Next Workstation?

[keego]

Hi

I was thinking that over the last say 13 years. Korg has released a new FLAGSHIP every 2-3 years (Not including OASYS)

1997-Trinity, 1999-Triton, 2001-Triton Studio, 2004- Triton Extreme, 2007-M3.

Each progressiveley surpassing the previous. With that in mind I thought it would be a good idea for Korg to get an idea of what us, the users would like on the next FLAGSHIP.

Personally I would like non-volotile sample RAM, being able to load samples and have them retained in the memory would be a godsend (no more USB sticks sticking out the back during gigs.

Kurzweil has announcd non-volotile sample RAM in the the PC3K due out later this year.

[Synthoid]

I was thinking that over the last say 13 years. Korg has released a new FLAGSHIP every 2-3 years (Not including OASYS)

1997-Trinity, 1999-Triton, 2001-Triton Studio, 2004- Triton Extreme, 2007-M3.

The Triton had a long run (1999-2007). Korg wasn't releasing an all-new "flagship" during that time... just changes and updates to the Triton.

Difficult to say what may become of the M3 at this point.

[X-Trade]

The marketing position of keyboard synthesizers is changing a lot too. We might not like to admit it, but many people are starting to use laptops and MIDI controllers, software only in the studio, etc.

Workstations and arrangers make up the majority of the market, and for example VA sales are tiny compared to that, but even workstation sales are likely diminishing.

Add to that the current financial climate, and its not really conductive to innovation and 'exciting new products', not on the high-end of things anyway, as less people can afford them at the moment, and less people are buying anyway.

Cheaper gear (like the new scaled down tech releases - PS60, MicroStation) will keep a company like KORG running until it is profitable to release another high-end workstation, if it ever is again. This has been made pretty obvious at this point with the situation on the OASYS. The point is that at the moment people will feel more comfortable buying smaller, cheaper products like the nano series, mini Kaoss pads, Micro series, etc - than splashing out on a massive workstation. So they have to employ mass-marketing techniques in order to expand the target market of their products to the massive amount of budget musicians making tracks in their bedrooms, etc. Selling cheaper products to more people.

I expect we'll be waiting at least another 1-2 years for another workstation or similar from Korg. and by that point any new workstation will have to be pretty revolutionary. So maybe EDS won't go that far unlike HI.

[iD4rK]

I would like to know this too, I had a talk with my girlfriend and we are probably going for an M3 now. Before, she wanted to buy an M50, but I told her that I was giving her the extra cash for the M3.

Might be better just to wait an see what happens?

[CfNorENa]

I would like to know this too, I had a talk with my girlfriend and we are probably going for an M3 now. Before, she wanted to buy an M50, but I told her that I was giving her the extra cash for the M3.

Might be better just to wait an see what happens?

I don't think so. Not only has no new workstation been announced from Korg, but there haven't even been credible rumors of one. So even if there is a new Korg workstation in development, we're still several months (at least) before such a thing would be announced, which means, I would think, at least a year -- probably more -- before a new workstation will be on the market.

In addition, there is nothing in the previous record to suggest that the next workstation will be revolutionary. Workstations have definitely improved over the years, but those improvements have been incremental, not revolutionary (with the possible exception of the Oasys), and one could also argue that the gaps between generations are shrinking. So, for example, the 01/W was a pretty monumental improvement over the M1, while the M3 was only (arguably) a significant improvement over the Triton.

If you've got the money for an M3 now, I'd say go for it. I'd say you'll get AT LEAST three solid years of top-of-the-line performance from it. After all, people are still making great music with the earliest Triton incarnations (not to mention earlier boards).

My $.02.

[Synthoid]

The marketing position of keyboard synthesizers is changing a lot too. We might not like to admit it, but many people are starting to use laptops and MIDI controllers, software only in the studio, etc.

Workstations and arrangers make up the majority of the market, and for example VA sales are tiny compared to that, but even workstation sales are likely diminishing.

Add to that the current financial climate, and its not really conductive to innovation and 'exciting new products', not on the high-end of things anyway, as less people can afford them at the moment, and less people are buying anyway.

The current economy has indeed played a significant role.

Frankly though, there's no good reason for Korg, Roland or Yamaha to introduce an all-new workstation at the present time--current models are loaded with features that will take most of us years to fully appreciate. I agree it would be nice to have more bells and whistles, but then we have to learn how to use them... which detracts us from what I hope is more important--making music.

