Webmaster's Note

This list was originally generated by Stephen Angelini. After much online discussion and much user input from the Korg Trinity mailing list. Korg have released several upgrades to the Operating System, but there seem to be some fairly obvious enhancements yet to be included which we, the users, feel they should at least give some considered attention to.

To anyone from Korg who reads this. Please realise that your customers love your creation... we seek only to improve it. It should be so easy for you to add a few of these requests, and by doing so you will not only be assured of our custom in the future, you will also be able to publicly be seen to be responding to your users' needs. It can only do you good.

Send your ideas / bugs / suggestions / Korg Email addresses to eddy (at) deegan (dot) org

Please note that, to the best of my knowledge, these ideas are not currently implemented in the Trinity. If you know better, please email me and I will delete the relevant idea from the list. The following is categorized by the Trinity's Operating Modes. In each section, "Bugs" -ie: problems, are listed first, followed by suggestions and recommendations for alterations in the OS. Some items may appear in more than one category as they are applicable to different modes. These ideas have been collected from Trinity users throughout the world.

• The Screen Lock feature of the "Select by Category", "Program Listing" and "Combination Listing" should be absolute. This way the footswitch control of program selection would select the consecutive choices in those screens, and not automatically exit the screen, even though the lock is active. It should also be possible to use the "Data Wheel" in those screens (currently it is inactive). The absolute lock described above should also be active with Data Wheel use.

MORE INTEGRATED "SELECT BY CATAGORY" SELECTION

• Wouldn't it be great if Programs and Combi's can be seen together in one "select by category" window??

INSERT FX PRE/POST VOLUME CONTROL (Ctlr.#7) TOGGLE

• When an Insert effect is used, in any mode, a switch could be implemented to toggle the volume control (as controlled by MIDI controller #7) from "pre-effect" to "post-effect". Some effects, such as Distortion, need to have the Volume controlled after the effect in order for the program to sound correctly. (In this example, a low volume will reduce the distortion effect, as well as the overall volume of the program.) As this is not always the desired effect, it should be a user-selectable option.

FASTER TOUCH SCREEN REFRESH RATE

• Though much has improved in this department since the original operating system, the display becomes VERY sluggish when the internalsequencer is running, or when the Trinity is receiving MIDI from an external sequencer. If no more can be done on the software side, perhaps an optional hardware modification can be offered to increase the refresh speed.
  

"GLOBAL" OR "LOCAL" TOGGLE FOR FOOT PEDAL / FOOTSWITCH ASSIGNMENTS

• Foot-pedal and foot-switch assignments should be implemented for every Program, Combination and Sequence, as it was in the T-series. A toggle should be implemented on the Global page to allow the user to select the global assignment of these pedals, as currently implemented, or the "Local" assignment-ie: as set up in the particular Program, Combination, or Sequence.

FOOTPEDAL / FOOTSWITCH DEFINITION PER OPERATING MODE

• A separate definition for footpedal and footswitch, in the Global mode, for EACH operating mode -ie: Program, Combination and Sequence. For example, this would allow patch switching in Combination Mode, and Sequencer Stop/Start in Sequencer Mode. (These would be active when the the above Footswitch Assignment is set to "GLOBAL".)

USING PATTERNS AS "REALTIME PHRASE SEQUENCING" TEMPLATES

• Individual Patterns from the Sequencer could be used as "Phrase Sequences". These could be then assigned as "Drum Sounds" in the Drumkit Setup page of the Global Mode.

SUSTAIN OF PREVIOUS SOUND (holding notes) WHEN SWITCHING TO A NEW SOUND

• It should be possible for the notes of a previously selected sound to still play after a new sound has been selected. The Combination and Sequencer Modes already do this (within a single Combi or Sequence). Since the number of effects in Program mode is limited to 4, effects switching should not be a problem, since there should still be 4 effects available for cross-switching from one program setup to the other.

SAMPLE START POINT ADJUST

• Variable and reversed sample start point option in the oscillator section, with variable start and end points.

COMBO PLAY/EDIT MODE

DIRECT ASSIGNMENT TO OUTPUTS 3 & 4:

• Direct assignment of sounds, in Combination and Sequencer modes, to outputs 3 and 4 with NO LOSS of Master Effects, as implemented in the Korg T-series.

FADER GROUPING OPTION

• A "Fader-Grouping" option in Combination mode to allow the faders of user selected sounds within the Combination to track in parallel (to maintain their volume balance) when controlled by the volume pedal, and an "Inverse-Fader-Grouping" option to allow crossfades of two groups of sounds, also with the pedal. Currently one has to "waste" FX processors to perform this function.

"SELECT BY CATEGORY" IN COMBINATION EDIT MODE

• "Select by Category" option, for individual program selection is missing in Combination Edit Mode (as implemented in the Sequencer Mode.)

"ACTIVE LAYER" INDICATOR

• This would allow the user to see "at a glance" which layers are active in a combination WITHOUT having to enter the Combination Edit mode. Either a small indicator on active layers, or a "fading out" of unused layers would be ideal.

[BUG]

• "Entering the global drum edit mode from SEQUENCER mode will apply the effects currently in use on the sequencer side of things, regardless of the program currently selected...this only happens once. Any subsequent effects changes in sequencer mode are not recognized... the Trinity always resorts to the first setting it found."

[BUG]

• Sending a program change to a specific channel on the Trinity in Sequencer Mode updates the Bank and Program number (and sound) but NOT the program name (when that channel has been visibly selected on the Touch Screen).

