Normally the lifecycle of a Synth is like 3 years, this could mean that the M3 will soon get a follow up... But then there is no news anywhere to be found.
Would this mean that current synths have a production cycle from 4 or 5 years, or are we in for a surprise.
M3 Lifecycle
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Shakil
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Yes I would say the lifecycle could be longer since the ROM can be upgraded via software. New Features and sounds, samples, processing can be added. It's not like old days where everything was cooked on a chip.
Roland Fantom-G6 ARX1, Korg M3-m exb-Radias, Korg Z1-18v, Roland MC-808, Roland MC-909, Korg microKontrol.
I think lifecycle of any device is in general determined by availability of parts and customers interest in the product. If manufacturer has an access to all required parts than lifecycle will last while people are buying a thing - 3 years, 5 years, 10 years - who knows. Also as said, most modern designs allow to add an extra features via software updates thus retaining an interest into the product over the years. On the other hand since retirement of Oasys Korg obviously can not offer a high profile synthesizer workstation with comprehensive audio recording anymore. So there can be clue - if M3 hardware is not compatible for this by doing a software upgrade and Korg decides not to quit synthesizer workstation market, there should be something to fill the gap. Initially I thought that this could be solved with new Sound On Sound recorder - but no it has no built midi for synchronization so it is for different purpose and can not be used with m3 - although SoS model with midi sync would be an excellent solution for this M3 shortcoming - Korg thinks in a different way though. 
I think - as with any product - it depends largely on the market too.
Thanks to computers, the workstation market is much smaller than it used to be when we did see updates every three years or so.
but also, an 'update' to the product line doesn't necessarily have to be an M3 replacement.
I quite like the idea of seeing an M3 Extreme eventually (with permanent SSD sample 'ram'?), and a Micro-M. don't really think we need a 'studio' version though.
The OASYS was one of a kind - it doesn't necessarily need replacing. It sat at the top of the product line in a class of its own, there was no predecessor, and the whole reason why it was discontinued is because everyone who wants or can afford one already has one - so there is no market for it either. That doesn't mean there isn't a market for a replacement, but a lot of people who have an OASYS already wouldn't buy it, so that market is even smaller. Something more affordable would catch a wider market, but would also be a bad move to upset existing oasys owners. its an impossible situation - so best not to release one at all.
I do think KORG made two mistakes with the M3 which could be rectified in a newer version:
- Lack of planned EXB expansion. There is only the EXB-Radias. I would have liked to see more expansion options - maybe a hard disk recorder, extra analog outputs, CX3, more IFX/MFX processing even? Technically this is still possible because the firmware can be updated to recognise new cards, and they could be designed to accept the same slot as the Radias... But I doubt it'll ever happen. There may be physical connection limitations on the slot too. the USB expansions are also a joke. They use up most of your sample RAM, and you have to wait to load them. EXB PCM cards were better! This would be solved somewhat by permanent SSD sample 'ram'.
- Lack of true audio 'track recording'. This is one thing I really liked about the Juno-G for example, when I was shopping for a workstation 3 years ago. In-track sampling is okay, I've never used it, but it just isn't the way forward! It would be nice to see a workstation that actually allows us to record external instruments more reliably and efficiently.
Thanks to computers, the workstation market is much smaller than it used to be when we did see updates every three years or so.
but also, an 'update' to the product line doesn't necessarily have to be an M3 replacement.
I quite like the idea of seeing an M3 Extreme eventually (with permanent SSD sample 'ram'?), and a Micro-M. don't really think we need a 'studio' version though.
The OASYS was one of a kind - it doesn't necessarily need replacing. It sat at the top of the product line in a class of its own, there was no predecessor, and the whole reason why it was discontinued is because everyone who wants or can afford one already has one - so there is no market for it either. That doesn't mean there isn't a market for a replacement, but a lot of people who have an OASYS already wouldn't buy it, so that market is even smaller. Something more affordable would catch a wider market, but would also be a bad move to upset existing oasys owners. its an impossible situation - so best not to release one at all.
