Korg M3

Korg M3 is a music workstation synthesizer manufactured by Korg Corporation and introduced at the Winter NAMM show during January, 2007, being released four months later. The M3 is the successor of the famous Triton series. The name is based on the former M1, which was considered a revolutionary synth at the time.

M3
Korg M3
ManufacturerKorg
Dates2007 - 2013
PriceM3M (module): US$2375
M3 61-key: US$3000
M3 73-key: US$3475
M3 88-key: US$4000
Technical specifications
Polyphony120 voice[1] - single mode
60 voice - double mode
Oscillator120 oscillators - single mode
120 oscillators - double mode
Synthesis typePCM Sampler
Enhanced Definition Synthesis
Optional - EXB-Radias
FilterDual Multimode
Aftertouch expressionYes
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory64 Mb - Expandable to 320 Mb with optional EXB-M256
Effects3-band EQ (up to 16)
5 insert effects
2 master effects
1 total effect
Input/output
Keyboard61-key, Velocity Aftertouch
73-key, Velocity Aftertouch
88-key Hammer Action, Velocity Aftertouch
none - ( M3 Module)
Left-hand control8× Sliders
8× Switches
Joystick
Ribbon Controller
8× Velocity Sensitive Pads
X-Y Touchscreen Control
External controlMIDI
USB 2.0

The hardware synthesizer chip was designed around the HD-1, one of the various engines in the Korg OASYS. The M3 was named keyboard of the year at the Musik Messe Awards in Germany on early 2007.[2]

Korg M3  (61 / 73 / 88 key)

Firmware

At the end of Q3 2008, Korg released a major update to the M3's operating system, which changes the unit to the 'M3 XPanded'.[3] This update refines many of the functions of the M3, makes minor changes to the graphic user interface, adds four additional PCM sample libraries including a grand piano (EX-USB-PCM03) library, two brass and woodwind libraries (EX-USB-PCM01 & EX-USB-PCM02), a stereo grand piano (EX-USB-PCM04)[4] library, and updates the KARMA to version 2.2 Kay Algorithmic Realtime Music Architecture developed by Stephen Kay (see: Korg KARMA).

Korg Komponent System

Korg Komponent System is a unique modular keyboard system devised by Korg that allows the keyboardist to configure their M3 in a multitude of ways. With three different keyboard options Korg explains the system like this:

The 61-key model lets you mount a RADIAS-R analog modeling synthesizer instead of the M3-M sound generator, the 73-key model lets you mount the M3-M together with a RADIAS-R analog modeling synthesizer, and the 88-key model supports the combination of M3-M and RADIAS-R or even mounting two M3-M units simultaneously. Of course you can detach the M3-M sound generator and use it as a sound module, giving you great flexibility for constructing the system you need whenever you want.[5]

The largest criticisms of the Komponent system are:

  1. Korg seems to have abandoned the idea as only 2 modules (M3 and Radias) were Komponent compatible.
  2. Korg will not sell the keybeds separately. If you bought the M3 as a module, you cannot buy a 61, 73, or 88 key keybed except for on the used market. Korg has released keyboards since the M3 and none take advantage of the Komponent system.

Korg M50
Korg M50

In 2008, Korg unveiled a new, stripped-down version of the M3: the Korg M50. It runs on the same EDS sound system as the M3, but it has less polyphony, no support for expansion cards, and no sampling capabilities. The Korg M50 also lacks a Karma engine, but it can still be used if bought separately and installed on a computer.[6] The 88-key version, which featured the RH3 graded hammer-action piano keys, is the lightest 88-key keyboard Korg has ever made.

Notable Users
gollark: Alternatively, on every position change.
gollark: CONSTANTLY.
gollark: So you could make eyes follow you around the room.
gollark: Or a monitor.
gollark: How about an event when a computer is being looked at?

See also

References
  1. "Korg M3 Synth/Sampler". Sound On Sound. July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015.
  2. "Nominees and Winner". mipa Musikmesse International Press Award 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  3. "M3 Music Workstation Sampler". Korg. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009.
  4. http://www.korg.com/uploads/Download/EXUSB_PCM04_633659370260210000.zip Archived 2011-05-24 at the Wayback Machine Stereo Grand Piano Update
  5. Korg Webpage, Accessed on: January 4, 2008 <Korg Komponent System Archived 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine>
  6. http://www.karma-lab.com/karmasoft/m50/m50_main.html Karma M50 software
  7. "Anthony Gonzalez of M83". Korg. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010.
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