M3 sounds weak over Triton/Micro-X!

Discussion relating to the Korg M3 Workstation.

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bkboy
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M3 sounds weak over Triton/Micro-X!

Post by bkboy »

Again guys,

I am not a flamer. I just want to give my opinion that's all. I went to the Guitar Center today and tried the M3 and the Micro-X, Triton Extreme and Triton TR.

Micro-X, Triton Extreme and TR sounded phatter and juicier than the dull sounding M3. M3 had slightly improved guitar/piano/acoustics over the Triton Extreme but not near as good as Motif XS.

Wouldn't it be a better decision to get something from the Triton line / Micro X instead of M3?

Korg was renowned for fat, juicy sounds that seem to have died with Triton's death. Oasys is simply fat and juicy, and I simply find it hard to compare M3 quality with Oasys (even with the EDS synthesis).

I like to get Triton Extreme, but alas stores don't carry them anymore for sale (the one Triton Extreme in GC was the last in the shop and a beat up demo model).

Micro X is good, but it has only 1 insert effect and no sampling, so you can't resample with additional effects. Korg TR is good (has optional sampler) but it doesn't come with a editor librarian (which I need because computer is center of my studio).

Wonder why M3 lacks quality in both aesthetics and sound? (my subjective opinion, no offense).
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Post by Voltan »

weird
I own a M3 and a Triton LE and I find the M3 much better in terms of sound quality. The sounds are brighter and cleaner and also have a nice punch in the low end.
I don't really see an aspect in which my Triton could be better than my M3 ;)
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Post by GregC »

I have the Extreme 76. On the programs/combis, Korg made the sound
' hotter' such as turning up the volume to 127

with todays mixer/amp/sub/speaker combinations, I think Korg may have elected a straight, less eq'd for the M3. Even so, as is, the sound quality of the M3 instruments is excellent

You can make a simple eq adjustments and turn up to 127 on your M3.

As far as aesthetics, get over it already. Paint it it silver or mint green like
the XS motif
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Synthoid
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Post by Synthoid »

GregC wrote:I have the Extreme 76. On the programs/combis, Korg made the sound ' hotter' such as turning up the volume to 127

That's for sure. :?

I was always overdriving the sound system at practice with my Triton. Although I do miss that......I have done some major volume tweaking with the M3.
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lcmorley
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Post by lcmorley »

Alot of people do seem to be complaining that the M3 is rather thin sounding in comparison to the Triton range, and when I first got the M3, I would add myself to that group of people.

My only recomendation would be to start playing with the sounds on the M3. Believe me, from what you have said, I don't think you have even scratched the surface in terms of potential.

The Triton range appeared to have very polished presets, so everything sounded excellent out of the box.

Please go back and try playing with the sounds, then come back and tell me it still sounds thin in comparison :)
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Yamaha PSR-31, Technics KN1000, Technics KN5000, Technics KN7000, Korg PA-80, Korg Triton Classic, Microkorg, Korg Triton Studio, Alesis Ion, Korg Legacy Collection, Korg Triton Extreme, Roland Juno D, Access Virus TI 2, Korg M3, Korg Oasys, Roland TR-8, Korg Kronos 2 88 Platinum, Mac Studio, Logic Pro, Kontrol S61 MK3, Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate, Diva, Serum too name a few.
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klarnet basowy
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Re: M3 sounds weak over Triton/Micro-X!

Post by klarnet basowy »

bkboy wrote: Micro-X, Triton Extreme and TR sounded phatter and juicier than the dull sounding M3. M3 had slightly improved guitar/piano/acoustics over the Triton Extreme but not near as good as Motif XS.
The same I felt comparing at the shop M3 and Tr.

But it's misleading! You have to dedicate time to the M3, choose the correct velocity curve for you (with the 4 it's impossible to reach very high velocity values, with 5 it's totally another sound). And play play play.. (with a high quality headphone that you know very well).
Then return to a Triton, and you suddenly will discover the difference in sound quality between it and the M3 (with the M3 better, of course). More refined, but still capable to rock.. maybe you need to tweak your own sound to make the M3 crunchier, but imho it's definitely a better sounding workstation (although I still like the Triton sound).
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Synthoid
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Re: M3 sounds weak over Triton/Micro-X!

