MATRIXSYNTH: Search results for KORG 770


Showing posts sorted by relevance for query KORG 770. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query KORG 770. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

KORG 770


via this auction

"The Korg 770 has a place in synthesizer history. Released in 1976 this vintage analogue synth looks like a baby Minimoog, sports the famous Korg traveler filter sliders, twin oscillators, two flavours of ring modulation, and produces the classic analogue sounds beloved by Simple Minds and The Human League. The sound is warm, rounded, and very controllable.

The thing about this particular specimen is its condition - take a look at the photos - I doubt you'd find a finer original anywhere! The only thing that gives away her age is the surface rust on the nameplate screws - but then as a collector of vintage gear you wouldn't want it any other way!

Others testify to the 770's rarity and value: Before describing the Korg 770, Richard's 'not-so-usual synth page' states: "But then there are a number of machines that are just a bit more uncommon..." (link)

Aliens-Project 2005/12 Toy of the Month describes the unique character of the 770 and provides sample sounds in MP3. (link)

Dance Tech states the 770 is an "old and quite rare unit" and 10 years ago put the second-hand price at £500 (link)

Gordon Reid regretted selling his original and bemoans the fact that it took him "eighteen years to find another 770" (link). Hey, you don't have to wait that long :)

Some Background:
Two weeks ago I was enjoying a glass of wine with some friends when a familar sound drifted from an adjoining room - echoes of synthpop from 30 years ago. On investigation I discovered the source - an immaculate Korg 770 being pumped through a poor guitar amp that never deserved such treatment. At the controls was my mate James who'd managed to regulate the oscillators to produce some classic tones. He'd been gifted the synth by his uncle after rediscovering it in his loft, apparently ununsed for decades. On learning what he'd got - and visualizing the new gear he could buy in its place - James asked me to sell it for him on ebay. I told him it might be a tad short sighted, but that was like trying to convince Pooh Bear to save a pot of honey for winter. Anyway, that's why the 770 is for sale. I'd buy it myself if I had somewhere to show it off!"

Monday, September 10, 2012

Jordan Passmore, Korg 770, Roland TR-606 demo


YouTube Published on Sep 10, 2012 by Jordan Passmore

"This video displays the fantastic Korg 770 Analog Synthesizer. In the first part of the video I do some leads, melody, then I go into some efx/ bass, then I use the 770 to process a Roland TR-606 analog drum machine. Near the end I play the 770 through an analog delay pedal (really old Washburn Accelerator Series pedal).

The Korg 770 has a wild tone. It can touch on MS-20-like sounds but it can also do beautiful leads. It is RAW. If you ever want to witness the shortcomings of any digital synth, set one up next to a Korg 770 and attempt to imitate.

This was my first video so the FPS is a little wonky. I apologize!"

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Korg 770 Sweet And Sour


Korg 770 Sweet And Sour by Ned Bouhalassa
"My second short piece using only the vintage Korg 770 for all the sounds except the drums. This little instrument is very versatile!!"

via Ned Bouhalassa on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Follow-up to Korg 770 The Arrival

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Korg 770 Analog Synthesizer SN 770299

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

"Korg 770 Analog Synthesizer from the late 1970’s. The power is USA 117 Volt. This synth is in very good condition. It is 100% functional and in calibration. All functions have been thoroughly tested side by side with another Korg 770. This testing was done to prove proper operation and calibration between two units.

This Korg 770’s circuitry is 100% original and has not been modified or repaired."

Friday, April 26, 2024

Korg 770 Analog Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

"Here's your chance to own this rare historic synth. All knobs, keys, pots and wood-housing is original. Everything has been cleaned and everything is functioning. This thing produces beautifully warm bass and lead sounds. And the ring modulator will take you into some wild sci-fi territories too. Only major blemish is a chipped key (see last photo) key still is fully functional.

The Korg 770 is a monophonic analog synthesizer introduced by Korg in 1976. Based on the same circuitry as the two-VCO version of the Mini-Korg, the 770 offered a more conventional re-packaging, and some control improvements to make the synth more versatile.

