MATRIXSYNTH: New Korg Prologue Digital Analogue Polyphonic Hybrid Synth Coming to NAMM?


Wednesday, January 17, 2018

New Korg Prologue Digital Analogue Polyphonic Hybrid Synth Coming to NAMM?


Update3: Full details including video are now up here.

Update: and we have an image via John in the comments. Also via Patrick in the comments: "'Digital engine' is a better translation. It looks like it offers a complete polyphonic analog voice plus a user-editable digital synthesis engine under the hood. Exciting stuff from Korg, even with the inevitable "single LFO, single VCF, no on-board sequencer" complaints."

Update2: more pics in via @synthjam via John in the comments.

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This one spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.


Note it is auto translated from French, so read between the lines. Original French below. This is all speculation of course. We will find out soon enough. NAMM is next week.

"A 49-key, polyphonic analog polyphonic synthesizer and the 61-key, 16-channel version, which can be described as a "hybrid" synth by integrating a digital motor into the center of its fully analog circuit.

Close cousin of KORG's already famous Minilogue and Monologue, the prologue is a complete and fully programmable polyphonic analog synthesizer. Hormone boosted version, it is distinguished from these predecessors by a keyboard with large keys, a polyphony of 8 or 16 channels (depending on the model) and a new engine
digital sound (the multi-engine) greatly expanding the sound and customization possibilities. As you will understand, the prologue range includes two models: the 8-channel version of 49 keys and the 16-channel version of 61 keys. Let's find out more in detail what lies beneath this beast ...

Analog power

The prologue takes again the powerful analogical circuits which made the strength of its predecessors (Minilogue and Monologue), and thus proposes an incomparable quality of sound as well as an astonishing presence. More than 11000 electronic components have been used for its manufacture! The prologue is composed of 2VCO, 1VCF, 2EG, 1VCA and 1LFO. It also features the famous built-in oscillator allowing you to create unique waveforms to refine your harmonies and create breathtaking sounds. Add to that a bipolar low-pass filter and powerful distortion and you have a powerful analog palette to create deep bass, powerful leads, and the beautiful pads that are expected of a polyphonic synthesizer. Also note that the prologue is bi-timbral, and allows you to play two different programs simultaneously.

Despite its analog power, the prologue retains its ease of use and intuitive interface worthy of the latest KORG synthesizers. You will find on the panel the easy selection of channel modes (POLY, MONO, UNISSON, CHORD ...), the powerful arpeggiator, or the simplified selection (and sortable) of the 500 programs.


The freedom of digital

The ingenuity of the prologue goes beyond its analog design. Indeed, by adding to the original 2 VCOs a third MULTI ENGINE digital oscillator, KORG is exploring new experimental sites. This new engine, adding digital and FM waveforms, can be combined with analog VCOs to extend the sound potential of the prologue far beyond that of a traditional analog synthesizer. The noise generator, the VPM oscillator and the high-quality digital effects (modulation and delay / reverb) bring you complex metallic sounds and harmonics that you never thought possible.


Another novelty, and not least, this new engine MULTI ENGINE offers a USER mode that allows you to load oscillator programs of your own creation (and yes!) You can develop on the dedicated software (available in early spring 2018 ). There are sixteen slots for this parameter.

KORG manufacturing quality

Many waited for a Minilogue with big keys. In the end KORG did better, but still listened to users' comments. On the prologue, you'll find Japanese keyboards of 49 and 61 notes, with big keys, that offer the same feel and expression as the high end KORG keyboards.
Beyond the keyboard, KORG has really paid attention to the details of the overall design. The body of the prologue synthesizer offers a black aluminum panel, wooden side panels and metal potentiometers highlighting the beauty of the instrument that will be as comfortable on stage as in the studio.


The first copies of this powerful synthesizer should arrive in France in March. The price of the 8-way model should run around 1500 € and we are talking about 2000 € for the 16-channel version."

Original French:

"Prologue, le nouveau synthé analo hybride de KORG


Synthétiseur analogique polyphonique 8 voies de 49 touches et la version 16 voies de 61 touches, que l'on peut qualifier de synthé «hybride» de par l'intégration d'un moteur numérique au centre de son circuit entièrement analogique.

Proche cousin des déjà célèbres minilogue et monologue de KORG, le prologue est un synthétiseur analogique polyphonique complet et entièrement programmable. Version boostée aux hormones, il se distingue notamment de ces prédécesseurs par un clavier à grandes touches, une polyphonie de 8 ou 16 voies (en fonction du modèle) et un nouveau moteur
sonore numérique (le multi-engine) élargissant considérablement les possibilités sonores et de personnalisation. Comme vous l'aurez compris, la gamme prologue comprend deux modèles : la version 8 voies de 49 touches et la version 16 voies de 61 touches. Découvrons plus en détails ce qui se cache sous cette bête...

