Korg Triton vs. Korg M50... To switch or not to switch?

Synastikki · Post by **Synastikki** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:50 am

Here's the deal:
I have a Korg Triton Classic 61 and I'm I'm wondering if I should sell it and buy a Korg M50 to replace it. I have many reasons why I would want to do that but also there are some reasons that are holding me back. That's why, my fellow Korgians, I'm asking you (especially if you own/have owned both machines) for your opinions on this matter.

The reasons why I would want to switch:
I have to move my keyboard a lot between my home and training places and the Triton Classic with a hard case weighs pretty much and is quite a pain in the a*s to carry around. Also the floppy disk is so dated and small media that I would really love to switch to something new. Also there are many features on the Triton that I'm not really using like sampling. I load some external samples for piano sound mainly and it takes 10 floppy disks and almost 15minutes for me to load(!!!). Also the computer connectivity of the M50 would be a really good thing for sound editing and using the M50 as a VST.

And the reasons that are holding me back:
Triton is built like a tank and it wont break easily unlike the plastic feel M50 might... Also the internal power supply of the Triton is lot better than the M50 external one. There are some features that I would lose like aftertouch and ribbon controller (although the aftertouch of my triton doesn't work so I might not miss that). And although I don't need sampling per se it might be nice to be able to load some external samples.

So basically my biggest concerns are build-quality, control and expandability (triton) VS. newer and better sounds, up-to-date media, computer connectivity and portability.

I'm really keen to hear your opinions with good arguments on this matter, because I don't have money for many keyboards so I'll have to survive with one.

Thanks in advance!!!

kanthos · Post by **kanthos** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 1:13 pm

Any reason why you're not considering the M3 instead? Too much money?

Synastikki · Post by **Synastikki** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:56 pm

Exactly... the difference between the money I will get from my triton and the M3 is too big... sadly I can't afford the M3. If I could I wouldn't be asking this question

E: also as I said before I might not miss the sampling and the aftertouch, but I would love to have the control surface, ribbon controller and Karma and the extra space for programs and combis

hacksaw15 · Post by **hacksaw15** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:48 am

kanthos wrote:Any reason why you're not considering the M3 instead? Too much money?

I too don't want to give up the sampling and aftertouch but really can't afford M3 and it is a bit of overkill but at the same time the M50 is missing sampling and aftertouch and I really used sampling a lot. So I guess I have to wait longer and get a M3.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:49 am

If you cant afford and M3 then dont trade a Triton for M50, you'll be missing a lot.

Synastikki · Post by **Synastikki** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:03 am

BasariStudios wrote:If you cant afford and M3 then dont trade a Triton for M50, you'll be missing a lot.

What else would I miss besides the ribbon controller, aftertouch and sampling?

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:30 am

Hi

The expandability of the M50 its almost zero... you can only load/edit programs(using the ROM samples) and combis, its not like the lack of sampling of the Triton Le and TR becoz both can load new samples without the sampling card via SmartMedia/SD card but the M50 cannot load samples by any means. But the ROM memory its a lot bigger than the 32MB of the Triton, even bigger than the Triton with all the expansions.

Beside that, ribbon and the aftertouch... its the quality of the keybed. The M50 it's something between the TR/Le and the X50 but more near of the X50. the build seems to be solid but not like the Tritons or M3.

But if you say that the keybed is defective on your Triton... The M50 its the best option xD.

Regards
Alvaro.

PS: about the build.. my TR hold several impacts in the earthquake of Chile in february and its working without problems (nothing impact it on the keys xD) I'm not sure if the M50 can hold something like that (i can ask on my local store, lol)

Synastikki · Post by **Synastikki** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:29 pm

Well I tried the m50 in a local shop and I think that the keybed is pretty good. Not as good on my triton, but very good comparing to some midicontrollers and keyboards that I tested just for fun.

I think that the ROM of M50 is pretty good and that's why I'm quite sure that I won't need any external samples... With my triton I mainly used only some piano samples because the tritons piano sound wasn't good, but I think that the M50 pianos (especially the M50 Grand Piano) sound pretty good for my use. So i think that if I'm happy with Triton's ROM (besides the pianos) I will be more than happy with the M50 ROM

The Ribbon is actually one thing that I will miss the most because I love to use it for octave bending with my leads... but I can use joystick for that on M50, just not on the same accuracy.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:30 pm

Synastikki wrote:
BasariStudios wrote:If you cant afford and M3 then dont trade a Triton for M50, you'll be missing a lot.
What else would I miss besides the ribbon controller, aftertouch and sampling?

A Pro Synth compared to a SemIPro or amateur synth, a tonz of sounds and
bigger library, a pro build of the synth, ValveForce, better keys, more FX...
this are things i know about and can think of at the time but there is more.

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:19 pm

BasariStudios wrote:A Pro Synth compared to a SemIPro or amateur synth, a tonz of sounds and
bigger library, a pro build of the synth, ValveForce, better keys, more FX...
this are things i know about and can think of at the time but there is more.

"Pro," "Semipro" and "amateur" are subjective labels. Not helpful in this context.

"Tonz of sounds and bigger library." But significantly smaller ROM.

"pro build of the synth" and "better keys." Not true of the 88-note models.

"ValveForce." Gimmick.

"More FX." Are you sure?

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:54 pm

I think there is no point of debating this and comparing a M50 with a fullscale Triton.
It would probably be a waste of my time and knowledge and it would lead to certain
arguments and dissagreements. To me is just funny how the 2 can be compared at all.

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:14 pm

BasariStudios wrote:I think there is no point of debating this and comparing a M50 with a fullscale Triton.
It would probably be a waste of my time and knowledge and it would lead to certain
arguments and dissagreements. To me is just funny how the 2 can be compared at all.

Fair enough. I would just add that it really isn't a "black and white" issue (in my view), and that there are pros and cons either way; also, it is my impression that the M50 is the most feature-rich of the budget/lite versions of the prevailing flagships, which makes comparisons with older generation flagships that much more complicated.

And finally, I would say that you have made a number of inflammatory comments about the M50 -- on the M50 forum -- that are bound to attract responses (M50 a "toy" etc. etc.). Nevertheless, I enjoy having your participation here, since it adds good "spice" to our discussions. And we shouldn't take it all too seriously anyway!

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:31 pm

As Ghandi said, an honest dissagreement is a sign of progress...if we all agree
on everything what would hapen to the forum???...Discussions...Debates...

iD4rK · Post by **iD4rK** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:32 pm

I think the M50 is a great device for what it costs and delivers. I was trying to convince my girlfriend to get an M3, but well it looks like she is more interested on this M50 because the price difference to M3 is just to high. If you are not going to use new samples. Why go for M3 anyway. M50 has pretty enough sounds to do nearly everything.

Korg M3-88 is 3800 euros and Korg M-50-88 is 2100 euros.

Thats 1700 euros difference, a lot of money, for sampling, you could get an "extra" high quality sampling device or buy other devices like high grade studio monitors or a high end audio interface for your pc, or even both.

Greets
Ben

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:39 pm

BasariStudios wrote:As Ghandi said, an honest dissagreement is a sign of progress...if we all agree
on everything what would hapen to the forum???...Discussions...Debates...

Nice. And of course I can't honestly disagree with Ghandi. A logical conundrum, I suppose...