LENGTH function for the
the Style tracks and effects.
Song mode (see chapter 13).
OFF When you select a different Style (or the same
again), the Style tracks and effects are changed, H COUNT IN / BREAK
while the Realtime tracks are not changed. While the Style is not running, press this button, then press
D STYLE section (NUMERIC KEYPAD) START/STOP. This combination triggers a one-bar initial
count, then the Style starts playing.
Use these buttons to open the Style Select window and select
While the Style is already in play, this button triggers a break
a Style. See “Selecting a Style” on page 26.
(an empty measure beginning with a kick + crash shot). Press
The leftmost button lets you select the upper or lower row of
it twice to let it play in loop, and select any other Style ele-
Style banks. Press it repeatedly to select one of the rows.
ment (Fill, Intro, Variation…) to exit the loop.
(After both LEDs have turned on, press the button again to
turn them off). I ENDING 1-2 (DOT, TRIPLET) buttons
UPPER LED ON While the Style is running, these two buttons trigger an End-
Upper-row Styles selected. ing, and stop the Style. Press one of them, and the Style will
LOWER LED ON stop running with an Ending. If pressed while the Style is
Lower-row Styles selected. stopped, they act as an additional couple of Intros.
 Front panel 15

Press them twice (LED blinking) to let them play in loop, and Tap Tempo: When the Style is not playing, you can “beat” the
select any other Style element (Fill, Intro, Variation…) to exit tempo on this button. At the end, the accompaniment starts
the loop. playing, using the “tapped in” tempo.
ENDING1 also doubles as a DOT function, and ENDING2 Reset: When you press this button while the Style is in play,
doubles as a TRIPLET function, to be used in Song mode the Style pattern goes back to the previous strong beat.
(see chapter 13). This button doubles as a INSERT function for the Backing
Note: Ending 1 plays a short sequence with different chords, Sequence and Song modes (see chapters 12 and 13).
while Ending 2 plays on the last recognized chord. It is also used to insert a character at the cursor position, dur-
ing text editing.
J INTRO 1-2 buttons
These two buttons set the arranger in Intro mode. After N WRITE/CARD IN USE
pressing one of these buttons, start the Style, and it will begin In Style Play mode, this button opens the Write window, that
with the selected intro. The INTRO LED automatically goes lets you save all the tracks onto a Performance, the Realtime
off at the end of the intro. (Keyboard) tracks in a Single Touch Setting (STS), or the
Press them twice (LED blinking) to let them play in loop, and accompaniment tracks onto a Style Performance. (See “The
select any other Style element (Fill, Intro, Variation…) to exit Write window” on page 42).
the loop. In the Global edit environment, press it to save Global
Note: Intro 1 plays a short sequence with different chords, while parameters in memory. (See “The Write window” on
Intro 2 plays on the last recognized chord. page 125).
K START/STOP This button’s LED works as a CARD IN USE indicator, and
turns on when the card drive is in use.
Starts or stops the Style running.
You can reset all ‘frozen’ notes and controllers on the O ENSEMBLE
Pa50SD and any instrument connected to its MIDI OUT, by This button turns the Ensemble function on or off. When on,
using the “Panic” key combination. Just press SHIFT + the right-hand melody is harmonized with the left-hand
START/STOP to stop all notes and reset all controllers. chords.
Note: The Ensemble function works only when the keyboard is
L SYNCHRO START / STOP (DELETE)
in SPLIT mode, and the LOWER Chord Scanning mode
This button turns the Synchro Start and Synchro Stop func- selected.
tions on or off. Press it repeatedly to turn the functions on or
off. The LEDs cycle in this order: START ➛ START+STOP ➛ P RECORD
OFF. This button sets the instrument in Record mode (depending
START LED ON on the current operating mode).
When this LED is lit, just play a chord in the
Q MENU
chord recognition area (usually under the split
point, see “CHORD SCANNING section” on This button opens the Menu page for the current operating
page 17) to automatically start the Style run- mode or edit environment. After opening a menu, you can
ning. If you like, you can turn one of the jump to one of the edit pages by pressing the corresponding
INTROs on before starting the Style. VOLUME/VALUE buttons; or browse them using the PAGE
buttons. Otherwise, go back to the main page of the current
START+STOP LEDs ON
operating mode, or close the edit environment, by pressing
When both LEDs are lit, raising your hand
the EXIT button.
from the keyboard momentarily stops the Style
See the relevant chapter devoted to each operating mode or
running. If you play a chord again, the Style
edit environment, to see their “maps” in detail.
starts again.
OFF All Synchro functions are turned off. R PAGE -/+
This button doubles as a DELETE function for the Backing After pressing MENU to open a menu, use these buttons to
Sequence and Song modes (see chapters 12 and 13). browse the edit pages of an operating mode or editing envi-
It is also used to delete the selected character, during text ronment. Press EXIT to go back from an edit page to the
editing. main page of the current operating mode, or to close the Glo-
bal or Card Edit environment.
M TAP TEMPO/RESET (INSERT) In addition, you can use these buttons to select a different
This is a double-function button, acting in a different way page in a Style Select or Program Select window.
depending on the Style status (stop/play).
16 Front panel

S VOLUME/VALUE (MUTE) A-H buttons SOLO While in the Style Play, Song Play and
Song modes, you can solo one of the tracks.
Within this user’s manual, each button pair is marked with Just keep the SHIFT button pressed, and press
an alphabetic letter (A-H). See “Display and User Interface” both VOLUME/VALUE buttons corresponding
on page 19 for more details. to the track you wish to solo.
To exit the solo mode, keep the SHIFT button
pressed again, and press both VOLUME/
VALUE buttons corresponding to the soloed
track.
BossaNova |STS1 VALUE Use each button pair to change the corre-
A Drum/Perc Piano01 E sponding parameter’s value. The left button
B Bass01 Guitar01 F decreases the value, the right button increases
C Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
G it.
VoxPad1
D H
T TRACK SELECT
Depending on the operating mode, this button switches
between the various tracks view.
A corresponding track name is printed over each button pair.
STYLE PLAY MODE
These names show the corresponding track the button pair
affects in the main page of the Style Play mode. Switches between the Realtime tracks and the
Style tracks.
• The left half is for the main page, where you can see the
Realtime tracks, and the Style tracks grouped together: SONG PLAY MODE
Switches between the main page (showing the
Realtime/Keyboard tracks), Song tracks 1-8,
and Song tracks 9-16.
SONG MODE
Switches between the main page, Song tracks
1-8 and Song tracks 9-16.
The TRACK SELECT LED shows the current page view:
Off Main page (Realtime tracks, or Song controls)
On 2nd page (Style tracks, or Song tracks 1-8)
Flashing 3rd page (Song tracks 9-16)
• The right half is for the Style tracks page, where you can
see each of the accompaniment tracks:
U SINGLE TOUCH SETTING (F1-F4 FUNCTION KEYS)
buttons
While in the main page of the Style Play or Backing Sequence
mode, these buttons select a Single Touch Setting each. Each
of the Styles includes a maximum of four Single Touch Set-
tings (STS), to automatically configure the Realtime tracks
and effects at the touch of a finger. When the SINGLE
TOUCH LED is lit, an STS is automatically selected when
selecting a Style.
In Edit mode, these buttons double as function keys, to
select the corresponding items in the display.
See “Symbols and Icons” on page 21. V SHIFT
Use these buttons to execute various operations on the com- With this button held down, pressing certain other buttons
mands and functions appearing in the display. accesses to a second function.
SELECTING
Use each button pair to select the correspond- W TEMPO/VALUE section
ing item in the display (i.e. a track, a parameter The DIAL and the DOWN/- and UP/+ buttons can be used
or a command). Use either the left or right to control the Tempo, assign a different value to the selected
button in a pair. parameter in the display or scroll a list of files in the Song
VOLUME While you are in the main pages of any operat- Select and Card pages. The VALUE LED shows the status of
ing mode, select a track and use these buttons this section.
to change the track’s volume. Use the left but- DIAL Turn the dial clockwise to increase the value or
ton to decrease it, or the right button to tempo. Turn it counter-clockwise to decrease
increase it. the value or tempo.
MUTE Press both buttons in a pair to mute the corre- When used while pressing the SHIFT
sponding track. Press both buttons again to button, this control always acts as a Tempo
unmute the track. control.
 Front panel 17

DOWN/- and UP/+ OFF No chords detected. After pressing START/

DOWN/- decreases the value or tempo; UP/+ STOP, only the Drum and Percussion accom-
increases the value or tempo. paniment tracks can play.
Keep the SHIFT button pressed down, ] KEYBOARD MODE section
and press either the DOWN/- or
These buttons define how the four Keyboard (or Realtime)
UP/+ button to reset the Tempo to the value
tracks are positioned on the keyboard.
memorized onto the selected Style.
SPLIT The Lower track plays below the split point,
X VALUE LED while the Upper 1, Upper 2 and Upper 3 tracks
This LED shows the status of the DIAL and DOWN/- and play above it. By default, selecting this key-
UP/+ buttons. board mode automatically selects the Lower
ON The DIAL and DOWN/- and UP/+ buttons act chord scanning mode (see “Chord Recognition
as Value controls, to change the value of the Mode” on page 50).
selected parameter in the display. FULL UPPER
OFF The DIAL and DOWN/- and UP/+ buttons The Upper 1, Upper 2 and/or Upper 3 tracks
control the Tempo. play on the whole keyboard range. The Lower
track does not play. By default, selecting this
Y EXIT/NO keyboard mode automatically selects the Full
Use this button to perform various actions, leaving from the chord scanning mode (see “Chord Recognition
current status: Mode” on page 50).
• exit a dialog box
` STYLE CHANGE
• answer “No” to any question that appears in the display
This button turns the Style Change function on or off.
• exit the Menu window
ON When you select a Performance, the Style
• go back to the main page of the current operating mode
could change, according to which Style num-
• exit the Global or Card Edit environment, and go back ber is memorized onto the Performance.
to the main page of the current operating mode
OFF When you select a Performance, the Style and
• exit from a Style, Performance or Program Select win- Style track settings remain unchanged. Only
dow Realtime (Keyboard) tracks settings are
Z ENTER/YES changed.
Use this button to perform various actions, agreeing the cur- a PERFORM.
rent selected status: Press this button to use the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE
• answer “Yes” to any question that appears in the display section to select a Performance.
• confirm a command
b PROGRAM
[ DISPLAY HOLD Press this button to use the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE
This button turns the Display Hold function on or off. section to select a Program, and assign it to the selected track.
ON When you open a temporary windows (like the
Program Select window), it remains in the dis- c PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE section
play until you press EXIT/NO or an operating
mode button. Use these buttons to open the Program Select or Performance
OFF Any temporary window closes after a certain Select window, and select a Program or a Performance. See
time, or after selecting an item in the window. “Selecting a Program” on page 26, or “Selecting a Perfor-
mance” on page 25. For a list of available Programs, see “Pro-
\ CHORD SCANNING section grams (Program Change order)” on page 154.
In Style Play and Backing Sequence mode, use these buttons The leftmost button selects the upper or lower row of Pro-
to define the way chords are recognized by the arranger. gram or Performance banks. Press it repeatedly to select one
LOWER Chords are detected below the split point. The of the rows. (After both LEDs have consecutively turned on,
number of notes you should play to form a press the button again to turn them off).
chord is defined by the Chord Scanning Mode UPPER LED ON
parameter (see “Chord Recognition Mode” on Upper row of Programs or Performances
page 50). selected.
UPPER Chords are detected above the split point. You LOWER LED ON
must always play three or more notes to let the Lower row of Programs or Performances
arranger recognize a chord. selected.
FULL (both LEDs on) On the front panel, Program banks are identified by the
Chords are detected on the full keyboard instrument names, while Performance banks are identified
range. You must always play three or more by numbers (1-10; 0=bank 10).
notes to let the arranger recognize a chord. A note about Program banks and names. Programs from
“PIANO” to “SFX” are standard Programs, the user can’t
directly modify.
18 Front panel

Programs “USER1” and “USER2” are locations where you Press both buttons together, to reset the Octave Transpose to
can load new Programs from card. zero.
“USER DK” is where you can load new drum kits. Note: The Octave Transpose has no effect on tracks set to Drum
Each Program bank contains various pages, each with up to 8 mode (and, even if set in a different status, on the Drum and
Programs. You can browse them using the PAGE buttons. Percussion tracks).
Shortcut to see the original bank for a Performance or Pro- – Lowers the selected track an octave.
gram. You can see the original bank where a Performance or + Raises the selected track an octave.
Program is contained. Just keep the SHIFT button pressed,
and press the lefmost button of the PROGRAM/PERFOR- g BALANCE slider
MANCE section. A message window will appear, showing the In Song Play mode, this slider balances the volume of the two
name of the original bank. Release the SHIFT button to exit on-board sequencers. When fully on the left, only the
the window. Sequencer 1 can be heard. When fully on the right, only the
Shortcut to see all pages of the selected bank. To cycle all Sequencer 2 can be heard. When in the middle, both
pages for a selected bank, repeatedly press the bank’s button. sequencers play at full volume.
d PADS (1-4, STOP) h SEQUENCER TRANSPORT CONTROLS - SEQ1 and
These programmable pads can be used to trigger a sound SEQ2
effect. Use the STOP button to stop a cyclic sound. (See “List The instrument is equipped with two sequencers (Sequencer
of sounds assignable to the Pads” on page 226). 1 and Sequencer 2), each with its own set of transport con-
Each Pad corresponds to a dedicated Pad track. trols.
<< and >> Rewind and Fast Forward commands. If you
e TRANSPOSE use them while the Song is in play, they make it
These buttons transpose the whole instrument in semitone scroll back or forward.
steps (Master Transpose). The transposition value is shown When pressed once, these buttons move the
(as a note name) on the top right of the display. Song to the previous or following measure.
When kept pressed, they make the Song scroll-
ing continuously, until you release them.
In Jukebox mode (Sequencer 1), keep
the SHIFT button pressed, and press these but-
Press both buttons together, to reset the Master Transpose to tons to scroll to the previous or next Song in
zero. the Jukebox list (see “Page 9 - Jukebox” on
Note: The Master Transpose has no effect on tracks set to Drum page 79).
mode (and, even if set in a different status, on the Drum and PAUSE Pauses the Song at the current position. Press
Percussion tracks). See “Page 14 - Track: Mode” on page 46, and PAUSE or PLAY/STOP to start the Song play-
“Page 7 - Track: Mode” on page 78. ing again.
 Lowers the Master Transpose a semitone. PLAY/STOP Starts or stops the current Song. When you
stop the Song, the Song Position goes back to
 Raises the Master Transpose a semitone.
measure 1.
f OCTAVE In Song Play mode, pressed while
These buttons transpose the selected track in steps of a whole keeping SHIFT pressed, starts both sequencers
octave (12 semitones; max ±2 octaves). The transposition at the same time.
value is shown (in octaves) on the top right area of the dis-
play.
 Display and User Interface 19
Display controls

4. DISPLAY AND USER INTERFACE

The display shows the current status of the Pa50SD and its along the last line using the F1-F4 buttons. You can vary
performance and editing parameters. You can select each many of the parameter’s values by pressing the left (-) or
parameter by using the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons on right (+) button of any VOLUME/VALUE pair.
the side of the display, or each page command appearing

Status icons area

BossaNova |STS1
A Drum/Perc Piano01 E
B Bass01 Guitar01 F
C Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
G
VoxPad1
D H

Style (accompaniment/backing) tracks Realtime (Keyboard) tracks

DISPLAY CONTROLS In the Card Edit environment, the F1-F4 buttons can be used
also to select one of the page commands appearing in the last
VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons and display parame- line of the display.
ters. These buttons are used to select the corresponding
parameter or command in the display, to change the parame-
ter’s value, or to change the volume of the corresponding
track.
While you are in the main page, these buttons can select a Card:Load
NEWNAME.SET |
track, change the track’s volume, or mute/unmute a track.
LIVE.SET
See “VOLUME/VALUE (MUTE) A-H buttons” on page 16 ETHNICA.SET |
for more information. SD LOAD OPEN CLOSE

F1-F4 buttons. When in an Edit page, these buttons may be

used when there are four parameters in a row, as in the fol-
lowing example:

See “SINGLE TOUCH SETTING (F1-F4 FUNCTION KEYS)

buttons” on page 16 for more information.
Mixer:FX Send PAGE. The PAGE buttons select the previous or following
- - - - - - C:100 D:050
edit page. When selecting a Style or a Program, they select a
A:127 B:020 C:100 D:050 different page of Styles or Programs. See “PAGE -/+” on
- - - - - - C:100 D:050 page 15 for more information.
C:100 D:050
MENU. The MENU button opens the current operating
mode or edit environment’s Menu. When in a Menu, you can
use the VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select an edit section to
jump to.

