Korg M50

Music Workstation

The Music Workstation for Performance; Portability; Price
Weighing in at just fifteen pounds is the fiery KORG M50, the music workstation ready to take on all contenders! Incredible new sounds; fat & juicy combis, splits and layers; a plethora of ace effects; dynamic Drum Tracks; enhanced poly-arpeggiators; classic sequencing tools; a solid, confident keybed; up-to-date SD storage; companion editing software and our famous TouchView interactive display - it all adds up to an invigorating and sexy MIDI keyboard instrument that could only come from KORG.

Need a Keyboard Workstation? There's One for Everyone
Over twenty years of category-defining and redefining keyboard workstation expertise beats in the heart of the M50 Music Workstation. Just as the M3 borrowed elements from the legendary OASYS, the M50 captures all the sonic firepower of the M3, distilled into a performance instrument that is second to none., With all of its features and specifications, the M50 Music Workstation just may be the keyboard you've been waiting for! Both 73* and 61-note versions are available, sporting a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard. This new fast and responsive synthesizer keybed facilitates both expressive and dynamic performing. Tipping the scales at a mere 46 pounds, the seriously portable 88 key version features our top-of-the-line RH3 Graded Hammer Action, and provides a satisfying performance experience for the piano purist!

The Korg M-50; A Natural Performer
Made to be played, the Korg M50 Music Workstation is inviting and comfortable. The TouchView screen is intuitive and interactive, allowing the uniquely angled front panel to remain refined and uncluttered. The buttons themselves are rock solid, backlit and rounded for optimum visibility and ease-of-use under any playing conditions. In addition to Korg's four-way joystick and multi-function knobs, the M50 Music Workstation offers four Chord Triggers that provide a flexible and fun way to play chords and trigger arp patterns. A ten-key numeric keypad allows on-demand instant access to sounds, combis and other parameter/values.

Synthesis Technology

EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis)

Tone Generator

256 Mbyte (when converted to 16-bit linear format)

1,077 Multisamples

1,609 Drum Samples

Maximum Polyphony

80 voices, 80 oscillators max, single mode

40 voices, 80 oscillators max, double mode*

* The actual maximum polyphony will vary depending on oscillator settings such as stereo multisamples and velocity crossfading.

Sounds
Programs

640 total locations, 608 preloaded

Combinations
512 total locations, 384 preloaded

Drumkits
48 total locations, 32 preloaded

GM
256 GM2 programs, 9 GM2 drum kits

Program Structure EDS
Oscillator
OSC1 (Single), OSC1+2 (Double)

Stereo multisamples are supported

4 velocity zones per oscillator, with switching, crossfades and layers.

Filters
Four types of filter routing (single, serial, parallel, 24 dB)

Two multi-mode filters per voice (low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject)

Driver
Per-voice nonlinear driver and low boost

EQ
Three bands, with sweepable mid

Modulation
For each voice: two envelope generators (Filter & Amp)

Two LFOs

Two key tracking generators (Filter & Amp)

Two AMS mixers

Pitch EG

Common LFO

Two common key tracking generators

Combination Structure
Up to sixteen timbres

For each Timbre: keyboard and velocity split/layer/crossfade

INT, OFF, EXT and EX2 MIDI status settings

3-band EQ with sweepable mid

Pitch/Transpose

Use OSC1, 2 or Both

Force Osc Mode (PRG, MONO, LEGATO, POLY)

Portamento and Bend range settings

Controller filters

Modifications to the program settings via the Tone Adjust function

Drum Kit Structure
Stereo and mono drum samples

4-way velocity switches with crossfades and adjustable crossfade shapes (Linear, Power, Layer)

Exclusive keygroups

Per key 3-band EQ, Drive, Lo Boost, filter and level offsets

Effects
5 Insert Effects (stereo in/out), 2 Master Effects (stereo in/out), 1 Total Effect (stereo in/out) are available simultaneously

2 effect control busses, 2 effect common LFOs

170 types (can be used for Insert/Master/Total.) Note: double-size effects cannot be used as a Total effect.

