Korg M3 - mild venting

[Tony Scharf]

Why oh why does korg have to torture me? I got to have an extended play with an M3 keyboard yesterday and boy did it grab me. I didnt play with the Karma stuff, but just programming it and messing around with some samples (I happened to have a USB keychain that had some of my samples on it) was just fun..

but unfortunately, the 'rack' version doesnt fit in a rack. and god knows I cant have another keyboard in the studio. the form factor of the unit without the keys makes it just not really fit anywhere convenient in my studio. i wonder how that will play with pro studios as well...certainly the form factor would put them off from it if they already have a master keyboard.

so kudos to korg for inovating the design and all, but sorry - If it wont fit in a rack, its not fitting in my studio.

[robfosters]

If it's that good, can't you sacrifice one of your current keyboards? Anyway. I would have thought the rack could be tricky to use with the X Y touchscreen thingy.

[Tony Scharf]

Originally Posted by robfosters

If it's that good, can't you sacrifice one of your current keyboards? Anyway. I would have thought the rack could be tricky to use with the X Y touchscreen thingy.

well, my keys are down to my Korg Z1, Prophecy, Clavia G2, and DSI PEK. i cant see sacrificing any of those (particularly my PEK).

I hadnt even used the XY touchscreen. I forgot it was there I guess..


p.s. before anyone says it *YES* the prophecy and the Z1 are very different. you can do quite a bit of what the prophecy can on a Z1, but certain of the models were refined on the Z1 making them much less rude and glitchy. I like rude and glitchy.

[Aanalogaddict]

If they had made a 2u rack version of it, I would've bought one instantly. Now I had to settle for a Fantom Xr and a Motif ES rack...

[Son of HuHefner]

Originally Posted by Tony Scharf

Why oh why does korg have to torture me? I
but unfortunately, the 'rack' version doesnt fit in a rack. and god knows I cant have another keyboard in the studio. the form factor of the unit without the keys makes it just not really fit anywhere convenient in my studio. i wonder how that will play with pro studios as well...certainly the form factor would put them off from it if they already have a master keyboard.

so kudos to korg for inovating the design and all, but sorry - If it wont fit in a rack, its not fitting in my studio.

such whining

is it tough to show a little creativity ?

[Tony Scharf]

Originally Posted by Son of HuHefner

such whining

is it tough to show a little creativity ?

well, lets see...it doesnt fit in a rack, and I dont have deskspace for anything that chunky. what would you suggest oh wise and creative one? float it around the studio on a graviton suspensor field? or may be hang it from the ceiling with wires? I know! Ill hire a midget to stand in my studio and bring it to me when I need it, and when I dont he will hide with it in the closet!

I think its great that Korg is making an effort to think differently - It just seems odd to me that they could make it work so the Radias fits a rack, and not this. I am sure they have their reasons why they couldnt have made it taller and more narrow so that it would fit a rack (probably because they wanted its height to match the Radias). I am simply voicing my disagreement with that decision.

I really like the M3 - I was impressed by it in fact. If I could make it fit, I'd drop the coin right now. unfortunately, I cant, so Korg looses one sale. not worth insulting someone over.

[Son of HuHefner]

Originally Posted by Tony Scharf

well, lets see...it doesnt fit in a rack, and I dont have deskspace for anything that chunky. what would you suggest oh wise and creative one? float it around the studio on a graviton suspensor field? or may be hang it from the ceiling with wires? I know! Ill hire a midget to stand in my studio and bring it to me when I need it, and when I dont he will hide with it in the closet!

I think its great that Korg is making an effort to think differently - It just seems odd to me that they could make it work so the Radias fits a rack, and not this. I am sure they have their reasons why they couldnt have made it taller and more narrow so that it would fit a rack (probably because they wanted its height to match the Radias). I am simply voicing my disagreement with that decision.