Post by Synthoid »

klarnet basowy wrote: Then return to a Triton, and you suddenly will discover the difference in sound quality between it and the M3 (with the M3 better, of course).
Yeah......I did that after playing the M3 for about 2 weeks in the studio. What a difference!

The real awakening was when I downloaded some Triton sounds converted for the M3. Wow! Much brighter and cleaner. 8)
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bkboy
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Post by bkboy »

Synthoid, this 'brighter' and 'cleaner' character is exactly what I am talking about. M3 lacks the 'warmer' and 'punchier' character of the Extreme. Brighter + Cleaner = characteristic of paper sounding VST plug-ins.

Too bad!
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Synthoid
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Post by Synthoid »

bkboy wrote:M3 lacks the 'warmer' and 'punchier' character of the Extreme. Brighter + Cleaner = characteristic of paper sounding VST plug-ins.

It's up to you what your tastes are.....hey, I still like my Triton for a few sounds I can't live without, but the M3 just sounds better.

There is one M3 program (in the lead synth section I think) that has a sound just like one I heard in song from the first season of the TV show "Alias." It's raw and very punchy.

There are plenty more like that.

And I've got some nasty sounding VSTi's as well.

:soundsgood
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Lorenzo
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Post by Lorenzo »

it's all a matter of taste, there are people out there that still prefer a vinyls than audio CD or DVD... but there are a few tests that prove they're fooling theirselves: make an exact copy of a vinyl onto a CD without to audio restore the whole... leaving scratch pop and noises... more than half of these people will not be able to percept the difference between the 2... (this isn't a subjective opinion, it's a test that can be done everyday by everyone)
second test is to put many VA and one analog synth into a recording with a similar sound. Hear too more than the half of the people will not point as the analog synth and their answer will be casual.
third test and last one, there are some free plugins that make noise like a vinyl, pass an audio cd through them and at a first listen many people will say: hey you're still using vinyls!

all this to say that our brains are very very easy to be pretended, so maybe if you are in front of an M3 and an Extreme, with eyes closed and a bounce of patch created by scratch (NOT THE PRESET!) you can't decide what is M3 and what comes from the Triton...

Regards, Lorenzo
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Post by Bubba »

I guess I'm missing something. To me the M3 sounds very fat and lucious. Of course when played through those ridiculous keyboard amps at GC (no offence if you have one) the M3 sounds weak or whatever. But through my AKG headphones, it's simply heavenly and I haven't even heard the Radias yet. I like the XS a lot but it just doesn't have the killer synth (analog brass, synth leads, etc.) the M3 has. And the arps are very different. I've had the TEX since it came out. I love it and play it a lot. But I prefer the sound of the M3 somewhat. I think it's a nice change from the Triton sound. I'm glad they're different so they compliment each other a little better. Same with the XS. I guess it just depends on what sound you're searching for. :wink:
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Synthoid
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Post by Synthoid »

Bubba wrote: But I prefer the sound of the M3 somewhat. I think it's a nice change from the Triton sound. I'm glad they're different so they compliment each other a little better.
I agree 100%. A great team....M3 & Triton.
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I Agree Somewhat

Post by The Phantom Band »

Yes the M3 does have some pretty good sounds and I thought it was only me. However, you can sample sounds from the Triton Extreme. And I also do not like the way keeps switching the sound engine. Back in the day you could load in sounds from different models.
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Synthoid
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Re: I Agree Somewhat

Post by Synthoid »

The Phantom Band wrote:Back in the day you could load in sounds from different models.
Examples? Only Kurzweil is known for that.

:?
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Re: I Agree Somewhat

Post by 4NDRW »

Synthoid wrote:
The Phantom Band wrote:Back in the day you could load in sounds from different models.
Examples? Only Kurzweil is known for that.

:?
access virus do it too i beleive.
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