Korg multi/poly
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
Presets shipping w/ hardware are pretty. Though I am not a fan that the master eq sometimes was set... Not a lot yet.
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
It sounds really, really good. It just sounds like a high quality analog synth, but maybe even better, since the "analog factor" is flexible. You can't hear aliasing, the filters are awesome. Really, from a blind test, I would said this is an analog device. The modelling is done extremely well. No reason anymore to buy an analog synth.
Though there are some little inconsistencies in the recent firmware. The whole workflow currently seems to be a bit awkward. Maybe there is some pretty normal "workflow blindness" happing at the Korg dev. department. They IMHO should reconsider the workflow from the perspective of a new owner.
It's especially annoying that the chosen category filter is resetted, as soon as you press on "perform". It simply should remember the set filters for category and collection. IMHO it should even remember these settings after a restart of the device. And then there could be a quick shortcut to reset the filters, e.g. pressing 3x "perform".
Also there could be a lot of more shortcuts (there are so many knobs and buttons), e.g.:
Holding shift + using value knob = selecting the parameter
Enabling caps lock (2x shift) + using value knob = selecting the parameter
Touching the kaoss pad could automatically switch the display to the graphical view, as long as the pad is touched, with a timeout, then switching back to the last view.
Maybe introducing such a timeout mechanism also would highly increase usability:
For example, you are in the preset selector, then turning the filter decay knob, the filter view is shown, but after 2 seconds, it could switch back to the last selected view again. Only if you actively pushed „filter a“ (etc.), there would no switching back.
A set list entry also could save the octave setting at the same time, so if you switch the set list preset, it automatically sets the correct octave.
The set list mechanism does not seem to work at all in the remote software editor. You can add new set lists, but I cannot find a way to actually add presets to the set list then. Or maybe I am not getting it... Any idea?
Though there are some little inconsistencies in the recent firmware. The whole workflow currently seems to be a bit awkward. Maybe there is some pretty normal "workflow blindness" happing at the Korg dev. department. They IMHO should reconsider the workflow from the perspective of a new owner.
It's especially annoying that the chosen category filter is resetted, as soon as you press on "perform". It simply should remember the set filters for category and collection. IMHO it should even remember these settings after a restart of the device. And then there could be a quick shortcut to reset the filters, e.g. pressing 3x "perform".
Also there could be a lot of more shortcuts (there are so many knobs and buttons), e.g.:
Holding shift + using value knob = selecting the parameter
Enabling caps lock (2x shift) + using value knob = selecting the parameter
Touching the kaoss pad could automatically switch the display to the graphical view, as long as the pad is touched, with a timeout, then switching back to the last view.
Maybe introducing such a timeout mechanism also would highly increase usability:
For example, you are in the preset selector, then turning the filter decay knob, the filter view is shown, but after 2 seconds, it could switch back to the last selected view again. Only if you actively pushed „filter a“ (etc.), there would no switching back.
A set list entry also could save the octave setting at the same time, so if you switch the set list preset, it automatically sets the correct octave.
The set list mechanism does not seem to work at all in the remote software editor. You can add new set lists, but I cannot find a way to actually add presets to the set list then. Or maybe I am not getting it... Any idea?
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
I have fallen for the SEM filter type... OMG, this is the pure audio amaze. Sounds so good on lead sounds. You should try this synth.
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- KVRAF
- 8677 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
It tempted me, but ultimately ruled it out as VA makes no sense to me at all for hw. If I want analogue sound then I'll buy analogue. Will likely get Native MP when it's out though. I like the recent Korg small format hw synths, though Wavestate is probably the least intuitive workflow IMO. Opsix makes FM so much easier, Modwave looks lovely but I just don't like wavetables much, and MP looks nice to use.
In terms of tweaks, Korg are pretty good with OS updates. There were several for Wavestate and Opsix pretty quickly and probably were for Modwave too. I'd be surprised if they don't come out with some MP improvements also. Dunno if it has onboard samples? That was something they updated with all of the previous ones.
