let me tell ya, from the press, i was pumped bout this thing, i thought, it looks great, online samples sound great, good reviews all arround (especially on the action), and features up the wazoo!

so, my local music store gets one in.

i turn it on, takes about a minute and a half to load...wtf???
i lay into the keyboard while waiting, feels unreal! i love high quality synth action, so a+ on that
then, i grad a fader...um, did this come from a toy mixer? what a piece of dung...i could litterally describe a circle with it without changing its settings it was so loose. this seems to be a growing trend with hadware controls. (same issue with my new peavey sub mixer, but it was only 140 bux...). when i compare it to my aging sh2000, it is garbage.
then, the pads...um, plastic? some sort of harder material....not pleasant at all.
and of course the sounds, stunning. but, find me a board that doesn't sound just great now-a-days.

so, my conclusion is this.
every synth maker knows how to get good sounds out of the board, most have great key action now, and most have a decent selection of real time controls, so why oh why do i need to see absolute junk on a $2500 workstation?

in other news, the r3 blew my mind. great sound, slightly below average key action and nice sturdy knobs. and, nearly $2000 less from the same company.

*wanders off disillusioned*

Hi,
Thank you for your review. I would like you to tell me more, however, since I am about to order one. You say that it sounds great, and that the action is good...can you detail on the keys please? This is very important for me. Do they feel qualitative? Is the matte finish on the black keys prone to wear off in your opinion? How about the casing and the general sturdiness feel? Is it mostly aluminum or mostly plastic? I can live with less then great faders, but couldn't take an overall toyish feel.
How about the keys length? Are they longer, like the Yamaha ones or the ones on the Tritons, or on the shorter side, like the ones on the Fantom?
Does it wobble when grasped or is it rather sturdy and well built?
These aspects will definitely influence my buying decision so I ask you please give an as objective an answer as possible.
Thank you very much, I hope to hear an answer from you as well as others who have experience with this board.

Hi Soundastic,
I dont think you need to worry about the build quality or the feel of the keys, its an A1 piece of gear. The keys are quite hard to describe but I guarantee you'll like them, and I bet you'll love them MORE than any Yamaha or Triton, so dont worry!

The sounds are excellent, though the piano is still a little thin sounding IMO. Still, the piano is certainly useable in a live situation, no probs...its 2007 and most boards sound pretty good. I love the strings so much on this board, best strings ever ,once again IMO of course...really though, the strings are like nothing I've heard including Kontact and other soft libraries. So beautifull and playable and useable.

Its got a fantastic touch screen and its easy to navigate and do cool things.

Here's the bad news, although the Karma function sounds and is amazing, I'm not sure how usefull it will ultimately be because the sequencer is a real dissapointment, no fun at all.

So if your intending to use it to sequence on, I wouldn't go for it. If you want it for all its sounds and great playability, its beautiful! All the other patches are top notch too, with maybe the exception of the organs, but thats normal for a ROMpler. You may find some organs you like on there and the leslie sim is quite good in stereo.

good luck!
Mike

well, i did only play it for a short while.
the keys were really remarkable, likely the nicest synth action i've ever felt...i didnt' notice anything about the black keys taht made me think they'd wear down, but, hard to say.
overall build quality was fine...sturdy would be a good word. key length, i did not notice at all either, but, they felt totally right.
it really was the cheapness of the faders taht ruined me on it, at that price, i expected the same quality as i found on the keys in every aspect of the board.

I'll be in dissent I guess. Keyboard feel is very personal, but I didn't like the new M3 action and think it is not nearly as good as the Tritons. And if you do a lot of playing in keys with multiple sharps and flats (as I do when I'm playing in a praise band) you won't either because it is difficult to get consistent velocities out of the blacks. They are too short from end to fulcrum.

One of the biggest differences on the M3 and the Oasys is the piano sample. The piano sample on the Oasys is head and shoulders above any other Korg piano sample I've ever heard. I was surprised at the quality or lack there of on the M3. Action is a very personal thing as is sound quality. I love the action on the M3 and its different from the previous actions on anything I've ever tried. I can understand why some people would love it and some people wouldn't like it. I also feel the sound quality is pretty decent and very Korgish, if that makes sense. If your a fan of Korg sounds, the M3 won't disappoint. Lastly the Karma feature is a beast and in my opinion and very underestimated part of the M3. It certainly adds another element to the M3. If you take the time to learn how to use it and use it properly, it will open a whole new world of options to you.

I should clarify that the action that disappointed me was on the synth action 61 key M3.

I also thought that the sliders weren't quite as solid as the ones on the Motif XS in the same room, but felt as good as the ones on my XP-80, which have held up well over the last 10 years.

