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Reset Korg 168 RC Soundlink:
How to reanimate this console after a operating system crash !

1. Introduction
2. Guide to reset the Korg 168 RC
3. Guide to restore the factory preset settings
4. Download the MIDI file with the factory settings
5. Scans from the original Korg 168 Service Manual

1. Introduction

Normally the Korg 168RC works fine without any trouble, but sometimes (extremely seldom) it's OS crashes for unkown reasons. In this case (and only then!) you'll need to process the 'Test mode' to reset the OS. After this reset all factory memory presets will be lost, but fortunately they can be restored too
(view: 3. Guide to restore the factory preset settings).

Unfortunately the information given in the Korg 168 service manual (view: 5. Scans from the original Korg 168 Service Manual) to process the 'Test mode' is difficult to understand, especially for non-technicians. Nevertheless this procedure isn't as difficult as it seems first: If you follow the instructions given in my 2. Guide to reset the Korg 168 RC, you should be able to reanimate this console within 10 minutes even as non-technician :-)

Note:
You don't need to process a complete 'Reset', if you just want to restore the factory preset settings!

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2. Guide to reset the Korg 168 RC

Please read this guide carefully BEFORE proceeding a reset of the Korg 168!
This could avoid damages to your monitoring devices (view Paragraph 8) !


1. Select 'RX Base Ch=01' in menu MIDI/MIDI Setup of the Korg 168 RC.

2. Power off your Korg 168 RC.

3. Connect MIDI Out and MIDI In of the Korg 168 with a MIDI cabel.

4. Power on while pressing 'Misc' and 'Save' simultaneously. Keep pressing these switches on (about 10 sec) till 'Korg168' appears on the LCD.

5. First of all, all LED's will be tested. All LED's should be alight by now.
Please press 'Master Mute' to continue.

6. Now all switches have to be checked step by step.
The LCD shows (left side of the lower line), which switch has to be activated for testing.
Note: If a switch has its own LED, it will light at this moment.
Wrong inputs will force the message 'Other' on the LCD.
In this case you'll need to repeat your entry with the correct switch.

The exact order is:
MISC, Ex BUS IO, MIDI, PGM, RECALL, SAVE,
F1 - F8 (the Function knobs below the LCD - please PRESS!)
Up, Down, +, -, C, INPUT, AUX SEND, EFF SEND, PAN
EFF 1, EFF 2, BUS MASTER, SND MASTER, METERS
SEL 1, Mute 1, SOLO 1
SEL 2, Mute 2, SOLO 2
.....
SEL 12, Mute 12, SOLO 12
SEL 13-16
Master Mute

7. Now the LCD will be tested. It should be completely black at this time.
Press 'Master Mute' to continue. Now the LCD should be completely white.
Press 'Master Mute' to continue.

8. Now all knobs (F1-F8 below the LCD) and faders have to be checked step by step.
You'll need to move them first to 'center', then to 'max' and finally to 'min' position.
The LCD will show 'OK' after each successful position.
Repeat your entry in cases of errors.

The exact order is:
Knob 1, Knob 2, ... Knob 8
Fader 1, Fader 2, ... Fader 12
Master Fader
Press 'Master Mute' to continue.

9. Now the MSPs 1-4 will be checked.
Attention:
The Korg 168 will send a high level sine signal at EACH OUTPUT (!) during the 4 following tests:
these signals could damage or destroy your audio monitoring devices!!!
Please ensure low level input settings for any connected devices BEFORE proceeding with these tests!

Press 'Master Mute' to acknowledge each test.
Then press 'Master Mute' to finish the 'Test Mode':
Now the LCD should indicate the 'normal screen' (menu: Meter mode).

10. Now please remove IMMEDIATELY the MIDI cable from PC-MIDI-Out to Korg168-MIDI-In to avoid any unwanted MIDI loopbacks!

11. Finally your Korg 168 should be fully functionable again :-)))

All factory preset settings will be lost at this time. In the next chapter you'll find information how to restore these settings too.

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3. Guide to restore the factory preset settings

The factory preset settings for memory, EQ and effect presets are stored in a MIDI file, which you can download in the next chapter. You need a MIDI cable from PC-MIDI-Out > Korg168-MIDI-In and a MIDI sequencer program which can handle a huge amount of MIDI-SysEx-Data to restore this information (e.g. Cubase 3.x or higher, Emagic Logic...). Additionally you'll need to switch your Korg 168 RC to mode 'Duplicate Slave' in menu 'MIDI/MIDI Setup' as described below.

Now step by step:
1. Connect your PC-MIDI-Out with the MIDI-In of the Korg 168 RC.
2. Start your MIDI sequencer program (Cubase, Emagic Logic...).
3. Open (in Cubase: import!) the MIDI file 'sl168rc.mid'.
4. Select the PC-MIDI-Out for this track, which is connected to the MIDI-In of your Korg 168 RC.
5. Activate menu 'MIDI' at your Korg 168 RC and go to submenu 'MIDI Setup'.
6. Select 'Duplicate Slave' at setting 'System Extension'.
7. Now playback the MIDI file up to it's end.
8. Stop playback after finishing.
9. Reset the setting of 'System Extension' back to the former setting (normally 'Stand Alone 1, 2 or 3').
10. All factory settings should be available now.
11. Please check, if the transmission had been successful:
Try to recall program, effect or EQ memories - the factory presets should be selectable now.

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4. Download the MIDI file with the factory settings

The MIDI file (168RCPL.MID) with the factory presets of the Korg 168 can be downloaded directly from my website:
k168rc_presets_e.zip
(With the official permission of the German Korg support team!)
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5. Scans from the Korg 168 Service Manual

Here you can find scans from the original Korg 168 Service Manual (only the pages: 'Test mode').
All rights to this information are reserved by Korg®!

Front page:
Front page

Page 17:
Page 17

Page 18:
Page 18

Page 19:
Page 19

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C/O 2002-2013: Werner Ogrodnik (Cologne, Germany)