KORG TRITON CONTROLLER

Please note that this is a trial version of the Oasys Companion which has various features of the full version disabled and is usage limited. The following features are available in the Trial version:-

1. Full PCG Librarian ( only enabled for Oasys Programs – not Combinations, Drum Kits, Wave Sequencer or Global mode.)

2. Send program data to Oasys edit buffer to change sounds

3. Change Program and Combination Bank/Number from the PC

4. Play the Oasys from the PC keyboard

5. Facility to print or copy to windows clipboard complete PCG ‘sound’ lists

6. Midi Settings

7. Tutorial and Help.

8. User interface based upon the Oasys Control Surface.

9. Supports German/Austrian PC keyboards.

The remaining features of the full version are not available. See below for these….

CURRENT FULL VERSION - YOU CAN PURCHASE IT ONLINE FROM MY WEBSITE VIA PAYPAL, (including Credit Cards and Bank Cards)

Please contact me if you want to purchase by ‘direct bank transfer’ – free in Europe or by any other methods.

NB. Features of the full version are described below and later in the text in detail. In the full version you can also :

1. Use the librarian for Combinations, Drum kits, Wave sequencer and Global data

2. Edit and Randomise Karma parameters

3. Edit and Randomise String Model Extension Instrument EXi parameters

4. Edit and Randomise HDi High Definition Instrument parameters

5. Support for MOD-7 EXi & CX3 EXi – Merge routines & Librarian

6. Use the power of the fractal sequencer to inspire musical compositions

7. Produce randomised programs – using various merge facilities

8. Produce randomised combinations - quickly create brand new sounds

9. Create Master PCG files containing 10,000’s of programs

10. Use more sophisticated PCG data extraction routines

11. Send combinations, drum kits and wave sequences to the Oasys buffer

12. Create new programs, combinations, drum kits and wave sequences quickly and automatically from existing ones

13. Auto audition complete PCG files

14. Summarise PCG file contents

15. Facility to search PCG programs by name, category etc.

16. Compare programs and find repeated programs in a PCG

17. Rename programs, initialise programs. Undo edits.

18. Save and open a single program, combi etc. to/from a file Also paste into an existing PCG file !

19. Change program and combi banks and programs remotely from the Oasys by using the software.

20. Program Play and Combination Play modes.

21. Mark Programs/Combinations as favourites in PCG file or ‘turn off’ Prog/combi as a favourite.

Many more new features to come ! These functions below need further work since Oasys O.S. 1.3.1. Please note that not all EXi functions work since Oasys Operating system 1.3.0 because Korg has changed the structure of the PCG file and it no longer fully matched midi dump format. These can only be implemented if Korg release the relationship between the PCG file and midi dump.

1. Edit and Randomise AL-1 Analogue Synth Extension Instrument EXi parameters

2. Edit and Randomise LAC Legacy Analog Collection parameters EXi

3. MOD-7 limited operations.

NB. Please read conditions of use.

Thanks to all of the testers and Korg Inc. for their support to the Korg Community J

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QUICK START

NB. A tutorial is also available on my website covering musical synthesis and the Oasys

Midi Setup….Connecting the Synthesizer to the P.C…..If you want to get up and running quickly and prefer to read the detailed instruction later, then this is what you need to do:-

1. Connect the Korg Oasys to the PC (dedicated midi ports or joystick port) using midi leads (midi out on the PC to midi in on the synth and midi in on the PC to midi out on the synth). I use an external midi interface from the M-Audio Midisport range - a midisport 4x4 - which is excellent.

2. Load and then run the Oasys Companion software

Main Screen of the Oasys Companion at start up

2. Click ‘Midi Set’ Button (Red midi symbol main toolbar). The Oasys synth is set by default in the software – an example of the midi device list is shown below. Your list will look different.

1. Select midi input/output device connected to the Oasys.

2. Set midi channel to correct channel – default on synth/software is 1 (so you can leave it at that), Global midi channel.

3. If you use a German or Austrian PC keyboard check the box that says – German PC Keyboard. This makes playing the Oasys from the PC keyboard logical. Z and Y are transposed from US/UK keyboards.

4. Press ‘Apply’

5. NB. These settings are automatically retained after you close the program in the settings.dat file

3. On the synth goto ‘Global Mode – Midi settings and set Midi receive for sysex, bank change etc. ticking the check boxes to enable. On the Oasys this is the default for O.S. 1.1.1 and higher.

4. Also make sure that the Oasys bank map is set to Korg (this is the default) and not general MIDI. (Otherwise you will only have access to general Midi.) To do this - On the Oasys if necessary, Goto global mode - system preferences, and set bank map there to Oasys.

Note. To check all is working, if you change mode in the software the mode should change on the Oasys. See the software equivalent of the main Mode group of switches on the Oasys. Toggle between modes on the full version to make sure the synth responds – this confirms that midi system exclusive data is being received by the Oasys.