I do think KORG made two mistakes with the M3 which could be rectified in a newer version:
- Lack of planned EXB expansion. There is only the EXB-Radias. I would have liked to see more expansion options - maybe a hard disk recorder, extra analog outputs, CX3, more IFX/MFX processing even? Technically this is still possible because the firmware can be updated to recognise new cards, and they could be designed to accept the same slot as the Radias... But I doubt it'll ever happen. There may be physical connection limitations on the slot too. the USB expansions are also a joke. They use up most of your sample RAM, and you have to wait to load them. EXB PCM cards were better! This would be solved somewhat by permanent SSD sample 'ram'.
- Lack of true audio 'track recording'. This is one thing I really liked about the Juno-G for example, when I was shopping for a workstation 3 years ago. In-track sampling is okay, I've never used it, but it just isn't the way forward! It would be nice to see a workstation that actually allows us to record external instruments more reliably and efficiently.
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Hi
A lifecycle of 3 year... I thik that it would be very dissapointing that all the R&D only last for 3 years.. the synth market is small not...
Imagine you buying today the state of the art synth and a year later, for the same price the same company offers you the replacement :S. Like the Roland and the Yamaha synths. They make really good synths, please dont take it bad but Korg made a big breakthrough with the Triton and the HI synthesis and they last from 1999 to 2007, and they are still today a step behind the EDS synths.
EDS seems to be HI on steroids (and HI seems to be Acces on steroids) and Korg keeps almost the same structure for programming the synth and a consistent GUI (since the Trinity)
in the other hand Roland and Yamaha have only kept the name but the sound engine and/or the GUI is redesigned in every new generation workstation.
U can mention the Studio and Extreme, but the technology is a lot different. noone want HD recorder on a synth having SSD or Flash Memory as fast USB and/or Memory Cards (not like SmartMedia) and the integration with DAW its even better
Maybe the only "updatable" thing on the M3 it could be the RAM, only 256MB expantion?!?! but that's a bigger issue, and still the hardware boards dont make use of the large samples libraries of the software world.
Regards
Alvaro.
A lifecycle of 3 year... I thik that it would be very dissapointing that all the R&D only last for 3 years.. the synth market is small not...
Imagine you buying today the state of the art synth and a year later, for the same price the same company offers you the replacement :S. Like the Roland and the Yamaha synths. They make really good synths, please dont take it bad but Korg made a big breakthrough with the Triton and the HI synthesis and they last from 1999 to 2007, and they are still today a step behind the EDS synths.
EDS seems to be HI on steroids (and HI seems to be Acces on steroids) and Korg keeps almost the same structure for programming the synth and a consistent GUI (since the Trinity)
in the other hand Roland and Yamaha have only kept the name but the sound engine and/or the GUI is redesigned in every new generation workstation.
U can mention the Studio and Extreme, but the technology is a lot different. noone want HD recorder on a synth having SSD or Flash Memory as fast USB and/or Memory Cards (not like SmartMedia) and the integration with DAW its even better
Maybe the only "updatable" thing on the M3 it could be the RAM, only 256MB expantion?!?! but that's a bigger issue, and still the hardware boards dont make use of the large samples libraries of the software world.
Regards
Alvaro.
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carlgoodhines
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:44 pm
[quote="X-Trade"]- Lack of planned EXB expansion. There is only the EXB-Radias. I would have liked to see more expansion options - maybe a hard disk recorder, extra analog outputs, CX3, more IFX/MFX processing even? Technically this is still possible because the firmware can be updated to recognise new cards, and they could be designed to accept the same slot as the Radias... But I doubt it'll ever happen. There may be physical connection limitations on the slot too. the USB expansions are also a joke. They use up most of your sample RAM, and you have to wait to load them. EXB PCM cards were better! This would be solved somewhat by permanent SSD sample 'ram'.
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I agree. The "Komponent system" could use a few more"Komponents"!
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I agree. The "Komponent system" could use a few more"Komponents"!
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carlgoodhines
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:44 pm
Do I own an M3? Yes.
Did I own a Trinity? Yes
Trinity Rack?yes
and 60 other synths. I've played them since 1975, when you could only get 1 note out of them, except for string machines that didn't sound like string machines....so I've seen the instrument "evolve".
