Introduction To The Microstation; Main Features Of The Microstation - Korg microSTATION Operation Manual

Introduction to the microSTATION

Main features of the microSTATION

EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis -
integrated)
This tone generation system integrates the main
functionality of the "EDS" (Enhanced Definition
Synthesis) system featured on the M3 and M50,
including the oscillators, filters, amps, LFO/EG, and
effects, delivering rich and vivid sounds.
The oscillator section uses 49 Mbytes (when calculated
as 16‐bit linear data) of high‐quality PCM sources
sampled at 48 kHz and covering a wide variety of
sounds. The filter section that's so important to
creative sound‐making provides two high‐quality
filters for each oscillator, and allows you to freely
combine four different types of filters: low‐pass, high‐
pass, band‐pass, and band‐reject.
Modulation functionality is an indispensible part of
this detailed design. The EDS‐i tone generation system
inherits numerous features from the EDS system
including: the EG (envelope generator), LFO, key
tracking generator, AMS (alternate modulation
source), and AMS mixer, giving you an enormous
range of synthesis potential.
The final touches to the sound are provided by the
effect section, which gives you up to five insert effects,
two master effects, and one total effect. In addition to
delay and reverb, there are a total of 134 different
effects including modulation‐type effects such as
chorus, phaser, and flanger, dynamic‐type effects such
as compression and limiting, and also effects such as
amp modeling powered by Korg's proprietary
"REMS" modeling technology. Effect dynamic
modulation (Dmod) allows you to control the effects in
a wide variety of ways.
Programs and combinations
The microSTATION provides 512 user programs as
well as 256+9 (drums) GM2‐compatible ROM preset
programs. When shipped from the factory, the
memory contains 480 preload programs organized
into eight categories for convenient searching.
Drum programs use drum kits as the oscillator; there
are 32 user drum kits and 9 GM2‐compatible ROM
drum kits. When shipped from the factory, the
memory contains 27 preload drum kits that cover a
broad range of musical styles.
There are 384 user combinations. When shipped from
the factory, the memory contains 256 preload
combinations organized into eight categories for
convenient searching. A single combination lets you
combine up to sixteen programs as layers, splits, or
velocity‐switches, and then add effects and two
arpeggiators to create complex sounds that would not
be possible for a single program. External audio
sources can be played at the same time as a
combination.
Sequencer and Auto Song Setup function
A high‐performance 16‐track MIDI sequencer is built
into the microSTATION, allowing you to record up to
128 songs with a total of 210,000 notes. With a high‐
precision timing resolution of 1/480, it can capture
every nuance of your performance.
The sequencer features intuitive operation, and
provides numerous functions that allow you to
produce music quickly. Template songs for every style
of music, a loop recording function, grid sequence
function, and arpeggiator will powerfully enhance
your creativity.
Using the Auto Song Setup function, your
performance using a program or combination plus the
arpeggiator can easily be recorded to multiple tracks,
instantly creating the basic tracks that form the core of
your song production.
Dual polyphonic arpeggiator
For arpeggio patterns, five preset patterns and 640
user arpeggio patterns are built in. In addition to what
a typical arpeggiator can do, the microSTATION's
polyphonic arpeggiator can develop chords and
phrases in a variety of ways depending on the pitch or
timing at which you play the keyboard. You can use
this to perform a wide variety of patterns including
drum or bass phrases, or guitar or keyboard backing
riffs. The arpeggiator is also useful as one element of
creating sounds such as pads, synth sounds, and
sound effects that involve subtle motion.
In Combination or Sequencer modes, the
microSTATION provides dual arpeggiators that let
you run two arpeggio patterns simultaneously. This
allows powerful performance possibilities such as
applying different arpeggio patterns to drums and
bass programs, or using split or velocity to switch
between arpeggio patterns.
Realtime control
The four realtime control knobs give you heightened
expressiveness and realtime control for creating your
sound or controlling the arpeggiator. They can also be
used in an external mode setup for controlling your
external MIDI devices.
Editor and Plug-In editor
The bundled "microSTATION Editor" and
"microSTATION Plug‐In Editor" software are
applications that let you use your computer to edit the
microSTATION's programs, combinations, drum kits,
and arpeggio patterns.
These editors allow more detailed editing than is
possible on the microSTATION itself. They also let you
edit and create user arpeggio patterns and drum kits,
which cannot be edited from the microSTATION.
"microSTATION Editor" is a standalone editor.
"microSTATION Plug‐In Editor" is an editor that
supports VST, Audio Units, and RTAS formats. It
allows you to use the microSTATION from within
your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) or other host
application as a plug‐in instrument.
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