Korg M3-88

I'm using the latest OS version which is 2.04. There are plenty of fantastic sounds in all categories (drums, bass, guitar, piano, organ, pads, lead synths, brass&woodwind, etc.). The user interface (with touch screen) is well designed and straightforward to use, but the complexity of this instrument is huge and deep. I have this instrument now for more than 2 years and still haven't explored all the possibilities yet. The Editor software is easier to use due to the larger screen. It allows you to maintain and edit all your patches, or to create new programs and/or combis. As with the UI on the M3, it is easy to navigate and use it, but it is a very complex (not complicated!) thing. There are two main documents available, the Operations Guide and Parameter Guide, plus a bunch of additional docs such as Easy Start Guide, Editor Manual, etc. The Parameter Guide reflects the complexity of this instrument and consists of 660 pages of condensed information. There are several tutorials available and the forum and wiki at www.karma-lab.com is a great place to find further information. It requires some practice before you can handle this beast, therefore my rating is a point below the maximum.

The M3 is THE music workstation.

It features a number of innovations from Korg's flagship OASYS including the new EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) sound generator, the advanced KARMA functionality, and Drum Tracks which provide a instant groove to play along with. Sampler and sequencer are build in as well, and you can add an internal RADIAS analog modeling synthesizer sound generator board and/or expand the sample memory.
The inspiration and variability that KARMA offers is second to none. You just can't it compare with a simple arpeggiator.
IMO it's the ultimate workstation and there is currently no other instrument available on the market that is as versatile as the M3 (except Korg's flagship OASIS).

Almost all sounds are excellent. The natural sounds (Piano, Guitars, A-Bass, Organs, Strings, Brass&Woodwinds) sound very realistic and can be adjusted to your liking. And there are plenty of synth sounds (leads, pads, waveforms, etc) available, all in excellent KORG quality.
The effect section provides up to five Insert effects, two Master effects, and one Total effect which can be used simultaneously. There are plenty effects available: choruses, flangers, phasers, delays, reverbs, but also dynamic processing effects such as compressor, limiter, amp modeling, distortion, speaker simulation effects, and evocative effects like Grain Shifter and Talking Modulator.
The M3 is anything other than static. With KARMA and the outstanding control environment (velocity-sensitive pads, XY-Pad, Joystick, sliders and control buttons) you can shape your sound and performance in a unique way. The user can choose from 9 velocity curves and some sounds react on aftertouch.

I'm using the M3 in the studio only. So far it is very reliable. I would use it on a gig without backup, but it is not rock-solid, nothing for heavy-metal rockers.

Excellent support through korgforums and karma-lab.
10+

It is an outstanding instrument. I own a Motif and Novation synth, but the M3 is much more versatile and expressive. For sure, I would buy it again if it gets stolen.

After moving from Triton > Triton Extreme thought the next step would be the M3. Always felt the architecture was the best and deepest after having boards from the other big guys. Sounds are hi-def in resolution. The layout is intuitive if your a korg user but still great if you have tried the others. Presets as a whole are excillent.
The price paid for such a wealth of capabilities is the optional non printed 640 page perameter book. Only kurzweil comes close on theirs.
Huge in features the Karma section is 400+ agjustments with 32 picked out per scene for the most of what you need. They in turn adjust the others in real-time. Massive sound sculpting abilities await you.
The manuals(2) are great in my view over the competition for such a huge complex instrument. have not needed the PC editor as of yet.

120 notes of polyphony, more than enough from what I have seen in use for huge scores since single patches are so thick. Massive effects section not enough room to write here about but HUGE. Room for a radias card and extra 256me memory dimm. Also an external Radias can be mounted side by side and plugged in the board with the internal radias that has it's own unique set of benefiets. The keyboard is a completely new 88 thank god from the Extreme that was a major dissapointment to me. Mush and slow....So happy that was replaced.
Full aftertouch etc...210,000 not sequencer like the past units which is so easy to use and record on the fly and sample and import even the most complex sounds. You better have a lot of time with this monster.

Why I love korg so much Expressive and complex textures the ear can hardly understand at times what is playing. The traditional sounds are there longer samples and again Hi-def resolution you hear right away. Effects are world renowned and well over 100 types. The Karma section is too complex to write all about but it is anything but static. Whatever you play it analyzes with the greatest care and chimes in with hundreds of possible offerings or a form of wave sequencing that alternate the samples in the programs in a number of ways. Just too deep for anything but the 640 page book. Absolutly gets your creativity flowing from the start. Really grabbed me with the analyzing of your play. Does not get any better than this for ideas of compositions.

Don't know but if like the past tritons I have owned they are like steel in never going down. There was a warning about plugging in the external add-on Radias when the thing is off for proper detection.
It is constructed great from my point of view very strong and a lot of steel and aluminum.

Have not needed to call in many years...way back they were nice on the phone and helpfull.

This is a board to be programmed. If you do not then probably 70% of the massive features will be lost. Not a board to just play presets with. Loaded my old samples from my first triton with no problems and took no time.
Wish the USB was bus powered for a bigger 2.5" hard drive but i can use a powered hub for that. DIVE IN!