The next coming of M

The M3 heralds the third generation of Korg Workstations. The M1 started it all, first appearing in 1988 to bring the world a new concept called the “music workstation.” It went on to become the best selling workstation in history, and was further expanded and enhanced through the T and O1/W series. Trinity defined a new level of innovations including touch screen technology, and was the forbearer of the successful TRITON range of products. Now Korg is poised to refine the workstation category once again. With 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, the M3 has learned a lot from its upper-end sibling. Adding innovations such as the new concept of “virtualized hardware” that allows an even closer integration with DAW systems, 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, and is the workstation that rightfully deserves to wear the “M” that started it all.

Main features

• New EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) sound generator derived from the OASYS's HD-1 engine supports up to four-way velocity switching, and features powerful filter configurations plus advanced modulation possibilities, producing rich and vivid sounds.
• A gigantic 256 Mbytes (16-bit linear data equivalent) of 48 kHz sampled PCM memory contains a total of 1,032 multisamples and 1,606 drum samples, including many stereo and velocity-switched elements.
• The same second-generation KARMA functionality featured on the OASYS, an all-new Drum Track function, the Open Sampling System, and a high-resolution16-track MIDI sequencer provide a new production environment that lets you seamlessly combine your inspirations into completed form.
• The color touch-view GUI ensures excellent operability, with the display also able to be used as an X-Y control. Eight dynamic pads and a multi-function control surface give you a high degree of control and expressive capability.
• Virtualized Hardware via a new Firewire functionality allows the M3 to be closely integrated into your DAW system.
• Korg Komponent System --- a new concept that lets you flexibly construct your system from hardware units.
• Simple, elegant, and warm design using a combination of contrasting materials.
• Choose from four models (61-key, 73-key, 88-key, or a sound module), with the 61 and 73 key versions premiering a newly-develop keyboard that feels great and increases both expression and control.
• A rich array of expansion possibilities includes the EXB-RADIAS (a RADIAS-derived analog modeling synthesizer board), the EXB-M256 (PCM sample memory expansion), the EXB-FW board that allows virtualized hardware expansion via a single FireWire cable, and EX-USB-PCM series libraries to be released in the future.

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 found in 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 1,032 multisamples, 1,606 drum samples, 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 filters for each oscillator, and can be configured in series or parallel. Four filter types are provided: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject. The amp section features a driver circuit that gives the sound a sense of edge and character. 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.

The all-important effect section provides up to five insert effects, two master effects, and one total effect. In addition to great chorus/flanger/phasers, delays and reverbs, the 170 effect types include dynamics-type effects such as compressor and limiter, and amp modeling and speaker simulation effects using Korg's proprietary “REMS” modeling technology.

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X-Y control, dynamic pads and more equal ultimate expressive power

The M3 is remarkable not only for the freshness of its sounds, but also for its remarkable new control environment. The color LCD of the M3 music workstation/sampler not only provides a touch-view GUI that ensures intuitive and easy operation, but it also operates as an X-Y Pad, allowing sound and effect parameters to be controlled in real-time by sliding your finger across or tapping on the screen. Further control is provided by a Motion function that lets you capture and play back your finger moves to shape your sound and performance in unique ways. The screen even changes colors in response to the movement of your finger for cool visual feedback to your performance. The screen even changes colors in response to the movement of your finger for cool visual feedback to your performance. The eight dynamic pads give you a great way to play drum sounds or user-defined chords, either live or as triggers for the powerful KARMA function. . Each note in the chord retains the individual velocity so it can play back with all the nuance of your original performance, and can even be scaled across a full velocity range without “breaking” the dynamic relationship of each note.

The eight slider/switch control surface offers the same multi-functionality as on the OASYS: it can be used as a mixer, a set of expressive sound controls, an editing interface, a realtime KARMA performance interface, or to control external software and hardware synths and effects. There's also a joystick and a ribbon controller that give you convenient ways to express subtle nuances of sound. A newly designed proprietary keyboard with refined aftertouch delivers superb feel and expression that's better than ever before.

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Funky Drummer

A drumkit in the M3 can be created from ROM or RAM samples, with up to four-way velocity switching and cross-fading for incredible realism.

The M3 provides a new Drum Track function in Program and Combi modes that adds a groove to each sound you play. Combined with KARMA it makes even a Program a complete sonic adventure that is sure to inspire. You can select patterns from over 500 in internal memory and start them from a desired region of the keyboard or by playing a velocity that's above a specified threshold.

Since the Drum Track uses MIDI data stored in a Pattern, it is easy for you to create your own in the Sequencer Mode, either recording them, importing them from SMF data or other users songs, or converting recorded KARMA data as MIDI events for further manipulation. Even sampled loops can be used! This is a powerful feature for uses ranging from creating music-production memos to realtime performance.

(back to top of page) 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 320MB by adding 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, so you can 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.

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New High-Resolution Sequencer

The sequencer that's at the heart of the M3's song production is an intuitively-understandable 16-track design that holds up to 128 songs and 210,000 notes. The high timing resolution of 480 PPQ captures every nuance and detail of your performance. Three-band EQ per track provides detailed sound-shaping, as does the Tone Adjust sound “tweaking” function. The Cue List function that has been a popular feature ever since the now-classic TRITON series lets you create songs in sections, or play back completed songs as a medley.

All the now-classic Korg features are including, such as One-touch setup which takes you from playing a Program or Combination to “ready-to-record” status in one easy step, automatically arming tracks and routing voices behind the scenes.

Song Templates contain pre-assigned effect routings and program assignments, providing one more shortcut to help you capture your creative outbursts. The M3 comes with 16 of these Song Templates, plus another 16 you can custom-tailor to your own needs. Each Template Song also provides a number of rhythm patterns – including intro, fills and endings – that you can use to instantly create a rhythm track.

