Korg M50 88 Key Workstation

KORG M50-88 Details ^top

M50 Performance Workstation

Performance; Portability; Price

Weighing in at just fifteen pounds is the fiery new KORG M50, ready to take on all contenders! Incredible new sounds; fat & juicy combis, splits and layers; a plethora of ace effects; dynamic Drum Tracks; enhanced poly-arpeggiators; classic sequencing tools, a solid, confident keybed; up-to-date SD storage; companion editing software and our famous TouchView interactive display - it all adds up to an invigorating and sexy keyboard instrument that could only come from KORG.

There’s One for Everyone

Over twenty years of category-defining workstation expertise beats in the heart of the M50 Music Workstation. Just as the M3 borrowed elements from the legendary OASYS, the M50 captures all the sonic firepower of the M3, distilled into a performance instrument that is second to none. In a word, the M50 just may be the keyboard you’ve been waiting for. Both 73* and 61 note versions are available, sporting a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard. This new fast and responsive synthesizer keybed facilitates expressive and dynamic performing. Tipping the scales at a mere 46 pounds, the seriously portable 88 key version features our top-of-the-line RH3 Graded Hammer Action, and provides a satisfying performance experience for the piano purist!

* 73-key version to be available in a few months.

A Natural Performer

Made to be played, the M50 is inviting and comfortable. The TouchView screen is intuitive and interactive, allowing the uniquely angled front panel to remain refined and uncluttered. The buttons themselves are rock solid, backlit and rounded for visibility ease-of-use under any playing conditions. In addition to Korg’s four-way joystick and multi-function knobs, the M50 offers four Chord Triggers that provide a flexible and fun way to play chords and trigger arp patterns. A ten key numeric keypad allows on-demand instant access to sounds, combis and other parameter/values.

Elegant, intuitive touchscreen Control surface with 4 Chord Trigger buttons

Hundreds of drum track patterns, and over a thousand arpeggiator patterns – including chord grooves, picking-patterns, and more - are instantly available to add punch and pizzazz to your M50 performance, and to provide hours of inspiration.

Perfectly Shaped Sounds

M50 is packed with over 600 individual sound programs, each one created by Korg’s renowned international voicing team. With a robust 256 MB of sample data* - recorded in exacting studio conditions - the acoustic instruments are delivered with authenticity and realism, providing rich, natural articulation; synth sounds can be bombastic and aggressive, lush and enveloping, or pure and delicate. But first and foremost, the M50 remains a keyboard cornerstone for any musician. The remarkable piano offers three layers of stereo switching and an additional resonance layer for faithful and natural reproduction of the piano’s entire dynamic range.
* (uncompressed 16-bit linear equivalent)

In addition to the grand pianos, a myriad of other piano and keyboard mainstays are included – from a mono piano for pumping it out live on stage, to the ever in-demand vintage Korg SG-1 Sampling Grand. The electric pianos are responsive, dynamic and expressive, with all the tine and hammer-slap you can muster. The new clavs feature all the classic settings with wide dynamic response, and there are even string and flute sounds taken from the tape-driven keyboards of days gone by. Korg’s REMS pickup/amp/cabinet modeling technology provides that finishing touch. All the classics are there at your finger-tips; with spot-on programs that are a blast to play!

Need to quickly tweak a sound to your liking? No problem, Tone Adjust allows simple access to the most important parameters and characteristics of a sound without having to dive deeply into programming. Available in Program, Combi and Sequencer modes, you can get done what you need to with a minimum of fuss and effort.

Mix & Match

In addition to the individual programs, a combination (or “combi”) allows up to 16 sound programs to be stacked, split, layered and zoned across the keyboard; or set to individual MIDI channels. Nearly 400 of these combis come preloaded offering up tasty blends and splits for live performance. All of the preloaded sounds are completely editable, and there is plenty of room on-board (640 Programs, 512 Combinations) for all the sounds that you edit, modify, or create on your own.

