Korg M3 Tabletop Synthesiser Sampler Module Synth Synthesizer M3-M

Korg M3 Tabletop Synthesiser Sampler Module Synth Synthesizer M3-M

The M3 features a number of innovations distilled from the flagship OASYS including the new EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) sound generator derived from the HD-1 engine design, the advanced second-generation KARMA functionality, and the multi-purpose control surface. Adding innovations such as the new concept of "virtualized hardware" that allows an even closer integration with DAW systems, Drum Tracks which provide a instant groove to play along with, and the new "Korg Komponent System" concept that facilitates more flexible system construction, the M3 music workstation/sampler opens a new and exciting page in music making - it's the workstation that rightfully deserves to wear the "M" that started it all.

Specifications:

Supercharged with 512 NEW Sounds!

Four models available

Enhanced Definition Synthesis: A new horizon of sound-making potential

Effects

Expanded Combination Mode

Great sounds

Second Generation KARMA

Open Sampling

Korg Komponent System

Supercharged with 512 NEW Sounds!

Sweetwater has installed an M3 software and soundware upgrade that doubles the number of EDS Program slots from 512 to 1,024. Plus, these new slots are supercharged with 512 additional programs including:

More Pianos

Clear-cut piano sounds that are useful for solo playing and also stand out in a group context.

Variations that simulate playing with different finger touches.

Brighter sounds that are useful both for rock and jazz music.

Upright piano sounds reminiscent of famous British rock tunes. 

Popular M1 piano and various stage piano sounds commonly used in the 80s.

Layered sounds with strings or synths.

More Electric Pianos and Clavinets

Vintage electric piano sounds with nuances simulating the varying condition of different instruments.

Popular vintage electric piano sounds with appropriate settings for auto-panning, chorus, delay, etc.

Classic reed-based piano sounds with typical tremolo settings.

Variations offering the sound of using a guitar amp's natural distortion.

Sounds with key-off noise emulations.

More Strings

Acoustic string sounds and vintage string keyboard sounds.

More Brass and Woodwinds

A wide variety of sounds that are immediately useful for ensemble parts.

Brass and woodwind sounds which combine multiple instruments, such as trumpet and trombone, flute, horns and strings, etc.

More Guitars

Realistic guitar sounds using a wide variety of amp types and sizes.

Inspiring and immediately useful sounds with classic distortion,

chorus and delay effects.

More Synths

Simple and easy-to-use analog synth sounds.

Vintage solo/lead synth sounds covering the "must-have" sounds from the '70s and '80s.

Four models available

The M3 music workstation/sampler is available as a lineup of four models: 61-key, 73-key, and weighted 88-key models, as well as the module-only M3-M. The 61-key and 73-key models use a proprietary new semi-weighted synth action keyboard developed by Korg for great playing feel and expressive aftertouch response. The 88-key model features the RH3 (Real Weighted Hammer Action 3) keyboard that reproduces the playing sensation of a grand piano, in which the low range has a heavier feel, with the touch becoming lighter as you play upward on the keyboard, allowing superb response to fine movements of your fingers.

Enhanced Definition Synthesis: A new horizon of sound-making potential

The M3 features a newly developed "EDS" sound generating system based on a new chip design that was developed in parallel with the HD-1 engine from the flagship OASYS. It takes full advantage of the M3's 256 Mbytes of PCM source material which is a veritable "best of" from the OASYS.

Using Korg's advanced voicing technology, the 1,028 multisamples, 1,606 drum samples, dual oscillators, four-level velocity switching/crossfading/layering, and stereo sampling allow for an enormous range of high-quality, detailed, and expressive sounds. The filter section, a vital part of the sound-creation process, lets you simultaneously use two resonant filters for each oscillator, and can be configured in series or parallel. Four filter types are provided: lowpass, highpass, band-pass, and band-reject.

The amp section features a driver circuit that gives the sound a sense of edge and character, along with low boost to help shake the walls when needed. Integrated 3-band EQ allows tonal sculpting without needing to go to the effects section. Detailed envelope generators, abundant modulation routings, plus the all-new AMS Mixers for advanced processing all combine to provide a level of sound shaping far beyond previous possibilities.

Effects

The all-important effect section provides up to five Insert effects, two Master effects, and one Total effect. In addition to great choruses, flangers, phasers, delays and reverbs, the 170 effect types include dynamic processing effects such as compressor and limiter, amp modeling and speaker simulation effects using Korg's proprietary "REMS" modeling technology, and evocative effects like the Grain Shifter and Talking Modulator.

The M3 includes professional features that allow for many cool applications and routings. Dual Common LFOs allow multiple effects to use the same modulation source; an advanced Control Bus provides triggering input from external audio or internal timbres to effects such as compressor/limiters and the vocoder; and the audio inputs can be freely routed to various effect chains and then run to individual outputs allowing the M3 to be used as a 2-in/6-output effects processor.

Expanded Combination Mode

Combination Mode is where multiple Programs can be freely assigned as splits and layers across the keyboard, including velocity switching and cross-fading for complex and expressive sounds. Sounds can be delayed either by time or by tempo, even when you release a key, allowing you to create sophisticated rhythmic soundscapes and performance effects. Monophonic sounds can be forced to be polyphonic, or vice-versa, and you can select only one of the oscillators if desired. For the more adventurous musician, each timbre can even use a different scale or tuning! 

