Korg's First Ever Polysynth

[@Lantertronics]

The "traveller" filter is implementation is quite different than anything I've seen in a Korg synth. It is a 2-pole Sallen-Key highness followed by a 2-pole Sallen-Key lowpass, but the voltage control of the cutoff is facilitated by "vactrols" (LEDs combined with light dependent resistors). Although other Korg designs do use vactrols (like the modulation VCA in the Korg MS-50), I've never seen them used in a Korg filter like this. Many Korgs share the Sallen-Key topology, but they implement it with diode bridges (like the Korg 700/770/etc and MS-50) or OTAs or the Korg-35 chip (like in the MS-20). The only other place I've seen a Sallen-Key VCF implemented with vactrols is the Buchla Low Pass Gate!

[@maxine2798]

The guvn’r has spoken!! The traveller is great. I’ve only borrowed a Korg 700 so I don’t know if you take off the slider caps you can sweep both controls past each other to cancel the sound?

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

@@maxine2798 I have a Univox Mini-Korg (K-700). The tab that stops the Traveler sliders from moving past each other as been removed so that with a bit of practice you can move them simultaneously in different directions and get talk-box-like consonant/vowel effect. It never fully cancels out the sound, it's more like a band-pass effect. Of all my gear it's probably the most organic-sounding instrument to simply sit down and play.

[@AlexBallMusic]

It does indeed have an oscillator, filter and amp per key. Photos of the internals here: till-kopper.de/korg-pe1000.html Thanks to Bob Pieterson for the link.

[@synthnerd4539]

Bonkers. I'm a big fan of the Lambda, these old Korg stringer things are wonderfully characterful.

[@74goldenjet]

There is a removable panel under the keybed which reveals individual tuning knobs for every key.

[@RobertDorschel]

why can't they do this with today's synths? (oh, wait, they can... with FPGA technology) although this Korg sure does sound nice!

[@SpikesStudio3]

Those voice boards alone are a thing of absolute beauty. That is a masterpiece of electrical engineering. Im so thankfull for companies who have followed through with technology, giving us the miriad of wonderful equipment we have available today. Thanks Alex, for reminding us from whence it came. Top notch.

[@timothydahlin5321]

Till Kopper -classic

[@MattJohnsonJamiroquai]

Love that little piece at the beginning, such a nostalgic sound!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, so achingly 70s.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

You , Mr.Johnson , made me luster for an UDO supersix - when playing that right hand in the JP-8 video ! My GOD it sounds so good ! :-O

[@JayKaufman]

KZbin channel synth royalty patting each other on the back. I like!

[@dennisflax]

the PE-1000 sounds darn beautiful, imo.

[@timdanyo898]

Korg is such a key player in synth history to their current innovative product line. They are LEGENDARY!

[@AlexBallMusic]

They certainly are.

[@scottcupp8129]

Oh God. Yes they are. I have a Korg Poly 6 and I absolutely LOVE it. I have some modern day analog synths as well. I have a Behringer Deep Mind 12, A Novation Mini Nova, and a ROMpler Ensoniq SQ1+ Workstation. Fun synths. The SQ also has some Analog waves.

[@timdanyo898]

@@scottcupp8129 I’ve got a Korg DW 8000 and a Wavestate.

[@wingflanagan]

Key, indeed. I am never board with videos about them. I would assume their product line has kept them in the black all these years, despite the oddities that make them a relative minor player. This is one of their signature traits - though they have had a few projects which fell flat, they are sharp enough with marketing to have overcome them.

[@scottcupp8129]

@@wingflanagan Exactly right!

[@RobFlaxMusic]

"Pitch expand" is my new euphemism for when I can't play my violin in tune...

[@AlexBallMusic]

I used to use "jazz" but "pitch expand" sounds more scientific.

[@graxjpg]

Microtonalism, jazz, pitch expand, whatever helps justify not learning how to do things properly! You’re starting to sound like a guitar player there, Rob.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Yes! Forget Autotune and Melodyne, pitch expand is the future! ;)

[@JayKaufman]

@@AlexBallMusic Pitch Expand should be the name of my new atonal techno project that doesn't exist. I'll wear all black and not move an inch while I assault your senses with throbbing 140 BPM 4/4 drums.

[@johanzki]

@@DarkSideofSynth LOL

[@Gosha1992]

Love the sound

[@Ancaja123]

Very fizzy!!! Immediately knew it would make a great harpsichord and you nailed it

[@scottgentile1663]

The power of this synth today is way beyond the presets. When you consider this has 60 oscillators that can be slightly detuned and tone shaping controls, it is about as organic as an electronic synth can get. Add a subtle chorus and this can be monstrously rich.

