Description
Thick bass, powerful leads - rich analog sound at your fingertips.
The "miniKORG 700FS", released in 2021, is a reproduction of the classic "miniKORG 700S" analog synthesizer with added functions that were not available at the time, but since it was a limited production, it became very popular and the planned number of units sold out in a flash.
KORG is one of the world's rare electronic musical instrument manufacturers that still has a large lineup of analog synth products. The miniKORG 700Sm was born to let more people know about the sound of the miniKORG 700, which is the origin of the company. And it is a model that pays homage to the sound of the miniKORG 700 while also being enhanced to meet the demands of modern musicians.
■Downsizing the miniKORG 700FS
The new miniKORG 700Sm retains all the functions of the miniKORG 700FS (limited production) released in 2021, but with a slim keyboard, it is about 86% of the size of the FS. It also weighs 5.8 kg, making it easy to carry around.
■Important things about an analog synth
The true beauty and richness of the sound produced by the miniKORG 700 could not be achieved with analog modeling technology, which uses DSPs and other calculation integrated circuits to model analog circuits.
The circuit itself can be copied by assembling the parts based on the blueprint or board, but this does not mean that it will sound exactly the same. The original instrument that serves as a reference may lose its original sound due to aging of the parts, and accurate reproduction requires the memories of various craftsmen who know the time.
We were able to revive the original sound thanks to a team of engineers who have been involved in numerous synthesizer restoration projects and have cultivated valuable know-how over many years. The team was led by Fumio Saegusa, who has worked as an engineer for KORG since the early 1970s and is one of the designers of the original miniKORG 700S. He worked closely with KORG's sound designers to reproduce the original sound as faithfully as possible. We hope that those who play the miniKORG 700Sm will feel the greatness of the inherited technology and the joy of having the real thing in their hands.
■Beautiful leads and thick basses
The miniKORG 700 was KORG's first synthesizer, and it still boasts the thickest, densest sound of all KORG synths.
The miniKORG 700Sm features a reproduction of the original's clear, crisp oscillators and iconic traveler controller, designed to add special color and expression to your playing. The outstanding lead and bass synth sounds are also a good fit for modern music.
■Possibilities as a sub-keyboard
The miniKORG 700 was created as a sub-keyboard to be placed on top of the organ, which was often used in music at the time, to add sounds that the organ lacked, and even today, its beautiful lead sound has ample potential to be combined with stage keyboards and electric pianos.
Assuming that it would be placed on top of the two-tiered keyboard of an organ, the controls are arranged in a row under the keyboard for ease of use, and even with the passage of time, they are intuitive and easy to understand, and their looks are unique and one of a kind.
■Functions we wanted to add to the original
At the time, the technology of the electronic components and other individual parts were large, so there was not enough space to add any more functions to the main unit. With the advancement of technology, the space that was freed up was used to add an effect (spring reverb) and a joystick for bending and modulation. It is equipped with aftertouch to expand the range of expression, and an arpeggiator, USB terminal, MIDI IN terminal, and CV/GATE IN terminal to accommodate today's music scene.
And it is equipped with a memory program button, which was also not possible at the time. You don't need to make a note of the knob or knob positions to reproduce a sound you've already created.
■Traveler Controller
The most distinctive feature of the miniKORG 700 is the two sliders under the keyboard that make up the traveler controller. The upper knob controls the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter, and the lower knob controls the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter, allowing you to freely change the expression of the sound depending on the position of the two knobs. You can also create original traveling sounds, such as wah and mute, by moving the knob left and right while holding down the key.
The sound that passes through the filter is lower than the cutoff frequency set by the upper knob and higher than the cutoff frequency set by the lower knob, so if the positions of the two knobs are reversed, all frequencies will be caught by the filter and no sound will be produced. In other words, in theory, if the two knobs pass each other, no sound will be produced, so the miniKORG 700 has a structure where the knobs have protrusions on them to physically prevent them from passing each other.
However, for better or worse, it is an analog circuit. It is impossible to design a filter with perfect characteristics, even in the past. At the time, some people tried to create new sounds by cutting off the protrusions to make the knobs cross, and some models sold overseas did not originally have these protrusions.
The miniKORG 700Sm comes with knobs without these protrusions, which you can replace yourself, expanding the possibilities for sound design endlessly and allowing you to create sounds in unique ways.
■Second oscillator
The miniKORG 700 was a mono synth with one oscillator. A year later, in 1974, the miniKORG 700S was released, which added a second oscillator and ring modulator by adding controls to the space to the left of the keyboard to increase the variety of sounds. This Sm is a reproduction of the 700S with this expanded function, and you can enjoy the changes in the thick lead sound with a good sound, such as strong detuning by two oscillators.
■Dedicated soft case included
The miniKORG 700Sm comes with a dedicated soft case that is convenient for carrying around.
■Free music software bundle
The miniKORG 700Sm comes with Ozone Elements, which not only lets you create songs but also lets you master them using AI, Skoove, which helps you improve your keyboard playing, and the DAW software Reason Lite. The miniKORG 700S from the KORG Collection is also bundled with this product. From software synths from KORG and other brands, it comes with a wide range of music software.
In other words, by getting this product, you can get a variety of tools to take your music to the next level.
Specifications: Keyboard: 37 keys (slim keyboard, no velocity, aftertouch)
Range: 7 octaves
Waveform: Triangle, square, sawtooth, Chorus I, Chorus II
Number of programs: 14
Input/output terminals: USB (type B) terminal, MIDI IN terminal, SYNC IN/OUT terminal (3.5mm TS mini phone jack), CV IN terminal (3.5mm TS mini phone jack), GATE IN terminal (3.5mm TS mini phone jack), AUDIO IN terminal (6.3mm TS phone jack, unbalanced), OUT R, L/MONO terminal (6.3mm TRS phone jack, balanced), (headphone) terminal (6.3mm stereo phone jack)
Power supply: AC adapter (DC12V)
Power consumption: 9 W
Dimensions (width x depth x height): 641 x 227 x 107 mm
Weight: 5.8 kg
Accessories: AC adapter (DC 12V), Traveler knob (independent type x 2), Soft case
Pre-order/Scheduled for release on February 28th
Shipping
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About Importer's Obligation
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- Manufacturer's warranty applies only in Japan.