16-part Combination main page

Effect-ive Energy

The generous effect section of the M50 brings your sounds to life. Five insert effects and two master effects can be assigned and routed at will, with a total effect to add that final polish. From spacious and luxurious reverbs to space-warping modulation types, the effects can not only embellish a sound after the fact, they can be part of the sound programming itself - adding unique and defining sonic elements. D-mod (Dynamic Modulation) even allows realtime control of various parameter effects as part of your performance, and effect parameters can be sync’d to the two common LFOs or a MIDI Clock source to further integrate the effects into the overall sound. Over 170 top-quality effects are available, including Korg’s proprietary REMS modeling effects. Each program – whether alone, in a combi, or assigned to a sequencer track – is equipped with its own three-band EQ for that final tone shaping.

5 stereo Insert effects 2 Master and 1 Total effect

Let There Be Drums!

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing - and the M50’s got it! We’ve squeezed in over 1,600 drum and percussion samples that can be laid out into full “drumkit” programs. Ready and waiting are 32 drumkits, with room for 48 more of your own. But there’s more! In addition to drumkits, the drum track feature hosts some 670 drum grooves that you can jam along to, or use to kick-start and inspire your own song ideas. In fact, each program has a matching drum track pre-assigned to get you started. BAM!

4-way switching drumkits Drum Track for every program

Arpeggiation Maximus

The arpeggiator has been a staple on Korg keyboards since the 1980s, and the M50 more than delivers on that heritage! In addition to the ubiquitous up, down and random patterns you’d expect, the dual polyphonic arpeggiators on the M50 can serve up cascading chords, groovin’ bass lines, chord-driven picking patterns and punchy accents to spice up your performance and set your musical ideas on fire. In the Sequencer and Combi modes, both arpeggiators can run simultaneously, each addressing different timbres, creating powerful possibilities such as one running drum grooves and one running bass patterns – or even using velocity to switch between patterns on the same sound!

Dual arpeggiator setup page Graphic polyphonic arpeggiator editor

Rapid Results Sequencing

Korg wrote the book on workstations, and the M50 delivers every chapter! The on-board sequencer is the core of your music production studio. Over 200,000 notes can be recorded on 16 MIDI tracks and up to 128 songs. Enhanced 480 ppq resolution captures your performance with pinpoint accuracy – whether you play in realtime or step notes in one at a time. A plethora of advanced, yet easy-to-use editing features are available to help you sculpt your song into its final form. Song Templates designed for a variety of musical genres allow you to get started quickly, with sounds and effects all selected and routed for you. Or try Korg’s unique RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording) function, calling up any of the 671 drum patterns to get started, and assigning shorter patterns and phrases to individual keys; you can even loop each track to build the perfect groove before the inspiration runs out! Sequence individual sections of the song separately, and then use the Cue List function to assemble and tryout different arrangements – you’ll be remix ready! And since you never know when inspiration will strike, the one-touch record (Auto Song Setup) feature transfers all your current settings into a new song and starts the sequencer, capturing your ideas as the foundation of a new song.

Main sequencer page Mixing page

Individual track looping Track editing commands

Event edit screen Cue List

Enhanced Definition Synthesis (EDS)

Our most advanced hardware engine ever, Korg’s Enhanced Definition Synthesis is the musical heart of both the M50 and the M3. Each individual voice can lay claim to up to two stereo oscillators, four filters, two amp sections, five Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO), and five time-variant Envelope Generators (EG).

On the technical side, each stereo oscillator can achieve four-way velocity switching, crossfading, or layering. This allows a single voice to use up to eight stereo multisamples to ensure a dynamic and expressive sound. Each voice also has access to up to four multi-mode (High Pass, Band Pass, Band Reject, Low-pass) filters; two filters per oscillator running side by side, stacked or in series – as well as a superb 24dB mode. Even the amp section can add to the shape and texture of the sound with a drive circuit to add a harder, rougher edge, and a low boost to fatten up that big bottom.

