First M3 post, gotta know something...

project71beats · Post by **project71beats** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:19 pm

Does anyone else find the M3 presets to be much more dull than the Tritons?
I used to be able to find the sounds I liked on my Triton studio and go from there but on my M3 its like most of the presets are uninspiring. I am considering going back to the Triton studio. Please convince me not to!!!! Why should I keep my m3?????

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:41 pm

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE SOUNDS YOU WANT. If you want synthesizer type sounds (that use raw single waveforms), the M3 chokes. If you want orchestra sounds, the M3 is superior.

I know they purposely toned down the M3 presets compared to the Triton, but I'm finding a lot of sounds that just plain suck on the M3 compared to the Triton (mainly leads, some organs, typical synth sounds like string/brass pads). I wish I knew why but I don't. I also find myself clipping the M3 all the time when creating synth patches. Something I never did on the Triton.

Some patches of real instruments like flute, piano, trumpet etc are by far better on the M3. But when you try to make patches using waveforms (like a 80's type Jump patch or saw lead), the Triton buries and I mean BURIES the M3. When someone can re-create the Analog Velvet patch or a Jump patch that doesn't suck, I may change my mind but I'm pretty sure it'll never happen. On gigs where I can only take one synth, it's my Triton I take. I would never gig with just the M50 (which I bought for the sole purpose of gigging). I've set the M3 and Triton up and tried to recreate a Triton patch on the M3 and I just can't do it. ALL things being equal settings wise, the M3 just blows on some types of sounds.

The M3 does offer a lot of features the Triton doesn't have (I love the XY touch screen feature and the addition of EXB-RADIAS). Also, the woodwind and brass instruments are really really authentic.

I do find the M3 presets pretty decent. Do you have an example of some M3 patches you don't find as good as your Triton?

apex · Post by **apex** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:52 am

I had the Triton Classic. And I love my M3 compared to that. In fact there is a file in the download section that has a "best of" the Triton pcg. It's got some of the "preferred" patches from the Korg Triton. It's fun... and useful.

You could at least try it.

project71beats · Post by **project71beats** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:44 am

McHale,
your post is exactly my thoughts. That is a perfect post for me as far as what I feel. What should I do?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:41 am

I don't have an M3 but I spent a bit of time with one on numerous occasions.

I do have a KARMA and did use a TR (basically a Triton LE).

IMO if you want synth sounds you should use an actual synth - e.g. a VA or a real analog. And for that, the Radias is incredible and if you are struggling with the M3 you really should consider getting the Radias EXB or Radias Rack unit (particularly if you have an M3-73 or 88).

To be honest I do like some of the synth sounds on the Triton but the awful resonance and portamento (glide) ruins it for me. I always turn to the Radias or Virus first before I start using the Triton for synths.

The M3 particularly excels at acoustic and electro/mechanical sounds compared to the triton series. And it has a shedload of great features.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:13 pm

The M3 has so many great functions, it'd be very difficult to dump it for a Triton. If you need synth type sounds, the EXB-RADIAS will solve that problem EASILY. In fact, I think EVERY M3 owner should pick one up. It does more than just V/A but it does V/A REALLY well and is quite a good value.

X-Trade is right about the resonance and portamento on the Triton. We do "Riding the Storm Out" which starts and ends with this big portamento slide which sounds like a synthesized zipper on my Triton.

Quick disclaimer: I've been using the Triton Pro Classic for 10 years and know that thing inside out and have 10 years of patches on it that I have tweaked for years. The M3 doesn't contain all of the ROM that the Triton had which is the source of my frustration. Some of my primary patches just can't be programmed on the M3. If I wasn't trying to recreate the sounds, I probably wouldn't have any frustration. I'm trying to make the M3 sound like a Triton, instead of using the M3 like an M3.

Synthoid · Post by **Synthoid** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:43 pm

McHale wrote: If you need synth type sounds, the EXB-RADIAS will solve that problem EASILY.

Agreed!

Arp_ · Post by **Arp_** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:04 am

EXB-RADIAS is good for VA-ish type of sounds. But VA is not the only kind of synth sounds in existence. Korg, particularly, is known for the beautiful pad/motion sounds, leads, "fast synths" based on its rompler engine and many those sounds cannot be easily recreated on a VA. See for example sounds U-C012 "Evolving" or U-B046 "Fresh Air". Radias cannot do anything that will sound like these sounds.
Unfortunately, I find that M3's factory presets are indeed lacking in these rompler kind of synth sounds compared to previous Korg synths. Damn, if only the people who created wonderful MicroX sounds made the synth sounds for M3, it would be a perfect Korg workstation.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:10 am

Most people that buy all in one workstations don't buy them for their synth/techno/VA sounds. Many that buy the EXB-RADIAS and RADIAS do.

project71beats · Post by **project71beats** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:45 am

I have my eye on a Triton Extreme. I have read on other forums that ppl compare the m3 to a Karma and prefer the Triton extreme overall. I have never heard a Karma, so I can't comment on that, but I must say that I expected the m3 to be a "Super Triton" but it seems like a baby Oasys....?

Arp_ · Post by **Arp_** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:49 am

McHale wrote:Most people that buy all in one workstations don't buy them for their synth/techno/VA sounds. Many that buy the EXB-RADIAS and RADIAS do.

M3 is not only an all-in-one workstation, it is also a rompler from Korg, for which having great synth sounds is expected.

project71beats · Post by **project71beats** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:15 am

expected but not delivered

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:29 am

Arp_ wrote:M3 is not only an all-in-one workstation, it is also a rompler from Korg, for which having great synth sounds is expected.

Know of any workstations that *AREN'T* ROMplers?

Just curious...

Megakazbek · Post by **Megakazbek** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:20 am

McHale wrote:Know of any workstations that *AREN'T* ROMplers?

I think he means that specifically Korg's romplers are renowned for great synths sounds (and IMHO more so than as all in one workstations).

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:53 pm

Arp_ wrote:EXB-RADIAS is good for VA-ish type of sounds. But VA is not the only kind of synth sounds in existence. Korg, particularly, is known for the beautiful pad/motion sounds, leads, "fast synths" based on its rompler engine and many those sounds cannot be easily recreated on a VA.

It appears you dismiss Radias as purely a VA, but that is really the tip of the iceberg. A lot of people think Radias is a 'pure' synthesizer, thus it must be purely a VA, but it goes way beyond what you would expect from a traditional VA and incorporates a lot of non-analog-style synthesis techniques. The voice structure may be similar to a VA, but it offers waveshaping, FM, cross modulation, comb filtering, wavetable, and many other types beyond simple analog-style subtractive synthesis.

The rack module/keyboard in particular has EP, clav, organ, guitar, bass, and a few synth vox/choir samples that you can get great results from when combined to form a wavesequence or run through the comb filter (for polyphonic flanging), modulating the filter type for weird filter-morph sounds, waveshaping, ring modulating, etc - all in the polyphonic domain beyond what you could even begin to achieve on the M3's EDS engine.
In fact, with the aforementioned features, there is a lot more to modulate to create endless motion, and I find it is particularly great for evolving and dynamically expressive pads and synth FX.

To dismiss the RADIAS as okay purely for VA sounds would be like avoiding computers purely because you don't want to do word processing.

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First M3 post, gotta know something...

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First M3 post, gotta know something...