Jan 23
Announced exactly a year ago, the Korg MS-20 Mini
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Jan 23
Korg has taken the wraps off of its NAMM 2014 instrument range, including mobile synths for the iPad, a DIY monophonic synth, and a resurrection of the classic 80s keytar. … Continue reading
Sep 05
Korg’s KR Mini rhythm controller puts a backing band in your gig bag (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili
Sometimes a metronome just won’t cut it when you’re playing an instrument alone. That’s where Korg’s KR Mini comes in, providing the galloping metal beat that bridges into a poppy chorus for your bass, guitar or keyboard jam session. You can even chain the unit’s nine presets — 8-beat, 16-beat, dance, jazz, Latin, metal, pop, R&B and rock — together with a plethora of fills to make your own backing tracks to shred along to. The box’s 16 velocity sensitive-pads do double duty too, allowing for finger drumming if none of the onboard loops do the trick.
If you need inputs to run your existing effects pedal-board or foot controls into, the KR Mini has you covered there too. No monitor? No problem. The built-in speakers can provide the sound you need at a moment’s notice, with a trio of AAs providing the juice if you aren’t near a wall outlet. Considering the company’s storied drum machine-heritage, it’s cool to see Korg honoring that legacy with this latest KR model. The Mini ships in November for $79.99, and while it may not be the ego-free backing band of your dreams, it probably comes close.
Via: Create Digital Music
Source: Korg
Apr 13
This isn’t the first time a Korg synth has been re-imagined in software form, it’s not even the first (or second) time on Nintendo’s DS. But, when Detune releases its M01D for the handheld console, it’ll spark more than a little nostalgia for synth enthusiasts. Why? Because it’s heavily inspired by Korg’s legendary M1 synth, complete with all its sounds (and yes, the famous piano patch included), plus some new ones thrown in for good measure. The DS version includes a step sequencer (eight tracks with up to 64 steps per sequence) that you can compile together in “scenes.” Borrowing from other parts of the Korg family, the M01D app also offers a KAOSS mode, too, no doubt using one of those screens serving as the touchpad. You can preserve your creativity by saving to SD card, or the usual internet sharing options, and heck there’s even a 3D viewing mode too. Lordy! How that will actually look, we don’t know, or at least we won’t until its May release in Japan, before reaching the rest of the world in Summer.
Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Nintendo
Via: Joystiq
Source: Detune
Apr 12
Korg announces new KROSS keyboard
Posted in: Today's Chili
When it comes to electronic keyboards, there are different brands to choose from, and Korg has been an established name in this area for a long, long time already. Well, Korg’s latest addition to their electronic keyboard range has been called the Kross, where it is a mobile, affordable, keyboard workstation with audio/MIDI recording capabilities, and can operate on AC power or battery power (with the latter requiring half a dozen AA batteries to run), in addition to a vast selection of cutting-edge sounds. You will be able to choose from 61 keys or 88 fully-weighted keys, where it also holds the distinction of being the first battery-powered, full-featured Korg keyboard workstation.
It is said to feature rich sounds which are definitely top of its class, while carrying practical features such as analog-style step sequencing and built-in audio recorder, where all of those have been crammed into a lightweight and portable package. It seems that Korg is intend to hit the nail on the head this time around with the Kross offering specifications and style which will exceed people’s expectation of a keyboard at this price point.
Kross is said to come with roughly double the sound sample data compared to preceding Korg models such as the X50 and the PS60. You will find essential sounds like rock/jazz organ, strings, brass, and synth sounds in there, where they have been carefully treated to upgrades and enhancements, in addition to carrying instruments like the toy piano, accordion, combo organ, church organ, and of course, vintage instruments such as a tape sampler. Time to start composing a new set of your own tunes, no?
Those who are interested in picking up the Korg Kross keyboard workstation will be able to do so from this August onwards, where it will come with two price tags due to the different configuration. The 61-key Kross will retail for $699 a pop, while the 88-key model is more expensive at $999.
Press Release
[ Korg announces new KROSS keyboard copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Apr 11
Korg can’t seem to stop itself putting squelchy analog sounds into portable synths, and its latest grab-and-geek-out playthings are the Korg Volca Series. A trio of true-analog synthesizers – the Volca Keys for loops, Volca Bass for basslines, and Volca Beats for rhythms – each pack a sequencer and recording functionality, and can be daisy-chained into an impromptu studio.
In fact, multiple models from the Volca series can be hooked up, thanks to Korg’s judicious use of sync in/out ports; a MIDI input also means an external keyboard or other controller can be attached. That could come in handy if the touch-sensitive keypads of the Volca Keys turn out to be too compact for your chunky fingers.
The Volca range will also work with Korg’s SyncKontrol iPhone app to wirelessly control tap-tempo, swing settings, and synchronize playback with any iOS music app that supports WIST. The push for simplicity also includes self-tuning on the Bass and Keys models, correcting the analog drift that can turn off some starter users.