I really like the M3 - I was impressed by it in fact. If I could make it fit, I'd drop the coin right now. unfortunately, I cant, so Korg looses one sale. not worth insulting someone over.

now, now, lets not be overly Internet sensitive

The M3-m weighs a whopping 8 pounds. I went over to Tap plastics, and gave them a design for a shelf that would wedge nicely between my Rd700sx and Extreme 76

They made a clear plastic , 1/2 inch thick shelf. There my M3-M happily rests

Try thinking out of the box

[Karma1]

At first I was surprised to find that the "rack" version of the M3 isn't a standard rack size, and is a pretty unconventional configuration. But I look at as kind of a laptop module. I'm very psyched about it and definitely getting one (M3M). Unfortunately, I have to sell my beloved Karma, the one my user name is based on, to be able to afford it. But I have three other keyboards of various sizes I can control it with - Korg Micro X, Novation X-Station 49, and Roland JD800. I never thought I'd ever consider selling the Karma, but the M3M has 2nd generation Karma and does so much more, that it doesn't make sense to keep both. Although "making sense" isn't always a critera in my musical purchases.

[Aanalogaddict]

The Roland Sonic Cell won't fit in a rack either - perhaps the laptop/desktop musician trend is going in a somewhat wrong direction. I want racks, as small as possible, with computer editors if possible. Considering the size of microprocessors today, half-rack modules like the XV-2020 can't be that hard to make...

[MartinHines]

Originally Posted by Tony Scharf

I think its great that Korg is making an effort to think differently - It just seems odd to me that they could make it work so the Radias fits a rack, and not this. I am sure they have their reasons why they couldnt have made it taller and more narrow so that it would fit a rack (probably because they wanted its height to match the Radias). I am simply voicing my disagreement with that decision.

The M3-M is weird shaped, but I assume its design was primarily driven by the keyboard version. By making a module of the "nearly everything except the keyboard part" instead of a true rack version, Korg was able to release the M3-M at the same time as the keyboard versions. Also, since we are talking about workstations, I would assume Korg needed to spread functions out horizontally so as to not mess up the ergonomics of the keyboard version.

Normally a manufacturer will release a keyboard version followed by a rack version 12-18 months later. Also, by creating a module, Korg saved money on the design cost of a rack version.

Regarding actually using the M3-M, I would probably try to somehow position it like a second keyboard on top of your primary keyboard.

[Diametro]

At first I thought the M3M was a good idea ...

but what's really the point of it as a module except as a way to save some money ...

The M3M takes up too much space to be efficient that way ...

So then what's really the point of it as a second-tier synth with no keys?

[Mike Conway]

The "component" racks are built to add to the larger model keyboards, instead of actual racks. In other words, you can add an additional M3M to an M3 73 keyboard or the 88 key version, thus having 2 on the same keyboard. Or you could add an R3.

Tony, it might be time to move a synth into your bedroom. I did. I often keep my newest baby away from the others, so I can get to know it.

[stikygum]

I would just get a mixer stand to put the M3M on. Or like said, have it sit on the 2nd tier of a keys stand.

I personally really like the fact that Korg made the M3M the exact same as the M3. I hate it when they cut it down, make it all crytic, and cut corners to where it sucks and only works as a sound module. FYI, I would never want to program a Motif rack or my FS1R without a software editor. But half the fun and good workflow (Karma ) of using hardware is it being hands on.

So while I understand some might think it's bulky/bigger than other crytic racks out there, I don't really understand that they deserve any red marks against them for making it as nice to edit as the keys version. Kudos to Korg!

[Son of HuHefner]

Originally Posted by Diametro

At first I thought the M3M was a good idea ...

but what's really the point of it as a module except as a way to save some money ...

The M3M takes up too much space to be efficient that way ...

So then what's really the point of it as a second-tier synth with no keys?

I noticed some are confused about the M3 or M3-M

It has over 50 buttons plus 8 pressure sensitive pads plus the color LCD that has the X-Y function

This impressive ' control surface' is a huge part of the M3 functionality and cannot be crammed into a 'rack'

Seems obvious to me

[Tony Scharf]

Originally Posted by Son of HuHefner

I noticed some are confused about the M3 or M3-M

It has over 50 buttons plus 8 pressure sensitive pads plus the color LCD that has the X-Y function

This impressive ' control surface' is a huge part of the M3 functionality and cannot be crammed into a 'rack'

Seems obvious to me

yeah, but I dont want/need all that. cut all that crap off and make it a one rack module and ill be quite happy.

if the control surface works for you and you like it, fine. not everyone does. Its the *sound* of it that I am after - ive already got a keyboard controller I like.

