Two new arranger keyboards launched - Korg i3 and EK-50L

[gwc uk]

I owned the original i3 followed by i30.
these boards were at the time were one of the most advanced arrangers.

[karmathanever]

KORG i3 - 1993

I bought mine 25 years ago with its AI2 synthesis engine and some incredible features (leaving all other arrangers way behind).
My dealer actually called me when it first arrived and as soon as I heard it (the first experience was the Big Band style) I had to have it!!!
In terms of the recordings I did with it, this is all I have left and despite this not being finally mixed, this was purely 2 of its big band styles mixed in a backing sequence using the i3 fabulous Backing Sequencer - so easy to use and designed for style-related sequencing - was sad to lose this feature. I still use these (and other) amazing i3 styles on my PA4X.

Anyhow, excusing my playing, this is my memory of my Korg i3.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coT-bH ... kLU89uxE-/

Looking and listening to the Kraft Music and Korg demos, I don't think this new i3 is going to come close IMHO and is looking like a very very entry level speaker-free arranger (BUT I will try one for sure).

Cheers

Pete

[bpoodoo]

Thanks for sharing Pete - I enjoyed listening to that! Well performed - I liked the tempo changes.

Not sure how Backing Sequence works, but it does seem to have good results. The patterns sounded natural with not much repetition as I would have expected. The brass voices sound pretty good, even by today's standards. Certainly gives us a basis for comparison between the latest i3 and its namesake.

My guess is the XE20, EK-50, and new i3 share the same core software, but with different voices, styles, and effects. Software development and maintenance is expensive, so it would make sense to share code where possible.

And product development timeline, I predict in a few years the Grandstage and XE20 will merge into the Korginova. Or perhaps the Clavikorg.

[archil]

no manual for the i3 yet?

hope it has sound edit, or at least can load pa50/60/80 sounds/performances

[karmathanever]

.....or at least can load pa50/60/80 sounds/performances

This, I very much doubt - styles should be OK but nothing much else (is my guess)

[Sam CA]

KORG i3 Workstation/Arranger at the NAMM 2020 with Frank Tedesco (Korg USA):

<iframe width="1196" height="673" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yg2WsHwnnJg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

[karmathanever]

Thanks Sam - my interest level has gone up...

[Haniaudio]

The original i Series looked more like a PA series than the new i3.

The original i Series was introduced as an "Interactive Music Workstation".
It is really not a good idea to use a same model name twice.

[Scott]

If the XE20 would control the PA700 via USB, that would solve a lot of problems for me.

I think that should work. IIRC, the PA700 is among the handful od keyboards that can act as USB hists,