First, select the line using a VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) button. TRACK SELECT. Each of the operating modes have a differ-
Then, select a column using the F1-F4 function key. ent number of tracks:
Style Play 4 Realtime tracks, 8 Style tracks, 4 Pads.
Song Play 4 Realtime tracks, 2 x 16 Song Tracks, 4 Pads.
20 Display and User Interface
Interface structure

Backing Sequence When opening an edit environment or a selecting page, the

4 Realtime tracks, 8 Style tracks, 4 Pads. current operating mode is still working in the background.
Song 16 Song tracks.
You can only see up to 8 tracks in the display. So, use the
TRACK SELECT button to switch to the other (hidden)
tracks. For example, when in Style Play, you can use this but-
ton to switch from the Realtime tracks and the Style tracks.

INTERFACE STRUCTURE
Thanks to its multitasking operating system, the Pa50SD user
interface is structured in “overlapping”, active layers. From
the lower level:
• operating modes (Style Play, Backing Sequence, Song
Play, Song, Program)
• edit environments (Global, Card)
• selecting windows (Style Select, Song Select, Program
Select, Performance Select).

Operating modes. (See diagram at the bottom of this

page). At the lowest level, an operating mode is always active.
The current operating mode is indicated by the lit LED on
the STYLE PLAY, B.SEQ, SONG PLAY, SONG or PROGRAM
button in the MODE section. The relevant icon lights up in
the display.
An operating mode is divided into a main page (the page
where you usually play a Style, a Song or a Program), a menu,
and a series of edit pages.
Press MENU to access the Menu. Use the MENU and PAGE
buttons to browse across the various edit pages. Press EXIT to
go back to the main page.

Operating modes

BossaNova |STS1 Style Play Menu Mixer:Volume

Drum/Perc Piano01 Mixer RT Ctrls |||||| 127 ||||| 090
Bass01 Guitar01 Tuning Sty Ctrls ||||| 100 ||| | 092
Acc.1-5 StrngEns2 Effects Input/Pad |||||| 127 || || 086
VoxPad1 Track Edit Preferences |||||| 112

Main page Menu Edit pages

 Display and User Interface 21
Message windows

Edit environment. (See diagram at the bottom of this SYMBOLS AND ICONS
page). When you press GLOBAL or SD CARD, an edit envi-
Many icons and symbols, on the custom display, show the
ronment overlaps the current operating mode. Press EXIT to
status of a parameter or the display content.
go back to the current operating mode.
An edit environment is made up of a menu and a series of Realtime/Keyboard track (Upper 1-3, Lower).
edit pages. Use the MENU and PAGE buttons to browse
across the various edit pages. Drum track (Style track view).
Selecting windows. When you press one of the STYLE or
PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE buttons, you open a selecting Percussion track (Style track view).
window. This window closes after selecting one of the items Grouped Drum and Percussion tracks.
in it, or after pressing EXIT.
If the DISPLAY HOLD LED is light up, the window doesn’t Bass track (Style track view).
close after selecting an item. Press EXIT to close the window, Grouped accompaniment tracks. This symbol
and go back to the underlying page. indicates the five grouped accompaniment
tracks (Acc1-5).
MESSAGE WINDOWS Accompaniment tracks (Style track view).
Sometimes, a message appears in the display, warning about
Sequencer tracks.
an error or a wrong operation:
Selected track or parameter. When this symbol
Not a Standard
appears, you can execute any available opera-
MIDI File
tion on the selected item.
Press ENTER or EXIT to exit one of these windows. (no icon) The track is in mute, and can’t play on the key-
board.
Other messages ask for an answer, as in the “Are you sure”
window below:
GRAYED-OUT NON-AVAILABLE PARAMETERS
Currently non-available parameters are now shown in “gray”
in the display, i.e. with a “ghost” texture. Here is an example
of a grayed-out parameter, compared to a normal parameter:
Press ENTER/YES for Yes, or EXIT/NO for No.

Text in solid black

Text in gray

Edit environment

Card Menu Card:Load

Load Format NEWNAME.SET |
Save New Dir LIVE.SET
Copy Rename ETHNICA.SET |
Erase Utilities SD LOAD OPEN CLOSE

Menu Edit pages

22 Rear panel

5. REAR PANEL

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8

1 AC POWER ADAPTER CONNECTOR 5 DAMPER

Plug the supplied power adapter into this connector. Use this to connect a Damper pedal, like the KORG PS1, PS
or DS1H. To change its polarity, see “Damper Pol. (Damper
2 POWER switch Polarity)” on page 126.
Use this switch to turn the instrument on or off.
6 OUTPUTS
3 MIDI INTERFACE Use these unbalanced connectors to send the audio signal
The MIDI interface allows your Pa50SD to be connected to (sound) to a mixer, a PA system, a set of powered monitors,
an external controller (master keyboard, MIDI guitar, wind or your hi-fi system. Set the output level with the MASTER
controller, MIDI accordion…), to an expander, or to a com- VOLUME slider.
puter running a sequencer or an editor. For more informa-
tion on how to use the MIDI interface, see the MIDI chapter. 7 INPUT 1 and 2
IN This connector receives MIDI data from a Use these unbalanced connectors to input another keyboard/
computer or a controller. Connect it to an synthesizer, a (non-powered) mixer’s output, or a CD/tape
external controller’s or computer’s MIDI OUT. player (line impedance). The signal is automatically routed to
OUT This connector sends MIDI data generated by the speakers, the Audio Outputs and the Phones.
Pa50SD’s keyboard, controllers, and/or the 8 PHONES
internal sequencer. Connect it to an expander’s
Use this connector to connect a pair of headphones. You can
or computer’s MIDI IN.
use headphones with an impedance of 16-200Ω (50Ω sug-
THRU This connector sends an exact copy of the data
gested). Use a headphone distributor to connect more than
received on the IN connector. Use it to cascade
one pair of headphones.
the Pa50SD with other MIDI instruments.
4 ASSIGNABLE PEDAL/FOOTSWITCH
Use this to connect a continuous or footswitch pedal, like the
KORG EXP2 or XVP10. To program it, see “P/S (Pedal/
Switch)” on page 126.
BASIC GUIDE
24 Basic operations
Playing on the keyboard

6. BASIC OPERATIONS
PLAYING ON THE KEYBOARD SELECTING, MUTING/UNMUTING AND
Just play on the keyboard. You will hear the Realtime tracks SOLOING A TRACK
playing. There are four Realtime tracks: Upper 1-3 and
Selecting. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons to
Lower. They may play all at the same time, or just one or a
select a track.
few of them, depending on their Mute status. If you cannot
hear a track, check the mute status of that part.
Tracks can be set in different ways: use the KEYBOARD
MODE section to select the way they are configured on the
keyboard.
BossaNova |STS1
• Press FULL UPPER to play the Upper 1-3 tracks on the A E
Drum/Perc Piano01
full range of the keyboard, just as you would on a piano. B Bass01 Guitar01 F
C Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
G
Upper 1 VoxPad1
D H
Upper 2
Upper 3

The selected track is shown with a solid square surrounding

its status icons.
• Press SPLIT to let the Upper 1-3 tracks play on the right
of the Split Point, and the Lower track on the left. Selected track

Upper 1
Lower Upper 2
If you can’t see the track you are looking for, use the TRACK
SELECT button to scroll up or down the tracks, and find the
Upper 3
hidden ones.
Split Point

• Keep the SPLIT POINT button pressed, and play a note

to change the point where the keyboard is divided in an Mute/unmute. Press both VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) but-
Upper and a Lower part. tons to mute or unmute a track. For example, if you are in the
main page that appears after turning the instrument on, and
you want to mute the Upper 1 track, press the E (UPPER1/
ACC2) buttons together.

Lower Upper

The mute/play status is shown by the relevant icon in the dis-

play:
To memorize the selected split point note, press the GLOBAL Play status; the track plays on the keyboard.
button, then press WRITE to save the Global in memory (see
(no icon) Mute status; the track doesn’t play on the key-
“The Write window” on page 125).
board.
Solo. While in the Style Play, Song Play and Song modes,
you can solo one of the tracks. Just keep the SHIFT button
pressed, and press both VOLUME/VALUE buttons corre-
sponding to the track you wish to solo.
To exit the solo mode, keep the SHIFT button pressed again,
and press both VOLUME/VALUE buttons corresponding to
the soloed track.
 Basic operations 25
Selecting a Performance

SELECTING A PERFORMANCE 10, upper LED turned on), or the second row of ten
banks (11-20, lower LED turned on).
A Performance is a set of Programs and settings for the Key-
3. Press one of the 1-0 buttons to select the PROGRAM/
board and Style tracks, that makes selecting complex combi-
PERFORMANCE bank containing the Performance you
nations live fast and easy. When the STYLE CHANGE LED is
are looking for.
on, a Performance can also select a different Style.
It is always advisable to use Performances, rather than single
Programs, when playing even a solo sound, since a Perfor-
mance lets you select the right effects, transposition, plus
many other parameters, together with the Programs.
The Performance Select window appears. There are 8
Data type Parameters Performances for each bank.
Realtime Upper 1, Upper 2, Master Transpose, Pro- Last selected Performance
Tracks Upper 3, Lower gram, Volume, Pan,
Octave, Scale, Detune,
Pitch Bend, Poly/Mono/
Drum, Int/Ext, Damper,
Dynamic Range, Joystick
C&D Effect Send level, StereoGrand
Type, Parameters StereoGrand Blue
Program parameters ClupPiano Legend
Pads ForrestStr MrJazz
ResonPads OxydBrass
Style Drum, Percussion, Program, Volume, Pan,
Tracks Bass, Acc1, Acc2, Acc3, Octave, Detune, Pitch
Acc4, Acc5, Bend, Poly/Mono/Drum, 4. Select a Performance using the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H)
Int/Ext, Wrap Around, buttons.
Keyboard Range
A&B Effect Send level, 5. If the DISPLAY HOLD LED is on, press EXIT to exit this
Type, Parameters window.
Program parameters
Drum Mapping,
Kick&Snare Assignation
The STYLE CHANGE button
When you select a Performance, the Style may or may not
Other “performance” parameters are saved in the Global. change, depending on the status of the STYLE CHANGE
button. (When you save a Performance, the current Style
Global Chord Recognition Mode, Memory Mode, Velocity
number is always memorized).
Trigger, Lock • If the STYLE CHANGE LED is on, the Style memorized
in the Performance will be selected.
1. Press the PERFORM button. This changes the PRO- • If the STYLE CHANGE LED is off, the Style doesn’t
GRAM/PERFORMANCE section into a Performance change.
selector.

2. Use the leftmost button of the PROGRAM/PERFOR-

MANCE section to select the first row of ten banks (1-
26 Basic operations
Selecting a Program

SELECTING A PROGRAM 5. Browse all the Programs in the selected bank using the
PAGE buttons. There can be various pages for each
You can select a different Program (i.e., sound) to be played bank, containing up to 8 Programs each.
by a track. Before selecting a Program, you must select the
6. As you find the Program you are looking for, select it
track you want to assign the Program to.
using the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons.
Note: To assign different Programs to the Style tracks, press
7. If the DISPLAY HOLD LED is on, press EXIT to exit this
TRACK SELECT to see the Style tracks. If you select a Program
window.
while grouped tracks (Drum/Percussion or ACC) are selected,
the Program will be assigned to the last selected track.
Each Style Element (Variations, Fills…) can have different SELECTING A STYLE
Programs, so your selection might be automatically reset A Style is a set of rhythm and accompaniment patterns. You
when selecting a different Element. To avoid this reset, see can select a Style from the internal memory, or from a card
“Prog (Program)” on page 49. (see “The DIRECT SD bank” on page 40).
1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (E-H) buttons on the right 1. Use the leftmost STYLE button to select a row of Style
side of the display, to select the Realtime (Keyboard) banks (upper, lower).
track you wish to assign a different Program to.

2. Select the STYLE bank containing the Style you are

BossaNova |STS1 looking for.
A Drum/Perc Piano01 E
B Bass01 Guitar01 F
C Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
G
VoxPad1
D H
The Style Select window appears.

2. Press the PROGRAM button. This changes the PRO-

GRAM/PERFORMANCE section into a Program selec-
Jazz Waltz 1
tor.
Mod.Swing1 Slow Blues
Mod.Swing2 Cay Blues
JazzWaltz1 St.LouisB
JazzWaltz2 Big Band1

3. Use the leftmost PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE button

to select a row of Program banks (upper, lower). 3. There are 2 pages for each bank, each containing 8
Styles. Select a page using the PAGE buttons.
4. As you find the Style you are looking for, select it using
the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons.
Note: The new Style will enter at the next strong beat.
4. Select the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE bank contain-
ing the Program you are looking for (Program banks are 5. If the DISPLAY HOLD LED is on, press EXIT to exit this
identified by instrument names). window.

The SINGLE TOUCH button

When you select a Style, the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks can
be changed or not.
The Program Select window appears. See “Programs • If the SINGLE TOUCH LED is on, the Single Touch Set-
(Program Change order)” on page 154 for a list of Fac- ting (STS) #1 is automatically selected, and the Realtime
tory Programs. tracks are changed. Programs, and the Keyboard Mode,
may change.
Last selected Program Selected track
• If the SINGLE TOUCH LED is off, Realtime tracks don’t
change.

Piano T:U1
Piano1 E.Piano2
Piano2 E.Piano3
Piano3 Harpsi
E.Piano1 Clavinet
 Basic operations 27
Selecting a Single Touch Setting (STS)

SELECTING A SINGLE TOUCH SETTING (STS) 5. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls, or the VOLUME/
VALUE (E-H) buttons to scroll the list. The E-F buttons
A Single Touch Setting (STS) contains Realtime (Keyboard)
are the Scroll Up ( ), while the G-H buttons are the
tracks’ settings. Four STS are included in each Style, and can
Scroll Down ( ).
be recalled by pressing the SINGLE TOUCH SETTING (F1-
F4) buttons under the display. Move the file you are looking for to the first line of the
display.
Note: You can select a STS only when you are in the main page
of the Style Play or Backing Sequence operating mode. 6. If the file you are
looking for is in a 0001 MYSONG.MID
folder (a file whose
CHANGING ALL KEYBOARD TRACKS AT ONCE
name begins with “ ”), move the folder to the first
Select a Performance or a Single Touch Setting (F1-F4 but-
line in the display, then select the F3 (OPEN) command.
tons, when you are in the Style Play main page) to change
Select the F4 (CLOSE) command to close a folder and
keyboard Programs and effects at the touch of a button.
go back to the upper level.
7. When the file you are looking for is in the first line of the
PLAYING A SONG FROM A CARD display, press the F2 (SELECT) button.
1. Insert the card containing the Song into the card drive. 8. When the Song appears in
2. Press the SONG PLAY button to access the Song Play the S1 line on the main page S1:MySong
mode. of the Song Play mode, press
the left (SEQ 1) PLAY/STOP button to start the play-
back.
Note: If the BALANCE slider is all the way to the right,
No song Sequencer 1 is at the minimum volume and can’t be
heard.
S1: Piano01
S2: Guitar01 9. If you wish to play a different Song on the Sequencer 2
Lyrics StrngEns2 at the same time, press the B (S2:) VOLUME/VALUE
VoxPad1 button (press it twice if a Song is already selected for
Sequencer 2), and repeat the above procedure to select a
3. Press the A (S1:) VOLUME/VALUE button to open the Song for Sequencer 2. Use the right (SEQ 2) PLAY/
Song Select window. STOP button to start/stop the second Song. Use the
BALANCE cursor to mix between Sequencer 1 and
Sequencer 2.
10. Stop the Song(s) using the PLAY/STOP button for the
corresponding Sequencer.
Song Selection
CLUB |
BALLADS SHORTCUT TO SEE THE ORIGINAL BANK FOR A
0001 MYSONG.MID |
SD SELECT OPEN CLOSE
STYLE, PERFORMANCE OR PROGRAM
You can see the original bank where your Style, Performance
or Program came from. Just keep the SHIFT button pressed,
Page commands and press the lefmost button of the STYLE or PROGRAM/
PERFORMANCE section. A message window will appear,
Note: You can access the Song Select window also by press- showing the name of the original bank.
ing the PAGE+ button from the main page. You can exit
Release the SHIFT button to exit the window.
this window either by pressing EXIT or PAGE-.
4. Press the F1 button to select the SD card drive (SD). The
card content appears.
28 Tutorial
1 - Playing in realtime

7. TUTORIAL
This chapter is fully devoted to step-by-step instructions, that the pointing arrow. You will hear the Dark Pad Program play
we hope may be useful to learn the basics—on-field. together with the Grand Piano.

