Korg M1 user reviews ( 6/10) - 20 user reviews

• 09/04/11

  yoTrakkz's review

  Characteristics

  The Korg M1 is a board that has been used all over the world and still is used today even though it’s the old model of the M versions from Korg. The M1 has great control with the pitch bend and modulations not to mention card slots and expansions. You don’t have expansions too much on other boards such as this one.

  Utilization

  Great board, sequencing isn’t anything spectacular just the basics and you probably wont like it too much like most people. I suggest upgrading to the most recent korg board because it puts this one to shame.

  Sounds

  Sounds pretty good, Korg always keeps good solid soundsets when they come out with a board or module. At first glance with this board you will be blown away by some of the synths and piano’s, but keep in mind that these are very old. Then being very old is probably what will blow you away, that the synths sounded this good back in the day. But if you used this board today, im sorry to say your sounds will be out dated. Most all musicians at a higher level have messed with the M1 to some extent and can probably tell you when they hear a sound off the top of their head if its from the m1 or not.

  Overall Opinion

  Overall a great board, but its very outdated. Today I wouldn’t pay more than 250 for it used. Mine as well save up the money and just get the Korg M3 because it has better sounds that are up to date and it’s a monster all around from the sounds to the parameters and editing options. Plus the Korg M3 isnt too expensive anyways, but if you have the M1 already keep it, or if some one is offering you a great deal on it I would get it because it’s a classic board.
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• 10/31/08

  FP User Reviews's review

  Characteristics

  The M1 is twenty years old now, and has a basic 16 channel midi implementation only, as well as pitch bend and modulation.It does have four outputs which isn't bad for an old synth and a card slot for extra sounds. The on board effects are probably it's best feature and the keyboard is also very nice to play if you can find one in good condition. I must say I've never really got into the sequencer on this thing as it's not easy to master and the lack of the beloved knobs and sliders is a shame, though the M1 was designed during a period of change in which digital synths took over the world.
  
  
  
  price paid: 300.00 GBP

  Utilization

  As mentioned the sequencer is pretty horrible, but the basic navigation and sound editing is a breeze. The only thing I would change is the sequencer with one that was a little more user friendly.

  Sounds

  Well as you know this by todays standardsth M1 is an old school beast, but it still sounds great. It has been previously argued that korg rely heavily on effects for their sounds. This is true to an extent with the M1 but the effects are really pretty cool, and the overall combination of sample and effect is a good one. By modern standards your not going to be blown away by the presets, though the classic piano still sounds great and the organ still pops up on house and garage records from far and wide, plus in combi mode you can make some pretty monstrous sounds if your willing to persevere a little. For me the reason I have stuck with this synth and would buy another one if it died on me, is that it is so easy to make new sounds with very little effort. I understand that hip hop heavy weights The Neptunes use an old 0/1W as one of the main stays of their set up and I read that they make subtle changes to the presets to make new sounds. They do this by trying different internal effects or taking a standard patch like a piano and scrolling through the different wav forms and samples with the same synth parameters applied. This is what I have done for years with my M1, reason being that I always get results. I have some sounds on my M1 that you would never believe it could produce and the fact is, they were very easy to achieve. In terms of out and out sound 'quality' it's not capable of the lofty realms of sonic perfection you get with modern soft synths but to me that's no bad thing. The analogue outputs take the edge of it and it still sounds top notch, and can hold it's own in a professional environment with ease.

  Overall Opinion

  I have to say this thing is very well made, there are loads of them still around in full working order, mine has been gigged all over the UK, it's been dropped a couple of times and is still in good shape. I've never had it repaired though the internal battery died after about 19 years It cost me about £1.00 for a new one which was a bit of a git to fit, but after a bit of swearing and violence it went in fine.
  
  
  
  Oh I love this thing, I just love it, maybe because it's now very familiar to me like an old jumper or pair of slippers, or maybe because it is just such a beast of machine. I love the way it plays, it's so easy to edit the sounds, it still looks pretty cool to me and it's solid as a rock and the effects are superb. Long live the Korg M1.
  
  
  
  Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
  
  Posted by: breakbeat-cafe (January 0-, 2005)
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• 09/25/11

  Seith's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Not crazy not!"

  Characteristics

  Keyboard 61 keys very tough
  
  checkers

  Utilization

  nickel

  Sounds

  Pooh disagree with the opinion below, except about the m1 is like the DX7 D50 or a legend.
  
  not for those who spend their time paw on the number of sample per square meter.
  
