Honest Opinion Needed On Triton LE Versus M50

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:29 am

Hi folks,
I'm actually a drummer but I also play guitar and keyboards, not a master of anything really other than the drums. For recording purposes, I've always had my heart set on a Korg Triton LE 76. Can't find them now but I do have access to a used one. My question to all the keyboard experts out there is this: in your honest opinion, is the Korg M50 a better machine than the Korg Triton LE 76 or would you say it's vice-versa? I remember how good the Korg Triton LE 76 sounded in the music store about 5 or 6 years back when I just about bought one. The strings sounded so fat and the pianos sounded so real - so "big". The M50 seems to fall a bit short here but I don't have the experience that some you have so maybe I'm mistaken. With the way technology changes, it's so hard to judge sometimes. Any help, advice, opinions would be greatly appreciated. Myself, I still seem to think that the Korg Triton LE 76 was the better of the two.
Cheers

Rosen Sound · Post by **Rosen Sound** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:14 am

It depends on wich way you look at it
Spec wise, m50 wins.
Pros
More effects, probably a few better effects (m50 can use 5)
M50 has 16 track combis, wich is twice the size of the LE, but with polyphony coming in, that can almost mean nothing. to me the only upside is using the extra 8 to control external boxes.
M50 has a decent piano. the LE's isnt very good... the triton is notorious for its bad piano on classic and LE.

Cons
Touch screen isnt as good as the triton or M3, slower proccessor (in my experience)
no after touch (double check the LE)
kind of bad keybed
ive read alot of things on the forum or technical issues and bugs, more then the usual keyboard.
Though contains 'upgraded sounds' i cant really say i enjoy them 0_0

LE, now you need to know that the LE is the light 'not as good' version as any other triton, you get a smaller screen, no sampler (though it can load samples)
Pros:
still sounds awesome, seen great results, one of my favorite bands, ensiferum uses an LE, and i was astonished to hear that while missing a lot of effects it still sounds great.
IMHO better keybed
Im pretty sure it has after touch.
the display, while being small, is still good to navigate with
has a smart media slot! floppies suck bro!

cons:
1 insert effect (rather then 5 in the M50/tritons) though you get same amount of master effects
no sampler (m50 doesnt either as a mater of fact)
generally a closed box device
no room for expansion

Now in my opinion, even though the m50- is newer, its still dosnt sound as good to me. Also i dont think the LE sounds as good as ANY other triton or the Karma (wich is a triton!) (TR is almost like the LE, but thats not a triton to me) you can in FACT get a triton, same amount of keys, for literally the same amount of cash! Wich if i were you, i would do! So if you left the decision to me i would say FORGET either, get either the triton classic, studio, or extreme. more effects, room for expansion, has samplers! and you can still get the same sound from an LE and MORE. And if you still want a keyboard with no touchscreen, and no sampler, but more effects, and more inspiring, get the korg karma, same interface as the LE, uses floppies, and has a more advanced arpegiator.

Then again, you may be attached to the LE, i had a korg karma, not as good as the triton extreme that i have now.. but i still like the karma more, i miss it dearly

But if i were you ide get the other tritons
theyre juust better boards. I suggest forking out the extra cash and getting an extreme, then you will have a timeless board.
then again youre a drummer, you may not care.

TL;DR: Get a different triton, or the korg karma.

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:04 am

Why not set your heart on a Triton Extreme? I got mine TrEx61 for $750, new, on clearance. I see TrEx88s for under $1,000 on a regular basis. Might as well get a full extra-strength Triton than a watered-down one.

Rosen Sound · Post by **Rosen Sound** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:05 am

xmlguy wrote:Why not set your heart on a Triton Extreme? I got mine TrEx61 for $750, new, on clearance. I see TrEx88s for under $1,000 on a regular basis. Might as well get a full extra-strength Triton than a watered-down one.

+1000

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:31 am

It might be worth noting that the Triton LE was replaced by the TR series. They are in most ways identical, except for the TR being in a black finish and having an expanded wave ROM with improved pianos, strings, and a few others.