Can I get better sounds out of my other synths? Sure, some of them.
Can I get a better sound of my M3 than the others? Sure but not always.
Looking at a bigger picture, it's a lot of money to spend on a workstation just because it has a better hormonica sound (example).
Do I think my M3 is a better sampler than any of my E-mu equipment?
No.
But I still love it. I've spent a lot of time with it, and can get it do do anything. You can't put program I-42 (example) in and expect it to sound how you like it. That's why you EDIT the presets. Get them to sound your way. If I was able to run the show when keyboards are released (see a previous post), they'd come with 4 presets (in the "old" days there weren't any presets).
The rest you'd have to make on your OWN.
Spend some time with it and you'll enjoy it. If you still can't find it appealing, the other models in this class have forums for you.
CG
Did I own a Trinity? Yes
Trinity Rack?yes
and 60 other synths. I've played them since 1975, when you could only get 1 note out of them, except for string machines that didn't sound like string machines....so I've seen the instrument "evolve".
Can I get better sounds out of my other synths? Sure, some of them.
Can I get a better sound of my M3 than the others? Sure but not always.
Looking at a bigger picture, it's a lot of money to spend on a workstation just because it has a better hormonica sound (example).
Do I think my M3 is a better sampler than any of my E-mu equipment?
No.
But I still love it. I've spent a lot of time with it, and can get it do do anything. You can't put program I-42 (example) in and expect it to sound how you like it. That's why you EDIT the presets. Get them to sound your way. If I was able to run the show when keyboards are released (see a previous post), they'd come with 4 presets (in the "old" days there weren't any presets).
The rest you'd have to make on your OWN.
Spend some time with it and you'll enjoy it. If you still can't find it appealing, the other models in this class have forums for you.
CG
Please, what is software sound!?!?!?
and how it sound?!?!?!
unless we r working on assembler or 1 n' 0.. we always work over some kind of software/firmware since the digital era begun.
The synths/workstation, basically made 2 kind of sounds, emulate no-electric/electronic/digital instruments, in wich case the only comparation point its the real instrument, not and old synth... and the other hand synthetic sounds via emulating old electric/electronic/digital instruments or creating new ways to do it
The rest, fatness, airy, thiner, dirtier, cleaner, sharpness, vacum, and a long list of adjectives are just analogies to explain the personal taste of every musician and in some case could have a relation in the form of the sound wave or how is manipulated.
If you like the sound of other synth.. problem solved, use the other synth.
If you dont like software synths, that's ok, but its impossible to create the concept "software sound" becoz the sound is a wave and that does not change if u r running hard or soft. If you dont like some specific software, that's ok.. just dont use it, but not all soft instruments sound equal.
Regards
Alvaro.
and how it sound?!?!?!
unless we r working on assembler or 1 n' 0.. we always work over some kind of software/firmware since the digital era begun.
The synths/workstation, basically made 2 kind of sounds, emulate no-electric/electronic/digital instruments, in wich case the only comparation point its the real instrument, not and old synth... and the other hand synthetic sounds via emulating old electric/electronic/digital instruments or creating new ways to do it
The rest, fatness, airy, thiner, dirtier, cleaner, sharpness, vacum, and a long list of adjectives are just analogies to explain the personal taste of every musician and in some case could have a relation in the form of the sound wave or how is manipulated.
If you like the sound of other synth.. problem solved, use the other synth.
If you dont like software synths, that's ok, but its impossible to create the concept "software sound" becoz the sound is a wave and that does not change if u r running hard or soft. If you dont like some specific software, that's ok.. just dont use it, but not all soft instruments sound equal.
Regards
Alvaro.
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EvilDragon
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:18 pm
- Location: Croatia
Hexfix93 wrote:Radias sounds like software.
M3 sounds like software.
It should die fast.
You're just being plain stupid.
Does THIS sound that bad to you?!?!?!
This is the best software sample library ever, Vienna VSL. It sounds absolutely amazing. If you say it doesn't, then you should die of stupidity.