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At Superbooth 2023, Korg Berlin was sharing a preview of the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5, a prototype acoustic synthesis instrument.

In this video, synth designer and Korg Berlin CEO Tatsuya ‘Tats’ Takahashi shares a preview of the unusual synth with Reverb’s Fess Grandiose.

While most electronic musicians think about synthesizers as instruments that generate sound completely electronically, in the 1850s, the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz created devices that could synthesize sound electroacoustically, using an early type of additive synthesis. The Helmholtz Synthesizer was designed for scientific research, though, not musical performance.

The Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 builds on similar ideas, but seems closer to the work of Paul Vo, who created the Moog Guitar and the Vo-96 Guitar, instruments that implement forms of acoustic synthesis with guitar strings.

Like the Helmholtz Synthesizer, the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 is based on electromechanical control of tuning fork, and lets you mix overtones to shape sounds. But Korg’s device is designed to be a musical instrument, so it can be played chromatically. Because it’s built around resonating tines, the instrument can have initial attack qualities similar to a Fender Rhodes. But it can also sustain notes indefinitely and it can feedback like an electric guitar.

While both the Vo-96 Guitar and Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 give you granular control over the harmonics of the sounds they generate, the range of sounds that the instruments can create is constrained by the physical qualities of the instrument. So the VO-96 can create a wide range of sounds, but they all sound guitar-like, and the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 creates sounds that have a bell-like quality that’s similar to a Rhodes piano.

The phase5 is a prototype, so no details on specifications, pricing or availability have been announced at this time.

The Korg microKorg Crystal makes it clear that the iconic synth is celebrating its 20th anniversary. A transparent attempt to give the microKorg a slick new look.

20 years ago, Korg’s microKorg helped to kickstart a trend for affordable, portable synths, and its built-in vocoder gave it an additional layer of hipster cool. To celebrate this double-decade anniversary, a new semi-translucent version – microKorg Crystal – has been released, giving you the opportunity to see what’s going on inside.

Korg today introduced microKorg Crystal, a new 20th anniversary variant of the microKORG.

What they say about it:

“Two decades ago, the portable, battery-powered microKORG was born with a radical new micro-keybed, a powerful Vocoder and ready-to-use sounds.

This compact sound monster introduced synthesis to a vast number of non-keyboard playing musicians and created a way of making music we now take for granted: a small keyboard resting unassumingly atop a larger one onstage, made for use by hobbyists and pros alike and finding itself front and center of studios worldwide from the smallest bedroom to the largest pro recording facility.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release, the special edition microKORG Crystal offers a unique and stunningly stylish take on this beloved synth – now a classic in its own right.”

20th Anniversary Model

The microKORG Crystal features a new take on the structure of the microKORG, with a semi-translucent chassis that lets you see the electronics and internals. Even the controllers are semi-transparent, including the knobs, dials and wheels.

The microKORG Crystal features a stainless mirror-finish front panel that is designed to coordinate with the semi-translucent knobs and dials. And, while the original microKORG featured wooden side panels that suggested a retro feel, the new microKORG features aluminum side panels.

The microKORG Crystal is available to pre-order for $529.99.

Korg celebrates Star Wars Day by bringing back the ARP 2600 FS synth – AKA the voice of R2-D2.

The Korg ARP 2600 FS – their high-end reissue of the full-size version it’s ’70s classic, which sold out as soon as it was announced – is available again, in limited quantities.

Korg has listed a limited number of brand-new ARP 2600 FS synths in the Korg USA Reverb Direct Shop for $4,499.99.

Korg introduced the ARP 2600 FS at the 2020 NAMM Show

ARP 2600 synth also does have a connection to the Star Wars universe, as this was the instrument that was used to create the distinctive voice of R2-D2. Korg shone a light on this fact a few years ago when it created a video that showed you how to create an approximation of the patch that sound designer Ben Burtt created in order to make the peppy little droid speak.

Here’s their official intro video:

What Korg say about the ARP 2600 FS at the time:

This limited-edition release is a loving reproduction of the 2600, handcrafted in Japan and includes USB and DIN-style MIDI connections, XLR audio outputs, plus the improved ARP 3620 Duophonic Keyboard with an added arpeggiator / sequencer. Your new ARP 2600 will arrive in a custom-branded hard shell case, complete with casters.

The Korg APR 2600 FS is available now in limited quantities for $4,499.99.