korg triton classic keyboard.

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.
Contents
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* 1 History
* 2 Models
o 2.1 Classic
o 2.2 Rack
o 2.3 Karma
o 2.4 Le
o 2.5 Extreme
o 2.6 TR
o 2.7 X50 and MicroX
* 3 Features
* 4 Specifications
* 5 Notable users
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

[edit] 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 guitar lead sound on the KORG Trinity in 1996, and expanded it to the Triton in 2000[1].

[edit] Models

[edit] 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 had built-in S/PDIF input and output. It could be fitted with an optional hard drive, CD-R/W drive and a "Digital Interface" board providing ADAT output and Word Clock.

[edit] Rack
Korg Triton 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. It also supports the "Digital Interface" board.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Le

The Triton Le, released in 2002, 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.
Korg Triton "Le"

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.

3 versions of "Le" are available :
Triton Le 61 - 61 keys
Triton Le 76 - 76 keys
Triton Le 88 - 88 keys (RH2 Real Weighted Hammer Action)

[edit] Extreme

In 2004 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 ENTIRE sample sets from Korg's best-selling Trance Attack, Orchestral Collection, and Vintage Archives expansion boards, as well as the BEST OF Korg's Dance Extreme, Studio Essentials, and Pianos/Classic Keyboards collections. It also has new PCM data that is not available on any other Triton models including improved pianos and acoustic guitars giving it a broad range of sound, 160 MB total compared to the 32 MB ROM of the classic Triton. 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 organs, 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 to interface with a PC allowing exchange of samples, sound programs, sequences, and other Triton-compatible files through an installable Compact Flash card. CompactFlash and microdrive cards up to 8 GB are supported, negating the need to sample directly to RAM. The USB port also allows control over software synths and host applications over via MIDI. However, unlike the Classic, Studio, and Rack versions, the Extreme can not be fitted with sample expansion boards due to the expansion ROMs having been pre-installed. However, it is compatible with the MOSS board, as is up to 96 MB of sample RAM. Also missing are SCSI and mLAN. Also, the ADAT option was not available, but there were optical stereo S/PDIF ins and outs, although it is impossible to use the Valve Force Tube with them. Also, there is another USB Type A connector, which can be used to connect a USB Hard Drive or a CD-R Drive for making music CD's and loading AKAI format sample libraries.
Triton Extreme

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.