DIRECT ASSIGNMENT TO OUTPUTS 3 & 4

• Direct assignment of sounds, in Combination and Sequencer modes, to outputs 3 and 4 with no loss of Master Effects, as implemented in the Korg T-series.

TRANSMISSION OF MTC

• Making the Trinity optionally transmit MTC (MIDI Time Code), not only MIDI clock and SPP (Song Position Pointer).

SWING FUNCTION

• Implementation of the "swing" quantizing function in the sequencer.

TOTAL SYSTEM-EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF SEQUENCER FUNCTIONS

• Implementing Sys-ex control of all sequencer functions, especially audio track sequencer parameters, to allow control from within a computer based sequencer.

COPY COMBINATION: "COPYING ONLY ACTIVE LAYERS" & SELECTING DESTINATION

• When copying a Combination to the sequencer, the option of choosing "Which Source Layers?" of the Combination will be copied to "Which Source Tracks?" should be implemented. Only the ACTIVE tracks of a combination layer would be available for copy, and a sequential choice of destination tracks in the Sequencer would be available as destinations.

USING PATTERNS AS "REALTIME PHRASE SEQUENCING" TEMPLATES

• Individual Patterns could be used as "Realtime Phrase Sequences". These could be then assigned as "Drum Sounds" in the Drumkit Setup page of the Global Mode.

"PREVIEW PLAY"

• Implementing the possibility of temporarily auditioning changes in "Track Edit" and "Pattern Edit" without exiting the active editing. A user-selectable range of bars that would be played, before and after the current edit location, would be required.

"UNDO" FUNCTION

• Allowing the user to undo changes performed in the "Track Edit" and "Pattern Edit" functions. It should be implemented as a "Compare" function, as implemented in the Program/Combination Edit modes.

TRACK SELECT: MULTIPLE TRACK SELECTION

• Allowing the Track Select to select more than one Track, and having them zoned according to the "Keyboard Zone" page, would allow the live performance of sounds on DIFFERENT MIDI channels, while the sequencer is controlling those channels. Currently, only ONE channel, the "Selected Track" channel, can be accessed by the keyboard in the sequencer mode. One could use this option to preset volume, program change, controller info, etc., in the sequencer for EACH of the different sounds accessible on the keyboard, thus performing automated functions (mixing, effects control,etc.) while the performer is playing the different sounds LIVE.

PBS OPTION

MIDI-SAMPLE DUMP / SAMPLE DUMP STANDARD

• Receive and send, to and from FlashRAM, of MIDI Sample Dump, using the Sample Dump Standard (as implemented in the Korg T-series).

USE OF HDR AS SAMPLING INPUT FOR PBS

• Allowing sample recording using the HDR option and subsequent transfer to the FlashRAM.

SAMPLE UTILITIES FOR LOADED SAMPLES (ANY FORMAT)

• Allowing the user perform BASIC sample manipulations on any loaded sample, such as:
• Trim the sample start and end points graphically and/or numerically (optionally trashing the excess);
• Set the start and end Loop Points graphically and/or numerically;
• Turn the Loop On or Off.

FILTER-ADJUST / PANNING PARAMETERS

• The implementation of the "filter-adjust" and panning parameters on the multisound set-up page. Again, the T-series could do it...(filter, at least)

LOOP ON/OFF

• Allowing the toggling of Loop "ON" or "OFF", for each sample in the multisound setup page.

SAMPLE/MULTISOUND "LOAD BANK" SELECT & BANK TRANSFER

• It should be possible to select which PBS bank a new sample/multisound should be loaded into. It should also be possible to transfer a sample/multisound between banks. This would allow us to organize our samples properly.

HDR OPTION

INSERT EFFECTS FOR AUDIO TRACKS

• Allowing the use of Insert Effects with Audio Tracks.

USE OF HDR AS SAMPLING INPUT FOR PBS + SAMPLING UTILITIES

• Allowing sample recording using the HDR option and subsequent transfer to the FlashRAM, along with minimal sample utilities (looping and trimming of the samples)(SEE PBS).

ABILITY TO PUNCH IN AND OUT AT ANY POINT, NOT JUST ON A BAR

• Allow the auto-punch in and out feature to be set to punch in and out anywhere, not restrict it to the start of a bar. This problem seriously compromises the usefulness of what is otherwise a unique and incredible expansion option.

MISCELLANEOUS

ARPEGGIATOR

• The Incorporation of an arpeggiator.

Z1 OPTION

• The eventual incorporation of a "Z1" synthesizer board.(The Trinity IS an open architecture system, isn't it?...)
  Well, this at least has happened! Korg have announced that as of the end of September 98 there is a Z3 option card for the Trinity. This gives the Solo slot more Z1-like capabilities, and basically implements a 6-voice polyphonic MOSS option. (Eddy Deegan, July 1998)

64-NOTE POLYPHONY OPTION

• The development of an optional upgrade board that would double the polyphony of the Trinity.

That's it. For now...

A SUGGESTION:

Perhaps it's too costly for Korg to develop many of these and other features, since Korg is has to pay for the development time of any software revision out of their own pockets. Perhaps Korg might be interested in providing the traditional basic operating system at no cost to the user, BUT THEN OFFERING AN ALTERNATE OPERATING SYSTEM WITH THESE EXTENDED FEATURES FOR A NOMINAL UPGRADE FEE.

Why not design an OPTIONAL version 3.0 of the Trinity's operating system implementing many of the features we all desire and expanding on the keyboard's capabilities? Piracy? Surely, with an evolved system like the Trinity, a key code along with a licensing system can be implemented to prevent most unauthorized duplication...

What do YOU think?