How to Install Korg Kronos Sounds – The Complete Guide (2025)

Installing new sounds for your Korg Kronos is not rocket science – but the order of operations is crucial. If you mix up KSC and PCG, or prepare your USB stick incorrectly, you'll quickly end up with silent sounds or faulty combinations. In the worst case, all your sounds could be gone! This guide shows you how to do it correctly.

The Kronos uses a two-part system: Sounds (PCG) and optional samples (KSC) are loaded separately. Auto-Load ensures that everything is available again on the next power-up.

In short:

1. Create a backup
2. Prepare files
3. Copy files to the internal hard drive
4. Load samples – KSC (only if your download includes a KSC file)
5. Load sounds – PCG
6. Resolve "Samples Not Loaded" (if necessary)
7. Set up Auto-Load (only if KSC is present)
8. Save and test

Your Files – Briefly Explained

Not every sound has a KSC file. Some sounds exclusively use the Factory and EXs samples that are already on your Kronos. In this case, steps 4 and 7 are completely omitted. You can easily tell if your download contains a KSC file by checking the contents of the download folder.

UserBank.KSC vs. normal KSC: The Library_UserBank.KSC uses Virtual Memory (VMT) – samples are streamed from the SSD and occupy very little RAM. This is the right choice for live use. The normal .KSC loads everything into RAM – only needed if you want to edit or resample samples yourself.

Step 1 – Create a Backup

Before you load anything: Backup. This takes a few seconds and protects all your existing programs, combinations, drum kits, and samples.

1. Press [DISK] and select the internal hard drive (HDD: INTERNAL HD) or a USB stick under Drive Select.
2. Tap the arrow at the top right of the display → Save All
3. Enter a filename and confirm with OK.

You can also back up between the internal drive and a USB stick – using both locations is never a bad idea.

Step 2 – Prepare Files

1. Unzip the downloaded file (if ZIP).
2. Copy the entire content to a USB stick – do not change the folder structure or file names. The KSC file references the sample folder by its name. Renaming = samples will not be found.
3. Insert the USB stick into one of the USB-A ports on the back of the Kronos.

USB Stick Tip: Max 32 GB, format directly on the Kronos (Disk mode), do not use a USB hub.

Step 3 – Copy Files to the Internal Hard Drive

Always work from the internal SSD, not from the USB stick. It's faster and more reliable.

1. [DISK] → Drive Select → select USB stick
2. Highlight folder → arrow at top right → Utility → Copy
3. Drive Select → HDD: INTERNAL HD
4. Create your own folder (e.g., "TH-Sounds") → Paste

You can then remove the USB stick.

Step 4 – Load Samples (KSC file)

This step is skipped if your download does not contain a KSC file. In this case, proceed directly to Step 5.

Important: First KSC, then PCG – never the other way around.

1. [DISK] → Load → internal hard drive → open the copied folder
2. Highlight Library_UserBank.KSC → Load
3. In the "KSC Allocation" dialog: Select Append (new samples are added to existing ones, not replaced)
4. OK – the Kronos will now load the samples. Do not turn off.

Step 5 – Load Sounds (PCG file)

Caution: Never simply load a complete PCG or an entire bank without knowing exactly what you are doing. "Load All" overwrites all your own sounds, drum kits, and global settings at once. An entire bank is only useful if the target bank on your Kronos is completely empty.

1. [DISK] → select PCG file → Open
2. Navigate to Combinations or Programs

Load entire bank (only for an empty target bank):
Select bank (e.g., U-G) → Load

Load individual sounds:
Open bank with Open → select desired sound → specify free slot as destination.

Why Some Banks Are Grayed Out: HD-1 and EXi

The Kronos recognizes two types of programs: HD-1 (classic PCM sound generation) and EXi (modeling engines like AL-1, CX-3, MS-20EX, etc.). Each user bank can contain either HD-1 or EXi – but not both simultaneously.

If a bank is grayed out, the bank type does not match the program. Check and change:

[GLOBAL] → Basic → arrow at top right → Set Program User-Bank Type

Make sure the bank is empty before changing the type – existing programs will otherwise be lost.

The Static Reference System – Why Combinations Can Show Wrong Sounds

The Kronos references fixed program memory slots in Combinations. If you load sounds into different slots than originally intended, the references will no longer match – the Combination will then play the wrong sounds or no sounds at all.

Correct procedure:

1. Load the Combination and open it in Combi-Edit mode. For each timbre (1–16), note down or photograph which program is assigned there.
2. Load programs from the PCG file into free memory slots. Note where each program was stored.
3. Back in the Combination: Assign the correct program to each timbre at its new memory location.
4. Save Combination with Write.

Important: The order of programs in the program list is not automatically the order of timbres in the Combination. Always open the Combination first and check the timbre assignment – before assigning programs.

Step 6 – Resolve "Samples Not Loaded"

After loading, the message "Samples Not Loaded" may appear at the top of the display. This means that the Combination references Factory or EXs samples that are not currently loaded into memory.

Typical symptoms: A piano sounds like church bells, sounds are silent, or individual sound layers are missing.

1. Tap the arrow at the top right of the display
2. Select "Load Required Samples"
3. Wait for the process to complete

These samples (e.g., OASYS Piano, KRONOS German Grand) are already on the Kronos hard drive – they are standard equipment of the device, not part of the download.

Step 7 – Set up Auto-Load

This step is skipped if your download does not contain a KSC file.

Loaded samples are lost when the power is turned off. Auto-Load prevents this.

[GLOBAL] → KSC Auto-Load → Add → select Library_UserBank.KSC on the internal hard drive → check Auto Load.

The next time you turn it on, the Kronos will automatically load the samples. Depending on the amount of data, this may take several minutes.

Step 8 – Save and Test

1. Call up Combination mode and test sounds.
2. If "Samples Not Loaded" appears: Arrow at top right → Load Required Samples
3. [DISK] → arrow at top right → Save All

Done. The sounds are now available and will be loaded automatically on the next power-up (if Auto-Load is set up).

Common Problems – and Their Solutions

Key Presses at a Glance

Matching Korg Kronos Sounds for the Cover Band

Looking for ready-to-use, live-optimized sounds for the Kronos? In my shop, you'll find cover sounds that are ready for immediate use – for a gig night, not just for headphones.

→ To Korg Kronos Sounds

Questions about installation? Just get in touch: kontakt@thorsten-hillmann.de