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Korg Kronos Installation Guide

Step-by-step instructions for the Korg Kronos (all generations: Kronos 1, Kronos X, Kronos 2, Platinum, Gold, LS, Kronos 3). Please read these instructions in full once before you begin.

Your files – explained briefly

  • .PCG – Programs, Combinations, Drum Kits and global settings
  • Library_UserBank.KSC – Sample assignment for SSD streaming (Virtual Memory) – recommended
  • .KSC (without UserBank) – loads samples directly into RAM – only necessary if you want to edit the samples yourself
  • Sample folder – folder containing the actual sample data (same name as the KSC file)

Not every sound has a KSC file: Some sounds consist only of a .PCG file and exclusively use the Factory and EXs samples already on the Kronos. In this case, step 4 is completely unnecessary.

⚠️ Step 1 – Create a backup

Important: Always back up your current Kronos data (Programs, Combinations, Drum Kits, Samples) before loading new sounds. This allows you to return to the original state at any time.

  1. Press [DISK] and select the internal hard drive (HDD: INTERNAL HD) or a USB flash drive under Drive Select.
  2. Go to: [DISK] → Save → Save All
  3. Enter file names and confirm with OK.

Step 2 – Prepare the files

  1. Download the file using your download link. If the archive is compressed (.zip), extract it completely – the ZIP file itself must not be copied to the Kronos.
  2. Copy the entire contents of the extracted folder to a USB flash drive. Do not rename it and keep the folder structure – the KSC file references the sample folder by its name.
  3. Plug the USB flash drive into one of the USB-A ports on the back of your Kronos.

Note for Mac users: macOS sometimes creates hidden system files with a leading underscore when copying (e.g., ._filename). These are not actual sound files – ignore them and use the correctly named file with the correct file size.

Step 3 – Copy the files to the internal hard drive

  1. Press [DISK] and select your USB flash drive under Drive Select (e.g., RDD:).
  2. Select the folder containing your sound files and choose Copy.
  3. Switch to the internal hard drive via Drive Select: Drive Select → HDD: INTERNAL HD
  4. Paste the folder directly into the root directory of the hard drive – not into a deeply nested subfolder. Nesting it too deeply can prevent the KSC file from finding the sample folder.

Tip: Always work from the internal hard drive. This is faster and more reliable than running from the USB flash drive.

Step 4 – Load the samples (KSC file)

This step is only necessary if your download contains a KSC file.

  1. Press [DISK] and go to the Load tab. Select the internal hard drive (HDD:) and navigate to the copied folder.
  2. Select Library_UserBank.KSC and tap Load.
  3. In the "KSC Allocation" dialog, select Append – this will add the new samples to the existing ones.
  4. Confirm with OK. The Kronos will load the samples – this may take several minutes. Do not turn it off!

⚠️ Step 5 – Load the sounds (PCG file)

Important: Never load the PCG file completely ("Load All"), as this will overwrite your own sounds, Drum Kits and Global settings!

My sounds are located in: Combinations: U-G | Programs: U-EE and U-FF

  1. In Disk mode, select the .PCG file and tap Open.
  2. Navigate to Combinations or Programs.
  3. Load the entire bank: Select U-G, for example, and press Load if the corresponding bank on your Kronos is empty.
  4. Load individual sounds: Open the bank with Open, select the desired sound, and specify an empty memory location as the destination.

Warning: When loading an entire bank, the previous contents of the destination bank will be overwritten. Make sure the bank is empty or contains no important sounds.

HD-1 and EXi – why some banks are greyed out

The Kronos has two types of programs: HD-1 (classic PCM sound generation) and EXi (modelling engines such as AL-1, CX-3, STR-1, MS-20EX, PolysixEX, MOD-7, SGX-2, EP-1). Each User bank can contain either HD-1 or EXi – but never both at the same time.

Check and change the bank type: [GLOBAL] → Basic → Menu (arrow at the top right) → Set Program User-Bank Type. Make sure the bank is empty before changing the type – otherwise, existing programs will be lost.

Assign programs to the Combination

Important: The order of the programs in the Program list is not automatically the order of the Timbres in the Combination! Therefore, always load the Combination first and check which program is in which Timbre.

  1. Load the Combination and open it in Combi-Edit mode. Note which program is on which Timbre (1–16).
  2. Load the programs from the PCG file into empty memory locations and note where they are stored.
  3. Return to the Combination and assign the correct program from the new memory location to each Timbre.
  4. Save the Combination with Write.

Step 6 – Fix "Samples Not Loaded"

After loading, "Samples Not Loaded" may appear at the top of the display. 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 (Menu icon).
  2. Select "Load Required Samples".
  3. The Kronos will load the missing samples. Wait until the process is complete.

Good to know: These samples are part of the Kronos factory set (e.g., OASYS Piano, KRONOS German Grand) and are not part of my download.

Step 7 – Set up Auto-Load

Only necessary if your download contains a KSC file. Loaded samples are lost when the Kronos is turned off – therefore, set up automatic reloading:

  1. [GLOBAL] → KSC Auto-Load → Add
  2. Select your Library_UserBank.KSC on the internal hard drive.
  3. Activate the Auto Load checkbox next to the entry.

Step 8 – Save and test

  1. Switch to Combination mode and test the new sounds.
  2. If "Samples Not Loaded": arrow at the top right → Load Required Samples (see Step 6).
  3. If individual Timbres behave unexpectedly: check the Global MIDI Channel (see below).
  4. Save all changes: [DISK] → Save → Save All

Global MIDI Channel: My Combinations are set to Global MIDI Channel 15. Check under [GLOBAL] → MIDI whether your Kronos is set to channel 15.

KARMA: Some Combinations use KARMA parts. The KARMA status is loaded automatically with the Combination – no manual setup is required.

Frequently Asked Questions and Problems

  • USB flash drive is not recognized: Format the flash drive directly on the Kronos (Disk mode), do not use a USB hub, max. 32 GB.
  • "Illegal File" / file does not open: The ZIP was not extracted or was copied directly – extract it on the computer first, then copy the folder to the flash drive.
  • Sound sounds wrong (e.g., piano sounds like bells): Run "Load Required Samples" (see Step 6).
  • Bank is greyed out: The bank type (HD-1/EXi) does not match the program – see above.
  • Combination shows the wrong sounds: The programs are in different memory locations than in the original – check and correct the Timbre assignment.
  • Not enough RAM: Use Library_UserBank.KSC (SSD streaming), deactivate unused Factory KSCs.
  • Download link does not work: The link is only valid once – simply contact me, and I will provide a new link.

Button sequences at a glance

  • Create a backup: [DISK] → Save → Save All
  • Load KSC: [DISK] → Load → Select KSC → Append → OK
  • Open PCG: [DISK] → Load → Select PCG → Open
  • Reload samples: arrow at the top right → Load Required Samples
  • Check/change bank type: [GLOBAL] → Basic → Menu → Set Program User-Bank Type
  • Set up Auto-Load: [GLOBAL] → KSC Auto-Load → Add

Are you stuck?

No problem – simply contact me. I will be happy to help you personally.
Email: kontakt@thorsten-hillmann.de
Phone: 01523 / 174 2964
Shop: keyboard-sounds.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@thkeyboardsounds

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