music workstation

Musikmesse 2009: Open Labs introduced the DBeat – a new portable music production workstation that offers iPod integration, a multi-touch touchscreen interface and traditional MPC-style pads.

The DBeat will be available for $3,999 USD ($3,499 for pre-orders) in June 2009, directly through here at www.openlabs.com or through an authorized reseller listed on the Web site.

Check it out and leave a comment with your thoughts! Read more…

The Korg M3 Music Workstation/Sampler represents the third generation of Music Workstations from Korg. It inherits elements from the company’s flagship OASYS workstation. All second-generation KARMA functions from the OASYS are included.

256 MB of ROM incorporates the “best-of” OASYS ROM into a new soundset. 512 Programs and 384 Combinations are onboard, with space for 1,664 Programs and 1,792 Combinations. For increased power, the EXB-RADIAS expansion board adds a 24-voice, single timbre version of the MMT synthesizer used by the RADIAS and R3 synths.

The color TouchView display doubles as an X/Y pad for controlling synthesis and effects parameters, while changing colors in response to movements. The M3 features the same type of real-time control surface as featured on OASYS — eight sliders and switches for tweaking internal sounds, mixing tracks, interacting with KARMA, controlling external hardware and more. Eight velocity-sensitive pads can be used to trigger notes, chords and controller messages for a variety of applications.

A Drum Track feature provides user-programmable drum grooves to jam with in Program and Combi modes, integrating with KARMA, or song-writing. Over 500 patterns with a natural sound and feel are included.

A new high-resolution sequencer offers 480 PPQ for natural feel, plus Korg’s One-Touch Record, Song Templates, RPPR, Cue List and Tone Adjust part editing. The Open Sampling System allows sampling and resampling in every mode. 64 Mbytes of sample memory are included standard, expandable to 320 Mbytes.

Bundled Editor/Librarian software works stand-alone or as a plug-in within host software via USB MIDI. Additionally, a new EXB-Firewire option enables the M3 to interface both audio and MIDI with a computer using a single cable.

The M3 is available in 61- and 73-key semi-weighted synth action versions, featuring a newly designed keybed. The 88-key version uses Korg’s RH3 graded weighted action keybed. All three models feature after-touch sensitivity.

The M3 series offers a new design concept (Korg Komponent System), for configuration as an expandable instrument. The 73-key version can host both the M3 and the RADIAS·R modules; the 88-key version can hold dual M3 engines or the M3/RADIAS configuration.

Details below.

If you’ve used the Korg M3 synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts! Read more…