The M3 allows for sixteen timbres at the same time, including a Drum Track, up to four KARMA Modules, multiple effects and much more. Each timbre has dedicated 3-band EQ for getting the perfect mix, and a powerful Tone Adjust setup for detailed in-context sound shaping.

In addition to providing more sound elements, this means that Combis can be set up and saved as complete 16-part MIDI sequencing templates for use with an external sequencer and computer DAWs.

Great sounds

In the end it's always about the sounds, and the M3 doesn't disappoint. Korg's acclaimed international voicing team delivers the goods once again: stunningly realistic imitative sounds, fat synth sounds, imaginative textures, evocative sound effects - it's all here. The M3 comes loaded with 512 Programs, and room for a total of 1,664 user sounds (13 Banks plus GM). All sound locations are fully editable (except GM banks), so you are always free to tweak a sound if needed. Adding in the EXB-RADIAS option delivers 128 powerful MMT synthesis sounds. There are 32 drum kits provided, and room for a total of 144. As for the 16-part Combinations, 384 come preloaded, with room for a total of 1,792 (14 Banks).

All sounds (Programs and Combinations) are organized by Categories and Sub-Categories for easy searching and selection, making it easy to find and organize your sounds.

Second Generation KARMA

The second generation KARMA functionality that first appeared on the OASYS and received wide acclaim from artists and users world-wide is fully implemented in the M3. KARMA is the inspiring, real-time music generation system that can help you play everything from natural instrument gestures like intricate finger-picking, strumming and harp glissandos, to complex cascades of notes, dance-riffs, gated and chopping effects and "improvising" drum grooves. KARMA continues to set the standard by which all other arpeggiators, phrase players, and musical effect generators are judged. The inspiration that KARMA offers, coupled with the unheard-of phrase variability is second to none.

Open Sampling

The M3's Open Sampling System lets you sample and resample in any mode to produce new remixed combinations of sounds and effects, or to capture full performances "In-Track" within the sequencer. Cutting-edge editing tools include Time Slice, Time Stretch, Crossfade Looping, Rate Change and Normalize.

An easy-to-use Auto-Setup function makes all the right sampling settings for you, with the press of a button. Stock sampling memory is 64 MB, and can be increased to 320 MB by adding the optional EXB-M256 memory expansion board. Samples in Korg native format, AIFF, WAV, Soundfont V2.0 and AKAI (S-1000/3000 with advanced Program parameter conversion) formats can be used, and internal samples can be exported as WAV or AIFF if needed.

Sampling can also be done to attached media, so USB memory sticks and hard drives can be used to extend memory size to resample a complete song as a WAV file to be burned to a USB CD-R/RW as an audio disc, or for moving to a computer for further editing and manipulation. Audio files on the media can even be edited directly to normalize, trim, and perform other essential editing tasks.

Korg Komponent System

The M3 music workstation/sampler introduces the new Korg Komponent System, featuring detachable keyboard and sound generator sections. 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.

Korg M3 Module Features:

EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) chip shares OASYS low-aliasing oscillators, new filters, drive parameter and AMS mixer

Karma - all 2nd Generation Karma functions from OASYS are included

256 MB ROM incorporates the 'best of' OASYS ROM

1024 programs (1664 possible)

384 combinations (1792 possible)

Color Touchview display doubles as an X/Y pad for real time control

Control surface has eight sliders and switches

Eight velocity sensitive pads trigger notes, chords and controller messages

Drum Track features provides grooves for jamming, Karma, or songwriting

480 PPQ sequencer

Open Sampling System

Editor/Librarian software is both stand alone and a plug-in within host software

Korg Komponent System allows multiple modules to be added

Nominal Output Level 

OUTPUT: -10 dBu/+4 dBu

SEND: -10 dBu

Output Impedance 

OUTPUT: 2 k ohms

SEND: 2 k ohms

Dynamic Range 

100 dB or greater (IHF-A)

Displays 

Graphic LCD (132 x 64 dots, backlit LCD) x 2

Connectors 

INPUT jack (1/4-inch phone type)

AUX IN jack (Stereo miniature phone type)

OUTPUT L/MONO, R jacks (1/4-inch phone type)

PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4-inch phone type)

EXT LOOP jacks (SEND, RETURN; 1/4-inch phone type)

AMP CONTROL jack (1/4-inch phone type)

SUB CTL1, 2/SUB EXP jack (1/4-inch TRS phone type)

USB port

MIDI connectors (IN, OUT)

DC IN jack

Power Supply 

DC 9 V

Current Draw 

600 mA

Accessories 

AC Adaptor

USB Cap

Owner’s Manual

Options (sold separately) 

Footswitch: BOSS FS-5U

Dual Footswitch: BOSS FS-6

Expression Pedal: BOSS FV-500L/500H, Roland EV-5

Size and Weight

Width (W)

542 mm

21-3/8 inches

Depth (D)

271 mm

10-11/16 inches

Height (H)

80 mm

3-3/16 inches

Weight

4.8 kg

10 lbs. 10 oz.

GST Note: GST is included in the price of this item. GST is included in the freight.