New Korg Poly Synth?

[Sacred Synthesis]

This is copied from Ask-Audio:

NAMM 2018 is fast approaching and the rumor mill for new hardware synths and machines is ramping up too. This time we've had word that Korg is working on a new poly analog synth...

According to MatrixSynth, Korg are working on a new polyphonic analog synthesizer which will supposedly be debuted at NAMM in January 2018. It's typically one of the prime times in the calender when hardware music manufacturers announce and demonstrate their new goodies. Indeed the Minilogue and Monologue were both shown for the first time at NAMM shows in recent years.

So, it's no surprise that Korg would be readying a new synth for January 2018, and after the success of the Minilogue and Monologue, it would make sense that a polyphonic version, or a completely new poly synth would be next to arrive from Korg.

According to Soviet Space Child, the source for MatrixSynth's story, it's been described as "Mind Blowing". That could come down to an attractive price as well as impressive sound and specs:

"The new synth is supposed to bring something new to the game. Of course all synths bring something new, but KORG is teasing at something akin to "mind blowing". The name will be eight letters long, start with the letter "P", and apparently will have numbers in it as well. Some are guessing it might be a Poly8000. That could imply a more-than-4-voice poly digital analog hybrid."

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Korg is known for producing the less expensive range of gear.  But it would be nice to see them put to use their decades of experience and produce a higher-quality fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer with full-sized keys, perhaps a "Polylogue".  They've got some fine small instruments from which to start. 

[Paul Dither]

Yeah, it's basically what I hinted at over here: http://forum.davesmithinstruments.com/index.php/topic,1954.msg21450.html#msg21450

The info was spread in the Korg microKast podcast this summer. Nothing spectacular yet. The info that was given is very vague. No hints at the architecture, only the name ("P#######"). The piece that might have led to the speculation that this could be a hybrid, was probably a statement the Korg representative who was the guest in that podcast made. He said that people would react to it like: "it's unbelievable that it can do this as well" (I'm only paraphrasing here).

It's possible that Korg move one more step ahead in the analog domain and present a bigger poly synth (maybe full sized, maybe with 49 or 61 keys) and add some further bells and whistles. According to other statements, Tatsuya Takahashi (who developed the Volcas, Minilogue, and Monologue) could have very well served as a consultant for this project.

[LoboLives]

I'm guessing it's a "POLYMONO" that's 49 keys, full sized and basically a Minilogue and Monologue under the hood.

Unless they make a multitimbral analog...then I'd consider that mindblowing.

[Paul Dither]

I'm guessing it's a "POLYMONO" that's 49 keys, full sized and basically a Minilogue and Monologue under the hood.

That would be quite… redundant? A little bit more futuristic please.

[chysn]

I, for one, am looking forward to the release of the Korg Pacifier.

[Paul Dither]

Haha! With CV outs.

[LoboLives]

I'm guessing it's a "POLYMONO" that's 49 keys, full sized and basically a Minilogue and Monologue under the hood.

That would be quite… redundant? A little bit more futuristic please.

I don't have high expectations. Korg has been ripping off a lot of other companies recently (Kross 2=Roland FA08, Grandstage=Promega 2+)  so it wouldn't surprise me if they take the entire REV2 design and slap a Korg sticker on it.

[LoboLives]

Honestly a 4 part multitimbral analog from Korg would be the only thing mindblowing.

Two monologues and two minilogues under one hood...I'd go for that.

[Shaw]

According to Soviet Space Child, the source for MatrixSynth's story, it's been described as "Mind Blowing". That could come down to an attractive price as well as impressive sound and specs

In my experience, those selling new synths use terms like “mind blowing” much quicker than those buying new synths....

[DavidDever]

This unit will either have Tats' ARM-micro-per-voice discrete VCO / VCF architecture, as used on the Minilogue, or dedicated VCO / VCF ICs per voice, say, from SSM (like the PolySix) or CoolAudio (Curtis masks).

If it's the TatsARM voice, it _could_ be a hybrid (like the Evolver voice, but not stereo) along the lines of the Prophet VS or Wavestation, with four sound sources to choose from. That might be the "mind-blowing" reference: something new that encompasses more than one legacy Korg instrument concept, in a new economical package, and made possible by the changes in the industry of the last five years.

[LoboLives]

This unit will either have Tats' ARM-micro-per-voice discrete VCO / VCF architecture, as used on the Minilogue, or dedicated VCO / VCF ICs per voice, say, from SSM (like the PolySix) or CoolAudio (Curtis masks).

