Korg has announced a clutch of new products, led by a new ARP Odyssey synth module and updates to its best selling MicroKorg S.
The ARP Odyssey Module is a tabletop analogue synth based on Korg’s revived ARP Odyssey. Having made its debut in 1972, the ARP Odyssey returned to the market on the back of a storm of interest in all things analogue in 2105, forty years after its birth, with the advisory assistance of David Friend, co-founder of the ARP Instruments company.
The new model is a compact, keyboard-less version which boasts identical circuitry to the original, Korg says. It comes in two versions, the black and orange Rev3 and the white panelled Rev1, which harks back to the Odyssey’s original form.
Also new from Korg is an update to the MicroKorg S. The new MicroKorg S features a built-in 2+1 speaker system and comes with an increased memory capacity. Korg has also added 64 preset programs: “including clearly defined and punchy leads, electric pianos that sound great in an ensemble, and powerful and solid basses. In addition, we’ve also newly provided 64 additional slots for user programs, so you can save your own original sounds without overwriting the presets. This encourages a sound design process that’s ideal for this instrument: select a sound that you like, and edit it,” the company says.
The new Volca Kick, an analogue kick generator made for sound design. Its analogue circuit is based on the original MS-20 filter and is claimed to lets users “create a wide range of kick sounds only possible through analogue circuitry. The 16-step sequencer, a distinctive feature of the Volca, now has a new Touch FX feature that lets you control an effect instantly, giving you even more live performance potential. “
Korg also revealed a new series of in-ear metronomes The range not only includes models for music, but also for specialist applications like golf and ballroom dancing.
Finally, Korg”s TM-50 tuner/metronome now comes in a silver finish “that fits in perfectly with the existing black and pearl white models.” Info: www.korg.com