Korg Takes Triton 升級至Extreme

New music workstation features real tube processing, 160 MB of ROM, powerful new sounds, USB audio CD burning, and much more

Triton Extreme 61 (Click for a close-up)

Triton Extreme 61 Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

Korg's TRITON升級至TRITON Extreme -- a music workstation/sampler增加釵h新弁鄍H及音色。.

TRITON Extreme has a generous 升級技巧一：160 MB of wave ROM(音色ROM變大), sampled at 48 kHz. Included is a broad selection of new samples, including acoustic and electric guitars, woodwind and brass instruments captured with their natural vibrato, organs, authentic choirs, and an all-new concert grand piano. Also 升級技巧二：included are the entire sample sets from Korg's best-selling Trance Attack, Orchestral Collection, and Vintage Archives expansion boards(擴充卡變內含), as well as the best of Korg's Dance Extreme, Studio Essentials, and Pianos/Classic Keyboards collections, plus the complete TRITON Studio ROM.

From this massive ROM, Korg has created 1,334 programs, 50 drum kits, and 1,280 combinations, each consisting of up to 8 Programs, split, layered, zoned, and velocity-allocated across the keyboard. In addition, General MIDI Level 2 Presets contain 256 programs and 9 drum kits.

Twin tone generators provide 120-note polyphony. In Korg's Hyper Integrated synthesis system, each oscillator is processed with a multimode filter and multiple envelope generators for precise, accurate sound shaping. Two LFOs each offer 21 waveforms, and can be synchronized to the built-in arpeggiator, sequencer, or outboard MIDI gear. 42 alternate modulation source (AMS) types and 51 modulation destinations are also provided, as well as dual polyphonic arpeggiators with 489 preloaded patterns.

Adding power to TRITON Extreme's internal sounds is a 升級技巧三：12AU7 dual-triode vacuum tube (加真空管，一定要有"世界第一")-- a first for a keyboard instrument. Korg's Valve Force circuitry can be used as an insert effect, or applied to the final outputs for added warmth, fullness, and power. External sources can also be sampled through the Valve Force circuitry for a distinctive 'tube' quality. A new Ultra Boost feature pumps up the bottom end of the sound without muddying it.

In addition to synthesis capabilities, TRITON Extreme is a 16-bit, 48 kHz sampler. It features Korg's exclusive Open Sampling system, which allows direct access to sampling functions from the Program, Combination, or Sequencing modes, as well as from the Sampling Mode. In Sequencer mode, a unique "In-Track Sampling" function allows external sources (vocals or guitar for example) to be sampled in real-time while a song plays. Sample-editing tools include time-slice, loop, truncate, and time stretch. The Extreme is compatible with .WAV, AIFF, AKAI S1000/3000, and Korg format sample data. AKAI programs can be loaded with their performance settings intact. The standard 16 MB of RAM can be expanded to a maximum of 96 MB using common SIMM chips.

Users can also sample and resample directly to CompactFlash, then burn completed songs to an external CD-writer via a USB Port A. This port can also be used to connect various forms of USB storage including hard drives and portable USB Flash drives. USB Port B allows the built-in CompactFlash slot to be accessed by a computer, for easy file sharing.

TRITON Extreme features Korg's exclusive TouchView graphical interface, plus a host of Realtime controls, including a joystick, ribbon controller, multi-purpose knobs, and two assignable switches. Inputs and outputs include main left and right stereo outputs, four assignable individual outs, and S/PDIF digital In and Out. Two analog audio inputs with adjustable gain and Mic/Line level switching allow sampling from most sources and access to the internal effects. MIDI connectors and footswitch ports are also provided.

A 16-track, 200-song, 200,000-note sequencer offers step time, real-time, looping, and pattern-based recording. SysEx recording allows creative mixdown and effects automation. Song templates and a Cue List are included as well. Five insert effects (102 types), two stereo master effects, and a master EQ effect (89 types) offer a total of eight simultaneous effects. Multiple timbres can be routed to the same insert effect, and effects can be chained.

TRITON Extreme is available in 61- and 76-key synth-action models offering variable velocity and aftertouch, and an 88-key version with Korg's exclusive RH2 keybed that adds a progressive graded hammer action for authentic piano feel. Six voices of DSP synthesis/modeling (as used in the legendary Korg Z1) can be added with the optional EXB-MOSS synthesis expansion board.

MSRP:

• 61-Key: $2,800.00
  
• 76-Key: $3,250.00
  
• 88-Key: $3,750.00

For more information, visit their web site at www.korg.com.

Roland Expands Fantom 系列升級至Fantom-X 系列

128-Voice Fantom-X Series Expandable to Nearly 1GB of Sound

Fantom-X6 (Click for a close-up)

Fantom-X6 Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

Fantom-X7 (Click for a close-up)

Fantom-X7 Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

Fantom-X8 (Click for a close-up)

Fantom-X8 Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

Roland today introduced a new line of workstation keyboards, the Fantom-X Series. Available with a 61-note keyboard (Fantom-X6), 76-note keyboard (Fantom-X7) or 88-note Progressive Hammer-Action Keyboard (Fantom-X8), 升級技巧一：these 128-note workstations can contain nearly 1GB of wave data when fully expanded(音色變大，可擴充卡數目增多). Each model boasts a brand new wave ROM with new sounds, room for 4 SRX expansions and up to 544MB of sample RAM--large enough to be used like a digital recorder--plus a sexy new look with a color LCD screen.

Powered by Roland's new sound generator chip, the Fantom-X Series makes it possible to play expressive 4-tone Patches with 128-voice polyphony, and can be expanded to nearly 1GB of wave data. The internal 128MB wave ROM is loaded with brand new sounds recorded in top studios and mixed by talented engineers like Dan Blessinger (Martinsound). Take the new 88-key split piano, for example, which utilizes over 700 samples to create Roland's ultimate acoustic piano Patch.

升級技巧二：The sampling section is also beefed up with capacity for up to 544MB of RAM using optional DIMMs(取樣容量變大). This amount of memory lets users record long samples in the fashion of a digital recorder with full wave editing capabilities (a new PC Card slot lets users store samples on cards with up to 1GB capacity). Between this "linear" recording capability and the realtime timestretch, users get total integration of audio and MIDI using the Fantom-X Series' high-resolution sequencer. And thanks to their new color LCD screens with smart color-coded schemes, using the Fantom-X Series just got a whole lot easier on the eyes.

Of course the Fantom-X Series inherit many of the most popular features of their predecessors as well--like the Dynamic Pad Bank (with improved gel pads), Roland's "Skip Back Sampling" feature, and V-LINK technology for integrating audio and video. There are also plenty of onboard effects including COSM Guitar Amp Modeling, Lo-Fi processing, Slicer and more--plus a dedicated Mastering processor. An onboard USB port makes MIDI connections easy, as well as importing or exporting audio in .WAV/AIFF format.

Connections to the Fantom-X Series include four 1/4-inch outputs (two stereo), a stereo 1/4-inch input, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI In/Out/Thru, a PC Card slot and USB port.

For more information, visit their web site at www.rolandus.com.