Korg has shown off a major upgrade to its M3 music workstation and sampler in the shape of the M3 Xpanded.
This free upgrade offers 668MB of expansive new sounds, interactive interface functionality, advanced sequencer enhancements and additions to the KARMA technology.
Sound samples include three new acoustic pianos, 3-way tine and reed electric pianos, four velocity-switch clavichords, vintage tape-playback strings and flutes.
An expanded Sequencer mode adds new screens and functions, including a much-requested Piano Roll edit screen which shows event data, such as notes, velocities and control changes, in an intuitive, graphical way. Touch-drag operation can now be used to edit, delete or create note events or control events. A Track View page shows an overview of each track’s events and provides additional intuitive touch-drag operation. Full MIDI system exclusive data editing has also been added to the Sequencer mode, allowing users to easily record, view, control and edit every aspect of the M3’s synthesis, effects and mixing structures in the everyday parameter names, rather than complex hex coding.
The KARMA function, which generates unique, interactive phrases, has been expanded to Version 2.2, with many new features, including 1,024 locations for user GEs (Generated Effects) when used with exclusive KARMA M3 software from Karma-Lab. Users are now able to switch GEs in real time while KARMA is playing, with seamless transitions.
Other updated features include 700 effect presets voiced to provide instant production-ready settings, 149 newly added drum patterns and an improved TouchView user interface, which allows users to operate knobs or sliders by touch-drag operation onscreen, plus visual metering of timbre and track levels in Combi and Sequencer modes.
The new M3 XPanded upgrade is available for free in the box with all new M3 purchases, with a USB memory stick included containing the new OS and 640 MB of PCM (USB-PCM-04 is available for download only). The complete M3 XPanded upgrade is also available for download at www.korg.com/M3 for existing users.
