Korg M3: Understanding how EX-USB PCM expansions are referenced
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Scenario

  • You want to know what the "EX1" or "EX2" or "EX3" at the end of program and combi names mean.
  • You've loaded the new OS 2.0 sounds, and some of them are not making sound, or only part of them are making sound.
  • The new piano (Program A000 and Combi A000) does not sound.

Explanation

If you've loaded the new 2.0 update, and looked through the various program banks, you'll notice that quite a few now have an "EX1" or "EX2" or "EX3" at the end of their names. For example, program I-A000 is named "Stereo Grand 4-way EX3"

What these "EXn" suffixes mean is that the program requires the corresponding EX-USB-PCM file to be loaded into the M3's memory or the program will not sound right. Or might not make any sound at all.

The same rule is true for all the combis that have an "EXn" suffix too!!! In a combi, this means that at least one of the timbres in the combi is an "EXn" program.

You manage the loading and unloading of the KEP files for each of these EX-USB-PCM files in MEDIA mode on the tab near the right named EX-USB PCM. For a detailed walk-thru of how to do this, see Korg M3: Loading new EX-USB PCM sample files.

Now here's the rub. If you do not have the optional EXB-M256 memory installed in your M3, you can load only one of these KEP files at any one time. This means that at least some of your combis and programs with an "EXn" suffix will not play correctly.

When this happens to you, just go to the MEDIA mode and unload the KEP file you don't need and load up the KEP file you do need. For example, if the program or combi has an "EX2" suffix, then you need to load the 002 KEP file.

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