La puissance analogique

Le prologue reprend les circuits analogiques puissants qui ont fait la force des ses prédécesseurs (minilogue et monologue), et propose donc une qualité de son incomparable ainsi qu'une présence étonnante. Plus de 11000 composants électroniques ont été utilisés pour sa fabrication ! Le prologue est composé de 2VCO, 1VCF, 2EG, 1VCA et 1LFO. Il dispose également du fameux oscillateur intégré vous permettant de créer des formes d’ondes uniques afin d’affiner vos harmonies et de créer des sons époustouflants. Ajouter à cela un filtre passe-bas bipolaire et une distorsion puissante et vous disposez d'un palette analogique puissante pour créer des basses profondes, des leads puissants, ainsi que les magnifiques pads que l'on attend d'un synthétiseur polyphonique. A noter aussi que le prologue est bi-timbral, et vous permet de jouer simultanément deux programmes différents.

Malgré sa puissance analogique, le prologue conserve sa facilité d’utilisation et l'interface intuitive digne des derniers synthétiseurs KORG. Vous retrouvez ainsi sur le panneau la sélection facile des modes de voies (POLY, MONO, UNISSON, CHORD...), le puissant arpégiateur, ou encore la sélection simplifié (et triable) des 500 programmes.

La liberté du numérique

L'ingéniosité du prologue va au-delà de son design analogique. En effet, en ajoutant aux 2 VCO originaux un troisième oscillateur numérique MULTI ENGINE, KORG explore de nouveaux terrains d’expérimentation. Ce nouveau moteur, ajoutant des formes d'ondes numériques et FM, peut être combiné avec les VCO analogiques pour étendre le potentiel sonore du prologue bien au-delà de celui d'un synthétiseur analogique traditionnel. Le générateur de bruit, l'oscillateur VPM et les effets numériques de haute qualité (modulation et delay/reverb) vous apportent ainsi des sons métalliques et des harmoniques complexes que vous n'auriez jamais cru possibles.

Autre nouveauté, et pas des moindres, ce nouveau moteur MULTI ENGINE propose un mode USER vous permettant de charger les programmes d'oscillateur de votre propre création (et oui !) que vous pourrez développer sur le logiciel dédié (disponible au début du printemps 2018). Seize emplacements sont prévus pour ce paramètre.

La qualité de fabrication KORG

Beaucoup attendait un minilogue avec grandes touches. Au final KORG a fait mieux, mais à quand même écouté les remarques des utilisateurs. Vous retrouvez sur le prologue des claviers japonais de 49 et 61 notes, à grandes touches, qui offrent la même sensation et expression que les claviers haut de gamme KORG.
Au delà du clavier, KORG a véritablement porté attention aux détails sur le design global. Le corps du synthétiseur prologue offre donc un panneau en aluminium noir, des panneaux latéraux en bois et des potentiomètres en métal soulignant toute la beauté de l'instrument qui sera aussi bien à l'aise sur scène qu'en studio.


Les premiers exemplaires de ce puissant synthétiseur devraient arriver en France courant mars. Le prix du modèle 8 voies devrait tourner aux alentours de 1500€ et l'on parle de 2000€ pour la version 16 voies."


Left: mock image of a Polytron that originally went up with the post before the Prologue image came in.

4 comments:

  1. "Digital engine" is a better translation. It looks like it offers a complete polyphonic analog voice plus a user-editable digital synthesis engine under the hood. Exciting stuff from Korg, even with the inevitable "single LFO, single VCF, no on-board sequencer" complaints.

    ReplyDelete
  2. https://www.elektronauts.com/uploads/default/original/3X/1/e/1e24a23daeb79d00399947619b5c278dea6a43db.jpeg

    ReplyDelete
  3. There's more photos @synthjam on instagram

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks and sounds really great, but not what I've been hoping for.. Have a kingkorg and a monologue now.

    What I love about the kingkorg:
    a whole universe of sounds and filters
    layers - direct access and tweaking + separate midi channels, so you can play while the other layer is sequenced.
    What I sorely miss in the KK: aftertouch and more hands-on control over deeper synth parameters.

    What I love about my monologue: the sequencer!
    What I miss: aftertouch (less of a playing synth, so less of an issue here) and deeper synth parameters.

    A prologue with aftertouch, a sequencer with more parameters to control (like 8 parameters instead of 4 on the monologue), and accessible layers, so you could sequence layer A while playing on layer B, would have been an instant buy. Sequencing from the digitakt might be the solution. Although it is more fun to make the sequences on the synth and trigger them from an external sequencer as I do on the monologue.

    I'm asking a lot, but if someone manages to make a synth with the best parts of korg (the best parts of digital and analogue combined, presets / midi CC control, sounds, filters, sequence with p-locks) and arturia (sequencing with probability, CV patch bay to connect to the world of analogue), they'll have a hit. But it will be pricier for sure.

    ReplyDelete

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