As a live performance board (which is all I do) I was happy to find that (like my Rolands) the M3 makes smooth program changes (something the Motif XS is incapable of) but was puzzled as to how to set up programs for one touch random selection on that very sparse front panel. On my Fantom I change programs with the 16 pads, and my Motif has 16 buttons always ready to go.

I never had the problem you described with the faders. I use the M3M. While it takes a while to boot up this has become the norm with many new keyboards. I first noticed it with my FantomX. Just as I do with computers, I turn them on and then go do something else while they load.

Robert

The sequencer is 10 year old technology, is it not? Why do they call synthesizers "Workstations" when they're not? Sample RAM is limited too. I'd vote to call it a "Digital Piano", but apparently, the piano sound isn't all that great either. So, what is it?

Oh yeah, its made by Korg, so I guess that makes it alright.

Mike T.

(What do you mean? I don't see how 10 year old sequencing technology makes it NOT a workstation. Unless there's something I'm mis-understanding... Why would you vote to call it a digital piano?! Just cause it doesn't have an amazing sequencer, it's still a synthesizer... Digital pianos are definately not synthesizers in any way, so I'm confused by your post! )

Anyway thanks for the review, it's good to hear everyone's opinions on something new.

day-zero:

I see that you're new here. So you haven't been around for the few of us players on this site that don't want to use a PC for sequencing. Mfg don't want duplication in their instruments that a PC can do, to keep costs down for one thing, and that seems to be the trend the industry is going. Whether some of us like it or not.

As a musician that concentrates on doing live work, having a home studio (and the $$$investment that goes along with it, as well as the time to learn how to operate it and make a finished product) doesn't interest me. For what I do, all I need is a good sequencer that is functional, up-to-date, and easy to use. A workstation should also have a sampler, or at least sample playback capability, in addition to its sounds. That's what has been a workstation in the past. Mfg are in the process of eliminating workstations from the market, gradually I suppose.

So when I post, I'm complaining to mfg's that not all of us want this "trend". I realize I'm in the minority, but that hasn't stopped me before.

Welcome to the forum, I didn't mean to lecture you, but I wanted you to know why my post seemed weird.

Mike T.

Thanks ^^ I don't want to look like I had a clue what I was talking about or that I was complaining or anything. But yeah, I suppose I know what you mean. And I definately use a PC for sequencing, so I see where you're coming from, if you want a keyboard that does it just as well, right? ..

So MikeT, what the hell is it about the Korg sequencer that disqualifies it? What functionality is it missing? What does up-to-date even mean with regards to MIDI sequencers? Has the MIDI spec changed in the last 10 years that makes older products somehow obsolete?

If you need assistance you might look through pages 191 through 299 of the Parameter Guide that cover the sequencer on the M3.

Sample RAM is limited? Yes, theoretically. In reality are you really going to load up a Yamaha or Roland with 1GB and wait 20+ minutes every time you turn it on? My currently load time on the M3 is a little over four minutes. I still have 142MB free. I run out of patience before I run out of RAM. Until these manfuacturers radically decrease load times, these large RAM sizes are little more than marketing BS. How exactly do you use the sampler on your Motif? Have you tried bringing in third party libraries? I have on the Motif ES, Tyros 2 and Roland XR. Let me say, it ain't fun. The fact that the M3 supports SoundFont 2 format is a huge plus. It would be nice of the others gave up on this crappy Akai standard. There hasn't been a new library released in Akai 3000 format in ages. Talk about 10 year old technology.

Busch.

FYI, the load time is 45 seconds.

Busch.

fantom X has beaten both M3 amd motif XS with sequencer and audio tracks features so badly that both companies didn't even want to fight back and gave up living most tasks to the PC.

So I think Mike is right they shouldn't be called workstations anymore, because they are as much workstation as digital pianos are, which also have some sequencer options and computer connectivity.

Thank God it doesn't have the Motif sequencer inside, or even worse, the Motif OS.

I think that the M3 is much closer to a workstation than a digital piano though. I mean that's common sense. Perhaps we need a new way to define workstations for some people. I see the point your trying to make but if I had a FP4 as opposed to an M3 I would be crippled and without many features I need or come to expect in a workstation. I used to own a Fantom X8 and loved the Sequencer and audio track use on it. I do think the M3 can do alot of the same things and has some great options the Fantom X doesn't have. Unfortunately many people are going away from sequencers on workstations and using PC's. I know it doesn't make this situation any better but it is a sign of the times.

I think they tried to make a brilliant workstation, Karma is fantastic and the sounds are really varied and good. I could see someone doing all kinds of work on that machine, video game music, soundtracks, dance music, world music, ambient and of course pop pre-production. The sequencer however is not practical in this day and age. Sure, in theory you can do lots on it, but for serios production its completely clumsy, doesnt take advantage of the color touch screen, has no piano roll or visual method of editing. So if you dont sequence in the M3, which I personally couldn't, what do you do with all the gadgetry? Record it into your DAW? What a shame, I, like Mike, enjoy using hardware sequencers. All of a sudden the M3, as a production tool becomes a very expensive tone generator/arrpegiator. For that much money I can buy ALOT of softsynths...

