Korg Triton

I am using software version 2.0.1. Patches are easy to edit once you get the hang of the touch-screen. In just two days, I edited the piano that everyone hates; tweaked to a much more acceptable piano sound.
The manual is only suitable for engineers. I think the basic guide do help a little(very) but the parameter guide must be written in some martian language.

I LOVE THE KEYBOARD ACTION! I'm not a classical pianist and I love the "bounce" of the keys. It's fast and suitable for killer lead solos.
Effects are good. Adding the effects to the clean guitar sound I sampled made it sound as if played by a real guitarist. Pity there's no distortion though(or did I miss it?)Sampling with distorted guitar proves very difficult.
Sampler is easy to use. Just record and edit. This is the reason why I bought the Triton and it is money well-worth. Now I can have nice guitar strumming patterns instead of using the original guitar patch.
The sequencer is easy to use too. I've been using Cakewalk all my life but i think this sequencer will replace that in no time. Haven't really went into the minor details such as quantize or step-recording. But real-time recording seems good.

As with every synth, some sounds are good, some are bad. The GM sounds are pretty standard but it's the synth sounds that are very good. Some COMBI sounds are pretty well done too. No need for patch editing.
This is a synth suitable for techno, trance and house. If you are a rock or pop musician, you might find the no. of sounds more limited since the Triton is dominated by futuristic sounds. That's where the sampler comes in....
Nice joystick. Programmable to almost any situation that will be encountered when playing live. Ribbon is useful too but I haven't really find out how to program it.

I just have it for a week and everything is still going well. Looks sturdy enough for me for gigs.

Dont' know.... Never dealt with them

I think I will buy it again. It's hard to find a workstation that provides everything. Sequencer, sampler. I love the touchscreen-makes everything so easy. The sounds are generally solid and the fact that it is in eye-catching silver!!! I won't recommend it if you are playing single-tier for gigs though. Sound change is slow and the sound cuts off when changing sounds. Disk load or save takes ages too. No distortion effect-that means I can't get my clean sampled guitar distorted(If I did miss this out, can someone please tell me where I can find it? E-mail me at vibes@freeze.com
I play in a disco and I use it together with a Yamaha S-80, Roland XP-80 and Korg N5-EX. At home, it is hooked up to my PC, a Yamaha PSR540 and a Yamaha DJX-II.
There's also something unique about the bluish glow of the screen. Together with some dim lighting, it makes your creative juices flow.

I am using verson 2.0.1. You don't need a patch editor because it is easy to edit patches right on the Triton. There is also a compare button to compare the preset with the sound that you like. When you first open the manual, you may need a rocket scientist to help you understand it. The manual was deep! It took me months to just feel the format of the manual. Really...the manual is no joke! The touch screen makes it very, very easy to use, but initially, the features of this board was a little complicate. Now, everything is like a piece of cake.

There are too many features on this board. It even comes with a sampler! The polyphony is 64. The board action is not like the Pro X model; I guest you get what you pay. This board has too many effects: all kind of effects with thousands of parameters. It does have expansion possibilities. I think Korg has near 8 expansion boards with a Z1 Moss board as well. The Moss is phat! The midi capabilities are endless and the Triton does come with a built-in sequencer. Everything about the sequencer can be edited. This board is loaded with features!

There are some good and some bad about every piece of equipment we buy.
GOOD: The sounds from Triton are very full indeed and I think this is what people like about the Triton. The sounds are not weak or thin. Pads, strings, S.E.,drums and regular synth sound are very good. Also the bells sound ok. As for as a keyboard is concern, the effects are very good.
Bad: Without the effects, all sounds are dry/dull. Using the built-in effects are a must for the Triton. To me, if you want perfection, nothing can be recorded without the Triton built-in effects. If you are a professional piano player, you will not find a real piano sound on the Triton. I have been on stage with professional mucisian since the 70's and I am here to tell you that there are no real brass sounds from the Triton. There are no real woodwind sounds from this board. sax, clarinet and etc. The guitar sounds doesn't come close to a real guitar.

This board is very reliable and I would use it on a gig without a backup.

As for as music equipment is concern, tech support from korg is the worst that I had ever experienced. I feel that they are trying to improve on their tech support. On their website, I could not even find an e-mail address; it may be there now, but I don't think so. Let me see...no it is not there!

