Korg Triton

Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer featuring digital sampling and sequencing created by Korg. All Tritons use Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator. They are available in several models and various upgrade configurations. The Triton is world famous among many musicians for being the benchmark of keyboard technology, and is widely featured in music videos and live concerts. In the NAMM Show 2007, Korg announced the Triton successor: the Korg M3.

History

The Korg Triton line may be seen as the direct descendants of the previous Korg Trinity line of workstations. They are aesthetically and functionally very similar. The Trinity had similar naming conventions with the Triton Classic, with Pro and Pro X being designated to models featuring 76 and 88 keys respectively.

The original Triton introduced many improvements over the Trinity, like 62-note polyphony, arpeggiator, onboard sampler, faster operating system and more realtime controllers. However, to much surprise of musicians and magazines, it lost the sequencer audio tracks, digital input and output, and the digital filter section was downgraded, thus limiting sample-based synthesis. The original piano samples, which are a crucial element of evaluation on expensive synths and music workstations, were even more criticized; although the integrated sample RAM could compensate this. As time passed, some of these shortcomings were fixed, like the digital connectivity, and better piano samples were shipped with newer models; however, the sample-based synthesis filter section wasn't improved and, while some limited 2-track audio recording was added to later revisions of the Triton Studio, the powerful 4-track audio sequencer of the Trinity never returned to the saga.

Ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian in collaboration with KORG sound designer Jack Hotop created Sherinian's signature guitaristic lead sound on the KORG Trinity in 1996, and expanded it to the Triton in 2000 [http://www.keyboardmag.com/story.asp?storyCode=11160] .

Models

Classic

All Tritons are based on the so-called "Classic" Triton released in 1999. The "Classic" Triton was named "Pro" when configured with 76 keys and "Pro X" with 88 keys. Otherwise its functions and features were the same. The Triton Studio could be fitted with an optional hard drive and CD-R/W drive.

Rack

The Triton Rack was the rackmount version of the Triton. As musicians would use it as a sound module rather than a complete workstation, requiring a separate keyboard to control it via MIDI, it was designed with different abilities. Although it has no keyboard, it has the advantage of being able to store up to eight EXB boards containing additional sounds, and features a built-in S/PDIF digital output.

Karma

The Korg KARMA was released in 2001 with the Triton synthesis technology but without the sampling functionality. It instead included the more specialised KARMA music system. It was only available in a 61-key version.

Le

The Triton Le was a stripped-down, streamlined version of the original Triton released in 2000. It replaced the huge touchscreen by a more conventional, smaller, graphic LCD. The ribbon controller was also lost in the transition, along with the disk drive. A Smartmedia slot was offered instead. The most serious changes were the keybed (lighter and cheaper than the used in the Trinity/Triton range) and the effects section. Taking a step back from the powerful effects sections found on the Trinity/Triton series, the Le's section was downgraded from five insert FX to just one. The MOSS, Z1-based board, can't be fitted on the Le. The sequencer and arpeggiator remained as powerful as on the original Triton, though.

At a much lower price than the original Tritons, the Le was nevertheless a commercial success. An interesting fact about the Le is the onboard sample RAM: it can load samples from the Smartmedia slot, without the sampling board fitted.

A special edition of Le was released featuring a black body, and later the TR was released, but both are not the same.

Extreme

In 2005 Korg released the Triton Extreme, which boasted many of the features of the Studio (such as the entire PCM ROM from the Studio model) plus the addition of many previous Triton expansion boards, and a best of of some others, It also has new PCM data that is not available on any other Tritons including improved pianos and acoustic guitars giving it a broad range of sound, 160 MB total compared to the Triton Classics 32 MB. Also featured in the Triton Extreme is Valve Force circuitry, using a vacuum tube. and an analog ultra gain transistor to allow for warmer, guitar amp-like sounds for more extreme analog overdrive/distortion sounds, and is especially useful for warm luscious pads, and adding depth and realism to acoustic sounds, especially piano. Unlike the previous Tritons, which were white-silver, the Extreme boasts a deep blue color. Like the Triton "Classic" and Studio, the Triton Extreme includes a touch screen interface, along with the usual knobs and buttons. It can use a USB cable for data connection with a PC for exchanging samples, sound programs, sequences, and other Triton compatible files by addressing an optional Compact Flash card that is installed in the back, The USB also allows to control software synths and host application over that same USB cable via MIDI. Also one can use as much as an 8 GB Compact Flash card, which is great for recording directly to, instead of RAM for intrack sampling, making all this combined almost more powerful than the Triton Studio. However, unlike the Classic, Studio, and Rack versions, the Extreme can not be fitted with sample expansion boards due to the expansion Roms being pre-installed., But the MOSS board is still an option as well as maxing out the sample RAM to 96 MB. Also missing are SCSI or the optional mLAN but the USB replaced the SCSI and is indeed a vast improvement compared to earlier models. Also the ADAT Light Pipe in and outs were omitted, but left in their place is optical stereo SP/DIF in and out, though it is not possible to use the Valve Force Tube through it. Also there is another USB type A connector, in which for example you can plug in a USB Powered hub, and connect a USB Hard Drive, and a CDR Drive for making music CD's and loading AKAI format sample libraries. Also a vast improvement over having those items already built into the Triton Studio, allowing you to leave those safely at home when going live, and just needing to bring a USB thumb drive or a Compact Flash card for all your data. The Triton Extreme is the Flagship Triton Model and the last of the line bearing the name TRITON.

TR

Released in 2006, the TR is similar to the Triton Le but has expanded ROM and additional programs and combinations. It also uses a USB cable for data connection with a PC. The TR also replaces the SmartMedia card slot found in the Le with an SD card slot. Although it is similar, it is not simply the black Le, which was released as a limited series. Piano sound is really improved.

X50 and MicroX

Released in 2007, these keyboards are oriented towards the lower end of the market and correspondingly are built lighter, with fewer features. The internals of both are identical: they contain the TR version of the HI engine and a ROM with both the original Triton sound programs and a completely new set, but they have no sequencing or expansion capability. USB connection remains available for data connection, but incompatibilities with the other Tritons hamper use of libraries for those keyboards. The difference between the two keyboards is in scale and control layout: the X50 is a 61-key keyboard, while the MicroX is only 25 keys.

Features

All models, except the Triton Rack and KARMA, are available in 61, 76 and 88-key configurations. They can also be upgraded with increased sample EDO RAM as well as Triton expansion boards for additional sounds (the Triton Le is the only member of the family that does not provide this feature, and therefore should be considered as the 'closed box'). The Triton "Classic", Extreme, and Studio boasted touch screen capabilities. The KARMA, Le, and Rack, however, used a more conventional display.

Specifications

Notable users

"This list represents a wide (but not complete) range of music created by the Korg Triton."

See also

* Korg Trinity
* Korg KARMA
* Korg OASYS
* Alesis Fusion
* Roland Fantom-X
* Roland Juno-G
* Yamaha Motif
* Sampler
* Synthesizer
* Polyphony

External links

* [http://www.korg.com Korg official site] — video and audio samples
* [http://www.tritonhaven.com TritonHaven] — unofficial community of Korg Triton users.
* [http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ Korg forums]
* [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun99/articles/korgtriton.htm Triton Classic review]
* [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan02/articles/korgtritonle.asp Trion Le review]
* [http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document/korg/triton_tr_61?doc_id=100145&g=home&src=3SOSWXXA Triton TR review]