Why is the Radias not considered a workstation?

[2disbetter]

Ok so I've been looking around at Korg's lineup, and just read various things here and there. I'm not sure this is the correct forum to be schooled on the differences between Synth and Workstation categories but I figured since it directly relates to the Radias what the heck?

And it just seems to me that the Radias is a very distilled workstation, in that it can create entire songs.

I mean I know that workstations are equipped with way more bell and whistles, and also probably include recording features. Still the Radias plugged into a DAW, seems to be a pretty complete workstation to me?

2d

[X-Trade]

ah yes, but the DAW is half the workstation. much like the X50 or MicroX are not workstations, but the TR is. The workstations tend to have a dedicated song mode, with a complete sequencer, whereas the step sequencers on the Radias are for one pattern only.
at best the Radias is a multitimbral sound module.

I personally would like to see the VA/Synth and workstation lines cross over more - imagine a Radias with Triton arps, a sequencer, and sampling...
Admittedly the M3 and M50 both kind of fill these, and I think they sound more like the Radias MMT than the Triton's HI sounds like MOSS or the MS2000. But the waveform modulation is the coolest bit.

[kimu]

imo it would be a killer synth/WS (at least for me) if korg decide to create a product with typical WS features (huge rom, acustic sound, sequencer, drum track, arps... ) but also in which you can select to use a typical VA patch structure and have a layout full of knobs.... a kind of radias meet m3

[2disbetter]

That is true. A midi controller (sub $100) one and a DAW is a complete workstation.

Also with version 2.0 for the radias, it can be augmented and used in tandem with the m3 and on the m3 keyboard. (adding aftertouch on the 70+ key models.. which is nice) and therefore I guess completing the workstation philosophy, albiet rather expensively.

I suppose the M3 is the next logical step after out growing (something I don't see happening for me) the Radias.

Thanks for the feedback.

2d

[Ninja6485]

usually synthesizers are played differently - it's more about exploring filter sweeps and modulation, and playing a small group of them vs a workstation which seems to be more of a one man band solution catering toward keyboard proficiency: hense the many knobs and such on the radias vs. the nicer keyboard and sequencing aspects of the m3. a band like dream theater might be more inclined to choose the m3, but chances are you're not going to hear one on the latest etnica album. if you get bored with the radias (unlikely) go for a jupiter 8. or access virus TI... or if you want to stay in house, check out some classics like the ms-20 or polysix.

[2disbetter]

My understanding on this has come a ways I'd say from when I asked. So I would like to rephrase my question now. My whole point in getting a Radias was to be a one man band. I saw that the Radias did drum patterns (and was programmable), I saw that it had 2 step sequencers for varying bass lines, etc., and in general the sounds I heard produced by it I really liked. So in essense the Radias is a one stop shop, with a very limited genre of music it can create in it's entirety.

However, when used in a DAW, the limitations fly out the window. It is everything I want it to be with only my computer limiting that.

So my new question is.... Why are workstations so popular given the depth and ease of use in DAWs?

I imagine this is going to boil down to people using what they are comfortable with.

Eventually I'll be getting an M3, and pairing that up with the Radias, and the amount of redundancies I'll have with that package and a DAW just really makes it so I should never need another piece of equipment again.

Granted, I'm not thinking about doing live performances (where reliability and responsivness are key), but still why is the workstation idea in general so popular? Is it really just becuase so many people are intimidated by the mouse and pc?

2d