1 - PLAYING IN REALTIME
As soon as you turn your Pa50SD on, it is in Style Play mode,
and you can play it in realtime. Please follow me… SoftBeat |STS1
Drum/Perc GrandPiano
1 Play on the keyboard. Bass01 DarkPad
Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
When you turn the Pa50SD on, Performance 1-1 (“Ste-
AnalogStr
reoGrand”) is automatically selected. This sets the Realtime
(Keyboard) tracks for you. In this case (unless someone mod-
ified this Performance earlier) you get the Upper 1 track play-
Press the F VOLUME/VALUE buttons
ing on the full keyboard range, with the Grand Piano
Program selected.
You may know there are four available Realtime tracks: 5 Press SPLIT on the KEYBOARD MODE section,
Upper 1-3 and Lower. Upper Realtime tracks may play on the and play.
full range of the keyboard (the selected KEYBOARD MODE Now, the keyboard is split in two parts: the Lower part on the
shall be FULL UPPER). Otherwise, the Lower track plays on left, and the Upper part on the right. The AnalogStr Program
the left of the Split Point, and the Upper tracks on the right is playing on the Lower part, while the Grand Piano and the
(KEYBOARD MODE shall be SPLIT). Dark Pad are playing on the Upper part.
If you are not satisfied with this setting at startup, just select
another Performance. Or change the track’s settings—as you
6 Set the split point.
will see in this tutorial—and save them into Performance 1-1. Not happy with the current split point? Keep the SPLIT
You’ll soon see how to do it. POINT button held down, and play the new split point on
the keyboard. You can even save this setting in memory (see
2 Select a different Performance. “The Write window” on page 125).
Is the PERFORM. LED switched on?
7 Mute/unmute various tracks.
Press both H VOLUME/VALUE buttons. You will mute the
Lower track.
If so, press one of the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE buttons,
and select a Performance with the VOLUME/VALUE buttons
(on the side of the display).
SoftBeat |STS1
Drum/Perc GrandPiano
Bass01 DarkPad
Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
StereoGrand AnalogStr

StereoGrand Blue
ClupPiano Legend
ForrestStr MrJazz
Press the H VOLUME/VALUE buttons
ResonPads OxydBrass

Press them again to unmute the Lower track.

Try also with the Upper tracks, using the E, F and G VOL-
Select a Performance with the VOLUME/VALUE buttons
UME/VALUE buttons. You will notice the sound becomes
Go on trying with the different Performances. We provided more or less fuller-sounding, depending on the number of
160 of them for you. tracks muted or unmuted.

3 Select Performance 1-1 (“Grand Piano”) again.

As above: press Performance bank 1, and use the A VOL-
UME/VALUE buttons to select Performance 1-1. SoftBeat |STS1
4 Unmute the Upper 2 track. Drum/Perc GrandPiano
Bass01 DarkPad
Press both F VOLUME/VALUE buttons. Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
The Upper 2 track will be selected and AnalogStr
unmuted. The Play icon will appear, sur-
rounded by the “selected track” frame and accompanied by
Press the E-G VOLUME/VALUE buttons
 Tutorial 29
2 - Playing a Style

8 Set the relative volume of the Realtime tracks. 2 - PLAYING A STYLE

Use each E-H VOLUME/VALUE button pair to set the vol- A Style will be your virtual band in your best solos. Select one
ume of the Realtime tracks. Press one of the VOLUME/ of the 304 Styles we fitted in this machine…
VALUE button to select a track. Then press the right one to
increase the volume, the left one to lower it. 1 OK, select your favorite musical Style.
Press the left one to lower… There are plenty of Styles to choose from. We will go with a
Jazz Style—the “Jazz Brush”. Let’s come on.
Select the second row of Styles. Press the leftmost STYLE but-
ton to switch the lower LED on.
…and the right one to raise.

9 Press FULL UPPER on the KEYBOARD MODE sec-

tion, and play.
Again, the Upper tracks can play across the full keyboard
range. Now, you are free to press button number 4, called “JAZZ 1”.
The Style Select window appears.
0 Save your track configuration in a Performance.
That’s all! When you find the right sound, you can press the
WRITE button to save the track configuration into a Perfor-
mance, a Single Touch Setting (STS), or a Style Performance.
SoftBeat
The Performance is a handy idea for saving Realtime tracks.
JazzBrush JazzWaltz1
See “The Write window” on page 42 for more information. Med.Swing JazzWaltz2
SlowSwing 5/4 Swing
SwingBallad Mood Swing

Press one of the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select “Jazz

Brush”.
2 Call an Intro.
You can engage an Intro, to be played before the Style. Press
INTRO1 or INTRO2. The former plays more freely, without
letting you decide of the chords. The latter lets you play a
chord progression during its playing.
3 Start the Style!
Play a chord, and press the START/STOP button. Then begin
playing. Usually (when the SPLIT LED is on) chords are rec-
ognized under the split point, i.e. on the Lower part of the
keyboard. With the UPPER or FULL Chord Scanning mode,
you must play three or more notes to have a chord recog-
nized.
4 Play your chords and your melody.
Go on playing. As you may notice, Pa50SD features a very
sophisticate chord recognition engine. Recognized chords are
shown in the display.
5 Make a break—or should we say “a fill”?
During your playing, you are free to call a one-bar break. Try
it:
PRESS BREAK
Do you see? Music stopped for one bar. Then, it is back again.
After a while, let’s go for something different…
PRESS FILL1 OR FILL2
No silence, this time. Pa50SD plays a complex passage to let
you take a breath. FILL1 is the simpler one, where the FILL2
is the more sophisticate. Usually, you will touch FILL1 when
playing with Variations 1 and 2 (the most easy), FILL2 when
in business with Variations 3 and 4 (more complex ones).
30 Tutorial
3 - Playing a Song

6 Select other Variations. 3 - PLAYING A SONG

There are four VARIATION buttons. These are four different Nothing easier than playing a Song on the Pa50SD. You don’t
versions of the same Style. Try them all! have even to load it from a card.
You can go to a Variation after a Fill. Just press a FILL button,
then, immediately after, a VARIATION button. 1 Move the BALANCE slider to the center.
This sets both onboard sequencers at the same level.
7 Stop it!
OK, you could say: “O, that’s easy, I know how to do it, I can 2 Insert the card containing the Song into the
just press that big red START/STOP button again”. card drive.
Yes, you are perfectly right. But that’s only the easy way. Let Make sure your card is FAT formatted. This is the typical
us suggest a different way: Window format, and you can make a card of this type also on
PRESS ENDING1 OR ENDING2 the Mac, by selecting the “DOS” option when initializing a
An ending is instantaneously called, and will begin playing, card.
to led the Style to a colorful end. As usual, ENDING1 is pre- 3 Press the SONG PLAY button to access the Song
programmed, while ENDING2 asks for your chord progres- Play mode.
sion. This is the display:

In Sync
A guy from the end of the classroom stands up asking:
“Huh, Sir, and what if I want to avoid all that START/STOP No song
thing? I mean, I prefer to have my hands free for music!” S1: Piano01
Good point. The SYNCHRO button is there right for this. S2: Guitar01
Lyrics StrngEns2
1 While the Style is stopped, press the SYN- VoxPad1

CHRO button.
The SYNCHRO-START LED begins flashing on. The Syn-
chro Start function is enabled. 4 Select a Song.
Another easy task. Press the A (S1:) VOLUME/VALUE button
2 Play a chord on the keyboard. to open the Song Select window.
You must play a chord for the chord recognition engine. Usu-
ally, it will be on the left of the split point, but it depends on
the CHORD SCANNING section.
The Style starts. Song Selection
3 Stop the Style as you better prefer. CLUB
BALLADS
|

You know how to do, isn’t it? 0001 MYSONG.MID |

SD SELECT OPEN CLOSE

Need more information?

Go to “Style Play operating mode” on page 40. The Reference Press the F1 button to select the card drive. The list of files in
Guide includes all the information you need. the card appears. Songs are files with the “.MID” or “.KAR”
extension. Pa50SD filters all other file types out for you.
Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls, or the VOLUME/VALUE
(E-H) buttons to scroll the list. The E-F buttons are the Scroll
Up ( ), while the G-H buttons are the Scroll Down ( ).
Move the Song to play to the first line of the display. Then
press the F2 (SELECT) button.
5 Press PLAY/STOP (SEQ1).
The playback begins.
6 If you like, select a Song for the Sequencer 2.
Press the B (S2:) VOLUME/VALUE button, and repeat the
above procedure to select the Song for Sequencer 2. Use the
right (SEQ 2) PLAY/STOP button to start/stop the second
Song. Use the BALANCE cursor to mix between Sequencer 1
and Sequencer 2.
7 Take a pause.
Press PAUSE to stop the playback without going back to mea-
sure 1. The PAUSE LED begins flashing.
Press PAUSE again to resume the playback.
 Tutorial 31
4 - Recording a Song

8 Stop it. 4 If you think the selected Style is not what you
Sure, the Song automatically stops when reaching the end. like for your backing tracks, select a different one.
But you can stop it before the end, just by pressing PLAY/ Well, you should already know how to do it (see “Selecting a
STOP again. Style” on page 26). But here is a fast reminder:
1. Select one of the Style rows in the STYLE section, using
4 - RECORDING A SONG the leftmost button.
2. Select one of the Style Banks, by pressing one of the but-
The Backing Sequence mode is a fast and effective way of tons of the STYLE section.
recording a new Song, making full use of the features of the
3. Select one of the pages, using the PAGE buttons.
Style Play mode. So, arm your recorder, and play live with the
4. Select a Style, using the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) but-
Styles—a song will be ready in seconds!
tons.
1 First, enter Backing Sequence mode As you may guess, the Style Bank and number appear after
Press B.SEQ to access the Backing Sequence mode. The Real- the “Style” parameter in the display.
time tracks, on the keyboard, will remain the same you
selected in the Style Play mode.
5 And what about changing the Performance or
Single Touch Setting?
As above, you should know the story (see “Selecting a Perfor-
mance” on page 25, or “Selecting a Single Touch Setting
(STS)” on page 27). But, here is a short recap for the Perfor-
BS:New Song mances:
Load Song Metro:Off
1. Press the PERFORM button to set the PROGRAM/PER-
Save Song Meter:4/4 FORMANCE section act as a Performance selector.
Sel.Tempo Tempo:Auto 2. Select one of the Performance Banks, by pressing one of
the buttons of the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE sec-
Don’t worry about this display: it’s something you don’t need tion.
to learn at this point. You may find more information on it, 3. Select a Performance, using the VOLUME/VALUE (A-
going to the Reference Guide (see “Backing Sequence operat- H) buttons.
ing mode” on page 82). …and for the Single Touch Settings (STS):
Suffice you to know this is the Backing Sequence Play page, • Press one of the SINGLE TOUCH SETTING buttons.
where you can load, play or save a Song. 6 Ok, now we can go.
2 Now, press RECORD. As you see, both the RT track and the Ch/Acc track are in
You are prompted to select either the Realtime recording RECord mode. This means you can start recording all you
mode, or the Chord/Acc Step recording mode. play in a realtime performance with the Styles. So,
PRESS START/STOP
WAIT FOR THE PRECOUNT TO REACH BAR 1
AND BEGIN PLAYING!
Record 7 Play as if you were playing live.
Realtime Recording
Chord/Acc Step Mode
You can do exactly what you do when playing with the Styles:
select a different Style, Performance, STS, different Variation,
a Fill, and Ending…
You can even start your recording with an Intro: just press
one of the INTRO buttons before pressing START/STOP to
3 Select the Realtime recording mode. start recording.
Simply press one of the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons. The
Record page appears. 8 Stop the Song.
To stop the Song, press either START/STOP or one of the
ENDING buttons. The Song will stop, but the Recording will
still be on. So, you can start with another Song to be recorded
in the same session (go back to step 6, if you like).
Rec:NewSong
Style:NewBossa 99%
Otherwise, finish the Recording, going to the next step.
Perf:01-01 Metro:On1
Resol:HI RT/Pad:REC
9 Finish the recording.
Sel.Tempo Ch/Acc:REC All done, boys/girls? Yes? Fine! Then you may
PRESS PLAY/STOP (SEQ1)
and the Recording status will be gone. Both Backing
Sequence tracks (RT and Ch/Acc) will be set to the PLAY sta-
tus.
32 Tutorial
5 - Editing a Song

0 Listen to the Song. 5 - EDITING A SONG

When back in the Backing Sequence Play page, press PLAY/ You can edit a Song, either a Standard MIDI File bought at
STOP (SEQ1) to listen to the new Song. How smart were the shop, or one of your Songs made in Backing Sequence
you? mode.
If the Song is fine, you can switch to the Song mode and do What about changing those boring General MIDI sounds
some editing. Or you can save it (as seen below), and play it with those gorgeous original KORG sounds? You can do it—
in Song Play mode. in Song mode.
0 And… if I want to delete and record again one 1 Press SONG to go to the Song mode.
of the tracks, or the whole Song? This is the Song garage, where you may find tools to reshape
That’s easy! your Song.
1. Press RECORD again to enter Record mode.

New Song
Rec:NewSong
Style:NewBossa 99% Load Song Metro:Off
Perf:01-01 Metro:On1 Save Song Meter:4/4
Resol:HI RT/Pad:REC Sel.Tempo Tempo:Auto
Sel.Tempo Ch/Acc:REC

2. Set the track to delete and record again to the REC sta- 2 Insert in the card drive the card containing the
tus. midifile you wish to edit.
3. Set the track you want to listen to during recording to Midifiles are files generated by a computer sequencer or a
the PLAY status. If you don’t want to delete it, but you musical instrument, usually after a conversion. For example,
don’t want to listen to it, set the track to the MUTE sta- if working with a computer, you should find a command
tus. whose name could sound a little like “Convert to .MID”. A
4. Start recording again. Anyway, if you are recording the midifile has a “.MID” or “.KAR” extension.
RT track, you can’t use the Style controls. 3 Load the Song.
5. Press PLAY/STOP (SEQ1) to finish the Song and exit Press one of the B VOLUME/VALUE buttons (corresponding
Recording mode. to the Load Song command). As expected, the Load page will
0 Time to save your Song, isn’t it? appear.
If you don’t save your Song, it is lost when you turn the
instrument off, or switch to the Song Play mode. So, save it to
a card. See “Save Song page” on page 84.
Load Song
BALLADS |
Need more information?
MYSONGS
Go to “Backing Sequence operating mode” on page 82. The MYSONG.MID |

Reference Guide includes all the information you need. SD LOAD OPEN CLOSE

If you replaced the card, press F1 (SD) to read the SD card

again.
Move the midifile to load to the first line of the display. Use
the DIAL or the UP and DOWN buttons to scroll the list; or
use the E-F (Scroll Up) or G-H (Scroll down) VOLUME/
VALUE buttons.
When the midifile is on the first line of the display, press F2
(Load) to load it. The “Are you sure?” message will appear.
Press ENTER to confirm.
Note: When loading a Standard MIDI File, the first MIDI
events are converted to the Song Performance events. You will
see them as the Programs, Volume, Pan, Effect settings assigned
to the tracks.
 Tutorial 33
5 - Editing a Song

4 Listen to the Song. 2. Select the track you wish to assign a different Program
After loading you are back to the main page of the Song using the VOLUME/VALUE buttons. Press one of the
mode. buttons corresponding to the track to select. For exam-
ple, one of the A buttons to select track 1:

MySong
MySong
Load Song Metro:Off Piano1 Piano1
Save Song Meter:4/4 DkStrings Guitar01
Sel.Tempo Tempo:Auto Legato StrngEns2
BrassyHorn VoxPad1

Press PLAY/STOP (SEQ1) to listen to the Song. The LED on

the button turns on. 3. Select a Program. You should know how to do. If not,
Does it sound good? If it is a General MIDI-compatible mid- what about going back for a little to the “Basic opera-
ifile, there is a good chance it does. But we can further tions” chapter, “Selecting a Program” section, page 26?
improve on it. It will be of a great help in the future…
Which Programs to choose? With >660 Programs, you
5 Stop the Song. will for sure find your preferred sound. Just browse any
This one is easy: press PLAY/STOP (SEQ1). The LED on the Program bank, and listen to them. Turn on the DIS-
PLAY/STOP button turns off. PLAY HOLD LED, to stay in the Selecting Window until
Please, always remember: make any changes to the Song you have found the right Program. (Then, press EXIT or
when the sequencer is not playing. Otherwise, a Stop com- DISPLAY HOLD to exit the window.)
mand will reset all your changes. 4. Execute as many changes as you like to the other tracks.
(Not funny, huh?)
7 Change the volume.
6 Select different Programs. Yes, this is another obvious change. Press MENU to open the
You can replace General MIDI Programs with KORG Pro- edit menu.
grams. It will sound more rich, more lively.
1. Press TRACK SELECT to see tracks 1-8. The LED turns
on.
Song Edit MENU
Mixer/Tun. Transp/Vel
Effects Del/Cut-Ins

MySong Track Edit Copy

Quantize Event Edit
Piano1 Piano1
DkStrings Guitar01
Legato StrngEns2
Press one of the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons, to select the
BrassyHorn VoxPad1
Mixer/Tuning item. Suddenly, a Volume edit page appears…

You are watching at tracks 1-8. You can switch to tracks

9-16 by pressing the TRACK SELECT button again.
Mixer:Volume
|||| 090 |||| 090
|||| 090 |||| 092

MySong |||| 090 |||| 086

|||| 090 ||||| 112
Strings1 VocaEns
DkStrings Bassi
Legato StrngEns2
Select a track, and use the DIAL or the UP and DOWN but-
BrassyHorn Strings2
tons, or the VOLUME/VALUE buttons, to change the track’s
volume.
If you press TRACK SELECT again, you are back to the Modify all tracks you think need to be modified.
main page. Press TRACK SELECT AGAIN to go to
tracks 1-8…
34 Tutorial
6 - The Arabic Scale

8 Save the Song. 6 - THE ARABIC SCALE

Your changes will be lost when you load a new Song, switch You can program an Arabic scale in real time, by assigning a
to the Song Play mode, or turn the instrument off. So, press footswitch or a pad the “Quarter Tone” function.
EXIT to go back to the main page of the Song mode. Another way of changing the scale is assigning it to a Perfor-
mance or Single Touch Setting (STS), but this is the most
convenient way to change the pitch in real time.