  The m1 has a very large bank syssex sounds very good and certainly not the piano multisample or the rope hear you pete and the trunk of the Steinway that opens with the squeaky hinge.
  
  apart in the audio bumps (mode prog / combi) have much to do following your pattern, I love the pop eignthies dedious and its fit next to my nickel Wavestation EX, d-50, and when dx7IIfd even more recent of bikes I would change for reasons not his or xf grononos who do everything and anything .....
  
  would do well to listen to albums such as Calling All Stations Genesis (after the departure of Collins, phew!) and also the solo albums collins elsewhere, and I could cite many other sounds or M1, Wavestation, d-50 etc ... recognize.
  
  While it should not be the dominant synth but it has in the bank always the little sound that stands as the Wavestation also

  Overall Opinion

  so expensive 350 euros for an m1 but it was in a near new (remy thank you ...)
  
  I could have paid me more, I love my rack but I wanted the keyboard
  
  It is enthroned in the collective side of my comrades as popular .....
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• 08/20/11

  saturax08's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " the typical example of synthetic aging badly"

  Characteristics

  polyphonic digital synthesizer type "workstation"

  Utilization

  Austere facade, while drop-down menu. The sound editing is a nightmare.
  
  The factory sounds are dated late 80's to say that you can fear the worst. Watch the TV series of the time we hear it everywhere.

  Sounds

  The most laughable in retrospect is the piano.

  Overall Opinion

  At the time they sold the M1 with an overpriced demo hyper flashy performed on the sequencer filled block. At the time there could still be impressed, but now it is clear that this synth has become so useless as its rating is 200 euros. The M1 is a bit of DX7 90 years if you know what that means.
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• 03/03/11

  Anonymous 's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Super!"

  Characteristics

  see other reviews

  Utilization

  Easy to use!

  Sounds

  see below

  Overall Opinion

  I just got the M1 not long ago ... For now I am just getting to know this synth!
  
  
  
  And I must say that the sounds are superb!
  
  Compared to many other synths (even newer), the sound is clear, clean, spatial (stereo), very professional, it "sounds" direct (thanks to the effects included).
  
  
  
  I never get tired of scrolling the presets ... I feel that each preset reminds me of a half-dozen TV ad spot, generic, etc.. for which the M1-without doubt has been used for. It sounds direct, it is usable (for my taste) in a immediately in a piece, almost without touching anything.
  
  
  
  Waw!
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• 11/03/10

  jprintz's review ( translated ) Improve this translation "Sounds for those who have or want it!"

  Characteristics

  See what has been said before.

  Utilization

  Easy navigation, 80s style, but to turn pages must access with the keypad. Each parameter set is visible on the screen, by category (filter, envelopes, oscillators, effects ...).

  Sounds

  Sounds are agreeable like with any synth: on condition that we roll up our sleeves. Just one example: the remake of Queen's "Show Must Go On" in a round of hands from waveforms "saw", open the filter to 3 / 4, with an envelope pretty fast and short, not too much reverb and the effect "symphonic", slight detune osc between 1 and 2 and voila! Ah yes! Do not neglect the parameter "delay" on the Oscillator 2: 4 or 5, we get a slight phase shift which is by itself a nice chorus effect with acyclic absolutely superb!
  
  Everything is valid or almost. Just let go and play!
  
  I do not use the factory sounds. They impressed me at the time of its release, and I was somewhat baffled by the programmability (ergonomics typical 80s). Today, I program at 100%, virtually from scratch, and this is a  serious fact, and with pleasure I find more!
  
  Think of the M1 as a synth in its own right, meaning that its boundaries and limits do not necessarily come from itself, rather think about your imagination and emotions that you want to restore. Reducing a  synth to its imitative abilities has always been nonsense. John McLaughlin had quite well understood leaving the album "Bello Horizonte" in there using the Prophet 5 as an instrument in itself. I do not compare the Prophet to the M1, but really any use of a musical synthesizer is noticeable every time ...

  Overall Opinion

  It is an old story, as usual, starting with a misunderstanding and a warm reunion. I would say that today it is a must, as the DX, the ESQ1 the Wavestation, etc. ...
  
  Given the price, hurry up to buy all this stuff 80-90 years before it is useless, because I must say that in concert, the audience connected to it and it's nice to see and hear!
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• 05/13/10

  nan3200's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " not really a synth"

  Characteristics

  already described by others.

  Utilization

  Ergonomics is outdated, but in the 90's, it was pretty good.
  
  the edition is rather well done, but does not go very far.
  
  there are more parameters for the multis than for the synthesis itself!
  
  is the biggest defect of this synthesis, it is not really a synthesis of sound exploration!

  Sounds

  course, the sounds are not so pleasing to my ears, they are powerful, but the filter is too limited the M1 is more a samples reader than a synth!
  
  
  
  At the same era, I have not liked any of this machine, it was so known and so I bought it, but I sold it shortly after three or four months. But I had already toured the synthesis.

