Description
Inspired by the legendary Mono/Poly, the Korg Multi/Poly Analog Modeling Synthesizer delivers breathtaking analog sounds combined with extraordinary digital power and flexibility. The original Mono/Poly boasted an unusually rich sound from its four stacked oscillators, as well as unique, experimental features like flexible X-mod and sync routing and round-robin oscillator triggering. Previously only attainable in large modular systems,Mono/Poly delivered these features in a compact, user-friendly instrument.
Multi/Poly is the first instrument to use Korg’s next-generation analog modeling technology and builds on that distinctive combination of big sounds and modular-derived experimental features. It’s like a polyphonic modular system in a compact, hands-on package –a limitless playground for synth players and sound designers. Create hardware mash-ups with East Coast, West Coast and wavetable oscillators and a wide selection of newly-modeled filters. Make them come alive with models of different envelope, VCA and portamento circuits. Virtual voice cards produce organic timbral variation. Layer Rotate triggers new Programs with each press of a key. Use Korg’s time-tested Kaoss Physics, Motion Sequencing 2.0, massive modulation and more.
- Create ‘hardware mashups’ with Classic analog, Digital wavetable and Waveshaper oscillators, a selection of next-generation modeled filters, modeled portamento, modeled envelopes and modeled VCAs
- Programs include four oscillators, a noise generator, dual filters and three insert effects plus a massively flexible modulation system with four looping DAHDSR envelopes, five LFOs, six Mod Processors, three key-track generators and multi-lane Motion Sequencing 2.0
- Performances layer four Programs at once, adding master reverb & EQ, another two Mod Processors and Kaoss Physics
- Layer Rotate triggers new Programs with each press of a key
- Motion Sequencing 2.0 runs individual sequences for each voice, letting you asily record knob movements in real time
- Kaoss Physics combines hands-on modulation control with interactive game-style physics including gravity, reflection, absorption and friction
- Mod Knobs make it easy to control sounds and make them your own
- Smooth Sound Transitions let previously-played voices and effects ring out naturally when you change sounds
Next-level analog modeling
Multi/Poly features redesigned, incredible-sounding filters and oscillators – and its advances in analog modeling go even deeper. To start with, each voice has a Virtual Voice Card whose oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFOs and portamento circuits model subtle analog hardware component variations. The result is that each voice has a slightly different character, creating naturally rich timbres. Dial in as much or as little of this variation as you like, individually for each sound. Just like in an analog synth, voice cards also continue to play even if you’re not hearing them. Envelopes keep evolving, so that if you play a pad with a long release time, newly played notes ‘catch’ the envelope at its current level instead of restarting from zero. Oscillators and LFOs maintain their phase, and resonance continues to ring. Each oscillator’s pitch can also drift slightly over time, modeling the slight pitch instabilities found in analog hardware.
Envelopes are an oft-overlooked factor that contributes to the unique sounds of vintage synths; Multi/Poly includes envelope curvature presets for Mono/Poly, MS-20, ARP Odyssey and more. Also, analog VCAs don’t respond evenly to voltage and have different thresholds for turning on and off, which in turn has a strong effect on the amp envelope’s character, so Multi/Poly features modeled VCA responses from Mono/Poly, MS-20, Mini, Odyssey, and Prophet-5 as well as a linear option. Ever tried to recreate a portamento effect from a favorite song, but couldn’t find the right setting even when you switched between ‘constant rate’ and ‘constant time?’ Classic analog synths had different approaches to portamento, too, and so Multi/Poly has six different portamento models to choose from.
Oscillators
Multi/Poly offers four oscillators per Program for unusually thick, complex tones; each can use Classic, Digital or Waveshaper oscillator types. The Classic oscillator models traditional analog synth oscillators with stunning fidelity and effortless thickness. 11 options include both single and dual waveforms, for modeling synths that generated multiple waveforms at once. Front panel knobs give you hands-on control of pulse width, ‘triangle lean,’ dual-waveform blend and more. The Digital oscillator plays wavetables with up to 64 steps, like vintage hybrid synths and modern eurorack modules. Start with over 200 factory wavetables or load your own using the Editor/Librarian software for macOS and Windows. Import Modwave wavetables directly or convert wavetables from popular software formats. Use 30+ Modifiers to change the way those tables are loaded, resulting in subtle to extreme changes in timbre, and 8 Morph Types like Stretch, Flip and Mirror to process them in real time.