Effects Presets: Up to 32 per Effect, 700 provided in OS 1.10

3-band Track EQ (High, low, and sweepable mid band) Per Program in Program Mode, per Timbre in Combination mode (16 total), and per Track in Sequencer mode (16 total)

Sequencer
16-track MIDI sequencer with 480 ppq resolution

128 Songs, 20 Cue Lists, 210,000 notes (max)

Tempo: 40.00 – 300.00 BPM (1/100 resolution)

16 preset/16 user Template Songs

522 preset patterns, 100 user patterns (per Song)

Cue List function: 20 cue lists, Songs can be arranged consecutively or repeatedly in up to 99 steps, A cue list can be converted back into a song

Standard MIDI File (SMF) format 0 and 1 available

Auto Song Setup function (One Touch Record) for easily going from a Program or Combination into “record-ready” status

Dual Polyphonic Arpeggiator
Two arpeggiators, useable simultaneously
(Combination, Sequencer modes)

5 preset arpeggio patterns; 216 user arpeggio patterns (200 preloaded)

RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording)
A set of 100 patterns are available per Song

Drum Track
671 preset patterns/1,000 user patterns

Patterns created in Sequencer mode can be converted to drum track user patterns

Trigger Mode (Immediate, Wait for Keyboard), Sync (On, Off) and Zone (Key and Velocity) settings can be specified.

Program selection, 3-band EQ and effect bussing available

Audio Outputs
L/MONO, R - 1/4" TS (Mono), unbalanced

Headphones - 1/4" TRS (Stereo), Output Impedance: 33 Ohms, Maximum Level: 32+ 32 mW @33 Ohms

Interface
MIDI
IN, OUT

Computer
USB type B connector (for MIDI interface, USB 2.0 supported)

System Requirements
Computer with the KORG USB-MIDI Driver

Windows
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition/Professional Service Pack 2 or later (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), all editions of Microsoft Windows Vista (MIDI Driver for the 64-bit editions is a Beta version), computer supports Windows XP/Vista with USB port (Intel USB Host Controller recommended).

Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, Apple Macintosh with USB ports supports Mac OS X 10.3.9 (PowerPC/Intel-based supported).

Please use the latest Korg USB/MIDI driver.

M50 Editor/Plug-In Editor

Windows
Windows XP Home Edition / Professional Service Pack 2 or later, Intel Pentium III/1 GHz or faster, 512 Mbyte or larger memory (1 Gbyte or larger recommended.)

Macintosh
Mac OS X 10.4 or later, G4/800 MHz or faster (Intel-based Mac supported, G5 and/or Core Duo recommended), 512 Mbyte or larger memory (1 Gbyte or larger recommended)

Options
XVP-10
EXP/VOL Pedal

EXP-2
Foot Controller

DS-1H
Damper Pedal (supports half-damping)

PS-1
Pedal Switch

General
Keyboard
61-key, 73-key versions use a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard

88-key weighted action (RH3: Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 keyboard with 4-zone graded action response)

Controllers
Joystick, [SW1], [SW2]

Display

5.7 inch TouchView™ GUI, 320 x 240 dot

Control Inputs
Damper Pedal (half damper pedaling supported), Assignable Switch, Assignable Pedal

Common specifications
Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, +/-1.0 dB, 10 k Ohms load

THD+N: 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08 % 10 k Ohms load (typical)

Included Accessories
KA320 Switching Power Supply
(Model 510405540503)

Three-Pronged IECC13 Power Cable
(Model D8B5518003B)

Owner’s Manual (M50 Operation Guide)

CD-ROM (M50 Parameter Guide (PDF)

Voice Name List (PDF)

KORG MIDI driver

M50 Editor stand alone and plug-in versions

Dimensions
M50-61:
40.43"(W) x 11.57"(D) x 4.17"(H)

M50-73:
46.90” (W) x 11.57” (D) x 4.17” (H)

M50-88:
55.47” (W) x 12.91” (D) x 5.94” (H)

Weight

M50-61: 14.9 lbs

M50-73: 17.6 lbs

M50-88: 45.86 lbs

Current Consumption

35 Watts

Trademark Notes
*Mac and Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

*Windows XP and Windows VISTA are registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

*VST and ASIO are trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.

*The Audio Units logo and the Audio Units symbol are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

*RTAS is a trademark or registered trademark of Avid Technology, Inc., or its subsidiaries or divisions.