The software is described in detail below.

OASYS COMPANION - INTRODUCTION

This application enables the user to add many novel features to the Oasys Synthesizer using a PC - including a fully featured librarian and the facility to audition sounds from a PC connected to the Oasys. In addition the user can quickly create brand new sounds (programs, combinations etc.) quickly and automatically from existing ones. It also has a powerful fractal sequencer which can compose music which sounds amazingly similar to human composition. A great way to inspire new compositions!

The PC must be running Windows 95/98, ME, NT4, Windows 2000 or Windows XP (on Windows Vista PC’s, please check you have Vista drivers loaded for any midi devices etc. and try the free trial software first. Let me know how you get on please J) – NB. To install you will need to log on with administrator rights for NT/2000/XP based systems). It has been written in Microsoft Visual Basic 6 professional SP6. It is a 32 bit application. The program is designed for a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher* (NB. Also set small fonts - in windows display properties - advanced).

* Note for users with old PC’s/laptops. Although, the program is designed for a screen resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher, the software works on older PC’s or laptops with a maximum screen resolution of 800x600 pixels. What happens is - if the software detects the display is set to 800x600. Then it automatically converts all of the forms to the lower resolution. Whilst it is not as pretty because of the loss in ‘real estate’ it is workable. This enables users with older PC’s and especially laptops to utilise the software. NB. Some of the text and graphics may be more difficult to read or appear truncated at 800x600 pixels. This is unavoidable.

Please read conditions of use.

A Bit of History…..

I wrote the programme because I had previously written my first synthesizer software in 1980 for the Korg MS20/10. This work fascinated me and in 1999 I wrote the Triton Controller software for Korg’s then flagship synth. In 2006 I purchased an Oasys and I wanted to add new features to this fantastic instrument. This enabled me to do things which would compliment the synth and provide 3 main features:

1. A fully fledged librarian

2. A way to create new programs, combis etc. quickly

3. To implement a fractal sequencer to work with the synth.

The full program currently only sends MIDI system exclusive (Sysex) and Control Change information etc. It edits PCG data on the PC and you can send it to the Oasys’s buffer via midi. The software does not receive midi data dumps from the synth as the PCG data is massive on the Oasys and would take up to 2 hours at midi speed of 31.5 kbits/sec to send a complete fully loaded PCG file ! As the program develops, other features will be added. I encourage users to give me feedback and I will endeavour to add new features if requested.

The Librarian allows the user to read saved PCG files on memory sticks, downloaded from the internet or saved on CDR/RW disks etc. on their PC and reorganise them. In the full version you can also manipulate individual Programs, Combinations, Drum Kits or Wave sequences, The free version is limited to programs. You can modify them if needed and send them straight to the synth via Midi and audition them. (PCG files are Korg files which contain program settings etc.)

LOADING, SETTING UP AND RUNNING

To load the program,

1. Download the Trial version of the Oasys Companion software This contains a full software installer, html documentation and is around 6mb in size.

2. extract the entire contents to a temporary directory

3. Run the setup.exe file

NB. Updates will normally consist of just an updated oasys.exe file around 1mb in size.

Users who buy a full license will be sent an updated executable file for the full version - Oasys.exe - which needs to replace the Trial versions Oasys.exe file. Just overwrite the old file with the new one. This gives much greater functionality. Updates will normally consist of an updated Oasys.exe file.

Your PC should be located adjacent to the Oasys. Ideally with the keyboard of the PC at right angles or above the Oasys. As the software is mainly mouse driven all you really need near the Oasys is a screen and mouse - or trackball which I have used and which can sit on the Oasys’s case. Connect the two devices using midi cables between the PC’s joystick port and the oasys.

Or the PCIF connector between the serial port and another Korg Synth’s PCIF port. Then connect that synth’s midi thru using midi cables to the Oasys’s midi in. You will need to load the Korg driver first to use the latter one. (You can download the drivers for Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME or NT4, 2000, XP at http://www.korg.co.uk/

Please note that 3^rd party PCIF cables may not work properly with XP/W2000. Cables must be wired exactly as shown in the Manual otherwise the computer will lock up when the Synth is turned on or accessed. Windows 95/98 will tolerate incorrectly wired leads – W2000/XP will not! I had to re-solder my lead to make it the proper Korg spec. Afterwards it worked perfectly with XP. NB. There is no PCIF port on the Oasys.

1. Turn on the PC, turn on the Oasys and run the program. Make Sure that when the Oasys is in ‘Global Mode – Midi settings’ that Midi receive for sysex, bank change etc. is enabled.

The first time you run the program, configure the midi device by using the Red ‘Midi Settings’ button main toolbar – top of the display. Then set the midi channel the Oasys (I normally use 1 – this is the default value). The instrument model in the software is set by default to OASYS.

The information above will be saved in a settings file at close. Also make sure that the Oasys bank map on the synth is set to Korg and not general