[Tony Scharf]

Originally Posted by stikygum

So while I understand some might think it's bulky/bigger than other crytic racks out there, I don't really understand that they deserve any red marks against them for making it as nice to edit as the keys version. Kudos to Korg!

I wasnt really trying to give them a 'red mark'. on the contrary, I was mightily impressed by it - the easy of use, the sound, the features, the connectivity - all there imho. Its only problem (for me) is the current packaging.

Fortunately, this *is* a korg product though. in about 3 or 4 years time, I am sure this forum will lamenting all the rehashed and recycled versions of it that make their way to market (oh, i just cant wait till they put tubes on one...the ranting and raving that we shall here!) so I am sure eventually it will all end up in a package that works for me.

on the other hand, I was talking about this to my wife earlier. She and I both wanted to get a piano (probably a digitial - we aint piano players so digital is fine) for the living room. I brought up the possibility of getting the 88 key version when available..or possibly even the 'big O' (not to rub anyone here the wrong way..I know even the mention of the O will raise the ire of certain forumites). so maybe it will work its way in. It *is* a wonderful board.

[Diametro]

Originally Posted by Son of HuHefner

I noticed some are confused about the M3 or M3-M

It has over 50 buttons plus 8 pressure sensitive pads plus the color LCD that has the X-Y function

This impressive ' control surface' is a huge part of the M3 functionality and cannot be crammed into a 'rack'

Seems obvious to me

That's good, and thanks for the enlightenment.

But then what IS the point of ordering it without the keys ... ??? ... since no matter where you put it it's going to have to take up about as much space as a keyboard ...

... a Mixer stand is a nice idea ... but it's going to have to be a fairly wide one at that ...

[Tony Scharf]

Originally Posted by Diametro

That's good, and thanks for the enlightenment.

But then what IS the point of ordering it without the keys ... ??? ... since no matter where you put it it's going to have to take up about as much space as a keyboard ...

... a Mixer stand is a nice idea ... but it's going to have to be a fairly wide one at that ...

I'd thought about putting it on one of my old apex stands, with a keyboard in front of it. that would kinda work. of course, if I had the space for that I'd have the space for the keyboard version.

[stikygum]

Originally Posted by Tony Scharf

I wasnt really trying to give them a 'red mark'. on the contrary, I was mightily impressed by it - the easy of use, the sound, the features, the connectivity - all there imho. Its only problem (for me) is the current packaging.

I was more trying to get at, if Korg did make it into a smaller rack, you'd have to sacrifice some of the good things you mentioned and liked about it above, which in turn would present yet another problem. Can't please everyone, but I totally understand when products don't fit our specific needs, it's not as easy to commit.

One other thing I notice with racks is, while the Motif rack is great for what it is, it's really crammed by having all the buttons mashed together instead of spread out logically, which can hinder workflow for some and not be so editable without a software editor.

I just hope Korg adds a Piano Roll and possibly a different optional soundset like Alesis did. I really wanted the Roll, so there you go I was in a similar predictament as that was a big need for me. (I don't really like it's current sequencing editor)

About the M3M, The M3M's size is bigger than other racks, but I'm glad it's a tabletop, true racks aren't as much fun to me to edit. Also the M3M without the keyboard cuts off half the width of it, so you could place it in front another one of your tabletops (since there's more and more tabletop synths/drum machines out there).

BUT at least for all of us that like the M3, the sound and features are exciting.

[mildbill]

I think if you cut away all the control features to fit it down into a rack space or two, all you'd have is another (nice) rompler.

The UI is what makes it what it is.

I don't think I'd want a giant desktop unit like that tho, without the keys.