Back in 2012, this workstation burst onto the scene as Korg's affordable powerhouse, borrowing premium Kronos-derived piano and drum samples to deliver pro-level sounds without the flagship price tag.
Its PCM-based engine packs 120-voice polyphony, 4GB of high-quality samples including unlooped stereo pianos like German D and Japanese grands, plus electric pianos, dynamic drum kits with mixable direct and ambient mics, and over 1400 programs, combinations, and arpeggiator patterns. The intuitive 7-inch TouchView color display makes editing a breeze with finger-drag sliders, while real-time controls like the joystick, four knobs, and switches handle modulation, pitch bend, and more. Available in 61- or 73-key semi-weighted actions or the 88-key NH weighted hammer for authentic piano feel, it measures compact at about 40 inches wide for the 61-key model, weighs just 16 pounds, and connects via USB, MIDI DIN in/out/thru, and SD card storage. A 16-track sequencer, RPPR patterns, and master keyboard mode round out its live and studio versatility.
Over a decade on, players love its reliable workhorse sounds and straightforward workflow for gigs and demos, though some wish for aftertouch on the smaller models and deeper analog modeling. It's still a smart pick for anyone building tracks without complexity overload.