[@jehdbrbjeirodofjdjebeebbsnaka]

ye 60 oscillators is insane, it’s got a similar quality to a rhodes

[@moinlabs]

The Man demoing what was actually my first synthesizer (I still have it of sorts - I'm that kind of person - although it's been staying with a friend for many years in exchange for a Six-Track). Thanks!

[@AlexBallMusic]

I hope I did it justice!

[@baconfister]

Yet ANOTHER amazing video showcasing Alex’s brilliance using an otherwise non-mainstream synth from back in the day.

[@hendrikboser8238]

Amazing filter performance

[@AlexBallMusic]

🎚🎚🎹

[@billypilgrim1]

James Murphy used this a lot for LCD's This is Happening, you can hear it in "you wanted a hit"

[@MrShiffles]

Makes for a lovely string synth...I like it!

[@foxholeartist]

Korg is love.

[@carlosserrano3985]

Filters are not bad, very interesting machine, never heard of it. Thanks for showing!

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

Interesting synth. I had the PE2000. Again, not a huge amount of sounds but it had this vocal preset which was very unusual - in a very good way, as well as the most amazing stereo phase shifter.

[@mastercylinder1939]

Outstanding performance, you play with character and humour. I love it.

[@jakestewartmusic]

I used a PE1000 a lot on my band’s EP that we’re releasing soon. Absolutely love the sound of this thing. The piano and strings presets are actually really cool in the right context. I used the strings preset as a main hook to a song

[@unconcernedsalad2]

came here because one of my favorite bands, the alvvays, used this on stage for one of their recent US shows. great machine

[@paulmint1775]

Love the sounds of this Korg, ideal for soundscapes.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, I imagine if you multitracked and panned with FX it could be stellar.

[@andybabb2410]

Awesome video Alex ! It’s really cool and interesting to look back and see where the legend of Korg synths began!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, I'd never seen one of these before. Was interesting to find out what it sounded like.

[@papankunci]

i love the fact that you make EVERYTHING sounds its best Alex... Kudos..

[@buranflakes]

An octave coupler on a synth is interesting since I'd only ever seen that on antique reed organs before

[@gctechs]

Yamaha RM1x have the "Octaver" midi effect :)

[@kaitlyn__L]

Nice shuttle reference in your name 👍

[@organfairy]

It was quite common on electronic organs from the mid 1980s. It was often used as a way to make smaller organs sound like a big one but it had the cost that the polyphony was cut in half.

[@buranflakes]

@@organfairy I'm mostly familiar with organs from the 70s and earlier so I didn't know that, that's neat

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Always enjoyable, Alex! Great stuff.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Rob.

[@Danbatio]

THESE ARE THE SOUNDS OF MY YOUTH!!! Thank you for bring them on today.

[@marcosachetto3538]

Alex playing that cool bassline at 3:44 like a sequencer remind me of one those remixes of ‘Expo 2000 by Kraftwerk. Florian lives!

[@wjec1970]

I love freaky synths like this, that go off script with their design. Korg did quite a few like this, as you say. Great video, Alex - both your narration and your playing - I'd love a jam with you he he!

[@pakey423]

Vangelis used this one a lot on Albedo 0.39, I believe.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks for the info.

[@pakey423]

@@AlexBallMusic You're welcome. :-) From what I've read you can hear de PE-1000 on the song "Main Sequence" (brass sounds), played over a Roland SH-3a S&H-sequence.

[@TheCleanersCupboard]

@@pakey423 yes before the CS80 Vangelis used the Korg alongside the ARP Pro-soloist on his early albums. You can hear the Korg all over Albedo 0.39, it’s a very particular sound ☺️

[@JohnLRice]

No wonder I liked this demo so much, Albedo 0.39 is one of my most favorite albums!!! :-)

[@TheCleanersCupboard]

@@JohnLRice mine too, it’s an incredible album. Vangelis got a huge sound from some pretty basic synths on that album. It was the Korg PE1000, Roland SH3a, Korg 700s and most of the lead sounds were from the ARP Pro-Soloist and that was it but listening to it, you could be in space. Especially the title track

[@thomasaustin8477]

This thing reeks of 70s KORG, and I love it!

[@AlexBallMusic]

It certainly does!