If this board was lost, I will not buy it again because I only can use it for pads, S.E. and strings: basic sounds. I can not use 70% of this board for the music I write: techno, electronic, trance and etc. The sound that I need come from Nord Leads, Access Virus, Waldorf and the like. I like aggressive type of keyboards and this is only personal for what I like to do. If you have a good effect processor like the Lexicon or the TC electronic processors, why should you pay extra for effects incorporated inside of a keyboard. The sample is good on the Triton, but nothing is better than a dedicated sample like the MPC2000. I should had known better, but I purchased this board because of the hype and the money was there for me. The Triton does what it is design to do. It may be awesome to someone else, but most of the Triton is just not for me.

Software 2.1.0

The present sounds varied. I find all Korgs sounds really warm (in comparison to Roland, oberhiem) The only other keyboard i have heard be so warm is the Alesis Quadrasynth6.1.

Stripping the effects off the programs & combos are awsome. They are very well done. The one thing if you are considering this synth is realistic sounds are far and few between (aka oboes, pianos, brass). But when it comes to organs it is by far the best emulation of what i own.

The Present out-of-the-box present combo and programs are ok. They do range from organs, strings, brass, effects, dance, drums, ect. . so good range of stuff.

The editing of the combi is really simple to use. If you have owned any other Korg Products (aka O1/W) you will find this instrument very easy to use. the interface comes with touch sensitivity so it is pretty easy to move around in.

The manual was very easy for me to read and understand. Again i have several other instruments and is very easy a read compared to others like Rolands.

The Brass and Pianos have something to be lacked if you are looking for professional sounding grand piano sounds but, that haave great dance and balland synth pianos.

It has 62 voice polyphony.

Built in effects are AMAZING. Very warm and manipulating. you have 5 insert effects per program and 2 master effects. (69 that i could scroll through in the combi selection section. remember this just the basic Korg Triton). In combi mode you can use either insert or master not both per channel. in other words if you use inserts on a channel you can't also use master on that channel and vice versa. You can link effects and route the inserts to master effects also! amazing layout.

You have a built in arpegiator that is amazing. I own the Roland jp-8000 and this arpeggiator is much better and more features. right on the front panel you have the ability to change the arp settings by nobs (tempo, gate, velocity). in combo mode you can use 2 arps at the same time! Amazing. (note: Roland Jv-2080) you can change a quite a few presets (231! 31 of which you can make your own sets).

other then that the same ol touch sensitiviy (standard Korg lightweight keys O1/R keyboard touch)

I didn't check out the sequencer because i use Emagic Logic Audio.

I didn't review the Sampler due to my use of the EMU 6400. but it is tempting to use it. although i would suggest buying the addaption for a SCSI interface if you do. Floppys is the only way to save your RAM samples otherwise :) (Triton doesn' come with SCSI . sold sep)

oh yeah present sounds are on floppy and can be restored from there. you can also save your sounds to floppy to take to other tritons if you go to a studio with one!

Realistic for those sounds trying to be so, are 5 of 10. Brass was one of the worst i have heard. Sounds is what brings this instrument down in this catagory but read on. very Dance uless that is what you want to hear. very 90's brass. The Organs are by far the best i have heard. and i own a lot of synths (listed below).

Sytles i think it woudl work for range. Pop, Dance, Rock, Hip Hop, urban all kinds of styles EXCEPT Orchestral (if you seek real sounds see JV-1080, 2080 orcestral II)

the reactions to my playing are wonderful. you have the ability to assign all your effects or modulations and such (aka wah, pass filters ect) to your x and y joy or ribbon controller.

Velocity and After touch are well done. i did have a bit of a prob with the ribbon controller reacting without heavy pressure. (Note:Rolands JP-8000's ribbon very ncie and sensitive.)

I believe i can depend on this Synth ALMOST completely. I don't do gigs live since it is a rec studio it is in. It has a touch sensitive screen which is the only thing i dont' like because it worries me it might go bad. (aka people hitting it too hard) but if i know Korg i feel safe enough to buy it dispite. so i would say so far it has been fine but i have only had it for 2 days.

use at a gig without back. . . hmm. . .well it isn't bust proof. the touch screen worries me. but dont' know.

NA never used it.

If this instrument werwe stolen or broke i woudl fix it or replace it of course! it fits like a glove in ths studio with the rest of the gear i use. It is worth what i paid. i would say i would have paid up to 2500 for it. but unless it is your homebase for all sounds i wouldn't pay anymore.

