Vintage Synth Explorer

Korg • M1

The M1 was and still is a popular and widely used digital synthesizer and music workstation. The M1 features built-in AI Synthesis for full digital generation and processing using 4MB of PCM sampled and synthesized waveforms which can be shaped using analog-style editing. The M1 is capable of creating acoustic instruments with clarity, nice digital sounds and good buzzy techno sounds. The M1 is sort of like a workstation-version of the Roland D-50.

In addition to its acclaimed sound, it has a somewhat sophisticated 8-track sequencer. It holds 10 songs and 100 patterns and up to 7,700 notes, and offers full quantizing and editing. Full MIDI implementation suites the M1 ideally for studio production and MIDI system use. Up to 8 parts of multitimbrality with the 8 track sequencer makes for a powerful machine. Add to that a host of digital multi-effects and you've got one of the most widely and professionally used Korg synthesizers around.

UPGRADES: The EXK-M1 optional ROM expansion kit doubles the PCM waveform memory to 8MB (275 multisampled sounds) for even greater sonic possibilities. The M1R-EX is the same upgrade but designed for the M1R (rack version). That's right, there's a rack version of the M1 available as the M1R as well. The M1 has been used by 808 State, Banco De Gaia, Ken Ishii, Depeche Mode, Fluke, The Cure, The Orb, The KLF, Plastikman, Bomb The Bass, Gary Numan, Robert Miles, Mike Oldfield, Kitaro, Rick Wakeman, Rod Argent, Joe Zawinul, Patrick Moraz, Pet Shop Boys, Vangelis, the Cranberries, Sin and Jellyfish.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

il

Posted 115 days ago

Laymans terms? wow...

Ok you have 2 choices. Either you BUY a ram/rom card from ebay that says it has the 'factory presets' on it (I sold one of these a few weeks back) - stick that in the card slot then 'copy the sounds' to the synth (or just access them 'live' on the card).

The 'free' way is to use a midi cable/interface on your computer - hook it up to the M1 (out > in) and 'send' the rom files to it.. a VERY common practice with ALL synths, it even tells you this in the manual! I suggest for all of you having trouble that you ASK in the forum as you will get much better help than these tiny comment boxes allow (and really the forums are better suited to that) you'll get plenty of help and step by step instructions.. try it! :)

Shawn

Posted 116 days ago

I miss my M1. Even though some of the patches sounded canned there was still something about it, the first of a new breed. I have had the patch loss problem too. I used an Alesis Datadisk to back-up all of the sounds and then used it to reload them if/when they were lost. The Datadisk uses ordinary floppy disks and can be found for sale on various boards and online auction sites. There is also the Yamaha MDF-2 which does pretty much the same thing. Iuse these type of devices to back-up the patches I have created as well.

Darryl

Posted 116 days ago

I also share Matts problem and would love to know in laymans terms how I can reload the memory

il

Posted 116 days ago

@matt And of course the M1 has 'presets' many many famous ones - patch 01: Universe for example :) Just got to send some data to that puppy.

il

Posted 116 days ago

@matt.. they are not stored on a ROM but a volotile RAM. If you disconnect battery power during service they will be wiped. Don't panic, just send the patches via midi sysex from your pc. GOOGLE for that, it's beyond the scope of the comments box here if you ask me. You are probably hearing 'init voices' in all patch numbers cos you wiped the data. Try editing one and selecting a PCM wave to use 'piano' or something and see if you can start to build a sound, if so the synth is good just needs reloading. :)

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