Korg M1

I just want to say that I bought my M1 in around 1990. I think I paid about $1400.
I have to say that I still love it warts and all because I made more money with this keyboard than any other piece of equipment that I have ever owned!
I still hear the piano sound being used in commercials today!
I think its strengths are the saxophone, horn, acoustic guitar and pad sounds. The organ sounds are weak. The electric piano sounds are pretty lame, in my opinion. (Buy an 01W for those)
The piano sounds do not stand up to critical listening tests, but in a live situation they rock!
I have edited many patches and combi's for live performance. Most of my tweaks involved reducing the long reverb times and cutting the bass EQ.
This keyboard sits well in the mix!

Keyboard action is classic synth. (Pounding the plastic!) It is more reliable than my 01WFD which is four years younger and has some sticky keys.

This keyboard is still a money maker. Its sounds have transcended "flavor of the month" status.

This was my main ax for about four years. I still use it in my rig along with an 01WFD.
I have never ever had a problem with this keyboard. I always use a medium duty case when I take it out of the house.

If I had to replace it, I would buy the M1Rex, or if I couldn't find one of those, I would buy another M1 in a heartbeat. I believe they sell for about $500 used these days.
My main ax has been an 01WFD for the last 5 years or so, but the M1 horn sounds are punchier, and the piano sound is more identifiable. The keyboard action is also better.

I don't use the sequencer, so it's not a problem for me. The general layout is good. It's not too dificult to operate directly form the front panel, but some aspects are a bit annoying (4 drums patches definable only in the global mode, etc).

Generaly speaking I find it rather easy, but it's age shows a lot here.

Not much features here: limite expansion thru the ROM cards. Polyphony is rather low. There's 2 pairs of stereo outputs. I use it for what it is: a sound source to make M1 like sounds, so I don't expect more from it.

Let me surprise you: it's sound GREAT! I have lot's of synths (not just oldies: P2000, JV, K2000, Wavestation, etc), and I can assure you that the M1Rex sounds is thruly great.

DON'T expect it to do TB-303 emulations, TR-909 grooves or Nord Lead styles solos. It's a M1, so buy it for that: M1 type sounds. M1 sounds have a character which only a M1 can do.
It has a classic sound and it's still a valuable piece of equipement.

Do you expect a Prophet-5 to do convincing piano? Do you expect a Jupiter-8 to make a great acoustic guitar emulation? Of course not. So why expect the M1 to make other things than M1-like sounds (pianos, pads, dreamy-pads, voice-like-pads, ...). See my point?
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They are rather reliable. Mine has a broken button, but everything else is ok.

The M1 isn't up to today's standard, but if you happen to like it's sounds (like me), then there's nothing like it. And it can be bought for peanuts nowadays.

I consider the M1Rex to be the best buy in the M1 line: it's rack (why bother with the keyboard, get a descent controller instead) and the EX gives you very good additional samples.
Don't buy a M1 as your main synth and expect it to do late 90s type sounds. It's a waste of money and time. Buy it to complement your rig.

My M-1 is one of the first and I have to say that I learned all of the ins and outs in no time!!! The set-up is very easy to follow and even changing parameters is easy. A+ to Korg

The ployphony is 16 notes and the key action is fine. The effects are ok and are easy to use. it can take cards, although I have never used one other than a memory card...but you can not add new samples. I have loved using the on-board sequencer! It is very easy to use!!!

I found the sounds to be great! The piano and brass instruments are a bit flat, but the other sounds are fine. I was most disappointed with the strings. They are not very good and the loop is poorly made.

I have had no problems with the M-1...in fact I replaced the battery myself. I have never used it on the road, but between all of the places I have lived it has held up wonderfully.

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I have enjoyed this keyboard and have found new ways for it to grow with me. I have been using Unisyn to import and create new fresh sounds. I wish I could import new samples, but in 1990 this thing was top dog!

Easy-peasy, although this is partly because is doesn't do an awful lot. Ahhhh, bless. Sequencer might be mildly challenging.

Quite limited by today's standards. Basic filters and low polyphony, I'm afraid. You'll soon get tired.

I'm sorry but it really is truly awful. Okay, there might be the odd usable pad and the piano impresssion is almost acceptable. But the main problem is its lack of potential; what you get with the factory presets really is the best it can muster - not acceptable.

Utterly reliable - its best point.

Not sure.

Fine as a stage instrument for a crappy Country & Western band, but of no use here in the UK where such abominations have thankfully been prohibited by law. I sold mine and made a 50 quid profit, if you've got one then I suggest you do the same.

Presets were ok. The user interface was the best what i had seen in embedded devices in year 1990. Manual was good.

Korg M1 is 16 voice sample playback synth with good sound and effect editing possibilities. Keyboard was ok if i compare it my current master keyboard (DX7). "Buy a piano if you need a piano touch" is my current philosophy. The only thing i missed was polyphony and no possibility to update samples. You can use external ROM cards, but they are very expensive if you compare to free samples that are available from Ensoniq EPS 16+ and other similar machines. The keyoard is has a channel after touch. On-board sequencer was 8-track if remember correctly and it was very easy and inspiring to use.

The best sounds of presets what i am some times missing are a very tight synth for songs like V Halen "Jump" and a pad for songs from G Medeiros or W Houston. On board effects are good. M1 has 4 separate outputs for external mixing. M1 was nice, easy and inspiring to play and to compose with.

I compare the device to Ensoniq EPS 16+ and it was really stabile. Suitable for home musicians or live players that do not want to hassle with samples and be afraid of the next crash.

If i need to buy only one synth in the same price range, i would buy Ensoniq EPS 16+, but if you really love some sounds of M1, buy it. In 1991, when i get bored to the sounds, i wonderd why didn't Korg put 256KB RAM for own samples and allow sample dump through midi. Anyway, if you need a really fast composing synth, M1 is so easy and ok sounding device that you can record your ideas very fast. And you don't have to hassle with floppies;-)