About
KORG 01/W is the first model of the 0 series. Its synthesis engine is called ai2 (ai square) - a new series after the legendary ai synthesis of M1.
01/W is the only synth with Wave Shaping function among all ai2 synths.
01R/W is the rackmount version.
CONTENTS:
KORG 01/W (1991)
KORG 01R/W (1991)
01/W overview
Overview
254 waveforms plus some drum samples in 6MB ROM. Compared to M1's 100 waveforms in 4MB ROM, it seems KORG preferred variety and more accoustic waveforms in 01/W.
Wave Shaping
Wave Shaping distorts the waveforms while reading out samples, using various Wave Shaping Tables. It's useful for emulating distortion, resonance, HPF and other unexpected timber change.
It sounds like YAMAHA SY99's Fixed Frequency RCM Modulation, Roland SuperJV's Booster, and CASIO VZ-1's iPD (interactive Phase Distortion). I think 01/W's WS resembles VZ-1 most - WS often generates odd harmonics like VZ, adding square-wave-like overtones.
WS Tables are single-cycle waveforms. There are 60 WS Tables. The Wave Shaping Level can be controlled by a simple AR envelope.
The figure below shows how WS works - the WS Table distorts the original waveform.
"Resonant 2" Wave Shaping Table
01/W editor for Emagic SoundDiver
Here is a new 01/W easy editor made with Emagic SoundDiver - Download here: 01w.sit (8KB). See the readme file for details.
01/W easy editor screenshot
I tried to make a better editor that controls much more layered oscillators, but gave up because of 01/W's slow response and its semi-handshaking SysEx format.
Sound Examples
Here are .mp3 sound examples made with my 01/W editor. All sounds are recorded without external effects. Some resonances are added by the internal distortion FX.
Almost all examples use Waveshaping. For more standard sounds, see other ai2 synth pages (AG-10, 03R/W, 05R/W, NS5R).
Wow basses (228KB)
Related models
The legendary KORG M1 is one of the world's best-selling synthesizer, and it's what made the basis of today's PCM synths.
M1's synthesis engine is called ai synthesis (advanced integrated), which just means fully-digital including effects. The filter has no resonance. There are 2 multi-effects but no deep features like WS.
Later, T series were released. T1 had 8MB ROM with 0.5MB sample RAM.
See M/T Series page for sound comparison.
KORG M1 (1988)
I think M1 sounds warmer and fatter than 01/W and other ai2 synths. When the oscillator output level is high, M1's sound often clips. In 01/W, KORG eliminated such digital distortion. The sound became much cleaner and hi-fier, but I think the warmth is lost to some extent.
The difference between ai and ai square is not very clear. I guess the name 'square' seems to come from 01/W's Wave shaping, as it's a kind of waveform-multiplication.
Later KORG dropped Wave shaping. The architecture of the models except 01/W is not very different from M1's ai synthesis, but I think KORG was not willing to change the name for some marketing reason.
01/W is the first model of KORG's ai2 synthesis. 01W/FD has a 2DD FD drive, and 01R/W is the rackmount version. Later KORG added SMF compatibility.
01/W pro has 76 keys, and 01/W proX has 88 piano keyboard. The pro models have the extra 4MB ROM (10MB total) with Piano samples from XSC-3S card and some Jazz drums.
KORG 01/W proX (1992)
03R/W is the 5MB ROM version. KORG dropped Wave Shaping and added GM compatibility since this model.
Audio Gallery AG-10 is the 4MB ROM version. Exploring AG-10, I found the hidden bug - a strange waveform modulation that can be creatively used. No other ai2 synths seem to have this feature. Below is one example, and see AG-10 page for more.
KORG AG-10 (1991)
KORG 03R/W (1992)
X3 is a GM compatible version with 6MB ROM. It has no Wave Shaping.
Various versions of X series followed, including half-rack 05R/W, and many i series with auto-accompaniment.
KORG X3 (1993)
KORG 05R/W (1993)
KORG made X5DR with 8MB ROM and 64 polyphony. X5D is the keyboard version. Later they redressed them as N364/N264 workstations.
KORG added much more ROM. N5 and NS5R have 12MB. N1 / N1R and N5EX have 18MB.
Portamento is added. Also N1/N5 can emulate resonance by DSP effect.
KORG N5 (1997)
KORG NS5R (1997)
Trinity is KORG's first PCM synth with digital resonant filter. 24MB ROM with no Wave Shaping.
The synthesis engine is called ACCESS, which is basically an M1 with better multi-mode filter.
The newer Triton seems to have faster envelopes than ai2 synths, but I don't know if Trinity's envelope is slower or faster. The double filter architecture is Trinity's strength over Triton.
KORG TRINITY (1995)
KORG WAVESTATION is a vector synthesizer, which can be seen as the successor of Sequential Prophet VS.
01/W and WAVESTATION use the same synthesis chip, programmed in different ways. While 01/W has Waveshaping, WAVESTATION has vector, wave sequence and hard sync. Both have many Prophet VS waveforms.
KORG WAVESTATION (1990)
Sequential Prophet VS (1986)
KORG Z1 and Prophecy use MOSS (Multi-Oscillator Synthesis System). They have Wave Shaping feature, though they are not PCM synths like 01/W.
KURZWEIL K2000 is PCM/VA synth with various DSP function. It's Shaper function sounds like 01's WS.
KORG Z1 (1997)
KURZWEIL K2000 (1992)
01/W was one of the first synth that achieved 32 polyphony. Manufacturers began to pursue more polyphony and more PCM ROM. Roland JV-80 / JV-1000 and YAMAHA SY85 were 01's competitors as PCM synth/workstation.
Generalmusic S2 / S3 is another PCM workstation synth. Its design resembles 01/W. It has 16/32-poly, 6MB ROM and 2MB sample RAM.
Roland JV-80 (1992)
YAMAHA SY85 (1992)
Generalmusic S2 Series (1992)
Links
Deep Synthesis: Home3. 20. 2004
5. 5. 2007 design updated