Smooth Sound Transitions; Overview; Using Smooth Sound Transitions - Korg Kronos Operation Manual

Set Lists

Smooth Sound Transitions

Overview

Smooth Sound Transitions (SST) help to avoid jarring
discontinuities when changing between Programs,
Combinations, and Songs, by allowing the previous
sound and its effects to ring out naturally as you play
the newly selected sound. You can even continue to
hold notes on the old sound (on the keyboard or with
the sustain pedal) as you play the new sound.
SST applies to all modes—not just the Set List. For
instance, notes and effects are sustained when
changing from one Combination to another in
Combination mode, or from a Program (in Program
mode) to a Combination (in Combination mode).
There are only two parameters that relate to SST: the
Global Hold Time, and the Hold Time for each Slot in
a Set List. Under the hood, though, there's a lot going
on. We'll talk about some of this in detail below, but if
you're in a hurry, here are the main things that you
need to know:

Using Smooth Sound Transitions

Using Hold Time
The KRONOS has two Hold Time parameters. As
noted above, these control how long the old sound
rings out after all of its notes have been released.
One of these parameters is on the Global Basic page,
and it controls the hold time for everything outside of
the Set List, including Program, Combination, and
Sequencer modes. The other, in the Set List Slot
parameters, controls the hold time for each individual
Slot. Let's look at how this one works.
1. Go to the Set List Edit page.
2. Select Set List 127.
This has been left initialized for your own use.
3. Select Slot 1, and set its Program to U‐E075
CX3/MS20 Lead Split.
This sound has a long delay on the lead sound, which
will help to demonstrate the effect of Hold Time.
4. Set Slot 1's Hold Time to 10 seconds.
5. With Slot 1 still selected, press the Copy button.
6. Select Slot 3.
We'll leave Slot 2 set to the default piano sound.
7. Press the Paste button.
Slot 3 becomes a copy of Slot 1, with the same Program
setting.
8. Set Slot 3's Hold Time to 0 seconds.
9. Play a brief phrase on the lead synth sound on the
right‐hand side of the keyboard, and then pause to
listen.
Notice how the delay repeats for a long time, as the
sound gradually fades away. Hold Time doesn't affect
the sound as long as you stay on the same Slot.
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• SST works between two sounds at a time: the
current sound and the previous sound. If you select
a new sound while two older sounds are still
overlapping, the oldest sound stops.
• SST requires that the effects for both the old and
new sounds fit into the available processing power.
For factory sounds, this should almost never be a
problem. In the unlikely event that the effects don't
fit, the older sound will be silenced, including all of
its notes and effects.
• The Hold Time parameters control how long the
old sound rings out after all of its notes have been
released.
• KARMA and the Drum Track stop when you
change sounds. Their notes will continue to ring
out naturally.
10.Play the phrase again, and this time immediately
switch to Slot 2.
This time, the sound disappears very quickly. The
Hold Time comes into play when you change between
different sounds. Note that it's the old Slot's Hold Time
(Slot 3 in this case) that determines the speed of the
fade.
Also, notice that even though Hold Time is set to 0
seconds, it's still a smooth fade; after the Hold Time
has elapsed, there's always a half‐second or so fade to
silence.
11.Select Slot 1.
Remember, this Slot's Hold Time is set to 10 seconds.
12.Play the phrase again, and immediately switch to
Slot 2.
Notice how the delay repeats for a long time.
13.Play something briefly on Slot 2's piano sound,
and then pause to listen.
Notice how the delay from Slot 1 is still fading out,
alongside the piano sound.
So, why would you want to change this in the first
place? Even though the default of 5 seconds works well
to smooth transitions in general, there may be times in
live performance when you'd either like the effects and
decaying notes to ring out for a long time, or fade away
immediately. The per‐Slot Hold Time gives you this
control.
Hold Time starts after notes are released
The Hold Time starts only after you release any notes
being played on the old sound. Continuing from the
example above:
1. Select Slot 3.