Questions & Answers
Short, clear answers to the questions musicians ask us most. Type a word in the filter (for example “drum kit”, “PA5X”, “undo”, “Yamaha”) or pick a category.
General
What exactly does PA SET Explorer do?
It opens the SETs of KORG Pa arranger keyboards (PA300 to PA4X) and PA5X KSTs on your PC, shows everything inside (styles, sounds, samples, pads, performances), lets you listen to it, combine SETs by drag & drop, import and convert styles and sounds between KORG, Yamaha, Medeli and Ketron, and build Medeli AKX/Zen sets.
Read the full guideDo I need the keyboard connected?
Which keyboards are supported?
KORG PA300, PA600, PA900, PA3X, PA700, PA1000, PA4X (SET folders) and PA5X (KST folders), plus Medeli AKX / Zen sets. Styles from Yamaha (SFF), Medeli and Ketron can be converted to and from KORG.
Read the full guideDo I need internet?
Can the program damage my SET?
SET A is edited on a working copy: your real SET is only written when you press Save, and you can undo every step before that. Still, always keep an untouched copy of your original SET — it is good practice with any tool.
Read the full guideOpening SETs
How do I open my SET?
Press Open SET/KST and select the folder whose name ends in .SET or .KST (not a file inside it). You can also drag that folder onto the program window, or double-click it in Resources.
I selected the folder but nothing loads / it looks empty.
Which model should I choose in “Select Korg Model”?
The keyboard the SET will be played on. It sets the memory bar (so you see if it fits) and whether sample compression is offered. You can press Skip if you only want to look.
Read the full guideWhy does a PA5X KST not ask for the model?
What does the memory bar at the top mean?
My SET is in a .zip or .rar file.
What is Resources?
Your personal library: every SET, KST, AKX set and style you opened or added, plus your Community downloads. It only remembers where things are; it never copies or moves files.
Read the full guideA Resources card says the item no longer exists.
Sounds, samples & PCM
How do I listen to a sound?
In the Sound Library: press ▶ Demo, click the on-screen keyboard (top of a key = soft, bottom = loud), or use your computer keyboard (A S D F G H J K L ; and W E T Y U O P, Z–M for the low octave, Shift / Ctrl for octave up / down).
Read the full guideWhat do RAM, Factory ROM and Mixed mean?
RAM: the sound’s samples are inside the SET — it travels with the SET. Factory ROM: it uses the keyboard’s built-in samples. Mixed: some of each. Drum kits show “Unknown” in the list; open Details to see each key (ROM keys have a ROM badge).
Read the full guideCan I export a sound to use it in another program?
Yes: right-click → Export → SF2 (SoundFont), VOI / KIT (Medeli), Korg Sampler (.PCG + RAM.KMP + .PCM) or WAV files. Exporting is a Premium feature.
Read the full guideSampler Version 2.1 or 3.0 — which one?
“Export as Korg Sampler” is disabled.
If I delete a sound, are its samples deleted too?
Only if you tick “Also delete assigned RAM samples”, and only the samples that no other sound uses.
Read the full guideWhat is the difference between PCM Banks and Samples?
How do I free memory by removing duplicate samples?
PCM Banks → Check Duplicates. Delete unused copies first (Delete All Unused). For copies in use, Delete & Remap re-points the sounds to the kept copy, so they sound exactly the same.
Read the full guideCheck Duplicates does not list my “(L)” and “(R)” samples. Why?
What does Compress SET do? Will it sound worse?
It stores samples compressed so more of them fit into the keyboard’s memory — on models that support it (PA700, PA1000, PA3X, PA4X). You can compress only long samples (> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 s), which saves the most. Listen afterwards; Uncompress SET reverts it.
Read the full guideI don’t see the Compress buttons.
What are oscillators?
The layers of a sound. Each oscillator plays a multisample with its own range, velocity, octave and tune. Untick oscillators in the Oscillators section to hear one layer alone.
Read the full guideSetManager & combining SETs
How do I copy styles from one SET to another?
Open your SET (SET A), then SetManager → Import/Merge → KORG SET / KST and double-click the other SET (SET B). Drag styles from SET B onto slots of SET A. Set Copy Options first. Then press Save.
Read the full guideWhich SET is A and which is B?
SET A (left, cyan) is the SET you opened and edit — the destination. SET B (right, orange) is the one you loaded with Import/Merge — the source.
Read the full guideI copied a style but it plays with the wrong sounds.
The style uses user samplers / drum kits that SET A does not have at the same numbers. Undo, switch on Save Styles Samples & DrumKits in Copy Options and copy it again — its sounds come along and the style is re-pointed to them.
Read the full guideCan I copy many styles at once?
Yes. Ctrl + click (or Shift + click) styles in SET B and drag the selection, or drag a whole SET B page button or bank button onto SET A.
Read the full guideI dropped a style on an occupied slot and the old one disappeared!
“No free slot left” — what now?
“Cannot drop drum kit into sampler bank”.
“Not enough sample memory in SET A”.
Can I copy PA5X styles into my PA4X / PA3X SET?
Yes. Open the PA5X KST as SET B and drag its styles onto your SET A: each .stg is rebuilt as a KORG style. To convert a whole KST use Convert → KORG PA700 / PA1000 / PA4X (or PA300…PA3X).
Read the full guideCan I put my old SET styles (with their samples) into a PA5X KST?
Between two KSTs I can’t paste into SET B. Is that a bug?
How do I copy the pads of a style?
After copying, the style’s STS have different sounds.
How do I make a new empty SET?
SetManager → Create New Set: name, model (PA300 – PA4X) and folder. It opens as SET A, ready to fill.
Read the full guideHow do I find sounds that no style uses?
