Korg has already made a number of bulletins forward of NAMM 2024, and now the corporate’s again with a The Opsix mk II nonetheless provides an approachable entryway into the world of FM synthesis, and it’s even based mostly on the unique’s “Altered FM” digital sound engine. Nevertheless, that is something however a minor refresh.
The massive information is a large enhance in polyphony. The unique had 32 voices, which remains to be lots, however the mk II provides 64 voices of pure polyphonal goodness. This could enable for some really complicated and multi-layered sounds, or only a burst of cacophony as you attempt to press each key directly.
The six-operator FM engine is, roughly, unchanged, however it may be kitted out with every kind of latest “sound parts” that may drastically change the sign. You’ll be able to route it by way of as much as 30 results, together with a 3-band EQ, refrain, phaser, flanger, distortion, compressor, delay, reverb, grain shifter and lots of extra. The sign paths may also be rerouted internally for semi-modular synthesis.
In fact, there are a selection of analog-style filters, together with filters modeled on the Korg MS-20 and Korg PolySix, together with resonant two- or four-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-reject filters. You gained’t battle to create distinctive sounds right here, as any parameter might be modulated utilizing a devoted matrix geared up with three envelope turbines and three LFOs.
The very nature of this know-how permits for digital recreations of subtractive, semi-modular, waveshaping, additive and analog modeling synthesis varieties, along with basic FM synthesis. That’s what Korg means by calling this a “six-operator” FM synthesizer.
For these anxious that this refresh would basically change the mk II is totally suitable with the sounds and samples from the unique and it integrates with the corporate’s devoted software program suite, providing full entry to quite a few sound libraries. So you possibly can simply load up sounds from the unique, if that’s your bag.
The 37-note keyboard is velocity-sensitive and launch velocity-sensitive, with a programmable step sequencer that provides as much as 16 steps per sample and 6 notes per step. There's additionally an onboard arpeggiator with seven preset patterns. Similar to the unique, the mk II boasts a vibrant front-facing display and quite a few backlit faders and knobs for making changes. As for connections, there’s a headphone out, a stereo line out, MIDI in/out, a USB-B port and a jack for a damper pedal. The Korg Opsix mk II hits retailer cabinets this March and can price $700, which is $200 lower than the value of the unique again when it launched.
Korg has a large presence at NAMM this yr, as the corporate additionally teased a desktop module of the Opsix, together with desktop modules for the Modwave and Wavestate synths. There’s additionally a bit of synth known as the MicroKORG 2, which is prone to promote like the most popular of hotcakes.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/korgs-opsix-mk-ii-synth-is-based-on-the-fm-sound-engine-of-the-original-but-with-64-voices-164445223.html?src=rss
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