MySong 1 Program a footswitch to be the Quarter

tone switch.
Load Song Metro:Off Simply go to the Global environment, and reach “Page 3 -
Save Song Meter:4/4 Assignable Pedal/Footswitch, Assignable Slider”. There, you
Sel.Tempo Tempo:Auto
will find the “P/S (Pedal/Switch)” parameter, to which you
can assign the Quarter tone function.
Press one of the C VOLUME/VALUE buttons, to select the Press WRITE to save the Global status in memory (see “The
Save Song command. Save your Song with a new name. How Write window” on page 125).
to accomplish this simple operation is described in great
details on page 90 (“Save Song page”).
2 Lower some note pitches.
Note: When saving a Song the Song Performance events (initial Keep the Quarter tone pedal pressed. The keyboard will not
Program, Volume, Pan, Effect Send settings) are saved at the play at this time. Press the notes you want to lower a quarter
beginning of the Standard MIDI File. Effect settings are saved as of tone. Release the pedal.
Pa50SD SysEx events, ignored by other musical instruments. 3 Play with your new scale.
The notes you pressed are now lowered of a quarter of tone.
Other editings
4 Reset the original scale.
The Volume is not the only parameter you can edit. You can
Press the Quarter tone pedal again. All pitches will be reset,
edit a lot more things, like the Pan, the Effects, the Tuning…
and the scale selected by the Performance, STS or Style Per-
you can even use up to 4 effects (A-D Internal FX Proces-
formance will be recalled.
sors), but this will be useful only when reading the Song back
on the Pa50SD only, since other General MIDI-compliant
instruments use only 2 effects. Need more information?
As stated, you can assign an alternative scale to a Perfor-
Need more information? mance or STS. Go to “Page 5 - Tuning: Scale” on page 44, and
give also a look to the “Scale Mode” parameter (see page 51).
Go to “Song operating mode” on page 88. The Reference
Guide includes all the information you need.
 MIDI 35
What is MIDI?

8. MIDI
WHAT IS MIDI? • CC64, or Damper Pedal. Use this controller to simulate
the Damper pedal.
Here is a brief overview of MIDI, as related to the Pa50SD. If
interested, you may find more information on the general use
of MIDI in the various specialized magazines and books. Tempo
Tempo is a global MIDI message, that is not tied to a particu-
In general lar channel. Each Song includes Tempo data.
MIDI stands for Musical Instruments Digital Interface. This
interface lets you connect two musical instruments, or a Lyrics
computer and various musical instruments. Lyrics are non-standard MIDI events, made to display text
Physically, MIDI is composed of three different connectors. together with the music. Pa50SD can read many of the avail-
The MIDI IN receives data from another device; the MIDI able Lyrics format on the market.
OUT sends data to another device; the MIDI THRU sends to
another device exactly what was received on the MIDI IN MIDIFILES
(this is useful to daisy-chain more instruments).
Midifiles, or Standard MIDI Files (SMF), are a practical way
of exchanging songs between different instruments and com-
Channels and messages puters. Pa50SD has the SMF format as its default song for-
Basically, a MIDI cable transmits 16 channels of data. Think mat, so reading a song from a computer, or saving a song that
to each MIDI channel as a TV channel: the receiver must be a computer software can read, is not a problem at all.
set on the same channel of the transmitter. The same happens Pa50SD sequencers are compatible with the SMF in format 0
with MIDI messages: when you send a Note On message on (all data in one track; it is the most common format) and 1
channel 1, it will be received on channel 1 only. This allows (multitrack). It can read the SMF in Song Play mode and
for multitimbricity: you can have more than one sound play- modify/save them in Song mode. It can save a Song in SMF 0
ing on the same MIDI instrument. format in the Backing Sequence or Song mode.
There are various messages, but here are the most commonly When in Song Play mode, the Pa50SD can also display SMF
used: lyrics in Solton, M-Live (Midisoft), Tune1000 and compati-
Note On – This message instructs an instrument to play a ble (Edirol, GMX, HitBit, XF) formats, and the chord abbre-
note on a specific channel. Notes have both a name (C4 viations of SMF in Solton, M-live (Midisoft), GMX, and XF
standing for the center C) and a number (60 being the equiv- format.
alent for C4). A Note Off message is often used to say the note
has been released. In some case, a Note On with value “0” is
used instead.
THE GENERAL MIDI STANDARD
Together with the Note On message, a Velocity value is always Some years ago, the musical instruments world felt a need for
sent. This value tells the instrument how loud the note must some further standardization. Then, the General MIDI Stan-
play. dard (GM) was born. This extension of the basic MIDI sets
Pitch Bend (PB) – You can generate this message acting on new rules for compatibility between instruments:
the joystick (X movement). The pitch is translated up or • A minimum of 16 MIDI channels was required.
down. • A basic set of 128 Programs, correctly ordered, was
Program Change (PC)– When you select a Program, a Pro- mandatory.
gram Change message is generated on the channel. Use this • The Drum Kit had a standard order.
message, together with Control Change 00 and 32, to • Channel 10 had to be devoted to the Drum Kit.
remotely select Pa50SD data from a sequencer or a master A most recent extension is the GM2, that further expands the
keyboard. Programs database. The Pa50SD is soundwise-compatible
Control Change (CC) – This is a wide array of messages, with the GM2 standard.
controlling most of the instrument parameters. Some exam-
ples: THE GLOBAL CHANNEL
• CC00, or Bank Select MSB, and CC32, or Bank Select
Any channels with the Global option assigned (see “Page 6 -
LSB. This message pair is used, together with the Pro-
MIDI IN Channels” on page 127) can simulate the Pa50SD
gram Change message, to select a Program.
integrated keyboard. When the Pa50SD is connected to a
• CC01, or Modulation. This is the equivalent of pressing
master keyboard, transmission should take place over the
up the joystick. A vibrato effect is usually triggered on.
Global channel of the Pa50SD.
• CC07, or Master Volume. Use this controller to set the
The MIDI messages received over a Global channel and not
channel’s volume.
over a standard channel are affected by the buttons of the
• CC10, or Pan. This one sets the channel’s position on KEYBOARD MODE section, as well from the split point.
the stereo front. Therefore, if the SPLIT button LED is lit up, the notes that
arrive to the Pa50SD over this channel will be divided by the
36 MIDI
The Chord 1 and Chord 2 channels

split point into the Upper (above the split point) and Lower CONNECTING PA50SD TO A MASTER
(below the split point) parts.
The notes that arrive to a Global channel are used for the
KEYBOARD
chord recognition of the automatic accompaniment. If the You can control the Pa50SD with a master keyboard or any
KEYBOARD MODE is SPLIT, only the notes below the split other MIDI keyboard. You only need to connect the MIDI
point will be used. These notes will be combined with the OUT connector of the master keyboard to the MIDI IN con-
ones of the special Chord 1 and Chord 2 channels. nector of the Pa50SD. The master keyboard will become the
integrated keyboard of the Pa50SD if it transmits over the
same channel programmed as Global in the Pa50SD.
THE CHORD 1 AND CHORD 2 CHANNELS
You can set two special Chord channels (see page 128) to
send to the Pa50SD notes for the chord recognition. The
notes will be combined with the notes that go through the
channel set as Global (Global notes are recognized only
under the split point, if the SPLIT LED is lit up).
The Chord channels are not affected by the split point and MIDI IN
the KEYBOARD MODE section of the control panel. All the
notes – both above and below the split point – will be sent to
the chord recognition. MIDI OUT

The buttons of the CHORD SCANNING section have a par-

ticular effect on the Chord channels:
• if you have selected LOWER, the chord recognition
mode will be set by the “Chord Recognition Mode”
parameter in the Style Play mode (see page 50); If the master keyboard transmits over the Global channel of
• if you have selected UPPER or FULL, the chord recogni- the Pa50SD, the split point and the status of the KEYBOARD
tion mode will always be Fingered 2 (you need to play at MODE section in the control panel will affect the notes
least three notes in order for the chord to be detected). received from the master keyboard.
These two channels are especially useful for accordion players
to assign a different Chord channel to the chords and the bass Connections and settings
played with the left hand. In this way, chords and bass will To connect the master keyboard to the Pa50SD follow this
participate to the creation of chords for the chord recogni- procedure:
tion of the automatic accompaniment. 1. Connect the MIDI OUT connector of the master key-
board to the MIDI IN connector of the Pa50SD.
THE CONTROL CHANNEL 2. Program the master keyboard to transmit over the Glo-
You can set a MIDI IN channel as the Control channel (see bal channel of the Pa50SD (see “Page 6 - MIDI IN
page 127), to select Styles and Performance from an external Channels” on page 127).
device. See the Appendix for a list of messages corresponding For information on the master keyboard programming,
to Pa50SD internal data. see the user’s manual of the master keyboard.
3. Press GLOBAL to enter the Global mode, then go to
“Page 4 - MIDI Setup” (see page 126).
MIDI SETUP 4. Select the Master Keyboard Setup.
You can play Pa50SD with an external controller, and use it Note: The settings can change when new data is loaded
simply as a gorgeous sound generator. To help you configure from a card. To protect the settings from loading, use the
the MIDI channels, we have provided a set of MIDI Setups. Global Protect function (see “Global Protect” on
Go to Global mode to select the one that fits your MIDI page 141).
needs. (See “Page 4 - MIDI Setup” on page 126 for more 5. Press WRITE, select Global, and press ENTER to save
information). the Global. The “Are you sure?” message will appear.
We recommend you to consider each MIDI Setup as a start- Press ENTER to confirm, or EXIT to abort.
ing point you can freely tweak. Once you have selected the 6. Press one of the buttons in the MODE section to go to
most appropriate MIDI Setup for the connection to be made, the desired operative mode.
you can modify the parameters as necessary and save the Glo-
bal in the memory with the Write function (see “The Write
window” on page 125).
 MIDI 37
Connecting the Pa50SD to a MIDI accordion

CONNECTING THE PA50SD TO A MIDI 3. Go to “Page 4 - MIDI Setup” (see page 126). Select the
Ext.Seq Setup.
ACCORDION Note: The settings can change when new data is loaded
There are different types of MIDI accordion and each type from a card. To protect the settings from loading, use the
requires a different configuration of the Pa50SD. Select one of Global Protect function (see “Global Protect” on
the MIDI “Accordion” Setups to configure the module prop- page 141).
erly (see page 126). 4. Press WRITE, select Global, and press ENTER to save
the Global. The “Are you sure?” message will appear.
Connection and settings Press ENTER to confirm, or EXIT to abort.
To connect the accordion to the Pa50SD follow this proce- 5. Set the Upper 1 track in play, and press FULL UPPER in
dure: the KEYBOARD MODE section. This way, you can
transmit to the external sequencer on the full keyboard
1. Connect the MIDI OUT connector of the accordion to
range.
the MIDI IN connector of the Pa50SD.
6. At this point, the notes played on the Upper 1 track go
2. Press GLOBAL to enter the Global mode, then go to
from the MIDI OUT of the Pa50SD to the MIDI IN of
“Page 4 - MIDI Setup” (see page 126).
the computer/MIDI interface.
3. Select one of the Accordion Setups.
The notes generated by the computer (i.e. a Song played
Note: The settings can change when new data is loaded
by its sequencer) are sent thru the MIDI OUT of the
from a card. To protect the settings from loading, use the
MIDI interface to the MIDI IN connector of the
Global Protect function (see “Global Protect” on
Pa50SD.
page 141).
4. Press WRITE, select Global, and press ENTER to save
the Global. The “Are you sure?” message will appear. The Local Off
Press ENTER to confirm, or EXIT to abort. When the Pa50SD is connected to an external sequencer, we
5. Press one of the buttons in the MODE section to go to recommend you to set the Pa50SD in Local Off mode (see
the desired operative mode. “Local” on page 127) to avoid that the notes are simulta-
neously played by the keyboard and by the MIDI events sent
by the external sequencer.
CONNECTING THE PA50SD TO AN EXTERNAL
When the Pa50SD is in Local Off, the Pa50SD keyboard
SEQUENCER transmits data to the external sequencer, but not to the inter-
You can program a new Song on an external sequencer, using nal sound generation. The sequencer will receive the notes
Pa50SD as a multi-timbral expander. played on the Pa50SD keyboard (Upper 1) and send them to
the selected track of the song. The track will transmit the data
Connections and settings to the internal sound generation of the Pa50SD.
Note: In order to send data to the Pa50SD sound generation,
In order to connect the Pa50SD to a computer, you need to the “MIDI Thru” function must be activated in the external
have a computer with the MIDI interface. sequencer (normally active; the name may be different accord-
1. Connect the Pa50SD and the computer as in the follow- ing to the type of sequencer). For more information refer to the
ing diagram. instructions manual of the sequencer.

MIDI OUT The programs

MIDI IN
The Song that is played back by the computer sequencer can
select the Pa50SD Programs through the MIDI messages
Bank Select MSB and Bank Select LSB (bank selection, two
messages) and Program Change (program selection). For a
list of Programs and MIDI values, see “Programs (Program
Change order)” on page 154.
MIDI IN MIDI OUT A suggestion for those who program songs on computer:
Even though it is not essential, you usually set the bass on
channel 2, melody on channel 4, drum kit on channel 10,
control for an external voice harmonizer on channel 5.

2. Press GLOBAL, and go to “Page 5 - MIDI Controls”. Set

the Local parameter to Off (see page 127).
38 MIDI
Playing another instrument with the Pa50SD

PLAYING ANOTHER INSTRUMENT WITH THE Tracks to the External status (see “Page 15 - Track: Internal/
External” on page 46).
PA50SD
You can use the Pa50SD as the master controller for your The Sequencer
MIDI setup.
Any Sequencer’s track can drive a channel on an external
1. Connect Pa50SD’s MIDI OUT to the other instrument’s
instrument. To set each track’s MIDI output channel, see
MIDI IN.
“Page 10 - MIDI OUT Channels” on page 129.
2. Set-up the other instrument’s tracks to the same chan-
To hear only the expander’s sounds, you can lower the MAS-
nels you want to play from Pa50SD. For example, if you
TER VOLUME control on the Pa50SD, or set the Song tracks
wish to play the Upper 1 and Upper 2 tracks with the
to the External status (see “Page 8 - Track: Internal/External”
other instrument’s sound, set the other instrument to
on page 78).
receive on the same channels of the Upper 1 and Upper
Select the Sequencer 1 or Sequencer 2 MIDI Setup (depend-
2 tracks (by default, channels 1 and 2).
ing on the Sequencer you are using on the Pa50SD) to set the
3. Set the general volume of the other instrument with its
channels as follows.
own volume controls.
4. Mute/unmute any track right from the Pa50SD front
Track Out Channel
panel. Set each track’s volume using Pa50SD own VOL-
UME/VALUE controls. Song 1…16 1…16
5. Play on Pa50SD’s keyboard.
The Arranger
The Keyboard One of the most interesting aspect of MIDI, is that you can
Pa50SD’s physical keyboard can drive up to 4 tracks via the use your Pa50SD to play an external instrument with its
MIDI OUT (Upper 1-3 and Lower). MIDI output channels onboard arranger. Yes, it’s hard to beat the audio quality of
are set in Global mode (see “Page 10 - MIDI OUT Channels” Pa50SD, but you could wish to use that old faithful synth you
on page 129). are still accustomed to…
As a default situation (Default Setup), each of Pa50SD Real- To assign some of Pa50SD Style tracks to an external instru-
time Tracks transmit on these channels: ment, set them to the External status (see “Page 15 - Track:
Internal/External” on page 46).
Track Out Channel Select the Default MIDI Setup to set the channels as follows
(this is the default status of Pa50SD).
Upper1 1
Upper2 2
Track Out Channel
Upper3 3
Bass 9
Lower 4
Drums 10

When a track is in mute, it can’t transmit any MIDI data to Percussion 11

an external expander or sequencer connected Pa50SD’s MIDI Acc1…5 12…16
OUT.
To hear only the expander’s sounds, you can lower the MAS-
TER VOLUME control on the Pa50SD, or set the Realtime
REFERENCE GUIDE
40 Style Play operating mode
What’s a Style?

