Korg Trident
The Trident is a polyphonic and programmable instrument with three independent sections - Synthesizer, Brass, and Strings, released in 1980. It features 8 voices of polyphony and two of the instrument sections can be played simultaneously while in Split Keyboard mode.
Each section has its own unique VCO voice architecture, VCF (filter) types, and LFO capabilities. The Brass section's VCF and Envelope Generators are virtually the same as the Synthesizer section, allowing the Brass section to be used for generating additional synthy sounds as well as faux-brass sounds. The String section has some unique features as well such as a "Bowing" effect. Another unique effect included is a global flanger that can self-oscillate! Flanger controls include Speed, Feedback, Intensity and Manual.
The Trident featured 16 user memory patches. In addition there were three preset memory patches for Piano 1, Piano 2 and Clavi. There is no way of externally playing the Trident with MIDI or CV/Gate without modifications (CV/Gate only controls expression and filter parameters). But the CV/Gate inputs are discrete for each of the three sections. There are also discrete mono outputs for each section and a mix output.
The Trident mkII version released in 1982 had doubled the memory (32 patches), an independent envelope generator for the VCF (filter) section and more. The specifications listed are for the mkII since it is the more popular and common of the two. The Tridents sound very nice, warm and analog and have been used by Rick Wakeman, Joe Zawinul and Phoenix.
- Demos & Media
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Video 1 - This is the Korg Trident Mark 1
Video 2 - Playing various sounds and patches.Audio Clip 1 - Various sounds from the Trident mk1, submitted by Tomislav Babic.
Brochure - PDF of 1980 Korg Brochure, submitted by Niels Kloes
Manual - Download the original owner's manual from SoundProgramming.net.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 8 voice
- Oscillators - Synth - 2 VCOs, Strings - 1 VCO, Brass - 1 VCO. VCO1: square, saw, pulse, pwm; VCO2: saw only
- LFO - Sine or Square with speed, delay, depth
- Filter - 24dB LowPass self-oscillating filter with cutoff, resonance, env intensity, key tracking
- VCA - 2 ADSR envelopes or ON/OFF Gate
- Memory - 3 Presets (Piano1, Piano2, Clavi). 16 User (mkI) or 32 User (mkII)
- Keyboard - 61 keys
- Arpeg/Seq - None
- Control - CV for filter cutoff, trigger in, 3 expression ins control volume of each section and a total expression for overall volume control
- Date Produced - 1980 (mkI), 1982 (mkII)
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
Images from Perfect Circuit Audio and Synthesizer Museum Site.
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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.