Korg NC-500 User Manual Page 1

Owner’s ManualThank you for purchasing the Korg DigitalPiano Concert NC-500/NC-300. To ensurelong, trouble-free operation, please read thismanual care

10 Adjust the volume.Turn the VOLUME knob to adjust the output volume.The VOLUME knob adjusts the level to the internal speakers, theheadphones, and

11Using the INPUT Jack (NC-500 only)This jack lets you play an audio device (such as a CD or MD player) or anelectronic instrument through the NC-500’

12Listening to the DemosYour piano includes 40 built-in demo songs: eight sound demos that demonstratethe expressive power of the instrument's va

13 Selecting a Specific Sound Demo1. Press DEMO.The DEMO button lights up, and the SOUND buttons begin flashing inorder.2. Press the SOUND button cor

14Listening to Piano SongsNo. Key1A02 A#03B0 4C15 C#16D17 D#18E19F110 F#111 G112 G#113 A114 A#115 B116 C217 C#218 D219 D#220 E221 F222 F#223 G224 G#2

15 Listening to All the Piano Songs in Order1. Press PIANO SONG.The PIANO SONG button lights up, and the SOUND buttons beginflashing in order. If you

16 Using START/STOP to Stop and Restart Song Play(NC-500 only)1. If you press START/STOP while the song is playing: playback stops.The PIANO SONG but

17Playing the InstrumentSelecting a Sound (Single Mode)Your digital piano offers you a choice of 24 high-quality sounds arranged inthree banks, each c

18 Adjusting the Volume Balance of the Layered Sounds1. While holding down the SOUND button of the sound you wish tomake relatively softer, press the

19Using the PedalsYour digital piano offers three pedals, just as on a conventional piano. Usethese pedals to add expressiveness to your performances.

2IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS• Read these instructions.•Keep these instructions.• Heed all warnings.•Follow all instructions.• Do not use this appara

20Using the MetronomeThe piano includes a built-in metronome feature that you can use as an aidfor practice. You can adjust the metronome’s beat, temp

21C5A5C8C7C6C5C4C3C2C12457913 680+Key Digit Key DigitC5 0 C#5 1D5 2 D#5 3E5 4 F5 5F#5 6 G5 7G#5 8 A5 9Example: To set the tempo to 168, hold down the

22 Changing the Standard Accent Sound to a Bell Sound1. Hold down the METRONOME button and press ORGAN 2.The ORGAN 2 button lights up to indicate tha

23Transposing the KeyboardThe transpose feature allows you to shift the pitch of the keyboard so thatyou can play in one key (such as the key of C) an

24Adjusting the PitchThis feature allows you to make fine adjustments to the piano's overallpitch, so that you can correct for small pitch differ

25SOUND Button TemperamentORGAN 1 lit Werckmeister: Uses the Werckmeister III scaleproposed in the late Baroque period by organistand musicologist And

26Recording and Replaying Your Performances (NC-500 only)The NC-500’s built-in recorder makes it easy to record and replay yourperformances. Operation

27If the part does not currently contain recorded data...If the part already contains recorded data...Press. Dark (No recorded data) Flashing (Standin

28 To pause the recording…You can pause your recording at any time. This feature is useful forrecording a part a little at a time, etc.1. If you want

29 To Adjust the Volume Balance when Playing Two Parts...1. Begin playback of both parts, and then hold down the TOUCHbutton and press the PART butto

3About Recorder dataSince it is possible for the contents of memory to be acciden-tally lost, you should save important data on an externaldata filer

30Erasing the Recording To Erase a Recorded Part...1. With playback stopped, hold down TRANSPOSE/FUNCTION andpress the PART button of the part that y

31MIDIWhat is MIDI?MIDI (for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface") is an internationallyrecognized standard that enables electronic instru

32Default MIDI SettingsThe piano's default MIDI settings are as follows. These settings areautomatically restored each time you turn the power on

33Using the Piano as a Multitimbral Tone GeneratorYour piano can also operate as a 16-part multitimbral tone generator.Connect a sequencer or similar

34Program ChangeMIDI program change messages are used to switch to different programs(different sounds or patches) on a remote MIDI device. Program ch

35 Enabling or Disabling Program ChangesIf you wish, you can disable the program change feature. If the feature isdisabled, the piano will neither ac

36MIDI Data Dumps (NC-500 only)You can use the MIDI data dump capability to save your recordedperformances into a MIDI data filer or other external st

37 Reloading the Saved Data1. Run a MIDI cable from the MIDI IN connector on the piano to theMIDI OUT connector on the data filer or (or other storag

38Connecting to a Computer by USB (NC-500 only)What is USB?The USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an interface for connecting computers toperipheral device

39Driver Ports for the NC-500 USB MIDI InterfaceThe driver side (computer side) implements a 2-in/2-out port configurationfor the NC-500’s USB MIDI in

4Table of contentsFeatures ... 5Controls and Connectors ... 6Top Controls...