9. STYLE PLAY OPERATING MODE

The Style Play mode is the boot-up operating mode. When in
this mode, you can play Styles (i.e. automatic accompani-
Folder DIRECT SD pages
ments), or just play with one to four Realtime tracks on the
keyboard (Upper 1…3 and Lower). *.SET > STYLE > USER01 1, 2
*.SET > STYLE > USER02 3, 4

WHAT’S A STYLE? *.SET > STYLE > USER03 5, 6

A Style is a rhythm/accompaniment structure, that simulates

a band backing your solos. How to make the DIRECT SD bank
In a vertical direction, it is composed of 8 different tracks To configure the DIRECT SD bank, save your Styles into the
(Drums, Percussion, Bass, and 5 different harmonic or first folder in the card. Folders are read in alphabetical order.
melodic instruments). You can play on the keyboard with 4 Note: The following procedures requires you overwrite the User
more Realtime tracks (Upper 1-3 and Lower). Style banks. Save these banks before proceeding, to avoid loosing
In a horizontal direction, it is a series of Style Elements (i.e., important data.
the various sets of patterns for each chord and each of the 1. Insert the card into the card drive.
Intros, Variations, Fills, Breaks and Endings). 2. Press SD CARD and go to the Load page.

STYLES AND PERFORMANCES

Styles and Performances are linked in many ways.
• When the SINGLE TOUCH LED is on, selecting a Style Card:Load
NEWNAME.SET |
also changes the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks (a Single LIVE.SET
Touch Setting is selected). The Performance settings are ETHNICA.SET |
overridden. SD LOAD OPEN CLOSE

• When the STYLE CHANGE LED is on, selecting a Per-

formance also selects a Style (the one whose number is
3. Use the F1 (SD) button to rescan the SD card.
memorized with the Performance).
4. Load three banks of Styles, to be transformed into the
• When pressing the WRITE button, you can save the
DIRECT SD bank.
track’s settings either in a Performance, a Style Perfor-
5. Go to the Save page.
mance, or a Single Touch Setting (STS).

CHANGING AND RESETTING THE TEMPO

While in the main page of the Style Play mode, you can Card:Save
change the Tempo using the DIAL or the DOWN/- and UP/+ ALL

buttons.
In any other page, keep the SHIFT button pressed, and use SD SAVE OPEN CLOSE
the DIAL to change the Tempo.
To recall the Tempo stored in the current Style, keep the
SHIFT button pressed, and press one of the DOWN/- or UP/ 6. While the “ALL” item is selected, press F3 (Open) to
+ buttons. open it.
7. Use the E-F (Scroll Up) and G-H (Scroll Down) VOL-
UME/VALUE buttons (or the TEMPO/VALUE section
THE DIRECT SD BANK controls) to move the “STYLE” item to the first line of
In addition to the internal memory Styles, you can have the display, and press F2 (Save).
DIRECT SD Styles, directly accessed from the card. 8. Select the SD card (SD) as the target, using the F1 but-
Just insert a card, and press the DIRECT SD Style bank. The ton.
card drive will read the first (in alphabetical order) “.SET” 9. The card directory appears. Use the E-F (Scroll Up) and
folder in the card, and will give you direct access to the Styles G-H (Scroll Down) VOLUME/VALUE buttons (or the
it contains (no loading required). TEMPO/VALUE section controls), to scroll the card
Browse through the DIRECT SD Styles using the PAGE but- content. Move the first folder of the directory to the first
tons. You can have up to 6 pages, and up to 48 DIRECT SD line of the display.
Styles in a card. 10. Press ENTER twice to save the banks.
 Style Play operating mode 41
Main page

MAIN PAGE VALUE buttons. To unmute, press both buttons again. To

change the volume, select the track, then keep one of the but-
This is the page you see after you turn the instrument on. tons pressed.
To access this page from another operating mode, press the
C (Acc.1-5 grouped tracks)
STYLE PLAY button.
Use these buttons to select, mute/unmute or change the vol-
Note: When switching from Song Play to Style Play, a Perfor-
ume of the instrumental accompaniment tracks (tracks 1-5,
mance is automatically selected, and various track parameters
other than Bass, Drum and Percussion). To mute these
may change.
tracks, press both VOLUME/VALUE buttons. To unmute
To return to this page from one of the Style Play edit pages, them, press both buttons again. To change the volume, keep
press the EXIT/NO button. one of the buttons pressed.
To switch between the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks and the
E (Upper 1 Program), F (Upper 2 Program), G (Upper 3 Pro-
Style tracks, use the TRACK SELECT button.
gram), H (Lower Program)
Selected STS or Name of the Programs assigned to the Realtime (Keyboard)
Style Play icon Selected Style Performance tracks. Use these buttons to select, mute/unmute or change
the volume of the corresponding tracks.

STYLE TRACKS PAGE

SoftBeat |STS1 To see and edit the Style tracks, press TRACK SELECT from
Drum/Perc GrandPiano
the main page. The TRACK SELECT LED turns on.
Bass01 DarkPad
Acc.1-5 StrngEns2
AnalogStr

SoftBeat |STS1
Brush 2 Piano01
Accompaniment (backing) tracks (grouped) Perc Kit Guitar01
*AcouBass StrngEns2
Realtime (Keyboard) tracks
AcouPiano2 VoxPad1

Style Play icon

When on, this icon indicates that the instrument is in Style Press the TRACK SELECT button once again to go back to
Play mode. the main page.
Selected Style A-H (Style Track Programs)
Currently selected Style. Name of the Programs assigned to the Style tracks. Use these
Selected STS or Performance buttons to select, mute/unmute or change the volume of the
The last selected Single Touch Setting (STS) or Performance. corresponding tracks.
A (Drum/Perc grouped tracks)
Use these buttons to select, mute/unmute or change the vol- HOW TO SELECT PROGRAMS
ume of both Drum and Percussion tracks (grouped together) You can assign a different Program to each of the Realtime
at the same time. To mute these tracks, press both VOLUME/ (Keyboard) and Style tracks. See “Selecting a Program” on
VALUE buttons. To unmute, press both buttons again. To page 26 for more information.
change the volume, select the track, then keep one of the but- After selecting a new Program, save your changes into a Per-
tons pressed. formance, Style or STS (see below “The Write window” sec-
B (Bass track Program name) tion).
Name of the Program assigned to the Bass backing track. Use Note: If you select a Program while grouped tracks (Drum/Per-
these buttons to select, mute/unmute or change the volume cussion or ACC) are selected, the Program will be assigned to
of the Bass track. To mute this track, press both VOLUME/ the last selected track.
42 Style Play operating mode
The Write window

THE WRITE WINDOW MENU

Open this window by pressing the WRITE button. Here, you From any page, press MENU to open the Style Play edit
can save all track settings into a Performance, the Realtime menu. This menu gives access to the various Style Play edit
(Keyboard) track settings into a Single Touch Setting, or the sections.
Style track settings into the current Style Performance. When in the menu, select an edit section using the VOLUME/
VALUE (A-H) buttons, select an edit page using PAGE +, or
press EXIT to exit the menu.
When in an edit page, press EXIT to go back to the main page
Write to of the Style Play operating mode.
Perf.Name:
Perf.No.:
STS No.:
Current Style
Style Play Menu
Mixer RT Ctrls
1. Select the kind of object you want to save your tracks Tuning Sty Ctrls
into. Effects Input/Pad
Track Edit Preferences
• Select the “Perf No.” line to save all tracks (and the cur-
rent selected Style settings) into a Performance. Use the
corresponding VOLUME/VALUE buttons, or the Each item in this menu corresponds to an edit section. Each
TEMPO/VALUE section controls, to select a Perfor- edit section groups various edit pages.
mance location in memory. The name of the Perfor-
mance already at the target destination will be shown.
EDIT PAGE STRUCTURE
• Select the “STS No.” line to save the Realtime (Key-
board) tracks into a Single Touch Setting (STS). Use the Select an edit section from the Menu, and/or use the PAGE
corresponding VOLUME/VALUE buttons or the buttons to reach the desired page.
TEMPO/VALUE section controls, to select a Single Press EXIT to go back to the main page of the Style Play
Touch Setting number. mode.
• Select the Current Style line, to save the Style tracks All edit pages share the same structure.
into the current Style Performance. Style Play icon Page header Page number

If you select… …you save… …to this location…

Performance All track settings, Selected Performance

selected Style
number, Master
Transpose Mixer:Volume
STS Realtime (Key- Selected Single Touch |||||| 127 ||||| 090
board) track set- Setting (a part of the ||||| 100 ||| | 092
tings current Style) |||||| 127 || || 086
|||||| 112
Current Style Style track set- Current Style Perfor-
tings, Master mance
Transpose
Style Play icon
2. If you are saving a Performance, you can change its When on, this icon indicates that the instrument is in Style
name. Select the “Perf name” line. Play mode.
Move the cursor using the DOWN/- and UP/+ buttons. Page header
Select a character using the DIAL. Insert a character at The header shows the name of the current edit page. As a
the cursor position by pressing the INSERT button. general rule, the header is divided into a first word, identify-
Delete a character at the cursor position by pressing the ing the section name (e.g., “Mixer:FX Send” is a “Mixer” sec-
DELETE button. tion page), and a second word, referring to the page name
3. Press ENTER to save the settings in memory. The “Are (e.g. “FX Send”).
you sure?” message appears. Press ENTER to confirm, Section name Page name
or EXIT to abort.

Mixer:FX Send
Page number
This area shows the current page number.
A-H
Each pair of VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons selects a differ-
ent parameter of command, depending on the edit page.
After selecting a parameter, you can change its value by press-
 Style Play operating mode 43
Page 1 - Mixer: Volume

ing one of the two buttons in a pair, or using the TEMPO/ R+63 Hard Right.
VALUE controls. Off The direct (uneffected) signal does not go to
the outputs; only the FX signal is heard for this
PAGE 1 - MIXER: VOLUME track.

This page lets you set the volume for each of the Realtime
(Keyboard) or Style tracks. PAGE 3 - MIXER: FX SEND
Use the TRACK SELECT button to switch from the Realtime This page lets you set the level of the track’s direct (unef-
(Keyboard) tracks to the Style tracks, and vice versa. fected) signal going to the Internal FX processors. The effect
processors included in Pa50SD are connected in parallel, so
you can decide which percentage of the direct signal should
be effected:
Mixer:Volume
Track Output
|||||| 127 ||||| 090
||||| 100 ||| | 092
|||||| 127 || || 086
FX Processor
|||||| 112

There are four Internal FX processors in Style Play mode. You

can assign them any kind of available effects, but we found it
convenient to arrange them in the following way, for all the
Styles included with the Pa50SD:
Mixer:Volume A Reverb processor for the Style tracks.
|||||| 110 ||||| 090
B Modulating FX processor for the Style tracks.
||||| 100 ||| | 092 C Reverb processor for the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks.
|||||| 110 || || 086 D Modulating FX processor for the Realtime (Keyboard)
|||||| 110 |||||| 112
tracks.
Use the TRACK SELECT button to switch from the Realtime
Volume (Keyboard) tracks to the Style tracks, and vice-versa.
Track’s volume.
0…127 MIDI value of the track’s volume.

Mixer:FX Send
PAGE 2 - MIXER: PAN - - - - - - C:100 D:050
This page lets you set the pan (position in the stereo front) A:127 B:020 C:100 D:050
for each track. - - - - - - C:100 D:050
C:100 D:050
Use the TRACK SELECT button to switch from the Realtime
(Keyboard) tracks to the Style tracks, and vice-versa.

Mixer:Pan Mixer:FX Send

- - - - - C+00 A:100 B:050 A:100 B:050
R+20 || C+00 A:127 B:020 A:100 B:050
- - - - - C+10 | A:110 B:050 A:100 B:050
C+00 A:100 B:050 A:100 B:050

To select a parameter and edit its value:

1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons to select a
track.
Mixer:Pan 2. Use the F1-F4 buttons to select one of the effect proces-
|||L-64 C+00 sors.
R+10 || C+00 3. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the value.
C+00 |L-10
C+00 C+00 Send level
000 No effect. Only the direct (uneffected) signal
goes to the outputs.
Pan 127 100% effect. The direct (uneffected) and
L-64 Hard Left. effected signals go to the outputs with the same
C+00 Center. level.
44 Style Play operating mode
Page 4 - Tuning: Detune

PAGE 4 - TUNING: DETUNE PAGE 6 - TUNING: PITCHBEND SENSITIVITY

This page is the place where you can set the fine tuning for This page lets you program the Pitch Bend range for the Real-
each track. time (Keyboard) tracks.
Use the TRACK SELECT button to switch from the Realtime
(Keyboard) tracks to the Style tracks, and vice-versa.

Tuning:PB sens.
- - - - - 02
Tuning:Detune - - - - - 02
- - - - - 02
- - - - - +00
02
+00 +00
- - - - - +00
+00
Parameters
These parameters show the Pitch Bend range for each track,
in semitones.
01…12 Maximum up/down pitchbend range (in semi-
tones). 12 = ±1 octave.
Tuning:Detune Off No pitchbend allowed.
- - - - - +00
- - - - - +00
+00 +00 PAGE 7 - FX: A/B SELECT
+00 +00
This page enables you to select the A and B effects. Usually,
the A effect is the reverb, and the B effect is the modulating
Detune effect for the Style tracks.
This is the fine tuning value.
-64 Lowest pitch.
00 Standard tuning.
+63 Highest pitch. FX:A/B Select
A:02 B:89
Compressor Rev-Gate
PAGE 5 - TUNING: SCALE
ModTrk:Up1 B>Asend:127
This page lets you program the alternative scale for the
selected tracks (see “Scale Mode” on page 51). The remaining
tracks use the Scale set in the Global mode (see “Scale” on A, B
page 125). Effects assigned to the A and B effect processors. Usually, A is
the reverb, while B is the modulating effect (chorus, flanger,
delay…). For a list of the available effects, see “Effects” on
page 175.
Tuning:Scale ModTrk (Modulating Track)
Scale:User Source track for modulating MIDI messages. You can modu-
Key:C
Note:C#
late an effect parameter with a MIDI message generated by a
Detune:+63 physical controller.
B>Asend (B>A Send)
Amount of the B effect going back to the input of the A effect.
Scale
Selected scale. See “Scales” on page 227 for a list of the avail-
able scales. PAGE 8 - FX: C/D SELECT
Key This page lets you select the C and D effects. Usually, the C
Parameter required for some Scales, when you should select a effect is the reverb, and the D effect is the modulating effect
preferred key. for the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks.
Note
Note in edit, to be detuned. This parameter can be accessed
when a User Scale is selected.
FX:C/D Select
Detune
C:02 D:89
Note detune, relative to the standard Equal tuning. This Compressor Rev-Gate
parameter can be accessed when a User Scale is selected.
ModTrk:Up1 D>Csend:127
 Style Play operating mode 45
Page 9 - FX: A editing

C, D You can also change the volume for each class of Drums and
Effects assigned to the C and D effect processors. Usually, C is Percussion, if the selected track is set in Drum mode (see
the reverb, while D is the modulating effect (chorus, flanger, below “Page 14 - Track: Mode”).
delay…). For a list of the available effects, see “Effects” on
page 175.
ModTrk (Modulating Track)
Source track for modulating MIDI messages. You can modu- Track:Easy Edit
late an effect parameter with a MIDI message generated by a - - - - - Attack:0
Attack:0 Attack:0
physical controller.
- - - - - Attack:0
D>Csend (D>C Send) Attack:0

Amount of the D effect going back to the input of the C

effect.