..in fact I did, I returned my M3 and bought Komplete with Kore and got a couple of grand left over in my pocket. I have just finished an album using Komplete and that was great. The idealist in me would have liked to have done it on the M3.

oh well, MV8800 for me I think.

Busch:

Steven Kay of Korg admitted that the sequencer in the M3 hasn't been updated in years. Some players that have posted on other forums about the M3 sequencer mentioned that it was difficult to operate and went with a PC for sequencing. You can disqualify my opinion about the M3 because I don't own one and haven't worked with it. However, the reason I read on-line forums (besides having the opportunity to stir the pot and make trouble) is to find out the pros and cons of different mfg equipment. One of the reasons I bought the Motif ES is because it was "expandable". When Yamaha introduced the XS, they didn't put expansion slots in it, saying it was "old" technology. Funny, they didn't mention that when the ES was the current model they were selling.

The sampler in the ES could handle 500MB of RAM, and later Yamaha stated that it could handle 1GB. However, with USB 1.1, good luck loading that every time you turn it on. So far, all I use the sampler for is loading WAV files for sound effects. I would like to be able to use sample libraries (piano and strings) but because it is so slow to load, I haven't bought anything. As far as the M3, it has less RAM than the Motif has, and its more expensive than the XS.

How much faster would the M3 be using the USB 2.0 and a hard drive to load libraries, or are portable USB drives faster?

The bottom line is, apparently mfg have decided not to improve their sequencers, and in Yamaha's case, they removed the step sequencing capability that is in the Motif ES and not in the XS. They want you to use their "Free" sequencing software. I guess that would be alright if they gave me a "Free" computer to go along with it. If I want to input real audio background vocals, I can't do that without a computer on the Motif ES. I wasn't aware of the shortcomings of the ES when I bought it.

There are a lot of players that like the additional capability of using a PC for sequencing and for using soft synths, but I don't want to deal with the cost or the complexity. I'm doing a classic rock gig, not the Boston Pops. I continue to need a stand-alone hardware synth with a sampler and a GOOD sequencer. Handling real audio without a PC would be great, and the ability to load sample libraries without showing up two hours early for a gig would be even better.

Mfg keep calling their synths workstations; they are NOT workstations. They are synths with a few toys.

Mike T.

Personally, I wish Korg, Roland, and Yamaha would give you a choice. Currently, if you want to buy their flagship models, you automatically get and pay for a sequencer and sampler. I never use these features on a keyboard......always use a computer. But if you consider their products that don't have sequencers or sampling, you automatically get into their "budget" synths.....which means cheaper keybeds, no aftertouch, and usually an external power supply. There should be, for example, a version of the M3 that still has the same build quality, but does not have any workstation functions and so can be sold cheaper to people who use computers for recording.

Nicky:

Good point. It would also be great if they did build a workstation, that it actually IS a workstation. If it can operate stand alone without the intervention of a PC, I would be willing to pony up more $$$. I dislike paying for hardware only to find its half-baked. That doesn't work for apple pie either.

Mike T.

ahh, ok! good thing i qualified my statement with an about...but, maybe the one i tried was slow too? i dunno, i had time to turn on the xk1 beside it, tweak the drawbars to a setting i liked, and rip some killer blues in c before it loaded.
main issue for me is still the wobbliness, at least when novation does that, they charge an acceptable amount.

Hi every one ,
please tell me why my korg M3 tempreture is getting hi during the long time operating?
is't because of the room temp.?
or because i covered it with nylone wrap ?
please help me

Kinda like what Alesis did back in the 90s. You got a pretty rugged, fairly powerful synth with no sequencer but software for computer sequencing, lots of additional sounds and (for the time) cool sample import (with the Flash cards). Something like that now would be nice. Which why I still have my QS7 after 10 years and it's in great shape. Good hardware.

Why would you cover a keyboard with nylon wrap?

KARMA 2.0 is the main reason I bought my M3. That, plus Korg dropping the prices on the M3 line twice.

I only recall one drop from $2499 to $2199.

The next drop happened after the "free EXB-RADIAS" offer expired. According to the store that sold my M3 61 to me for $1799, Korg elected to lower the price by another $300 instead of continuing to offer that EXB for free.

That was obviously an "in-store" special price....the M3-61 is currently selling online for $2199.

I stand corrected. Korg has indeed reinstated the free EXB-RADIAS offer.

I got mine at Alto Music. No free EXB-RADIAS from them, because I bought it after the last offer expired and before the current one (which started 7/1/2008, good until 8/31/2008). Then again, they charged me $1799. <shrug>