In this video, via Christian Halten, Tatsuya ‘Tats’ Takahashi discusses Korg’s unique phase8 synthesizer.
Takahashi discusses Korg Berlin’s journey in creating the phase8, goals for the project and his interest in tactile interaction with electronic instruments.
The phase8 is an eight-voice electro-acoustic instrument, with envelope control, sequencing, waveshaping and audio modulation. It generates sound using eight independent electro-mechanical voices, where the sound is generated using electronically controlled metal resonators.
Pricing and Availability:
Korg expects for the phase8 to be available starting in Q1 of 2026, priced under 1000 Euro.
I always wanted to make a kalimba with a piezo mic for that overdriven sizzle. But the part that’s more relevant to this story is that I wanted to mount the tines plate on a steel roller with a spring action lever I could control with my index finger to bend the notes. With proper calibration and precision, the tines would snap back to normal tuning when the lever is disengaged. This might be a pain to do for me but seeing as how Takahashi is in Berlin with access to high spec precision engineering and manufacturing, they ought to be able to do it, no problem. With enough brainpower and gumption they could even make pitch bend on each individual tine possible, but an overall pitch bend akin to a whammy bar would at least add some expression to an otherwise static tonal scale.
I wish Tats would just stick to his Minilogue (XD) design roots. There’s still some untapped potential there. No need to wander elsewhere.
I suspect someone said the same about Tats and the Monotron.
Monotron and Volca were his early ones, unless he was also on the earlier Monotribe too?
I don’t think Korg knew how to embrace an aesthetic so basic but effective. All the devices they pump out, is clear they want max dollars for e-waste instead of Tatsuya’s goal of value and performance per component.
I’m excited to try this out or see more iterations like a 2-4 octave electric piano harp or something. Let’s get the hands involved touching strings and plates, with some of these knobs and functions too. I’m for the design plan, curious to see what comes of it.
I will always be interested in anything that Takahashi creates! Can’t wait to get one Phase8!!
Will be interesting to see how people “mod” this with random objects. And because it’s all acoustic, should be interesting to record it in various surroundings!
It’s not all acoustic. It’s almost entirely electronic. It’s about as acoustic as an electric Rhodes piano is. We’ve seen a few “random” tines added to it already. Sounded only very slightly different to me. For all the hype surrounding this instrument, to my ears it sounds remarkably dull
Ya, I have to agree. Hopefully they can take all this research to a more interesting place for their next product.
This seems like it’s essentially a robo-xylophone, where the strikes are electronically controlled, not an instrument that does true acoustic synthesis.
It’s interesting to see music robots become a mainstream thing, but I’m more interested in what people are doing on the acoustic synthesis side. Paul Vo is probably the main pioneer on that with the Vo Guitar. A more recent example would be the String Armonica.
Been observing this annual ritual of giggles but we are still not ready. He sure took his own time indeed. I hope he is not on Korg’s payroll for like 5 years just to develop ONE device that not everyone will appreciate.
I’d have to agree i was hoping for more development on the sound department, this would definitely benefit from a step triggable FX processor or at least some FX to get going sonically. But Tats began developing his later analog innovations with the humble Monotron and Monotribe. Perhaps this could be a similar beginning now that the core tech has been developed, but only time will tell if this method will become even remotely as fruitful as Tats’ analog endeavours.
Not only is he on payroll for all those years, but he also got a team and office to fool around while receiving wages.
Korg Berlin creates, in-house fabricates and sells stories primarily.
Phase 8 really seems like something Soma Laboratories would have invented.
I really want to like this thing, and I’ve been telling myself that it’s a concept and it will be more interesting next year. But it was just as boring to play with this year as the last. This is, at best, a very niche product.
We get it, you ain’t creative.
Do you prefer Logitech instead of Creative ?
Yeah, as cool as this idea is, the sounds on these videos are not inspiring at all to me. Like why not just bang something in your kitchen and sample it? IDK
This is right up my alley, but depending on price, I may have to wait to get used….I drive a $2500 car after all.
the story and approach is interesting. The sound is meh…
if this guy is so great, why were the filters on the Minilogue so crap?