Synth Museum

"Synthesizer preservation via research and education."


The Web SynthArk

M1

Korg M1

M1
M1 (image courtesy of Korg)

Released: 1988

MSRP: Y248,000 ($2166US)

Synopsis:

The first generation rompler that became the basis of mainstream synthesis for decades to come. It's unclear whether the original DW-8000 waves are included. Architecture Class: Rompler.

Ebay Description:

The Korg M1 is a pressure and velocity sensitive 61 key (8 channel multitimbral) single (16 voice) or dual (8 voice) oscillator synthesizer, featuring 100 waveforms and 44 drums (16 bit, 2MW, more via card), dedicated pitch and filter LFOs, dual stereo effects processors (33 effects), stereo and dual individual outputs, 8 track sequencer (4400 or 7700 events, depending on program memory), and MIDI. Each oscillator channel features a low pass filter and dedicated (pitch, filter, amplifier) 3-stage envelopes. The 50 or 100 (depending on sequencer memory) user editable presets can be saved via MIDI SysEx or memory card.

Physical

Form Factor Dimensions Weight Audio Input Audio Output Communication Port Control Input Control Output Switch Input Power
61 keys W:1058mm D:356mm H:110mm 13.5kg (29lbs 11oz) no stereo individual:2 MIDI:In/Out/Thru pedal:2 MIDI MIDI sustain assignable:2 11W AC

Interface

Compatibility Multitimbral Memory Program Memory External Storage External Programming UI Input UI Output
M1 M1R 50|100 card:50|100 50|100 MIDI:SysEx program-slot:RAM(MCR-03)|ROM-card sample-slot:ROM-card MIDI:SysEx menu based LCD display

Architecture

Multitimbral Polyphony Unison Architecture
8 2osc:8 1osc:16 no (mono) [DO1->DF1->DA1]+[DO2->DF2->DA2]

Output

Effects Pan Modulator Volume Modulator Headphone
dual (serial|parallel) stereo multieffects processors (33 effects) no aftertouch DA-EG1 DA-EG2 key MIDI-CC7 pedal yes

Control

Arpeggiator Arpeggiator External Sequencer Sequencer Memory Sequencer External Continuous Program Change
no N/A 8 track real, step, or pattern songs:10 patterns:100 steps:4400|7700 (50|100 program and multitimbral memory respectively) card:same MIDI pedal joystick MIDI-CC1 MIDI-CC2 MIDI-CC6 MIDI-CC38 MIDI-CC100 MIDI-CC101 pedal MIDI

Keyboard

Key Pressure Chord Memory External Control External Sustain Key Scaling Velocity Curves
yes no MIDI pedal MIDI temperament:5 (preset:4 user:1) control: programmable key center 1

Sample

Stereo Sample Depth Sample Rate Sample RAM Sample ROM Sample Points Sample Trigger Sample Loop Sample Edit
N/A 16bit N/A N/A 2MW (4MB) N/A N/A N/A N/A

Source

Name Signal Class Waveform Octave Range Amplitude Modulator Harmonics Modulator Pitch Modulator Wave Assign Modulator
DO1 digital samples:100 kits:4 (44 drum samples) 4' 8' 16' no no aftertouch DO-EG1 joystick Pitch-MG MIDI-Bend no
DO2 digital samples:100 with delay 4' 8' 16' no no aftertouch DO-EG1 joystick Pitch-MG MIDI-Bend no

Filter

Name Signal Class IC Resonant Shape Frequency Modulator Resonance Modulator Shape Modulator
VDF1 digital DSP no low pass aftertouch VDF-EG1 joystick key pedal VDF-MG MIDI-CC2 no no
VDF2 digital DSP no low pass aftertouch VDF-EG1 joystick key pedal VDF-MG MIDI-CC2 no no

Envelope

Name Level Rate Loop Polarity Trigger Level Modulator Rate Modulator
DO-EG1 start attack release attack decay release no yes no velocity velocity
DO-EG2 start attack release attack decay release no yes no velocity velocity
VDF-EG1 attack break-point release attack decay slope release no yes no velocity key velocity
VDF-EG2 attack break-point release attack decay slope release no yes no velocity key velocity
DA-EG1 attack break-point attack decay slope release no no no velocity key velocity
DA-EG2 attack break-point attack decay slope release no no no velocity key velocity

LFO

Name Waveform Delay Polarity Sync Delay Modulator Level Modulator Rate Modulator
Pitch-MG triangle saw:up saw:down square yes no key no aftertouch joystick MIDI-CC1 no
VDF-MG triangle saw:up saw:down square yes no key no aftertouch joystick MIDI-CC1 joystick
Rompler Models
DW-6000 DW-8000 EX-8000 M1 M1EX M1R M1REX M3R
T1 T2 T2EX T3 T3EX Wavestation Wavestation EX Wavestation AD
Wavestation SR 01W 01RW 01WFD 01Wpro 01WproX 03RW X3
X2 X3R X5 05RW X5D X5DR