VCO 1 offered five choices of waveform, with triangle, sawtooth, square, pulse, and a pulse-width-modulated (rate controlled by an LFO) pulse wave on tap, or an external input could be selected. The VCO included an octave select switch with six settings, including a 64' deep bass setting. VCO 2 produced only a sawtooth wave, or it could be ring modulated against VCO 2, or any of three varieties of noise could be selected. The tuning could be offset from VCO 1. A blend control allowed the user to select the mix of the two signal sources. Other controls at the right side of the panel allowed the user to apply an "auto bend", or vibrato controlled by a dedicated LFO separate from the main LFO. (There were no pitch or mod wheels.)

Friday, April 08, 2016

Korg 770 vs Volca Bass - Synthesizer Filter Comparison


Published on Apr 8, 2016 gstormelectro

"Video and audio by G-Storm Electro c.2016

Quick comparison of the Volca Bass filter to the Korg 770 lowpass filter. Different settings for the peak are explored.

The Volca Bass takes its filter design from the diode ring filter of the 700/700S miniKorg synths of the 70's. The Korg 770 has the identical filter design except replaces matched diodes for a diode array. Do the filters sound the same? To me they sound darn close, but you be the judge.

However the oscillators themselves sound different to me. The Volca Bass has a lot more bottom end than the 770, listen with headphones or a nice set of powered monitors."

Monday, November 02, 2009

KORG 770 vintage analog synth

via this auction
"The sound is similar to the 700s and 800dv, with the 770 sitting somewhere in between the two in terms of flexibility. It has a rich 70's tone that is more refined than a Moog or an ARP. The 770's controls are unusual; its oscillators have distinct personalities--one has a "chorus" setting controlled by LFO1, the other has two ring mod settings and "pitched noise". There is also a second LFO for the first oscillator only, and an auto-bend feature. The filter section is amazing, using Korg's own resonant high-pass/low-pass combination. The filters on the 770 have a more organic and rich tone than the filters on the MS-20. The envelope section has switches to multiply the envelope length, making very fast and very slow envelopes possible. And last, but not least, is the external input which allows you to route audio through the filters and the ring modulator. Even as a ring modulator alone this synth is worth the price--it has a glassier tone than the legendary Maestro Ring Mod."



YouTube via Zolophile. "Korg 770 demo/test"

Sunday, September 06, 2015

Synamiitti 2015


Published on Sep 6, 2015 Petri Kauppi

"Turun syntetisaattoriseuran Synamiitti 2015"

Video from this year's Synamiitti synth event in Finland.

Some details on the event via http://synamiitti.com for the archives:

"12:00-18:00 Synamiitti, Loads of synths on display
The Daytime event is free of charge and the bar is open.
Päivätapahtuma on ilmainen ja Dynamossa on A-oikeudet.
AFTERPARTY
21:00-02:00 Live performances by:
RONSKIBIITTI (21:30)
MR VELCRO FASTENER (22:30)
visuals by:
VJ TURU SANOMA
Ovet/doors 21.00, liput/tickets 6e, ennakot/advance 8raita & Ticted
The Afterparty is presented by: TELMU & Turun Syntetisaattoriseura

ON DISPLAY / PETTING ZOO

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

RIP Mr. Tsutomu Katoh - Founder of KORG

A letter via Seiki Kato, President of KORG Inc.

"Dear Sirs and Madams,

I would like to inform you that our founder and chairman Mr. Tsutomu Katoh passed away early this morning (March 15, 2011) after a long fight with cancer.

Since he founded Korg Inc. in 1963, Mr. Katoh has led our company with great talent, vision and leadership. He was loved and respected by all the employees, all Korg family members and made a huge contribution to the lives of countless musicians around the world.

Plans for a memorial service will follow very soon.

I would appreciate your prayers for him and hope he can rest peacefully now.

Sincerely,

Seiki Kato
President
Korg Inc."

Tsutomu Katoh and the History of Korg

Another hero lost; one of the first to define the world of synthesis as we know it. The gifts he gave us will always be remembered and will inspire new synth enthusiasts and musicians for decades to come. Tsutomu Katoh-san, you will be missed. Thank you for everything you gave us.

Via Wikipedia: "Founded in 1962 in Japan by Tsutomu Kato and Tadashi Osanai, Korg was originally known as Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo Ltd." and later "Keio Electronic Laboratories (京王技術研究所?) because its fledgling offices were located near the Keio train line in Tokyo and Keio can be formed by combining the first letters of Kato and Osanai. Before founding the company, Kato ran a nightclub. Osanai, a Tokyo University graduate and noted accordionist, regularly performed at Kato's club accompanied by a Wurlitzer Sideman rhythm machine. Unsatisfied with the rhythm machine, Osanai convinced Kato to finance his efforts to build a better one..." And indeed they did.