If you're planning on mainly recording audio tracks to a DAW, then the TR/LE would be fine.

But if you want to do sound programming, work in combi mode, or use the internal sequencer, you run into the limitation of only 1 insert FX pretty quickly. In that case any of the higher end or newer workstations offer an advantage.

I'd take a good look at:
-M3
-M50
-KARMA Workstation (effectively a triton)
-Triton Extreme

The TR and LE both have aftertouch and MIDI Thru, whilst the M50 does not.. The only one in my above list that doesn't have aftertouch is the M50.
Also worth noting that I sold my TR61 and bought a KARMA workstation for the same price 2nd hand. (TR sold for roughly £300, I paid about £350 for the KARMA). Truly I should have bought the KARMA instead of the TR in the first place as it is a much better workstation and fun keyboard all round, but the TR was available new and does have a more modern sound set.

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:10 pm

Wow - this has been great feedback. Thanks so much for all your help. From what I'm gathering here, the Triton Extreme or the Karma is the better choice. Or even better yet, the TR series.

All I remember seeing (and playing around with) was the Triton LE in the music store but then again, that was back in 2005 and perhaps it was a Triton Studio now that I think of it because it sounded awesome. I don't care much for the M50. The keys are rather stiff and sloppy in comparison to the Triton LE (or Studio?) and I found the piano sounds to be very un-authentic sounding (almost "cheap" sounding) whereas the grands on the LE were exceptional. Same with a lot of the strings. Strings on the LE were like symphonies compared to the M50. Being a drummer, I don't need a pile of drum sounds on a synth. The Karma has a lesser quality keyboard from what I understand, though. And if I understand correctly, the Triton Studio had a concert grand piano sample which offers much higher quality piano sound.

I guess I've got some thinking to do here - I'm going to check out a few shops today and see what they have in the used line to see if I can find one or two of these. Thanks again for your comments, I am so appreciative of your help as I am not the world's greatest keyboard player (been playing drums for 37 years and can play in my sleep but I need all the help I can get with synths).

Thanks again. Any other comments or recommendations are most welcome.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:44 pm

keymeister wrote:Wow - this has been great feedback. Thanks so much for all your help. From what I'm gathering here, the Triton Extreme or the Karma is the better choice. Or even better yet, the TR series.

The Extreme or KARMA are great.
The TR is okay but is certainly not as good as the Extreme. Depending on your preferences, the KARMA is most probably better than the TR although the TR has a more modern sample set.

The Extreme contains a lot of expanded sample sounds taken from Korg's EXB-PCM expansion boards - it is pretty much a 'best of' from the rest of the Triton series so you will find the sounds even better than that of the TR.

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:45 pm

The Triton Extreme was the pinacle of the Triton series. The TR series is more recent, but it's not even close to the full capability of the Extreme. The TR is an improved version of the LE - Lite Edition Triton. The Extreme is a quadruple shot espresso with the best columbian roast. The TR is watered down instant decaffinated coffee.

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:58 am

Thanks again for the replies. I have a line on a used Triton Studio in mint condition for $1100 Canadian (negotiable). Now, in your opinion, would this be a better unit than the Korg M50 which sells for $1150 brand new in Canada? By better, I mean fatter sounding strings and better grand piano sounds (like the ones I heard in the music store back in 2005 - darned if I can remember which Triton it was).

Looks like I'll pass on the TR's from what you're saying. I would love to get an Extreme or Karma but they seem to be selling for a pretty high premium right now. What I'm really looking for is something with that signature grand piano sound which I had heard back in 2005 which sounded much like a digitally sampled Steinway - I do remember that the Triton I tried out then was silver in color so it was either an LE or a Studio. The strings on it were just incredible in comparison to the M50.

Thanks again for your help. If you have any questions about drums, feel free to ask so that I can return the favor

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:07 am

I'd pick a Triton Studio over an M50, but $1,100 is too high. I frequently see Triton Extreme 88's for under $1,000. I suggest keep searching and wait to find a TrEx for the right price. There's a TrEx88 listed for $999 at the GuitarCenter in Amarillo Texas, at this very moment. Search the GC used inventory, doing a national search for "Extreme".

