The KingKORG from Korg is the 61-key analog modeling synthesizer that bears the design philosophy of classic Korg analog synthesizers such as the MS-20 and the Mono/Poly, instruments which in turn inspired many of the company's subsequent creations. Ready for live performance, the keyboard features a healthy array of knobs and three displays, a main one for general feedback, and two dedicated to the oscillator and filter sections. The velocity-sensitive keys can have their response adjusted (normal, shallow, or deep) to mimic the response of classic instruments.
The three-oscillator/two-timbre design, plus an XMT modeling sound engine allows the synthesizer to generate rich sounds while keeping both the oscillators and sound engine operations simple. In a conventional synthesizer, sound-creation requires adjusting oscillator settings one by one, whereas the KingKORG provides pre-set algorithms that contain combinations of various types and numbers of oscillators, allowing for easy and quick sound sculpting.
The oscillators are understandable to the beginner while at the same time satisfying for the expert. Algorithms include sawtooth and square wave, noise, in addition to numerous PCM/DWGS algorithms. The instrument also delivers a variety of filters, including those that reproduce the sounds of analog monophonic synthesizers used for lead and bass sounds in the 70's, the polyphonic synthesizers of 80's new wave music, and the filters of the classic MS-20 analog synthesizer. The filters can also be made to self-oscillate.
Three master effects, each with six effect types, can be applied to any sounds. The Pre FX section includes distortion and an amp simulator, while many classic effects like phasing, chorusing, and tremolo are found in the Mod FX section. The Rev/Delay section delivers ambience effects such as hall reverb and modulation delay. Each effect processor has a dedicated front panel dial for selecting the type. Finally, a fully analog vacuum tube driver circuit can be used as a mastering effect to add warmth, overdrive distortion, or anything in between.
A microphone input provides the audio source for the built-in vocoder. The vocoder features Formant Shift that dramatically modifies the tonal character of the modulated sound, as well as Formant Hold, which allows for "freezing" a vowel sound and playing it back from the keyboard. A step arpeggiator provides a choice of six arpeggio types, with the ability to specify the duration, interval, and on/off status of each step. A virtual patch function continues the classic synthesizer mold, allowing for connecting various functions using the six Virtual Patch assignments per timbre.