This sad news in via Amos of Moog Music and Michelle Moog-Koussa of the Bob Moog Foundation.

Update: some condolences and pics on the KORG Forum here.

Some video of the legacy of instruments he brought us with a rare interview in Part 1 (previously posted):

'The Vintage Synth - Volume 3: Korg' 1-11

YouTube via baward — November 24, 2009 —

"Rare, Japanese-language video from some time in the 1990's, taking the viewer on an odyssey through Korg's many instruments, from Korg's synthesizer museum at its Tokyo headquarters.

Two other videos were produced in this series, 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 1: Moog and 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 2: Roland'"

Part 1: "This clip features an interview with Korg's co-founder Tsutomu Kato and footage of the rare DA-20 Doncamatic drum machine (1963) and an early appearance of Korg's famous 'Traveler' filter control - on an organ! (late 1960's.) More to follow."

Part 2: "This clip features the Korgue organ from 1968, as well as Korg's first synthesizer, the Mini Korg 700 from 1973 (here shown in its expanded 2 oscillator version, 1974's Mini Korg 700S.)"

Part 3: "This clip features the Synthesizer 800DV (1974), Synthesizer 770 (1975), and the PE-1000 (1976)."

Part 4: "This clip features the polyphonic, patchable, part-modular and extremely rare PS-3300 (1978)."

Part 5: "This clip features part one of the MS series (1978-79), focussing on the wall-mounted 'education' MS-20 as well as some other early analogue products."

Part 6: "This clip features the MS-20 and MS-50 synthesizers, VC-10 vocoder and SQ-10 analog sequencer (1978-79) in more detail."

Part 7: "This clip features the Delta strings synthesizer, Trident polyphonic synthesizer, and BX-3 analogue organ (1980-81)."

Part 8: "This clip features the first part of an in-depth look at the Polysix synthesizer from 1981."

Part 9: "This clip features the second part of the Polysix synthesizer feature and the one on the Mono/Poly."

Part 10: "This clip features the Poly-800II and the DW-8000 (1985)"

Part 11: "Computer-control of MS instruments (or is it the 05R module?) with 700S, original Korg Wavedrum, as well series conclusion."

Monday, July 27, 2009

Korg 770 Synthesizer


YouTube via moshane
"Gestern habe ich einen Korg 770 aus dem Jahr 1976 erworben. Die ersten 10 Minuten gefrickel. Wahnsinns Synthesizer..."

Daniel Angermann - Korg770

"fidling with the Korg 770, Fade to Grey"

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Korg 770 - demo and test

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Oct 19, 2016 Keith Negley

"This video is just to demonstrate the functions and working order of my Korg 770 analog synthesizer up for sale."


via this auction

"Korg 770 mono-synth in very good condition. Serial#: 770486
It is 100% functional. Every knob, slider and key works flawlessly with no scratchy pots or sticky keys/sliders. Previous owner had it serviced inside and out (5 years ago?) and had cv inputs installed in back. I've never used the cv inputs so I can't speak to how they work, but the owner demonstrated it to me when I bought it and they were functioning just fine. It has a few minor scuffs but nothing major and nothing that inhibits it's functionality. Note: It's missing the silver ring to the portamento knob (see pictures). The video link is my actual synth to demonstrate it all works great for this sale."

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Korg 770 The Arrival


Korg 770 The Arrival by Ned Bouhalassa
"My first piece using the 1976 Korg 770 synthesizer. It's a beauty, and I LOVE it! All the sounds except the drums are from this vintage mono synth."

via Ned Bouhalassa on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Korg 770 Synthesizer with CV-Gate-Filter & Audio In

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"Near mint 9.5/10 Korg 770 monophonic analog 2 VCO synthesizer with added 0-5 V in controlling VCO, Gate and Filter!

This is the predecessor to the MS line and was made in 1975; it has a 12 dB/octave filter and two oscillators. It excels at drones and modulations as it has auto cycle on the envelopes and can be triggered by the LFO. Similar sounds to a MS20 are common, but much easier to come by. This would make a great live synth, I gig with a Roland SH3 and this is almost as much fun by itself.

Note that the "traveler" filter slide pots are designed by Korg to overlap, they are not filed down as earlier 700 models needed for band pass sounds.