PAGE 9 - FX: A EDITING

This page contains the editing parameters for the A effect Track:Easy Edit
(usually, reverb for the Style tracks). Kick V:127 Attack:0
Perc1V:127 Attack:0
Attack:0 Attack:0
Attack:0 Attack:0

FX:A Edit (Sty) Here is the edit procedure:

Mix mod. source:JS-Y |
Mix mod. amt.: +127
1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons to select a
Reverb Time: 3.07 sec track.
HF Damping: 30 % | 2. Use the F1-F4 buttons to select a Program parameter, or
its value. (For the Drum and Percussion tracks, see
Use the E and H VOLUME/VALUE buttons to scroll the below the “Drum tracks” section).
parameter list. 3. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the Pro-
gram parameter or its value.
Parameters
See “Effects” on page 175 for a list of available parameters for Parameters
each effect type. Attack Attack time. This is the time during which the
sound goes from zero (at the moment when
you strike a key) to it’s maximum level.
PAGE 10 - FX: B EDITING Decay Decay time. Time to go from the final Attack
This page contains the editing parameters for the B effect level to the beginning of the Release.
(usually modulating effect for the Style tracks). For more Release Release time. This is the time during which the
details, see “Page 9 - FX: A editing” above. sound goes from the sustaining (or Decay)
Parameters phase, to zero. The Release is triggered by
releasing a key.
Cutoff Filter cutoff. This sets the sound brightness.
PAGE 11 - FX: C EDITING
Resonance Use the Filter Resonance to define the width of
This page contains the editing parameters for the C effect the frequency range affected by the Filter.
(usually reverb for the Realtime tracks). For more details, see Vibrato Rate Speed of the Vibrato.
“Page 9 - FX: A editing” above.
Vibrato Depth
Parameters Intensity of the Vibrato.
Vibrato Delay
PAGE 12 - FX: D EDITING Delay time before the Vibrato begins, after the
This page contains the editing parameters for the D effect sound starts.
(usually modulating effect for the Realtime tracks). For more
details, see “Page 9 - FX: A editing” above. Drum tracks
Parameters When a track is set in Drum Mode (like the Drum and Per-
cussion tracks), you can adjust the volume for each of the
Drum and Percussion categories.
PAGE 13 - TRACK: EASY EDIT
Kick V Kick drums volume.
In this page you can edit the main parameters of the Pro- Snare V Snare drums volume.
grams assigned to each track.
Tom V Toms volume.
Note: All values are relative to the value of the original Pro-
HiHat V Hi-Hat volume.
gram.
CymbalV Ride, Crash and other cymbals volume.
46 Style Play operating mode
Page 14 - Track: Mode

Percus1V “Classic” percussion set volume. Mono Right A Mono track, but with priority assigned to
Percus2V “Ethnic” percussion set volume. the rightmost (highest) note.
SFX V Special effects volume.
PAGE 15 - TRACK: INTERNAL/EXTERNAL
Reset This page lets you set the Internal or External status for each
You can reset the parameters’ value by keeping the SHIFT track. It is very useful to let a Style track drive an external
button pressed, while pressing one of the selected track VOL- expander, or play a digital piano with one of Pa50SD’s Real-
UME/VALUE buttons. After you press the above button com- time tracks.
bination, the Reset window appears:

RESET NO=Cancel
YES=Trk SHFT+YES=All Track:Int/Ext
Both Both
Press ENTER/YES to reset the currently selected track. Keep Both Both
SHIFT pressed, and press ENTER/YES, to reset all tracks. Both External
Press EXIT/NO to abort and keep all parameters unchanged. Both

PAGE 14 - TRACK: MODE

This page lets you set the polyphony mode for each track.

Track:Int/Ext
External Both
External Both
Track:Mode Both Both
- - - - - Mono Right Both Both
Poly Poly
- - - - - Poly
Poly Parameters
Internal The track plays the sounds generated by the
internal sound engine. It does not play an
external instrument connected to the MIDI
OUT.
Track:Mode External The track plays an external instrument con-
Drum Mono Right
nected to the MIDI OUT. It does not play the
Drum Poly internal sounds, therefore saving polyphony.
Poly Poly When a track is set to “External”, a strings of
Poly Poly
transmitted Control Change and Program
Change data is shown instead of the Program
Parameters name assigned to the track. In the following
example, CC#0 is the Control Change 0 (Bank
Drum This is a Drum/Percussion track. No Master or
Select MSB), CC#32 is the Control Change 32
Octave Transpose applies to this track. You can
(Bank Select LSB), PC is the Program Change.
set a different volume for each class of percus-
sive instruments (see “Page 13 - Track: Easy
edit” on page 45). 121- 3- 0
Poly Tracks of this kind are polyphonic, i.e. they can
play more than one note at the same time. CC#0 CC#32 PC
Mono Tracks of this kind are monophonic, i.e. each
new note stops the previous note. Both The track plays both the internal sounds and
an external instrument connected to the MIDI
OUT.
 Style Play operating mode 47
Page 16 - R.T. controls: Damper

PAGE 16 - R.T. CONTROLS: DAMPER Y

This enables/disables the front/rear movement of the Joystick
This page lets you enable/disable the Damper pedal for each
(Y+: Modulation, and sometimes the sound parameter’s con-
of the Realtime (Keyboard) tracks.
trol; Y-: Various controls, or non-active).

PAGE 18 - R.T. CONTROLS: DYNAMIC RANGE

RT Ctl:Dmpr&Expr This page lets you program a dynamic range for each of the
- - - - - D:On E:On Realtime (Keyboard) tracks. This is useful to create a sound
- - - - - D:On E:On made of up to three dynamic layers, assigning each of the
- - - - - D:On E:On
Upper tracks to a different dynamic range.
D:On E:On
As an example, you may assign the El.Piano 1 Program to the
Upper 1, and the El.Piano 2 Program to the Upper 2 track.
D (Damper) Then, set Upper 1 to [L=0, H=80], and Upper 2 to [L=81,
On When you press the Damper pedal and release H=127]. The El.Piano 1 will play when playing softer, the
the keys, the track’s sound is kept sustained. El.Piano 2 when playing louder.
Off The Damper pedal is not active on any track
set to this status.
E (Expression)
This parameters allows you to switch the Expression control RT Ctl:DynRange
- - - - - L:0 H:127
on/off on each individual Realtime track. The Expression
- - - - - L:0 H:127
control is a relative level control, always subtracted from the - - - - - L:0 H:127
Volume value of the track. L:0 H:127
As an example, imagine you have a Piano sound assigned to
Upper 1, and a Strings sound assigned to Upper 2. If you turn
Here is the edit procedure:
the Expression switch on on Upper 2, and off on Upper 1,
1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (E-H) buttons to select a
you can use a pedal to control only the Strings’ volume, while
the Piano remains unchanged. track.
2. Use the F3-F4 buttons to select the L or H parameter for
To program a pedal or the Assignable Slider to act as an
Expression control, see “Page 3 - Assignable Pedal/Foot- that track.
switch, Assignable Slider” on page 126. You can only assign 3. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the parame-
this function to a volume-type pedal, not to a switch-type ter’s value.
one. Assign the “KB Expression” option to the pedal or L/H
Assignable Slider, then press WRITE to save the setting into This parameter pair sets the Lower and Higher dynamic
the Global. range for the track.
0 Lowest velocity value.
PAGE 17 - R.T. CONTROLS: JOYSTICK 127 Highest velocity value.
This page lets you enable/disable the Joystick for each of the
Realtime (Keyboard) tracks. PAGE 19 - R.T. CONTROLS: ENSEMBLE
This page lets you program the Ensemble function. This
function harmonizes the right-hand played melody with the
left-hand recognized chords.
RT Ctl:Joystick
- - - - - X:On Y:On
- - - - - X:On Y:On
- - - - - X:On Y:On
X:On Y:On
RT Ctl:Ensemble
E:Dual Up1:Normal
Dyn :- 2 Up2:Off
Here is the edit procedure: Note:+ 0 Up3:Off

1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (E-H) buttons to select a

track.
2. Use the F3-F4 buttons to select the X or Y parameter for Up1…Up3
that track. Right-hand (Upper) tracks.
3. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the status. Off There is no harmonization on this track.
X Normal This track is included in the harmonization.
This enables/disables the left/right movement of the Joystick Mute This track only plays the Ensemble notes, but
(Pitch Bend, and sometimes the sound parameter’s control). not the original note.
48 Style Play operating mode
Page 20 - Style controls: Drum/Fill

E(nsemble) PAGE 20 - STYLE CONTROLS: DRUM/FILL

Harmonization type.
In this page you can select various general parameters for the
Duet Adds a single note to the melody. Style.
Close Adds a closed-position chord to the melody.
Open 1 Adds an open-position chord to the melody.
Open 2 As the above, but with a different algorhythm.
Block Block harmonization – very typical of jazz StyCtl:Drums
music. V1 DR.map:5 KickDes:Off
Power Ensemble V2 DR.map:5 SnarDes:Off
Adds a fifth and an octave to the melody, as V3 DrMap:5 Fill1:->1
V4 DrMap:5 Fill2:->3
heard in hard rock.
Fourths LO Typical of jazz, this option adds a perfect
fourth and a minor seventh under the melody. V1-V4 Drum Map
Fourths UP As the above, but with notes added over the The Drum Mapping lets you select an alternative arrange-
melody. ment of percussive instruments for the selected Drum Kit,
Fifths This adds a series of Fifths below the original without any additional programming. Just select a Drum
note. Map, and some percussive instruments will be replaced with
Octave Adds one or more octaves to the melody. different instruments.
Dual This option adds to the melody line a second 0…7 Drum Map number. Number 0 is the standard
note, at a fixed interval set with the “Note” mapping.
parameter. When selecting this option, a trans- Kick D(esignation)
position value appears (-24…+24 semitones to The Kick Designation replaces the original Kick (Bass Drum)
the original note). sound with a different Kick of the same Drum Kit.
Brass Typical Brass section harmonization. Off, 1…3 Kick replacing the original one. Off corre-
Reed Typical Reed section harmonization. sponds to the original Kick.
Trill This option trills the melody note. You can set
Snare D(esignation)
the trill speed by using the Tempo parameter
(see below). The Snare Designation replaces the original Snare Drum
sound with a different Snare of the same Drum Kit.
Note: You must play at least two notes with this
option! Off, 1…3 Snare replacing the original one. Off corre-
sponds to the original Snare.
Repeat The played note is repeated in sync with the
Tempo parameter (see below). When playing a Fill1/2
chord, only the first note is repeated. These parameters set a Variation to be automatically selected
Echo As the Repeat option, but with the repeated at the end of the Fill.
notes fading away after the time set with the Off The same Variation, playing before selecting a
Feedback parameter (see below). Fill, will be selected again.
Dyn(amics) 1&2…3&4 The specified Variations will be alternatively
This parameter sets the velocity difference between the right- selected. For example, with the “1&2” option,
hand melody and the added harmonization notes. Variation 1 and Variation 2 will be alternatively
selected after the end of the Fill.
-10…0 Subtracted velocity value.
Up/Down The next higher/lower numbered Variation is
Tempo selected, in cycle. After Variation 4, an Up
Note: This parameter only appears when the Trill, Repeat or command will select Variation 1. After Varia-
Echo options are selected. tion 1, a Down command will select Variation
Note value for the Trill, Repeat or Echo Ensemble options. 4.
This is in sync with the Metronome Tempo. Inc/Dec The next higher/lower numbered Variation is
Feedback selected. When Variation 4 is reached, an Inc
Note: This parameter only appears when the Echo option is command will select Variation 4 again. When
selected. Variation 1 is reached, a Dec command will
This parameter sets how many times the original note/chord select Variation 1 again.
is repeated by the Echo option. ->1…->4 “Fill to Variation” (->1, ->2, ->3, ->4) auto-
matically selects one of the four available Style
Variations at the end of the fill.
 Style Play operating mode 49
Page 21 - Style controls: Wrap Around / Keyboard Range

PAGE 21 - STYLE CONTROLS: WRAP AROUND / PAGE 22 - PADS

KEYBOARD RANGE This page lets you select a different sound or function for
each of the four PAD buttons.
In this page you can program the Wrap Around function and
the Keyboard Range for the Style tracks.

Pads
1:Crash Volume:127
StyCtl:Wrap/Rng
2:Ride Pan:+00
Prog:Orig W:7 KR:Or 3:China C Send:100
W:12 KR:Or 4:*StyleUp D Send:100
W:12 KR:Or W:12 KR:Or
W:12 KR:Or W:12 KR:Or

1-4
Here is the edit procedure: Each of the four PAD buttons. See “List of sounds assignable
1. Use the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons to select a to the Pads” on page 226 and “List of functions assignable to
parameter. the Pads” on page 227.
2. Use the F1-F4 buttons to move the cursor between the Note: Function names are preceded by an asterisk (*)
parameter and its status or value. Volume
3. Use the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the parame- Volume for each of the four Pad tracks.
ter’s status or value. Pan
Prog (Program) Pan for each of the four Pad tracks.
This parameter lets you select a different Program, other than -64 Fully Left.
the one recorded into the Style Element (Variations, Fills, 00 Centered.
Intros, Endings). +63 Fully Right.
Note: This parameter is automatically set to On each time you
C Send
assign a Program to any of the Style tracks, either from the front
panel or via MIDI. Send level to the C Internal FX processor (usually reverb) for
each of the four Pad tracks.
Original Style tracks always use the original Programs.
If you assign a different Program to a Style D Send
track, it may be reset to the original one when Send level to the D Internal FX processor (usually modulat-
selecting a different Style Element. ing effect) for each of the four Pad tracks.
On You can assign different Programs to each Style
track, and save them in a Performance or Style PAGE 23 - PREFERENCES: LOCK
Performance. This becomes the only track’s
Program for all Style Elements. You can “lock” various functions, to avoid they can be
changed when selecting a different Performance, Style or Sin-
W (Wrap Around) gle Touch Setting.
The wrap-around point is the highest register limit for the
backing track. The accompaniment patterns will be trans-
posed according to the detected chord. If the chord is too
high, the Style tracks might play in a register that is too high,
Pref:Lock (Gbl)
and therefore unnatural. If, however, it reaches the wrap-
M.Trnsp:On
around point, it will be automatically transposed an octave Pads :Off
lower. Scale :On
The wrap-around point can be set for each track in semitone AutoOct:On

steps up to a maximum of 12 semitones, relative to the chord

root. This value will be the interval between the key specified Hint: When turning the instrument on, Performance 1 is auto-
by the Style Element and the wrap-around point. matically selected. Therefore, if you wish your parameters to
1…12 Maximum transposition (in semitones) of the stay unchanged, save your preferred default settings into Perfor-
track, referred to the original key of the pat- mance 1 (see “The Write window” on page 42), and turn these
tern. locks on.
KR (Keyboard Range) Note: These settings are stored in the Global file. After changing
This parameter is an on/off switch for the Key Range param- these settings, press WRITE to save them into the Global. The
eter memorized into the Style. Write Global window will appear (see “The Write window” on
Or(iginal) The Keyboard Range is used. When a track page 125).
goes over the lower or higher limit set by this Pads
(hidden) parameter, it is transposed, to play Sounds or functions assigned to the Pads.
into the programmed range.
Off No Keyboard Range used.
50 Style Play operating mode
Page 24 - Preferences: controls

Scale PAGE 24 - PREFERENCES: CONTROLS

When this lock function is On, the Scale parameter does not
In this page you can set various general parameters for the
change when selecting a different Performance, Style or Sin-
Style.
gle Touch Setting.
Auto Octave
This lock lets the instrument automatically transpose the
Upper tracks when switching between the FULL UPPER and Pref:Ctl (Gbl)
the SPLIT Keyboard modes.
ChrdRecMode:One Finger
On When switching to the FULL UPPER or SPLIT Scale Mode:RT Tracks
Keyboard Mode, the Upper tracks transposi- Memory Mode:Chord
tion is left unchanged. Velocity Ctl:Start/Stop

