Korg • Trident
The Trident is a 3 instrument ensemble type of synthesizer - String, Brass and Synth. Each section has its own unique VCO voice architecture, VCF filter types, and LFO capabilities. It features 8 voices of polyphony and 2 of the instruments can be played while in Split Keyboard mode. A unique effect included is a flanger that can self-oscillate! Flanger controls include Speed, Feedback, Intensity and Manual. It had limited 16 (mkI) or 32 (mkII) patches of memory and there is no way of externally controlling the Trident with MIDI or CV/Gate without modifications. But it sounds very nice and warm and analog. It has been used by Rick Wakeman and Joe Zawinul.
The mkII version had doubled the memory to 32 patches, an independent envelope generator for the VCF filter section and more. The specifications below are for the mkII since it is the more popular and common of the two.
Size counts....but this one counts for 2...
The Jupiter 8 blew this away, but the sound was big, but not as big.
Was a big fan of this. One day I was loking for one in early 80's and the salesman looked at me strange. Maybe he was buying them himself. These sounded tremendous. I don't know any recording with it. The Jupiters passed this anyway.
http://www.babic.com/SYN/trident-mk1 .htm
i'd like to add that there is indeed a small difference in sound btwn the versions, due to a different filter circuit (both are utilizing the warm liquidy SSM2044). Envelopes are based on SSM2056 and VCOs are KORGs proprieatry design. its a limited, yet extremely warm and organic machine. one of few SSM-based VCO polyphonics ever made.
when strings or brass are engaged, it uses one or two of its VCOs in frequency dividing setup to achieve polyphony for these additional layers. the rest is then used by the synth section that has classic 2VCO per voice setup. Flanger is one of the best ive ever heard and can be routed to either of the three layers. String section has a classic ensemble effect.