Cosmetically 9.5 out of 10! Take a look at these beautiful end cheeks and cute green power light! Has Korg factory five pin interface in back in addition to the added 1/8" CV Gate and Filter jacks which work 0-5 volts, NOT the Korg standard but ARP/Blacet et al. I have triggered this from a Blacet system and it works fine. The Korg interface ALSO works... if you have another 70's Korg and a five pin cable!

US 110 voltage and cord."

Monday, January 17, 2011

MINI KORG KORG 700S - HQ SOUND DEMO vintage synthesizer 1974 miniKORG


YouTube via AnalogAudio1 | January 17, 2011 |

Updated title: MINIKORG KORG 700S Analog Synthesizer 1974 | HQ DEMO | Mini Korg
"The monophonic Mini-Korg 700S was an expanded version of Korg's first synthesizer, the Mini-Korg 700. It has 2 VCOs, 1 "traveler" filter (12 dB, highpass/lowpass) 1 envelope generator and 1 LFO. It also has noise generator, ring modulator and the LFO can be switched to the filters.

The Korg 700s is a serious synthesizer with a lot of character. It has a fantastic sound, which can be only compared with the first generation Korgs (Korg 770, 800 DV).

It was used by Vangelis in the seventies. Also Kitaro's all time favourite synthesizer.
I played the Minikorg with Lexicon MPX 500 reverb and Roland DEP-5 delay."

Monday, April 15, 2013

Mystery Synth - Korg 700s/770 Prototype?


Published on Apr 15, 2013

"I found this "mystery synth" at a garage sale this weekend. It appears very similar to a Korg 700s, but upon closer examination there are clear differences. The second oscillator has it's own waveform and pitch selector, for example. And the style of sliders and controls are certainly different than those found on a 700s.

If you know anything about this instrument, please let me know!

At any rate it's a great sounding synth!"

This one in via via Dan Goldstein who found the synth. Talk about an amazing find.
Click here for a pic of the inside of a Mini-KORG 700.  Update: also click here for one more.  Note two of the boards appear to match but this mystery synth has one more. I couldn't find any of the inside of a 770 to compare.  If you search for KORG 770 or KORG 700s you will see the controls are similar but different.  With that we are left with two possibilities, this is either a very nicely done DIY synth composed of vintage KORG parts or a KORG prototype that fell somewhere within the 700 series.



And details also posted on gearslutz: "Here's everything I know about it:

I found this instrument on CraigsList, posted at a garage sale here in Las Vegas. The seller said that he'd purchased it on eBay not knowing what it was, and that he believed it was "built by a guy that worked at Ibanez." That was all the provenance that he was able to provide. The instrument was clearly so bizarre that I had to take it home and find out more about it. It does work, mostly, and it certainly has a unique sound despite it's incredibly strange architecture, which I'll describe below.

I opened it up, eagerly hoping for clues about its origins, but what I found deepened the mystery further. As you can see in the photos below, the circuity of this synthesizer is totally discreet. There are some metal can-style Op Amps, namely 741HC and MN131A, which would seem to date this in the early 70s. There are no markings of any sort on the circuit boards, just hand-labeled numbers by the patch points on the circuit boards. I can't find any sort of name anywhere, though the words "Made In Japan" are on the 1/4" output panel.

The architecture of this instrument is incredibly bizarre. It features two standard oscillators. Oscillator one has triangle, square, and sawtooth waveforms, plus a "Chorus 1" and "Chorus 2" setting that seem to be chorused sawtooth waves. Oscillator two features triangle, square, sawtooth, a thinner square wave, and reverse sawtooth. Then there's a third sort of oscillator, which is switchable between noise and what I think is some sort of ring-modulator that operates on Oscillator One. There's a global tuning knob but no fine-tune knobs for the oscillators.

Things get weird after that. There's an attack-release envelope for the VCA, and that's the only envelope you get. There's a resonant low-pass filter and a resonant high-pass filter, but no resonance knob, so you're stuck with a single cutoff control for each filter. The low and high cutoff filters are sort of "ganged" together so that you can't move the Lowpass cutoff above the Highpass cutoff - they move together once they meet, if that makes sense. There's an LFO that seems to be fixed at a triangle wave, and it can be routed to frequency or filter or both, and there's some sort of vibrato delay switch that doesn't seem to do anything. There's also a Repeat switch and speed control that will cause the envelope to retrigger, which is pretty cool. There are some other bizarre controls too, including a "Bright" switch that makes the sound brighter, an "Expand" switch that doesn't really do much of anything, and a "Bender" switch that causes notes to quickly bend up to the pressed key (I remember a similar feature on the Roland VP330, for example).