SetManager → Check Unused lists sounds that no style or performance uses. Delete the ones you don’t need (you can undo).
Read the full guideHow do I find a style in a huge SET?
Saving & undo
How do I save my changes?
Press Save in SetManager (or Ctrl+S there). The Save window lists every change; press Save changes. Until then your SET on disk is untouched.
Read the full guideHow do I undo?
Press Undo in SetManager or Ctrl+Z (redo: Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z). Every copy, import, rename, delete, compression and style edit can be undone until you save.
Read the full guideIs there a Ctrl+R shortcut?
Ctrl+Z does nothing.
I want to throw away everything I did.
What happens if I close the program with unsaved changes?
Why is there no Undo for my AKX set?
Medeli AKX sets are written immediately — they have no working copy. Keep a backup of your AKX set folder before big changes.
Read the full guideStyles, importing & Style Properties
Which style formats can I import into a KORG SET?
KORG .STY (from any bank), PA5X .stg, Yamaha .sty (SFF), Medeli .sty, Ketron .kst and .mid files with style section markers. Right-click an empty style slot → Import Style.
Read the full guideCan I play a Yamaha style on my KORG?
My .mid file is refused.
How do I change the sound of a track in a KORG style?
Right-click the style → Properties → ReMap on the track → choose the sound → Apply. Use the User tab for your own samplers.
Read the full guideWhy can’t I edit Style Properties?
Can I edit the notes of a KORG style?
Yes, with the Event Editor: Style Properties → right-click a Chord Variation (CV1…CV6) → Event Editor. Press Save CV when done. It is a Premium feature.
Read the full guideHow do I save one style as a file?
How do I import a SoundFont (.sf2) as a KORG sampler?
SetManager → SOUNDS → right-click an empty slot of a sampler bank → Import Sampler → choose the .sf2 (pick the preset if it has several) → Import. For drum kits use a drum kit bank → Import DrumKit.
Read the full guideWhich sound files can I import into a KORG SET?
Can I import WAV files?
Converter & Convert
What is the difference between the Converter and SetManager → Convert?
The Converter converts one style file at a time, with full control (section map, Style Settings, Verify Fidelity). Convert in SetManager converts a whole SET in one go (to PA5X KST, older KORG, Medeli AKX, Yamaha or Ketron).
Read the full guideWhich formats can the Converter write?
KORG PA700/1000/PA4X (.STY), KORG PA300/600/900 (.STY), KORG PA5X (.stg), Medeli AKX10 (.sty), Yamaha (.sty), Ketron / Audya (.kst), Standard MIDI (.mid, up to 2 CVs) and PA SET EXPLORER MIDI (.mid).
Read the full guideWhy does my Yamaha / Medeli conversion lose Chord Variations?
What does Verify Fidelity tell me?
It converts in memory and compares with the source: sections kept, notes kept and ranges kept. KORG ↔ PA5X conversions usually reach 100%.
Read the full guideCan I edit a style in my DAW and bring it back?
What is “Transcribe Guitar Mode”?
“No free part for a chord-following track” — what should I choose?
Where are converted files saved?
When will the Sampler Converter be ready?
It is in development and will arrive in a coming update. Meanwhile you can export sounds from the Sound Library and import .sf2 / .voi / .uvn / .kmp / .kit / .uvd files.
Read the full guideWhat is converted when I convert a SET to a PA5X KST?
One style folder per bank (every style becomes .stg) and every sampler and drum kit rebuilt in a new PA5X sample template in the same bank and slot. GLOBAL, PERFORM, PAD and SONGBOOK are not converted.
Read the full guideMedeli AKX / Zen
What is an AKX / Zen set?
How do I put my KORG sounds and styles on a Medeli AKX?
Open your KORG SET, then Import/Merge → Medeli AKX / Zen expansion (or Create AKX/Zen Set). Drag KORG styles onto a Styles pack, samplers onto a Samples pack, drum kits onto a DrumKits pack — or use Convert Set to convert everything at once.
Read the full guide256 MB or 768 MB?
Can I add Yamaha or KORG Triton sounds to an AKX set?
Yes: right-click a Samples pack → Add .voi / .uvn / .kmp files…, or a DrumKits pack → Add .kit / .uvd files…. They are converted to Medeli format.
Read the full guideCan I edit an AKX voice?
Yes: double-click it. Change global settings (volume, envelope, play mode, reverb, chorus, vibrato…) and layer / zone settings, listen on the keyboard, then press Save (a backup is kept).
Read the full guideCan I edit AKX styles?
Yes: double-click a style. Change samplers, volumes, octaves, chord rules and notes in the Tracks step, edit the Quick Settings, then Save Style.
Read the full guideCan I turn an AKX set into a KORG SET?
Yes: SetManager → Convert → choose the Medeli AKX set → pick the KORG model, name and packs → Convert…
Read the full guideDo AKX changes need Save?
Style Players
How do I listen to a style?
In SetManager: right-click → Play ▸ → choose the section. For style files: double-click them in Resources.
Read the full guideHow do I change the chord in the player?
How do fills work in the KORG Style Player?
Can the style play on my real KORG keyboard?
I hear nothing.
Why are some tracks red in the Style Player?
Can I save the changes I make in the Style Player?
Yes, with Save Style — for KORG .STY, PA5X .stg, Yamaha and Ketron files (saved in place with a backup) and for AKX styles.
Read the full guideProblems & solutions
The sound crackles or stops.
Audio Options → Output stability: Balanced or Stable, and/or a bigger Buffer Size (512). Close other heavy programs.
Read the full guideA big SET takes long to load.
My keyboard does not load the SET.
I found a bug. How do I report it?
Use Bug Report in the sidebar: choose where it happens, describe it and the steps to repeat it. Technical information is attached automatically.
Read the full guide