[@deantiquisetnovis]

Thanks for finding these rare synths and bringing them to us! I own a Korg Delta and it can produce similar sounds.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I'm still yet to see a Delta or Lambda. Hopefully I will at some point.

[@deantiquisetnovis]

@@AlexBallMusic unfortunately we leave far apart, otherwise I would happly lend you mine!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. I'm sure I could track one down if pushed. A 3300 on the other hand...

[@deantiquisetnovis]

@@AlexBallMusic I know only one guy who owns a PS-3300 and he unfortunately lives in Spain

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@deantiquisetnovis There are a couple knocking around within a reasonable distance from me, I'd just need an introduction to the owners as they're friends of friends.

[@scottcupp8129]

This is SO AWESOME!

[@hubaswift7640]

huh, I just discovered and was looking into this synth the other day, and now you've put out a video for it? Spooky timing.

[@AlexBallMusic]

..Twilight Zone music plays...

[@h2o1969]

I think I discovered part of the joy of your videos. You are really good at playing the sound. You made that filter sound great. When I was watching I keep thinking that sounds great, but looks hard to do.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Shawn. Yes it took quite a few takes as it was a bit fiddly.

gorgeous sounds

[@greatheightsu]

Short and sweet. Great to see what led to the Trident.

[@AdamSpade]

Lovely. 💙

[@moogdome2562]

Beautiful. Love it.

[@Magnus_Loov]

A very warm "cool" sound. That great opening from you, made me think of some of the earlier stuff from Vangelis. Or even some sounds of the songs he made with Jon later on.

[@wingflanagan]

Actually, I kind of like the sounds this thing makes. But then again, I also like the sounds that harpsichords, bagpipes, and even violas make. So there’s that.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I once heard a viola described as "a violin playing in a skip". 😂

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

@@AlexBallMusic A violin playing a ship !

[@mwmusic29]

I just got one of these two days ago. It’s in beautiful condition but needs some work! I appreciate this video a lot as it answers several questions I had about what should be happening. Thanks!

[@menaceone509]

Nice to hear the origins of your favorite keyboards

[@GEOSynths]

Great job as always, some cool patching :)

[@RicciHodgson59]

It sounds pretty versatile - great demo!

[@MoonrayOfficial]

Sounds great! Never heard this one before. Great demo 👌✨

[@supersteveworld]

Apparently…according to Phil Gould…Wally Badarou used one of these (along with a Roland Chorus Echo) with Level 42 back in 1981. Fun factoid lol 😎👍

[@markpatrick4662]

Fascinating stuff. Always loved Korg, ever since owning my first synth - the MonoPoly. This thing seems more akin to the Delta perhaps. As ever, thanks for bringing these things to our attention, Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, they've got many classics in their history. The Mono/Poly is a very nice one.

[@ArcAudios77]

Excellent Alex, thanks. 3:43 Great case for needing another two Arms... ;)

[@steve--smith]

OK this is my first ever synth. I still have it. It does have 60 note polyphony and if you modulate it severely from the right hand controls you get pink noise almost. The strings sound great through a heavy chorus (I used to use the RS09 external in but Strymon ola works) and the sound is amazing instead of poor quality strings by default.. The front panel can be unscrewed and you can microtune EVERY note separately. The circuit for each key lies in a line UNDER the key. The traveler is almost a parametric EQ and you can get haunting vocals, fair flute, and some interesting in between textures not like any other keyboard. Through a valve amp the electric piano starts to sound like a pianet. Heard on Andrew Gold's "Never Let Her Slip Away" (electric piano) and I think "The Crunch" by the RAH band is likely to be the full on "Control" section opened up. I also think you can do a fair intro for "Old Schoolyard" by Cat Stevens. It's designed almost as a competitor for the RMI 368 electronic piano.

[@drsamurai009]

The Octave Coupler is a nice feature to have built in. I have a Sub N' Up pedal which gives me octave above, below and direct mix knobs to control/mix levels. It's my not-so-secret weapon to subtly thicken up synths. Gives even cheesy organ sounds a real presence. An inexpensive way to add a sub oscillator to any synth that doesn't have one or just to beef up a sound a little or a lot.

[@MsZumoman]

repaired one for a customer and was very impressed with it. The filter or "traveler" was quite unique and very cool.

[@waggon321]

Them strings are amazing!

[@davidm3569]

Never ever seen.....or heard of this little treasure before. They paved the way for other music to follow. All hail Korg.

