Question 1

How to cut or reduce the sound sent to a mixing console from the KORG PA50 keyboard?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is indeed possible to control the sound sent to your mixing console from the KORG PA50.

Reduce the overall volume

The simplest way is to use the MASTER VOLUME slider located on the front panel of the keyboard. This slider adjusts the overall volume of the instrument, including that of the OUTPUT L/MONO and RIGHT output jacks (at the back) that are connected to your mixing console. Lower this slider to reduce the signal sent.

Reduce partial volumes

You can also use:

The ACC/SEQ VOLUME slider to control the volume of accompaniments and sequencer tracks independently
The ASSIGN slider to control the volume of keyboard tracks
The VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons to mute individual tracks

All these adjustments directly affect the signal level on the external OUTPUT L/MONO and RIGHT outputs of your keyboard, connected to your mixing console.

Question 2

How to perform a reset (factory reset) on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To reset your KORG PA50 arranger keyboard to factory settings, follow these precise steps:

Turn off the keyboard: Make sure the KORG PA50 is completely powered off.
Press and hold the Write button: Before turning the device back on, press and hold the Write button (often labeled "Record").
Turn on the keyboard: While holding the Write button, turn on the keyboard. Continue to hold the button until the startup is complete.
Confirm the reset: A message will appear on the screen asking you to confirm the reset. Follow the displayed instructions to validate.
Release the Write button: Once the reset is complete, you can release the button.

This procedure will restore the KORG PA50 to its factory settings, erasing all customizations and temporary data. Use it only if necessary to resolve issues or to start with a clean configuration.

Question 3

How to increase the tempo and improve the sense of rhythm on the KORG PA50 keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To increase the tempo and improve the sense of rhythm on your KORG PA50 arranger keyboard, follow these steps:

1. Adjust the tempo

Locate the Tempo button: On the control panel, find the button or knob marked "Tempo."
Change the value: Turn the knob or press the "+" and "-" buttons to increase or decrease the tempo as needed.
View the tempo: The current tempo is displayed on the screen, allowing you to precisely set the speed.

2. Use built-in styles and rhythms

Select a style or rhythm that matches your music.
Play to listen and adjust the tempo if necessary to achieve the desired rhythm.

3. Activate the metronome to keep the rhythm

The KORG PA50 has a built-in metronome that can be activated to help you maintain a steady tempo.
Activate it via the menu or a dedicated button, depending on your model.

By following these tips, you will be able to easily increase the tempo and improve your sense of rhythm during your playing sessions with the KORG PA50.

Question 4

How to find and use the key to select sounds on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

On the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard, there is no single key called "Sound", but rather a selection system via the PROGRAM button located on the control panel. This button allows you to access over 660 sounds (Programs) available on the instrument.

To select a sound on the PA50, start by pressing the PROGRAM button to activate the selection mode. This button transforms the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE section (composed of the VOLUME/VALUE A-H buttons) into a sound selector. Then, press the last button on the left of this section to choose between the upper or lower row of Program banks.

The Programs are organized into banks identified by the names of the instruments: Piano, E.Piano, Clavinet, Bass, Guitar, Drum/Perc, Acc.1-5, StrngEns, VoxPad, and other categories. To navigate through these banks and find the desired sound, use the PAGE buttons located on the panel, as each bank contains several pages with up to 8 Programs per page. As soon as you see the desired sound on the screen, select it by pressing one of the corresponding VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons.

If you need to select sounds for different tracks (such as the drum track or accompaniment in Style mode), first press the VOLUME/VALUE (E-H) buttons located to the right of the screen to choose the appropriate keyboard track before following the previous steps. This organization allows you to quickly assign different sounds to each instrumental part of your arrangement.

Question 5

How to set the KORG PA50 keyboard to simple piano mode?

Accepted Answer

To configure your KORG PA50 arranger keyboard to simple piano mode, follow these steps:

Turn on the keyboard and make sure it is ready for use.
Select the voice mode by pressing the Sound or Voice button on the control panel.
Choose a piano sound by navigating through the list of available sounds, usually named Piano or Grand Piano.
Disable automatic accompaniments to play only the piano sound without accompaniment. This can be done by pressing the Accompaniment On/Off button or by setting the accompaniment volume to zero.
Check that the keyboard responds like a simple piano by playing a few notes. You should only hear the piano sound without any additional effects or accompaniments.

This setup will allow you to use your KORG PA50 as a simple digital piano, ideal for practice or performance without accompaniment.

Question 6

How to increase the volume on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To increase the volume on your KORG PA50, you have three main sliders located on the front panel of the instrument. The Master Volume slider controls the overall volume of the entire keyboard, including the internal speakers, the main outputs (L/MONO and RIGHT), and the PHONES jack. You can increase it by moving it up or to the right depending on its orientation.

The ACC/SEQ Volume slider specifically adjusts the volume of the automatic accompaniment tracks (drums, percussion, bass, and other Style instruments) as well as the tracks of the two internal Sequencers, except for the keyboard tracks. Use this slider to balance the volume of the accompaniment against your keyboard performances. The Assign slider (programmable slider) by default functions as a control for the keyboard track volume and allows you to finely adjust the volume of your playing.

Finally, the Balance slider adjusts the volume balance between the two Sequencers. It is recommended to set it to mid-position when powering on to avoid volume imbalances. Ensure that this slider is set to mid-position for optimal balance.