4-way switching stereo oscillators multi-mode filters

The Envelope Generators provide changes in the sound over time, and the advanced Key Tracking changes the sound based on the note played – for example; notes played higher on the keyboard will sustain less, be brighter, and have both faster and shallower vibratos than notes played lower on the keyboard - adding a staggering level of nuanced control to balance your sound over the entire keyboard range. At each step of the EG, you can specify the shape and type of curve used to move between points, allowing unparalleled expression and accuracy. The five Low Frequency Oscillators access 18 different waveforms. Starting Phase and Amplitude Shift parameters offer even more detailed control for zeroing in on that perfect modulation.

Amp Envelope Generator Multi-waveform LFOs

And when all that is not enough, Korg’s Alternate Modulation Source (AMS) provides a matrix of over fifty modulation sources that be mixed, summed and added to a variety of parameters, providing exactly the result you want. In short, the Korg M50 provides a wealth of control over the minute components that make a keyboard sound great. And while Korg’s programming is legendary, the EDS synth engine makes the M50 a sound designer’s dream.

Plug-In Performance

Your new M50 includes both stand-alone and plug-in sound editing software for more detailed graphic editing on your computer, and connects directly via USB. The plug-in version allows you to edit the M50’s sounds from inside any DAW (VST, Audio Units, and RTAS formats), allowing your edits and changes to be part of the song file, and without having to switch applications to tweak a sound. The M50 also uses convenient SD cards for economical and reliable data storage.

M50 Editor running as a plug-in

KARMA Chameleon!

Stay tuned to www.karma-lab.com for exciting information about KARMA M50 software, allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of KARMA technology with your M50. The software runs on both Windows and Mac platforms, and will provide your M50 with an added boost!

KARMA software screens

Sounds. Easy.

The M50 is chock full of sounds – and features. Yet Korg’s high-visibility 320 x 240 pixel resolution TouchView interface allows direct touch-screen access to hundreds of parameters. Finding the sounds you need is simple thanks to our organizing them by category, as we do effects, drum patterns, arps and even waveforms. No other keyboard in its class offers anything approaching this level of elegance or intuitive ease-of-use. So take an M50 home today, and make your music – on your M50!

KORG M50-88 Specs ^top

Synthesis Technology

EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis)

Tone Generator

256 Mbyte (when converted to 16-bit linear format)

1,077 Multisamples

1,609 Drum Samples

Maximum Polyphony

80 voices, 80 oscillators max, single mode

40 voices, 80 oscillators max, double mode*

* The actual maximum polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading.

Sounds
Programs

640 total locations, 608 preloaded

Combinations
512 total locations, 384 preloaded

Drumkits
48 total locations, 32 preloaded

GM
256 GM2 programs, 9 GM2 drum kits

Program Structure EDS
Oscillator
OSC1 (Single), OSC1+2 (Double)

Stereo multisamples are supported

4 velocity zones per oscillator, with switching, crossfades and layers.

Filters
Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB)

Two multi-mode filters per voice (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)

Driver
Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost

EQ
Three bands, with sweepable mid

Modulation
For each voice: two envelope generators (Filter & Amp)

Two LFOs

Two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp)

Two AMS mixers

Pitch EG

Common LFO

Two common key tracking generators

Combination Structure
Up to sixteen timbres

For each Timbre: keyboard and velocity split/layer/crossfade

INT, OFF, EXT and EX2 MIDI status settings

3-band EQ with sweepable mid

Pitch/Transpose

Use OSC1, 2 or Both

Force Osc Mode (PRG, MONO, LEGATO, POLY)

Portamento and Bend range settings

Controller filters

Modifications to the program settings via the Tone Adjust function

Drum Kit Structure
Stereo and mono drum samples

4-way velocity switches with crossfades and adjustable crossfade shapes (Linear, Power, Layer)

Exclusive keygroups

Per key 3-band EQ, Drive, Lo Boost, filter and level offsets

Effects
5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out), 2 Master Effects (stereo in/out), 1 Total Effect (stereo in/out) are available simultaneously

2 effect control busses, 2 effect common LFOs

170 types (can be used for Insert/Master/Total.) Note: double-size effects cannot be used as a Total effect.