Off When switching to the FULL UPPER Key-

board Mode, the Upper tracks Octave Trans- Note: These settings are stored in the Global file. After changing
pose is automatically set to “0”. these settings, press WRITE to save them into the Global. The
When switching to the SPLIT Keyboard Mode, Write Global window will appear (see “The Write window” on
the Upper tracks Octave Transpose is automat- page 125).
ically set to “-1”. Chord Recognition Mode
M.Trnsp (Master Transpose) This parameter sets how chords are recognized by the auto-
The Master Transpose value is memorized into the Perfor- accompaniment engine. Please note that when in Full or
mance or Style Performance. To prevent the Master Trans- Upper Chord Scanning mode, the Fingered 3 mode is always
pose to be automatically changed when selecting a Style or selected, and you must always play at least three notes, to let a
Performance, this lock should be set to On. chord be recognized.
On (Default) The lock is engaged. When selecting Fingered 1 Play one or more notes, according to the
a Style or Performance, the Master Transpose selected Chord Scanning Mode. A full Major
will not change. chord will be recognized even if only a single
Off The lock is turned off. When selecting a Style note is played.
or Performance, the Master Transpose value Fingered 2 You must always play three or more notes for a
may change, according to the data memorized full chord to be recognized. If you play just one
into the Performance or Style Performance. note, a unison will be played. If you play a sus-
pended 5th, a suspended chord will be played.
The full chord will be recognized when you
play three or more notes.
Fingered 3 You must always play three or more notes for a
chord to be recognized.
One Finger You can also compose a chord using a simpli-
fied chord playing technique:
• If you play only one note, a Major chord is
recognized.
• Play the root note, plus a white key on the
left, for a 7th. Ex.: C3 + B2.
• Play the root note, plus a black key on the left,
for a Minor chord. Ex.: C3 + Bb2.
• Play the root note, plus a white and a black
key on the left, for a Minor 7th. Ex.: C3 + B2 +
Bb2.
 Style Play operating mode 51
Page 24 - Preferences: controls

Scale Mode chord is reset when raising the hand from the
This parameter determines which tracks will use the selected keyboard, and the Lower track is not sustained.
alternative scale (see “Scale” on page 44). Lower When its LED is on, the MEMORY button
Realtime tracks keeps the Lower track held until the next note
The scale will only affect the Realtime (Key- or chord is played. When off, the Lower track is
board) tracks. not sustained when raising the hand from the
Upper tracks keyboard. The chord is always kept in memory.
The scale will only affect the Upper 1-3 Real- Velocity Control
time (Keyboard) tracks. Set this parameter to trigger a Fill or a Break simply by play-
All Tracks The scale will affect all tracks (Realtime, Style, ing louder with your left hand. When playing on the Lower
Pads). track with a velocity higher than 95, the selected Style Ele-
Memory Mode
ment will start. For this function to work, the SPLIT Key-
board Mode and LOWER Chord Scanning Mode must be
This parameter sets the way the MEMORY button works.
selected.
Chord When its LED is on, the MEMORY button
Off The function is turned off.
keeps the recognized chord in memory. When
its LED is off, the chord is reset when raising Break, Fill 1, Fill 2
the hand from the keyboard. When playing with a velocity higher than 95
Chord + Lower on the Lower track, the selected element is
automatically triggered.
When its LED is on, the MEMORY button
keeps the recognized chord in memory, and Start/Stop You can start or stop the Style by playing
keeps the Lower track held until the next note harder on the keyboard.
or chord is played. When its LED is off, the
52 Style Record mode
The Style’s structure

10. STYLE RECORD MODE

By entering the Style Record mode, you can create your own Each Style Element is made up of smaller units, called Chord
Styles, or edit an existing Style. Variations (CV), but not all of them have the same number
of CVs. Variations 1-4 have up to 6 CVs each, while the other
THE STYLE’S STRUCTURE Style Elements have only up to 2 CVs.
When you play on the chord recognition area (Lower, Upper
The term “Style” relates with music sequences automatically or Full, depending on the Chord Scanning section on the
played by the arranger of the Pa50SD. A Style consists of a control panel), the arranger scans the keyboard and deter-
predefined number of Style Elements (E) (Pa50SD features mines which chord you are playing. Then, depending on the
ten different Style Elements: Variation 1-4, Intro 1-2, Fill 1-2, selected Style Element, it determines which Chord Variation
Ending 1-2). When playing, these Style Elements can be (CV) should be played for the scanned chord. Which Chord
selected directly from the control panel, using the corre- Variation corresponds to each scanned chord is a setting of
sponding buttons. the Style: the Chord Variation Table. Each Style Element
To explain the Style structure, we can use a tree-structure, as contains a Chord Variation Table, whose prototype is the fol-
shown in the following diagram: lowing:
Pop Ballad
Chord Chord Variations (CVs)
Variation 1 Variation 1-4 Intro 1-2, Fill 1-2, Ending 1-2

Maj
CV1
6
Drum
Perc M7
Bass M7b5
Acc1 Sus4
Acc2
Sus2
Acc3
Acc4 M7sus4
Acc5 min

CV2 m6
m7
CV3
m7b5
CV1 – CV6 CV1 – CV2
CV4 mM7
7
CV5
7b5
CV6 7sus4
dim
Variation 2
dimM7
Variation 3 aug
aug7
Variation 4
augM7
Intro1 no 3rd
no 3rd, no 5th
CV1

CV2 After deciding what CV to play, the arranger triggers the right
sequence for each track. Since each sequence is written in a
Intro 2 particular key (for example, CMajor, GMajor or Emin), the
arranger transposes it according to the scanned chord. Notes
Fill 1 in the sequence are carefully transposed according to the
Fill 2
Note Transposition Tables (NTT), to make them work fine
with all recognized chords. The NTT allows you to record
Ending 1 just some Chord Variations, and have all the notes play in the
right place, avoiding dissonances and transposing the pattern
Ending 2 notes to the notes of the recognized chord.
Going deeper into the Style structure, we can see that each
Chord Variation is made up of Track Sequences, and the
Pa50SD supports 8 different tracks. DRUM and PERC are
used for drum and percussion sequences, BASS for bass and
 Style Record mode 53
Style Import/Export

ACC1-5 are for accompaniment sequences (string, guitar, After editing the Style, please save it (see “Exit and Save/
piano or other accompaniment instruments). Abort Style” below). Then, edit the Style Performance to
Just to summarize, when you play a chord on the chord rec- adjust the track’s settings (Tempo, Volume, Pan, FX
ognition area, the arranger determines which Style Element Send… see page 43 and following in the “Style Play
is used, then determines which Chord Variation should be operating mode” chapter) and save it by pressing the
used for the played chord, then Style sequences for every WRITE button.
track of that Chord Variation are transposed from the origi- • Select New Style to start from a new, empty Style. A
nal chord to the recognized chord using the NTT, and so on default Style Performance will be recalled. When fin-
every time you play a chord. ished recording, you will save the new Style onto a User
Note: The Break and the Count In are not Style Elements, and Style location.
cannot be programmed by the user. While in record/edit, the After recording the Style, please save it (see “Exit and
BREAK/COUNT IN button does not work. Save/Abort Style” below). Then, edit the Style Perfor-
mance to adjust the track’s settings (Tempo, Volume,
What to record Pan, FX Send… see page 43 and following in the “Style
Play operating mode” chapter) and save it by pressing
Recording a Style is a matter of recording tracks, inside a the WRITE button.
series of Chord Variations, inside a series of Style Elements,
Note: After a record or edit operation, the Style is rewritten
inside the Style itself.
in memory. When you press START/STOP there is a delay
You don’t need to record all Chord Variations for all Style before you can actually listen to the Style. This delay is
Elements. It is often only necessary to record just a Chord higher with a Style containing more MIDI events.
Variation for each Style Element. Exceptions are the Intro 1
Note: While in Record mode, all footswitches are disabled.
and Ending 1, where we suggest to record both a Major and
minor Chord Variations.
LISTENING TO THE STYLE WHILE IN RECORD/
STYLE IMPORT/EXPORT EDIT MODE
You can use Korg’s Style To Midi application to exchange While you are in Record/Edit mode, you can listen to the
Styles between your computer and the Pa50SD, through the selected Chord Variation or to the whole Style, depending
Standard MIDI File (SMF) format. The application is freely on the page you are in.
downloadable from www.korgpa.com. Please read the To select a Chord Variation, go to the Main page of the
included instructions. Record/Edit mode (see “E (Style Element)” and “CV
(Chord Variation)” on page 55).
ENTERING THE RECORD MODE • When you are in the Quantize, Transpose, Velocity, or
Delete pages, you can listen to the selected Chord Vari-
While in the Style Play operating mode, press RECORD. The ation. Press START/STOP to check how it works. Press
following page will appear in the display: START/STOP again to stop the playback.
• When you are in the Delete All, Copy, Style Element
Controls or Style Control pages, you can listen to the
whole Style. Press START/STOP and play some chords
Record to do your tests. Select any Style Element using the
Current Style control panel buttons (VARIATION 1-4, INTRO 1-2,
New Style
FILL 1-2, ENDING 1-2). Press START/STOP again to
stop the playback.
Note: When doing the above tests, the Fingered 3 Chord
Scanning mode is automatically selected.
• Select Current Style to edit the current Style. If it is a
Factory Style, you will not be able to save it on the origi-
nal location; you will select a User Style instead. EXIT AND SAVE/ABORT STYLE
When editing an existing Style, the original Style Perfor- When finished editing, you can save your Style in memory, or
mance is recalled, but the following parameters are reset abort any change. Press WRITE or RECORD to go to the
to their default values: Drum Mapping (0), Snare & Kick Write page (see “The Write window” on page 54).
Designation (Off), Program (Original), Keyboard Note: When saving the Style in memory, Pa50SD automatically
Range (Original). This means that you can hear some compresses it to reduce its size and save memory.
differences between the Style in play and the same Style Hint: Save often while recording, to avoid accidentally losing
being edited; for example, resetting the Drum Mapping your Style.
may lead to some instrument’s replacement.
54 Style Record mode
The Write window

THE WRITE WINDOW LIST OF RECORDED EVENTS

This page appears when you press the WRITE or RECORD The Style Record mode filters out some events that may dam-
button while in Record mode. Here you can save the recorded age the right operation of the Style. Here are the recorded
or edited Style in memory. events, and the most important filtered-out events.

Control function CC# (Control Change Number)

Allowed
Write to
Style name: NewBossa Note On
To: U1-01 Bossa Note Off*
Pitch Bend
Abort
Modulation 1 1
Modulation 2 2
• To save the Style to the internal memory, press the A or
B VOLUME/VALUE buttons, then press ENTER. The Pan 10
“Are you sure?” message will appear. Press ENTER to Expression 11
confirm, or EXIT to abort. CC#12 12
• To return to the previous Style Record page, leaving all CC#13 13
untouched and the Style unsaved, press EXIT. Damper 64
• To delete all changes to the Style, press one of the D Filter Resonance 71
VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select the Abort com-
Low Pass Filter Cutoff 74
mand. The “Are you sure message?” will appear. Press
ENTER to confirm deletion, or EXIT to return to the CC#80 80
Write page. CC#81 81
Style name CC#82 82
Use this parameter to change the Style’s name. Press the right Not allowed
A VOLUME/VALUE button to enter editing, and modify the
After Touch
name using the UP/DOWN buttons to move the cursor, and
Volume 7
the DIAL to select a character. Press INSERT to insert a char-
acter at the cursor position, or DELETE to delete it All other Control Change messages

To (Style number)
Use the B VOLUME/VALUE buttons, or the TEMPO/VALUE (*) A Note Off will always be inserted at the end of the
controls, to select a different User Style location in memory. Chord Variation.
Note: Only User locations are available. Note: Some Control Change messages cannot be recorded
directly using Pa50SD integrated controls.
Abort
Select this command to delete any change to the Style.
FAST DELETE USING THE CONTROL PANEL
BUTTONS
While in the Main page or the Style Tracks page, you can use
the control panel buttons to delete various elements of the
Style:
DELETE + note
When a track is selected, you can use this key sequence to
delete a single note or a single percussive instrument.
If the Style is playing, this shortcut deletes the instrument
only while the key is kept pressed, leaving all other notes
untouched within the track.
DELETE + Track
While in the Style Tracks page, you can delete a whole track
with a single shortcut. Keep the DELETE button pressed,
then press one of the VOLUME/VALUE buttons correspond-
ing to the track to be deleted. The “Are you sure?” message
appear. Press ENTER to confirm, EXIT to abort.
 Style Record mode 55
Main page

MAIN PAGE Note: When this parameter and the assigned value is in small
letters (cv:cv1), the Chord Variation is empty; when it is in cap-
After pressing the RECORD button, and selected the Style to
itals (CV:CV1), it is already recorded
record/edit, the Main page of the Style Record mode appears.
SE:V1…V4 You can select one of 6 Chord Variations to
Chord edit.
Style Play icon Measure counter SE:I1…E4 You can select one of 2 Chord Variations to
edit.
R (Recording Mode)
This parameters lets you select between the Realtime and the
Step recording modes. Use one of the E VOLUME/VALUE
NewBossa |T:DR
buttons and the F3 function key to select this parameter.
e:v1 cv:cv1 R:RT RL:2
CV Len:16 Metro:On1
Change its status using the E VOLUME/VALUE buttons, or
Resol: Meter:4/4 the TEMPO/VALUE controls.
C maj7 NTT:5th RT Realtime. This methods allows you to record in
realtime each pattern of the Style.
Style name Track in record/edit Stp Step Record. This method allows you to enter
the events one at a time. See “Style Record pro-
Style Play icon cedure” below for more information.
When this icon appears in the display, you are in Style Play or RL (Recording Length)
Style Record mode. This parameter sets the recording length (in measures) of the
Chord selected track. Its value is always equal to, or a divider of, the
While in the Main and Style Tracks page, this area shows the Chord Variation Length (see next parameter).
Original Key/Chord (see “Original Key/Chord” on page 56) This is not the total length of the Chord Variation, but just of
for the selected track. the current track. For example, you may have a Chord Varia-
Style name tion eight measures long, with a drum pattern repeating each
This is the name of the Style in record/edit. two measures. If so, set the CV Len parameter to “8”, and the
Measure counter RecLen parameter to “2” before starting recording the Drum
This counter shows the measure in record. The measure track. When saving the Style, or executing any edit operation
range is specified by the “RecLen” parameter (see “RL on the Style, the 2-measures pattern will be extended to the
(Recording Length)” on page 55). full 8-measures length of the Chord Variation.
Warning: If you assign CVLen a value lower than RecLen,
Track in record/edit
the value of RecLen is not immediately updated in the dis-
Most editing in this edit mode are executed on a single track.
play. Therefore, you are still free of changing the value of
While in the main page, the currently selected track is shown
CVLen, before the measures exceeding its value are deleted
on the upper right area of the display. The abbreviations are:
(see warning in “CVLen (Chord Variation Length)” below).
DR (Drums), PC (Percussion), BS (Bass), A1…A5 (Accom-
paniment 1…5). However, if you press START/STOP to begin recording, the
real RecLen value is changed to the new one, even if the dis-
To select the track to edit, press TRACK SELECT to jump to
play still shows the old value.
the Style Tacks page (see “Style Tracks page” on page 56) and
use the VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select it. For example, you may have CVLen = 4 and RecLen = 4. If
you set CVLen to 2, and press START/STOP to begin record-
E (Style Element)
ing, RecLen is still shown as 4, but it is in reality set to 2, and
Use the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select the line, and recording will cycle for just 2 measures. After you press
the F1 button to select this parameter. START/STOP to stop recording, RecLen is updated to 2, and
This parameter lets you select the Style Element to put in all measures after the second measure are deleted.
edit. Each Style Element corresponds to one of the buttons
CVLen (Chord Variation Length)
on the control panel carrying the same name.
This parameter sets the total length (in measures) for the
Note: When this parameter and the assigned value is in small
selected Chord Variation. When playing a Style, this will be
letters (e:v1), the Style Element is empty; when it is in capitals
the length of the accompaniment pattern to be cycled, when
(E:V1), it is already recorded
the chord corresponding to the Chord Variation is recognized
V1…V4 Variation 1 to Variation 4 on the keyboard.
I1…I2 Intro 1 to Intro 2 Warning: If you reduce the Chord Variation Length after
F1…F2 Fill 1 to Fill 2 recording, any measure after the selected length will be
E1…E2 Ending 1 to Ending 2 deleted. Be very careful when setting the CVLen to a lower
CV (Chord Variation) value after recording!
Use the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons to select the line, and Metro (Metronome)
the F2 button to select this parameter. This parameter lets This is the metronome heard during recording.
you select the Chord Variation to edit, after selecting the Style Off No metronome click will be heard during
Element this Chord Variation pertains to. recording. A one-bar precount will be played
before starting recording.
56 Style Record mode
Style Tracks page