When increasing the volume, please follow these important recommendations: always start at a low volume and gradually increase it rather than setting it to maximum right away. A volume that is too high for an extended period can damage your hearing. Additionally, if you set the Master Volume to maximum, the internal speakers of your PA50 may distort the signal, especially on particularly rich Styles or Programs. For connections with an external system (mixing console, hi-fi system, or stage amplifiers), use the Master Volume slider to adjust the audio output at the OUTPUT terminals.

You can also use the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) buttons located in the corresponding section to display and modify the volume settings of individual tracks via the LCD screen. These buttons allow for very precise control of the volume of each track (keyboard 1 and 2, accompaniment, percussion, etc.) by pressing the selection button and then using the left and right buttons to decrease or increase the value.

Question 7

How to change the sound assigned to the F1 key on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

The F1-F4 keys on the KORG PA50 are not direct programmable keys for a single sound, but Single Touch Setting (STS) buttons. Each button recalls a preset that automatically configures all sounds (Programs) of the four keyboard tracks: Upper 1, Upper 2, Upper 3, and Lower. To modify the sounds associated with the F1 key (STS1) or the other keys, you need to change the Programs of the tracks and then save this configuration.

Procedure to modify the sounds assigned to the F1 key:

Set yourself in Style Play mode (main page) on the keyboard.
Press the PROGRAM button to open the Programs selector.
Press the VOLUME/VALUE (E-H) buttons located to the right of the screen to select the first keyboard track to modify (usually Upper 1).
Press the last PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE button on the left to choose the bank row (upper or lower).
Use the PAGE+/PAGE- buttons to scroll through the available Programs banks and find the desired sound.
Press the VOLUME/VALUE (A-H) button corresponding to the Program you want.

Repeat this procedure for the Upper 2, Upper 3, and Lower tracks if you also want to modify their sounds. Once all Programs are selected, save these changes in the corresponding Single Touch Setting by pressing the WRITE button. The instrument will prompt you to save "in a Single Touch Setting": confirm to save your custom configuration. From that moment on, pressing F1 will automatically load all the Programs you have configured.

Tip: Each Style of the PA50 can contain up to four different Single Touch Settings (F1, F2, F3, F4), allowing you to quickly switch between multiple sound configurations for the same accompaniment rhythm. Remember that the "Prog (Program)" setting must be set to "Orig" or "On" on the Style Play page (Page 21) for your custom Programs to remain active during Style Elements changes.

Question 8

How to add sounds to User1 and User2 locations on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To add sounds to User1 and User2 locations on your KORG PA50 arranger keyboard, follow these steps:

1. Select the User location

Press the button corresponding to User1 or User2 to choose the location where you want to add a custom sound.

2. Choose a sound to assign

Use the navigation buttons or the screen to browse the built-in sound library of your keyboard. Find the sound you want to assign to the selected User location.

3. Save the sound in the User location

After selecting the sound, press the Write or Save button (depending on your model) to access the save option.
Confirm that you want to save the sound in the chosen User1 or User2 location.
Validate the operation by following the on-screen instructions.

4. Verification

Once the saving is done, check that the User1 or User2 location contains the selected sound by recalling it via the corresponding button.

This procedure allows you to quickly customize your favorite sounds in User1 and User2 locations for easier access during your performances.

Question 9

How to delete the sounds recorded in User1 and User2 locations of the KORG PA50 keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To delete the sounds recorded in the User1 and User2 locations of your KORG PA50, you need to reset the custom Programs stored in these banks. Here is the procedure to follow:

Reset a User Program:

Press the PROGRAM button to access Program mode
Select the User1 or User2 location containing the sound to be deleted using the PROGRAM/PERFORMANCE buttons or the TEMPO/VALUE controls
Press MENU to open the editing menu
Select the Basic section by pressing the A button of VOLUME/VALUE
Press and hold the SHIFT button and simultaneously press DELETE
The screen will display the message "Init Program? (Reset Program?)"
Press ENTER to confirm the deletion, or EXIT to cancel

This operation resets the selected Program to its factory settings, effectively erasing it completely. The Program will return to its blank state or revert to a default sound depending on the configuration.

Delete an entire User location:

To completely empty a User1 or User2 location, you can also use the Overwrite function: save a new Program or an empty Program directly to the location you wish to erase. Press WRITE in Program mode, select the User location (U1-01 to U1-64 for User1, U2-01 to U2-64 for User2), and confirm. The previous Program will be automatically replaced. Note: User locations only contain the custom Programs you have created or saved. Factory Programs present in other banks cannot be deleted this way, as they are stored in the instrument's protected ROM memory.

Once the reset is completed, the corresponding User location will be emptied and ready to receive a new custom Program.

Question 10

How to load sounds from a floppy disk on the KORG PA50 arranger keyboard?

Accepted Answer

To load sounds from a floppy disk onto your KORG PA50 arranger keyboard, follow these simple steps:

Steps to load sounds from a floppy disk

Insert the floppy disk: Insert the floppy disk containing the sounds into the built-in floppy disk drive of the PA50.
Access the disk menu: Press the Disk or Media button to open the floppy disk file management menu.
Select the load option: In the menu, choose Load to display the files present on the floppy disk.
Choose the sounds to load: Browse the list of files using the navigation keys, then select the sounds you wish to import.
Confirm the loading: Press OK or Enter to start loading the selected sounds.
Wait: The PA50 loads the sounds, which may take a moment. A confirmation message will appear at the end of the process.
Check the loaded sounds: Browse the sounds on your keyboard to ensure they have been imported correctly.

This procedure allows you to easily import your custom sounds from a floppy disk onto your KORG PA50 and thus enhance your musical performances.

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