Effects Presets: Up to 32 per Effect

3-band Track EQ (High, low, and sweepable mid band) Per Program in Program Mode, per Timbre in Combination mode (16 total), and per Track in Sequencer mode (16 total)

Sequencer
16-track MIDI sequencer with 480 ppq resolution

128 Songs, 20 Cue Lists, 210,000 notes (max)

Tempo: 40.00 – 300.00 BPM (1/100 resolution)

16 preset/16 user Template Songs

522 preset patterns, 100 user patterns (per Song)

Cue List function: 20 cue lists, Songs can be arranged consecutively or repeatedly in up to 99 steps, A cue list can be converted back into a song

Standard MIDI File (SMF) format 0 and 1 available

Auto Song Setup function (One Touch Record) for easily going from a Program or Combination into “record-ready” status

Dual Polyphonic Arpeggiator
Two arpeggiators, useable simultaneously
(Combination, Sequencer modes)

5 preset arpeggio patterns; 216 user arpeggio patterns (200 preloaded)

RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording)
A set of 100 patterns are available per Song

Drum Track
671 preset patterns/1,000 user patterns

Patterns created in Sequencer mode can be converted to drum track user patterns

Trigger Mode (Immediate, Wait for Keyboard), Sync (On, Off) and Zone (Key and Velocity) settings can be specified.

Program selection, 3-band EQ and effect bussing available

Audio Outputs
L/MONO, R - 1/4" TS (Mono), unbalanced

Headphones - 1/4" TRS (Stereo), Output Impedance: 33 Ohms, Maximum Level: 32+ 32 mW @33 Ohms

Interface
MIDI
IN, OUT

Computer
USB type B connector (for MIDI interface, USB 2.0 supported)

System Requirements
Computer with the KORG USB-MIDI Driver

Windows
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Service Pack 2 or later (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), all editions of Microsoft Windows Vista (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), computer supports Windows XP/Vista with USB port (Intel USB Host Controller recommended).

Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, Apple Macintosh with USB ports supports Mac OS X 10.3.9 (PowerPC/Intel-based supported).

Please use the latest Korg USB/MIDI driver.

M50 Editor/Plug-In Editor

Windows
Windows XP Home Edition / Professional Service Pack 2 or later, Intel Pentium III/1 GHz or faster, 512 Mbyte or larger memory (1 Gbyte or larger recommended.)

Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.4 or later, G4/800 MHz or faster (Intel-based Mac supported, G5 and/or Core Duo recommended), 512 Mbyte or larger memory (1 Gbyte or larger recommended)

Options
XVP-10
EXP/VOL Pedal

EXP-2
Foot Controller

DS-1H
Damper Pedal (supports half-damping)

PS-1
Pedal Switch

General
Keyboard
61-key, 73-key versions use a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard

88-key weighted action (RH3: Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 keyboard with 4-zone graded action response)

Controllers
Joystick, [SW1], [SW2]

Display

5.7 inch TouchView™ GUI, 320 x 240 dot

Control Inputs
Damper Pedal (half damper pedaling supported), Assignable Switch, Assignable Pedal

Common specifications
Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, +/-1.0 dB, 10 k Ohms load

THD+N: 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08 % 10 k Ohms load (typical)

Included Accessories
Three-Pronged IECC13 Power Cable

(Model D8B5518003B)

Owner’s Manual (M50 Operation Guide)

CD-ROM (M50 Parameter Guide (PDF)

Voice Name List (PDF)

KORG MIDI driver

M50 Editor stand alone and plug-in versions

Dimensions
M50-61:
40.43"(W) x 7.47"(D) x 4.17"(H)

M50-73:
46.90” (W) x 7.47” (D) x 4.17” (H)

M50-88:
55.47” (W) x 12.91” (D) x 5.94” (H)

Weight

M50-61: 14.9 lbs

M50-73: 17.6 lbs

M50-88: 45.86 lbs

Current Consumption

35 Watts

Trademark Notes
*Mac and Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

*Windows XP and Windows VISTA are registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

*VST and ASIO are trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.

*The Audio Units logo and the Audio Units symbol are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

*RTAS is a trademark or registered trademark of Avid Technology, Inc., or its subsidiaries or divisions.

KORG M50-88 MP3s ^top