I have the Korg M3. Now I'd like to upgrade it either with the RADIAS EXB or the RADIAS standalone synth.
Basically, I just wanna know what the most practical way would be when using the M3 with the RADIAS. Also, if the sound quality in the RADIAS EXB is different from the RADIAS ANALOG SYNTH.
Thanks a lot for your feedback !
M3 with the RADIAS EXB or M3 with the RADIAS ANALOG Synth
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
Radias is not an Analog synth.
Radias is a digital synth and covers many more sound design possibilities than simple emulation of classic analog sounds. It does those fairly well though I might add too.
There is no difference in sound character between the two, and it is a difficult decision.
Main differences are:
<table border="1">
<tr><td><b>Feature</b></td><td><b>Radias Standalone</b></td><td><b>Radias EXB</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Virtual Patch Slots</td><td>6</td><td>8</td>
<tr><td>PCM Waveforms</td><td>29</td><td>0</td>
<tr><td>DWGS Waveforms</td><td>35</td><td>64</td>
<tr><td>Drum PCM</td><td>128</td><td>0</td>
<tr><td>Dedicated FX</td><td>2 Per Timbre, 1 Total</td><td>None. Uses M3's FX</td>
<tr><td>Polyphony</td><td>24</td><td>24</td>
<tr><td>Timbres</td><td>Each Patch consists of up to 4 timbres</td><td>Up to 4 in Combi mode, 1 in Prog</td>
<tr><td>Vocoder</td><td>16 bands</td><td>16 bands</td>
<tr><td>Arpeggiator</td><td>1 basic Arp, 2x note step sequencers</td><td>None. Use KARMA</td>
<tr><td>Drum Timbre</td><td>16 individual synth parts make up a drum kit, fully programmable</td><td>None. Use EDS sampled drums</td></tr>
</table>
Of course, the EXB offers complete integration into the M3, so unless you know a bit about MIDI and know what to do in M3 combinations to select the right patches from the Radias as an external sound module with no direct integration, that may be a deciding factor. A lot of the above features which are missing from the EXB argueably are omitted because they are already available in EDS engine on the M3 or in the M3's combi structure (e.g. KARMA, IFX).
The FX are an interesting one though, because you'll get 9 FX slots on the Radias on its own, which is actually more than you have on the M3 in total (5IFX + 2 MFX + 1 TFX = 8FX), so if you particularly like to use a lot of FX to sweeten or compress the sound, this may also be a deciding factor. I always find I start running out of FX on workstations quite quickly.
Finally, the Radias standalone unit has many knobs and switches on the front panel dedicated to certain functions. Some are also multi-purpose depending on the operating mode of other buttons. This doesn't cover the entire synthesizer's features, but it is about 30% of the parameters, all of them most commonly used (and some less frequently used). This greatly speeds sound design, and a lot of basic sounds can be programmed this way without ever looking at the screen. You'll get no experience like this on the M3. IMHO there is something to be said though too for 'all in one' integrated solutions like M3+EXB where every menu page is familiar and logically laid out. It's just not as hands-on.
Hope that helps.
Radias is a digital synth and covers many more sound design possibilities than simple emulation of classic analog sounds. It does those fairly well though I might add too.
There is no difference in sound character between the two, and it is a difficult decision.
Main differences are:
<table border="1">
<tr><td><b>Feature</b></td><td><b>Radias Standalone</b></td><td><b>Radias EXB</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Virtual Patch Slots</td><td>6</td><td>8</td>
<tr><td>PCM Waveforms</td><td>29</td><td>0</td>
<tr><td>DWGS Waveforms</td><td>35</td><td>64</td>
<tr><td>Drum PCM</td><td>128</td><td>0</td>
<tr><td>Dedicated FX</td><td>2 Per Timbre, 1 Total</td><td>None. Uses M3's FX</td>
<tr><td>Polyphony</td><td>24</td><td>24</td>
<tr><td>Timbres</td><td>Each Patch consists of up to 4 timbres</td><td>Up to 4 in Combi mode, 1 in Prog</td>
<tr><td>Vocoder</td><td>16 bands</td><td>16 bands</td>
<tr><td>Arpeggiator</td><td>1 basic Arp, 2x note step sequencers</td><td>None. Use KARMA</td>
<tr><td>Drum Timbre</td><td>16 individual synth parts make up a drum kit, fully programmable</td><td>None. Use EDS sampled drums</td></tr>
</table>
Of course, the EXB offers complete integration into the M3, so unless you know a bit about MIDI and know what to do in M3 combinations to select the right patches from the Radias as an external sound module with no direct integration, that may be a deciding factor. A lot of the above features which are missing from the EXB argueably are omitted because they are already available in EDS engine on the M3 or in the M3's combi structure (e.g. KARMA, IFX).
The FX are an interesting one though, because you'll get 9 FX slots on the Radias on its own, which is actually more than you have on the M3 in total (5IFX + 2 MFX + 1 TFX = 8FX), so if you particularly like to use a lot of FX to sweeten or compress the sound, this may also be a deciding factor. I always find I start running out of FX on workstations quite quickly.
Finally, the Radias standalone unit has many knobs and switches on the front panel dedicated to certain functions. Some are also multi-purpose depending on the operating mode of other buttons. This doesn't cover the entire synthesizer's features, but it is about 30% of the parameters, all of them most commonly used (and some less frequently used). This greatly speeds sound design, and a lot of basic sounds can be programmed this way without ever looking at the screen. You'll get no experience like this on the M3. IMHO there is something to be said though too for 'all in one' integrated solutions like M3+EXB where every menu page is familiar and logically laid out. It's just not as hands-on.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by X-Trade on Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
PCM is an actual sample that is continuous over time, can has a loop point, etc.
DWGS is a static waveform, like a single-cycle sample as used in a wave table for example. It's actually a preset waveform generated by some additive method, originally appearing in the DW6000, it was basically just a bunch of alternative more interesting waves than the basic saw/square/tri choice on traditional synths.
On the Radias for example, you have noise spectrums (four variations), strings, guitar, bass, organ, EPs, etc samples. The strings are pretty useable really, but nothing special. Some of the DWGS waveforms found on M3/R3/MicroKorg (orig) etc. are replaced by equivalent PCMs on the Radias, for example the Organ, EP, Slap Bass, etc.
DWGS is a static waveform, like a single-cycle sample as used in a wave table for example. It's actually a preset waveform generated by some additive method, originally appearing in the DW6000, it was basically just a bunch of alternative more interesting waves than the basic saw/square/tri choice on traditional synths.
On the Radias for example, you have noise spectrums (four variations), strings, guitar, bass, organ, EPs, etc samples. The strings are pretty useable really, but nothing special. Some of the DWGS waveforms found on M3/R3/MicroKorg (orig) etc. are replaced by equivalent PCMs on the Radias, for example the Organ, EP, Slap Bass, etc.
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
-
glmathesjr
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:10 pm
Radias
The answer is "BOTH"!
You can't have too much Radias...
You can't have too much Radias...