[@janhelmle8173]

I love these old arp keyboards

[@fiddlestickzmuzik]

As is often the case with some of these odd ball old synths, effects can light them up in super nice ways, as can alt tunings. Good quality phasers and reverbs can really bring out the shine in these machines.

[@malcolmjames5211]

your 100 % right in your observation my PE 1000 loves Sound Toys VST’s

[@HalonOfficial]

Gotta love KORG synthesizers! This thing sounds incredible imo 😀

[@wallmenis]

sounds beautiful

[@Crabe05]

Don't know if it's my love for quirky things and oddballs but I find it very charming. I've never heard of this little gem; thanks again for doing synth archeology for us :D

[@mikeprattmusic]

Sounds like a top octave divide down synth - 12 oscillators for the top octave, which are then divided down to the octaves below, which might tie in with the octave coupler thingy. I wonder if it has filter and envelope for each oscillator, which you could test by playing a note then the same note in a different octave, to see if the envelope is retriggered or not. This would be nice with a chorus after it, like a Solina.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Surprisingly not so. artoftravelogue.blogspot.com/2015/01/korg-pe-1000-polyphonic-ensemble.html?m=1

[@mikeprattmusic]

@@AlexBallMusic Interesting!

[@bobpieterson3854]

Confusion here: not 3 master oscillators like the PE 2000. till-kopper.de/korg-pe1000.html

[@sounddoctorin]

this one has 61 saw oscillators...tuned by 61 trim pots under that removable under key panel. Alex in my move i just saw the receipt for mine. 300usd plus 80 shipping. It had some issues but it's one of the good deals in my later era of collecting synths

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@sounddoctorin Thanks for the info! That's a good deal.

[@kurilrick2207]

Oh shit, it's Geert Van Schlänger's long-lost brother. Great video!

[@ciatangallaghe2485]

Man it sounded great.

[@jayfunk5988]

Great vid too funky on that filter bass.Sounds wicked wish I had one! Peace

[@NVM_S]

i love it !

[@JonMurray]

Ah dude, your opening and closing sound and piece were lush! I just closed my eyes and felt like I was in an 80s action film haha! ✌🏻

[@NoisyMachines]

Love your channel friend! ::)

[@21GunStudio]

Definitely got a classic cosmetic look too!

[@donjezza]

beautiful

[@carlhward1]

Great video as always thanks Alex! I used to have one of these and the Traveller filters were controlled also by a foot pedal which made altering it much easier and you could get some cool performances by waggling your feet instead!! 8-)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, the pedal would have been handy!

[@dessiplaer]

I love it!

[@amonster8mymother]

Neat sounds.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

A very quirky and unique piece. I have the Lambda and I love it. You raise a good point about manufacturers not really knowing which way to take things back then. This led to some very characterful, if not always musically useful functions in their instruments.

[@AlexBallMusic]

"..not always musically useful".. That's a great way to put it. Makes them all the more intriguing.

[@carlosserrano3985]

The Lambda is the best string synthesizer I ever heard, much better than Solina, you're lucky to have one, very rare these days.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

@@carlosserrano3985 I feel very lucky. It's never leaving the studio. I love it for what it does.

[@audiodood]

The octave coupler and pitch spread controls probably go hand in hand, so that you can create detuned sounds across the two octaves

[@__korvin__6713]

"Retro Game OST" the instrument. I love it!

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

4:00 : believe me, so much better acting on the traveler filter with two dedicated pedals to free your hands! I've quite a number of them, having started collecting the whole range of Korg traveler synths since my first 800DV in 1976. But the poly 1000 remains one of my favorites (with the 800dv, the micro preset 500 and the so under-rated 770. The last in the range, the poly 2000 a.k.a "polyphonic orchestra" is a bit too tame to my taste, lacking those nifty and so expressive double LP?HP filter sliders.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, the pedals are a necessity! Traveler synths - I've played most of them but not the 770 or 800DV. Hopefully soon.

[@reggiep75]

02:45 - I look away for a second and think 'Ohhh Stevie Wonder has entered the building!' I'm mentally exhausted and going to bed soon. These early synths really were some quirky beasts with manufacturers thinking 'This is more important than that, put this on it' and then thinking 'Oooh never thought of that, add that in on the next version that only needs 6-8 polyphony.. to save cash!'

[@everpuremusic]

"Alex Ball's KZbin Gallery of Synth Oddities"

[@SRDhain]

Lovely 🌅 It has such a unique sound. I think it might be on a lot of bollywood soundtracks from the late 70s to mid 80s. I think its also on Simple Minds' early stuff, such as Chelsea GIrl. The OGWT live appearance they did (circa 1979 or so) has something that looks and sounds very similar.