If it's the TatsARM voice, it _could_ be a hybrid (like the Evolver voice, but not stereo) along the lines of the Prophet VS or Wavestation, with four sound sources to choose from. That might be the "mind-blowing" reference: something new that encompasses more than one legacy Korg instrument concept, in a new economical package, and made possible by the changes in the industry of the last five years.

For some reason I don’t see them doing a hybrid. Not sure why but I just see it being analog only.

[Paul Dither]

For some reason I don’t see them doing a hybrid. Not sure why but I just see it being analog only.

A hybrid could be a possibility, though. Especially if you take into account how horribly Roland failed in terms of interface design with the JD-XA. So there's definitely enough space for another hybrid.

[Shaw]

For some reason I don’t see them doing a hybrid. Not sure why but I just see it being analog only.

A hybrid could be a possibility, though. Especially if you take into account how horribly Roland failed in terms of interface design with the JD-XA. So there's definitely enough space for another hybrid.

+1 on that analysis.  The JD-XA UI design was a head scratcher.

[LoboLives]

For some reason I don’t see them doing a hybrid. Not sure why but I just see it being analog only.

A hybrid could be a possibility, though. Especially if you take into account how horribly Roland failed in terms of interface design with the JD-XA. So there's definitely enough space for another hybrid.

For sure there’s definitely opportunity to show Roland how it’s done but I just don’t see Korg doing that on this one. I think it’ll be analog only with full size keybed (likely 4 octaves but I’ll be surprised if they go 5) all silver panel like the Minilogue (with wooden back) with about 10 voices...now the question is will it be bitimbral or multitimbral?

I just hope it’s not something stupid like a 20 voice polyphonic that’s monotimbral.

[LoboLives]

Actually Korg copying DSI's Rev 2 design does seem likely....

Waldorf Zarenbourg

https://www.zikinf.com/_gfx/matos/dyn/large/waldorf-zarenbourg_3.jpg

Korg SV1

http://www.midi-store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/sku19955-2.jpg

Not exactly the same....but now this....

GEM Promega 2+

https://www.midifan.com/data/attach/album/2017/0411/3615_1491886857.jpg

Korg GrandStage
https://awave.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Korg-Grandstage_88_2.jpg


So yeah I can see Korg "Borrowing" something from the Rev2. In both of the above examples Korg took the basic idea of the original instruments and either expanded on it, cheapened it or directly copied it verbatim so I wonder how "Mind blowing" this will be. It may simply be a copycat.

[DavidDever]

Actually Korg copying DSI's Rev 2 design does seem likely....

Waldorf Zarenbourg

https://www.zikinf.com/_gfx/matos/dyn/large/waldorf-zarenbourg_3.jpg

Korg SV1

http://www.midi-store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/sku19955-2.jpg

Not exactly the same....but now this....

GEM Promega 2+

https://www.midifan.com/data/attach/album/2017/0411/3615_1491886857.jpg

Korg GrandStage
https://awave.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Korg-Grandstage_88_2.jpg


So yeah I can see Korg "Borrowing" something from the Rev2. In both of the above examples Korg took the basic idea of the original instruments and either expanded on it, cheapened it or directly copied it verbatim so I wonder how "Mind blowing" this will be. It may simply be a copycat.

Aww, I dunno about that...Korg rolled out the SG-1D many years ago, so they've kinda got a bit of history there (one of the best trance piano sounds you can find):



And then there's the EPS-1:

[LoboLives]

Actually Korg copying DSI's Rev 2 design does seem likely....

Waldorf Zarenbourg

https://www.zikinf.com/_gfx/matos/dyn/large/waldorf-zarenbourg_3.jpg

Korg SV1

http://www.midi-store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/sku19955-2.jpg

Not exactly the same....but now this....

GEM Promega 2+

https://www.midifan.com/data/attach/album/2017/0411/3615_1491886857.jpg

Korg GrandStage
https://awave.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Korg-Grandstage_88_2.jpg


So yeah I can see Korg "Borrowing" something from the Rev2. In both of the above examples Korg took the basic idea of the original instruments and either expanded on it, cheapened it or directly copied it verbatim so I wonder how "Mind blowing" this will be. It may simply be a copycat.

Aww, I dunno about that...Korg rolled out the SG-1D many years ago, so they've kinda got a bit of history there (one of the best trance piano sounds you can find):



And then there's the EPS-1:

I know but the Grandstage and Promega 2+ are ridiculously close.