It'll be interesting to hear the new filters on MP when Native is released. I really like the filters on Opsix and Wavestate (pretty much the same) though they're really not a 1:1 for a real MS20 for example. Very very good but nevertheless very discernable as VA. I have 2 hw versions of MS20 to compare to, so I am not confabulating. You can get a decent scream out of Korg's VA filters however. Likely their other emus of more predictable analogue filters will be closer though. I can't really tell the difference on the Polysix filter.
Still, VA is VA and not analogue in many cases.
MP really did tempt me and would sit very nicely with my other Korgs, but it's definitely Native for me.
In terms of tweaks, Korg are pretty good with OS updates. There were several for Wavestate and Opsix pretty quickly and probably were for Modwave too. I'd be surprised if they don't come out with some MP improvements also. Dunno if it has onboard samples? That was something they updated with all of the previous ones.
It'll be interesting to hear the new filters on MP when Native is released. I really like the filters on Opsix and Wavestate (pretty much the same) though they're really not a 1:1 for a real MS20 for example. Very very good but nevertheless very discernable as VA. I have 2 hw versions of MS20 to compare to, so I am not confabulating. You can get a decent scream out of Korg's VA filters however. Likely their other emus of more predictable analogue filters will be closer though. I can't really tell the difference on the Polysix filter.
Still, VA is VA and not analogue in many cases.
MP really did tempt me and would sit very nicely with my other Korgs, but it's definitely Native for me.
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
Hi,
do you think it is possible to make wavetable replaying a noise sound? Or is the cycle length just too small / statical sounding then? I think you can import your own wavetables, but I haven't found out how....
do you think it is possible to make wavetable replaying a noise sound? Or is the cycle length just too small / statical sounding then? I think you can import your own wavetables, but I haven't found out how....
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- KVRAF
- 24406 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
Wavetables are inherently harmonic in nature, you cannot really reproduce aperiodic sounds with them.
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
What's new in the 1.03 firmware? I cannot find any information about it...
Last edited by Hanz Meyzer on Tue Mar 04, 2025 5:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 12174 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
Yeah, same here. I'm at capacity with hardware synths anyway, and a VA with no AT doesn't interest me enough to replace any of my current synths. But, the MP does sound very good and has some great features, so the software version has my attention.HTT wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2025 12:20 am Sold out in the USA, it appears. I am on a number of waiting lists. Only 37 keys and no AT may have me go with the software though.
Logic Pro | LUNA Pro | OB-X8 | Prophet 6 | OB-6 | Trigon 6 | Rev2 | TEO-5 | Pro 3 | SE-1X | Minitaur | Integra-7 | TR-1000 | Analog RYTM mk2 | Digitakt 2 | TD-3 MO | TD-3 | Maschine+
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
I thought so, too. But the synth is really good and now I am realizing that I actually like the form factor, since it's nicely transportable and comes with a bag, too. I agree though, if the keyboard had poly-aftertouch, it would be completely amazing. Their keystage comes with the 1:1 keys of the asm hydrasynth, so I assume they do not produce the keys by themselves, and there is no 37 keyboard with aftertouch available at all.
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- KVRAF
- 1572 posts since 21 Nov, 2018
Maybe Korg could do like what UDO do with the ability to upgrade the keybed ? I guess it would just need a firmware update after putting in the new keybed if it was possible ?
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- KVRian
- 923 posts since 13 Jul, 2006
The Modal Synths have 37 keyboards with aftertouch (Fatar), but no poly aftertouch.Hanz Meyzer wrote: Wed Mar 05, 2025 5:59 pm I thought so, too. But the synth is really good and now I am realizing that I actually like the form factor, since it's nicely transportable and comes with a bag, too. I agree though, if the keyboard had poly-aftertouch, it would be completely amazing. Their keystage comes with the 1:1 keys of the asm hydrasynth, so I assume they do not produce the keys by themselves, and there is no 37 keyboard with aftertouch available at all.
Find my (music) related software projects here: github.com/Fannon
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- KVRAF
- 2623 posts since 20 Oct, 2014
Oh wow, even oldschool aftertouch would have been great indeed.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 4067 posts since 22 Aug, 2012
Yes, a premium keybed with channel aftertouch would have made it far more enticing. There aren't many 37 key controllers with aftertouch, but synths from Moog, Sequential & Modal do.