How do I Install a Korg M3 Update?

Once the M3's operating system is updated, it's an M3 Xpanded.

The Korg M3 is a music workstation synthesizer that was first introduced in 2007. In 2008, Korg released a major update to the M3's operating system, which changes the unit to the M3 XPanded. This update refines many of the functions of the M3, makes minor changes to the graphic user interface and adds four additional PCM sample libraries, including a grand piano, two brass and woodwind libraries, and a stereo grand piano library. Although installing the update is not difficult, it is important to follow the steps carefully.

Things You'll Need

• USB drive

Instructions

1. Prepare for the upgrade. If the internal memory of your M3 contains important data that you want to keep, you must use the Media mode "Save .PCG" or "Save All" commands to save your data on your own USB storage device before you can proceed with the upgrade. You'll also have to save custom combis before the upgrade and then rebuild them after the upgrade is completed. Your songs will have to be converted to the new program order after upgrading, referencing the new "Voice Name List." Updating your M3 will also overwrite the data of effect presets P01 through P15, so if you've created effect presets, save them to U00 through U15 before you proceed with the upgrade.

2. Buy a Korg EXB-M256 memory expansion card if you plan to load all three expansions (classic keyboards and acoustic sounds, version 2.2 of the KARMA pattern-generating feature, and a sequencer piano roll view that takes full advantage of the M3's touchscreen) simultaneously.

3. Go to the Korg website (see Resources) and download PC/MAC: M3XP_V200_E1.zip, the M3 update file.

4. Copy the "M3SYS" folder from your computer onto any USB storage device (MS-DOS formatted). Always back up your sounds before doing an OS update. Be sure to save your PCG file to some form of USB media before proceeding, just in case. You can use the "Save PCG" or "Save All" commands found in Media mode.

5. Insert the USB storage device containing the "M3SYS" folder into the M3. The M3 has two USB "type A" connectors and one USB "type B" connector.

6. Turn the M3's power ON. Select "Global" mode and execute the command "Update System Software" from the upper right-hand "Page" menu. Do not turn off the power during the command execution. The system will begin loading automatically. When done, the display will read "Completed."

7. Turn the power off, and then turn it on again. The M3 will start up using the new operating system.

8. Run the update procedure twice in a row; the first time grants permission to revise the PCM ROM, the second time rewrites the sound data.

Tips & Warnings

• If you get a "File/path not found" message after Step 5, try again from Step 2. If the error message "Error in reading from medium" or "Can't update system" is displayed, delete the folder from the USB device, re-copy the M3SYS folder to your USB storage device, and execute the install command again. If that doesn't work, try a different USB storage device and redo the whole procedure.

• Korg warns that trying to downgrade your OS from 2.0 to 1.2 or earlier will render your M3 inoperable without help from your local Distributor and Korg Inc.

References

• Korg Forums: How to Do M3 Update

Resources

• Korg: M3 XPanded Upgrade V2.0
• Korg: M3 EXB-M256 Sample Memory Expansion
• Korg Mediaplayer: M3 Xpanded Update