Korg monologue
Lesson 8: Motion sequencing and performance tricks
Goal: make a 16-step loop evolve on its own, and set up the slider and switches for playing live. Motion sequencing records knob and switch moves into the sequence and replays them every loop.
The rules
- Up to 4 motion sequences per program, one per knob or switch.
- Any knob or switch can be recorded except MASTER, TEMPO and the OCTAVE switch.
- Recording the same control again overwrites its previous motion.
- Motion is saved with the program, so WRITE afterwards.
Recording in real time
- Press PLAY.
- Set MOTION/SLIDE/NOTE to MOTION. The display shows “MOTION VIEW” with any existing motion drawn as a graph.
- Press REC.
- Move up to four controls. Recording stops automatically at the end of the sequence.
If you move a fifth control, the display shows “Motion Full” and jumps to MOTION CLEAR so you can delete one (below). If a knob seems to do nothing when you try to record, Knob Mode is probably on Catch (Lesson 2).
Recording per step
In MOTION view, hold a step button and turn a knob: that value is written to that step only. Hold several buttons to write the same value to all of them. For example, hold buttons 3 and 5 and turn LFO INT to halfway, and both steps get that LFO depth. This is how you get hard, stepped changes that real-time recording can’t capture.
With MOTION selected, pressing a step button turns motion on or off for that step. A step with no recorded motion can’t be turned on.
Managing motion (SEQ EDIT)
| Button | Function | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | SEQ CLEAR > Motion Clear | Deletes all motion, keeps the notes. (All Clear deletes notes too) |
| 10 | MOTION CLEAR | Deletes motion 1, 2, 3 or 4 individually: select it, turn to “CLEAR…?”, press WRITE |
| 11 | MOTION ENABLE | Turns one motion off without deleting it, handy for A/B comparisons |
| 12 | MOTION SMOOTH | Off steps between values; On glides smoothly between them |
Hold SHIFT on pages 10 to 12 to see each motion’s graph.
Set up the slider
PROGRAM EDIT > button 6:
- Slider Assign: pitch bend, gate time, VCO 1 or 2 pitch, shape or level, cutoff, resonance, EG INT, attack, decay, LFO rate, LFO INT or portamento.
- Slider Range: −100% to +100%, how far and in which direction it moves the parameter.
- Bend Range + and Bend Range −: 1 to 12 notes each, when assigned to pitch bend.
Other live moves
- SHIFT + EG INT or SHIFT + LFO INT flips the modulation negative mid-performance.
- SHIFT + step buttons drop steps in and out to change the rhythm.
- KEY TRG/HOLD plus a key transposes the loop (Lesson 7).
- Knob Mode: Catch (GLOBAL EDIT > button 4) stops a knob jumping the sound when you first touch it, which Korg recommends for performing.
- Swap programs while the sequence plays: turning PROGRAM/VALUE selects a new program with its own sequence.
Exercise 8
On your Lesson 7 bassline, record a slow CUTOFF sweep in real time, a stepped VCO 2 PITCH pattern on steps 4, 8, 12 and 16, and an LFO RATE move. Turn Motion Smooth on for cutoff only. Save, then perform two minutes using only the slider, active steps and KEY TRG/HOLD transposition. Record it on your phone and listen back.