On1 Metronome on, with a one-bar precount NTT

before starting recording. The Note Transposition Table (NTT) determines how the
On2 Metronome on, with a two-bar precount arranger will transpose pattern notes, when playing a chord
before starting recording. that does not exactly match to the original chord of a Chord
Resol (Resolution) Variation. For example, if you only recorded a Chord Varia-
This parameter sets the quantization during recording. tion for the CMaj chord, when a CMaj7 is recognized on the
keyboard the arranger must transpose some notes to create
 (1/32)… (1/8)
the missing 7th.
Grid resolution, in musical values. For exam-
Note: To conform to Korg specifications, it is advisable to set the
ple, when you select 1/16, all notes are moved
NTT to “No Transpose” on the Intro 1 and Ending 1.
to the nearest 1/16 division. When you select 1/
8, all notes are moved to the nearest 1/8 divi- Root The root note (in CMaj = C) is transposed to
sion. the missing notes.
No quanti-
5th The 5th note (in CMaj = G) is transposed to
zation the missing notes.
i-Series All original patterns must be programmed on
the “Maj7” or “min7” chords. When loading
1/16 old Korg i-Series instruments, this option is
automatically selected.
No Transp No transposition applied. The pattern will
1/8 always play as recorded. This is the standard
setting of Intro 1 and Ending 1 in Korg’s origi-
nal Styles.
Meter
As recorded with
This is the meter (time signature) of the Style. You can edit NTT = Root or 5th When you play a CM7 When you play a CM7
this parameter only when the Style is empty, i.e. before you (Key/Chord = CMaj) with NTT = Root with NTT = 5th
begin recording anything.
Original Key/Chord
This is the track’s original key and chord. Use the D VOL-
UME/VALUE buttons to select the line, and the F1 and F2 As recorded with
NTT = i-Series When you play a CMaj When you play a CM7
buttons to switch from the key/chord name and the key/ (Key/Chord = CM7) with NTT = i-Series with NTT = i-Series
chord type (Maj, min…).
When in Style Play mode, this chord will be played back
exactly as it was recorded, without any NTT processing (see
below). To record just one Chord Variation for a Style Ele-
ment, the suggested original key/chord is “maj7”. Be very
careful to play the 7th+ note (i.e., with a “Cmaj7th” key/ STYLE TRACKS PAGE
chord, the B), to avoid the lack of notes, or a bad NTT con- While in the main Style Record page, press TRACK SELECT
version when playing different chords. to jump to this page. Here you can see and select any Style
Note: To conform to Korg specifications, it is advisable to record track.
both the “Major” and “minor” Chord Variations for the Intro 1
Style Element-Chord Variation
and Ending 1 Style Elements. Style in record/edit in record/edit
When you select a track, the original key/chord assigned to
the selected track will be activated. All recorded tracks will
play back on that key/chord. For example, if the original key/
chord for the Acc1 track is A7th, when selecting the Acc1
tracks all the remaining tracks will play according to the A7th NewBossa |V1-CV1
key/chord. Brush 2 Piano01

In the above example, you will record the Acc1 track in the Perc Kit Guitar01
*AcouBass StrngEns2
AMajor key, with notes that will comply with the A7th chord. AcouPiano2 VoxPad1
This is the pattern that will be recalled exactly as it was
recorded, when playing an A7th chord.
Copying the Key/Chord value to all other tracks of the same Style tracks
Chord Variation. While in this page, you can keep the SHIFT
button pressed, while pressing one of the [D] VOLUME/ Program name
VALUE buttons, to copy the Key of the currently selected Select a track using the VOLUME/VALUE buttons. Select a
track to all other tracks of the same Chord Variation. This Program using the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE section.
function is useful to speed-up pattern programming, and to While in this page, you can set the track’s volume using the
avoid having different tracks in different keys within the same VOLUME/VALUE buttons. Since the track’s volume is mem-
Chord Variation. orized in the Style Performance and not in the pattern, this
setting will not be recorded and saved. However, this will
 Style Record mode 57
Step Record page

allow you to play back louder any reference track, or the track mode, before actually starting recording (see step 6 on
you are recording. page 58 for more information).
Track status key?
When in the Style Tracks page, each track can be in one of This is a prompt, asking for a note or chord to be played on
three status. the keyboard, to enter an event on the current step.
Play (Visible status icon). This status is available Step value
only for non-selected tracks. When in play, a Length of the event to be inserted. Use the NOTE VALUE
track can play back the recorded pattern. buttons, on the lower left area of the control panel, to change
Mute (Hidden status icon). When in this status, you this value.
can play the track on the keyboard, but you
can’t record on it. This is useful to do some
preliminary test, before actually start record-
ing.
… Note value.
To set a track in mute, first select it, then press
Dot (.) Augments the selected note by one half of its
both corresponding VOLUME/VALUE buttons
value.
to hide the status icon. To set the track in
Triplet (3) Makes the selected note a triplet note.
record again, press again the corresponding
VOLUME/VALUE buttons. V (Velocity)
Record (Flashing status icon). When in this status, the Set this parameter before entering a note or chord. This will
track is ready to record. Just select a track to set be the playing strength (i.e., velocity value) of the event to be
it in record status. inserted.
KBD Keyboard. You can select this parameter, by
turning all counter-clockwise the dial. When
STEP RECORD PAGE this option is selected, the playing strength of
Access this page from the Main page of the Style Record the played note is recognized and recorded.
mode, by selecting the “Stp” recording mode (“R” parame- 1…127 Velocity value. The event will be inserted with
ter), and pressing START/STOP. this velocity value, and the actual playing
Previous event Event to be inserted strength of the note played on the keyboard
will be ignored.
D (Duration)
Relative duration of the inserted note. The percentage is
Step V1-CV1 T:DR always referred to the step value.
(a) M001.01.000 50% Staccato.
C4 V:64 D:85% 85% Ordinary articulation.
(b) M001.01.192 Meter: 4/4
100% Legato.
key? V:64 D:85%

Buttons used in Step Record mode

Current position Step value
TIE button
Waiting for a keystroke…
Ties the note to be inserted to the previous note.
(a) section REST button
Previously inserted event. You may delete this event, and set it Inserts a rest.
in edit again, by pressing the < button. NOTE VALUE buttons
(b) section Select the step value.
Event to be inserted. See the following parameters for infor- START/STOP button
mation on each element of this section. Exits the Step Record mode.
M (Measure) < (Previous step)
This is the position of the event (note, rest or chord) to be Goes to the previous step, deleting the inserted step.
inserted.
>> (Fast Forward)
Meter
Goes to the next measure, and fill the remaining space with
Meter of the current measure. This parameter can’t be edited. rests.
You can set the Meter in the Main page of the Style Record
58 Style Record mode
Style Record procedure

STYLE RECORD PROCEDURE wise, if you prefer to do a Step Record, jump to “Step
Record procedure” on page 59.
There are two different methods for recording a Style: Real-
time and Step.
• Realtime Recording allows you to record Style patterns
Realtime Record procedure
in realtime. 1. When still in the Main page of the Style Record mode,
• Step Recording allows you to create a new Style by enter- press one of the E VOLUME/VALUE buttons, to select
ing the single notes or chords in each track. This is very the “R” parameter. Use these buttons, or the TEMPO/
useful when transcribing an existing score, or needing a VALUE controls, to select the “RT” (Realtime) recording
higher grade of detail, and is particularly suitable to cre- mode.
ate drum and percussion tracks.
R:RT
2. Press TRK SELECT to switch to the Style Tracks page.
Preparing to record Here you can assign the right Program to each Style
1. If you like to edit an existing Style, select that Style. track. (For more details, see “Style Tracks page” on
2. Press RECORD to enter the Style Record mode. You are page 56).
prompted to select either the Current Style, or a New
Style.

NewBossa |V1-CV1
Brush 2 Piano01
Record Perc Kit Guitar01
*AcouBass StrngEns2
Current Style
AcouPiano2 VoxPad1
New Style

3. If you like, you can set the tempo again from this page:
just use the TEMPO/VALUE controls.
Select “Current Style” if you want to edit the current 4. Assign a Program to each track, by using the PRO-
Style, or make a new Style starting from an existing one. GRAM/PERFORMANCE section.
Select “New Style” if you want to start from scratch with 5. If needed, set the Octave Transpose for each track. Note:
an empty Style. The Octave Transpose will affect only the notes coming
3. After you select your preferred option, the Main page of from the keyboard, and not from the arranger.
the Style Record mode will appear. 6. Select the track to put in record. Its status icon will
begin flashing.
Note: When entering the Record mode, the last selected
track is already in record. When you press START/
NewBossa |T:DR STOP after entering the Record mode, you can immedi-
e:v1 cv:cv1 R:RT RL:2 ately start recording.
CV Len:16 Metro:On1 If you like, you can try your part before recording:
Resol: Meter:4/4
C maj7 NTT:5th
• Set the track in mute, by pressing both corresponding
VOLUME/VALUE buttons; the status icon disappears.
• Press START/STOP to play back the other tracks, if
4. Use the A VOLUME/VALUE buttons, and the F1 and F2 already recorded, and practice on the keyboard.
function keys to select the E (Style Element) and CV • When you have finished practicing, press START/
(Chord Variation) parameter. STOP to stop the arranger, and unmute the track by
Note: For more information on the Style Elements and pressing both VOLUME/VALUE buttons; the track will
Chord Variations, and the Style structure in general, see be in record again.
“The Style’s structure” on page 52. 7. While the status icon is flashing, press START/STOP to
5. Use the RL (Recording Length) parameter to set the begin recording. Depending on the “Metro” (metro-
length (in measures) of the pattern to step-record. Select nome) option you selected, a 1- or 2-bars precount may
this parameter using the E VOLUME/VALUE buttons play before the recording actually begins. When it
and the F4 function key. Use the TEMPO/VALUE con- begins, play freely. The pattern will last for some mea-
trols to set the value. sures, according to the RecLen value, then restart.
6. Use the Meter parameter to set the Style’s meter. You can Since the recording will happen in overdub, you can add
edit this parameter only if you selected the New Style notes on any following passage. This is very useful to
option when entering the Record mode. record different percussive instruments at any cycle on a
7. Set the tempo. Keep the SHIFT button pressed, and use Drum or Percussion track.
the TEMPO/VALUE controls to change the tempo. Note: While recording, the track’s Keyboard Range (see
8. At this point, if you want to do a Realtime Recording go page 68) is ignored, and the track can play over the whole
on reading “Realtime Record procedure” below. Other- keyboard range. The Local parameter (see “Local” on
 Style Record mode 59
Style Record procedure

page 127) is also automatically set to On, to allow playing 3. Assign a Program to each track, by using the PRO-
on the keyboard. GRAM/PERFORMANCE section.
8. When finished recording, press START/STOP to stop 4. Press START/STOP to turn on its LED and enter the
the arranger. Select a different track, and go on record- Step Record page. (See “Step Record page” on page 57
ing the whole Chord Variation. for more information on each parameter of this page).
Note: You can select a different track only when the Previous event Event to be inserted
arranger is not running.
9. When finished recording the Chord Variation, select a
different Chord Variation or Style Element to go on
recording the whole Style.
Step V1-CV1 T:DR
10. When finished recording the new Style, press WRITE or (a) M---.--.--- Empty
RECORD to save it in memory. The Write page will --
appear: (b) M001.01.000 Meter: 4/4
key? V:64 D:85%

Current position Step value

Write to Waiting for a keystroke…
Style name: NewBossa
To: U1-01 Bossa The first two lines (a) are the latest inserted event. The
last two lines (b) are the event currently in edit, ready to
Abort be inserted.
The “Empty” event marks the beginning of the pattern,
• To change the Style’s name: press the right A VOL- when there are no events inserted. It is automatically
UME/VALUE button to enter editing, and modify the inserted when entering the Record mode. It will be
name using the UP/DOWN buttons to move the cursor, removed when an event is inserted.
and the DIAL to select a character. Press INSERT to 5. The “Maaa.bb.ccc” parameter in (b) is the current posi-
insert a character at the cursor position, or DELETE to tion. This is the place where the note in edit will be
delete it. inserted.
• To select a different location in memory, press one of • If you don’t want to insert a note at this position,
the B VOLUME/VALUE buttons, then select a location insert a rest instead, as shown in step 7.
with these buttons or the TEMPO/VALUE controls. • To jump to the next measure, filling the remaining
Press ENTER to confirm, or one of the D (Abort) VOL- beats with rests, press the >> button.
UME/VALUE buttons to abort the save. The “Are you 6. To change the step value, use the NOTE VALUE buttons,
sure?” message will appear in the display. Press ENTER on the lower left area of the control panel.
to confirm, EXIT to abort. After pressing ENTER, you
will exit from the Record mode.
If you press EXIT while in the Write page, you will go
back to the previous Style Record page, without any 7. Insert a note, rest or chord at the current position.
change. • To insert a single note, just play it on the keyboard. The
inserted note length will match the step length. You may
Step Record procedure change the velocity and relative duration of the note, by
1. When still in the Main page of the Style Record mode, editing the V (Velocity) and D (Duration) parameters.
press one of the E VOLUME/VALUE buttons, to select See “V (Velocity)” and “D (Duration)” on page 57.
the “R” parameter. Use these buttons, or the TEMPO/ • To insert a rest, just press the REST button. Its length
VALUE controls, to select the “Stp” recording mode. will match the step value.
• To tie the note to be inserted to the previous one, press
R:Stp the TIE button. A note will be inserted, tied to the previ-
2. Press TRK SELECT to switch to the Style Tracks page. ous one, with exactly the same name. You don’t need to
Here you can assign the right Program to each Style play it on the keyboard again.
track. (For more details, see “Style Tracks page” on • To insert a chord or a second voice, see “Chords and
page 56). second voices in Step Record mode” below.
8. After inserting a new event, you may go back by pressing
the < button. This will delete the previously inserted
event, and set the step in edit again.
NewBossa |V1-CV1 9. When the end of the pattern is reached, the “End Loop”
Brush 2 Piano01 (End of Loop) event is shown in the first two lines of the
Perc Kit Guitar01 display (a), and the recording restarts from the
*AcouBass StrngEns2
AcouPiano2 VoxPad1
“M001.01.000” position. Any note exceeding the pattern
length, inserted at its end, will be reduced to fit the total
length of the pattern.
60 Style Record mode
Style Record procedure

At this point, you may go on, inserting new events in 4. Press the third note, then release all notes.
overdub mode (the previously inserted events will not Inserting a second voice. You can insert passages where one
be deleted). This is very useful when recording a drum note is kept pressed, and another voice moves freely.
or percussion track, where you may want to record the Ex. 1:
bass drum on a first cycle, the snare drum on the second
cycle, and the hi-hat and cymbals during the following 
cycles.  
10. When finished recording, press START/STOP to turn off
its LED. The Main page of the Style Record mode Step Time = 
appears.

On Off
Press E and C Release E (continue holding C)

NewBossa |T:DR
E:V1 CV:CV1 R:RT RL:2
Step Time = 
CV Len:16 Metro:On1
Resol: Meter:4/4
C maj7 NTT:5th On Off
Press G Release G and C

When exiting, the “RT” recording mode is automati- Ex.2:

cally selected. You may press START/STOP to listen to
the Style. Press START/STOP again to stop the playback. 
To enter the Step Record mode again, select the “Stp” 
recording mode, and press START/STOP.
11. From the Main page of the Style Record mode, press Step Time =  Step Time = 
RECORD to exit the Record mode. You will be Tie

prompted to assign a new name to the Style, and select a

On On Off
memory location where to save it. See “The Write win- Press C Press G (continue holding C) Release G and C
dow” on page 54 for information on how to save a Style.
Ex.3:
Chords and second voices in Step Record
mode 

With Pa50SD, you are not obliged to insert single notes in a
track. There are several ways to insert chords and double
voices. Lets look at some. Step Time =
Step Time =
Step Time =

Inserting a chord. When the “key?” prompt appears in the

display, play a chord instead of a single note. The event’s
On Off On
name will be the first note of the chord you pressed, followed Press F and C Release F Press G
by the “…” marking. (continue holding C) (continue holding C)

C4 , V:64 D:85% Step Time =

Step Time =
Step Time =

Inserting a chord with notes with different velocity values.

You can make the upper or lower note of a chord, for exam-
Off On Off
ple, louder than the remaining ones, to make the most Release G Press D Release D
(continue holding C) (continue holding C)
important note emerge from the chord. Here is how to insert (continue holding C)

a three-note chord:
1. Edit the Velocity value of the first note. Step Time =
Step Time =

2. Press the first note and keep it pressed.

3. Edit the Velocity value of the second note.
On Off
4. Press the second note and keep it pressed. Press E Release E and C
5. Edit the Velocity value of the third note. (continue holding C)