I think I'm on the wrong forum - I should move this over to Facebook! I thought we'd see an interesting set of options emerge. Little did I realise nobody visits here anymore, or hasn't a favourite Korg product!!
First, there is tech now that we did not have in Korg's earlier days...
With that said, I think that it depends...
I would put the DW series in the list for the early/mid 80's. as well as the SAS-20 (Korg first arranger).
For the late 80's/early 90's, I would say the M1. It brought together a workflow that allowed most musicians to complete a full instrumental song (whether demo or otherwise) in one box. I do not believe that they are technically the first company to release a workstation, as I believe that the Ensoniq ESQ1 was the first. With that said, Korg integrated EFX to make it more complete, whereas the ESQ1 did not have effects.
I would also add the Wavestation to the list. The Wavestation is self-explanatory
For the mid 90's, I would say the Korg Trinity. It employed a new high-definition synthesis system and introduced the touch screen that so many of us take for granted now
For the 2000's, I would certainly say the OASYS workstation. It was an exercise in an absolutely complete workstation. Had it been priced cheaper, I bet they would not have been able to keep up with the demand.
For the 2010's, most would say that the Kronos should be on the list. While I somewhat agree, I would say that the Kross is a more worthy entry. Why? The Kross provided sufficient polyphony, great sounds, extreme portability, and the ability to record audio - all for a VERY reasonable price of entry.
This list is not all-inclusive, since it only included keyboards. I did not list any guitar processors, digital recording systems, or drum machines.
I have to say the for its game-changing effect on the production side of things, the M1. Yes there was a workstation before it and those that came after it are incredible more powerful and complete in terms of being music production workstations, but the M1 was the one that really kicked it all off. Complete popsongs, movie soundtracks, televisions themes, advertising jingles, it could and did do them all. It also helped make the PCM synth model tired and over used, so that new models had to be created
PA4X-76, Karma, WaveDrum GE, Fantom 8 EX
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megamarkd wrote:I have to say the for its game-changing effect on the production side of things, the M1. Yes there was a workstation before it and those that came after it are incredible more powerful and complete in terms of being music production workstations, but the M1 was the one that really kicked it all off. Complete popsongs, movie soundtracks, televisions themes, advertising jingles, it could and did do them all. It also helped make the PCM synth model tired and over used, so that new models had to be created
A big +1.
It was such a blessing when that workstation entered the market.
I find the OASYS concept (began in early nineties) also very important because it dramatically expanded the workstation in terms of depth, versatility and quality.
Not because of what they sound like (although if you have the chops they can sound quite good, and can sound great with some effects) but because of what they created in terms of a wave of useful, small, affordable desktop devices.
In a world of bedroom studios and vanishing budgets and gigs, that's huge.
I second/third/fourth/fifth both the Wavestation and Korg M1. I've owned three of each of these (still have all of them except one M1, which died in a horrific car accident; fortunately we survived).
Gigged with the M1s for over 10 years on a two-tier setup, primarily organ sounds up top, everything else on the lower tier. Never let me down, not once. (I wonder how many people knew that the expression pedal controlled the rotary speaker effect automatically -- found that out by accident, btw). Had almost all the PCM cards -- still have them! But the Wavestation, I fell in love with more than any other synth. Still in love with them, but primarily only using the A/D version for its inputs. The Wavestate is tempting, really tempting and if Korg ever releases a desktop/module or at least a 49-key version with aftertouch (c'mon, Dan, help us out!!!) then I'll pick it up immediately no matter the price.
(Sorry for breaking the rules. I missed them on the first read through. :( )
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