Korg Monotron Mini Synth reviewed by Sonic LAB

Quickie here for you. Well worth checking out this video review of the Korg Monotron Mini Synth. Cheap, simple, quirky, battery only… yes. But it shook Musikmesse and it looks like it’s going to be one to watch, particularly when the circuit-benders get hold of it.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Korg intros minimalist SP170 digital piano

Korg’s latest addition to its line of digital pianos is the SP170, a full-size keyboard that minimises distraction by doing away with control panels in favour of emphasising the keys and sound system.

If you’re after a simple keyboard where attention has been paid more to the feel and sound than additional features, the SP170 could be for you.

The ten sounds — two acoustic pianos, two electric pianos, harpsichord, clavichord, vibraphone, pipe organ, electric organ and strings — are selectable via the keys themselves, eliminating the need for buttons and leaving more room for the two 10cm x 5cm oval speakers, driven by 9W x 2 amplifier. There’s a reasonable 120 note polyphony (60 notes per stereo channel).

Korg has implemented its Natural Weighted Hammer Action system which promises a realistic feel — keys in the lower range are more heavily weighted than those in the upper range. Then again, every digital piano manufacturer offers something like this now, so you’ll need to play one to see if the feel is right for you.

Other functions include transposition, pitch control, MIDI output and damper pedal jack (just one pedal, it seems). Also two headphone/line out jacks.

It’s available in either black or white finish, weighs in at just under 27lbs and measures 51.65″ (W) × 12.8″ (D) × 5.24″ (H).

It has a RRP of $499.99.

Product page

Popularity: 5% [?]

Korg shows off new M50 Music Workstation [NAMM09]

Korg has taken the fundamentals of its flagship M3 Xpanded workstation and put it out in the form of the more affordable M50 Music Workstation.

The latest version offers 73 keys (six octaves) together with angled control panel and full-size TouchView interface.

The EDS (Extended Definition Synthesis) sound engine delivers stunning sounds and brilliant effects. New additions include a three-stage velocity-switched stereo piano programmed in conjunction with samples of the damper resonance, producing an extraordinarily natural sound. Also new are a number of vintage keyboards, including the classic Korg SG-1 Sampling Grand, acclaimed by artists around the world, numerous authentic electric pianos and clavs, along with legendary 1960s-era tape playback strings and flute sounds.

The M50 offers 256MB of PCM data shaped into 608 Programs, as well as 384 Combinations by Korg’s renowned voicing staff, covering all the acoustic, synthetic and imaginative sounds that current players demand. User-edited data can also be saved into the internal memory, with space for 640 Programs, 512 Combinations and 48 Drum kits. The M50 offers several advanced sound-shaping features, including low-aliasing oscillators, a powerful Filter topology and detailed EGs (Envelope Generators), plus a Drive parameter and AMS (Alternate Modulation Source) Mixers.

The M50 provides 5 Insert Effects, 2 Master Effects and 1 Total Effect, along with 170 Effects types; up to 32 Effects Presets are available per effect. An independent three-band EQ is available for each Program, the Drum Track and each of the sixteen timbres/tracks.

The Drum Track gives users over 670 natural-sounding grooves to jam with in Program and Combi modes, and to help stimulate the songwriting process. Dual arpeggiators offer up traditional arp performance with five preset patterns (UP, DOWN, ALT1, ALT2, RANDOM), as well as advanced polyphonic arpeggiation that can generate everything from simple phrases to complex rhythmic gestures – even fixed note drum and percussion grooves. Two patterns can be used simultaneously in Combination mode or Sequencer mode to create complete ensemble backing, especially when used in conjunction with the Drum Track.

An intuitive sequencer provides 16 MIDI + 1 Master tracks with all the tools needed to capture and easily shape musical ideas into polished productions. It features up to 128 songs, allows users to record 210,000 notes and offers a high resolution of 480 PPQ (parts per quarter-note).