Waveshaper offers a West Coast approach in which simple waveforms (sine or triangle) are processed through a shaper table. Modulating gain into the shaper creates glassy, dynamic harmonics. Use the Berkeley shaper for traditional wavefolder timbres, or select from over 90 other shaper types. Multi/Poly also adds modulatable pulse width, a unique twist, for another dimension of richness and motion. In addition to oscillators 1-4, there’s a separate noise generator with dedicated filtering and saturation as well as a ring modulator with inputs from all of the above. Multi/Poly also expands on the original Mono/Poly’s powerful oscillator sync and x-mod capabilities for timbres otherwise only possible with a large modular setup. Create unique sounds with Oscillators 2, 3 and 4 simultaneously following Oscillator 1 for sync, x-mod or both at once. Alternatively, split either function into oscillator pairs with separate control.
Dual modeled filters
All of Multi/Poly’s filters have been redesigned, including an amazing suite of vintage filters with authentic euphonic saturation. To start with, there are five different 4-pole self-resonating models. M/Poly provides the strong, sweet sound of the classic Korg Mono/Poly. Mini is the ladder filter from a beloved American monosynth; resonance is reduced at low frequencies, critical for producing those classic bass sounds. Pro is from the first programmable polyphonic synthesizer, with strong resonant sweeps all the way down. Finally, Ladder HP and Ladder BP are 4-pole self-resonating high pass and band pass filters, respectively. The MS-20 LP and HP 12dB/octave self-resonating ‘Korg 35’ filters lovingly recreate the distinctive, aggressive timbral signature of the classic Korg MS-20. The SE M/P 2-pole filter is more gentle in character and features a continuous control to sweep between low pass, band reject and high pass, plus a separate band pass mode.
You can also shape and refine with a full collection of linear, resonant 2-pole and 4-pole low pass, high pass, band pass and band reject filters. Or step outside the box with Korg’s unique Multi Filter, which creates modulatable blends of multiple modes simultaneously. All of these filters support audio-rate modulation for ear-catching bright, fizzy and bubbling effects. Use any of the oscillators or the ring modulator as the modulation source, and even blend in the noise generator for more chaotic timbres. In addition to the vintage filters’ built-in saturation, a post-filter anti-aliased Drive circuit lets you add more weight and grit to taste, from subtle thickening to heavy distortion.
Finally, you can use any two of these filters simultaneously in series or in parallel. Programs have two filter slots, A and B. Each source, including the four oscillators, noise and ring modulator, has a balance control which crossfades between the two filters, enabling a wide array of creative options. For instance, send one group of oscillators through the M/Poly filter and the other through the MS-20 low pass. Create a classic high pass -> low pass serial chain, but route one or more oscillators around the high pass. Since this is a continuous crossfade and not just a switch, you can modulate the A/B Balance for unique effects. The filters can also run in stereo, with separate panning for each of the sources.
Multi/Poly structure
Each Program starts with four oscillators plus a noise generator, ring mod, sync and X-mod. Process these through two independent filters and modulate with four loopable DAHDSR envelopes, five LFOs and six Mod Processors. Add complex per-voice motion with multi-lane Motion Sequencing 2.0 and polish with three studio-quality insert effects. But that’s just a single Program, and you can layer up to four Programs in a Performance. Switch between them round-robin style using Layer Rotate, either played from the keyboard or driven from the arpeggiator. Use Kaoss Physics to create fluid, evolving modulation from simple gestures on the X/Y pad. Grab the four Mod Knobs for intuitive, hands-on control of multiple low-level parameters. Put on the finishing touches with two more Mod Processors, Master Reverb and EQ.
Layer Rotate
Multi/Poly has four Layers, each of which contains a Program. Naturally, these can create layered sounds, velocity splits and keyboard splits. Inspired by the original Mono/Poly’s paraphonic mode, which cycled through its four oscillators, Layer Rotate adds a new possibility: flexible round robin for entire Programs. Set up the four Layers with different Programs and then cycle through them with each keypress. Play them in repeating or random order. Trigger one, two or three Programs at every step of the cycle. Use Layer Rotate together with the arpeggiator for mind-bending patterns.
