Korg Forums

I went on a rant in the Krome forums about what would constitute a "big announcement" from Korg and started daydreaming about what the company could do if they REALLY tried. Here's what I thought of...

Given that Krome is just a repackaged M50 I figured this hypothetical instrument should keep R&D to a minimum, so why not bounce out the AL-1 and MOD-7 engines from OASYS/Kronos and package that into a unit with a bunch of knobs and buttons complete with an envelope follower like the RADIAS, pitch to cv (or more like cc) converter, and the MS-20/Monotron filter? Give it 3 stereo outs like the M3 but also have the option to use the outs as one 5.1 output. Make it a dedicated plug-in editor that runs 64bit and includes the ability to stream audio via USB. Finally, call it MMT eXpanded or something and give it an accessory shelf for a laptop like the RADIAS has.

They would have to spend R&D on the design of the chassis, the implementation of pitch to cc converter, the plug-in editor (but they could probably use a lot of code from the existing Kronos editor), and finally on an internal surround panner.

I figure the unit should have a vector joystick and a knob to control the panning of stereo timbres in the surround field. The vector stick for positioning the center of a stereo timbre and the knob for changing the degree of Left and Right placement in the field. The surround panner in Cubase is a good example of what I'm talking about. Other functions like Center channel width and LFE signal amount could be accessed via sub menus.

Given that it would be a bounce of software from Kronos I figure it should have the same multitimbrality and voice count. So it would retain the program/combi structure. Screw giving the unit a touch screen, just make sure the editor is sleek. The Access Virus is a fine example of a raw synth that doesn't need a clunky touch screen.

Abandone the idea of uploading samples like a Nord Wave or Blofeld. Just make it a raw flagship synthesizer.

What would you like to see Korg do for its next flagship synth? What do you think is practical or possible?

For me it would have to be the Oasys case/Build with the Kronos's additional upgrade and synthesis/SSD methods that's all I would want in an ultimate workstation

They just need to couple it with a half decent Akai MPC4000/Roland MV8800 like sequencing environment,that would be my ultimate Dream machine and great to sequence on with the Oasys size touchscreen.

Of course I have this all(apart from the Kronos additions)available already in the various hardware units in my setup but it would be superb to have it all in one hardware unit.

For me it would be a full new analogue hardware synth, like a new MS20. I reckon korg should expand their mid-range synth lines to get a new synth that would sit above the R3. So basically an analogue Radias.