I love the fact it is very synth feeling. REalistic is NOT what i bought this synth for. I love the effects (roterty speaker, amp emulations, distortions, ovd) the distortions are very realistic unlike the past synths (o1/w or rolands JV2080) they don't sound like stomp boxes. they sound like warm tube distortions.

and the organs. man they rock!

I own these other pieces of gear and it fits in like a glove (Roland Jv-2080, JP-8000, Roland D-70, TD-10 v drums, Korg O1/RW, Alesis D5 & D4,Oberhiem M1000 and much more gear but that is all the synths i have currently own. What i have used and once owned: Roland D-20.)

I got the newest vershun out there. Foorgive my typing...The hooked on phonics i used as a kid had a mispwint....The manual is so so...not too shabby...

Lots of features as everyone knows...but takes a while to get to know them..you know? Know what i mean Vern??

ok, this is where da Rock was really disappointed... I believed the hype and bought one of these...But the sounds werent all that. The standard presets are crummy for the most part, you have to really tweak the sounds...The final word...The Rock lays the smack down on the Korg!!

didnt have it long enough, just like that last case of herpes...Whew! The Rock is happy to get rid of it!

no customer support..no need for it..The Rock needs nuffin!

I hate i didnt like it...big disaapointment,,,The bottom line is the Triton is waaaaaaaay over-rated. Shop awound a bit before you buy...you homos...!!

When buying a new keyboard I have learned from past experience that you have to really think of what music your playing?, can you afford the synth?, will you regret it?, and will it sound good in a live atmosphere?. For my experience with the Triton since 12/29/2000 I can say yes to most of these questions. I was tentative at first but traded a TR-Rack in because it was to cumbersome to use in a live atmosphere. I have a four keyboard rig a play with every week an modules just don't cut it in a live situation where you need sounds at a moments notice.In the reggae band I play with I use an Roland XP-50, Korg-M1, Yamaha S80 and the Triton. The manual is pretty well written and you have to really just fool around with the touch screen when you have the time. Unless you are really adept it will take more than one sitting just to go through everything. Factory presets could even take a day.

The Triton's action is very general but feels good even if you come from classical trainig. I love working with the sequencer. It is pretty easy to get around even for someone not that adept with technology. As far as I know Korg has not released all of the expansion boards yet so it is expandable. I have not really dove into the effects portion of it yet.

If you are a live player your always concerned with sound, sound, sound. I don't trust much editing because if the patch is not good in the first place chances are it does not get much better. The Brasses are great. I have always been impressed with Korg's Brasses. The piano sounds you can be thrown out the window. The s80in opinion has the best pianos because they produce acoustic models anyway. I don't mean to sound harsh but that is an important thing in a synth. People need good piano patches. The combi patches are great, lot of fun. I also like the patterns that Korg gives you. Some of the Reggae templets are not bad. Generally a lot of cultural music is not well represented or "white washed". They did a decent job. The Combi A43 Brass is good. I like the Program A55 organ as well.

I have this funny feeling that this keyboard is a little fragile with it's plastic ends and what not. It is cold here in New York so I am careful about leaving in the truck for too long. My M1 is in great shape and a real workhorse. Korgs products are always requested on any rider from major reggae artists from Jamaica. The M1, O1W/FD,Triton and Trinity' are always requested. Korgs products are always road worthy so I hope the Triton can live up to that reputation.

Never had to deal with Cs.

Well this is a great synth. Very nice to use and gig with. It can perform in a variety of environments effectively. I hear it being compared to old gear all the time but it has it's place. I am really convinced that if you are after realistic sounds from one synth you will not find it. I use boards from 3 manufactuers on stage at a time. The Triton is expensive but with the sampler on board it makes sense. I bought it wondering what the hype was about and really likedthe combi settings when I first heard them. Take your time and try it out.

Keyboard is quite easy to navigate through. I was very happy with the factory preset sounds, but you can tweak them as needed from the programming menu's. I haven't used the patch editing much at this point because the factory sounds were completely ample for my needs in the studio. The manual is what you might come to expect from a heavy duty pro equipment piece. Pack a lunch, it takes a while to get throught them (more than one manual). But, they made it very easy to look up things as needed. Which was a welcomed blessing from the past.