The proprietary M50 Editor and Plug-In Editor software lets users edit the sounds using a computer, and allows the M50 to act as a plug-in instrument for their DAW (VST, Audio Units and RTAS are supported). The editor librarian also enables users to exchange sounds between the M50 and M3. Further, an SD card slot provides easy and affordable management of Programs, Combinations and Sequences, as well as sounds, songs and other data.

Korg’s proprietary 320×240 pixel TouchView display ensures excellent visibility and operability, making it easy to select sounds and adjust parameters. Other controls include a joystick and multiple switches and triggers.

Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

Korg

Popularity: 7% [?]

Korg announces Lifetime Achievement Award 2009: Herbie Hancock and Keith Emerson [NAMM09]

Last month, Korg announced its annual lifetime achievement award, giving the accolade to two quite different keyboard musicians.

Herbie Hancock: Jazz legend and innovator has been a musical innovator for his entire career. Not content to be pigeonholed as a traditionalist, Hancock has gained new exposure through his recent collaborations on albums such as 2005’s Possibilities, which featured vocalists John Mayer, Paul Simon, Sting, Christina Aguilera and more. And on his latest Grammy-album-of-the-year-winning release,River: The Joni Letters, he brings in guest artists like Norah Jones, Tina Tuner and, of course, Joni Mitchell.

Throughout his career Hancock has often found the right instrument for harnessing his innovative composition and performance style in Korg keyboards. But for him, it goes beyond hardware into the personality of the brand. “[The people at Korg] exhibit their care for not only their product, but also their care for the people that play their product. And their care for a bigger picture – what it can mean for music lovers. That they care about the future development of the music,� he commented.

Presenting the award, Korg Senior Product Manager Jerry Kovarsky commented, “The aspect of Herbie’s persona and career that most appeals to Korg is his constant innovation both personally and musically. He keeps searching out new inspiration, new ways of reaching out to the public, and adapts to new technology in his never-ending quest for artistic growth and personal communication. These are goals that everyone would do well to strive for.�

Keith Emerson: Prog-rock pioneer is an icon of prog-rock and a keyboard legend known for his musical sophistication and larger-than-life theatrics. He relies on Korg as his first choice. Emerson shot to fame in the late ‘60s as a member of The Nice, and subsequently went on to make his name in the progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Today he’s gearing up to tour in support of his newest release, Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla. And of course, he’ll be bringing a stable of Korg keyboards along for the ride.

“My Korg instruments are reliable and Korg has a great team that helps me out. Quite honestly, all the Korg keyboards have gone through tornadoes, they’ve gone through playing out in the open air, they’ve gone through extreme humidity and probably are thrown in the back of the truck at the end of the gig. But the next day you just plug them in and they work great. Come to think of it, I can’t remember a time when a Korg didn’t work for me!� Emerson remarked.

In presenting the award to Keith, Kovarsky stated, “Keith is the artist who made playing keyboards a cool thing to do, and became a hero to throngs of budding players throughout the years. But while doing this he also exposed his fans to classical composers and compositions, and a harmonic and musical sophistication that was unheard of in rock and popular music. We didn’t realize that we were growing artistically while we were rocking out to his thrilling performances – that’s a winning combination!�

Korg

Popularity: 4% [?]

Korg debuts major upgrade to M3 music workstation/sampler [NAMM09]

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.

Korg

Popularity: 3% [?]

Korg shows off LP-350 “lifestyle piano” [NAMM09]

Korg has announced that its LP-350 lifestyle piano will be available from March this year.

The body of the digital piano is under 11 inches deep, meaning it should be easier to fit it into smaller homes. It’s a full 88-note keyboard, though, utilising Korg’s RH3 graded hammer action technology for a more realistic feel, three levels of touch sensitivity, and accurate stereo sampling from an acoustic concert grand piano.

It comes with all three pedals, can be tuned and has alternate scale tunings, features 60 note polyphony, 30 sounds including five pianos and seven electric pianos, reverb and chorus, sound layering, and 2x11W amp with 2x10cm bass-reflex speakers.

