Getting to Know the Arpeggiators, Using the Drum Track

M50 EasyStart

Getting to Know the Arpeggiators

The M50’s dual polyphonic arpeggiators can create any kind of motion… from drum beats to bass lines, from

evolving textures to realistic instrument performances!

Many of the preset Programs and Combis have the arpeggiators (and/or a Drum Track) turned on by default. To turn them on or off, press either the ARP ON/OFF or DRUM TRACK ON/OFF button on the lower left side of the top panel.

1.Select Combi INT A008: The Future of Funk, and then press a Chord Trigger to start the arpeggiators and Drum Track.

2.Try the other pads, and notice how the entire groove changes to reflect the chord you played.

3.Try playing your own chords on the left side of the keyboard.

4.The right side is a screaming tube lead guitar, powered by our REMS modeling processors!

Using the Drum Track

The M50 features a Drum Track that can instantly add rhythmic accompaniment to any Program, Combi, or Sequence. There are over 600 preset patterns, covering a huge array of musical styles. Many of the patterns are quite long, and created by really good drummers, giving them a natural feel…

1.Select Program INT A000: M50 Grand Piano. First and foremost, take time now to play and enjoy this incredible piano sound…We MEAN IT!!!! Stop everything and enjoy!

Ok…time to get back to work…

2.Press the DRUM TRACK ON/OFF button. It will start to flash. This means it’s waiting for your input…

3.Play a key (or a pad) to start the drum groove.

4.In the display, check the bottom portion of the “Main” tab. Here you can adjust the pattern and drum kit being used. a. Note the [Std] listed after the name of the pattern. This is a clue as to which drum kits will work well!

Note: You can change the way the Drum Track works by pressing the PAGE SELECT button and touching “Basic/DT/Ctrls” (or in SEQ mode, touch “DT/XY/Ctrls”). There are Drum Track-specific tabs with lots of options for starting, stopping, and shifting the Drum Track, as well as setting up a keyboard zone.

COOL TIP: You can record your own Drum Track patterns in SEQUENCE mode… and as long as the Program you’re using is saved in the “Drum” category, it can be used in a Drum Track. This means that a Drum Track doesn’t NECESSARILY have to be… drums! For more information, see the M50 Owner’s Manual.

The Multi-Function Knobs

There are four knobs on the left side that are absolutely essential for shaping your sound! They operate in three different modes. They are:

REALTIME CONTROL: This is the default control setup for Program and Combi modes. Here you can adjust filter and envelope settings, and use assignable controls.

The first row of functions will adjust filter cutoff, resonance, filter envelope intensity, and amp envelope release

The second row is assignable… and for every Program or Combi, they’ve been pre-assigned to perform useful functions – Korg always uses Knob 4 for Reverb or Delay depth, for example. Make sure to try these knobs out for every sound you play!