The Korg rumor mill has cranked up to fever pitch with two new additions. The Korg ARP 2600 mini, which we told you about last February, has garnered more electoral votes than Joe Biden, and somewhat confirmed with a leaked picture of the SQ-64 sequencer from Dix Music. However, Korg has yet to concede the election.
Korg’s Opsix, a new FM synth, housed in the same chassis as their WaveState, also hit the airwaves over the weekend in another leak. If this turns out to be legit, it also speaks to additional rumors about a new analog reboot of one of their classic synths, perhaps in the same form factor. (Although, we’d love to see a desktop version of the WaveState…just saying. —Ed.)
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Korg ARP 2600 Mini & Korg SQ64 Sequencer
Please Note: The image below shows the Korg MS-20 Mini, however, it is rumored that the ARP 2600 Mini will have a similar form factor.
The Korg ARP 2600 Mini rumors ramped up after last year’s NAMM event where a Korg ARP 2600 Mini prototype was reportedly shown to veteran industry individuals to gauge market interest. Shortly after, an image was then allegedly leaked by an European retailer, showcasing the prototype.
FutureMusic reported on the rumor last February when we named the Korg WaveState as our favorite new synth from the show. Again, the Korg ARP 2600 Mini is strictly a rumor at this point (And some wishful thinking! —Ed.) with no official word from Korg.
Korg Opsix
The Korg Opsix FM synth leak comes courtesy of Denmark’s Emnordic music store and is unconfirmed by Korg.
It appears that Korg took the same philosophy of their rebooted WaveState and applied it to FM synthesis. If true, we expect it to hit the same price point of the WaveState when it officially bows.
Unconfirmed Specifications:
- Keyboard: 37 keys (velocity and release-velocity sensitive)
- Maximum Polyphony: 32 voices (or a max. of 24 voices, depending on the settings)
- Sound generating system: Altered FM sound generator
- Structure: 6 operators, 1 filter, 3 EGs, 3 LFOs, 3 effects, step sequencer, arpeggiator
- Algorithm: 40 presets + user algorithm (unique to each program)
- Operator: 5 modes (FM, Ring Mod., Filter, Filter FM, Wave Folder)
- Oscillator waveform: 21 waveforms (Sine, Sine 12bit, Sine 8bit, Triangle, Saw, Saw HD, Square, Square HD, Additive Saw3, Additive Sqr3, Additive Tri3, Additive 12345, Additive 1+2, Additive 1+3, Additive 1+4, Additive 1+5, Additive 1+6, Additive 1+7, Additive 1+8, Noise S/H, Noise White)
- Filter: 11 types (LPF 12, LPF 24, LPF MS-20, LPF POLY6, HPF 12, HPF 24, HPF MS-20, BPF 6, BPF 12, BRF 6, BRF 12)
- EG: ADSR
- LFO: 23 waveforms (Triangle, Saw Down, Saw Up, Square, Sine, Sample&Hold, Guitar, Exp. Triangle, Exp. Saw Down, Exp. Saw Up, Step4 Triangle, Step6 Triangle, Step4 Saw Down, Step6 Saw Down, StepRnd:Time, StepRnd:Lvl&Time, StepRnd:Level, Random:Time, Random:Lvl&Time, Triangle + , Saw Down + , Saw Up + , Square +)
- V.Patch: 12 routings
- Effects: 30 types (Chorus, Unison Ensemble, Phaser, Phaser (BPM) , Auto Pan, Auto Pan (BPM), Flanger, Flanger (BPM), Rotary Speaker, Auto Wah, Exciter, Enhancer, LFO Filter, 3-Band EQ, Distortion, Guitar Amp, Decimator, Grain Shifter, Master Limiter, Compressor, Delay, Delay (BPM) , Autopan Dly, Autopan Dly (BPM), Tape Echo, Tape Echo (BPM) , Early Reflection, Reverb, Shimmer Reverb, Spring Reverb)
- Sequencer: Step Sequencer (up to 16 steps, up to 6 notes per step) , Motion Sequencer (up to 6 lanes)
- Arpeggiator: 7 patterns (MANUAL, UP, DOWN, ALT1, ALT2, RANDOM, TRIGGER) fault)
- Number of programs: 500 (250 preset programs and 250 user programs
- Patch Quick Select: 64 (16 Slots × 4 Banks)
- Controllers: MODULATION wheel, PITCH wheel, RATIO OP 1–6 knobs, LEVEL OP 1–6 sliders, DATA ENTRY A–F knobs
- Inputs/outputs: Headphone (6.3 mm stereo phone jack), OUTPUT L/MONO and R (impedance-balanced 6.3 mm TRS phone jacks), DAMPER (6.3 mm phone jack, half-damper not supported), MIDI IN and OUT connectors, USB B port
- Power supply: AC adapter (DC12V)
- Power consumption: 5 W
- Dimensions (W × D × H): 565 × 338 × 90 mm / 22.24? × 13.31? × 3.54?
- Weight: 2.9 kg / 6.93 lbs.