  Overall Opinion

  I no longer use it for a very long time now, since I bought a korg NANOPAD, and receiving a license for the M1 that I'm back into this using synth.
  
  Its  virtual identities is rather well done, but I still do not like the M1!
  
  
  
  for more money (and no sequencers or as many multitimbral) the korg WS, WAVESTATION was much more attractive, even though it is equipped with the same limited filter. 
  
  
  
  my notes are harsh on the sound because I do not like this synth, but put it in context, we must admit that this precursor to large workstations was well done!
  
  
  
  it just does not have what I always look for in a synthesizer!
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• 05/13/10

  sonic75's review ( translated ) Improve this translation "Magnificent!"

  Characteristics

  Everything has already been listed. Mine is an expansion + one (very rare). Perfect for the times we are in 1988 ... Don't forget that some compare the M1 to actual complete workstations, which is completely, stupid.

  Utilization

  Perfect for those days, 1988 ...

  Sounds

  The sounds are not outdated, they are beautiful tablecloths and the leads are very powerful in creating their own sounds of course, some cool effects too. I do not talk about the factory sounds that can be heard too. The effects are just but sufficient!  It has a strong personality, a grain that we no longer hear.

  Overall Opinion

  Very good synth, sounds warm and powerful. Very strong, very beautiful appearance simple and original. As time passes we arrive at very satisfactory results. Those who buy it to "own" a Korg M1 and not looking further than the factory sounds they will be a little disappointed ...  When we see the comments of the type "the sounds of the M1 sounds like casino" I am shocked, really there are people who know nothing about synthesizers and the music and who still give their advice!
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• 05/11/09

  Vincent ROLLAND's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Already listed by others,
  
  see also the sites that refers to ...
  
  Beautiful finishes, keyboard master reference today!

  Utilization

  The M1 is the simplification of the synthesis par excellence ...
  
  
  
  The ergonomic design is perfectly suited to its capabilities,
  
  Everything is done to make it as musical as possible approach.
  
  
  
  We feel that the musicians contribute to make this workstation (see references in the net), often compared with the Roland D-50:
  
  In fact, even if the AI ​​synthesis of M1 is very close to the LA D-50 (but simpler, fewer parameters), we have two quite different instruments:
  
  The M1 features a "double" multi-effects (such as a flanger + reverb, or more complex)
  
  a system of combinations of sounds very intuitive, a small but very effective filter ...
  
  A sequencer which will be useful if you use it other than to compose whole pieces.
  
  
  
  The M1 is a reference to an ergonomic all-digital synthesizer!

  Sounds

  The M1 sounds of beauty, a unique expression!
  
  The original patches are great but very marked late 80's,
  
  
  
  Of course, once programmed his desire, he may lose some of their Type 80's ...
  
  I definitely want to stress that it is a synthesizer: a customizable tool!
  
  I really feel that some did not understand that, and they just judge the pre-recorded sounds without having seen the potential of the instrument to create their own sounds.
  
  
  
  The PCM's internal covers both the analog (square waveforms, etc ...) and acoustic instruments (the superb fretless bass ...)
  
  
  
  It is the only one that generates choirs of this type, I think that's the main reason that made me want to buy it
  
  Sounds very clean, very smooth, no grain sexy, but a presence like no other face of current workstations.
  
  
  
  We know immediately or you will when you create a sound unlike this same concept today (eg M3)
  
  
  
  Its internal sounds contain everything you need to combine a wide range of sounds, the key is there (the expansion cards, except one that increases the polyphony, are in fact no real interest)
  
  
  
  The M1 is especially interesting to get if you search this end his 80's, but beyond that is more than a vulgar ROMpler (I do not even have that term)
  
  
  
  A workstation with high Identities

  Overall Opinion

  The M1 has its own reason for becoming a legend
  
  
  
  a superb workstation, aesthetically
  
  and technically very homogeneous (sounds, parameters) without the current devices.
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• 02/04/09

  runtigrou's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  I have my M1 for 19 years. He took chips because I moved a lot, including to overseas, my squirrels have urinated on the keyboard and it still works nickel.

  Utilization

  Obviously, the changes of the patches is not obvious.

  Sounds

  The sounds are great for some and for others rather than zero. The sequencer contrary to what I read below is entirely correct. The average effects.

  Overall Opinion

  So now, 19 years my M1 throne in my home studio. I only used now only as a master keyboard, because the sound might suit me are exceeded. However there are lots of other realistic but I do not like for subjective reasons. When there is an instrument, it must be viewed in context. This is a synth that almost 20 years should not be forgotten. Some critics do not seem to be aware of this fact. So they spend comment.
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