Individual track looping allows flexible manipulation of repeated phrases such as drum grooves against longer parts like melodies and solos.

Advanced editing tools like variable quantization with selectable intensity and swing allow for nuanced adjustments to your recordings. Detailed event editing lets you work on your tracks with surgical precision, and a Compare function acts like an Undo for your last change to easily judge the effect of your edits.

Realtime Pattern Play and Record (RPPR) can be used to assign sequenced Patterns to individual keys on the keyboard for an interactive performance, or to quickly build up tracks. Time-tested features that have been proven to aid in inspiration and song creation combine to deliver an intuitive and enjoyable songwriting experience – the M3 has it all!

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2nd Generation KARMA Onboard

The second generation KARMA functionality that first appeared on the OASYS and received acclaim from artists and users world-wide is also provided. KARMA is the inspiring, real-time phrase generator 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. The inspiration that KARMA offers, coupled with the unheard-of phrase variability is second to none.

In Program Mode, one KARMA Generated Effect (GE) can be assigned to a single drum groove, melodic phrase, comping gated part or other musical effect. Eight sliders, eight switches, and eight scene buttons (two settings of four) provide dedicated real-time control and the ability to store complete snapshots of your settings.

In Combi and Sequencer modes, KARMA's power increases exponentially, with four KARMA Modules available simultaneously.

The Control Surface can access and manipulate each module individually on its own “Module Layer”. In addition to the four individual Module Layers, there is a Master Layer that can be mapped to parameters from any of the modules, even grouping them together – so one slider can control the swing feel of all four modules at the same time, or the rhythmic activity of two or three modules at once, to name a few. Each Module Layer has 8 Scenes that store the settings of the sliders and switches in 8 different snapshots, instantly recalling completely different settings for that layer.

The Master Layer's 8 Scenes, in addition to storing the settings of the 16 sliders and switches for its parameters, also control which scene is selected for each module. With 8 Scenes in each Module, and 8 Master Scenes storing which of those scenes are selected at which time, the possibilities are endless.

The M3 has incredible control over each KARMA element yet has been refined to be even easier to use, thanks to 13 “Real-Time Control Models” (RTC Models). An RTC Model standardizes which parameters of a KARMA GE are available for real time control, and how the Control Surface is assigned to them. With multiple GEs sharing the same exact setup, what you learn while controlling one GE is consistent and applicable to other GEs as well.

Finally, the 2 nd generation KARMA provides a signature sonic effect called KARMA Wave-Sequencing that can change a sound's waveforms rhythmically in realtime, allowing each note to access a different waveform as it is generated with predictable or wild results.

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Virtualized hardware allows the M3 to operate like a plug-in instrument

In addition to being a highly-developed music workstation, the M3 is also able to closely integrate with your computer. By connecting the M3 to your computer via USB and using the included “M3 Editor” software, you can edit sounds and settings from your computer. A plug-in version of “M3 Editor” is also provided, so you can use it from within your DAW as a plug-in instrument. For even more complete integration, Korg's new “Virtualized Hardware” concept comes into play. When the optional EXB-FW FireWire board is installed, a single FireWire cable will convey both the M3's MIDI and audio signals to the tracks of your DAW in which the plug-in is running. This means that you can construct a highly integrated environment that adds the reliability of hardware to your software music production system, adding additional power to your virtual world.

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RADIAS inside

You can add an internal RADIAS analog modeling synthesizer sound generator board (4 part multi-timbral; 1 timbre per Program, up to 4 Programs can be used in Combi and Sequencer modes), with on-screen integration of all its parameters and full integration with the M3's effects, control surface and KARMA functionality.

This powerful MMT-based (Multiple Modeling Technology) synth engine features dual oscillators which combine to offer analog-modeled waves, PCM waves, noise, ring mod and more. Waveform modulation, Variable Phase Modulation (VPM), Unison voice thickening, PWM and cross-mod expand the sonic palette.

Dual Filters can run in series, parallel, or side by side (individual for each oscillator). Filter1 features a resonant filter design covering 24 dB low pass, 12 dB low pass plus 12 dB high and band pass, with continuously variable “morphing” between these states. Filter2 offers 12dB versions of the low, high and band pass modes, plus a unique comb filter.

Two LFOs and three ADSR envelopes shape the sound and add cyclic motion to nearly any voice parameter. Three 16-step Modulation Sequencers provide discrete values to a modulation parameter that change over time, either in stepped or smooth motion, and can loop over and over.

Internal or external audio can be run through the EXB-RADIAS to be gated and filtered using the internal synthesis and effects.“Drive” adds analog warmth, Punch brings increased definition to the attack of a sound, and 12-types of Wave Shaping provides dramatic timbral shaping – even offering virtual “pick-up” response.

The EXB-RADIAS offers the same vocoder as the RADIAS, offering 16 bands with individual control over level and panning. Formant Motion records the formant of a sung or spoken phrase so it can be recreated anytime.

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Choose from a lineup of four types, with a newly designed keyboard for superbly expressive feel

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.

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Korg Komponent System gives you flexibility to construct your hardware 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.

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A rich array of input/output jacks

The M3 provides two analog and two digital (S/P DIF) inputs as standard. In addition to the main two-channel output (L/MONO, R), there are four independent outputs as well as two-channel digital output (S/P DIF), meeting the needs of professionals. Two USB connectors are provided: a type-B USB connector for connection to your computer as a MIDI interface, and a type-A connector for connecting external storage media. USB 2.0 is supported to ensure high-speed transfer of large amounts of data.