[Shakil]

Korg just released the new microSTATION...

Looking at the history.... There might be M3 Studio (With HD audio recording) , M3 Extreme with all PCM Expansions and RADIAS built in.... And then KORG RADIAS-W... A workstation using 4 integrated RADIAS engines giving you 16 parts....

[BasariStudios]

which detracts us from what I hope is more important--making music.

Thats the sadest part of all, years ago i was a great musician and now
i know every keyboard inside and out to the last function but i cant even
keep up with chords and harmony anymore cuz i dont play, i just play like
video games on the keyboards display, its sad...yes it is another part of
the bussines and industry but wheres my music, i used to work, finish and
release albums, my own and other singers every few months, now i havent
composed a single note in years and longer...and as for revolutionary, there
is not much revolutionary things, updated and improved yes but not revolutionary,
there was MOSS and now is RADIAS, there was KARMA synth and Arp now is
KARMA in the M3, i cant think of anything revolutionary, having bigger ROM
or better sequencer and more FX is not revolutionary, its just an improvement
and if you look at it realistically everything is still based and resembles the M1.

[iD4rK]

@CfNorENa: I've asked my local store, they are going to send me the prices per email. Let's see much they are selling it for.

@Shakil: I like the microSTATION, but. At the end it's just a rip of the M3/M50. At least that is what it looks like.

[BasariStudios]

I like the microSTATION, but. At the end it's just a rip of the M3/M50. At least that is what it looks like.

Thats exactly what it is, toyish, its missing everything from the M3 and it is
waaaaayyyyyyyy below even the M50 but for its money and for people who
can afford it its a great machine, thats what its made for, different market.

[BasariStudios]

@CfNorENa: I've asked my local store, they are going to send me the prices per email. Let's see much they are selling it for.(

If you look for it hard enough you can probably get it for like
1450-1500$ including taxes and probably shipping too.

[iD4rK]

@CfNorENa: I've asked my local store, they are going to send me the prices per email. Let's see much they are selling it for.(

If you look for it hard enough you can probably get it for like
1450-1500$ including taxes and probably shipping too.

Shipping is the correct word. I live on a Island not bigger than 46Km x 80km, and shipping stuff here is a suicide for every wallet. It's better in the local store even if they charge you 50 o 60 dollar extra. The import fees here for stuff is extremely high. If I order it outside this import TAX is a % related to the value of the item you ordered. And I might end up 400 or more dollar. The last time I ordered something ouside, was a HD Satelite receiver that cost 450 euros, and plus shipping + tax I ended up paying 200 euros only for transport. That is the half value that cost me that damn thing.

Greets

[BasariStudios]

Thats what sux, the customs and other things and the prices in USA are low.

[Ozz]

Hi

IMO we can't compare the "Triton era" to the actual with the M3.
The Triton started with SCSI interface and ended with USB. The Triton started with Sampling to RAM, later HD, and ended with Sample to Flash Media (CF, SD, USB storage). The Triton was part of an era of great technological advance and for that reason it was "outdated" so fast, not because the synth engine (HI), but for the PC hardware (ROM, RAM, Storage, Conectivity).

The M3 cover all the capabilities and markets of the Triton Classic, Studio and Extreme (except the Valve, but its avaliable as digital fx) becoz the actual technology allows it. In example.

- Why someone can think about a M3 Studio if you can sample with you M3 to a USB external media.
- M3 Extreme... why if all the sound expansion can be loaded freely, directly into RAM. KORG, unlike Roland, doesn't use anymore PCM card, but you can put ir a new synth on it (Radias).

In other hand KORG is making more stripped down keyboards from the EDS engine than from the HI engine, and faster. (Triton: only Le. The TR, X50 and MicroX when KORG was discontinuing the Triton HI engine)... and now we've M50, PS60, MicroSTATION and MP10PRO.

The R&D of a new engine cost much money, and now KORG is paying the R&D of the OASYS and M3, with the crisis it's hard to think in a new top-of-the-line-and-expensive synth. But I can be wrong.

Regards.
Alvaro.

[Shakil]

I like the microSTATION, but. At the end it's just a rip of the M3/M50. At least that is what it looks like.

Thats exactly what it is, toyish, its missing everything from the M3 and it is
waaaaayyyyyyyy below even the M50 but for its money and for people who
can afford it its a great machine, thats what its made for, different market.

May be that toyish nature of microSTATION will inspire someone to start 'composing' again.