Available in black and white, pricing to be confirmed.

Korg

Popularity: 8% [?]

Korg Kaossilator now available in limited edition pink [NAMM09]

Not a lot to add to that headline. It seems that no piece of tech or musical gadgetry is immune from turning pink from time to time.

At the Winter NAMM exhibition last month, Korg announced that its Kaossilator synth is available for a limited time in pink, as well as the traditional yellow.

I don’t even have a picture of it in all its pinkness, but never mind. No new features as far as I can see – just pink.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Korg announces Kaossilator dynamic phrase synthesizer

When I first saw this bright yellow pocket-sized gizmo, I thought it was for use on a building site or for measuring distances or heights, but no — it’s Korg’s Kaossilator.

According to Sonic State, it’s a battery-powered pocket-sized instrument featuring Korg synth sounds alongside innovative performance features.

It features a touch pad (doesn’t everything these days?) and Korg reckon anyone can play musical phrases by simply tapping or sliding their finger across it.

Read on for Korg’s press release:
[Read more]

Popularity: 3% [?]

Korg debuts C-720 digital concert piano

Korg have unveiled the latest addition to their range of digital concert pianos, with the C-720.

It uses a proprietary Piano eXperience technology to provide greater realism and feel. Using cutting edge stereo sampling techniques it conveys natural imaging and nuances of a concert grand piano using multi-layer PCM sampling.

Nuances such as the sound of the key being released, the hammer returning, and even sympathetic damper resonance of the strings, are included. Impressive.

In terms of feel, it features Korg’s RH3 real weighted hammer action keyboard. For added realism, keys further towards the upper end of the keyboard have a lighter touch than those at the lower end. There are seven velocity curves so there should be a setting to suit everyone’s playing style.

The C-720 comes with 40 different instrument sounds including a number of acoustic pianos and other keyboard instruments including harpsichord, clavinet, organ, electric piano, plus a number of stringed instrument samples.

Two sounds can be split or layered across the keyboard, and there are a number of effects including reverb and chorus to add depth to the sounds.

When it comes to pedalling, the Korg C-720 supports half-pedalling for the damper and soft pedals, plus a sostenuto pedal.

Other features include transposition, fine tuning, 37 metronome drum patterns, dual headphone outputs, different tuning temperaments, and 20 demo songs plus 185 classical piano pieces.

The C-720 has four speakers housed in an internal bass reflex chamber, powered by two stereo 90W amplifiers.

It looks and sounds like a very capable instrument on a par with some of the Yamaha contemporary digital pianos. At the end of the day, if you’re a keen pianist, it’s going to come down to the feel of the keyboard and pedals, and sound of the piano samples. The extra features are nice but don’t set it apart from competitors offerings.

It will be available this month for a RRP of $4900.

Korg

Popularity: 2% [?]

Korg Concert Series Digital Pianos C-320, C-520 and C-720

Korg has introduced three new concert series digital pianos to its range. Features include:

• Korg’s proprietary “Piano eXperience” technology that delivers richly expressive piano sounds.
• High quality PCM multi dynamic level samples including string resonance and damper noise samples.
• Up to 62 note polyphony.
• Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 (RH3) keyboard.
• Up to eight velocity curves, plus fixed.
• Internal stereo sound system, enhanced four-speaker system, true bi-amplification.
• 30 or 40 realistic sounds, including 7 acoustic pianos, 8 electric pianos, harpsichords, clavichords, vibraphones, acoustic guitar, jazz and church organs, choirs, basses, marimba.
• Multi-effects including reverbs, chorus, tremolo, delay, rotary speaker, equalizer).
• Up to 10 alternate scale tunings.
• Damper pedal includes half-pedalling support; soft pedal; sostenuto.
• Piano lesson function.
• Two-part recorder.
• Metronome.
• USB connector.
• Amplification: Up to 2 z 35W + 2 x 12W

More details available in this press release or at the Korg website.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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