Getting a Korg M3

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:19 pm

I just played one in the local music shop and will probably get the M3 version (module). Hopefully for $1799 inc tax. Always wanted the Korg Karma but never managed to find the funds somehow.

Apart from the wonderful full implementation of Karma 2 software it can also be expanded with a $299 Korg Radius board too. That is a low cost way to have a Radius synth.

I'd like to have a Yamaha XS as well but that is some way off.

Anyone else using the M3 yet?

nowtime · Post by **nowtime** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:28 pm

I'm so dissappointed with Korg's and Roland's nod to the groove market. When I read about the M3 pre-release, I saw that a great opportunity had passed them by.

It's as if a bunch of suits in different departments got together in one meeting to GUESS what THOSE CRAZY RAVING MUSICAINS might want, and boom, it's designed.

If they created MY kind of music workstation, it would have been designed with the groovebox/sequencer and the sampler features at the center of attention, with the synths an romplers as an add-on. But they create these workstations with the sampler as an afterthought as if Akai never existed "oh, let's put some rubber pads on there!"

And the massive groovebox/beat-remixing potential they pack into seems ill conceived and comes off as a cute toy.

Roland and Korg put too much energy into thinking people are gonna use these instruments INSTEAD of a DAW. Uh-uh..

That said, I played one in a store and the drumkits are WHOMP!

And who knows, maybe it's better designed than I think.

downfader · Post by **downfader** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 12:51 am

I thought the M3 was the name of one of their old modules based on the M1 workstation?

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 12:58 am

Honestly I've been waiting years for Korg to step up and doa proper groovebox. The electribes are cool, but not enough tracks and features for me.

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:45 am

nowtime wrote:I'm so dissappointed with Korg's and Roland's nod to the groove market. When I read about the M3 pre-release, I saw that a great opportunity had passed them by.

Its worth checking out the details I think. Audio and midi sequencing etc

If they created MY kind of music workstation, it would have been designed with the groovebox/sequencer and the sampler features at the center of attention, with the synths an romplers as an add-on. But they create these workstations with the sampler as an afterthought as if Akai never existed "oh, let's put some rubber pads on there!"

And the massive groovebox/beat-remixing potential they pack into seems ill conceived and comes off as a cute toy.

I played the built in patches (just one bank though due to time constraints) and was thoroughly impressed. I could imagine getting endless hours of new tracks from the sounds I heard. The Karma 2 software is really amazing and I barely touched that.

Roland and Korg put too much energy into thinking people are gonna use these instruments INSTEAD of a DAW. Uh-uh..

I'd use both. Hardware is just so appropriate at times. Being able to record anything you doodle and then recall / edit that part is great.

So often I reach for the mouse and lose what I was tying to do. I could set up Live to respond to my keyboard for shortcut recording etc but I am willing to use this Korg M3 as a kind of recorder as it is so versatile. It seems to suit me right now. Its been a long time since anything grabbed my attention like this.

That said, I played one in a store and the drumkits are WHOMP!

And who knows, maybe it's better designed than I think.

pabloaugustus · Post by **pabloaugustus** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:27 am

nowtime wrote:...
Roland and Korg put too much energy into thinking people are gonna use these instruments INSTEAD of a DAW. Uh-uh..

Thats the thing that drives me crazy too! I would love for example a synth with the sequencer and sampler optional, just synthesis and a keyboard so you don't have to pay to duplicate functionality. And when they do integrate sequencers and sampler they should be designed to integrate seamlessly with DAW software. That way they could actually help your productivity instead of getting in the way.

Brainstormer · Post by **Brainstormer** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:37 am

downfader wrote:I thought the M3 was the name of one of their old modules based on the M1 workstation?

M3r (1989)

http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/k/korg/m/m3r.html

downfader · Post by **downfader** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:51 am

Brainstormer wrote:
downfader wrote:I thought the M3 was the name of one of their old modules based on the M1 workstation?
M3r (1989)

http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/ar/k/korg/m/m3r.html

Ahh thankyou! I missed the "R" out thats why I didnt find it.

Johnisfaster · Post by **Johnisfaster** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:16 am

Liam wrote:I just played one in the local music shop and will probably get the M3 version (module). Hopefully for $1799 inc tax. Always wanted the Korg Karma but never managed to find the funds somehow.

Apart from the wonderful full implementation of Karma 2 software it can also be expanded with a $299 Korg Radius board too. That is a low cost way to have a Radius synth.

I'd like to have a Yamaha XS as well but that is some way off.

Anyone else using the M3 yet?

does that thing play vst's or something? cause I just don't get what the big deal is otherwise?

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 2:42 pm

No vsts played as far as I know.

You should check out the videos showing some of what it can do.

http://www.karma-lab.com/m3/m3_demos.html

Getting a Korg M3

Getting a Korg M3

Re: Getting a Korg M3