40Installing and Setting the Korg USB MIDI DriverOn Windows XPYour piano includes a dedicated USB MIDI driver for Windows XP. If youare running XP, yo

412. Click the taskbar’s Start button to open the Start menu. In the menu,click on Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click on Soundsand Audi

425. The dialog now asks you to select search options. Click on Don’t search.I will choose the driver to install. Then click the Next button again.6.

43If the CD-ROM drive on your computer is not drive D, then replace the “D”above with the appropriate drive letter. If the CD-ROM drive’s name is “E”,

44 Uninstalling the Korg USB MIDI Driver for Windows XP1. Click the taskbar’s Start button to open the Start menu. In the menu,click on Control Panel

45 Disabling the Requirement for a Digital SignatureIf your Windows XP system is set to block installation of driver softwarethat does not carry a re

46On Mac OS XIf connecting the piano to a computer running Mac OS X, use the operatingsystem’s default MIDI driver.The Mac OS X version must be 10.2 o

47TroubleshootingIf the piano does not seem to be working correctly, please go through thefollowing list to see if you can identify and correct the pr

48❏ Be sure that your computer’s USB capability is enabled. If you are usingWindows XP: Open the Control Panel, click on System, click on theHardware

49SpecificationsNC-500 NC-300Keyboard 88 keys (A0 to C8), RH2 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 2) keyboardTouch Control Light, Normal, HeavyKeyboard Pitc

5Features● Twenty-four high-quality sounds...(☞ p.17)A rich selection of high-quality expressive sounds, in

50Assembling the NC-500 Piano Stand Warning Assembly must be carried out by at leasttwo persons.PrecautionsTo ensure saf e and correct assemb ly, p

514. Connect the pedal cord(6) to the connector onthe underside of the pedal unit.5. Run the cord along the groove on the undersideof the pedal unit a

52Montage du support de piano NC-500 Avertissement Le monta ge doit être eff ectué par aumoins deux personnes.PrécautionsPour faire en sor te que l

534. Brancher le cordon de pédalier (6) au connecteurse trouvant à la face inférieure du pédalier.5. Faire passer le cordon le long de la rainure de l

54 Warning Assembly must be carried out by at leasttwo persons.PrecautionsTo ensure saf e and correct assemb ly, please obser vethe following preca

554. Connect the pedal cord(5) to the connector onthe underside of the pedal unit.5. Run the cord along the groove on the undersideof the pedal unit a

56 Avertissement Le monta ge doit être eff ectué par aumoins deux personnes.PrécautionsPour faire en sor te que le monta ge soit sûr etcorrect, pr

574. Brancher le cordon de pédalier (5) au connecteurse trouvant à la face inférieure du pédalier.5. Faire passer le cordon le long de la rainure de l

58Operation of Piano Switches and KeysSOUND SwitchesThe following table shows the action or setting that results when you hold down the buttonindicate

59MIDI Implementation ChartNC-500/NC-300 Digital PianoMIDI Implementation ChartFunction Transmitted Recognized RemarksBasic ChannelDefault ChangedDefa

6Controls and ConnectorsTop Controls1. POWER switchTurns the power on and off. (☞ p. 9)2. Headphone jacksEach jack can be connected to a set of stereo

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONSUMERSThis product has been manufactured according to strict specifications and voltagerequirements that are applicable in the

79. DEMO buttonSelects one of the eight sound demos. (☞ p. 12)10. SOUND buttonsUse the eight small buttons in this section, together with the BANK but

8Lower ControlsNC-300NC-5001123345567781. PEDAL jackThe connection cable from the pedal pod (included) plugs into this socket.2. SPEAKER jack (NC-500

9Getting Ready to PlayGetting Ready Connect the power.Connect the socket end of the AC power cord to the piano’s AC INconnector. Then plug the other