[@DaraM73]

I’ve seem the octave button on a Hammond, as well as pipe organ stops, of course, so there’s precedent for including it I suppose?

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes. With organs that use divisions that's quite common, but I've not seen it setup like this with discrete oscillators. The "org" in Korg comes from the Keio Organ after all, so I guess it was a natural thing to carry over to synths.

[@DaraM73]

@@AlexBallMusic indeed, and no I haven’t seen like the Korg before.

[@gcoudert]

I've always loved this instrument. It may not be super versatile but I prefer it to the Solina, sonically speaking.

[@carlosserrano3985]

The best string synthesizer I ever heard is the Korg Lambda, is a beautiful sounding machine.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I'm still finding that the Crumar Multiman is hard to top. Sounds so dreamy.

[@paulmint1775]

Nice jumper Alex.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Only the finest synth jumpers.

[@jonathanredman8497]

Mmm, I smell Tolex! Great Video as usual.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I love the smell of Tolex in the morning.

[@erlendmagnussen8922]

Love it

[@IanWaugh]

Polyphony in the 70s - luxury! :-)

[@stevehofer3482]

It appears not not only have an independent oscillator and amp per key, but also an independently triggered envelope. This is amazing because the Polymoog had independent envelopes and basic filters per key but with shared master oscillators, and the Polymoog was very expensive.

[@muzikman2008]

Its like a souped up Solina (sound wise) nice 😎👍

[@tommyg5095]

I have one of these... Still have it.. My very first synth. And yes, each key has its own oscillator. Does your unit still have the traveler pedal that came with the synth?? I still play this, and love it.

[@nebula0697]

Cool as usual especially the bass line with the filter gymnastics but could have used a review-with-my-face of each of the presets. Always curious what "electric piano" and "piano" end up sounding like on a synth, often risible in terms of emulation but cool anyway.

[@nativeVS]

Gotta love any Korg Synth with a Traveller filter (or ideally two). I'm assuming the basic filter and amp is a bit like on the Elka Rahspody where there are small circuit boards per key doing some simple envelopes.

[@AlexBallMusic]

That's my understanding but I'm not a tech. The "filter expand" seems to affect the filters in the keys and does nothing to the traveler, so that would make sense. The schematic is online, would be interested to know how it works.

[@secretelitemusic]

I'm pining for a Bentley Rhythm Ace and a party seven of something undrinkable. Proper retro vibes.

[@paulgoersdorf7152]

Nice jumper... 😊

[@AlexBallMusic]

The finest synth jumpers here.

[@BerndKistenmacher]

It's time for another reissue ☺️

[@neilloughran4437]

I had one of these. I seem to recall you could tune each oscillator on this. you need to unscrew some panel on the front and you can see all the tuning screws.

[@AlexBallMusic]

That's absolutely right. There is a trimmer for each!

[@TDRKB]

The sounds are like from a 1980's Italian horror movie soundtrack. The traveller reminds me of my first synth - the might Mini-Korg 700S.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, has that vibe to it although I imagine they used Italian synths that are comparable? 700S - still waiting to see one of those (new or old). I've played the earlier 700.

[@lundsweden]

It seems a bit similar to the Polymoog in concept and sound IMO!

[@Angelstarscotland]

I think it sounds cool :)

[@faneflip]

PE 2000 has been heavily used by lcd soundsystem on their third album

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks for the info.

[@simonfenn3791]

3:44 Top job Sir.

[@user-fo3ug3cr4m]

Overall nice shmyntesizer and video. Some questions: 4:20 What waveform is this? 5:09 Do you remember which settings result in this sound?

[@graxjpg]

As you play around with your own synths more and more, and keep an ear to this kind of stuff, you’ll be able to hear what is going on when he does it and be able to translate it to your synths.

[@AlexBallMusic]

4:20 is the sawtooth wave. You can just make it out in the footage as there's a black line. 5:09 - octave coupler, pitch expand and the LFO at maximum speed modulating the VCO frequency with just the right amount of depth.

[@user-fo3ug3cr4m]

@@graxjpg I know, that's why I ask when I'm uncertain.

[@mastercylinder1939]

In the shadow of Yamaha and Roland is Korg, quietly innovating and creating some very desirable synths, and tickling Korg’s taint is Kawai!

[@Roland_Tr909_Swing]

Those filters are dope

[@AlexBallMusic]

Boing!