Musikmesse 2010: Korg Intros New Electribes, monotron hand-held analog synth and More

March 26th, 2010 by Janice Brown

Updating its line of Electribe pattern-based music production stations, Korg has announced the new tube-driven Electribe-MX SD (EMX-1 SD) and Electribe-SX SD (ESX-1 SD), revitalized with new patterns and “massive” SD data storage.

Korg EMX-1 SD

Korg teamed up artists from around the world — including Ninja Tune/Big Dada artists Emika and the Anti-Pop Consortium — to deliver fresh beats, patterns and even Electribe SX (ESX-1) samples. The addition of SD/SDHC card storage allows up to 32 GB of sound, pattern, song and sample data to be saved on an individual card. This enables an entire live show’s worth of data to be saved on a single card.

The EMX-1 SD uses Korg’s MMT (Multiple Modeling Technology) sound engine to offer sixteen types of tone generation. The ESX-1 SD offers powerful editing features to provide the freedom to sample and modify sounds in realtime.

Features common to both models include:

– Twin vacuum tube “valve force” circuitry, delivering analog warmth or menacing bite
– Three stereo effects that can be chained together for radical sound warping
– Crisp filters and speedy-smooth timbral modulation
– Built-in step sequencer, delivering intuitive song production
– Motion Sequence function, to capture and replay sound-tweaking knob movements
– Powerful arpeggiator, ribbon controller and slider, for generating inspired phrases
– Auto BPM Detection, which sets the tempo based on any external audio source

The Korg Electribe EMX-1 SD and ESX-1 SD will be available June 2010 with an MSRP of $750.

Korg has also unveiled its new AAA battery-powered, hand-held monotron analog ribbon synthesizer, said to generate thick and powerful sounds, plus a true analog filter with audio input.

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monotron

The unique ribbon controller keyboard borrows from performance aspects of Korg’s KAOSS products. Simple finger motions can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide. When used in a band, the monotron can harmonize with another instrument – or take center stage for a monotron solo.

The monotron’s circuit is simple: one voltage-controlled oscillator, one voltage-controlled filter and one low frequency oscillator. The controls have been streamlined greatly – the panel contains only five knobs and one switch. Each knob controls a single function, so the process of sound creation is intuitive and instantly understandable. The LFO knob is even equipped with an LED that blinks at the same rate as the LFO, offering a convenient visual cue.

The monotron uses the same VCF circuit as Korg’s classic MS-10 and MS-20 semi modular synthesizers. Originally released over 30 years ago, these instruments are still sought-after for their aggressive, dynamic filters. Just as on the original MS-20, the monotron’s filter can be “patched into,” allowing any external audio source to be processed by the monotron’s filter. So, users can connect a KAOSSILATOR, guitar or digital audio player to the monotron and enjoy tone-bending filter effects.

The Korg monotron will be available August 2010 with an MSRP of $85.

And Korg’s new microSTATION features Korg’s 61-key Natural Touch mini keyboard, numerous effects, dual arpeggiators, an on-board sequencer and 16 tracks of MIDI recording power.

microSTATION

To benefit novice sequencer users, new features such as easily accessible Loop Recording and Visual Grid Sequencing have been added to jump-start any type of music production.

The microSTATION features the new EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – integrated) engine, derived from the EDS system found on Korg’s M3 XPanded and M50 professional instruments. The effect section adds up to five Insert effects (including Korg’s proprietary “REMS” amp modeling technology) two Master effects and one Total effect.

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