There's a 3-position sustain switch that goes from "Short" to "Long" and determines if the envelope continues after you've released a key. It works fine, but as soon as you release a key the frequency of the note played drops to some lower, random value. Perhaps the sample-and-hold is not working right.

The cabinet and design is clearly Minimoog inspired, but it's not a Minimoog case. My first thought was that this was a home-made synth of some kind but I'm very doubtful after spending time with it. The silkscreening is very professionally done, the cabinet is all custom-made with interesting angles. There's even a sort of thumb screw on the bottom that lets you lock down the folding-up synth portion of the instrument for transport. Everything about the instrument seems to suggest it was professionally made. The only outputs are a Low and High audio output. There are no inputs at all, no bend wheel or mod wheel, though there's clearly space for such a thing. The lack of basic features (i.e. sustain & release envelope stages, fine tune, resonance amount, etc.) and the addition of unusual features (repeat, bender, etc.) make for one odd combination. And the fact that I can't find any label anywhere makes this a serious synthesizer mystery.

I've owned an awful lot of analog synthesizers and have read decades worth of magazines and web sites, and I've never seen anything like this. Does anyone here have any insight at all into what this might be? Perhaps it's a kit synth from the 70s, like a PAIA design of some kind? Perhaps this was a prototype for a product that never got built? The components date it to the early 70s, so perhaps some company was attempting to challenge the Minimoog and decided against it? If anyone has any information at all on what this could be, I'd sure appreciate it! I'm happy to answer any questions about this synth."


Sunday, March 28, 2021

Korg 770 analog synthesizer SN 770877

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"Original vintage c 1970’s Korg 770 analog synth in excellent working condition, freshly serviced and calibrated, ready for another 50 years of weird. The 770 is the precursor to the more common ms-20/ ms-10 synths, and shares many features and sonic characteristics with these later models, though much rarer, and much cooler. This is a legit Japanese non-export model, 100v. Enjoy!!!"

Friday, September 16, 2022

Korg 770 Analog Synthesizer w/ Silver Korg Badge on Back

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

Note the silver KORG badge on back compared to previous listings. Curious if it came from the factory that way.

"The best sounding monosynthesizer Korg ever build (imho). Check out the new video from Alex Ball [posted here] for reference. The Korg 770 is looking good and has a mod for CV/Gate and controlling the filter. Very handy."

Monday, March 19, 2012

Korg 770 - Analog synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"The Korg 770 is a dual oscillator mono synth from 1976. It has an external input so you can use it as a Filter or Ring modulator, along with the LFO you can get some really interesting sounds. This unit has all new capacitors about 60 in all. The pots and switches are fine and all the keys work. The unit powers up and makes all kind of sounds. The wood sides are not the original plywood, the new one's are solid babinga. This wood is used in guitars and looks great. The 770 has serial # 770008 that makes this one of the first ten made."

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Korg 770 Analog Monophonic 1970s Synthesizer Demo

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Dec 15, 2016 gstormelectro


Listed on Reverb here.

"Audio and Video by G-Storm Electro c.2016

In this video I explain and demo the features of the Korg 770 Monophonic Synthesizer. This one is currently available on Reverb. The 770 inherits a lot of DNA from the Minikorg 700/700S models, and it's design is the predecessor to the MS-20 model.

The features are staggering for such a simple looking synthesizer:
- External Input for the filter
- Highpass and Lowpass filter w/ variable resonance (Bright)
- a kind of Pulse Width Modulation (Chorus)
- two forms of ring modulation
- Scale Noise, a noise source which tracks w/ keyboard pitch
- OSC1 vibrato w/ delayed onset
- Automatic pitch-bend, Goldfrapp anyone?
- LFO trigger mode for the Envelopes"

Sunday, October 02, 2005

New Korg Manuals Uploaded

Benjamin Ward has uploaded the following Korg manuals. Title link takes you there.

Korg Synthesizer 770 owners manual
Korg Synthesizer 770 settings manual
Korg Synthesizer 770 service manual
Korg ES-50 Lambda one owners manual.
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