Although I am not a keyboardist in the professional sense, I am a semi pro musician and count on pro gear to put out. So, having spent the money on the Triton, I have found the features to be very exciting and absolutely mind blowing at times, what you can do with a standard signal input. It may come in clean, but you basically can run it through processors, filtering, etc and that mid tone bass guitar just got HUGE. I was very pleased with the features. Polyphony has been tested in some larger track compositions. I haven't ran into any problems with polyphony. The standard action of the keyboard feels standard, and comfortable. The onboard processors and filtering was pretty simple to navigate through if you browse your manual(s) first. All in all it deserves a thumbs up.

I found the sweeps, pads, trigger responses, etc to be quite versatile and very realistic. The drum sounds were very nice full sets. I only wish there were more sets to view. But, I can purchase additional kits on disc. Aftertouch assignments and programability will most likely require you to take a gander back at your manual(s).

Reliability of my Triton 61 is rated at 100% reliability. I've had it out and about also inside a recording facility. It has never given me problems from less than 20 degrees all the way up to about 90 degrees. I have a second backup keyboard, but I don't ever bother taking it out (the 76 Roland model) because the reliability on the Triton 61 is great.

I have never had to work with customer support. Which could identify this as a quality piece, not needing support. Everything I questioned I found either in the manual(s) or on the net. I have sent an email to their support desk once and after 3 days I was responded to. I believe that is about the norm for customer support. Granted, same day or better yet, same hour, is always preferred for their response especially when you're paying studio rates by the hour. But, go in with everything planned out. I give them a thumbs up for support. Email 3 day response time is in the norm.

If it were stolen, yes I would replace it with my insurance money. Was it worth the money spent, yes it was very much worth the price. Other gear owned is a Roland JV-1000 76 note, Mac G4 Pro Tools, IBM PC Steinberg VST, Yamaha AW4416, Neumann u87ai mic, Demeter mic preamp, Hamer, Ovation, Roland TD-7 Turbo drum kit, Event Tria studio monitor system, blah blah blah, etc. Does it help me make music? I would say that it could help you make music but I go into writing with the ideas already scoped out. Is there anything else i'd like to share? Yes, if you are going to spend this much money on a

Large screen makes live-performance editing very accessable.

Welcome back knobs and ribbon controllers.

Much of the brass and sax sounds don't hold a candle to my Korg O1-R or M-1. The acoustic piano sounds are horrible. Hammond organs are great. Apply Trinity technology and cut the bull!!!

Nine months on the road with no problems. Typically Korg.

This is a very versitile, user friendly keyboard with lots of features superior to anything else out there for the money. But Korg was well aware what they were doing when they deprived the Triton some of the quality sounds of their previous lines. Specifically the sax, bigband brass, trumpet and piano sounds are definitly inferior to the Trinity, O1-R and the M-1 respectively.

The strings, bass, and leads are ok. I was really disapointed in the drum kits, they just suck. They should not even put the brass section on the triton because they sound horrible.

The triton is an excellent tool for any studio. you work with it and it works with you. It could improve on the timbre and put a wav editor some where.

Great resources. The manual is easy and complete.

62 + 6 polyphony (MOSS option) make this keyboard a monster. There are amazing effects, easy to use, very versatile. The expansion capabilities is another great feature. MIDI and sequencer work so fine.

The sounds are amazing (even the piano with some new settings).

This keyboard is a powerful machine. Best when use a expansion board.

Great support in any situation (here in Brazil)

In this range, Triton is the best musical instrument. I would buy it again.

Using the latest (as of Feb 2, 01) I beleive is 2.02.
The presets are great. I'm new to keyboards. My last synth was a DX-7 from 12 years ago! But I do like the presets. You can learn from them. Editing the patches is easy, even for me. I think the manual could be a little more user friendly. Pretty intense.

The keyboard action is very good, for a non-weighted keyboard.
The effects are also high quality. Haven't done any heavy editing yet. I have not purchased any expansion cards, although I would like to soon. Even with my limited synth knowledge, I feel the sequencer could be more powerful, but for the money of the whole shabang...not bad. So far I'm struggling with sequencing in the Combination Mode.

Sounds good. This is my only synth other than my DX-7.
I can't be to subjective. But I think it kicks ass.

I had to return my first Triton, loose key. They just gave me another one. This one is fine.

Haven't tried it.

I would buy it again if stolen, If I had the money!!!
I am mainly a guitar player, so check back! I'm going to give this keyboard thing a whirl and I'll know this Triton much better in 6 months. I love the popularity of this synth. Tons of user support!
Yes, with the help of my VS-1680 and Marshalls and POD I will expand my musical content and creativity.