The Korg Volca Keys offers three note analog synthesis and a loop sequencer, as well as support for memorizing and repeating knob movements. It has 27 touch-sensitive keys with three note polyphony, plus ring modulation.
As for the Korg Volca Bass, that offers a trio of analog oscillators and a new analog filter; up to eight 16-step sequencer patterns can be stored, with an active step function for instantly tweaking rhythms. Finally, the Volca Beats has six editable analog parts – each with its own selection of knobs for direct control – and a stutter function for throwing in dramatic sequence changes.
All three run on six AA batteries and have built-in speakers, with a full set of fresh batteries good for around 10hrs of use. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Korg Volca analog synths power retro on-the-go is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apr 10
Korg’s love of the mini-analog synth clearly remains strong as it’s added three more new ones to the fold — the Volca Beat, Volca Bass and Volca Keys (the clue to what they do is in the names). While some firms take a pro product and work down, making cheaper versions, Korg seems to take a different approach. It did the stripping-back thing when it launched its popular Monotron synth. Since then, it’s incrementally developed it back up into a whole category of its own, the latest iteration of which we apparently see before us here. The trio of mini-synths clearly take inspiration from the Monotribe groovebox that came before them, but are a step up in terms of design. Brushed metal finishes give them a vintage, almost Stylophone feel. The Volca Bass, in particular, looks almost too much like the legendary Roland TB-303 to be coincidence, and if we didn’t know better, we’d say the color scheme of the Beat echoes the TR-808. As we happened to be in Frankfurt, we couldn’t resist getting out hands on them, or as you’ll see past the break, at least trying to.
Gallery: Korg Volca series eyes-on
Filed under: Misc
Apr 10
Teeny Tiny Analog Synthesizers Are the Most Adorable Way to Lay Down Your Jams
Posted in: Today's Chili
Well, these new itty-bitty analog synthesizers from Korg are just so cute I want to gobble them up. And from the demo video above, it sounds like the three Volca series keyboards are lovely little groove machines you might want to use, too. More »
Apr 10
Korg has a history of making keyboard workstations, but the KROSS takes the all-in-one flexibility to a new level, throwing in battery power support for mobile music creation. Available in 61- and 88-key versions – the latter using fully-weighted keys – the KROSS offers analog step sequencing, some of the key sounds from Korg’s premium synth line-up, 134 effects, and a 16-track MIDI sequencer, with the potential for running the keyboard either off the mains or from six AA batteries.
Korg isn’t saying exactly how long the KROSS will last on those batteries, but at least it offers a little more potential for creating songs on the go. The black and red chassis is studded with the usual array of knobs and buttons, including a sixteen-key sequencer control board for rhythms.
In addition to the piano, electric piano, and drum sounds which come from Korg’s more expensive models, the KROSS has twice the amount of sound sample data as previous affordable workstations. The company has also thrown in new EDM dance and electronic sounds, while effects – up to seven of which can be active at any one time – include delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, rotary speaker, amp modeling, and a vocoder.
A memory card slot can be used to swap data with a computer, and there’s a stereo audio recorder (including support for over-dubbing), arpeggiator, and one-touch drum backing. The 61-key version has an integrated carry-handle and tips the scales at 9.5lb, while the larger, 88-key version is 27.3lbs.
The Korg KROSS goes on sale in August, and is expected to be priced at $699 for the 61-key and $999 for the 88-key.
Korg KROSS takes synth workstation mobile is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Mar 27
Korg Kaoss KP3+ and Kaossilator Pro+ Synth Specs, Price and Release Date Announced
Posted in: Today's ChiliIf you like to make your own music and prefer to use synthesizers over analog musical instruments, you will probably be familiar with the name Korg. The company has announced that it has added a pair of the synthesizers to its Kaoss family. They look more like some sort of control panel from the Enterprise than musical instruments.
The new products include the KP3+ Dynamic Effect/Sampler and the Kaossilator Pro+ Dynamic Phase Synthesizer/Loop Recorder. Both devices promise a user-friendly X-Y touchpad interface that responds to the touch of a finger or a swipe.
The KP3+ supports touchpad-based control of over 150 sound effects including all of the original KP3 sound effects along with 22 new effect programs. The device also has a looper, a ducking compressor that puts emphasis on the backbeats, and a “Final Break” effect that simulates slowing down a turntable. Here’s just a small sample of what the KP3+ can do:
The device is also a MIDI controller with three controller signals transmitted from the touchpad and data from the slider.
The Kaossilator Pro+ has 250 sounds inspired by electronic music including 62 sounds inspired by cutting-edge genres. The effects include synth leads, enhanced drum sounds, and highly controllable drum patterns among other features. Korg shows off a bit of the Pro+ in action below:
Both products will be available this April with the KP3+ selling for $349.99(USD) and the Pro+ selling for $399.99.
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