Korg M3

M3
Korg M3  (61 / 73 / 88 key)
Manufacturer	Korg
Dates	2007 -
Price	M3M (module): US$2375 M3 61-key: US$3000 M3 73-key: US$3475 M3 88-key: US$4000
Technical specifications
Polyphony	120 voice - single mode 60 voice - double mode
Oscillator	120 oscillators - single mode 120 oscillators - double mode
Synthesis type	PCM Sampler Enhanced Definition Synthesis Optional - EXB-Radias
Filter	Dual Multimode
Aftertouch expression	Yes
Velocity expression	Yes
Storage memory	64 Mb - Expandable to 320 Mb with optional EXB-M256
Effects	3-band EQ (up to 16) 5 insert effects 2 master effects 1 total effect
Input/output
Keyboard	61-key, Velocity Aftertouch 73-key, Velocity Aftertouch 88-key Hammer Action, Velocity Aftertouch none - ( M3 Module)
Left-hand control	8x Sliders 8x Switches Joystick Ribbon Controller 8x Velocity Sensitive Pads X-Y Touchscreen Control
External control	MIDI

Korg M3 & Trinity

Korg M3-61 (& Trinity below)

Korg M3 is a music workstation synthesizer manufactured by Korg Corporation and introduced at the Winter NAMM show during January, 2007. It hit the streets 4 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.

Although it is not a software synth as Korg's flagship OASYS, the hardware synthesizer chip was designed around the HD-1, one of OASYS software synths. The M3 was named keyboard of the year at the Musik Messe Awards in Germany early 2007. This surprised many who expected the new Yamaha Motif XS to take on that position.

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'. 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) 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 Corporation which 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.

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

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 88-key version, which featured the RH3 graded hammer-action piano keys, is the lightest 88-key keyboard Korg has ever made.

Users

• Derek Sherinian - occasionally with Planet X, he uses a Korg Triton for most of his work.
• John Paul Jones
• Chris Lowe
• Noah Lennox

See also

• Korg Trinity
• Korg Triton
• Korg Karma
• Alesis Fusion
• Roland Fantom-X
• Roland Juno-G
• Sampler (musical instrument)

External links

• Korg Website
• Karma-Lab Website - M3 page
• Karma-Lab Wiki - M3 articles
• Karma-Lab M3 Video and Audio clips
• Korg Forums Website
• Korg M3 tutorials
• Karma-Lab M3 forums
• Free Korg M3 Trance & Electronic Combi's
• Sound on Sound - Review

References

• Korg Corporation, Accessed on 24 December 2008 <http://www.korg.com/GEAR/prod_info.asp?a_prod_no=M3&category_id=1>
• Ried, Gordon, Korg M3. Sound on Sound, July 2007.