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:50 am

Thanks xmlguy. I'm not sure what $1,100 canadian is in US currency right now but up here in Canada, things are always higher priced anyway. I think I could get this unit for around $900. I did some digging around to look at the specs and I can't seem to find anywhere if there is a USB port on the Triton Studio. Now that would be a big drawback. Without USB, I couldn't use it simply as a trigger in my software. Do you know if there is a USB port on this unit (duh - sorry for the dumb question). Maybe I'll hold out for a TrEx after all.

Thanks again for your help.

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:07 am

You're welcome! No, the Studio doesn't have USB. It could still control your software, however, as all you would need is to connect to a midi interface of some kind, like on the midi ports of an audio I/O box such as a Fast Track Pro. If you don't have an audio I/O box, you'll need to have one to get the audio into the computer, so that's usually part of the overall expense of buying a keyboard to use with a computer. The Studio and the Extreme also have S/PDIF digital audio output, though you can't get the output of the TrEx Valve Force tube effects when using S/PDIF. The TrEx is still significantly better than the Studio in many ways. Personally, I would flip hamburgers at minimum wage for a month, if I had to, to get the keyboard that's best for my long term needs, whatever it may be, since I'd kick myself for years if I bought something less for the difference of a couple hundred bucks. The TrEx is a great value at the $1,000 or less price range, since it cost $2,000-$3,000 just a few years ago.

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:22 am

Thanks so much. I do have an M-Audio FireWire 410 which has MIDI inputs on it so I guess I could use that. Trouble is, I'm not happy with the noise factor and the poor gain on the FireWire 410 so I'm considering purchasing an Apogee Duet but the Duet unfortunately doesn't have MIDI connections. I guess I could use both interfaces - the FireWire 410 just as a trigger to control the built in sounds in my software and then run the 1/4 inch stereo line outs from the Triton Studio into the Apogee to get the actual sound banks from the Triton Studio onto my Mac. Whew - complex stuff. I think that the Triton Studio is the machine for me, though. I really fell in love with it back around 2005 and I'm almost positive that the Studio model was the one I tried out. Like you say, you'd pick a Triton Studio over an M50 and I agree. I've been combing the net all day and night and now I see that there was a Triton Pro:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korg_Triton

Majorly confused now

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:23 am

TrEx always xD

I would not recommend u a TrStudio, just it has the same 32MB ROM of the Triton Classic and Le (5 inserts) but also has a small Hard Drive
It sounds nice, but the hard drive is a real problem for gigs. HDD are easily corruptables while traveling, and, if you want a synth for a studio, its better a Audio/USB/Firewire interface for your PC

If you are still looking for a Le, its not a good choice with the TR at the same price, SmartMedia?!?! they are out of production since ages, the TR use SD cards. Also it has USB-MIDI for PC and MIDI in-thru-out.

But, if you are a good synth player, you could make wonders with any synth, but generally, on digital synths the newest may bring you more possibilities, but if you are comparing in the same price tag

Also, you cant load samples on the M50, but you can on the TR if you buy old PC SIMM RAM (2x32MB) there are great libraries with samples for the Triton line and if you wanna make your own samples, you can buy the sample expansion, BUT, its almost unusable live, becoz the samples take a lot of time to load, but its nice on studio.

The Le, TR, Karma, TrStudio and TrEx has poly aftertouch, the M50, dont. the keybed on the M50 its great, but the others are much better.

The only Tritons with USB support are the TrEx with A and B ports (for USB-MIDI and external media storage) and the TR (only USB-MIDI). Also the TrEx uses a CompactFlash card.

Also, if you are a VSTi lover, you'll love the M50, and it has more polyphony and a bigger sample library.

Regards.
Alvaro.

keymeister · Post by **keymeister** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:38 pm

Thanks for your reply. So when you refer to the TR, you're actually referring to the Triton Extreme (TrEx)?