Modulation and control
Bursting with knobs and controllers, Multi/Poly invites you to explore. Oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFOs and effects are all at your fingertips with dedicated front-panel controls. Four programmable Mod Knobs are customized to bring out the most in every sound. Use the knobs in realtime performance and save the results as new sounds. The Hold button lets you sustain notes or chords indefinitely, while you explore the front-panel controls or play other gear. Add in Kaoss Physics and the pitch bend and modulation wheels and you’ll always have multiple dimensions of realtime expression. Want to dig deeper? Almost all front-panel knobs and most onscreen parameters can be modulated for an astonishing total of over 5,500 modulation destinations. You can even modulate individual Motion Sequence steps! Eight Mod Processors let you transform modulation signals using quantization, smoothing, curvature and more.
Motion Sequencing 2.0
Motion Sequencing 2.0, evolved from Korg Wavestate’s Wave Sequencing 2.0, sees Timing, Pitch, Shape, and four sets of Step Sequence values separated into lanes, each with its own loop start and loop end points, adding a deeper, more customizable level of phrase and modulation recording. Every time the sequence moves forward, the individual Lanes are combined to create the output, meaning a step may have a different duration, pitch and shape every time that it plays.
You can modulate each lane’s loop points separately for every note, using velocity, LFOs, envelopes, Mod Knobs or other controllers. Lanes can also randomize the step order every time they play. Individual steps can be randomly skipped with a modulatable probability from 0 to 100%. The result is organic, ever-changing sounds that respond to your control. The dual onboard arpeggiators can interact with Motion Sequences for even more possibilities.
Kaoss Physics
Kaoss Physics models a ball rolling on a surface and/or bouncing off walls. Start the ball by flicking a finger on the X/Y Kaoss pad or launch the ball automatically using a trigger source. You can also directly control the ball by holding your finger on the pad. The position of the ball produces four modulation signals – X and Y coordinates, distance from center and angle – which can be used to control any modulation destination you like.
You can thoroughly model the virtual environment, too, adjusting the friction of the surface, adding bumps or valleys, tweaking the bounciness of the virtual walls or removing them entirely in favor of ‘wraparound’ travel. Most environmental parameters, including Tilt, Friction, Time, Bump Height and Position, etc. are modulatable, too. The result is an interactive controller that amplifies your physical gestures, transforming them into complex musical results.
Production-ready effects
Multi/Poly’s superb effects deliver production-ready sounds. Each Layer has three dedicated effects, plus a send to the Performance’s master reverb, followed by a master parametric EQ. Along with standard effects such as compressors, EQs, choruses, flangers, phasers and stereo delays you’ll find distinctive processors such as Wave Shaper, Talking Modulator, Reverse Delay, Multiband Mod Delay and Overb (from Oasys and Kronos), plus modeled effects including Vox guitar amps, Vox wah, Vintage Distortion, CX-3 Rotary Speaker and Vibrato/Chorus, multi-head tape echo and a collection of classic guitar pedals.
Randomization that inspires
Looking for even more inspiration? A dedicated front-panel button marked by a ‘dice’ icon generates new sounds via intelligent randomization. Randomize the entire sound or just a part of it, such as the oscillators, filter or effects. Use the results directly, or as a jumping-off point for your own creations.
Editor/librarian software
Multi/Poly’s editor/librarian lets you edit and organize sounds via your macOS or Windows computer. Using USB networking for high-speed communication, the app works like a second front panel for the instrument with no need to synchronize or transfer data. Animations show the effects of modulation in real time, a great help when programming.
Set Lists and Smooth Sound Transitions
Set Lists offer effortless organization of your Multi/Poly Performances and deliver instant access at a gig or in rehearsal. Smooth Sound Transitions allow previously-played voices and effects to continue to ring out naturally even after a new sound has been selected.
Built to play – and to last
An instrument that sounds this great deserves to look and feel fantastic, too. The semi-weighted keybed is smooth and expressive, and knobs with just the right amount of resistance are perfect for dialing in your sounds. The solid aluminum front panel is built for the road and the wooden side panels and blue-on-black color scheme shout out to the original Mono/Poly design.
Connections
Balanced stereo outputs connect to any recording or monitoring system, and a stereo headphone output is provided for private playing or onstage cueing. 5-pin DIN MIDI jacks ensure connection to other MIDI-equipped instruments and audio gear. Multi/Poly supports class-compliant USB MIDI connections to macOS and Windows computers.
Soft case included
Multi/Poly comes with a made-to-fit soft case for taking the instrument with you wherever you go.
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