Korg m50-73 User Guide

The M50 has numerous functions that let you play and 
edit programs or combinations, record and play back 
sequence data, and manage media. These functions are 
grouped into “modes.” The M50 has five modes.

Programs are the basic sounds of M50.

In Program mode, you can:

• Select and play Programs

• Use one arpeggiator in your performance.

• Play back Drum Track patterns while you perform 

using a Program.

• Edit Programs

You can use the control surface and the Tone 
Adjust function to easily edit the program.
You can adjust the parameters and settings of the 
oscillators, filters, amps, EGs, LFOs, effects, 
arpeggiator, drum track, etc. 
You can use up to five insert effects, two master 
effects, and one total effect.
The oscillators can use any of the 1,077 
multisamples (including seven stereo)

• Plus, you can create drum programs using drum 

kits (as created in Global mode)

Combinations are sets of up to 16 programs that can be 
played simultaneously, letting you create sounds more 
complex than a single Program. In Combination mode, 
you can:

• Select and play Combinations

• Use two arpeggiators in your performance.

• Use one or more timbres to play back the patterns 

in the drum track.

• Use the M50 as a 16-track multitimbral tone 

generator

• Edit Combinations

You can assign Programs to each of the 16 Timbres, 
each with separate volume, pan, EQ, and keyboard 
and velocity zones; make settings for effects, 
arpeggiator, drum track.

• Plus, you can use up to five insert effects, two 

master effects, and one total effect.

Sequencer mode lets you record, playback, and edit 
MIDI tracks. You can:

• Use the sixteen-track MIDI sequencer to record and 

play back songs.

• Record a single MIDI track at a time, or record as 

many as all sixteen tracks simultaneously. You can 
also record exclusive messages.

• Record using two arpeggiators.

• Use one or more tracks to play back the patterns in 

the drum track.

• Use up to 128 songs, with 671 preset patterns and 

100 user patterns for each song.

• Use the M50 as a 16-track multi-timbral sound 

module.

• Use the Tone Adjust function to easily edit the 

program of each track.

• Use up to five insert effects, two master effects, and 

one total effect.

• Record patterns and assign them to individual 

keys, using RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/
Recording)

• Create user Drum Track patterns.

Global mode lets you make overall settings for the 
entire M50, and edit drum kits, arpeggio patterns. In 
Global mode, you can:

• Make settings that affect the entire M50, such as 

master tune and global MIDI channel

• Create user drum kits, and user scales

• Create drum kits using drumsamples

• Create user arpeggio patterns

• Rename program, and combination categories

• Set the function of the assignable pedals and 

assignable switches

• Transmit MIDI System Exclusive data dumps

You can save or load data using an SD card. In Media 
mode, you can:

• Save and load Programs, Combinations, Songs, and 

Global setup data

• Format SD card, copy and rename files, etc. 

• Export and import sequences to and from SMF 

(Standard MIDI Files)

• Use the Data Filer function to save or load MIDI 

System Exclusive data